Posts in Letters
Bishop Hutterer: Teranga, Hospitalidad, and the Spirit of Generosity
Bishop Hutterer: Teranga, Hospitalidad, and the Spirit of Generosity

This Advent season, as we wait in hopeful anticipation for the gift of Christ’s birth, I find myself reflecting deeply on gifts and generosity. Not just the kind we wrap in paper and ribbons, but the kind we experience through the Spirit—the gifts of love, grace, and community that bind us together as one church, one body of Christ.

In the past months, I’ve been blessed to witness firsthand how the Holy Spirit moves through our shared ministry, both within our synod and across the globe. During recent visits to two of our companion churches—the Lutheran Church of Senegal (LCS) and Iglesia Luterana Mexicana (ILM)—I saw acts of generosity that have left me humbled and inspired.

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Bishop Hutterer, Letters, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardBishop Hutterer Letters, 2024 Advent and ChristmasComment
Bishop Eaton's Christmas Joy message
Bishop Eaton's Christmas Joy message

In her Christmas message, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton calls our attention to the word “joy” in the angel’s proclamation to the shepherds. “Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of a great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.’” (Luke 2:10-11). Eaton reminds us that the message of Christmas is joy, not happiness. Happiness is transient and humanmade. But joy given by God is deep and strong and unshakable. Read the message in English or Spanish, and download a video file at bit.ly/3D9ULKc.

“Joy is a sign of the reign of God…Perhaps that is why in the middle of the night, to terrified shepherds, outside of a small town, God chose to send the angels to announce the birth of Jesus. No distraction. No interference. Just the simple, deep, profound gift of true and lasting joy.”

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Bishop Eaton, ELCA, Letters, NewsBrian FlatgardBishop Elizabeth Eaton, Bishop Eaton Letters, 2024 Advent and ChristmasComment
Honoring Transgender Day of Remembrance, November 20
Honoring Transgender Day of Remembrance, November 20

Each year, we pause to remember the lives lost to anti-transgender violence, especially Black and brown transgender women. Vicar Vica-Etta Henrietta Steel reflects on the intersection of racial and transgender justice, urging us to honor this day by amplifying marginalized voices and committing to advocacy and allyship. Read more at ELCA.org about how the church can lift trans joy and pursue justice for all.

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ELCA, News, LettersBrian FlatgardLGBTQIA+Comment
Woven Together: A Post-Election Message from Bishop Eaton
Woven Together: A Post-Election Message from Bishop Eaton

The day after the 2024 presidential election, Bishop Eaton reflects on the many expressions of our church being woven together as strands of a large tapestry, even as individually people are experiencing joy or grief. She reminds us that regardless of who is elected president or to other leadership positions in our country, our call to be Christ in the world doesn’t change. View on YouTube or in this post, or download here.

“As we're moving through these next years, no matter what happens and what befalls … imagine all of us woven together and in Christ, and we will continue to serve the gospel and to serve the world.”

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Bishop Eaton, ELCA, Letters, NewsBrian FlatgardBishop Eaton Letters, Church and Society, Elections and Voting RightsComment
Bishop Hutterer: A Message of Peace and Hope after the Election
Bishop Hutterer: A Message of Peace and Hope after the Election

As I reflect on the election results in our nation and in our swing-states synod, I recognize that emotions across our communities are varied and deeply felt. For some, there is joy and hope; for others, uncertainty and worry. In this moment, we turn our gaze once again toward Jesus, our unchanging source of comfort and strength in uncertain times.

For those who are filled with joy today, I ask for your prayers, support, and compassion toward those who may feel fearful or lost. For those who are anxious, may you know the comfort of a God who holds you close. Jesus sustains us all, inviting us into a spirit of action and healing, no matter the season or the outcome.

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Bishop Hutterer, Letters, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardBishop Hutterer Letters, Elections and Voting Rights, Church and Society Comments
From Catholic Roots to Lutheran Grace: A Spiritual Journey Unboxed
From Catholic Roots to Lutheran Grace: A Spiritual Journey Unboxed

In a blog post for Women of the ELCA’s Café, Becca Ehrlich shares her journey from an interfaith upbringing to discovering the Lutheran emphasis on salvation by grace through faith. Her story explores the challenges of not fitting into traditional boxes of what being Lutheran is "supposed to look like," and invites us to reflect on how our own expectations may limit the work of the Holy Spirit.

