March 2026: My Body is Not a Prayer Request

Alisha Ungs • Pastor of Discipleship
March 1, 2026

2 Minute Read
Much of the church has forgotten that we worship a disabled God whose wounds survived resurrection, says Amy Kenny. It is time for the church to start treating disabled people as full members of the body of Christ who have much more to offer than a miraculous cure narrative and to learn from their embodied experiences. Written by a disabled Christian, this book shows that the church is missing out on the prophetic witness and blessing of disability. Kenny reflects on her experiences inside the church to expose unintentional ableism and cast a new vision for Christian communities to engage disability justice. - Publisher’s Description


Book of the Month review ~

My Body is not a Prayer Request: Disability Justice in the Church

by Amy Kenny


This is a book that I first read almost a year ago, and have not stopped thinking about it since. So much so, that I decided to re-read it and recommend it for this month! Dr. Amy Kenny expertly weaves personal anecdotes and scriptural references as she shares the story of what it is like to be Disabled in the Body of Christ. She strives for greater disability justice within the church. Before reading this book you might find yourself thinking that we are pretty forward-thinking as a church. It can be tempting to say, “but we don’t do that here!” As you read this book, however, you may find yourself wondering if that is as true as we like to think. It is eye-opening to hear the stories and experiences of so many in the disability community who have been shunned by the church, the very place they should be welcomed the most. Dr. Kenny challenges the reader to consider a broader perspective, to listen with an open heart, and to ponder the ways God may be at work not by offering a cure, but instead bringing true healing to each individual. The end of each chapter has discussion/reflection questions as well as some interesting creative prompts to help us open our imaginations and see where God might be calling us as a faith community. So, reader, beware: this is one of those books that, once you read, you can never look at things quite the same way. But I hope you will still consider reading this book. It is a very important story and asks very important questions of us. Happy reading!

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From this Collection: Book of the Month
September 1, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
September 2026: Glory Happening
Glory Happening is a book of stories and prayers that remind you to take a closer look at your everyday circumstances, to find the magical beauty in everyday experiences. It is an invitation to live deeply into every moment with the expectation that something good will find you at the end of the day. And once you experience glory, you have words to speak, a prayer to pray, and a story to tell. And so glory grows from person to person, and community is created around the reality that God is truly in our midst. -Amazon book description Book of the Month ~ Glory Happening: Finding the Divine in Everyday Places, by Kaitlin B. Curtice This book is not a “read it all at once” book. But it is a fantastic devotional with many different beautiful reflections from author Kaitlin B. Curtice. She divides the devotionals into different sections of Divine places, and each reflection reminds the reader of ways to slow down and see God in the everyday moments. All too often, we are so busy, we forget to look for the ways God is at work in our lives. And even when we do remember to look, we tend to look for grand moments of clarity. Glory Happening reminds us that God is at work in everything, always. Not just in the big and obvious things, but in the smallest, most subtle moments that easily pass us by if we aren’t paying attention. Exactly as the subtitle of the book tells us, it helps us learn to find the Divine in everyday places. No matter what stage of life you are in, I think you’ll find something valuable in the pages of this particular book. Each devotional has a short reflection as well as a prayer. It can be a great habit to build and make it a challenge for yourself to read one per day. The key here is one that I myself have trouble with: don’t rush. It’s not meant to be treated as a box to be checked each day, and it isn’t a race to see who can finish the devotions the fastest. Instead, it invites the reader on an individual journey of self-reflection and prayer. The best part is, it can also work as a group devotion! So, if you have been looking for a devotional book to study with friends, or on your own, I highly recommend this one. I’ll admit I haven’t made my way through the entirety of every devotion; but I am hoping that it helps me remember that is the exact point. Each new day is a new opportunity to find the Divine in everyday places, and each devotional offers a prompt on how to do it. God is here, in this moment, right now. All too often we are focused on what comes next. May this book help you (and me!) remember to slow down from time to time, take a deep breath, and center ourselves in prayer.

