Weekly Blog Posts
The following blog posts are written by Bishop Jen Nagel, Synod staff members, and leaders from the Minneapolis Area Synod.
The warmth of Nigeria
By Bishop Ann Svennungsen In the midst of 95 degree heat and under cloudless skies, some 30,000 Lutherans gathered for a five-day annual conference in Demsa, Nigeria. Arriving in vehicles of all sizes and kinds – including pick-up trucks with families sitting on top [...]
How is Your Neighbor?
By Bob Hulteen, Director of Communications, Stewardship, and Organizing I had always “prided” myself on not having traveled internationally. While all my friends were headed to other countries for service or learning or vacation, I [...]
Close Your Eyes, What Does God Look Like?
By Bob Hulteen, Director of Communications and Stewardship I have a confession to make, like a real confession: I don’t say the first line of the Lord’s Prayer. (It’s not the only slight edit I [...]
Welcomed by God’s Grace, Are We Ready to So Welcome?
By Bishop Ann Svennungsen What joy I felt to see the Star Tribune’s picture of the Somali family reunited last Thursday. Peeking behind a teddy bear as big as she, a four-year-old girl stands embraced [...]
The search for the “secret sauce” and Christian public leadership
By Rev. John Hulden, Assistant to the Bishop How is your congregation doing at lifting up leaders and sending them out to serve the Church? Can you name someone from your congregation who felt the [...]
How invested are you?
By Bishop Ann Svennungsen In times like these, the social teachings of the ELCA are a significant gift as we in the church discern how to act in fresh, faithful, and wise ways in response [...]
The Body of Christ in Three Expressions
Recently I participated in the installations of two new pastors who were called to serve churches set in very different contexts. One was a thriving congregation in an affluent suburb, the other was a new [...]
The “Best of 2016” at __________ Lutheran Church
By Rev. Craig Pederson, Assistant to the Bishop During this time of year, we see an endless stream of “Best of” and “Top Ten” lists that review practically every aspect of our lives – the [...]
The Hosts of Heaven Present With Us
By Bishop Ann Svennungsen We’re not always good at waiting. Stopped at a red light or standing behind several others in the checkout line, we become antsy, impatient. So, when Advent calls us into the [...]
