The Mission of the Church

The Mission of the Church

What is the mission of the church? According to our catechism, it’s to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ, through prayer, worship, proclaiming the gospel, and promoting peace, justice, and love. This is accomplished through the ministry of...
Pray Like This

Pray Like This

Jesus said to his disciples, “Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not...
Meanwhile, Back at the Inn…

Meanwhile, Back at the Inn…

Joseph and Mary had to walk from Nazareth to Bethlehem for Emperor Augustus’s census. For years, I never questioned this statement. The Romans conducted a census every five years for tax purposes, though there was never a stipulation that men return to their...
Yes, We Have No Room in the Inn

Yes, We Have No Room in the Inn

There was no room in the inn. The innkeeper turned away a very pregnant Mary–possibly in labor–because there was no room. If nothing else, there was his room, but giving them his room didn’t simply mean he would have to sleep somewhere else for the night. Given that...