Come, thou unexpected Jesus
Voices of Faith

Come, thou unexpected Jesus

I was dreading Christmas. As a pastoral intern serving across the country from my family, I didn’t have the money or time to make it home for the holiday. My…
Surrendering
Voices of Faith

Surrendering

I’ve always wondered why so many people flocked out to see John the Baptist in the wilderness. Studying in Chicago many summers ago, I regularly encountered a wild-looking guy on…
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Voices of Faith

Finding home: Coming home to Earth

Our notions about who God is and where God is are powerful conceptions. As Franciscan priest and writer Richard Rohr has said, “Our operative image of God is the first…
A simple thanks-giving
Voices of Faith

A simple thanks-giving

We all bow our heads around the table and close our eyes, except for my youngest son, Alistair. He’s the one who will lead the prayer. His 3-year-old eyes remain…
I’m a Lutheran: Jenna Novosel
Voices of Faith

I’m a Lutheran: Jenna Novosel

Our Shepherd Lutheran Church, Severna Park, Md. Junior at Roanoke College, Salem, Va., majoring in literary studies with a minor in creative writing I find grace in nearly every possible…
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Voices of Faith

The first

Every Thanksgiving I pull out my favorite Billy Collins poem, “The Lanyard.” The poet opens the dictionary to the “L” section one day and his eyes fall upon a word…
All we have to live on
Voices of Faith

All we have to live on

Poignantly, the Gospel reading for Nov. 11, the centennial of the armistice ending World War I (Veterans Day), focuses on a widow. Jesus points her out to his disciples, saying…
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Voices of Faith

Saints who remain with us

It could be any Sunday at Lake Park Lutheran Church, Milwaukee. You find your seat in the pew and greet your neighbors. Yet something about today feels different. A bit…
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Voices of Faith

Unlikely saints

On All Saints Day, the church remembers beloved individuals who have died since the previous All Saints Day. We also honor the faithful martyrs and servants who died long before…
What the widow’s mite taught me about generosity
Voices of Faith

What the widow’s mite taught me about generosity

With the arrival of autumn, many ELCA congregations enter a new season of stewardship. But finding new ways to foster giving can be a challenge for congregants and pastors. In…
Finding home: “Imago Dei”
Voices of Faith

Finding home: “Imago Dei”

It was an ordinary Sunday afternoon, but I’ll never forget its poignancy. My mother lived far away, and I was sharing yet another long-distance phone conversation with her. She was…