The little children eagerly “run” down the aisle and kneel in anticipation of a simple grape. | more »
Worship
Maybe we don't know how to decorate for Pentecost, the way we do for Christmas. It's great to change the paraments to red. But we could do so much more. | more »
A choir that includes the very young up to the not-so young can bring energy -- and just plain fun! -- to a worship service.
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How do we encounter that gift of abundant life in times of sickness? | more »
A new ELCA ministry in Durham, N.C., invites the community to get creative about expressing their faith. | more »
This is a valuable resource for anyone wanting to expand their understanding of the liturgy. | more »
Unlike the movie, church members don’t just magically appear out of the corn fields. | more »
What’s a working preacher to do? | more »
Our prayer gives voice to our longing for God’s grace and shapes our expectations for encountering that grace in our lives and in the world. | more »
The signs of resurrection and new life were at first so small, it was easy to miss them — and to dismiss them. | more »
Our congregation has an “Investment in Ministry Plan,” not a budget. In our meetings and conversations, the leadership avoids the word “budget” and always speaks in ministry terms. | more »
Christians around the world gather to remember Jesus’ death and celebrate his resurrection. | more »
Multitasking isn’t inherently bad, and newer generations are simply better at it than older generations. | more »
I’m a lifelong Lutheran who enjoys our heritage greatly, but I believe it is time for a new emphasis on building bridges rather than living on islands. | more »
And Lutherans keep singing -- grateful to be part of a cultural minority that not only can sit there and listen but also can stand up and sing and sing and sing. | more »
Proclaiming the good news should go beyond sanctuary walls to reach those who don't yet believe. | more »
Shekinah Chapel seeks to inspire youth and young adults through its performing arts and mentoring ministries. | more »
This time of the church’s year is laden with meaning for the Christian life and calls for worship services that can bear that weight. | more »
At the very basic level even throwing around a label like “None” is troublesome. (See also: “unchurched or underchurched.”) Stop using them. | more »
The disciplines, day by day, carrying us deeper into the mystery of the moment now arriving. | more »
The feeling of the season is intentionally reflective and pensive. How might your worship practice highlight this feeling?
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Find worship ideas to help with the challenge of a festival that lasts for 50 days. | more »
Stewardship can be summed up as the interplay between God’s grace and our response. | more »
Placing thumbprints and signatures on their new charter was an important milestone for all members at River of Hope, an ELCA worshiping community in Hutchinson, Minn.
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Mid-week worship services are an opportunity to emphasize and expand upon Lenten lectionary themes of God’s mercy and forgiveness. | more »
While it is easy to shake our heads at these hearty partiers and feel morally superior, the truth is that we live in a Mardi Gras culture year-round and nationwide. | more »
From prayer breakfasts to brown bag Bible studies and soup dinners, ELCA congregations are changing up their ministries for the 40 days of Lent. | more »
We let our secrets tumble out, and fall on the mercy of God. It is the beginning of our Lenten disciplines. | more »
Our language holds the tension between what is unique to each worshiping assembly and what is shared throughout the church. | more »
Here are suggestions that may help establish a long-lasting and better-sounding choir.
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The United States is unique in its practice of allowing clergy to preside at legal wedding ceremonies. In much of the world couples first go to a judge. | more »
"Protestantism isn’t going to cease to be. It will give way to something new," says author Phyllis Tickle. | more »
It was very moving, especially the talk of what the old building had meant — some tears were shed. | more »
When we receive the bread and wine of this meal, we receive Christ’s body and blood. | more »
To truly appreciate Bach’s influence on future generations, his secular and theoretical works must be considered along with his sacred music. | more »
Members of Santa Maria de Guadalupe haven't needed to knock on doors to invite people to church — potential members just show up. | more »
ELCA congregations in Seattle celebrate Thanksgiving as an interfaith community. | more »
Advent is a time to meditate on the meaning of life and what is in our own hearts and to pray for God’s salvation and wholeness for all. | more »
Do we really need to go to church? Yes, it matters. We are created to be in partnership, to be in companionship with one another and with God. | more »
Here are some ways for the congregation to provide prayer requests and individual prayers during worship. | more »
The readings, prayers, hymns, sermon and traditions reflect hopeful expectation and present the reality of Christ’s tangible presence in a world. | more »
The gospel is crazy hard. “Come and die and be raised” is not a sexy message. It is actually a hard sell. | more »
Weather conversation helps us sort out memories and pass on stories that help us to pass on history. We have parables around us all of the time. | more »
Are there ecumenical services or events that involve those of other faiths? Does your congregation have programs that are a shared effort that strengthen those ecumenical ties? You might also want to read: A time to gather Building bridges between... | more »
Instead of speculating about suffering or damnation, perhaps we should hold fast to Christ’s promise that he returns out of love for us. | more »
This year, let’s observe Black Friday in a more profound way. Let’s use this time to plan how we’ll have a meaningful Advent. | more »
To follow Jesus isn’t like joining a club that gets together and has communion every once in a while. | more »
How one congregation uses chancel dramas to connect faith with daily life.
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My son’s wedding was most definitely a worship service of Word and Sacrament and they came for God's blessing. All of the other choices followed from this truth. | more »
Unfortunately, the church has often fallen into practices for both worship and evangelism that separate the two.
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Successful mainline churches have remembered to take care of people’s spiritual needs. That includes meaningful worship services with good music and lots of Bible study. | more »
Most of us hope that worship materials will serve and enrich the gathering of God's people.
