Posts in ELCA
Faith Lens: It Goeth Before a Fall
Faith Lens: It Goeth Before a Fall

Faith Lens is a weekly Bible study that engage youth and young adults in connecting world events with the Bible, faith, and everyday life.

It was a warm night in Springfield, Illinois on August 16th when the rapper Twista took the stage, spitting bars in his traditionally rapid-fire style. On the side of the stage stood a sign language interpreter. Her hair was buzzed short on the sides, a fiery red on top. She was bobbing up and down with the beat and, to everyone’s amazement, keeping up with Twista’s rapid rhymes.

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ELCAGrand Canyon SynodComment
The Importance of Service
The Importance of Service

Kyle Lefler, a year round program coordinator at Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp in NW Montana, shares this story of service.

Jesus walked. Miles & miles across the hills and valleys of the Holy Land. He and his disciples traveled great distances with little comforts to be with, among and beside the people.

While we need not always travel great distances to be of service to others, we are called to be out among our neighbors.

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ELCAGrand Canyon SynodComment
Situation Report: Hurricane Dorian
Situation Report: Hurricane Dorian

Hurricane Dorian has caused widespread power outages and flooding throughout the U.S. Virgin Islands. Dorian is expected to strengthen into a category 4 storm by the time it makes landfall in the mainland U.S., threatening to cause significant damage in areas that are still recovering from recent storms.

Lutheran Disaster Response is closely monitoring the situation and in touch with our synods, affiliates and other partners throughout impacted areas. We are ready to respond and stand by our neighbors as they recover from this hurricane.

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ELCA, Lutheran Disaster ResponseGrand Canyon SynodComment
8/26 Prayer: ELCA outdoor ministry staff in transition
8/26 Prayer: ELCA outdoor ministry staff in transition

Many of our ELCA outdoor ministry staff are ending their summer of service and transitioning back to school, new employment or other service opportunities in the church. As they work to discern their vocations and futures, ask the Holy Spirit to guide, inspire and equip them to share their faith and gifts with the church and society and to respond to God’s call to service and ministry. 

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Prayers, ELCA, Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardComment
Commemoration of 400 years of Slavery of Africans in America
Commemoration of 400 years of Slavery of Africans in America

In late August of 1619, twenty Africans were forcefully brought to Jamestown, Virginia and sold into slavery. This marked the beginning of the transatlantic slave trade, which would ultimately take some 12 million Africans away from their homes and cultures into hereditary chattel slavery.

On August 25th, many churches and communities will be marking this quad-centennial of “Landing Day.” The congregations of the Grand Canyon Synod are encouraged to participate in this commemoration in several ways.

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ELCABrian FlatgardComment
A Declaration of Inter-Religious Commitment adopted at Churchwide Assembly
A Declaration of Inter-Religious Commitment adopted at Churchwide Assembly

Adopted at the 2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, A Declaration of Inter-Religious Commitment will serve as church policy for inter-religious relations. The policy statement was adopted with the witness of 39 ecumenical and inter-religious guests in attendance.

"I hope that you will experience renewed joy and fresh insights as you read this document,” says Bishop Elizabeth Eaton.

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ELCA, Ecumenical and Inter-Religious RelationsBrian FlatgardComment
ELCA presiding bishop, Christian leaders issue statement against Christian nationalism
ELCA presiding bishop, Christian leaders issue statement against Christian nationalism

The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), has joined Christian leaders in a statement against Christian nationalism.

An excerpt: "Whether we worship at a church, mosque, synagogue, or temple, America has no second-class faiths," their statement reads. "All are equal under the U.S. Constitution." Read and sign the statement at https://www.christiansagainstchristiannationalism.org.

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Bishop Eaton, ELCA, Z AdvocacyBrian FlatgardComment