This was the final newsletter column of my pastoral career. I was part of four parishes in 31 years. They are all different, but they share common challenges as Christianity…
Pastors, bishops, congregations and other leaders across our country are adapting and innovating to keep up with a shifting religious landscape. Fewer people are coming to church, and a rising…
October is a time when many congregations invite financial commitments for the coming year. Would your congregation like to increase giving in the year ahead so you have more money…
Congregations live in the tension of these two opposing principles: Ministry is mostly not about money, but most ministries require money to run. How is your congregation doing? Download a…
As you sit in the pew waiting for worship to begin, the pastor announces that the stewardship committee chair will be giving a temple talk. Dread washes over you as…
Most Lutherans don’t think twice about opening up a hymnal and being able to read the words inside. But for blind or visually impaired church members like John and Donna…
Reflections from Orlando In the early morning hours of June 12, a lone gunman entered Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., and killed 49 people and wounded 53 others….
As the summer wraps up and the youngsters prepare to head off to school, 980 voting members will be departing for New Orleans Aug. 8-13 for the 2016 Churchwide Assembly…
The pastors today who will stay at one call their entire ministry are rare. In fact, out of my graduating seminary class, only one of my close colleagues is still…
Everyday, Living Lutheran offers a prayer for the day from the ELCA resource Prayer Ventures, which can be downloaded here. These petitions are offered as a guide for your own…
Judges 7 is the story of Gideon’s small army overcoming numerical odds to defeat the Midianites. It is at the center of this victory that God’s presence is made known….
Everyday, Living Lutheran offers a prayer for the day from the ELCA resource Prayer Ventures, which can be downloaded here. These petitions are offered as a guide for your own…
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