Contents News 8 ELCA disaster response to continue ‘until the work is done’
10 Meet John Q. Nones 12 Survey: Americans overestimate size of religious minorities
18 Creativity, contemplation Cover story
22 Cluttered lives The spiritual practice of shedding stuff
25 Tackling ‘stuff clutter’ 26 Tackling ‘spiritual clutter’ 29 Study guide
Features 22 Cluttered lives 14 Keeping Jesus safe
20 Deeper understandings The church: Why ‘the holy, catholic church’ is confessed in the Apostles’ Creed
30 Between us Into the valley of the char
32 Singing for a cause Church’s music series benefits local charities
36 Airport witness for Christ Chaplain is reassuring in a frantic environment
34 Why don’t people worship? Departments
3 Elements of the Lord’s day
38 In China, the church is growing
4 Editor 40 Two months out 41 Pass the faith 42 Best this month 43 Faces 44 Higher education
45 Light side 46 Classifieds 46 Deaths 47 Crossword 48 Letters 49 My view 50 Presiding bishop
For breaking news, see
www.thelutheran.org or
www.elca.org/news COVER PHOTO: CHRIS OCKEN
DECEMBER 2012 VOLUME 25 NUMBER 12
The Lutheran is the magazine of the ELCA
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Section editors Julie B. Sevig Congregations & Community
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thelutheran.org Elizabeth Hunter Church & World
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Manager, editorial production Andrea Pohlmann Kulik
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Manager, editorial art Michael D. Watson michael .
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Contributing editor Jeff Favre
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Study guide editor Robert C. Blezard
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The Lutheran magazine belongs to the people of the ELCA in all our diversity. The magazine: ■ Nurtures awareness of Christ’s presence in our lives and the world.
■ Shares stories of God’s people living their faith. ■ Connects us with the global Christian community. ■ Provides an open forum for discussion. ■ Challenges us to bring God’s grace and care to all.
December 2012 5
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