We share updates from the ELCA advocacy office in Washington, D.C., which includes partial expanded content from Advocacy Connections: July/August 2022. This post includes Augusta Victoria Hospital Funding, Border Encounters, Supreme Court Abortion Ruling, Use Of Landmines, and Bipartisan Gun Legislation.
Read MoreBy 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.
Read MoreWe 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.
Read MoreClick here to read the Good Green News, from Lutherans Restoring Creation. Get info on upcoming connections calls, Churchwide Assembly actions, and more.
Read MoreThe Spirited Book Club discusses This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories That Make Us, the stunning NYT bestseller by Cole Arthur Riley. The online club is FREE, register here. 8/11/2022, read the first half or more, 8/25/2022, read the last half.
In her stunning debut, the creator of Black Liturgies weaves stories from three generations of her family alongside contemplative reflections to discover the “necessary rituals” that connect us with our belonging, dignity, and liberation.
Read MoreWe pray for Rev. David Wold’s family and friends, especially his wife Darlene, after he passed away peacefully on July 16, 2022, surrounded by his family.
Read MoreThe Islamic Speakers Bureau of Arizona (ISBA) presents A Tri-Faith Discussion: Do You Believe in Miracles?
Tuesday, August 9, 2022, 6pm MST/PDT, 5pm MDT via zoom. Presenters will be Rabbi Helen Cohn, Pastor Dr. Judith Rainforth, and Imam Didmar Faja. Register here.
Read MoreOn 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.
Read MoreAt the Office of the Bishop, we prepare for upcoming fall events, do some traveling, and take some time to do maintenance on our data systems. We also share Bishop Hutterer’s photos from Campformation, the installation of Rev. Jose Valenzuela at Community of Grace in Peoria, and visits to Faith Lutheran in Yuma and Mount Cross in Payson.
Read MoreRev. Janice Brosen, who celebrates 38 years on July 22.
Rev. Colin Melby, who celebrates 39 years on July 24.
Rev. Craig Larson, Mount Zion, Tucson, who celebrates 34 years on July 24.
Rev. Jeffery Gallen, Christ Evangelical, Goodyear, Alleluia, Phoenix, who celebrates 40 years on July 25.
Rev. Matthew Metevelis, Nathan Adelson Hospice, Las Vegas, Living Hope, Las Vegas, who celebrates 12 years on July 25.
Rev. Marta Poling Schmitt, who celebrates 35 years on July 26.
Rev. Gary McCluskey, University, Tempe, who celebrates 42 years on July 27.
Rev. David Pavesic, Beautiful Savior, Tucson, who celebrates 20 years on July 27.
Rev. Denise Edwards, who celebrates 20 years on July 27.
Rev. Phillip Shuart, St. Andrew, Las Vegas, who celebrates 31 years on July 28.
What the BA.5 Subvariant Could Mean for the United States: The most transmissible variant yet of the coronavirus is threatening a fresh wave of infections in the United States, even among those who have recovered from the virus fairly recently.
In our synod, a new wave of high level counties: Apache, Clark, Coconino, Gila, La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo, Pinal, Washington, Yavapai and Yuma.
Medium level: Greenlee and Santa Cruz. Low level: Cochise, Graham, Pima.
Read MoreWe 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.
Read MoreWe share a video recap of our synod’s 2022 Campformation, which was held in Prescott, Arizona. Thanks to Christ the Servant Church, in Henderson/Las Vegas, for providing the video.
Read MoreThe 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.
Read MoreDrop 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
As Lutherans in North America, we have a remarkable opportunity to live out our Christian vocation in a multi-religious world. No matter where we live, the realities of religious diversity are not “out there,” but in our daily lives with our families, in our congregations, communities, and at work. Our ministries – whether as pastors, deacons, or lay people – are shaped by the religious diversity in our midst. The brand new “ELCA Guidelines for Ministry in a Multi-Religious World” provide a way for our ministries to also be shaped for our multi-religious context.
Read MoreMembers of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will gather for the 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly Aug. 8-12 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. Meeting under the theme "Embody the Word," the assembly will participate in plenary discussions to make decisions about the work of this church. Live video of the plenary sessions will be accessible at elca.org/CWA-2022.
Read MoreHaving already raised over $500,000 to fund our Growing Generosity Appeal, let’s create possibilities together. With your help, we can top our next goal to raise another $250,00 by the end of 2023 through gifts from congregations, foundations, endowments, and individuals!
The plans for these additional funds will benefit Lutheran Campus Ministries, new & emerging ministries, and our advocacy efforts. In this post we explore Growing Financial Viability: Planting seeds of financial support for pastors and congregations through 3E Lilly Grants and programs.
Read MoreRevitalize your congregation's preaching ministry by making the practice of preaching more collaborative and participatory. These six Zoom sessions will be held October 2, 2022, through January 8, 2023, and led by Rev. Dr. Shaunna Hannan, Professor of Homiletics at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (of California Lutheran University). Interested? Fill out this form, bit.ly/LayPreachingCLU, and view more info in this post and this PDF flyer.
Read More
