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Contents News 8 ‘The Lutheran’ wins 5 awards 14 Hearing faith in our daily lives


Cover story Features


20 Bless this food


20 Bless this food Lutherans fill hearts, tables, gardens—even backpacks


24 The trouble with food 26 Study guide


JUNE 2013 VOLUME 26 NUMBER 6


The Lutheran is the magazine of the ELCA


Subscriptions/customer service Subscription issues, address changes, billing questions:


phone—(800) 328-4648 email—subscriptions@augsburgfortress.org


Editorial offices:


8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago, IL 60631 (800) 638-3522; (773) 380-2540 Fax: (773) 380-2409


Email: lutheran@thelutheran.org Web: www.thelutheran.org


The Lutheran is a member of the Associated Church Press


Editor Daniel J. Lehmann lutheran.editor@thelutheran.org


Section editors Julie B. Sevig Congregations & Community julie.sevig@thelutheran.org Elizabeth Hunter Church & World elizabeth.hunter@thelutheran.org


16 ‘Borning Cry’ guy Sing in harmony through all seasons of life


18 Deeper understandings End-times: Jesus was clear on speculations about ‘that day and hour’


27 Message from teenager’s life & death is clear: Love


32 From seafarers to detainees Seafarers International extends its ministry of hospitality


34 You bless what? From the Atlantic to the Pacific ... blessings abound


36 ‘Summer school with a flair’ Pa. church opens doors—and books to community children


40 Synod assemblies celebrate, serve & debate 28 Lutherans during the Civil War Departments


3 Challenging conversations


4 Editor 41 Two months out 42 Best this month 43 Faces 44 Higher education


38 Families want to go home For breaking news, see www.thelutheran.org or www.elca.org/news COVER PHOTO: SAM THOMAS, PROFESSOR AT CALIFORNIA LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY, THOUSAND OAKS. PHOTO BY BRIAN STETHEM/CLU.


45 Light side 46 Classifieds 46 Deaths 47 Crossword 48 Letters 49 My view 50 Presiding bishop


Manager, editorial production Andrea Pohlmann Kulik andrea.pohlmann@thelutheran.org


Manager, editorial art Michael D. Watson michael .watson@thelutheran.org


Director, circulation/marketing Curtis Peterson curtis.peterson@thelutheran.org


Contributing editor Jeff Favre jjfavre@gmail.com


Study guide editor Robert C. Blezard rcblezard@hotmail.com


Senior administrative assistant Barbara A. Fletcher barbara.fletcher@thelutheran.org


Advertising advertising@thelutheran.org


The Lutheran is published monthly through Augsburg Fortress, Publishers, Box 1209, Minneapolis, MN 55440. (ISSN 0024-743X USPS 322080)


For display and classified advertising sales: (800) 638-3522 Ext. 2541; advertising@thelutheran.org. Acceptance of advertising does not imply endorsement.


Subscription rates: $19.95 a year; outside N. America add $9.20 for postage. Payable in U.S. funds. Send subscription requests to The Lutheran Circulation, % Augsburg Fortress, PO Box 1553, Minneapolis, MN 55440-8730. Or subscribe online: www. thelutheran.org.


On tape: Customer Service, Box 1553, Minneapolis, MN 55440; (800) 328-4648.


On microfilm: National Archive Publishing Company (NAPC), 300 N. Zeeb Rd., PO Box 998, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-0998.


Copyright ©2013 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Duplication in whole or in part in any form is prohibited without written permission from the publishers. Printed in the U.S.A.


Nonprofit Periodicals Postage paid at St. Paul, MN, and additional mailing offices.


POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Lutheran, Augsburg Fortress, Publishers, PO Box 1553, Minneapolis MN 55440-8730.


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.


June 2013 5


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