For some reason, I continue to think a great deal about All Saints Day, even though we are now weeks beyond it. It was probably because the list of names was long this year–was there any congregation for which that wasn’t true?–and that extended list of names, of faces, of loved ones really brought home…… Continue reading The Promise of Something New
Category: Church
Life Together in a New Day
Joy. If you know the hymn, “Listen, God is calling,” you know that “joy” is the final word of the refrain. This was the hymn we sang after my presidential address and the responses this Saturday, and two young members of our community, Musa and Imani Mhanga, made it very special. They are the children…… Continue reading Life Together in a New Day
Creation as our Prayer Shawl
Like many churches and other Christian organizations, Wartburg Seminary has a little prayer shawl ministry. People in our community knit or crochet beautiful, soft shawls that are then given to others who request them. What is unique about them, of course, is revealed in the name. What differentiates a prayer shawl from any other wrap…… Continue reading Creation as our Prayer Shawl
The 21st Century Church: an Exciting Place to Be
The grave of Johannes Bugenhagen If you were fortunate enough to either be watching or attending [virtually] the NE Iowa Synod assembly, then you were treated to a wonderful opening presentation on Johannes Bugenhagen and church leadership by Wartburg Seminary professor Martin Lohrmann. The NE Iowa Synod is my new synod of roster, and this…… Continue reading The 21st Century Church: an Exciting Place to Be
Henri Nouwen on Christian Leadership
Have you read In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership, by Henri Nouwen? I just finished it, and I thought it was fabulous, so I wanted to share some thoughts about it here. Since beginning my new role at Wartburg Seminary, I have been reading different books on leadership, and so when I…… Continue reading Henri Nouwen on Christian Leadership
A Good Time to Wait
This year, more than usual, I have been looking forward to the season of Advent. I love Advent every year, mostly because of how much I love Christmas, and so I take great delight in the anticipation of the joy of the incarnation and the celebration of Emmanuel, God-with-us. Christmas is a season of love,…… Continue reading A Good Time to Wait
A Conversation on Communion amidst Covid-19
No one needs to be told that this has been a strange, challenging time in the life of the church—not only in the United States, where I live, but all over the world. For safety reasons, in-person gatherings were banned and individual congregations and leaders were left struggling with the question of how to be…… Continue reading A Conversation on Communion amidst Covid-19
The End of White Christian America
Like most of you, I am still reeling from the murder of George Floyd and the tragic aftermath. Unlike many of you, I have not been able to find the words to respond very well; I find that I am rendered speechless and despondent that we find ourselves here again, facing the murder of yet…… Continue reading The End of White Christian America
Lent and Loving
Last Wednesday was Ash Wednesday, the first day of the Liturgical Season of Lent; this is a time that the Catholic Church and most mainline Protestant Churches commemorate as a time of repentance and spiritual reflection leading up to the joyous season of Easter. In my Lenten Devotional this year, “Pauses for Lent,” I have…… Continue reading Lent and Loving
Ash Wednesday & (Cosmic) Dust
It was a very fortuitous circumstance that today, Ash Wednesday, my feminist theologies class was finishing up Ask the Beasts, by Elizabeth Johnson. This is a lyrical, prophetic text, in which Johnson makes a compelling argument that care for creation belongs at the heart of Christian faith, and that God Herself is deeply present in…… Continue reading Ash Wednesday & (Cosmic) Dust
Happy Lutheran 