Posts in ELCA
Rev. Thomas's Call to Action on the National Day of Racial Healing
Rev. Thomas's Call to Action on the National Day of Racial Healing

In recognition of the National Day of Racial Healing, Rev. Jennifer Thomas reflects on her ongoing journey to address white supremacy and racial justice. A proponent of continuous learning, Rev. Thomas emphasizes the importance of understanding and actively working against the structures that harm our global neighbors.

She shares insights from her involvement with the ELCA's racial justice initiatives and invites others of European descent within the ELCA to join in the anti-racism efforts. Discover more about the ELCA's Truth and Healing Movement and find resources to support your congregation's journey towards racial equity.

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ELCA, LettersBrian FlatgardRacial Justice, ELCA Racial Justice Ministries, ELCA European Descent Lutheran Association for Racial Justice (EDLARJ)Comment
Elevate Your Worship Experience with ELCA's Music Resources
Elevate Your Worship Experience with ELCA's Music Resources

Explore a wealth of worship and music resources from ELCA partners, including new leadership at Music that Makes Community and transformative events like the Messy Church conference. Embrace the spirit of Lent with dedicated workshops and enrich your congregation's musical journey with Lutheran Summer Music Academy. Engage with the Calvin Institute's grant program to invigorate your worship services. Discover these and more, offering guidance and inspiration for your faith community's worship experiences. Dive deeper into the full array of resources and events detailed on the ELCA Worship’s blog.

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ELCA, Worship Resources, NewsBrian Flatgard2024 Lent, Worship Resources, ELCA WorshipComment
New Lent resources from ELCA World Hunger
New Lent resources from ELCA World Hunger

New resources are now available from ELCA World Hunger to enrich the life of your congregation during Lent. As congregations across the ELCA creatively find new ways to lean into the future, we are eager to equip leaders with ELCA World Hunger resources during the season of Lent.

The theme for our seasonal materials is "The glory of the Lord shall be revealed.” Where and how do you encounter God? Through the prophet Isaiah, God urges us to take comfort, trusting that “the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (Isaiah 40:5).

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ELCA, NewsBrian Flatgard2024 Lent, Hunger, ELCA World HungerComment
Seeking Common Ground: A Call for Prayer and Openness in Politics
Seeking Common Ground: A Call for Prayer and Openness in Politics

In a recent ELCA Advocacy blog post, Quentin Bernhard reflects on the complexity of praying for elected leaders amidst political polarization. He shares insights from a Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania workshop, discussing the importance of seeing everyone as fully human and loved by God, despite differing views. This devotion is a call to open our hearts and minds, and act as agents of change in God's world. Discover the full reflection and join the conversation on depolarization as an act of discipleship at ELCA Advocacy's blog.

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Letters, ELCABrian FlatgardAdvocacy, ELCA Advocacy, Creating Space for ConversationsComment
For What Shall We Pray?
For What Shall We Pray?

  • For peace among nations, especially between Israel and Palestine, Russia and Ukraine…

  • For areas of the world facing conflict and violence, especially Ecuador…

  • For peaceful elections and political transitions around the world…

  • For victims of gun violence, especially in Perry, IA; Chicago, IL; Cloquet, MN; Kansas City, MO; St. Peters, MO; and Bessemer, AL…

  • For cleanup efforts following the explosion at the Sandman Hotel in Fort Worth, TX…

  • For areas of the United States facing blizzards, tornadoes, high winds, and other stormy weather…

  • For the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and for all who advocate for racial justice…

  • For the church across the world and for shared peace and purpose among congregations and denominations…

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ELCA, PrayersBrian FlatgardELCA Worship, For What Shall We PrayComment
December 2023 ELCA Mission Support Memo
December 2023 ELCA Mission Support Memo

This month’s ELCA Mission Support Memo highlights the "Cultivating Generous Congregations" training available in partnership with their Stewardship ministry and the Lake Institute on Faith and Giving. Plus there is an online training on Wednesday, Jan 10th for Synod Treasurers, Bookkeepers and Leaders with Lori Fedyk. View as a PDF here. 

They would love to hear about the inspiring stories in your synods, regions and congregations - feel free to reach out to Karen at karen.kretschmann@elca.org.

