By Bob Hulteen When no one else was really coming into the office in the first months of the pandemic (as per guidelines), I decided to grow my beard out. I mean, I’ve had a goatee for more than a decade. But goatees require some shaving daily, and that’s hardly been worth it during COVID [...]
By Pastor Norma Malfatti This Thursday we mark Jesus’ ascension. (You may remember Jesus tells Mary in the garden, “Don’t hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to Abba God.” John 20:17, The Inclusive Bible: the first egalitarian translation.) This day is a turning point in the life of the early church. [...]
By Bishop Ann Svennungsen May 2 was the sixth anniversary of the death of our son John Amos. He was 30 years old and died after a long and courageous fight against cancer. Of course, my mind is filled with memories of John. But, these past weeks, I’ve been thinking especially about his teachers. John [...]
By Pastor Craig Pederson In the wake of the momentous events of last week – the Chauvin trial verdict, the killing of Daunte Wright, the death of Walter Mondale, the uptick of COVID-19 cases – I’m still reflecting on the gospel text many of us heard over the weekend about Jesus being the Good Shepherd [...]
By Emilie Bouvier A few weeks ago, I was sitting in a comfy deep-seated camping chair, but still somehow managed to be on the edge of my seat. I was sitting around a campfire, but the experience reminded me of being in a seminary classroom with a favorite professor – rapped in attention, soaking in [...]
By Pastor John Hulden When I was 10 years ago, I got to tag along with my Dad to the 1970 Lutheran Youth Gathering in New York City. My Dad, Rusty Halaas, was on the team that planned for thousands of teenagers to descend on the Big Apple with nightly gatherings in Madison Square Garden. [...]
By Bishop Ann Svennungsen Christ is Risen! Wherever you gathered last Sunday – masked and socially distanced in the sanctuary, on folding chairs in the church parking lot, at home on zoom – I pray the Easter Gospel came through loud and clear: Jesus Christ, crucified and risen for the sake the of the world. [...]
By Brenda Blackhawk My great-great grandmother was born in 1896 in a wigwam in Nebraska. She died peacefully in her sleep in 1999, at the age of 103. I was 11 years-old when she passed. I never got spend much time with Minnie Gray Wolf Littlebear, but the times I did made an impression. I [...]
By Pastor Norma Malfatti This past weekend many congregations heard Psalm 51 in worship. This psalm is traditionally known as the psalm that King David prayed when the prophet Nathan, on behalf of God, called him out for his egregious sins of sexual abuse when he decided he needed to be with Bathsheba and then [...]
By Pastor Craig Pederson I’m an avid fan of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” I find Colbert to be incredibly smart, funny, entertaining, and insightful. The writers who craft the monologues and skits are amazingly creative, and the house band (called “Jon Batiste and Stay Human”) emotes an authentic and joyful New Orleans vibe [...]
