Worth the wait
Faith in Action

Worth the wait

We were waiting for her, and we didn’t even know it. When our family of four decided to host an international exchange student, it felt like a leap of faith….
Lectionary blog: “Son of David” as a promise
Lectionary Blog

Lectionary blog: “Son of David” as a promise

Lectionary for Dec. 24, 2023 Fourth Sunday of Advent 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16; Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26; Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38 One of my favorite Bible stories growing up was the…
Lectionary blog: Know thyself
Lectionary Blog

Lectionary blog: Know thyself

Lectionary for Dec. 17, 2023 Third Sunday of Advent Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28 In a Nov. 10 statement, the Patriarchs and the Heads…
Lectionary blog: Speaking consolation amid desolation
Lectionary Blog

Lectionary blog: Speaking consolation amid desolation

Lectionary for Dec. 10, 2023 Second Sunday of Advent Isaiah 40:1-11; Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13; 2 Peter 3:8-15a; Mark 1:1-8 I’ve been dreading writing this reflection in light of the warfare…
Our real and truest hope
From The Presiding Bishop

Our real and truest hope

There is a curse of unknown provenance that says, “May you live in interesting times.” In November we celebrate Thanksgiving Day, counting our blessings and giving thanks for the bounty…
North American church leaders call for peace in Holy Land in Advent resource
Faith in Action

North American church leaders call for peace in Holy Land in Advent resource

The leaders of the ELCA, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, the Anglican Church of Canada and The Episcopal Church have released the Churches Beyond Borders 2023 Advent Cycle of…
Lectionary blog: Like a man who goes away … 
Lectionary Blog

Lectionary blog: Like a man who goes away … 

Lectionary for Dec. 3, 2023  First Sunday of Advent Isaiah 64:1-9; Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19;  1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark 13:24-37  I write these columns several weeks in advance so they will…
A holy gift
Voices of Faith

A holy gift

Editor’s note: This article originally ran Nov. 28, 2019.  My mom’s death, in December 2013, took my feet out from under me. I couldn’t imagine a life without her. But…
Prayer ventures: Nov. 22
Prayer Ventures

Prayer ventures: Nov. 22

Every day, Living Lutheran offers a prayer from the ELCA resource Prayer ventures, which can be downloaded here. These daily petitions are offered as a guide for your own prayer life…
Not a gift from anyone
Faith in Action

Not a gift from anyone

Vine Deloria Jr., who died in 2005, was many things: a historian, a theologian, a political activist and an author whose 1969 book Custer Died for Your Sins: An Indian…
Lectionary blog: Sheep who listen
Lectionary Blog

Lectionary blog: Sheep who listen

Lectionary for Nov. 26, 2023 Christ the King Sunday Last Sunday after Pentecost Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24; Psalm 95:1-7a; Ephesians 1:15-23; Matthew 25:31-46 Lectionary readings late in the season after Pentecost…