Stories, reflections and perspectives from diverse range of voices across the ELCA.
Every congregation in the country is trying to figure out how to engage young adults through their ministry. You probably know all the scary statistics about the number of people…
One of my favorite moments at my parish is the hush right before Christmas Eve services begin. The lights are lowered just a bit as everyone settles in, and eventually…
Culturally it’s easy to treat Advent as a countdown to Christmas—a swirl of parties, sparkle and lights. But liturgically it’s a season of anguished waiting. For many years, it seemed…
Christmas pageants rank high among iconic traditions of the holy season of Jesus’ birth—Advent candles, Moravian stars, crèche (nativity) scenes and Chrismons on the tree. But unlike those other symbols…
“I’m a Lutheran” is a monthly profile featuring ELCA members around the country. The profiles showcase ELCA members in all their diversity, connecting one another through individual faith stories as…
There is a tragic irony to having a national conversation about sexual misconduct during the feast of Advent. We are waiting for the coming of Jesus, an impossibility first witnessed…
Well, it’s almost here. The signs of it are everywhere: It’s in the stores; it’s on TV; it’s online. This is a time of anticipation and waiting and hope. Countless…
Editor’s note: The following collection of stories is a response to a reader call for funny Christmas pageant bloopers. This is a companion to the article “Pillow fights, wild hogs and…
My mother, Ruth, died this past summer. I miss her terribly. She was a fourth-grade teacher and passed on an ardent love for books and reading. Growing up in Tennessee,…
On Dec. 25, Western Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus. Christmas is a festival of the incarnation, a theological word that means “becoming flesh.” John 1:14 proclaims: “The Word became…
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name. For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness…
“I am doing OK. … I lost everything, but I am getting back on my feet. Other people have not been able to do that—help them.” These were the words…
You have attempted to access a feature of this website that is only available to members of livinglutheran.org.
A free membership gives you a customized dashboard for curated content based on your interest, the ability to like and save articles, an optional subscription to a weekly email digest “LL Stories”, and more.
Already have an account? log in
If you are a subscriber to the LL Stories email digest from before the introduction of the new website in December 2025, your account is intact, but your password will need to be reset unless you have a login for another ELCA website.
If you have a login for another ELCA website like community.elca.org, directory.elca.org or others you can use the password associated with that login.
Logout
