Just over two years ago, after decades of working, Susan became disabled. “I was newly poor and relatively terrified,” she wrote. “With literally everything stripped from the budget except a roof over our heads and very modest transportation, the monthly budget showed a balance of negative $5. The meaning of food insecurity became abundantly clear.”
Read MoreWhen Detroit Police Officer Marcus Harris II got a call to check in on an individual sleeping at an abandoned gas station, he found far more than he ever expected. At first, Corporal Harris went through the motions, offering the man, Adrian Hugh, a bus ticket back to California.
But after taking time to talk and get to know one another, Corporal Harris and Hugh realized that there was more they could do together than apart.
Read MoreFor peace and an end to violence in our world, especially between Ukraine/Russia and Israel/Palestine…
For refugees and all migrants, especially those facing threat of violence…
For recovery efforts following landslides in Indonesia…
For open access to education for women and girls across the globe…
For equitable outcomes from labor strikes in Paris, France, and for all workers seeking just working conditions and fair compensation…
For transgender siblings, especially transgender youth, in the midst of political battles, threats of violence, and diminished access to healthcare…
For those called to challenge religious, political, or institutional authority for the sake of justice…
For those suffering and dying from COVID-19 in our nation and in our world, and for loved ones fearing risk of contagion…
That the love of God so fill our deeds and words that our whole life is joyful noise…
What's faith-based living got to do with civic life?
The ELCA invites you and your congregation to explore this and other questions by using "A Study Curriculum on Civic Life and Faith." View a video on this question in this post, along with a PDF guide.
Read MoreDeep breaths, time with loved ones, a good night’s sleep … what are your best practices for keeping yourself centered and healthy?
If you’re looking to expand your toolbox, and you have ELCA-Primary health benefits, check out Learn to Live’s new course focusing on building resilience. Take the initial assessment and then enroll in the self-guided program at no out-of-pocket cost to you: learntolive.com.
Read MoreIn this message to congregations, current International Women Leaders (IWL) scholarship recipients share what their scholarships mean to them and their communities. International Women’s Day is March 8. The ELCA celebrates this day by uplifting the IWL program, which provides scholarships for emerging women leaders from our companion churches around the world to study at ELCA colleges and universities, ELCA seminaries and other institutions. The following Sunday, congregations are encouraged to take a special offering for IWL. Give to IWL at: http://ELCA.org/SupportIWL
When a building collapses, there’s an estimated 48-hour window during which trapped victims might be rescued. More generous estimates expand that to five or six days, maximum. Beyond that, the odds of survival decrease significantly. But after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Turkey on February 6th, rescue teams were still pulling survivors from the rubble nearly 10 days later!
Read MoreFor survivors, victims, and loved ones of those involved in the train crash in Greece…
For victims of school gas poisonings in Iran…
For all affected by tornados, blizzards, and other significant weather events across the United States…
For safety and protection for all migrants…
In lament over the significant death toll and casualties on both sides of the Russia/Ukraine conflict…
For all those forced into war, conflict, and violence; and in fervent hope that all war should cease…
For all affected by the COVID-19 virus in the United States and around the world, and for continued mitigation and treatment efforts…
For those facing food insecurity, and for compassionate policies to address hunger…
In thanksgiving for the contributions of women to politics, the arts, science, education, advocacy, technology, medicine, administration, and the church; especially for women serving as bishops, pastors, chaplains, and deacons…
“You are a hiding place for me.” —Psalm 32:7
Psalm 32 is a fitting way to begin the season of Lent. The season has most commonly been understood through the centuries as a time of fasting and preparation for Easter, a time when new Christians were often baptized.
Read MoreFor many months we have seen an alarming spike in anti-Jewish, anti-Muslim and white supremacist hate. It has been reported that extremist groups are planning a national "Day of Hate" tomorrow, targeting Jews. This evening, as the sun sets and Shabbat begins, our Jewish neighbors are living in fear.
As Christians, we are called to love our neighbors and to be peacemakers.
Read MoreWhat are the objectives of democracy in the United States?
The ELCA invites you and your congregation to explore this and other questions by using "A Study Curriculum on Civic Life and Faith." View a video on this question in this post, along with a PDF guide.
Read MoreIn this article in Living Lutheran, a Colombian camp counselor reflects on serving in South Dakota.
Read MoreThe Richard R. Hammar Clergy Tax Guide and the Federal Reporting Guide for Churches are both available on myPortico at no cost to you.
Read MoreAs part of the latest Stories of Faith in Action, we share a story about the United Evangelical Church in Cuba Lutheran Synod (view online or as PDF). “Yamilka Hernández Guzmán always loved education and had a talent for teaching. A psychologist in an oncology hospital in Cuba, she looked for answers to the daily struggle for life she witnessed.”
View all the Stories of Faith in Action here, and how your offering becomes mission support.
Read MoreFor continued relief and recovery efforts in Turkey and Syria…
For continued clean-up efforts following the East Palestine, Ohio train derailment…
For all who are digging out and warming up following winter storms in the Midwest…
For the families and loved ones of the Orlando shooting victims…
For an end to gun violence across our nation and our world…
For the loved ones of those killed in a plane crash near Little Rock, Arkansas…
For those injured and killed during violent raids in the West Bank…
For peace in our world, especially at the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine…
For recovery efforts after an open pit mine collapse in China’s northern Inner Mongolia region…
For all facing unemployment, job insecurity, or financial instability…
Welcome to Episode 4 of Talks at the Desk, season 2. We travel to Ghana and hear from students attending the All Africa Youth Congress. We visit a slave castle and hear about the what enslaved ancestors endured. Also, Pastor Nicolette Penaranda sits down with three legends of Black Lutheran theology.
Read MoreThe February, 2023 edition of Go and Do News, a newsletter from ELCA World Hunger, is available. This edition features 40 Days of Giving, a new vacation Bible school program, The Dwelling, The Legacy of Martin Lutheran King Jr. event, partner spotlight Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), and featured resources.
Read MoreFounded less than 150 years after Martin Luther’s 95 Theses, Frederick Lutheran Church has witnessed more change, growth and conversation on the lives of African descendants than any other church in the Western Hemisphere.
Read MoreWe share updates from the Lutheran Office for World Community and state public policy offices (sppos) in the ELCA Advocacy Network for February, 2023.
Read MoreIncrease your confidence and peace of mind by learning more about developing a withdrawal strategy, utilize Social Security, plan for health care costs, and more. Watch the recordings of the Retirement Readiness workshops whenever it works for you. Learn more, or sign up to participate, on myPortico.
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