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ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardELCA Mission Support Team, Mission SupportComment
Theological Education for Indigenous Leaders program launches
Theological Education for Indigenous Leaders program launches

Centuries after colonial models of education were first forced on Indigenous people in North America, their effects are still keenly felt. Western theological education has remained the default methodology within the church, including the ELCA. This fall, Native leaders from across the ELCA, in partnership with leaders from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS) of California Lutheran University in Berkeley, are seeking to change that with the launch of the Theological Education for Indigenous Leaders (TEIL) program. Read more at Living Lutheran.

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Region 2, Grand Canyon Synod, News, ELCABrian FlatgardPacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, American Indian and Alaska NativeComment
Faith Lens: Is Seeing Really Believing?
Faith Lens: Is Seeing Really Believing?

In a world where AI-generated content blurs the line between reality and fiction, ELCA's Faith Lens challenges us to explore the authenticity of our faith experiences. How do we discern the truth in what we see and share a genuine testament of God's love in our lives? Dive into a thoughtful discussion on the intersection of faith and perception at ELCA.org.

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Worship Resources, ELCA, ResourcesBrian FlatgardYouth and Young Adult, Faith LensComment
A legacy of Lutheran storytelling
A legacy of Lutheran storytelling

Living Lutheran and its predecessors have been telling the stories of God’s people living their faith for nearly two centuries. The formats, distribution frequency and even church bodies represented have changed for these publications—but the core mission, to share the good news through Lutherans’ stories, hasn’t.

Visit livinglutheran.org for a collection of notable ways our publications have covered and helped shape the conversation around some of those vital moments, in both world and church events.

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ELCA, NewsGrand Canyon SynodLiving Lutheran Comment
For What Shall We Pray?
For What Shall We Pray?

  • For peace among nations, especially between Israel and Palestine, Russia and Ukraine…

  • For victims of and responders to the runway crash in Tokyo, Japan…

  • For relief and recovery efforts following an earthquake in western Japan…

  • For continued tensions and disruptions among those traveling the Red Sea…

  • For all victims of gun violence…

  • For renewed commitments to compassion, collaboration, and equity across political divides…

  • For astronomers, physicists, photographers, and all artists who reveal the beauty and mystery of the cosmos to us…

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ELCA, PrayersBrian FlatgardELCA Worship, For What Shall We PrayComment
Half a Century of Hope: ELCA World Hunger’s 50th Anniversary Celebration
Half a Century of Hope: ELCA World Hunger’s 50th Anniversary Celebration

Join us as we mark a monumental milestone—the 50th anniversary of ELCA World Hunger—at the 2024 ELCA World Hunger Leadership Gathering on February 1-4, 2024. Celebrate decades of dedication and look ahead to the future of hunger advocacy and action. Be a part of this transformative event for networking, learning, and planning, as we continue to embrace hope and move forward in our mission. Act now to secure your spot and take advantage of special rates!

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ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardHunger, ELCA World HungerComment
Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church Listening Session
Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church Listening Session

You are cordially invited to participate in a listening session hosted by the Grand Canyon Synod. This Zoom session on Tuesday, 1/16/2023, 5pm MST, 4pm PST, features Sarah Morris and Anthony Ormsbee-Hale from the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church (CRLC), and offers a unique opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue about the future of our community. Click here to register.

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ELCA, Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian FlatgardCommission for a Renewed Lutheran ChurchComment
For What Shall We Pray?
For What Shall We Pray?

  • For peace among nations, especially between Israel and Palestine, Russia and Ukraine…

  • For peaceful resolution to post-election clashes in the Democratic Republic of Congo…

  • For relief and recover efforts following storms in eastern Australia…

  • For all victims of human trafficking worldwide…

  • For areas of the United States facing winter storms, heavy rains, and other weather events…

  • For ongoing holiday celebrations during the season of Christmas and during the days of Kwanzaa…

  • For a renewed sense of hope and possibility at the start of this new calendar year…

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ELCA, PrayersBrian FlatgardELCA Worship, For What Shall We PrayComment
Spiritual Rest
Spiritual Rest

“When God created the seventh day, God did not rest because God did all the work of creation in the six days prior. God rested because rest is intrinsically built in the rhythm of life. That means, if we choose Sunday to be the seventh day, then no matter what happened the past week, whether we fall to illness, or lose track of time, or projects and schedules fail in the many ways they often do, we still must rest. Rest allows us to be human, understanding that production may not work the way we need it to, but days of work will always come back around.”

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ELCA, LettersBrian Flatgard2023 Advent and Christmas, Lutheran Disaster ResponseComment