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ELCA, Letters, NewsBrian FlatgardCafé, Women of the ELCA (WELCA)Comment
Lutheran Culture Through Indigenous Eyes: A Call for Genuine Inclusion
Lutheran Culture Through Indigenous Eyes: A Call for Genuine Inclusion

In her compelling reflection in Women of the ELCA’s Café blog post, Wanda Frenchman shares her journey from a non-Christian Indigenous upbringing to embracing Lutheran faith. Raised in a Lakota household, she highlights the significance of community, food, and genuine welcome in her transition to Grace Lutheran Church.

As a leader in Native American Urban Ministry, Wanda emphasizes the need for authentic inclusion in the church, encouraging congregations to embrace newcomers’ diverse traditions and identities. Her story serves as a powerful reminder of the love of Christ and the importance of welcoming all people into our faith communities.

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ELCA, Grand Canyon Synod, Letters, NewsBrian FlatgardWanda Frenchman, Native American Urban Ministry Phoenix, American Indian and Alaska Native, Grace Phoenix, Capital Conference, Women of the ELCA (WELCA), CaféComment
From South Dakota to Mexico: Reflections on a Year of Service
From South Dakota to Mexico: Reflections on a Year of Service

This year, YAGM Mexico welcomes a new cohort of young adults, ready to serve and grow in their faith through diverse service opportunities. After a transformative year with the first cohort, we reflect on their impact while preparing these new volunteers for their mission. Learn how the YAGM program continues to make a difference through faith, service, and justice, and how you can support their work in Mexico in the latest newsletter (PDF) from Soliette Lopez, YAGM Mexico Country Coordinator.

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ELCA, Letters, NewsBrian FlatgardYoung Adults in Global Mission, Mexican Lutheran ChurchComment
Bishop Eaton: Casting Ballots as People of Faith
Bishop Eaton: Casting Ballots as People of Faith

During this election season and as we prepare to vote as part of our civic responsibility and commitment to the Gospel, Bishop Eaton reminds us, "We are not defined by our political affiliations but by our shared baptism and our commitment to the Gospel. As people of faith, we are called to engage in our communities and work for justice and to advocate for the dignity and well-being of all people. One way we do this is by voting, ensuring that our voices are heard, as we shape our society together." To read more, visit https://www.ELCA.org/CivicEngagement.

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ELCA, Letters, News, Bishop EatonBrian FlatgardBishop Eaton Letters, Church and Society, Elections and Voting RightsComment
Bishop Hutterer: Faithfully Engaged in the Election Process
Bishop Hutterer: Faithfully Engaged in the Election Process

As early voting begins in Arizona, and with early voting also beginning soon in Utah and Nevada, I want to reflect on the sacred responsibility we hold as citizens and people of faith. Our participation in the democratic process is not only a privilege but a duty—one that reflects our commitment to justice, peace, and the flourishing of all people.

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Bishop Hutterer, Letters, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardBishop Hutterer Letters, Elections and Voting Rights, Church and SocietyComment
Wearing Orange In Remembrance of Indian Boarding Schools
Wearing Orange In Remembrance of Indian Boarding Schools

On September 30, the National Day of Remembrance for Indian Boarding Schools invites us to honor Indigenous survivors and their families. Wearing orange is a powerful symbol of solidarity with those affected by the trauma of forced assimilation. Learn how you can participate and engage with the ELCA’s ongoing Truth and Healing initiatives in this post from Wanda K. Frenchman, vicar for Native American Urban Ministry in Phoenix.

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ELCA, Grand Canyon Synod, Letters, NewsBrian FlatgardNative American Urban Ministry Phoenix, American Indian and Alaska Native, Wanda Frenchman, Women of the ELCA (WELCA)Comment
ELCA Conference of Bishops Emphasizes the Need to Speak the Truth
ELCA Conference of Bishops Emphasizes the Need to Speak the Truth

We, the members of the Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, speak with one voice to condemn the hateful, deceptive, violent speech that has too readily found a place in our national discourse. We lament the ways this language has led to hate-fueled action.

