Freedom from Fear is Freedom to Act – Robert Saler reflects on the conerstone Lutheran slogan, “justification by grace through faith apart from works.” Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday August 7-13, Year C (2013, 2016, 2019, 2022, 2025) Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 (semicontinuous reading) Psalm 50:1-8, 20-23 (semicontinuous reading)Read More →
Living in the Presence of God – Dennis Ormseth reflects on the care of all God’s creation being within our reach when we abide in the domain of divine love. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday July 10 – 16, Year C (2013, 2016, 2019, 2022, 2025) Deuteronomy 30:9-14 Psalm 25:1-10Read More →
Down-to-Earth Benefits for the Entire Community – Dennis Ormseth reflects on stepping out beyond the religious competition to curry God’s favor and entering “a new creation” Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday July 3 – 9, Year C (2013, 2016, 2019, 2022, 2025) Isaiah 66:10–14 Psalm 66:1–9 (4) Galatians 6:[1–6] 7–16Read More →
Love the Neighborhood As Yourself! – Dennis Ormseth reflects on bringing the human economy into consonance with the Great Economy. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday June 26 – July 2, Year C (2013, 2016, 2019, 2022, 2025) 1 Kings 19:15–16, 19–21 Psalm 16 (8) Galatians 5:1, 13–25 Luke 9:51–62Read More →
Creation Is Our Neighborhood – Jeremiah Sassaman reflects on loving our neighbors. Care for Creation Commentary on the Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday October 30 – November 5, Year B (2018, 2021, 2024) Deuteronomy 6:1-9 Psalm 119:1-8 Hebrews 9:11-14 Mark 12:28-34 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. You shall loveRead More →
To love neighbor involves love for their neighborhood. To love God involves love for God’s creation. – Dennis Ormseth reflects on loving as God loves. Care for Creation Commentary on the Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday October 23-29, Year A (2011, 2014, 2017, 2020, 2023) Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18 Psalm 1 I Thessalonians 2:1-8 Matthew 22:34-46 “‘YouRead More →
Since there are so many members of our ELCA community who live in agricultural areas and we all depend on food to sustain us; let’s explore how we can deliberately share the spectrum of ways our churches can inform members of opportunities, practice mindful eating, and love the wide array of neighbors who help feedRead More →
As part of our Connections Calls, we get to hear feedback from representatives who work in various expressions of the ELCA. (Click here to listen.) During the January 2020 call, after a group devotional, Katrina Martich shared what she took away from the 2019 Lutheran Disaster Response Convening. Listen here to the whole call (sheRead More →
Call It Love – Dennis Ormseth reflects on whether we must appeal to “self-interest” in order to love creation as our neighbor. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary Readings for the Fourth Sunday after Epiphany, Year C (2013, 2016, 2019, 2022, 2025)Jeremiah 1:4-10Psalm 71:1-61 Corinthians 13:1-13Luke 4:21-30 The Gospel reading for the FourthRead More →