Posts in ELCA
Church Council Sets Direction for 2025 ELCA Assembly in Phoenix
Church Council Sets Direction for 2025 ELCA Assembly in Phoenix

The ELCA Church Council met April 3–6 in Chicago to shape the agenda for the 2025 Churchwide Assembly, coming to Phoenix this July. The council received the final report from the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church and recommended major actions related to diversity, governance, finances, and the proposed social statement Faith and Civic Life: Seeking the Well-being of All.

To learn what actions may shape the future of the ELCA and how they impact congregations and synods like ours, click here.

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ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardELCA Church CouncilComment
Worship, Music, Formation: Partner Events You Should Know About This Summer
Worship, Music, Formation: Partner Events You Should Know About This Summer

Early-bird registration is now open for the Seminar on Lutheran Liturgy, held August 13–15 in Minneapolis, with the theme “Let It Be With Me According To Your Word: From Praying to Knowing to Doing.” But that’s just one of many opportunities this season for worship leaders and musicians. Upcoming events also include the Lutheran Summer Music Academy in Indiana, a Music That Makes Community retreat in New Mexico, the ALCM Conference in North Carolina, and new catechumenate resources from Journey to Baptismal Living. Explore the full list of partner offerings on the ELCA worship blog.

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ELCA, Leadership Resources, NewsBrian FlatgardELCA WorshipComment
Who Is Christ for Us Today? Honoring Bonhoeffer’s Legacy of Courage and Faith
Who Is Christ for Us Today? Honoring Bonhoeffer’s Legacy of Courage and Faith

April 9 marks 80 years since the martyrdom of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German Lutheran pastor and theologian executed for resisting the Nazi regime. Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania (LAMPa) has curated a powerful set of resources—including a congregational curriculum, prayer liturgy, podcast, and event recordings—to help us reflect on Bonhoeffer’s enduring question: Who is Christ for us today? Explore how Bonhoeffer’s life and theology continue to shape Lutheran faith, civic responsibility, and resistance to Christian nationalism.

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ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardDietrich Bonhoeffer, Church and SocietyComment
For What Shall We Pray?
For What Shall We Pray?

  • For justice and peace among nations where war and violence rage, especially Ukraine and Russia, Palestine and Israel, Haiti, Sudan, Myanmar, Yemen…

  • For rescue and recovery work in Myanmar and Thailand, and for all who mourn…

  • For victims of the nightclub roof collapse in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic…

  • For those affected by flooding and storms…

  • For aid workers in dangerous areas, and those who mourn aid workers killed in Gaza…

  • For all victims of gun violence, especially near Fredericksburg, Virginia…

  • For those whose livelihoods depend upon finance and trade, and for those who are most vulnerable amidst market downturns…

  • For all who raise their voice for justice in their communities…

  • For pastors, deacons, musicians, and lay leaders as they prepare worship for Holy Week…

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ELCA, Prayers, SpotlightBrian FlatgardELCA Worship, For What Shall We PrayComment
Honoring Our Jewish Neighbors This Holy Week
Honoring Our Jewish Neighbors This Holy Week

How we read John’s Passion on Good Friday matters. We encourage congregations to consider the historical misuse of the phrase “the Jews” in this gospel and to include a contextual note provided by the Consultation on Common Texts. ELCA worship resources are available to guide preachers and worship planners in proclaiming the gospel with care, respect, and theological integrity.

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ELCA, Leadership Resources, NewsBrian FlatgardELCA Worship, 2025 Lent, Ecumenical and Inter-Religious RelationsComment
Faith Lens: The Real Hero
Faith Lens: The Real Hero

As March Madness crowns champions of skill and wealth, Palm Sunday offers a counter-narrative: a humble entry by an unlikely hero. This week’s reflection invites us to reconsider how we identify greatness—not through power or prestige, but through compassion, sacrifice, and love. As Holy Week begins, we remember Jesus not as the expected victor, but as the savior who rides in on a donkey, cheered by those in need of hope.

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Worship Resources, ELCA, ResourcesBrian FlatgardFaith Lens, Youth and Young AdultComment
Joy as Resistance: A Lenten Invitation to Dance
Joy as Resistance: A Lenten Invitation to Dance

Lent is often marked by solemnity and sacrifice, but Minister of Word and Service Mindy Holland invites us to approach the season differently—by choosing joy. Whether through dancing, handwritten notes, or praying the Psalms in multiple languages, her Lenten practices highlight joy as a spiritual discipline and a witness to the goodness of God, even in a world of pain. This reflection reminds us that joy is not frivolous—it’s faithful. Find inspiration for your own joyous Lenten intention. Click here to read the full article on Living Lutheran.

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ELCA, NewsBrian Flatgard2025 Lent, Living LutheranComment
Gather Magazine Seeks Faith-Filled Creators—Nominate by April 11
Gather Magazine Seeks Faith-Filled Creators—Nominate by April 11

Gather magazine is collecting stories of ELCA women, congregations, and ministries who create and sell handmade goods—like soap, candles, clothing, or cards—as a way to support ministry or express faith. Know someone in our synod who fits this description? Send their name, contact info, and a short description to gather@elca.org by Friday, April 11.

