Study guide: Stronger together
Spiritual Resources

Study guide: Stronger together

Our denomination is a leader in ecumenical relationships, forging strategic alliances and cooperating on mission with other Christians. The ELCA now has special full-communion partnerships with six other mainline denominations….

Haircuts and hope
Mission & Ministry

Haircuts and hope

Some students at the New LIFE School in the South Bronx, N.Y., use razors and scissors in addition to pencils and pens. The 10 students are learning to be barbers,…

Lectionary blog: It’s about compassion
Spiritual Resources

Lectionary blog: It’s about compassion

Lectionary blog for July 22 Ninth Sunday after Pentecost Jeremiah 23:1-6; Psalm 23; Ephesians 2:11-22; Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 “… and he had compassion, because they were like sheep without a…

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Voices of Faith

Royal overconfidence and the spirit of God

This week’s lectionary readings tell the story of two very different kings who both made poor decisions based on overconfidence that lead to fatal consequences for someone else. The difference…

Lectionary blog: Sitting on two chairs
Lectionary Blog

Lectionary blog: Sitting on two chairs

Lectionary blog for July 15 Eighth Sunday after Pentecost Amos 7:7-15; Psalm 85:8-13; Ephesians 1:3-14; Mark 6:14-29 Paul Harvey had a long-running radio program called The Rest of the Story….

Lectionary blog: When a loss is a win
Lectionary Blog

Lectionary blog: When a loss is a win

Lectionary blog for July 8 Seventh Sunday after Pentecost Ezekiel 2:1-5; Psalm 123; 2 Corinthians 12:2-10; Mark 6:1-13 My younger son was playing coach-pitch baseball. They weren’t a very good…

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Lectionary Blog

Lectionary blog: Fear and faith

Lectionary blog for July 1 The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost Lamentations 3:22-33; Psalm 30; 2 Corinthians 8:7-15; Mark 5:21-43 The Scriptures call us to trust in God, a thing much…

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Lectionary Blog

Lectionary blog: Is God on vacation?

Lectionary blog for June 24 The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost Job 38:1-11; Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32; 2 Corinthians 6:1-13; Mark 4:35-41 “Teacher—do you not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38)….

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Lectionary Blog

Lectionary blog: Walking by faith

Lectionary blog for June 17 The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost Ezekiel 17:22-24; Psalm 92:1-4, 12-15; 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17; Mark 4:26-34 “for we walk by faith, not by sight”…

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Lectionary Blog

Lectionary blog: ‘Eternal weight of glory’

Lectionary blog for June 10 The Third Sunday after Pentecost Genesis 3:8-15; Psalm 130; 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1; Mark 3:20-35 “For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal…

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Lectionary Blog

Lectionary blog: The mystery of the Trinity

Lectionary blog for May 27 Holy Trinity Sunday Isaiah 6:1-8; Psalm 29; Romans 8:12-27; John 3:1-17 In Soul on Ice, Eldridge Cleaver tells a story about his first encounter with Christianity….

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Lectionary Blog

Lectionary blog: The Spirit-led path

Lectionary blog for May 20 Pentecost Sunday Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 104:24-34; 35b; Acts 2:1-21; John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 Today is a day that the church sets aside to pay particular attention…