Oil and Palm Branches

Holy Week has come and gone. This is, without question, my favorite time in the church year. From Palm Sunday through Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday, we have the opportunity to experience the Scripture. We get to walk through a week so devastating, yet so wonderfully perfect. The life and divinity of Jesus, his ministry and the wholeness of God’s steadfast love for his creation becomes real and honored. Each year we read the same stories, repeat similar worship traditions – yet this week is impactful deep, deep down in my soul in a way words can’t do justice.

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The “Perks” Found on the Journey

It was nine very short weeks ago when I posted Diving In. I was preparing to start two fairly time-intensive faith formation studies, and I was faced with both excitement and trepidation. I asked myself: Can I really do both and give each the time and spiritual attention they need?

An unexpected change of plans

All – my husband has a story to tell, so I’m turning over the blog to him this week. Thanks for reading!

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Recently, our family had an opportunity to see the musical Come from Away. The story of this show centers on the small community of Gander, Newfoundland. On September 11, 2001, the city of Gander welcomed 38 unexpected airplanes and nearly 7,000 passengers into their community when the U.S. airspace was closed. For five days, the people of Gander opened their homes and changed everything about their lives in order to help these strangers that were stranded unexpectedly.

The body and blood… NOT for me?

My family and I had the opportunity to worship last weekend with friends at their Catholic parish. As a life-long member of an ELCA Lutheran church, I know we have our own long-held traditions. Our Lutheran worship services are liturgical by design; there is an order to it which might seem foreign to someone new. But wow… that is really felt during the Catholic service! Stand up, sit down, kneel, speak some words, utter a cued response. It makes one feel a bit out of place!

Cheating on my Homework, Part 2

As I mentioned last week in Part 1 of my two part series… I am taking an 8-week online class about the writings which provide the scriptural and theological foundations for Lutheran faith and practice. As this posts, I have two weeks to go – a bittersweet thought. How can you be eager for the homework to be done for a class you intentionally chose to take because you like doing the homework??

Cheating on my Homework, Part 1

I am 5 weeks into an 8-week online class on the Lutheran Confessions, a study of “the collection of Reformation-era writings that provides the scriptural and theological foundations for Lutheran faith and practice.” This may sound tedious, but it has actually been an enriching opportunity, with real life application!

In the middle of an online class, the thought of writing more words about faith – words I actually have to let other people read – is exhausting! I’ve written all these things for class – weekly posts, papers, peer responses – all carefully constructed! Why can’t I use one of those? Yet every time I try to go the easy route and “steal” a writing from class for my blog, my husband will inevitably tell me… “It’s good. But it doesn’t really tell any stories about faith in our family.”

Just a little time for prayer

My husband and I are facilitating a Wednesday night group at our church during Lent. The focus: Prayer! We were given free reign – no guidebook, no agenda to follow. This is fun and freeing – but also carries a lot of weight! Thankfully, my husband is a teacher. He knows how to go with the flow and adapt the plan when the conversation takes an unexpected turn!