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Staff Trax

An Eventful Sunday

If you look at the Weekly Announcements page on our website, you can see there is a lot going on this Sunday at church — the end of Daylight Savings Time, All Saints Sunday, noisy offering, Commitment Sunday, and the Commitment Sunday brunch.

Daylight Savings Time ends this Sunday, Nov. 2 at 2:00…

Salem’s Village

One of my favorite things to do as we celebrate confirmands and graduates is to look back on pictures of our Salem kids growing up together in church. I’ve written many times from my perspective of being an Army kid, which meant I only spent a few years in each place we lived. I didn’t have this amazing experience of having friends who walk together throughout their faith journeys, and it's…

Dialogical Preaching

Most of you know I spent last week in Austin doing some continuing education. Earlier this year, I got chosen to be part of this cohort that is mostly funded by a Lilly grant. Part of the grant was the retreat that took place. The goal over the next six months (or so) is for those in my cohort to learn, participate, and practice something called dialogical preaching.

At its core, dialogical…

The Second Monday in October

While this coming Monday is the federal holiday known as Columbus Day (also known as Indigenous Peoples’ Day in some states), did you know that the state of Kansas celebrates neither? While it is a federal holiday, it is not a paid holiday for state workers, nor is it a day off of school.

According to

A Beacon of Light for Our Synod

My first experience with our new Central States Synod Bishop Donna Simon was in 2013 at her church in downtown Kansas City. It was our very first God’s Work. Our Hands. Sunday, where we were celebrating the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)’s 25th anniversary by serving our neighbors. Salem was one of several congregations who joyfully filled the pews at St. Mark Hope and Peace.…