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,
A “seamless ministry” between church and school unites a congregation in outreach to its community.
by Rev. Thomas E. Engel Our old barbecue grill was as rusted as an old wreck in a junkyard. So my wife and I spent the early part of April shopping for a new gas grill. When we found one that met our needs, the grill’s big box barely fit in the trunk of our
I am writing in response to the April online letter, “Helping Church Workers.” I agree that the cost of seminary training and the debt accrued from four years of schooling is a hardship for many new pastors entering the ministry. Many of the students at the seminary are coming straight out of an undergraduate program
A Lutheran pastor’s Civil War diaries spotlight an “amazing story” and an enduring ministry.
Father, Dr. Walter A. “WAM” Maier, and son, Dr. Paul L. Maier, in all of their 40-plus books, never, ever reduced Christ’s Resurrection. The heart, mind, and rescue of those Resurrection hours altered the course of human history. The recent Maier piece (April) only reconfirms this most recent thrust into the depths of despair, disappointment,
We all love having kids in church, but what should we do when the crying starts?