Engage in the 2024 election year with the ELCA’s robust initiatives and training opportunities. From online workshops like “Crucial Conversations” to the NCC Freedom Summer campaign, there are numerous ways to get involved. Discover resources and reflections designed to inspire and guide your civic engagement. Visit ELCA.org/votes for more information and read the full post from ELCA Advocacy here..
Read MoreExplore 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.
Read MoreIn this article in Living Lutheran, Bill Bamford, an aerospace engineer and member of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Millersville, MD, shares his journey of faith and service. For 18 years, Bill and his family have been active in their church community, deeply valuing the support and connection they found there. Professionally, Bill works at NASA, focusing on satellite navigation, and believes in the power of community both in his work and faith. His journey from a “Chreaster” Catholic to a dedicated Lutheran highlights his appreciation for forming a personal relationship with God, a key value in his life.
Read MoreFor justice and peace among nations where war and conflict rage, especially Palestine and Israel, Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, Myanmar, Haiti, Russia and Ukraine, Burkina Faso, Sudan, and South Sudan…
For de-escalation of political protests in Bangladesh and anti-immigration protests in England…
For relief and recovery efforts and for all affected by the path of Hurricane Debby…
For victims of flooding and landslides in China…
For collaboration, civility, and compassion in national and international politics…
For protection for those fighting wildfires in California and the Pacific Northwest, and for safety for all evacuees…
In thanksgiving for the diversity, camaraderie, and international good will demonstrated during the Olympic Games…
The 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans was an incredible week of faith, fun, and fellowship. We extend our deepest thanks to everyone who contributed, from the city’s warm hospitality to the adult leaders, volunteers, and participants. Highlights included inspiring speeches, engaging activities, and raising nearly $100,000 for ELCA World Hunger’s Generation Zero-Hunger. Looking ahead, mark your calendars for the next gathering in Minneapolis from June 28 to July 2, 2027. Thank you for making this event a success!
Read MoreAugust is a key time to meet with your U.S. representatives and advocate for your policy priorities. Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona provides a 2-page toolkit with tips on arranging, preparing for, and following up on in-district meetings. Download the toolkit here and make your voice heard this August.
Read MoreELCA’s Congregational Stewardship Support team shares their monthly "Where Your Heart Is" newsletter. The excitement of July, filled with images from the ELCA Youth Gathering and mission trips, highlights the importance of early and strategic planning. Congregational leaders are encouraged to channel their community’s energy into living out the gospel through thoughtful preparation and resource management.
Upcoming events include a grant writing webinar on August 19 and the Stewardship Kaleidoscope conference in Portland from September 23-25. Embrace this season with dedication and faith, making July memorable and impactful through careful planning and stewardship.
Read MoreFor justice and peace among nations where war and conflict rage, especially Palestine and Israel, Iran, Lebanon, Myanmar, Iraq, Haiti, Russia and Ukraine, Burkina Faso, Sudan, and South Sudan; for an end to occupation and oppression…
For de-escalation of political tensions around the world…
For victims of violence, especially those affected by the stabbings in the UK…
For communities devastated by natural disasters, particularly those brought about by climate change…
For all impacted by landslides in Ethiopia and India, flooding in North Korea, and storms and wildfires in the USA and Canada…
For the safety and wellbeing of all involved in the Olympic games…
For the safety, wellbeing, and just treatment of agricultural workers…
Lutherans Restoring Creation shares their Good Green News for July, 2024, featuring their Youth Gathering wrap-up. You can also join in rayer and celebration as Pr. Nick Utphall walks the Ice Age Trail and raises funds for their work along the way. Register for their upcoming connections call, learn how to celebrate the upcoming season of creation, and discover other events.
