Ask the Pastor: Spiritual Practices

Like any practice or habit, picking up new spiritual practices can be difficult. They are appropriately called practices because learning to use them is a lifelong journey. Many of us grew up with some sort of spiritual practice at home, and many of us lost them over time. My family prayed before dinner every day when I was a little kid, but as we got older and life got busier, we weren't always eating together as a family and the practice died out. This was the extent of my spiritual practices at home growing up. So I had to learn a few later in life, too.

Why We Gathered to Pray

This post originated as a response to concerns about the appropriateness of holding an evening service of prayer the day after Election Day. On the evening of 5 November through the morning of 6 November, I received a number of messages from members of Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church expressing fear and uncertainty about the safety … Continue reading Why We Gathered to Pray

Leaders in the Church Part IV: Missionaries

In 2022, the ELCA had 131 missionary households serving in 45 countries around the world. 24 of these missionaries were new, and 24 more were Young Adults in Global Mission, young adults to agree to serve for one year. They served in education, administration, parish ministry, and healthcare settings. This year, that number increased to 29 YAGM volunteers.

Leaders in the Church Part III: Religious Life

Lutheran religious orders? Yes! This comes as a shock to American Lutherans who, for the most part, never come into contact with members of Lutheran religious orders—and in the United States, there are very, very few.

Leaders in the Church Part II: Deacons

While the role of a pastor in the church is very well-defined, the roles of deacons are as numerous as the deacons themselves. A pastor is almost always the spiritual and administrative head of a congregation, but a deacon can be anything, minister anywhere, in any walk of life.