Alisha Ungs

Pastor of Discipleship

August 1, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
August 2026: The Chronicles of Narnia
Book of the Month ~ The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis I have always believed that there is a lot to learn from children’s books, even as an adult. The Chronicles of Narnia is no exception. It is, and has long been, one of my favorite book series of all time. So, although this is technically 7 books, I couldn’t just pick one to recommend. All of the stories weave together to form a larger picture and have wonderful biblical imagery throughout. C.S. Lewis was an influential writer whose works include the famous “Screwtape Letters” (a satirical story that centers around a demon and his attempts to tempt a person away from their faith), “Mere Christianity,” (his theological exploration of what it means to be a follower of Christ) and others. And as great as those are, Narnia is still at the top of my  favorites list of his works. The Chronicles of Narnia take place mostly in a magical land where animals talk, but the main characters come from our own world. Throughout the series, using expert narrative and storytelling devices, Lewis draws the reader into the story of Christ in ways that are accessible even to those who have never heard of Jesus, or set foot in a church. There are countless scenes in the different books that are impactful, which I still love to talk about today. I even made a piece of artwork based on one of them once, because it meant that much to me. It’s a book series that I return to often, spending time with the characters and stories I have loved ever since childhood. Though I have read all the books countless times, it seems like I still find some new insight or notice something different every time I read it again. If you enjoy fictional works with Biblical undertones, The Chronicles of Narnia is definitely a series I would recommend. And if you’ve read it before, I’d love to know which of the books is your favorite!

Alisha Ungs

Pastor of Discipleship

June 1, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
June 2026: Good Omens
Book Overview: According to The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (the world's only completely accurate book of prophecies, written in 1655, before she exploded), the world will end on a Saturday. Next Saturday, in fact. Just before dinner. So the armies of Good and Evil are amassing, Atlantis is rising, frogs are falling, tempers are flaring. Everything appears to be going according to Divine Plan. Except a somewhat fussy angel and a fast-living demon—both of whom have lived amongst Earth's mortals since The Beginning and have grown rather fond of the lifestyle—are not actually looking forward to the coming Rapture. And someone seems to have misplaced the Antichrist . . . Book of the Month~ Good Omens, by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman This month’s book recommendation is a bit different than what I have offered previously, because it is a ‘just for fun’ story, instead of being theologically grounded. But I must admit I am a big fan of this book and have read it several times which is why I couldn’t resist the opportunity to recommend it. Some of you may recognize the title from the Amazon TV series. The finale of that show was just released mid-May, so there has been quite a bit of buzz about it. I, for one, was happy that so many people were talking about one of my favorite works of fiction. That version of the show, as with many TV adaptations, is not quite the same but I still think it keeps the sentiment of the original story in mind throughout the first season (which is the season based on the book). “Good Omens” is not intended to be read as a Biblical guide to the apocalypse or a theological framework about how we view the world; it’s a satirical work. The very premise of an Angel and a Demon working together to stop the apocalypse, after reading prophecies written by a real-life witch, is one that we can’t accept from a Lutheran lens… That is, we couldn’t if we were reading it like we read scripture. But that isn’t the intention of this particular story! The authors did not create this book as a commentary on Revelation or the actual end of the world. They wrote it as a fun fantasy novel. A few things to keep in mind if you read this book: firstly, this story was published in 1990, so there are some outdated references and language. Secondly, this book has been re-published several times and there are many different versions of the cover, so your copy may not look exactly like the image of the cover above. Lastly, I will reiterate that this is fictional satire and not meant to be taken seriously. It does raise interesting questions about the meanings of Good and Evil in the world, but it shouldn’t be considered as ‘gospel truth’ by any means. “Good Omens” is not a book that will change the way you view the world around you (or at least, probably not), but it is a fun Summer read if you enjoy quirky and silly stories.

