Posts in ELCA
Rev. Peter Heide: Our wholeness is in Jesus Christ
Rev. Peter Heide: Our wholeness is in Jesus Christ

I remember a particular Sunday in October 1962. It was the first anniversary of me being blind, and I was pretty proud of myself. I remember this Sunday so specifically because the sermon text was on the healing of Blind Bartimaeus, and the import of the sermon was, “If you believe strongly enough God can do anything.”

After worship, for the first time I remember, but certainly not the last, I remember the man who came up to me and said, “I know that if you believe enough God will heal you.”

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ELCA, LettersBrian FlatgardDisability Ministries, ELCA Disability MinistriesComment
Bishop Eaton issues thank you letter to President Biden
Bishop Eaton issues thank you letter to President Biden

In a July 18, 2022 letter to President Joseph R. Biden, the Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), expressed gratitude for his July 15 visit to the Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH) in East Jerusalem and his announcement of a $100 million multiyear commitment to the East Jerusalem Hospital Network (EJHN), of which AVH is a member.

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Global Church, ELCA, News, LettersBrian FlatgardAugust Victoria Hospital, Lutheran World FederationComment
Prompts for Prayers of Intercession: July 31, 2022
Prompts for Prayers of Intercession: July 31, 2022

  • In gratitude for and solidarity with members of our community living with disabilities…

  • For communities harmed by earthquakes in the Philippines and threatened by wildfires in California…

  • For the life of Rev. Marlene Whiterabbit Helgemo, the first Native American woman ordained in the Lutheran church…

  • For European and world leaders in discernment and negotiations over energy resources…

  • For volunteer election judges across the country, as they train and give of their time to ensure the integrity of the election process in the U.S…

  • For farm workers suffering the effects of climate change and recent extreme weather…

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ELCA, PrayersBrian FlatgardELCA Worship, For What Shall We PrayComment
Celebrate the ELCA Fund for Leaders with your congregation on Sunday, 8/14/2022
Celebrate the ELCA Fund for Leaders with your congregation on Sunday, 8/14/2022

Twenty-five years ago, our church’s leaders took a bold step and invested in the future by creating the ELCA Fund for Leaders (FFL). In honor of the 25th anniversary, we are hosting the first-ever Day of Giving on Aug. 16. All gifts to FFL will be matched dollar for dollar until we reach $25,000.

You can help us celebrate by lifting up this important ministry in your congregation on Sunday, Aug. 14. In this post, find resources you can use in your worship services and church communities.

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ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardELCA Fund for LeadersComment
ELCA World Hunger Education and Networking Grants Open August 1, 2022
ELCA World Hunger Education and Networking Grants Open August 1, 2022

The application period for 2022 Cycle 2 of ELCA World Hunger Education and Networking Grants will open on August 1st, 2022.

Hunger Education and Networking Grants are one of the ways ELCA World Hunger accompanies congregations, synods, organizations, partners and local teams throughout the US and the Caribbean. We know that learning about the root causes of hunger and effective responses is key to ending hunger locally and globally.

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ELCA, News, Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardGrants, Hunger, ELCA World Hunger, AdvocacyComment
ELCA Advocacy encourages you to take advantage of August recess opportunities
ELCA Advocacy encourages you to take advantage of August recess opportunities

By design and adapted to present realities, August Recess is a congressional tradition that brings heightened opportunities to reach out to your federal lawmakers where you – and they – live. U.S. representatives traditionally return to their home districts in this month to engage with their constituents.

Start by locating your lawmaker’s Web presence (govtrack.us is one place to connect). And use this post from ELCA Advocacy for more resources, and guidance on specific topics like child tax credit, housing, gun violence, energy and environmental justice, gender based violence, asylum and immigration, and voting rights.

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ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardAdvocacy, ELCA AdvocacyComment
Man Hei Yip: “Embody the Word” online Bible study series
Man Hei Yip: “Embody the Word” online Bible study series

We share a video from Man Her Yip, part of the pre-events of the ELCA Churchwide Assembly 2022.

