Church #6. Meet Michelle Basner-Ketepa. She is the Minister of Faith Formation at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. With an average worship attendance of 300, Basner-Ketepa is working hard to integrate children into the life of the worship service. She comments on how Beautiful Savior’s has been slowly integrating a cross + generational … Continue reading Worship in a Box

Wind back until 1985. Now I don’t know about you, but in my house my parents made the rules and the decisions. My life growing up was a good one, but my role was to do as they asked or not. The later usually got me into trouble. Nevertheless, at some point I would acquiesce. … Continue reading Kids vote. Parents listen.

Church #5. Meet Nicole VanderMeulen. She is the Director of Children, Youth and Family at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Renton, Washington. With a worshipping attendance of around 300 people, VanderMeulen says, “St. Matthew’s is committed to loving all people.” This vibrant church has five core values, which are based on these title headings: Welcome, Story, … Continue reading A Third Space

I love my clerical collar. Even though it is a little itchy, it has opened many conversations about God and my life with the people I encounter around town. And what I have noticed thru these bump-into’s is that people are longing to know God. Churches on the other hand long for people to enter … Continue reading Stop Inviting, until…

Church #4. Meet Mary Corning Sanders. She is a solo pastor at United Lutheran Church in Tacoma, Washington. United has a membership of 100 people, with about 45-50 worshipping on a given Sunday. What this little church has done is amazing. Sanders says, “The realities are like many. United is an aging white congregation with … Continue reading 100 Members: 3000 Meals

In my effort to blog about my own experiences as well as other churches, here is my next story. I have always known that church relationships matter. For 20 years, I have been in ministry on 3 different continents speaking 3 to 4 languages. But it didn’t really hit me until I made my last … Continue reading A Tale of Two Churches

Church #3. Meet Mary JJ Keelan. She is the Director of Youth and Family Ministry at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Manasquan, New Jersey. With a vibrant staff, Holy Trinity has average worship attendance of 250 people a given Sunday. Keelan, Youth and Family Ministry and Worship and Music committees asked: “What do youth need … Continue reading Worship Reordered

Just as I am lifting up the creative things that congregations are doing around the USA, I am happy to share some of my own gleanings. With Maundy Thursday around the corner, first on the docket is about Holy Communion. Often I get questions from families about Holy Communion. Questions like “When should my child … Continue reading Play Holy Communion?

Prayers based on the Narrative Lectionary text Luke 9:51-62. Jesus set his face to go to Jerusalem... Led by Christ in our journey of repentance and moved by his compassion, let us pray for the church, those in need and all of God’s creation. God of the Journey, through your son, Jesus Christ, you are … Continue reading Ash Wednesday Prayers

Church #2. Meet Lexanne Kimball Graves. She is the Director of Faith Formation at Living Springs Lutheran Church in Columbia, South Carolina. Living Springs has a membership of 350 people with a heart for service. Graves describes Living Springs as an “agile church” that likes to do something else. She says, “The congregation is excited to try … Continue reading Football Anyone?