Posts in ELCA
For What Shall We Pray?
For What Shall We Pray?

  • For an end to war and conflict, especially in Gaza, South Sudan, Myanmar, and Ukraine…

  • For all victims of gun violence, especially in Grand Blanc, MI and Dallas, TX…

  • For rescue and recovery efforts following an earthquake in the Philippines…

  • For rescue and recovery efforts follow a school collapse in Indonesia…

  • For safety amidst protest in Morocco and Madagascar…

  • For all migrants and global travelers…

  • For access to affordable and reliable health care, clean water, and sufficient food…

  • For those who serve in the military…

  • For the health and flourishing of creation…

  • In thanksgiving for the ministries of Bishop Elizabeth Eaton and Bishop Yehiel Curry…

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ELCA, Prayers, SpotlightBrian FlatgardELCA Worship, For What Shall We PrayComment
Honoring Orange Shirt Day: Remembering Indigenous Children of Boarding Schools
Honoring Orange Shirt Day: Remembering Indigenous Children of Boarding Schools

September 30 is the National Day of Remembrance for Indian Boarding Schools, also known as Orange Shirt Day. This annual observance honors Indigenous children taken from their families and placed in U.S. and Canadian boarding schools, where many suffered abuse and cultural erasure. The day is named for Phyllis Webstad’s story of surrendering her orange shirt on her first day at a residential school.

The ELCA invites us to join the Truth and Healing Movement, a commitment to confronting this painful history and standing with Indigenous siblings in Christ. Learn more at Living Lutheran: Orange Shirt Day article.

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ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardAmerican Indian and Alaska Native, Truth and Healing Movement, American Indian Alaska Native Lutheran AssociationComment
Southeastern Synod Models Faithful Advocacy in Action
Southeastern Synod Models Faithful Advocacy in Action

Advocacy is a grateful response to God’s grace and a way of living out our baptismal call. In the Southeastern Synod, congregations across Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee engage, equip, and empower communities to stand with vulnerable neighbors. From disaster preparedness to immigrant support, advocacy reflects Christ’s love in action. Read more ›

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ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardAdvocacy, ELCA AdvocacyComment
Rev. Yehiel Curry to Be Installed as ELCA Presiding Bishop Oct. 4
Rev. Yehiel Curry to Be Installed as ELCA Presiding Bishop Oct. 4

The Rev. Yehiel Curry will be installed as presiding bishop of the ELCA on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, at 2 p.m. Central (12 p.m. MST) at Central Lutheran Church, Minneapolis. Curry, the first Black presiding bishop of the ELCA, was elected during the 2025 Churchwide Assembly in Phoenix. The service is open to the public, with livestream access available here: ELCA Installation of the Presiding Bishop.

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Bishop Curry, ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardComment
Rev. Yehiel Curry to Be Installed as ELCA Presiding Bishop Oct. 4
Rev. Yehiel Curry to Be Installed as ELCA Presiding Bishop Oct. 4

The Rev. Yehiel Curry will be installed as presiding bishop of the ELCA on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, at 2 p.m. Central (12 p.m. MST) at Central Lutheran Church, Minneapolis. Curry, the first Black presiding bishop of the ELCA, was elected during the 2025 Churchwide Assembly in Phoenix. The service is open to the public, with livestream access available here: ELCA Installation of the Presiding Bishop.

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Bishop Curry, ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardComment
For What Shall We Pray?
For What Shall We Pray?

  • For an end to war and conflict, especially in Gaza, South Sudan, Myanmar, and Ukraine

  • For all victims of gun violence, especially in Dallas, TX, and other acts of violence, including Pittsburgh, PA…

  • For all in the path of Typhoon Ragasa…

  • For the work of the United Nations as they meet in assembly…

  • For political transition in Malawi…

  • For those managing brush fires in Hawaii…

  • In gratitude for the diversity of human gifts, experiences, and abilities that all reflect God’s image…

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ELCA, Prayers, SpotlightBrian FlatgardELCA Worship, For What Shall We PrayComment
Faith Lens: Living as the Rich Man’s Brothers
Faith Lens: Living as the Rich Man’s Brothers

In Luke 16:19–31, Jesus tells the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, urging his listeners to heed “Moses and the prophets” rather than wait for extraordinary signs. As Lutherans, we trust that salvation comes by grace alone, yet this story challenges us to consider where we act like the rich man, Lazarus, or the brothers—and how repentance calls us back to God’s Word. The parable reminds us that we already have what we need to live faithfully: Scripture, community, and the gift of Christ.

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ELCA, Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardFaith LensComment
Six Creative Ways to Pray Beyond Words
Six Creative Ways to Pray Beyond Words

Prayer is more than spoken words—it’s relationship with God. In this Café article, Sarah Carson explores varied approaches to prayer, from silent meditation to journaling, from walking in nature to creative expression. Each practice offers new ways to listen, respond, and rest in God’s presence. Prayer is less about performance and more about authenticity. Read more in Café →

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ELCA, PrayersBrian FlatgardCafé, Women of the ELCA (WELCA)Comment
What Does It Mean to Pray Without Ceasing?
What Does It Mean to Pray Without Ceasing?

