Alexis Kostelny is an 18 year old local that grew up in the Russian Orthodox faith and still has family in Ukraine. During the isolation of the Covid pandemic, she felt a driving need for more of a connection to God and began investigating other Christian faiths online. She felt drawn to the Lutheran faith but was not sure which church to try.
Each Sunday during the season of Easter (at least when we don’t have a baptism!, we join our voices with Christians across centuries and continents in confessing the Nicene Creed. This ancient summary of faith, from 1700 years ago this year, grounds us in the core beliefs passed down from the early Church: the Triune God, the incarnation of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. But if you’ve listened closely, you may have noticed a small but important difference in the version of the Creed we use in worship. We now say that the Holy Spirit “proceeds from the Father,” rather than “from the Father and the Son.”
Lent is a season of deep reflection—a time to walk with Jesus toward the cross, to open our hearts to God’s presence, and to seek justice and renewal in our lives and in the world. This year, as we enter this sacred time, we invite you to engage with a powerful new Lenten devotional resource: Sumud: A Lenten Journey of Hope and Resilience.
Twelfth Night (January 5) or another day during the season of Epiphany offers an occasion for gathering with friends and family members for a blessing of the home, using the following as a model. Someone may lead the greeting and blessing, while another person may read the scripture passage.
Following an eastern European tradition, a visual blessing may be inscribed with white chalk above the main door; for example, 20 + CMB + 15. The numbers change with each new year. The three letters stand for either the ancient Latin blessing Christe mansionem benedica, which means, “Christ, bless this house,” or the legendary names of the magi (Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar).
The daughter of a Lutheran school teacher and a pastor – the father who baptized, confirmed, married and then baptized both her children – Becky Bork has a firm faith foundation.
As we enter November, the spirit of All Saints’ Day invites us to reflect on the saints who have shaped our lives. This month, consider embracing a simple but profound prayer practice: daily gratitude for those who have touched your journey, now departed yet enduring in their influence. Each day, you’ll be guided to remember someone specific—a mentor, a friend, a family member, or even a challenging figure—who has left a mark on your soul. Let this practice deepen your appreciation and connection to these beloved saints, grounding your days in gratitude and remembrance.
The season of Advent is about far more than just a countdown to Christmas, a countdown to the baby Jesus in the manger.
Sylvia’s spiritual journey began in an unexpected place. Growing up in China, she wasn’t raised in a Christian home, and she didn’t find her faith until later in life. After moving to the United States, Sylvia was seeking more than just a church service—she longed for a place to grow in faith and community, a place where she and her family could find belonging.
Like so many who find their way to St. Luke’s, Katie Knapowski and her husband Greg were searching for a place where warmth, acceptance, and opportunities for growth were abundant. As a busy mother and professional, Katie wanted to get more involved but struggled to find something that fit her hectic schedule while also offering deeper meaning.
In a time when deceptive and hateful speech has become increasingly normalized, our ELCA bishops have offered a powerful call to action. In their recent statement, they remind us of the importance of truth and the role we play as followers of Christ to be vigilant in guarding it.
I encourage you to take time to read their full letter, and to join us in this intentional commitment to speak truth, resist falsehood, and amplify voices of justice.
You can read the full letter from the Conference of Bishops here.