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ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardGather magazine, Women of the ELCA (WELCA)Comment
Staying with Hope: ELCA’s Sumud Initiative Walks with Christians in the Holy Land
Staying with Hope: ELCA’s Sumud Initiative Walks with Christians in the Holy Land

Palestinian Christians living under military occupation in the Holy Land face immense challenges—separation from family, lack of work, and rising emigration. Through the Sumud initiative, the ELCA stands in steadfast accompaniment with our partners in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL), advocating for dignity, justice, and peace. Sumud means “steadfastness,” and this initiative invites us to listen, learn, and act in faithful support. Click here to read more at Living Lutheran.

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ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardSumud, Living Lutheran, Israel and Palestine, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy LandComment
¿Cómo pueden prepararse las congregaciones para redadas migratorias? Preparing for Immigration Raids: A Faithful Guide for Congregations
¿Cómo pueden prepararse las congregaciones para redadas migratorias? Preparing for Immigration Raids: A Faithful Guide for Congregations

How can congregations prepare for possible immigration raids? A new ELCA AMMPARO guide outlines practical steps—like hosting Know Your Rights sessions, connecting with local migrant organizations, and training ministry teams—to equip congregations for faithful response. Rooted in Lutheran theology and updated in response to recent policy changes, this guide offers a path forward rooted in justice, compassion, and love for neighbor. Read the full article at ELCA.org.

¿Cómo pueden prepararse las congregaciones para posibles redadas migratorias? Una nueva guía de AMMPARO ofrece pasos prácticos como organizar sesiones de Conozca Sus Derechos, conectar con organizaciones locales y capacitar a voluntarios para responder con justicia y compasión. Esta guía está arraigada en la fe luterana y actualizada frente a recientes cambios de política migratoria. Leer el artículo completo.

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ELCA, Leadership Resources, NewsBrian FlatgardEspañol, AMMPARO, Immigration and RefugeesComment
Lint for Lent: Turning Trash into Light at Easter
Lint for Lent: Turning Trash into Light at Easter

For the 10th year, St. John Lutheran Church in Victor, NY, is celebrating Lint for Lent, a tradition of collecting discarded household items—like dryer lint and candle stubs—to create fire bricks used to light Easter worship. This creative ritual reminds us how God transforms what we cast aside into warmth, light, and purpose.

Read the full story of this fiery and faithful practice—click here to explore the article in Living Lutheran.

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ELCA, NewsBrian Flatgard2025 Lent, Living LutheranComment
Fresh Reads for Faith Formation: New Books for Spring 2025
Fresh Reads for Faith Formation: New Books for Spring 2025

From picture books that walk children through Holy Week to sharp theological insights on race, care, and church life, these seven new titles offer something for every ministry context. Featuring ELCA voices like Bishop Brenda Bos, Pastor Angela Denker, and Pastor Yolanda Denson-Byers, this spring’s must-reads can deepen discipleship, enrich congregational conversations, and offer rest to the weary.

Explore all the recommended titles and how they might shape your ministry—click here for the full article in Living Lutheran.

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ELCA, NewsBrian Flatgard2025 Lent, Living LutheranComment
I’m a Lutheran: Hannah Limbong
I’m a Lutheran: Hannah Limbong

Hannah Limbong, a public health major and lifelong Lutheran, shares how her faith journey—from youth leadership in the ELCA to climate advocacy and nonprofit mentorship—shapes every aspect of her life. A member of Christ Lutheran in Jeffersontown, KY, Hannah lives out her call through music, policymaking, and care for creation.

Read how this emerging leader combines service, justice, and joy in her walk with Christ—click here for the full article in Living Lutheran.

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ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardLiving LutheranComment
Faith Lens: Joy Amidst the Sorrow
Faith Lens: Joy Amidst the Sorrow

As Lent nears its end, this season reminds us that even in long, sorrowful journeys—whether personal or global—there is space for joy. Just as a woman anointed Jesus in love on his road to the cross, we too are invited to celebrate sacred moments, even in hardship. This reflection calls us to live intentionally, walk with those who suffer, and embrace joy as resistance and renewal during life’s most difficult seasons.

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Worship Resources, ELCA, ResourcesBrian FlatgardFaith Lens, Youth and Young Adult, 2025 LentComment
God’s Work, Our Hands: Join the ELCA’s Day of Service on Sept. 7, 2025
God’s Work, Our Hands: Join the ELCA’s Day of Service on Sept. 7, 2025

On Sunday, Sept. 7, ELCA congregations will come together for “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday, an annual day of service celebrating our call to love and serve our neighbors. Whether through food drives, community clean-ups, or acts of care, this is an opportunity to put faith into action. If your congregation can’t participate on Sept. 7, choose another date—service is ongoing! Visit ELCA.org/DayOfService for resources and inspiration. Mark your calendar and join us in serving our communities!

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ELCA, Leadership Resources, NewsBrian FlatgardGod's Work Our Hands SundayComment