We refuse to accept the ongoing normalization of lies and deceit.

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Bishop Hutterer, ELCA, Letters, NewsBrian FlatgardChurch and Society, Conference of BishopsComment
Bishop Eaton: Praying for Peace Amid Ongoing War in the Middle East
Bishop Eaton: Praying for Peace Amid Ongoing War in the Middle East

In observance of the one-year anniversary of the start of the current conflict in the Holy Land, Bishop Eaton offers prayers for peace, healing and justice for all people in Israel and Palestine, and the regions where the war has escalated. “We grieve this violence and loss of life with all people of the Holy Land — and with the Palestinian community of the ELCA, our Jewish and Muslim neighbors, and all who live in fear, pain and anguish. We believe the presence and love of God in Jesus Christ can always be found in the places of the cross. Wherever violence, injustice and death seem to have the last word, God is there and has not abandoned the people.”

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Bishop Eaton, ELCA, Letters, NewsBrian FlatgardBishop Eaton Letters, Israel and Palestine, Church and SocietyComment
Bishop Eaton: Civic engagement and loving-kindness
Bishop Eaton: Civic engagement and loving-kindness

In anticipation of Election Day in the United States, Bishop Eaton reminds us that “civic engagement through political and nonpolitical processes is how we live into our baptism and share Christ’s love as we work to make a difference in our communities and strive for justice and peace across the globe.”

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Bishop Eaton, ELCA, Letters, NewsBrian FlatgardChurch and Society, Elections and Voting Rights, Bishop Eaton LettersComment
My Identity is Not Up For Discussion
My Identity is Not Up For Discussion

In honor of International Day for People of African Descent, which is observed internationally on August 31 each year, ELCA Racial Justice Ministries invited ELCA Director for Innovation and Ideas Rahel Mwitula Williams to share some thoughts about being a person of African descent. For more information on International Day for People of African Descent, visit International Day for People of African Descent – EN | United Nations. Read the full post on the ELCA blog.

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ELCA, LettersBrian FlatgardELCA Racial Justice MinistriesComment
Faith and Politics: Lutheran Legislators Advocate for Respectful Discourse
Faith and Politics: Lutheran Legislators Advocate for Respectful Discourse

Washington State Senators Annette Cleveland and Ron Muzzall, both Lutherans, are advocating for civility in politics, inspired by their faith. Emphasizing grace, respect, and love, they aim to foster respectful dialogue across political divides. Their efforts align with the ELCA’s mission to promote healthy civic engagement, highlighted in recent social messages and draft statements. Read about their efforts in Living Lutheran.

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ELCA, News, LettersBrian FlatgardCreating Space for Conversations, Living Lutheran, Elections and Voting Rights, Church and SocietyComment
Letters from Sweden: A Unique Lutheran Love Story
Letters from Sweden: A Unique Lutheran Love Story

Explore an extraordinary Lutheran love story in David Schaeffer’s Letters from Sweden. Through his father’s wartime and postwar letters to his fiancée, Mary, this book unveils a journey of faith, love, and commitment. Schaeffer’s reflections offer insights into the resilience of the “Greatest Generation” and the enduring power of handwritten letters. Read the article in Living Lutheran.

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Letters, News, ELCABrian FlatgardLiving LutheranComment
Bishop Eaton Addresses Political Violence
Bishop Eaton Addresses Political Violence

Just a few weeks ago in my June column for Living Lutheran I wrote, "I can't think of an election cycle more fraught and divisive than this one. People all across the political spectrum claim that life as we know it is on the line. It's not possible to agree to disagree—one must decide and put a stake in the ground. There is the potential for violence." That potential is now a reality after last weekend's shooting at a Trump campaign rally that killed Corey D. Comperatore and injured other attendees. I am thankful that former President Trump's injury was minor and pray for his recovery alongside those affected. 

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Bishop Eaton, ELCA, Letters, NewsBrian FlatgardBishop Eaton LettersComment