Speaking of The Lutheran ....

The magazine of the ELCA has invited us to contribute more articles this summer, so I'm putting out a call for some fresh story ideas from our congregations. Probably not efforts we're all doing, like vacation Bible schools or camps, as important as those are.
But rather something with a twist that might inspire a congregation in a new way. Maybe your youth are doing outreach in a way someone else might not have thought of. Perhaps there's a special person in your congregation who has a story of faith that should be shared.
Here's an example of a story idea: I remember there was this huge brown dog named Molly in my congregation who was just about the best instrument of evangelism I ever saw. Every kid on Bainbridge Island knew and loved Molly, and she always led them right to the church. After worship, the pastors would stand by the door. You'd shake their hands, then take a step or two outside, and try to get Molly to shake hands, too. Anyway, I procrastinated too long, and Molly finally died before I wrote something for The Lutheran. I think she died of overeating on Sundays because everyone was bringing her a week's worth of bones and scraps.
So don't put off telling that story until tomorrow. You can send stories and photos directly to The Lutheran via www.thelutheran.org, or contact me at (206) 498-0920, cell, or rachelpritchett@msn.com and I'll come and do it. — Rachel Pritchett