Stewardship

Faith in Action

An ancient journey, rediscovered

A young woman came to my church, Messiah Lutheran in Wauconda, Ill., seeking to be confirmed before her wedding to a Roman Catholic man. Ours was not the first parish…

Faith in Action

Blessed to be a blessing

When people arrived for worship March 4 at Preston Meadow Lutheran Church, Plano, Texas, they knew something was up, but only the congregation council and staff knew that every family…

Spiritual Resources

Seeing God’s word spoken

The word of God washes like waves over worshipers at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Moorhead, Minn.  Sound waves, to be exact—and not just the kind you can hear.  Thanks to…

Voices of Faith

Bartolomé de las Casas

Bartolomé de las Casas (1484-1566) is a good example of what Lutherans call a “saint and sinner.” As an immigrant from Spain who came to Hispañola in 1502, Las Casas…

Faith in Action

Beyond the rainbow flag

During LGBT Pride Month (June), many ELCA congregations pay special attention to issues around sexual orientation and gender identity. Because the LGBTQ community has often been ignored or even condemned…

Mission & Ministry

Camp for all

A couple of years ago, transgender students at Black Hills State University in South Dakota were threatened on social media. “They were friends of some of our students and we…

Faith in Action

Let the little children come

Instead of wrestling with their parents in the back pews during worship, toddlers at Grace Lutheran Church, Apple Valley, Minn., sit up front in the sanctuary. They’re stationed a few…

Faith in Action

Is America facing a “post-Christian” future?

In July 2017, the research firm Barna Group released “The Most Post-Christian Cities in America,” a report based on surveys of 76,505 adults in 100 American cities. The results? Portland-Auburn,…

Faith in Action

New ELCA digital giving tools now available

Have you ever wished that giving to your congregation was an easier process? Even if your congregation has implemented online giving, you may have found yourself wanting to be able…

Faith in Action

Rules for church

Parents of small children are likely to have a long do and don’t list for worshiping as a family: Don’t tear the pages out of the hymnal. Don’t climb under…

Voices of Faith

Grounded in grace

Stanley Hauerwas, a theologian and ethicist for many years at Duke University, once served as a weekend financial stewardship consultant for a Baptist congregation in Texas. He explored the unusual…

Voices of Faith

What it feels like being an anxious churchgoer

I grew up going to a Lutheran church several times a week, and it was one of my favorite things to do. I still love a good Lutheran liturgy, but…