Alisha Ungs

Pastor of Discipleship

April 1, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
April 2026: Souvenirs of the Holy
Connect with God, memories, and your deepest self through the simple stuff of life. In this indelible work of spiritual formation, Episcopal priest and author Laurie M. Brock invites readers to contemplate ordinary things. How might the sacred astonish us by showing up in everyday items? Rocks. Cast iron skillets. Portraits. Calendars. Shoes. The regular objects of our lives can be conduits of God's love and grace—if we notice them. What if, instead of ignoring the things we use every day, we let them testify? What might our things say? In Souvenirs of the Holy, Brock helps us see everyday items not merely as objects gathering dust but as keepsakes from the literal and spiritual journeys we have taken. With pastoral presence, humor, and poetic grace, she helps us tap into the unseen realms underneath the things we take for granted: a coin from our father holding complex yearnings for love, the scar on our arm speaking of survival, the quilt on the bed holding scraps we've inherited, the garden shears reminding us that pruning brings forth new life. - Book Description Book of the Month ~ Souvenirs of the Holy: Encountering God Through Everyday Objects by Laurie M. Brock Where have you seen God at work today? It feels like a simple question, yet when asked, I think most of us hesitate for a moment before we can answer. As I read this book by Laurie Brock, I found myself reflecting on this. In Souvenirs of the Holy, Laurie Brock offers simple, yet theological and thought provoking chapters that are easy to connect with and understand. No deep theology/fancy word mumbo jumbo here! Instead, Souvenirs of the Holy invites the reader to spend time looking at our everyday objects as being Holy. The author provides chapters with examples from her life experiences, such as a cast iron skillet and even rocks, but also encourages you to wonder about what simple things might be most Holy in your own life. In this season of Easter, it is a great time to spend time looking for the Holy encounters like the book describes. Not in grand and obvious moments, but through the very souvenirs that we hold nearest and dearest to our hearts. So, I definitely recommend this book for anyone looking to deepen their spiritual connections with God, or who want to explore the Holiness in everyday moments. After reading the book, I would love to hear from you: where have you seen God at work lately? And what Souvenirs of the Holy do you hold dear?

Alisha Ungs

Pastor of Discipleship

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March 1, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
March 2026: My Body is Not a Prayer Request
Much of the church has forgotten that we worship a disabled God whose wounds survived resurrection, says Amy Kenny. It is time for the church to start treating disabled people as full members of the body of Christ who have much more to offer than a miraculous cure narrative and to learn from their embodied experiences. Written by a disabled Christian, this book shows that the church is missing out on the prophetic witness and blessing of disability. Kenny reflects on her experiences inside the church to expose unintentional ableism and cast a new vision for Christian communities to engage disability justice. - Publisher’s Description Book of the Month review ~ My Body is not a Prayer Request: Disability Justice in the Church by Amy Kenny This is a book that I first read almost a year ago, and have not stopped thinking about it since. So much so, that I decided to re-read it and recommend it for this month! Dr. Amy Kenny expertly weaves personal anecdotes and scriptural references as she shares the story of what it is like to be Disabled in the Body of Christ. She strives for greater disability justice within the church. Before reading this book you might find yourself thinking that we are pretty forward-thinking as a church. It can be tempting to say, “but we don’t do that here!” As you read this book, however, you may find yourself wondering if that is as true as we like to think. It is eye-opening to hear the stories and experiences of so many in the disability community who have been shunned by the church, the very place they should be welcomed the most. Dr. Kenny challenges the reader to consider a broader perspective, to listen with an open heart, and to ponder the ways God may be at work not by offering a cure, but instead bringing true healing to each individual. The end of each chapter has discussion/reflection questions as well as some interesting creative prompts to help us open our imaginations and see where God might be calling us as a faith community. So, reader, beware: this is one of those books that, once you read, you can never look at things quite the same way. But I hope you will still consider reading this book. It is a very important story and asks very important questions of us. Happy reading!