Read MoreFor justice and peace among nations where war and violence rage, especially Palestine and Israel, Iran, Myanmar, Iraq, Haiti, Russia and Ukraine, Burkina Faso, Sudan, and South Sudan…
For an end to gun violence, and for all affected by shootings in Croatia, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin…
For families and loved ones of those killed in the Nepal plane crash…
For those grieving after mudslides in Ethiopia…
For all in the path of super typhoon Gaemi in Taiwan and the Philippines…
For the safety of travelers and for the work of geologists following the hydrothermal eruption in Yellowstone National Park…
For our nation, and especially for renewed compassion and kindness in our political deliberations…
For athletes, national representatives, and spectators traveling to Paris, France for the Olympic Games…
For wildfires in the US Pacific Northwest and western Canada…
For all who struggle with asthma and severe allergies and other chronic breathing disorders…
For travelers still stranded amidst flight cancellations and delays, and especially for youth and leaders still waiting to travel home from the ELCA Youth Gathering…
In Santiago’s El Bosque subdivision, a community garden has transformed lives. Led by EPES health monitors and supported by ELCA World Hunger, the Amajudisa Community Gardening Group grows fresh produce on a once-neglected strip of patio. This garden symbolizes hope and renewal, fostering community spirit and empowering local women. Read more in the spring 2024 issue of “LifeLines.” Read this story and more in the latest Global Links from ELCA for July/August 2024.
Read MoreELCA’s monthly Worship news for July features: All Creation Sings resources for Time after Pentecost–Autumn, Reformation and All Saints; “God’s work. Our hands.” Resources; ELW Narrative Holy Communion; Narrative Holy Communion; Living Lutheran “Hymn of the Month”; ELCA Worship blog; Lutheran Summer Music Academy & Festival; and Assembly Song Companion to All Creation Sings.
Read MoreJust small mistake in a few lines of code. That’s all it took to cancel thousands of flights, lock hospital computers, freeze bank operations, and even temporarily shut down government operations. Throughout the globe, millions upon millions of people’s lives were impacted by just a small mistake in a few lines of code.
Some of you reading this may have dealt with the impacts directly. As I write this, I’m in a hotel room, hoping to make it home only 36 hours late, while others have been delayed as much as five days!
Read MoreWe share three recap videos from the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering: Acts of Wisdom, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, and Let's Be Bigger. Follow the links or watch them all in this post.
Read MoreWe share three recap videos from the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering: Day 1 recap, Day 2 recap, Day 3 recap, and the week in review.
Read MoreThe 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans has transformed participants through deep conversations, community engagement, and inspiring worship. Highlighted by Bishop Eaton’s powerful closing message and a living Good Samaritan story, the week exemplified discipleship and the call to see Jesus in every neighbor. As we return home, we embrace the Spirit of courage and authenticity, ready to serve and love as disciples of Christ.
Read MoreOn July 18, over 5,000 participants at the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans took part in “Accompaniment Day,” engaging in community service and building meaningful relationships. Despite torrential rain, the day concluded with an inspiring Mass Gathering. Highlights included powerful speeches on justice and freedom, emphasizing the theme “Created to Be Free.”
Read MoreThe latest Seeds Monthly lifts up: New resources for “God’s work. Our hands.”; I’m a Lutheran: Carolyn Swenson; ELCA Youth Gathering; Bishop Eaton’s “Christian Nationalism and who is a 'real’ American”; featured calendar events and resources; and bulletin blurbs.
Read MoreJoin us at the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans to support ELCA World Hunger in a significant way. Dive into an immersive role-playing experience in the Interactive Learning Space and learn about the daily challenges of those living in poverty. Take part in a special offering where your donation will be matched up to $250,000, doubling your impact. Donate via ELCA.org/GiveGZH or bring your contributions to the Gathering, and share your journey on social media with #GenZeroHunger. Together, we can strive for a world without hunger.
Read MoreWe are here at ELCA's Youth Gathering 2024 where we're learning, lamenting, listening, and loving along with 16,000 young people from across the country! Lutherans Restoring Creation was asked to help support ELCA's World Hunger's area in the Interactive Center as we make the connections between climate, natural disaster, hunger and migration.
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