The August 2024 of ELCA’s Seeds Monthly is out, featuring: Living Lutheran: “Greetings From the Heart”; ELCA World Hunger: Generation Zero-Hunger; Gathering Remix; calendar items; featured resources, and bulletin blurbs.
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Join the ELCA’s Virtual Discernment Event on Sunday, September 15th, 2024, to explore your call to ministry. Representatives from all seven ELCA seminaries will guide you through discerning your next steps. Register today to take part in this unique opportunity!
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Lutherans Restoring Creation announces the extension of Gabrielle’s fellowship through 2024 and begins a Strategic Planning process to shape its role in the ELCA. Join us in celebrating Pr. Nick Utphall’s walk on the Ice Age Trail and participate in upcoming events like “God’s Work, Our Hands” Sunday and our August Connection Call on the Season of Creation. Read the news in full in their August 2024 Great Green News.
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The 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans was a tremendous success, with nearly 17,000 participants raising close to $100,000 for Generation Zero-Hunger. As we celebrate 50 years of ELCA World Hunger, we reflect on our church’s deep commitment to addressing the root causes of hunger and poverty. Explore the resources available for this milestone and consider joining an upcoming immersion trip to Colombia. Learn more about these events and how you can get involved in the August 2024 issue of ELCA World Hunger's Go and Do News.
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The Lutheran Men in Mission 2024 Summer Ambassador-Gram is available by clicking here. You can also view the LMM page where Ambassador-Grams (including this one) are archived.
Their summer Foundations newsletter is also available via PDF and contains valuable info, including their cover story, Fighting Human Trafficking One Mile and One Meal at a Time: “Cyclists in Iowa rode 200 miles to raise over $2 million to combat human trafficking, supported by Lutheran Men in Mission and congregations like Emanuel St. John’s in Lytton. Their journey reflects the bold and daring challenge of living out faith through action.”
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In the August 2024 LECA Mission Support Memo, we hear about how the ELCA Youth Gathering is both a place of faith formation and empowering each of us to share faith and inclusion in our church. You also have a great opportunity to attend Stewardship Kaleidoscope in September, even online so check out the memo to find out more. Find the memo here in Living Lutheran too!
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On Sunday, Sept. 8, congregations of the ELCA will join together for our annual day of service, “God’s work. Our hands.” This day continues to be an opportunity to celebrate who we are as the ELCA — one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor.
This year we also celebrate 50 years of ELCA World Hunger. In commemoration of this milestone, consider including ministries focused on alleviating hunger and poverty in your plans for “God’s work. Our hands.” Or make it a season of service! Expand your volunteer opportunities, advocacy efforts or food drives until World Food Day on Oct. 16.
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This week’s Synod Spotlight highlights Lutheran Services in America, a national network of 300 faith-based organizations that serve over 6 million people annually across the United States—one of every 50 Americans. In Arizona and Nevada, their impact is felt through member organizations that provide critical care and support to more than 64,000 people each year. View their fact sheets for Arizona and Nevada.
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For those caught in the midst of warfare and conflict, especially in Gaza, Israel, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Myanmar, Haiti, Russia, Ukraine, Burkina Faso, Sudan, and South Sudan…
For those attending or participating in the Democratic National Convention, and for all leaders in government…
For any countries experiencing political unrest and turmoil, especially Bangladesh…
For the care, safety, and well-being of women and girls around the world…
For those in the path of Hurricane Ernesto…
For the northeastern United States in the midst of record flooding…
For healing and protection in the wake of a new COVID variant and the Mpox virus…
For those experiencing extreme heat throughout different regions…
When Jesus’ teachings become difficult to understand, many of his followers leave. But Simon Peter stays, proclaiming, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life.” In this week's Faith Lens, we explore the importance of trusting in Jesus, even when faith is challenging. Discover how, like Peter, we can find life in Christ, even in the face of difficult teachings.
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Save the date for World Food Day—Celebrating 50 Years of ELCA World Hunger—a Zoom webinar on Tuesday, 10/15/2024, 5 pm MST/PDT, 6pm MDT. Register here.
This special online event will be hosted by the Rev. Amy Current, bishop of the Southeastern Iowa Synod, and Imran Siddiqui, vice president of the ELCA.
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Join the ELCA’s online workshop series through October to delve into how our faith informs our actions and voting on critical social issues. August’s focus is Corporate Social Responsibility with Rev. Kaari Reierson. View a PDF flyer and register now to engage deeply with our social teachings and lead community discussions.
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This week’s Synod Spotlight celebrates the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), highlighting its formation in 1988, its three-part structure of congregations, synods, and churchwide organization, and its significant role in the global church through partnerships and advocacy. The ELCA continues to unite Lutherans in worship, service, and community, shaping our shared mission locally and globally.
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At the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering where the theme “Created to Be” inspired young people to be their brave, free, authentic, disruptive, and discipling selves, there was a place in the Interactive Learning space that invited them to be “Drawn In! Moving Out!” It was an absolute joy to once again bring the vision of a worship learning experience I brainstormed in 2016 to life for the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans. We staffed the booth with an incredible team from the ELCA Worship Staff, Lutheran Summer Music, the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, and the ELCA Spiritual Renewal Team.
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For those caught in the midst of warfare and conflict, especially in Gaza, Israel, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Myanmar, Haiti, Russia, Ukraine, Burkina Faso, Sudan, and South Sudan…
For protection for all in the path of Tropical Storm Ernesto…
For those affected by wildfires in Greece…
For safety following the earthquake felt in Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon…
For victims of stabbings in London, England and Eskisehir, Turkey…
For those grieving plane crash victims in Sao Paulo, Brazil…
For the United States and other countries preparing for government elections…
For those beginning or preparing for a new school year…
For those affected by the earthquake in Los Angeles and the wider area…
For the protection of creation, wildlife, and water sources…
Discover new resources and events for worship leaders and musicians this fall! From workshops hosted by Music that Makes Community to the latest video interviews from the Center for Church Music, explore ways to deepen your worship leadership. Plus, mark your calendars for ALCM’s 2025 Summer Conference and revisit LSM 2024 performances online. Read the full list of resources and events highlighted by ELCA Worship here.
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Meet Bishop-elect Nathan Pipho, who has clear priorities for the New England Synod: proclaiming Jesus, building community, and pursuing racial justice. With over 20 years of ministry experience and a master’s from Harvard, Pipho is prepared to lead. His term begins August 1, with installation on September 7. Discover his vision and commitment to embodying God’s healing and love in the world in this Living Lutheran article.
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Service has always been integral to Sam Swenson-Reinhold’s life, growing up as the son of two ELCA pastors. Now, he serves as an ELCA coach and project coordinator for Operation Backyard with the Knoxville Leadership Foundation. Through his roles, he mentors individuals, oversees construction projects for those in need, and finds spiritual nourishment in church and nature. Swenson-Reinhold’s dedication to community and faith exemplifies the Lutheran commitment to service and personal growth. Read more about his inspiring journey and impact in Living Lutheran.
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HopeWood Outdoors, a vibrant ELCA outdoor ministry in Ohio, is redefining how they welcome diverse campers with the help of a $40,000 ELCA Innovation Grant. Under the leadership of Drew Tucker, HopeWood is focusing on accessibility, cultural training, and sustainability. This initiative is part of their mission to connect people with nature and faith, inspiring them to embrace their callings. Discover more about HopeWood’s transformative journey and their commitment to growth and inclusion in this Living Lutheran article.
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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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