Alisha Ungs

Pastor of Discipleship

February 1, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
February 2026: Luther's Small Catechism with African Descent Reflections
“In connection with the observance of the five hundredth anniversary of the Reformation events initiated by the 95 Theses, a distinguished group of African descent Lutheran theologians gathered at the offices of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) to explore and reflect on Luther's Small Catechism… This edition of Luther's Small Catechism is not only the version of the Small Catechism widely used among Lutherans in North America today, but also includes reflections from a distinguished group of African descent Lutheran theologians. These brief commentaries offer additional context, language, and illumination from the experiences of African descent people, both past and present, to enrich our understanding of the Small Catechism and enliven faith.” - Excerpt from the introduction by the Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Echols (1951- 2018). Book of the Month review ~ Luther’s Small Catechism with African Descent Reflections It may seem a bit snarky of me to suggest Luther’s Small catechism in a Lutheran church setting, but as I read through this particular copy, I realized it had some wonderful insights that all of us sometimes need to be reminded of. If it’s been a while since you have opened the catechism (maybe even since you were back in confirmation? Let’s be honest here…) it can be a great way to refresh your memory on what the basis of Lutheran theology is in a way that is broken down into more simple terms instead of the fancy theological jargon. Luther wrote this for the average layperson to be able to understand in ways that were not previously accessible to the general public. In the Small Catechism, Luther breaks down the very fundamentals of our faith: the creed, the commandments, and the sacraments along with several others. In almost every section, he asks the simple question: “What is this?” or “What does this mean?” And opens the door to a deeper understanding of why we say the prayers and creeds that we do. And it’s no accident that I am recommending this specific edition of the catechism; the African Descent Reflections add further depth as well as some more contemporary applications to help us connect. Reading the catechism is good, but Luther did write it more than 500 years ago. We may very well ask ourselves, “why does this matter TODAY?” And Luther's Small Catechism With African Descent Reflections sets out to answer that very question. All in all, I highly recommend this very quick read. Depending on your reading speed, you may even be able to knock it out in one sitting of a couple hours; however, I do recommend you instead take your time. Spend intentional time with prayer and reflection after each section. Ask God, “What are you saying to ME today?” Our denomination may be more than 500 years old, but our faith is a living faith. Going back to the fundamentals from time to time is an important practice that I encourage all of us to pursue. -PA

Alisha Ungs

Pastor of Discipleship

January 1, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
January 2026: Through Her Eyes
“‘Through Her Eyes: Biblical Women Speak’ is an anthology of short stories that brings the voices of twenty-five Biblical women to life. Each story is told from the perspective of a different woman from scripture, shedding light on the choices they faced and the hardships they endured.” - Summary (from Amazon.com) Book of the Month review - by Pastor Alisha Ungs Through Her Eyes: Biblical Women Speak By Rebecca J. Craig So often in literature, women are used only as plot devices, cast aside and ignored beyond that. This book expertly takes the stories of 25 Biblical women (some you may know, many that are far less known) and gives them a voice. From the very first page, I was drawn into the narrative style. It was as if I could see the story happening in front of me! I have been raving about this book to my friends and family ever since I found out about it. I was surprised to find that even I was unfamiliar with some of the stories that she chose to bring to life. Whether you are a Bible pro or a complete newbie, this book is an excellent and engaging way to learn these stories from a perspective that is so often not considered. I highly recommend this book for any adult audience. But, be warned, once you read this book you may never look at some of these stories the same way again! Pastor Craig has done a lot of research into theological and biblical perspectives, so even though the stories themselves are creative historical fiction, they remain true to the Biblical stories and bring them to life in new ways. The characters are raw, real, and emotional. I will not offer spoilers, but I will say this: not all of the stories end with “happily ever after,” and many of the scenes depict the darker parts of life that are often not talked about in church circles, or even life in general. Thus, it may not be suitable for younger readers. All in all, Pastor Craig masterfully crafts each individual story into a chapter, along with including beautiful sketches by the author and thoughtful discussion prompts for each one. It is different from any other book I have read that follows this format and I encourage all to spend some time pondering these perspectives. This is my first book of the month review, so please let me know if you read this book and what you think of it! I would be happy to discuss it with you anytime. -PA

Alisha Ungs

Pastor of Discipleship