LGBTQIA+ Devotional

Lutheran School of Theology Chicago, IL Scripture   My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make melody. Psalm 57:7, NRSV Devotional I have a practice of reading the Psalms nightly. It started with the goal of integrating and building a daily spiritual practice, and it’s given me the added benefit of familiarizing myself with these songs, these poems, these prayers. This line from Psalm 57 is both prayer and promise. My heart is not always steadfast. Wh...

Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd Lancaster, PA Scripture   A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough. Galatians 5:9 NRSV Devotional I once said "Being Black, LGBTQIA+, and ELCA is the only time in my life I've ever been part of the 1%!" Spoken with humor, it is nevertheless my reality. I walk into space after space and experience a sea of faces who do not look like me, hear voices that do not speak like mine, and sit in worship rich with cultural traditions that are lovel...

Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church Everett, WA Scripture   Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish: ‘I called out to the Lord in my distress, and he answered me.  From the belly of the underworld I cried out for help; you have heard my voice. Jonah 2:1-2, Common English Bible Translation Devotional The book of Jonah only makes two appearances in our 3-year lectionary cycle, neither of which is in the Lenten season.  But the book feels appropriate to me for Lenten...

Greensboro, NC Awaiting Call Scripture But now, Leah and Rachel and Jacob, hear the word of YHWH- the One who created you, the One who fashioned you, Israel; Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the seas, I will be with you; when you pass over the rivers, you will not drown. Walk through fire, and you will not be singed; walk through flames and you will not be burned. I am YHWH, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your del...

Philadelphia, PA Awaiting Call in SE PA Synod Scripture One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says:“When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole univ...

Pastoral Intern at St. Luke's Lutheran Church Logan Square, Chicago LSTC Student, Candidate for Word and Sacrament facebook.com/elledowdministry Scripture   “Why is the Lord bringing us into this land to fall by the sword? ... would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?" So they said to one another, "Let us choose a captain, and go back to Egypt.”  Numbers 14:3a, 4, NIV Devotional From the Israelites wandering in the desert to the temptation of Jesus after his baptism,...