Michelle Vander Meer

May 13, 2024 | thebanner.org | Michelle Vander Meer |Matt Kucinski |Leah Jolly |Michael Wagenman

Stories are my favorite. They always have been, ever since the time my sister opened the land of fantasy and fiction by reading stories to me before I could read. She would entice me to keep walking on long hikes by telling fantastical stories of giant lollipops and a fountain of rainbows on the moon. Throughout my childhood we had regular read-alouds in the evenings instead of watching TV, and audiobooks kept the peace on long car trips.

May 13, 2024 | thebanner.org | Michelle Vander Meer |Matt Kucinski |Leah Jolly |Michael Wagenman

To send letters to the editor, please see our guidelines at thebanner.org/letters. The Banner article “They Disagreed Well” (Jan. 2024) on the deliberations of a 2022 synodical committee puzzled me. The executive summary of the related report states, “All Jewish writings from the ancient world uniformly rejected gay and lesbian behavior.

Mar 20, 2023 | thebanner.org | Michelle Vander Meer

It is difficult to give up one’s own desires—to be broken, in a way, for others. It is a famous story, one depicted in both stained glass windows and the colorful pages of children’s books: the story of Jesus feeding multitudes with a little boy’s lunch. Motivational speakers use the tale to remind us of what Jesus can do. Do you feel as if you have little to give? In the hands of Jesus, five loaves and two fishes can feed thousands.