Prayer doesn’t always require words. In A Prayer without End, Sarah Carson explores how prayer can flow through music, art, daily habits, and even silence. Drawing on Scripture and Lutheran teaching, she reminds us that prayer changes us—helping us see God in all things. Could our actions, creativity, and relationships also be forms of ceaseless prayer? Read more in Café →

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ELCA, PrayersBrian FlatgardCafé, Women of the ELCA (WELCA)Comment
More than Politics: Theological Roots of ELCA Social Teaching
More than Politics: Theological Roots of ELCA Social Teaching

The ELCA’s social statements are not political add-ons, but expressions of Lutheran faith lived in the world. Kristin Johnston Largen explores the statement The Church and Criminal Justice: Hearing the Cries, highlighting its call for dignity, equity, and a transformed mindset. As Lutherans, we are invited to move beyond vengeance and violence, embodying God’s mercy in criminal justice and in all relationships. Largen, who is also one of the featured speakers at our 2025 Bishop’s Fall Gathering, brings these insights into conversation with our synod life. Read more in Living Lutheran →

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ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardLiving Lutheran, Social Statements, Social JusticeComment
Wondering with God: What We Don’t Know Still Matters
Wondering with God: What We Don’t Know Still Matters

From the ocean depths to the farthest galaxies, creation invites us to marvel at mysteries we cannot solve. Writer Elise Seyfried reflects on faith, humility, and wonder in an age of scientific discovery. She reminds us that while our striving for knowledge is good, God also calls us to rest in questions that remain unanswered. We are cradled, like children, in the vast love of the Creator who holds both ocean and sky. Read more in Living Lutheran →

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ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardLiving LutheranComment
Choosing Mary’s Better Part: Prayer as the Heart of Ministry
Choosing Mary’s Better Part: Prayer as the Heart of Ministry

Pastors are often pulled in many directions, juggling meetings, preaching, teaching, and community care. But what if the most essential task of ministry is prayer itself? Pastor Mindy Roll reflects on the biblical story of Mary and Martha, the neuroscience of prayer, and her own renewal through contemplative practice. She invites congregations to support their leaders in rhythms of prayer—so that ministry flows not from busyness, but from Jesus’ presence. Read more in Living Lutheran →

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ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardLiving LutheranComment
Accessibility for All: Practical Tools for Congregations
Accessibility for All: Practical Tools for Congregations

ELCA Disability Ministries has released its Fall 2025 updates, including a free Nov. 17 webinar on creating accessible church spaces on a budget. You’ll also find a recap from the Churchwide Assembly, reflections on mental health and disability, new teaching tools, and upcoming awareness events. Learn how your congregation can take faithful, practical steps toward greater inclusion and hospitality. Read the full newsletter here.

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Leader Resources, ELCA, Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian FlatgardDisability Ministries, ELCA Disability MinistriesComment
ELCA Calls for Urgent Bipartisan Action to Prevent Shutdown
ELCA Calls for Urgent Bipartisan Action to Prevent Shutdown

The ELCA is urging Congress and the White House to return to bipartisan negotiations immediately as the U.S. faces a potential government shutdown on October 1, 2025. In a statement released Sept. 24, the ELCA stressed that government is a gift from God meant to serve the common good—especially the hungry, sick, and poor—and warned that both a shutdown and rising healthcare costs will harm the most vulnerable first and worst. Read the full statement from the ELCA’s Witness in Society team by clicking here.

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ELCABrian FlatgardAdvocacy, ELCA AdvocacyComment
Update Made Easy: New 2025 Constitution Guidance for Your Congregation
Update Made Easy: New 2025 Constitution Guidance for Your Congregation

The Grand Canyon Synod is offering a simplified and time-saving process to help congregations update their governing documents to the 2025 ELCA Model Constitution. With support from an experienced synod consultant, congregations can ensure compliance, avoid common errors, and streamline the process. Download the guide and access official ELCA resources to begin your update today.

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ELCA, Grand Canyon Synod, Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardConstitutions Comment
Documenting Justice: Mikayla Irle’s Vision for ELCA World Hunger
Documenting Justice: Mikayla Irle’s Vision for ELCA World Hunger

“Intersections: Justice Ministry with ELCA Partners” is a short documentary presented by ELCA World Hunger. Intersections explores stories from three ELCA companion ministries in Cambodia, Mexico and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, responding to the overlapping root causes of hunger in the United States and around the world. Download the video here or view on YouTube.

Go behind the scenes of Intersections: Justice Ministry with ELCA Partners, the new short documentary from ELCA World Hunger releasing September 22. In this interview, editing producer Mikayla Irle reflects on the creative process of shaping global stories of hunger, justice, and partnership into one cohesive narrative. Learn how she worked with the ELCA team to bring a global vision to life. Read the full interview on ELCA.org »

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ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardHunger, ELCA World HungerComment