One famous chef who wasn’t in L.A. for the Oscars was Chef José Andrés. Chef Andrés could have been in L.A. or comfortably resting at one of his restaurants in New York or Washington D.C. But he wasn’t. Chef José Andrés was on the border between Ukraine and Poland serving up thousands of meals for the Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war.
Read MoreFrom the first-fruits offering of Deuteronomy to the teaching of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke, our reflections have pointed to how God continues to “make a way in the wilderness” and calls us to be part of that journey for ourselves and our neighbors. Read more in this post in English and Spanish.
Read MoreWhen Jesus began His ministry, He immediately formed a small group. Following in the footsteps of Jesus, we gather in small groups for discussion and empowerment in the crucible of change for us as faith leaders. Join ELCA Coaching on April 6, 2022, 11am MST/PDT, noon MDT.
A majority of this hour will be spent in breakout rooms with conversations facilitated by our ELCA Coaches focused on: Growing Young, Grief in our Communities, Personal Grief, Rural Ministry, Urban Ministry, Hybrid Church, Advocacy, Race Relations, Allyship – LGTBQIA+, Conflict, Leadership Development.
Read MoreAs we approach Holy Week and the Easter season, you may desire worship texts that hold in tension the joy of the resurrection with the reality of violence and suffering in our world in Eastern Europe and around the globe.
Below are three newly composed worship texts by Gail Ramshaw — For Good Friday, For the Easter Season, and an Eastertide Lament — available for use in your context during Holy Week. Guidance for use precedes each selection.
Read MoreAs language continues to evolve around the way we identify ourselves and others, so has the ELCA’s style guide. The most recent shift involves use of gendered language regarding our siblings in Christ, with a focus on ways to ensure that we represent everyone in the church, emphasizing gender-inclusive terminology and using titles and pronouns to reflect and honor nonbinary identities. Download the newest version at ELCA.org/brandmark.
Read MoreCarey Nieuwhof’s blog shares a guest post on how economic disruptions may affect ministries, with six steps to get ready for the “great giving reshuffle.” Read the full post here.
Make sure your board of directors is prepared and aligned.
Model privately and publicly your personal resolve to Biblical stewardship.
Care for the souls of your people more now than ever.
Rather than presume pre-existing giving patterns, artfully craft an environment that invites people into a community story.
“Major giver” discipleship and development are paramount.
Retool how you engage new givers into your community.
To plan and plant a garden is an act of faithful preparation. To nurture and tend to tiny stems is to have hope for a time when those same stems may grow into something large enough to nourish another being.It’s a practice that can bring us closer to the divine.
Read MoreEvery congregation requires a secretary. The secretary is arguably the most important officer, responsible for organizing, assimilating and disseminating information within and without the organization. They need to be organized, hardworking and intelligent, with excellent writing skills. In this post (or view as PDF), your congregation’s secretary can find some recommendations/guidelines for performing their duties efficiently.
Read MoreCredit card fraud is a common identity crime. If you are like most people, you own, carry and use a number of credit cards. Please consider the following tips in this post or this PDF, which may apply to your unique needs and situation. Though not every risk can be controlled, there are a few things you can do to prevent and manage credit card fraud.
Read MoreLarge or small, congregations are often easy prey for would-be thieves. An offering-plate theft can be devastating for a congregation’s reputation, regardless of its size. Ministry leaders can strengthen their ability to protect their property and contributions by taking a fresh look at current procedures. Read more in this PDF or in this post.
Read MoreMany congregations have new council members starting at this time of year, so make sure your organization’s contacts are up to date in Portico’s EmployerLink. Portico sends important notifications to those in your organization that are registered on the site.
Read MoreAfter 106 years of searching, a ship lost miles below the icy water near Antartica was recently found! Explorer Ernest Shackelton’s ship, Endurance, was exploring these frigid waters when it became trapped by ice and could no longer move. Scientists say that because it sank in such cold water the ship is almost perfectly intact, as if it sunk yesterday! Such a discovery!
Read MoreYour church might already offer livestreaming, but this Lenten season you can take your virtual ministry up a notch with Vanco. During this important season, discover how to build on your existing online ministry to drive engagement and generosity (without breaking the bank).
Read MoreDo you tend see right and wrong as black and white or in shades of gray? Has this changed over your lifetime? If it has, how so?
Read MoreVisit the ELCA’s Eastern Europe Crisis Response resource page for a compilation of the situation, the ELCA’s response, and how you can help by praying, giving, worshiping, and connecting.
Read MoreClick here for this PDF resource from the ELCA, which is provided to assist worshiping communities as they respond to the crisis in Eastern Europe. Several prayers are provided that could be used during the prayers of intercession or at other times, in public worship or for devotional use at home or in other settings.
Read MoreRight now, far away from some of us but near to others, Russian has invaded Ukraine. Confronting power hungry leadership and complex socio-political tensions, the global community watches and waits. Ground invasion and the startling aftermath of dropped bombs consume our collective conscious. War brings heightened anxieties and unanswered questions; it leaves people displaced and refugees fleeing. The journeys of our refugee siblings are filled with uncertainty.
Read MoreIn this sacred season, we turn inward, reflecting on our dependence on God’s grace. Marked by ashes at the start, we enter the 40 days of Lent with penitent hearts and awareness of our need for God’s mercy. Repentance and self-reflection are important practices, but it’s easy to stay here, forgetting that the season is about so much more than our own self-examination.
Martin Luther captured this well. Luther defined repentance in two ways: “contrition…and in taking hold of the promise.” Read more in this post in English and Spanish.
Read MoreRetirement may feel like (or even be) a long way off. Having a plan for retirement can increase confidence and peace of mind about the future. For those that missed the live Retirement Readiness Series workshops hosted by Fidelity, access to condensed video presentations is available here on myPortico.
Read MoreBecause congregations and clergy have unique reporting requirements, Portico offers complimentary access to two annually updated guides: Federal Reporting Requirements for Churches PDF and Clergy Tax Return Preparation Guide PDF.
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