by Diane Strzelecki Like families in many communities, the Ellis family was unchurched. Today, the family worships at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Batavia, Ill. Corinne Ellis tells her story to Lutheran Witness editor-at-large Diane Strzelecki. We moved to Batavia four years ago and had planned on sending our son to public school. In fact, that was
I fear no harm, for with his arm
He shall embrace and shield me;
so to my God I yield me.
by Scott Snow As the “dog days of summer” fade into preparations for kids going back to school, there will still be time for many families to squeeze in that last exciting opportunity to get away before the more relaxed schedules of summer become distant memories. Others will know the excitement of welcoming these travelers
I have a few comments regarding The Shack and the article by Rev. Steven Borst in the May Lutheran Witness. Even though, as Pastor Borst says, the book has some good points, my concern is its vicious attacks on Orthodox theology and the anti-church and misleading messages the book portrays. Many people may read this
I enjoyed the articles on our seminaries and our seminarians in the May issue, and I would like to relate the interesting story behind one seminarian, now a vicar: Mark Larson. The story: Mark was an executive at a nuclear power plant, his wife, Debbie, using her MBA, their two children out of school and
I appreciate Dr. Karl Barth’s response to my April Witness article, “Reservations on the Resurrection?” and I certainly agree that the Gospel writers did a much finer job of recall than did my students in the illustration provided! The point, again, was simply to demonstrate that, in terms of the human dimension, people seeing the
The Shedding Some Light cartoon in the May issue is not very Lutheran. From what I have been taught in my childhood home, congregational catechism classes, and later at Concordia University, Rain, rain go away, come again another day is a prayer. Helen M. CraigMaryville, Mo. Read More Letters to the Editor Send letters
My husband teases me about being “an old Lutheran.” In this day of universal informality, lots of decency and manners seem to have gone out of style, even in church. Perhaps it is the floor plan of our church, but I can’t help but notice that people don’t seem to observe what was once known
Roger Johnson of inner-city Chicago (May “Letters”) is to be commended for his sincere desire to reach people of the world with the Gospel of Christ through his congregation. However, while I am not living the dynamic of his specific parish environment and situation, having lived 35 years in that greater metropolitan area–29 years prior
by Dr. William B. Knippa I was diagnosed several months ago with a terminal illness. I think I’m over the initial shock of hearing that news. I have wonderful family support, and I know heaven is waiting for me, but I’m still scared. I’ve heard people talk about dying a “good death” or “dying well.”
I write to encourage other retired pastors to consider serving as short-term volunteer missionaries. My wife and I returned recently from a wonderful two weeks in Taiwan. We served at Concordia Middle School and Concordia English Language Academy in Chiayi. We were very impressed with the dedicated staff there. Only five or six percent of
‘O Sleeper, Awake!’ My husband’s beloved grandmother was called to her eternal home at the age of 101 (while holding her pastor’s hand). During her funeral service, our 5-year-old son, Jack, became restless. First, he asked to take off his shirt because he was hot. Then he was hungry. When he said he was sleepy,