The at-home guide for ELCA World Hunger’s “River of Life” Vacation Bible School program for 2021 is now available for download.
This at-home guide is a supplemental resource for the full “River of Life VBS leader’s guide and includes modified activities, suggestions for online and at-home VBS, links to new videos and tips for parents, caregivers and other adults leading VBS with children at home!
Read MoreLutheran Disaster Response and Lutheran World Relief are responding to the devastating situation in India.
Lutheran Disaster Response shares a situation update and Lutheran World Relief asks for help to deliver oxygen, ventilators, pulse oximeters and personal protective equipment to hospitals across India.
Read MoreThe ELCA Christian Community and Leadership Congregational Vitality Team invites you to a series of webinars for pastors, lay leaders, and congregational teams. There is no cost for this training.
The first online webinar will begin on May 27th at 10:30 am - 12:00 pm MST/PDT. This is a four-part training. Additional dates are June 10, June 24, and July 8th at 10:30 am - 12:00 pm MST/PDT. Please register by May 24, 2021.
All courses will be led by Rev. Nancy Nyland, Rev. CeCee Mills and Rev. Jason Adams in partnership with the ELCA Christian Community and Leadership Congregational Vitality Team.
Read MoreELCA Advocacy shares updates in their UN & State Edition and Connections updates from the ELCA Advocacy office in Washington, D.C.
Read MoreThe ELCA is a founding organization and sponsor of Ecumenical Advocacy Days, attended annually by many Lutherans for skill building and experience. Rev. Paul Benz, co-director of Faith Action Network in Seattle, WA, highlights central learnings for him about effective and meaningful faith-centered advocacy.
Read MoreBishop Eaton encourages us to take time to reflect on this comforting passage from Psalm 46: Be still and know that I am God.
Read MoreOpen Doors, the new grant opportunity to support congregations, has a “Support Crew” site on Sway for colleagues who are assisting with emails and calls.
The ELCA is also offering Padlet as an idea-sharing platform for people to add their comments, photos and videos.
Read MoreThe Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) met electronically April 14-17. The council, which serves as the ELCA's board of directors, took action on a variety of matters intended to advance this church's mission and ministry.
Read MoreLutheran Disaster Response provides updates on supporting a response to the fires breaking out in Rohingya refugee settlements in Bangladesh.
Read MoreMark your calendar for Sunday, Sept. 12, when congregations of the ELCA will come together for “God’s work. Our hands.” We’re not sure what the impact of this pandemic will look like in September, but we continue to be church together.
Read MorePastor Joann Conroy & Pastor Manuel Retamoza from the American Indian / Alaska Native Lutheran Association offer prayers for this Earth Day 2021 “to honor this great creation and to give thanks for this great land upon which we live.”
“We remember the passion of the wind, the rhythm of water, the warmth of fire, and the touch of your son on the skin of life. Awaken us this Earth Day to live in the fullness of your dream, seeing you, great Creator, emerging in our gift of imagination and incarnate in the night of our thought.”
Read MoreELCA congregations interested in raising funds for their feeding ministry through ELCA World Hunger’s online platform, matched with a $500 grant, can register and apply in ELCA GrantMaker starting Monday, April 26, 2021.
Read MoreThe Weekly Online Gathering for ELCA Leaders concludes (at least for a while) this Wednesday, April 28, 2021, 11am MST and PDT. Links to the meeting at elcacoaching.org, as well as archives. Join Zoom meeting here.
We are feeling the Spirit invite us to END WELL what has been... serving over 5,300 leaders in 60 gatherings in 13 months, with more accessing the recordings every day... and DREAM about what might be next.
Read MoreLutherans Restoring Creation provides five ways congregations and individuals can participate in Earth Day.
Read MoreThe trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minnesota police officer charged with the killing of George Floyd, has riveted our national attention these past weeks, and now a verdict has been reached. Together with people around the world, we have anticipated the jury's decision with troubled hearts. As members of the community of Jesus, we affirm that "if one member suffers, all suffer together with it" (1 Corinthians 12:26, NRSV).
Read MoreYour congregation is invited to apply for an Open Doors grant to support your ministries as we resume in-person worship and gatherings.
How can we meet new people, especially as we crave community following a time of unprecedented isolation? How might we stay connected with people who have not visited our church buildings but joined us online? Have an idea? Apply and learn more at ELCA.org/OpenDoors.
Read MoreFor 38 years, Mark and Linda Jacobson have worked in the health field in Tanzania, becoming our church’s longest-serving missionaries. Their powerful story is now available for streaming in the new documentary Kuambatana, which means accompaniment in Kiswahili.
Read MoreStanley Enzweiler is the Program Manager of St. Matthew Trinity’s Lunchtime Ministry, which offers a warm meal, hospitality and community to neighbors in Hoboken, New Jersey.
In this post, Stanley reflects on the uncertainty and stress the community faced in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic – and on the hope, hard work and perseverance that has kept Lunchtime Ministry going.
Read MoreThe Grand Canyon Synod invites you to an informational Zoom meeting, April 28, 2021, at 1 pm MST/PDT, regarding current and upcoming grant possibilities from ELCA. Our churchwide office guests are Julianna Glassco and Iain Chester, who will present grants from Domestic Hunger and Open Doors. Please register here.
Read MoreAfter witnessing acts of violence this week, particularly against Black and Brown people, Bishop Eaton reminds us of all the ways our church has committed to do justice—on racism, on health care, on education, on immigration—but implores us to do more. Work for change. Get in contact with your neighbors, communities, lawmakers and officials. The same liberating gospel that sets us free from sin sets us free to serve our neighbor.
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