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Theology & Beliefs
A blessing for Lent
I don’t remember the first time I received a blessing, nor when I first offered one myself. I only know that, looking back, the giving and receiving of blessings have…
Mission & Ministry, Theology & Beliefs
“The church is called to do something about this”
Congregation leaders suspect a child is being mistreated in her home but aren’t sure what to do, so they remain silent. A child is sexually assaulted by an adult who…
Living Faithfully, Mission & Ministry
What is ELCA Innovation?
The ELCA set sail into the 2020s on the winds of a fresh priority announced by then-presiding bishop Elizabeth Eaton: to become an “innovation denomination.” Two months into the first…
Living Faithfully
From empty halls to community resource
Bethel Lutheran, like many churches, was built for a membership much larger than today’s. Decades ago, more than 1,500 members filled the building’s halls and classrooms. But the Willmar, Minn.,…
Living Faithfully
This Lent, do one thing at a time
Focal verse Let your eyes look directly forward and your gaze be straight before you (Proverbs 4:25). Reflection Some days, doing one thing at a time might be the holiest…
Study Guides
Study guide for “Holy Rollers”
Who would ever think that the popular roleplaying game of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D)—steeped in themes of fantasy and magic, and featuring wizards, elves and other imaginary characters embarking on…
Study Guides
Study guide for “Unlocking a new ministry model”
News flash (that is no real news): Our church is changing. Congregations are getting smaller, finances are stretched, and there are fewer traditional rostered ministers available. What’s a denomination to…
Mission & Ministry
Four years on, LWF keeps hope alive in Ukraine
Four years on from Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) continues to support people and communities affected by the war, responding to urgent needs, restoring dignity…
Voices of Faith
I’m a Lutheran: David Rutlen
St. James Lutheran Church, Portland, Ore. Professor emeritus of medicine and retired head of General Cardiology, Oregon Health and Science University; marathon runner I’m named after my grandfather, David Ruotsalainen,…
Mission & Ministry
A historic day in Jerusalem
On a bright, mild January day in the Old City of Jerusalem, with the sounds of Christmas carols leading the parade, the spirit of joy echoed through the narrow corridors…
Voices of Faith
Love and stardust
You are dust and to dust you shall return (Genesis 3:19). Atoms in our bodies trace to the remnants of exploded stars. We are stardust. We are alive in the universe. And the…
Mission & Ministry
Making room for grief and hope
In January 2025, Los Angeles County experienced one of the most destructive wildfire events in California history. The fast-moving blazes of the Eaton Fire destroyed more than 16,000 structures and…
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