Cafe is a free, monthly online magazine for and with young adult women, created and produced by Women of the ELCA, the women's organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Some give birth to us, the mothers who held us in their wombs. Sometimes we grow up with them, and sometimes they give us our best chance in the arms of other mother figures.
Scripture has a lot to say about bodies. From Genesis to Revelation, law and Gospel, prophets to Jesus, the message can be a bit mixed.
What do you lament about the past year? by Sarah S. Scherschligt
Even though we are living in in-between times, we are not standing still.
We have a God who waits with us, weeps with us, and holds us in the terrible unknowing.
We must find ways to reclaim gratitude, now as much as ever.
Be still. During this challenging time, let us remember that we are enough.
A pastor shares about how to respond when someone tells you #metoo.
At times, we struggle to recognize Jesus in our midst.
This pandemic has brought fear, isolation anduncertainty into our daily routines. How can we find grace and share it with others?
A college chaplain reflects on the grief process and how it affects us during the pandemic.
Maybe we shouldn't desire having balance in our lives. We occasionally need to give ourselves times to be unbalanced.
We walk alongside four people from the New Testament as they navigate loss, failure, disruption and change.
By recognizing who we are and whose we are, we can get rid of shame for having debt.
Slow down. Try to read your favorite Bible passages in a new light.
God loves us so much, God rescues us and gives us new life.
Taking time to rest can feel impossible but it is also helps us create possibilities.
We are all qualified to be proclaimers of new life, truth and the power of possibility.
The Lenten and Easter seasons show us that we will survive the brokenness of this world.
Loving yourself so you can love your neighbor
How can we work together, with our abilities and disabilities, to strengthen our lives together as followers of Christ?
This time of year we strive to make changes—to be a little more perfect. But God doesn’t want us to be perfect.
Advent is time for waiting— but not idly twiddling our thumbs. Rather, we are called to wait expectantly.
Traditions should connect us to our family and God.
We rise and we fall—we may have regrets but God is still with us.
The loving presence of God remains steady even as seasons change in our lives.
Our baptismal identity means that we are claimed by God and marked with the cross of Christ forever.
Jesus is baptized and named the Beloved and then is immediately driven to the wilderness. Comforting or disturbing, this is life. Transition happens.
The more you can love yourself, the more you can love God. There is more to self-care besides pampering. Do you agree?
When it comes to finding our vocation, timing matters.
We often fail to follow or even understand Jesus’ second greatest commandment.
Sometimes we know our passions, other times our passions choose us. Consider the story of Esther in the Bible.
Fear is a very common theme in the Bible. What can we learn from these examples for our lives today?
A mother learns to walk with her child during changes.
A pastor shares what she learned after taking a sabbatical.
A pastor shares what she learned after her divorce.
We hurt others; others hurt us. We need to give apologies, and we need to hear them. Do you know how to apologize?
The Real Housewives weren't the first ones to express anger by flipping tables. Jesus expressed anger too. We are created in God's image. Anger is part of our human experience and it can be helpful too.
A young woman shares tips for finding authentic community after a move.
A college student started a waffle ministry on her campus. How can you serve your community?
A woman shares what she learned after a breakup and how we can stay hydrated (by baptismal water) for Lent.
A pastor learned about how serving dinner helped her church grow.
How are you preparing for Christmas? A college student creates an Advent devotional for campus or home.