by Terence Groth Some readers will remember the 1966 film The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming! In this comedy of the Cold War, a Russian submarine accidentally runs aground near a small New England town. Crewmembers come ashore to get help. The reaction of the townsfolk is surprise and fear. They are afraid
by Roland Lovstad Light of Christ: Sharing the faith on Sunday and every day — in Mandarin Chinese and English In response to a call to serve, a district and a suburban congregation reach out to a growing Chinese community with the Good News of Jesus. On a Sunday last November, at a crossroads in
A jeweler was getting married. When it came time to slip the ring on his bride’s finger, he hesitated. “With this ring …,” prompted the pastor, noting the jeweler appeared more than a little nervous. “With this ring …,” the jeweler began haltingly. “With this ring …” “Well?” said the pastor. “With this ring …
by Paula Schlueter Ross Anita Olvera’s passion for her ‘family’ opens doors—and hearts Anita Olvera still has trouble thinking of what she does as “evangelism.” As the self-described “social-ministries person” at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fresno, Calif., Olvera took the congregation’s “adopt a family at Christmas” ministry to a new level when she suggested “adopting”
I would like to commend Susan Senechal for her brief but compelling article, “A Light in a World Gone Dark” (December, 2007). Unlike many of your contributors, Susan began where real life is – often dark and filled with tragedy – then soothingly applied the healing balm of the Gospel. So often your articles strike
M is for the Miraculous gift God gave to mankind. E is for the Everlasting life He left behind. R is for the Richest love He gave to you and me. R is for the Redemption He blessed us with. Y is for the Yearning to meet Him in paradise. C is
Written 472 years ago this Christmas, Martin Luther’s Christmas letter to Prince Joachim remains a testimony to Luther’s pastoral theology.
Our congregation is conducting its annual stewardship drive. In the past my husband and I have given generously, but because of serious concerns about the direction the church and school are taking, we no longer feel we can support them. We have shared our concerns with several elders but nothing changes. Most of our offerings
How do we endure His silence in times of suffering and persecution? The question is a very real and practical one for the Church and for each one of us.
Thinking about Christmas and Christmas gifts, the love with which they are purchased and exchanged, and the sacrifice that often is involved reminds us that these same factors are descriptive also of the greatest gift of all.
We all remember special gifts from Christmases past, but the one great Gift remains the Son our heavenly Father sent to us.
A number of LCMS congregations, schools, and youth groups are using the film “The Nativity Story” as a community outreach tool. If this pertains to you, you may want to use the Dec. 2006 Lutheran Witness story on this movie as a helpful discussion guide.