Large or small, congregations are often easy prey for would-be thieves. An offering-plate theft can be devastating for a congregation’s reputation, regardless of its size. Ministry leaders can strengthen their ability to protect their property and contributions by taking a fresh look at current procedures. Read more in this PDF or in this post.
Read MoreAs of Mar. 23, over 3.5 million people are estimated to have left Ukraine, most of which are women and children. The refugees are primarily fleeing to Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova. According to UNHCR, another 2 million people are displaced within Ukraine.
Lutheran Disaster Response has committed over $2 million to companion churches and ecumenical partners that are accompanying refugees and other impacted by the conflict in Ukraine.
Read MoreLutheran Men in Mission invite you to attend their virtual Bold Gathering, “Stories from the Heart,” April 22, 9-11am MST/PDT, 10am-noon MDT.
BOLD GATHERING is a day for men to come together to learn, to network, and be equipped to BOLDY live out their faith! For more info, visit the Bold Gathering website or this PDF, and register here.
Read MoreFor Kyiv, for Mariupol, for all places where violence rages, for all who have been driven from their homes, for all whose lives and livelihoods are endangered, for love to vanquish hate…
For all who grieve the deaths of loved ones onboard the China Eastern flight that fatally crashed in southern China…
For all impacted by tornadoes and severe storms, especially in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Mississippi…
For farmers making difficult decision in the wake of increased fuel prices and supply shortages…
For an international commitment to combating racism and white supremacy, especially in the church…
With gratitude for the 66th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, which included a delegation from the Lutheran World Federation…
Many congregations have new council members starting at this time of year, so make sure your organization’s contacts are up to date in Portico’s EmployerLink. Portico sends important notifications to those in your organization that are registered on the site.
Read MoreAfter 106 years of searching, a ship lost miles below the icy water near Antartica was recently found! Explorer Ernest Shackelton’s ship, Endurance, was exploring these frigid waters when it became trapped by ice and could no longer move. Scientists say that because it sank in such cold water the ship is almost perfectly intact, as if it sunk yesterday! Such a discovery!
Read MoreWe share advocacy updates from the ELCA advocacy office in Washington, D.C. as well as the UN and state edition, including U.N., Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin.
In this post we feature and highlight the update from Solveig Muus, Director of Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona (LAMA).
Read MoreYour church might already offer livestreaming, but this Lenten season you can take your virtual ministry up a notch with Vanco. During this important season, discover how to build on your existing online ministry to drive engagement and generosity (without breaking the bank).
Read MoreEcumenical Advocacy Days (EAD) is an annual gathering of Christian advocates and activists. Lutherans in attendance have denomination-specific opportunities to get to know one another and vision what we can do together!
#EAD2022 is a virtual gathering, held Wednesday through Friday, April 25-27, 2022. Scholarship opportunities are in this post and more info is at advocacydays.org.
Read MoreELCA World Hunger shares a five point blog post series on the many ways that violent conflict impacts hunger. Learn more how the war in Ukraine will affect food security, food production, food access, food utilization, and stability in the short and long term.
Read MoreThe Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), in recognition of the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, reaffirms its commitment to combat racism and white supremacy. This day is set as a recommitment in remembrance of the day police in South Africa killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against apartheid in 1960.
Read MoreOn March 25, 2022, we commemorate the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, declared by the United Nations in 2007. As we remember the victims of what has been called the “the worst violation of human rights in history,” Bishop Eaton calls us to “learn more about the inhumane history of the transatlantic slave trade and examine the paths that will lead us towards racial healing and justice.”
Read MoreThe Rev. Daniel Rift, Director for ELCA World Hunger and Lutheran Disaster Response Fund, talked live with the Rev. Dr. Rafael Malpica-Padilla, Executive Director for Service and Justice, and the Rev. Rachel Eskesen, Area Desk Director for Europe. They discussed the situation in Eastern Europe and Rafael and Rachel shared about the ELCA’s response.
Read MoreRegistration for ELCA World Hunger’s 2023 Domestic Hunger Grants opens March 18, 2022! ELCA World Hunger congratulates those partners in ministry awarded a 2022 Domestic Hunger Grant and all those continuing grants with us this year. Visit the Domestic Hunger Grants page and this FAQ page about applying.
Read MoreDo you tend see right and wrong as black and white or in shades of gray? Has this changed over your lifetime? If it has, how so?
Read MoreVisit the ELCA’s Eastern Europe Crisis Response resource page for a compilation of the situation, the ELCA’s response, and how you can help by praying, giving, worshiping, and connecting.
Read MoreClick here for this PDF resource from the ELCA, which is provided to assist worshiping communities as they respond to the crisis in Eastern Europe. Several prayers are provided that could be used during the prayers of intercession or at other times, in public worship or for devotional use at home or in other settings.
Read MoreIn her March column for Living Lutheran, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reminds us that “over and over again humankind has betrayed the hope God has for us.” She suggests that this is a “time for a reset.” Read her column in English at https://bit.ly/361wmXp and in Spanish at https://bit.ly/3wgluj2.
Read MoreFor an end to the Russian government’s attacks on Ukraine, for the security of Kyiv, for the protection of civilians, for solidarity among those who stand for peace…
For an end to pay disparities based on gender, race, or ethnicity…
For China, as COVID-19 surges there again…
For all marking two years of pandemic upheaval, for all whose memories leave them breathless, for all who grieve without hope…
For substantive relief for all experiencing financial stress…
With gratitude for the life of Leon Schwarzbaum, holocaust survivor and justice maker, who died recently at the age of 101…
The #NoPlasticsforLent initiative, led by young adults across the church, calls us to prayer for creation, to lament the ways we have been complicit in the degradation of the earth, and to take action to care for our neighbor in fasting from the things that are hurting our planet. For more info, view the ELCA Young Adults Facebook page or the No Plastics for Lent website.
One of the discussion group leaders is Tiana Diaz-Reyes, a student in our synod’s Lutheran campus ministry. She is working toward her PhD in Sustainability at ASU.
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