Blog

Prayer, Presence and Projects

Prayer, Presence and Projects

Prayer, presence, and projects… these are the pillars of our accompaniment partnership with the ILAG. Currently 289 families in our ILAG communities are struggling as their recent corn crop, their primary food staple, was destroyed by Tropical Storm Pilar in early...

At the Close

At the Close

Close of Church Council Fall Meeting 2023 Matthew 25:1-13 The Lutheran Center, Chicago Grace and peace to you in the mercy of the Most Holy God. AMEN. Things are coming to an end. Have you noticed? This meeting, which is the last for some of us. This season before...

Pikipikis for Unpartnered Parishes

Pikipikis for Unpartnered Parishes

I’ve covered a lot of kilometers with Kulwa, an excellent driver. As we traveled the rough roads of rural Iringa, we would have a friendly competition. Passing a village with a sign for a diocese parish, who could be first to name the U.S. companion congregation?...

Therapeutic Preschool Construction Kick-Off

Therapeutic Preschool Construction Kick-Off

Members of the synod council and staff and representatives of congregations rejoiced with Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS) as they helped kick off construction of the Families Together Eastside Preschool on Oct. 26. The project has been largely funded by a...

Tak, Gracias, Danke, Asante, Obrigado…

Tak, Gracias, Danke, Asante, Obrigado…

It is nearly November, which brings two special seasons with regularity. One is annual stewardship time in my congregation and the other is Thanksgiving, perhaps my favorite holiday. Both of these dates remind me that I should always be saying “thank you” to my God...

Proclaim & Celebrate

Proclaim & Celebrate

The Guatemala Friends group at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church (OSLC) in Circle Pines was honored to host Pastor Beatriz Castillo and Diego Gil, representatives from ILAG, for a potluck dinner and update presentation on Sept. 20. During this time of fellowship and...

A Place for You

A Place for You

Bishop’s Theological Conference 2023 Arrowwood Resort, Alexandria Philippians 4:1-9, John 19:25-27 Grace and peace to you in the name of the Living God. AMEN. I didn’t know this passage from Philippians 4 very well when I was ordained, but the preacher at my...

Grateful for Good Colleagues

Grateful for Good Colleagues

I’ve spent the past three months in Iringa…my longest visit yet. I’m grateful to have been there through the transition of program coordinators in the BKB-SPAS office, wishing Ryan and Astine Bose well when they departed and welcoming Susan Seidel to her new home and...

Boycott OR Buycott?

Boycott OR Buycott?

Boycotts have been referred to as intentional avoidance of products; buycotts, on the other hand, mean intentional purchases of products. As a person who likes words and their meanings and derivations, I found the idea of a buycott intriguing. I do remember...