Knowing that this Christmas would be so very different than Christmases past, and knowing that so many pastoral leaders are not only having to make difficult decisions to keep their people and communities safe but then also explain and sometimes defend those decisions, and knowing that all of us are already pressed at this time of the year, even without a global pandemic… Know all of this, Ben Ciesik and Mary Pechauer (co-lead pastors at Bethlehem Lutheran Church of the Twin Cities) and I decided to publish some resources to help us keep Christmas amid the coronavirus in ways that are joyful, faithful, and safe. The site we...

Thursday of Holy Week is called “Maundy Thursday.” The name “Maundy” comes from the Latin “mandatum,” or “command,” and is the first word of the phrase “Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos” – in English, “A new commandment I give you, that you love one another.” Jesus, speaking to his disciples, continues, “Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another” (John 13:34). Jesus says these words during his final meal with his disciples. For this reason, worship on Maundy Thursday is almost always a communion service and...

We had two rather remarkable worship services at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia over the last few weeks that I wanted to share with you. Two weeks ago, for our community All Saints service, we remembered a different set of saints. Actually, the community prayed for the usual group of saints, those we have known and loved and have lost in the last year. But we also prayed for all those who have been killed by gun violence in the city of Philadelphia over the previous year as well. As part of that remembrance, a memorial to those victims was set up outside of our chapel. Sponsored by the interfaith coalition Neighborhood...

This video went viral because it’s considered one of the great “fails” of Family Feud history. Flustered Anna Sass needs only 18 points for her family to win $20,000. That’s eighteen points from five questions, any of which could yield well over 18. Alas, she comes up empty. (You can read the HuffPo article if you want to know if her family ever forgave her. ☺) What struck me, however, wasn’t so much Anna’s minor tragedy as the answer to the second question she was asked: “Name a place where people check their watch.” She said “airport,” an answer already taken, then responded with “restaurant,” an answer...

Christ Jesus lay in death’s strong bands For our offenses given; But now at God’s right hand he stands And brings us life from heaven. Therefore let us joyful be And sing to God right thankfully Loud songs of hallelujah! –Martin Luther The characters in the following story will remain anonymous in order to protect both the innocent and the guilty. 🙂 A few years ago a good friend of mine shared a recent conversation she’d had with her middle school-aged kids. The older asked if they would be going away for spring break. She replied that, no, this year spring break happened to fall over Holy Week, and since their parents...

Sometimes, while I’m attending church I think about what it would be like to be new. Not just new to this particular church, but new to church, to Christian worship, to everything. Usually when I do that exercise I’m almost immediately discouraged, as I realize that I would probably understand very little of what was going on. More than that, I’d have to juggle a book and bulletin or keep following what’s being projected on the screen. Most of the decorations around the sanctuary and the dress of the people up front would be foreign. And, let’s not forget, I’d probably be singing (or at least listening to) a style of music that I...