Category Archives: Lutheran

Ministering to < 27.5%

A few weeks ago Dr. Roger Nishioka, professor of practical theology at Columbia Theological Seminary, spoke at our synod assembly's fall session on the topic of young adults in the church.  He had lots of wonderful, challenging, and insightful things to say, many of which were captured in a series of blogposts posted from theContinue reading “Ministering to < 27.5%”

Gaining Expertise in Matters of Faith

My daughters, ages 7 and 4, are taking piano lessons for the first time in their lives.  Tali, our oldest, has taken quickly to the piano, and really enjoys spending time practicing at our new electronic keyboard.  There's one song she plays over and over and over again – Jolly Old Saint Nicholas.  It isContinue reading “Gaining Expertise in Matters of Faith”

Trying on Millstones

Yesterday I updated by Facebook status to read, "Chris thinks he ought to get fitted with a millstone."  This was in reference to Luke 17:2: It would be better for you if a millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea than for you to cause one of these littleContinue reading “Trying on Millstones”

Confirmation Ministry: Age Grouping in a Medium-Sized Program

Like many Lutheran congregations, my congregation's Confirmation Ministry is a two-year, group-graded program involving 7th and 8th graders.  And like most Lutheran congregations, one year of the program focuses on Martin Luther's Small Catechism, and the other year of the program focuses on the Bible.  We have 14 kids in the roster, more or lessContinue reading “Confirmation Ministry: Age Grouping in a Medium-Sized Program”

Confirmation Ministry: Sunday Evening Gatherings

In an earlier post I shared how we are using the Here We Stand confirmation ministry curriculum to help us teach the Bible to our 7th and 8th graders.  Yet the hour-long, traditional Sunday School class session – informally dubbed "Learning Faith" – is only one of two core program components of our ministry.  TheContinue reading “Confirmation Ministry: Sunday Evening Gatherings”