They call it anticipatory grief. The kind of melancholy that accompanies impending loss, though clinically, the phrase is usually reserved for instances of anticipating the death of a loved one. Or maybe it’s disenfranchised grief - a series of responses to a physical...

The wilderness can be a very scary place. It is a destination that busy people try to avoid. Interestingly, the rhythm of our liturgical calendar has a way of driving us into the wilderness on a reoccurring basis.

My own wilderness adventure happened several years ago w...

“To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”

- 1 Corinthians 12: 7

     To believe that each of us has been given a manifestation of the Spirit is a pretty audacious belief.  When you look around you at work, at home, in the grocery store or Wa...

As people of faith in this God who became incarnate, who brought good news of great joy to all people, who sent angels singing of peace on earth, what questions do we need to ask about the violence, especially gun violence, that seems so prevalent these days in our cul...

After attending a large university in Colorado for two years, I transferred to California Lutheran College, back when it was a college, not yet a university. While there, I became very involved in campus ministry, and attended a campus ministry retreat lead by George J...

Sermon preached at the Bishop’s Convo 2019

Theme of the Convo:  Spiritual Foundations for a Vital Church

Text:  John 10:11-18

Theme:  We have a shepherd who has us – so come and rest in Christ.

            So how are you doing?  How is life treating you?  Is it good to get...

Before I get into youth and young Adults in the Church, let me introduce myself. I’m Megan Mong, a recent graduate of Wittenberg University with a degree in religion and a minor in sociology. I will be living In Jerusalem as a part of the Young Adults in Global Mission...

This past weekend I had the opportunity to be in WaKeeney, KS to attend the celebration of the 40th anniversary of Pastor Randy Gibbs’ ordination and then preach the following morning at St. John’s Lutheran, north of Ellis.  It seemed so appropriate that my first publi...

One of the most creative, difficult, and fun exercises that the OWWR sewing classes have taken on is making story quilts.  We learned early on that many, perhaps even most, of our students have no reading or writing skills. Communication is almost entirely oral through...

One of the most rewarding experiences that come my way at the annual Bishop’s Convocation, our synod’s fall theological conference, is an unpredictable, unscripted series of side conversations with rostered leaders and Parish Ministry Associates.  This year, a few of t...