Weekly Blog Posts
The following blog posts are written by Bishop Jen Nagel, Synod staff members, and leaders from the Minneapolis Area Synod.
Called to empathy
By Bishop Ann Svennungsen What a weekend! On Saturday I was honored to convey the church’s deep gratitude at the funerals of John Nelson and Orval Westby, two pastors who’d been ordained for 63 and [...]
Of Mystics, Image, and Story
By Emilie Bouvier Hush, hush, my little root … my little pod Hush ... hush ... my little grandmother I read these words from Meridel Le Sueur two mornings ago to a room of women, [...]
We. Are. Fam-i-ly.
By Bishop Ann Svennungsen “My church is like a family!” It’s the most frequent answer I get when I ask what people like about their congregation. “We feel like a family.” There’s much to celebrate [...]
Shutdown slowdown blues
By Pastor Craig Pederson Before I felt the call to explore ordained ministry, I was a federal employee. Fresh out of college in the early 1990s, I secured a job as a claims representative for [...]
Practicing Justice
By Bishop Ann Svennungsen Each of the three congregations I have served included an aspect of social justice or social ministry in my job description. Zion Lutheran in Iowa City, Iowa, had a peace and [...]
Spicing up your property management … with less salt
By Bob Hulteen How much does the Bible have to say about salt? A Lot. (Get it? That’s kind of funny, right? Okay, please don’t let a bad pun keep you from reading the rest [...]
With joy and wonder
By Grace Corbin On the last Friday evening of November, surrounded by the winter-decorated sanctuary of Central Lutheran, I sat expectantly as I waited for Augsburg’s Vespers Service to begin. Augsburg Vespers is a concert [...]
Wrinkled and Reddened
By Bishop Ann Svennungsen More than any time of year, it seems, Christmas is a season for remembering. The sounds, sights, and smells evoke memories of days gone by. I remember singing carols with my [...]
Faith without formation is dead
By Bob Hulteen Breathless, LonRay found me sweeping the porch of my Washington, D.C., rowhouse. “They set out all of Mr. and Mrs. Grant’s belongings on the street,” he yelled from the sidewalk. So, together [...]