Our synod’s ELCA Foundation planners—Lisa Higginbotham and Josh Kerney—share a monthly bible verse and charitable giving tip. This month’s verse is Galatians 6:6-10, and we explore planned giving.
Also known as Legacy Planning, Estate Planning, and Gift Planning, Planned Giving is a proactive action of love and consideration to include our beloved charities and congregations in our end-of-life plans.
Read MoreAs part of the latest Stories of Faith in Action, we share UP Wild Brings Worship Outdoors (view online or as PDF). Located in the town of Marquette in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, UP Wild Church is among the newest ministries in the growing movement of “wild” outdoor worship communities.
View all the Stories of Faith in Action here, and how your offering becomes mission support.
Read MoreHow Is God’s invitation to discipleship lived out in a democracy?
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 MoreELCA Global Mission shares their Global Links newsletter for January, 2023, featuring: new family ties in Senegal, news around the world, mission personnel, and how to get involved.
Read MoreThe 11th Asian Lutheran International Conference (ALIC) was held in Chiang Rai, Thailand, Jan. 12-17, with the theme “Comfort, Comfort My People: Prophetic Justice and Healing.” Sivin Kit, Lutheran World Federation interim director for the Department for Theology, Mission and Justice, spoke to this theme by asking, “Have we lost touch with the experience of pain and suffering in our churches and our world?”
Read MoreLuther Seminary's Faith+Lead Bookhub for February, 2023 is 2/16/2023, entitled Work that Means Something: Experiencing God’s invitation in the ordinary. Learn more and sign up here, and check out the three featured books:
Read MoreLutherans Restoring Creation shares their February 2023 Good Green News, featuring: The Ants & the Grasshopper Screening; Earth Day Virtual Service 4/23/2023; and upcoming connections calls Lead-Free Superhero, and Pollinator Projects.
Read MoreAt its November 2022 meeting, the ELCA Church Council authorized the establishment of a Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church (CRLC) to consist of no more than 35 voting members and directed the Executive Committee of the Church Council to initiate the process of forming the Commission.
Each synod is being asked to submit two nominees. Read more in this post about this process and how to nominate yourself or others.
Read MoreWhat a day! For photos and a full recap, please visit lamaz.org. Highlights below.
Nearly 100 advocates from 23 of Arizona’s 30 districts gathered at the State Capitol for a day of advocacy on January 30, 2023
Sen. Raquel Terán (D), Senate Minority Leader from LD26 and Rep. Tim Dunn (R) from LD25 (Yuma) were featured speakers, along with Ashley St. Thomas, Arizona Food Bank Network; Jessie Gruner, Pinnacle Prevention; and Connie Phillips, Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest.
Participants met with their legislators in support of anti-hunger bills HB2211 and HB2142
Bishop Hutterer led the invocation in the Senate, advocates were introduced in the House gallery by Rep. Jennifer Pawlik (D), LD13 and in the Senate by Sen. Raquel Terán (D), LD26.
Advocates attended the Health & Human Services Committee to hear testimony in support of HB2211, which received a 9-0 due pass recommendation.
The Office of the Bishop travels to Las Vegas as part of Synod on the Move, preaching at various churches and attending the Colorado River Conference Spring Gathering, Feb 4, 2023, 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM. We also share photos from last week’s Synod on the Move in the Tucson area and Lutheran Day at the Legislature.
Read MoreThis week we celebrate the following ordination anniversaries:
Rev. Katie Langston, New Promise, St. George, who celebrates 1 year on February 4.
Rev. Shari Bernau, Living Water, Scottsdale, who celebrates 18 years on February 5.
Rev. Pam A. Reynolds, Lord of Life, Sun City West, who celebrates 2 years on February 6.
Rev. Mark Wickstrom, Living Hope, Las Vegas, who celebrates 37 years on February 9.
Deanna Branch is an activist for lead-poisoning awareness. She is a mother, a member of Hephatha Lutheran Church (ELCA) and a resident of Milwaukee, Wis. Vice President Kamala Harris invited Deanna to attend the recent White House Lead Pipe Summit.
Deanna Branch and her sons, Jaidyn and Aidan are featured in "Blessed are the peacemakers," the first episode of the new season of "Talks at the Desk" video series.
Read MoreThe West is faring particularly well, with states like Montana and Utah seeing some of their lowest-ever case and hospitalization rates.
Note: our updates can be a week behind due to our news cycle overlapping with Thursday updates. View the latest CDC and NYTimes updates here.
Read MoreLutheran women will gather via Zoom for Living Faithful: Called and Thriving, a new online leadership event, February 16-18, 2023.
The four-hour sessions from Women of the ELCA on both Friday and Saturday will include worship, Bible study presentations, breakout time, Q&A and much more. Prior registration is required. Spanish language translation services will be provided. Learn more and register here.
Read MoreWatch a video from the Rocky Mountain Synod on Ascension Lutheran’s response to the Marshall Fire.
On Dec. 30, 2021, the Marshall Fire, a destructive wildfire and urban conflagration whipped by sustained winds, swept across Boulder County, Colorado. The fire completely destroyed the homes of several families who are members of Christ the Servant Lutheran Church in Louisville, including pastor Stephanie Lord’s.
Read MoreFor anyone in our ELCA interested in telling stories—stories of God, ourselves and others—join the ELCA Mission Support Team on Tuesday, 2/7/2023 5-6:15pm MST, 4-5:15pm PST, for “The Story Became Flesh and Dwelt Among Us.” Info flyer here, and access the Zoom link here.
Read MoreIt's been a rough few years and it may be time for you to reset. This tour will include a visit to India's Golden Triangle (Delhi, Jaipur, Agra) which includes visiting the famous Taj Mahal. We will also spend five days in a retreat in the holy city of Varanasi.
Contact Pastor Jose at chaplainjosevalenzuela@gmail.com to learn more and be a part of this small, 10-person tour.
Read MoreAs we enter Black History Month, be sure to visit the ELCA Justice Portal and find worship resources, educational tools and ways you can work toward racial justice in our church and our society.
Read More
