The grace of an unbalanced life

The grace of an unbalanced life

by Angela Denker I’m writing this article about balance at 7 p.m. on a Friday. The dishes are washed, the laundry is done, and my two boys, age 7 and 4, are downstairs playing basketball in the basement with their dad. I’m not home anymore, though. Every time I sat down to write there, I […]

Faith reflections: Healing after brokenness

Faith reflections: Healing after brokenness

by AmyJo Mattheis Sin is the source of our wounds, and forgiveness is the balm that heals. As a Christian raised in the Lutheran tradition, I believe that our baptism is at the center of how we interact with the violence and brokenness of sin. Baptism changes the way we see the world because baptism […]

Beginning again: Forgiveness and the promise of a new year

Beginning again: Forgiveness and the promise of a new year

The Rev. Minna Bothwell As the calendar turns to a new year, many of us reflect on the past and make resolutions for the future. Among the many goals we might set, one stands out as both deeply personal and spiritually transformative: forgiveness. The practice of forgiveness—of others and of ourselves—is foundational to a life […]

Time is a gift this Advent

Time is a gift this Advent

Lea “El tiempo es un regalo en el Adviento” por Kristina Diaz en Español. by Kristina Diaz Time is a gift we all need, and Advent, like Lent, is a time of year that invites us to take our time to slow down. The air is filled with anticipation as we count the days until […]

Time is a gift this Advent

El tiempo es un regalo en el Adviento

por Kristina Diaz El tiempo es un regalo que todos necesitamos, y tanto el Adviento, como la Cuaresma, son épocas del año que nos invitan a tomarnos nuestro tiempo; a vivir con un poco más de pausa al contar los días que faltan para Navidad. En casa disfrutamos de pasear por los barrios y llenar […]

Do I check the Lutheran box?

Do I check the Lutheran box?

by Becca Ehrlich I grew up in an interfaith household. My Mom is Roman Catholic; my Dad is Jewish. Though neither of my parents were particularly active in their faith traditions, we celebrated both Hanukkah and Christmas, a tradition I continue to do every holiday season. I was confirmed and welcomed into the church as […]

My experience as a new Lutheran

My experience as a new Lutheran

by Wanda Frenchman I was raised in a non-Christian, indigenous home by my Lakota mother and grandparents. We didn’t attend church. We did practice the Lakota ceremony, and I was taught at an early age about Tunkasila (tunkashila) or Grandfather the Creator. We prayed to Tunkasila and gave gratitude for food, family, good weather, good health, […]

Wearing orange in remembrance of Indian Boarding Schools

Wearing orange in remembrance of Indian Boarding Schools

by Wanda Frenchman The National Day of Remembrance for Indian Boarding Schools in the United States is Monday, September 30. It originated in Canada as the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation in 2021 when the Government of Canada passed Bill C-5, making it a federal holiday. Canada has done work in healing its Indigenous […]

Starting over where you are now

Starting over where you are now

by Meredith Harber “But still the clever north wind was not satisfied. It spoke to Vianne of towns yet to be visited, friends in need yet to be discovered, battles yet to be fought. . .” One of my favorite movies is Chocolat with Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp. Not only is it about chocolate, […]