By Rev. Bob Linstrom In an article published in the Grand Rapids Press, Rev. Bob Linstrom reflects on being a part of an interfaith partnership in Grand Rapids and recent interfaith pilgrimage to Israel. Read More.
Called by fire
By Sue Sprang GLADWIN COUNTY – What if I were tell you that three out of four ECLA clergy are volunteer fire fighters? Well, at least that’s true for Gladwin County, where four ELCA clergy reside and three serve on their community’s fire departments. The story begins in 1980 with Pastor David Sprang, a Gladwin […]
Change and the Gift of Thanksgiving
By Sue Sprang “It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” – Charles Darwin Never fear. This is not a treatise on the merits of creationism or evolution. Rather, it is taking a Darwin’s quote and using it as a catalyst for […]
Greeting the whole person
By Sue Sprang “How are you?” That is a common question we Americans ask when we greet someone. “Hello. How are you?” “Hi! How’re ya doin’?” “Hey, there! How’s it going?” No matter how we express it, the implication is the same. We are asking those to whom we speak how life is for them […]
Why Won’t Our Church Grow?
By Paul Brown Download the full article
Grace Gathering Registration
Early bird registration for the 2016 Grace Gathering ends in just two weeks, on Jan. 31, so reserve your spot today! The Grace Gathering will be held in partnership with the 2016 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in New Orleans Aug. 10-13. The gathering will bring people together from across the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Participants will see […]
The joy of community
By Sue Sprang SYNOD – One of the nice things about the theological event for professional church leaders in which our synod participates every fall, is that it’s an opportunity for attendees to take advantage of as much or as little of the agenda as they desire. Another nice thing is that attendees are reminded […]
Buster, Hoss, Rowdy, and Fritz
By Sue Sprang MACKINAC ISLAND – While on Mackinac Island for an event for church leaders and spouses, I sometimes caught an island taxi (horse and carriage). I enjoyed talking with the drivers and learning about the horses – and it struck me that these horses have something to say about mission and working together […]
Bringing others to Jesus, part 2
By Sue Sprang SYNOD – Part one of this three-part article on Living Water Ministries looked at this year’s on-site (Stony Lake, New Era) summer camp. Here, in part two, we’ll hear from Molly Smith, who was this year’s Day Camp director and who, along with other camp staff, worked at the National Youth Gathering […]
Share your congregation’s summer program
Day Camp, VBS, Family Fun Day, Church Picnic… Does your congregation offer any of these or other summer programs or activities as tools for mission and outreach? Our “Mission in the Mitten” storyteller is gathering information for an “end-of-season” article to be posted on the synod web site. If you have something to share or […]