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Music is a wonderful gift we can use to nurture the faith from one generation to another.
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I think we do ourselves a disservice by only considering those saints who have died. | more »
You’re Lutheran, you say? What is that? What does that mean? | more »
The Christ of the past is not dead; he is not even past. He lives, and because he lives, all the saints live also. | more »
It provides a vehicle for God to speak to us. A way to move us. | more »
This type of service is for those who want a break from the business of life. It offers a quiet time to spend in worship. | more »
Augsburg Fortress launches a Web-based resource designed with the liturgical church musician in mind. | more »
The answer that most stuck with me is this one, “Music.” We will speak music. | more »
An ELCA congregation in New York City, once in the dark days of empty pews, is enjoying a rebirth of vitality and mission.
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The disciples ask, “What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you?”
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The old rule used to be that biblical saints and commemorations could take precedence over the lectionary for a Green Sunday. Now they all just get shoved off to Monday. | more »
The love of God in Christ is magnetic, drawing us through our broken places where we stray from God, where we hurt, where we cry out in suffering.
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I wonder if those really helpful worship folders could be isolating us from one another? | more »
As I turn my attention to guard my belongings, how am I less able to reach out with a gesture of kindness to another? | more »
For each of us there is a point that connects us to each other and the world around us. | more »
If anything is more counter-cultural than forgiveness, I haven’t found it. We live in a culture that if not glorifying violence, considers it acceptable. | more »
The disciples did trust God in the storm — they trusted God so much that they shook him out of his sleep and cried to him for help.
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We recognize that gathering with the community of the baptized for worship is essential to our lives of faith. | more »
Well, that church that used to be is dead and it ain't coming back. God never leads us backwards — only forward. | more »
How we worship reflects our commitment to God's saving mission for the whole world. | more »
Our certainty in Christ is that even when we take our last breath and life, as we know it, ends, we have a sure and certain hope. | more »
This book draws upon a heightened environmental consciousness and explores ways this awareness can come alive in worship.
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Like an organ with many pipes being played at once, the Holy Spirit at work can sound like chaos.
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When we enjoy a wonderful vacation, we try to capture and preserve it. And so it is with our faith experiences. | more »
It’s not simply a matter of making worship more appealing but also demonstrating that worship matters. | more »
It is a rich and complex word that is suitable for the Easter season. A word I can use but not readily define. | more »
Sheep are ugly, filthy, smelly, stupid, stubborn animals. Now, put yourself in that image and picture Jesus loving you! | more »
Churches have always sought people “where they are.” And I’ll admit I’m guilty of using that line, mostly because I think it’s true. | more »
What indeed? What is the point of the story of Jesus and why do we go to church? | more »
Over a period of four weeks, emphasis is placed on God, the creator of all; Christ, the redeemer of creation; and the Spirit, the sustainer of life.
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The two styles have their proponents and opponents, while many people are comfortable with both. If your congregation offers a choice, has one style emerged as more popular? You might also want to read: Preaching in their parking lots Coming... | more »
Perhaps it came during worship, or maybe it was while going about your daily routine. If you felt particularly close to God, what was the situation? You might also want to read: Finding favor with God Hide and seek with... | more »
When I come to know in heart and soul that my sins are forgiven, that death is not the answer, then my life is fundamentally transformed. | more »
While it’s the Scripture messages that make Holy Week services special, how is your congregation inspired to affirm the messages in small or big ways that are likely moving and beautiful? You might also want to read: A Southern Hemisphere... | more »
Jesus took the sacred Passover meal of the Jews and recreated it making something glorious for his followers to do until he comes again. | more »
It’s a week that runs the gamut, from the preparation of Maundy Thursday to the sorrow of Good Friday and Easter Vigil to the joy of Easter. Is there a part of the week that leaves you feeling especially close... | more »
Centuries ago the church thought Christ's journey from the cross to the empty tomb was so important that it should be celebrated weekly. | more »
Perhaps it is lunacy to consider an animal of this stature to be central to the work of Christ — but I stand by that claim. | more »
I once asked someone about their eyes being shut and they said that there were just closing their eyes to concentrate and remove distractions. | more »
My favorite part is when Jesus uses the image of a grain of wheat to demonstrate what discipleship is all about. | more »
Within the worship service, the physical gesture of the laying on of hands can be a powerful moment of connection with the love, care and compassion of God. | more »
In April 2011, Carrie Underwood in a powerful performance of “How Great Thou Art,” now archived on YouTube, brought the crowd to its feet. It’s one of those older hymns that have a timeless power to move us. What are... | more »
Lord, when Sunday morning arrives where are your people? I know exactly where they are. Many people are out worshiping other gods. | more »
What makes it special? Does it spark memories of Lenten seasons gone by? How does it speak to you today? You might also want to read: A journey from death to life Planning Lutheran worship in the season of Lent... | more »
The 40 days of Lent is a time of simplicity, renewal and preparation in congregations, especially preparation for baptisms that will occur at the Easter Vigil. | more »
How important are the more detailed, central elements in each rite? | more »
The coffee shops, hospitals, multipurpose gyms, stages, food pantries and garages, wherever we share our faith, are places where church happens. | more »
Kristy Henriksen, whose background is Norwegian Lutheran, draws inspiration from her children, who, she says, "are fearless and brave." | more »
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