This week we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Deacon April Boyden, who celebrates 34 years on December 1.
Rev. Lars Hammar, Lord of Grace, Tucson, Open Space, Tucson, who celebrates 24 years on December 5.
Rev. Joshua Pontious, Community of Grace, Peoria, who celebrates 2 years on December 5.
Join us in supporting the "Standing in Hope" campaign by Opportunity Palestine to aid the ELCJHL schools in the West Bank during the current crisis. With schools closed and families facing economic hardships, your generosity can provide essential scholarship assistance. Learn more about how you can contribute to this vital cause and stand in solidarity with the students and educators during this Advent Season.
Read MoreElevate your leadership skills with the Rocky Mountain Synod, ELCA's "Excellence in Leadership" program. Starting January 5, 2024, this 13-month cohort offers bi-weekly online sessions every Friday morning to nurture courageous, resilient, and faithful leaders.
Explore adaptive leadership, emotional intelligence, and spiritual practices in a community of diverse participants. Transform how you respond to challenges and conflicts, both personally and professionally. Don't miss this chance to journey towards emotional and spiritual wholeness. Enroll now and step boldly into the future, and view a PDF brochure for more info.
Read MoreEmbrace the spirit of Advent with Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona's inspiring message. This season, delve into the profound ways the Bible encourages us to prepare for meeting God - not just spiritually, but through active service. Explore various ways to incorporate advocacy into your daily spiritual practice, and learn how you can contribute to meaningful change.
Read MoreJoin the excitement for the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans! With over 12,000 young people already registered, it's shaping up to be an unforgettable faith formation experience. Don't worry if you're just starting your planning; we've got tips and a helpful webinar to guide you. Discover how you can bring your group to this life-changing event and be a part of an amazing journey of faith and fellowship.
Read MoreAs part of our Creating Space for Conversations series, we share a PDF of an article by Will Fredstrom, Bonhoeffer’s Stellvertretung: A Christ-Like Ecclesial Ethic for Serving “Galilean” Neighbors, from A Chosen Nation?, an issue of Word and World, Luther Seminary’s journal of theology.
Read More“The ideas of America as either a “Christian” or “post-Christian” nation both reduce a complex relationship between church and state to a simplistic one. If the church is, as Bonhoeffer states, a representative of Christ’s redemptive presence in the world, then the church is primarily bound to serving all neighbors, both directly and through cooperation with the state.” —Will Fredstrom
The latest ELCA's Seeds Monthly newsletter offers a rich array of resources and opportunities for engagement. Highlights include the ELCA’s Truth and Healing Movement, Jamie Bruesehoff’s inspiring article in Living Lutheran, holiday shopping with ELCA Good Gifts, and celebrating the 10th anniversary of “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday. Additionally, it features important dates like the African-Descent Financial Empowerment Listening Session and the ELCA Youth Ministry Network Extravaganza 2024, as well as resources such as the Fall 2023 issue of “LifeLines,” worship resources for the crisis in the Holy Land, and guidance on key cultural shifts in “Pitfalls and Pivots for Church Leaders.”
Read MoreThe latest ELCA Worship newsletter offers valuable resources for spiritual growth and worship. It includes prayers for the crisis in the Holy Land, the Spanish edition of "Hear My Voice: A Prison Prayer Book," and insights from "All Creation Sings" for Advent and Christmas. Also featured are videos from the World Council of Churches' assembly, details of the ALCM’s PONDER ANEW conference in 2024, and the "Sundays and Seasons: Preaching, Year B 2024" guide.
Read MoreBlessed Tomorrow's latest newsletter is brimming with opportunities for climate action and community engagement. Highlights include the screening of 'The Letter,' a film documenting the impact of climate change, and the 2024 American Climate Leadership Awards for both leaders and high school students. Additionally, listen to ELCA's Vance Blackfox discuss indigenous perspectives on climate action and discover how Blessed Tomorrow Ambassador Sharee Wharton is empowering churches through an energy efficiency webinar series.
Read MoreEnhance your loved ones' spiritual journey this holiday season with Faith+Lead's e-Gift cards from Luther Seminary. These thoughtful gifts offer access to a wide range of on-demand courses, covering topics like faith formation, leadership, and storytelling. The e-Gift cards are timeless, customizable with personal notes, and connect recipients to a vibrant faith-learning community. It's an enriching and uplifting gift choice for church staff, leaders, volunteers, or anyone seeking to deepen their faith.
Read MoreThe ELCA is dedicated to honoring Mother Earth and Indigenous peoples through land acknowledgments and supporting the land back movement. A new class led by Vance Blackfox delves into the history, purpose, and implementation of land acknowledgments, as well as exploring the land back movement and reparations as part of its commitment to restorative justice practices.
Read MoreIn their latest situation report, Lutheran Disaster Response is actively addressing the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Efforts include supporting Augusta Victoria Hospital in Jerusalem, aiding the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land with emergency education support, partnering with ACT Alliance for immediate relief, and providing psychosocial support through Salam Arabic Church and Mother of the Savior Church. The ELCA invites prayers and donations to assist those impacted by the conflict in the Middle East.
Read MoreThe latest "Administration Matters" issue from the ELCA covers vital church administration topics including financial controls to prevent theft, Portico's health initiatives, the benefits of ELCA Federal Credit Union membership, payroll adjustments for 2024, Church Mutual's armed intruder emergency service, and tips for writing effective church job descriptions. Read the issue here.
Read MoreNew Year’s Bash for Youth! Join the crew at Camp ALOMA from Dec 29, 2023, to Jan 1, 2024, for an epic New Year's retreat for 7th-12th graders. Games, fellowship, and festive fun await! Book your spot at $110 per camper now: https://forms.gle/PPmWgqRokVKq7iky9
Read MoreThe Office of the Bishop staff gives thanks, travels, and works on year-end projects. We also share a photo from the recent First Call retreat with Region 2.
Read MoreThe Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem have issued a statement for the upcoming Advent and Christmas season amidst the ongoing war. They urge congregations to focus on the spiritual essence of these holy seasons, calling for a shift away from grand festive activities to a more contemplative and prayerful observance. The statement emphasizes solidarity with those affected by the war, advocating for prayer, support, and generous contributions to aid war victims. Read the full statement here.
Read More“We at the LAMA office want to wish you a happy and blessed Thanksgiving! We hope you take this holiday to enjoy God’s bountiful gifts of friends, family, and food— however those things may be present in your life. This year, we give thanks for our wonderful community of advocates and liaisons, for all the congregations who have welcomed us and joined us in our work, for all of our partner networks, and for the opportunities we have been given to do God’s work through advocacy.” Read the full post on the LAMA website.
Read MoreThe Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) appointed the Rev. Michael Burk as presiding bishop pro tempore after its Executive Committee approved Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton's request for a four- to six-month leave of absence, to begin Nov. 17. The council, which serves as the ELCA churchwide organization's board of directors and interim legislative authority between meetings of a churchwide assembly, gathered at the Lutheran Center in Chicago, Nov. 9-12, 2023. Read the full post for other actions taken.
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