Posts in ELCA
US Tornadoes and Storms situation update
US Tornadoes and Storms situation update

Over Memorial Day Weekend, tornadoes continued to rip through the central United States. Lutheran Disaster Response is providing immediate and long-term relief. View a PDF version of the report. Be a part of the response:

Pray: Please pray for the communities who were impacted by these destructive tornadoes. Give: Gifts to “U.S. Tornadoes” will be used to until the response is complete. Connect: Share this bulletin insert with your congregation; sign up to receive alerts; check the LDR blog, Facebook, and Twitter.

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ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardLutheran Disaster ResponseComment
Faith Lens: Being One
Faith Lens: Being One

I was officiating at the wedding of two of our Clemson University alumni.  Their friends stood up to make remarks – all of which were glowing and emotional.  Some of these had gone to Clemson, so they included a “Go Tigers!” in their comments. Then there was the admission from one that she attended a college in the SEC Conference rather than the ACC.  (College football rivalries are important in the South.) These exchanges were good natured and humorous; some such exchanges are not. Our country seems to be in a phase were name-calling and belittling have ceased to be taboo.

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ELCA, Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardComment
Prayers for synod assemblies
Prayers for synod assemblies

Please hold the following Bishops and Synods in your prayers as they gather for their synod assemblies on the following dates:

  • Bishop David Zellmer, South Dakota Synod, May 30-June 1, 2019

  • Bishop Brian Maas, Nebraska Synod, May 30-June 1, 2019

  • Bishop John Macholz, Upstate New York Synod, May 30-June 1, 2019

  • Bishop William Gohl, Delaware-Maryland Synod, May 30-June 1, 2019

  • Bishop Timothy Smith, North Carolina Synod, May 30-June 1, 2019

  • Bishop Herman Yoos, South Carolina Synod, May 30-June 1, 2019

  • Bishop Julian Gordy, Southeastern Synod, May 30-June 1, 2019

  • Bishop Guy Erwin, Southwest California Synod, May 31-June 1, 2019

  • Bishop Steve Delzer, Southeastern Minnesota Synod, May 31-June 1, 2019

  • Bishop Paul Erickson, Greater Milwaukee Synod, May 31-June 1, 2019

  • Bishop Matthew Riegel, West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod, May 31-June 1, 2019

  • Bishop Jessica Crist, Montana Synod, May 31-June 2, 2019

  • Bishop Sue Briner, Southwestern Texas Synod, May 31-June 2, 2019

  • Bishop William Gafkjen, Indiana-Kentucky Synod, May 31-June 2, 2019

  • Bishop Sam Zeiser, Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod, June 1, 2019

Please pray for the South Dakota Synod, Southeastern Synod, Southwest California Synod, Southeastern Minnesota Synod, and Montana Synod as they elect a bishop.

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Prayers, ELCABrian FlatgardComment
Faith Lens: Circumstances are not Crippling
Faith Lens: Circumstances are not Crippling

Most people have heard of Joni Eareckson Tada, the woman who’s arms and legs entered paralysis at 17 after breaking her neck in a diving accident. It is hard to imagine how a young athlete could deal with the fact that she was not going to be healed, but famously, Joni did. Rather than being physically healed, she learned to paint by holding the brush in her mouth. She founded “Joni and Friends,” a ministry that helps persons with disabilities and their families reach independence, physically, financially, and spiritually. 

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ELCA, Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardComment
Prepared to Care: Our Advocacy in Light of Disasters Intensified by Climate Change
Prepared to Care: Our Advocacy in Light of Disasters Intensified by Climate Change

The 2019 ELCA Advocacy Convening was held April 29–May 1 in Washington, D.C., gathering bishops (including Bishop Hutterer) and community leaders around the theme “Prepared to Care: Our Advocacy in Light of Disasters Intensified by Climate Change.” In her welcome letter to participants, Amy Reumann, ELCA Advocacy director, said this topic requires urgent action. Read the article in Living Lutheran »

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ELCA, Z AdvocacyBrian FlatgardComment
YAGM Senegal May newsletter from Pastor Kristin Engstrom
YAGM Senegal May newsletter from Pastor Kristin Engstrom

Pastor Kristin Engstrom, the Country Coordinator for the Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) program in Senegal, shares her latest newsletter. Each year, six to seven young adults from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America join her in Senegal, where they serve for one year with our partners in the Lutheran Church of Senegal and Senegalese Lutheran Development Services.  

You can support Pastor Kristin's work by giving through ELCA Global Church Sponsorship. To receive the newsletter, visit the YAGM website and ask to receive it via the contact page.

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ELCABrian FlatgardComment
Goodness of biodiversity: Mindfulness required
Goodness of biodiversity: Mindfulness required

The intricacies and diversity of creation are mind-boggling, a reflection and reminder of the power and glory of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit expressed through the created order. The United Nations honors creation on May 22 through the International Day for Biological Diversity. This year’s theme is “Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health.” Marking the dayincreases our understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues in God’s good creation.

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ELCA, Z AdvocacyBrian FlatgardComment
Six Months Later: 2018 California Wildfires
Six Months Later: 2018 California Wildfires

Read the situation report and be a part of the response:

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ELCA, Prayers, Z AdvocacyBrian FlatgardComment
First ordained Lahu pastor in the ELCA serves in two-expression church
First ordained Lahu pastor in the ELCA serves in two-expression church

Christ Lutheran Church in Visalia, Calif., is a church transformed. In opening hearts and doors to a ministry among the community’s Lahu people, the congregation has become a two-expression congregation moving toward the future with hope and promise.

The first step was to welcome a worshiping community of Lahu people. The second step was to join with the Lahu community to support and encourage the Rev. Samee Singkeovilay, who became the first ordained Lahu pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, in April 2018. Soon after, he became the mission developer pastor for the Christ Lutheran Lahu Ministry, a Synodically Authorized Worshiping Community sponsored by the Sierra Pacific Synod. Read more »

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ELCABrian FlatgardComment
Faith Lens: Transforming moments
Faith Lens: Transforming moments

What event has shaped and changed your life more than any other?

Transforming Moments: Yet again the nation is dealing with a school shooting, this time on the campus of UNC-Charlotte.  On May 1, a young man entered a classroom and began shooting.  Two were killed and four were wounded.  Police were unclear as to the possible motives of the shooter. Read more»

Faith Lens features weekly bible studies that engage youth and young adults in connecting world events with the Bible, faith, and everyday life.

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ELCA, Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardComment
Video: Sharing the Goodness of God
Video: Sharing the Goodness of God

The Lutheran Church in Malaysia (LCM), a companion church of the ELCA, works alongside the indigenous Orang Asli people of West Malaysia. In this south-to-south partnership, Christ's love between LCM and the Orang Asli is lived out in many ways -including worship life, education, sustainable farming, land rights awareness and income generating projects. Watch the video »

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ELCABrian FlatgardComment
I’m a Lutheran: Ryan Henry Mitstifer Walton
I’m a Lutheran: Ryan Henry Mitstifer Walton

Ryan Henry Mitstifer Walton, member of Tanque Verde Lutheran Church, Tucson, Ariz. and a sophomore at Sabino High School, is featured in the May Living Lutheran.

Says Ryan: “I believe God subtly tries to push me to do things. While it’s not a force that controls me, I definitely feel God’s influence. My mom, Meredith Mitstifer, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer when she was pregnant with me. Given I shared space with cancer, I believe I have to do my part to advocate and help other women be informed about this silent killer.”

Read the full article»

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ELCA, Kino ConferenceBrian FlatgardTanque Verde TucsonComment