New Year’s Eve A new year can offer hope and enthusiasm for starting anew, or it can bring fear and despair stirred by our human weaknesses and failures. Ask God to help us achieve our new endeavors and resolutions and reground ourselves in God’s grace, forgiveness and newness when we fall short of our expectations and goals. Ask the Spirit to help us encourage, assist and surround with grace people who stumble or whose confidence is unsteady.
Read MoreThe Grand Canyon Women of the ELCA present the Winter Gather Bible Study on January 23rd, 2021 from 9am to noon MST.
We invite you to join us and Rev. Christa von Zychlin to “Journey with Angels” by exploring the Bible in search for angels and God’s calls to action. Register here for this free event. Registration open through Jan. 21, 2021. English-to-Spanish closed captioning available.
Read MoreListen to devotional music available through Augsburg Fortress: “On Hills of Bethlehem;” “This Little Light of Mine;” “O Laughing Light.”
Read MoreHerod has a way to see the world: it is centered on himself, his power, his privileges, his city. We may often be like Herod, centered on ourselves, using religion only for our own purposes.
Read MorePray that the light, celebration and blessings of community we experience as followers of Christ will continue far beyond the Christmas holidays and permeate our daily lives as we participate in God’s life-giving work and witness in the world.
Read MoreListen to devotional music available through Augsburg Fortress: “A Babe Is Born;” “O God of Light;” “Now the Heavens Start to Whisper.”
Read MoreThis year on the Tenth Day of Christmas we keep Sunday once more, and the whole mystery of the incarnation of God in Christ washes over us again. Of course, we are often part of that world that does not know him, his own people who do not accept him. But the Word is given to us in these readings. Receiving it, the Spirit of God comes to us and we are brought to faith again.
Read MoreThese petitions are offered as guides to prayer for the global, social and outreach ministries of the ELCA, as well as for the needs and circumstances of our neighbors, communities and world.
Download a Word doc, or PDF for letter size printout or legal size printout, or view the ELCA resource page.
Read MoreAugsburg Fortress has great worship resources for congregations and individuals available for 2021, some as inexpensive as three or four dollars.
Let our prayers, creation and all living things give glory and honor to God, our creator, sustainer, guiding light and redeemer.
Read MoreDo a quick search for conspiracy theories and Google will give you over 100,000,000 results to explore. Conspiracy theories used to be confined to rumors and small groups of ardent believers.
The internet and social media have given conspiracy theories like QAnon and those who believe them a feeling of credibility and a highly effective way to broadcast their beliefs to a larger audience.
Read MoreThe ELCA Systems Academy is a four-year structured engagement with family systems theory, theology, and clinical work. For more info, read more in this post and this introductory PDF.
Pastor Steve Beyer, Lord of Life Lutheran in Sun City West, is our synod representative. Through the academy he’ll learn more about family systems and conflict, and assist our synod after he’s been trained.
Read MorePray that we will carry forward the story and significance of Jesus and their implications for our daily actions, relationships and decisions as loved and reclaimed children of God. Ask the Spirit to guide us in responding to God’s call to proclaim the gospel, make peace, work for justice, propagate hope and serve our neighbors in need — without partiality, foot-dragging, embarrassment or expectation of reward or credit.
Read MorePray for the Spirit to help us understand and have faith in Jesus as the son of God, born to walk among us, live through our daily struggles and needs, teach us God’s ways and word, and restore our relationships with God, one another and creation.
Read MoreBeginning of Kwanzaa Kwanzaa is a weeklong celebration of African culture and traditions that stresses family, community and shared principles. Give thanks for the rich and meaningful traditions, celebrations and practices of our African American siblings and the global African community.
Read MoreChristmas Day Give praise and thanks for God’s boundless love, mercy and grace, revealed to the world and all humanity through the light of Jesus Christ ― son of God, son of humanity; our source of truth, salvation, new life and wholeness.
Read MoreLutheran college choirs have been preparing for their annual holiday concerts and invite you to attend from the safety of your home. The links to these events, and details, are posted on the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians website.
Read MoreWe hope that everyone in our Cal Lutheran community finds moments of hope and peace this season.
Visit our site to experience the beauty of our talented students performing their annual Christmas concert virtually.
Read MoreRemember and give thanks for the people in your life who taught you the nativity story and recounted the promise God made to us and fulfilled through Jesus Christ.
Read MoreThe Rocky Mountain Synod is extending an invitation to join them in an Epiphany Weekend Zoomfest, Friday evening, January 8, through Sunday, January 10, 2021. Join via Zoom or Facebook live, and a Sunday worship service 9am MST, 10am PST. The detailed ZOOMfest program bulletin can be found here.
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