California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, California presents Essential Skills for Youth Workers, August 1-3, 2019 (registration closes Friday, July 26).
Rozella Haydée White is the #LoveBigCoach, one who believes that love and Revolutionary Relationships can heal the world and bring us back to ourselves and to each other.
Read MoreIt happens every single day. Somewhere in our country, gun violence shatters a community, a neighborhood, a family. Almost 40,000 people died in 2018 from guns. That equates with a city the size of Annapolis, the capital of Maryland, struck down in a year – year after year.
Although written in 1995, the ELCA social message on “Community Violence” reads as if describing today. “For some women and children, home is less safe than the street. Hate crimes continue. Neighborhood, schoolyard, workplace, or family disputes spark into violence and become lethal. They become headline news, reinforcing the atmosphere of violence and inspiring profitable entertainment media.”
Read MoreELCA Advocacy keeps us updated with the many activities our church is doing in: United Nations | California | Colorado | Minnesota | Nevada | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Southeastern Synod | Washington | Wisconsin.
Read MoreThe Rev. Robert C. Blezard continues to provide a “Stewardship Toolkit” for congregations. This month’s theme is “Deceived by the lie of more.” We look at how our culture pressures us to seek happiness by endlessly accumulating more—more stuff, more money, more experiences. The result? Instead of finding peace, too many of God’s people are miserable and drowning in debt.
It consists of an original newsletter article and RCL-based “stewardship snippets” that they can cut and paste into their publications. It also has resources to explore the theme set out in the newsletter article. You can use this permanent URL, https://bit.ly/2EHozvX, for the toolkit. Rob will keep the URL the same but refresh it with the new content every month.more
Read MoreSince the closing of the Balkan Route to Middle Eastern refugees in 2016, Serbia has been gaining more and more refugees. UNICEF predicts that 18,000 people will transit through Serbia by the end of 2019.
Please pray for all those affected by the refugee crisis. Remember those who have lost everything and all those who are working to respond. You can use these prayers and resources in your worship services.
Your gifts are needed now to help with immediate relief. Gifts designated for the Middle East and Europe Refugee Crisis will be used in full (100 percent) to assist those directly impacted and have fled for safety.
Read MoreWe uplift Pastor Rick Lawrence and his wife Jill, and keep them in prayer for the death of their son, Carson. Pastor Rick serves Bethany Lutheran Church in Scottsdale, AZ.
Read MoreOur very own Mateo Chavez, pastor of San Juan Bautista Lutheran Church in Tucson, AZ, will be at Oak Grove Lutheran Church, in Richfield MN, this Sunday. At worship and dinner, Pastor Chavez will be preaching and sharing stories about ministry and work with immigrants and asylum seekers at the Nogales border crossing.
Pastor Chavez is a board member of Cruzando Fronteras, a collaborative border ministry between Episcopal, Lutheran, and Anglican communities on of borders with Mexico, Latin America, and elsewhere.
Read MoreSpirit in the Desert Retreat Center (SITD) is inviting applications and nominations for the position of Executive Director. The Executive Director will magnify the mission of Spirit in the Desert to be a holy place where people experience hospitality and renew their callings in the world. A complete search profile will be available July 26 at www.spiritinthedesert.org. View a brief synopsis (PDF) of the position.
If you would like to nominate a candidate for consideration, please contact Melissa Maxwell-Doherty at revmmmd@callutheran.edu or by phone at 805-493-3330 with the candidate’s name and contact information.
Read MoreAt recent synod assemblies, we celebrated the collective work we have done as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Two videos were shared with each assembly, and now we offer these same resources for you to share in your congregation. We hope these videos will inspire our ministry moving forward.
Read MoreEvery year Lutheran Social Services of Nevada (LSSN) prepares backpacks filled with school supplies to help children in need in our community. Will you help us this year by grabbing a few extra school supplies when you do your family’s back-to-school shopping? For questions or to coordinate a delivery, contact Tristan Hightower at tristan@lssnv.org.
Read MoreWe uplift in prayer Rev. Jose Valenzuela and the people of Desert Streams Lutheran Church, in Surprise, AZ, as they invite everyone to a new life in Christ, a deeper relationship with Christ, and spirit filled service for Christ.
Read MoreWith much of the staff traveling, and while we hire a new director of administration, the Grand Canyon Synod office hours will be 9 am to noon on weekdays through the month of July. As a reminder, direct contact information for much of our staff is on our contact page.
Read MoreWe pray for Christ Lutheran Church, in Las Vegas, where they live out their calling to be followers of Jesus sharing Good News. We pray for their staff: William Phillips, Senior Pastor; Kristina Best, Church Administrator; Marianna Phillips, Child Care Director; Zane Skufca, Campus Logistics Coordinator; Patrick Panknin, Director of Worship Band; Taylor Welch, Youth Ministry Coordinator; Donna Fitzgerald, Bell Choir Director; Christine Phillips, Sunday School Coordinator; and Michael Phillips, Multi-Media Design.
Read MoreWhile working at Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest, I once met a refugee woman named Anastasia. When I asked her what she appreciated most about her new life in the United States, she told me it was the food in her cupboard, the water coming from her sink, and the fact that her children could go to school. She felt safe.
It really reminds you of the things in life that can be so easily missed.
Read MoreJenna Perry, daughter of Pastor Mark and Linda Perry, Sierra Evangelical Lutheran Church, is recovering at home. She has returned to work with reduced hours. Continued prayers are appreciated.
Read MoreClick here to take action to secure funding for humane and just immigration system. Use your voice as funding decisions are made.
The ELCA AMMPARO strategy is a holistic, whole church commitment by the ELCA to accompany people who are forced to flee their communities seeking protection from suffering or violence. As church together we work toward just and humane policies affecting migrants in and outside the United States.
Read MoreVisiting those in prison is one of the fundamental calls in fulfilling the gospel, but within that call lies an invitation to relationship. Pastor Fred Nelson from Redeemer Lutheran Church in Park Ridge, Ill., is founder and executive director of The Inside Out Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping connect people both inside prisons and those beyond the walls in more meaningful, effective ways. Listen to the podcast.
Read MoreWe uplift in prayer New Song Lutheran Church in Henderson, NV. We pray for: Paul Block, Lead Pastor; David Miller, Assistant Pastor; Jacqueline Anne, Director, Christian Academy and Parish Assistant; Shani Fjelsted, Finance; and Gershon Gordon, Director of Children, Youth and Families.
Read MoreWe pray for the congregation at Ascension Lutheran Church, in Paradise Valley, AZ, as they grow as a a vibrant, team-driven congregation. We pray for Rev. Paul Campbell, pastor; Tom Mueller, Parish Administrator and Treasurer; Dr. Karen Parthun, Director of Music; Dale Niehaus, organist and choral accompanist; Judy Lenz, lead Children’s Minister; Mary Wilkinson, assistant administrator; and Carol Hoy, office volunteer.
Read MoreWe offer up prayers of thanksgiving and support for Norine Floyd, our outgoing Director of Administration and Events. Anyone who has interacted with Norine this year has surely noted her friendliness, professionalism, and attention to detail.
Norine has been the steady center of the Office of the Bishop in this transitional year. Building from a good foundation, she leaves the office with an efficient system in place and detailed operations manuals. We are also very grateful for her coordination of this year’s synod assembly.
Norine and her husband David are returning to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where David has a teaching job. We hold our time together close to our hearts.
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