In preparation for the 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, ELCA members are encouraged to participate in a series of online Bible studies that will explore the assembly theme, "Embody the Word," from Luke 24. Register here for the live Bible study series held on Zoom.

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ELCA, News, Leader ResourcesBrian Flatgard2022 Churchwide AssemblyComment
Courageous Leadership - Channeling the Energy of the Crowd: Explorations in Team and Group Coaching
Courageous Leadership - Channeling the Energy of the Crowd: Explorations in Team and Group Coaching

On Wednesday, July 27, 2022, ELCA Coaching welcomes back Nathan Swenson-Reinhold, who will be facilitating conversation around harnessing the energy of groups to do the work of the Kingdom.

The login information can be found below and on the ELCA Coaching website. Join us WEEKLY on Wednesdays at 11am MST/PDT, noon MDT, to hear from a variety of leaders.

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ELCA, News, Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardCoaching, ELCA CoachingComment
Sally Azar: “Embody the Word” online Bible study series
Sally Azar: “Embody the Word” online Bible study series

We share a video from Sally Azar, part of the pre-events of the ELCA Churchwide Assembly 2022.

In preparation for the 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, ELCA members are encouraged to participate in a series of online Bible studies that will explore the assembly theme, "Embody the Word," from Luke 24. Register here for the live Bible study series held on Zoom.

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ELCA, News, Leader ResourcesBrian Flatgard2022 Churchwide AssemblyComment
Prompts for Prayers of Intercession: July 24, 2022
Prompts for Prayers of Intercession: July 24, 2022

  • For those in London and all across Europe, experiencing record-high temperatures and facing the on-going threat of wildfires…

  • For jurors, students, and families in the midst of the Parkland shooting sentencing trial…

  • For the victims of the mall shooting in Indiana, for their families, and for all the bystanders who experienced the trauma of that event…

  • For all who continue to suffer the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with prayers and hope that the thirst for power can quelled and peace can again be established…

  • For countries in the midst of a transition of power, including Sri Lanka and Japan…

  • For people around the world who continue to delight in the images from the James Webb telescope…

  • For safety for all who travel in this season…

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ELCA, PrayersBrian FlatgardELCA Worship, For What Shall We PrayComment
Administration Matters: July, 2022
Administration Matters: July, 2022

The July, 2022, bimonthly e-newsletter for ELCA congregational and synodical leaders is here, featuring: ELCA Churchwide Assembly Pre-event: “Embody the Word” Bible study sessions; get a jump on your Portico Annual Enrollment; prepare for “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday with new resources; new mileage rate July through December 2022; cyber liability insurance; and choose your payroll provider wisely.

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ELCA, Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardAdministration MattersComment
President Biden visits Augusta Victoria Hospital
President Biden visits Augusta Victoria Hospital

The United States President Joe Biden visited the LWF-operated Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH) on the morning of Friday July 15. Biden’s visit to the hospital is the first visit of a sitting US president to East Jerusalem. The US President announced a USD 100 million multi-year commitment toward the East Jerusalem Hospital Network (EJHN), of which AVH is a member.

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ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardAugust Victoria Hospital, SumudComment
Advocacy Cafe
Advocacy Cafe

Drop by an Advocacy Cafe to hear from ELCA advocacy community leaders about timely topics. The 30-minute presentations will be offered twice on the same day. The day session will wrap-up with 15-minutes for a Q&A session with panelists. The evening session will wrap-up differently, with 25 minutes to meet in a small group with others to exchange experiences and ideas.

  • Tue. July 26 – August Recess

  • Tue. Aug. 30 – Civic Engagement Actions

  • Tue. Sept. 27 – Barriers to Voting

  • Tue. Oct. 25 – Public Discourse

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ELCA, News, Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardAdvocacy, ELCA AdvocacyComment