Continue to pray for peace, justice, reconciliation and economic opportunity for the people and countries of Central America, and pray that the United States and other nations will respond to their needs with humanitarian and economic assistance, collaborative efforts to find effective, lasting solutions to the crises they are experiencing, and prayerful, enduring support.
Read More“God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday Pray for children, youth and adults involved in volunteer community service across the country in partnership with neighboring congregations, Lutheran agencies and community organizations. Give thanks for the living, daring confidence in God’s grace from which our every act of service throughout life flows!
Read MoreGive thanks for the ministry and witness of ELCA missionaries serving alongside our global companions in Senegal, South Africa and Eswatini, as well as the six young people serving in Senegal and the four serving in Southern Africa as part of the ELCA’s Young Adults in Global Mission program.
Read MoreIn this video, Dr. Mary Jane Haemig discusses the question: How does the Lutheran catechism equip people of faith for life in their communities?
Read MorePray that our actions, words, work, service and concern for our neighbors in need — be they strangers, friends or forgotten — bear witness to the word and ways of God made known to us through Jesus Christ and instilled in us by the Holy Spirit.
Read MoreRead the latest news from Lutheran Social Services of Nevada: Updated Address, Pop-Up Homeless Connect, Programs in September, Cooking Matters, and Open Air Market Highlights.
Read MoreAs we take applications for 2020 GCS grants, we share stories from our 2019 Grant recipients, which you can see on our Grant Dollars at Work page.
Holy Trinity, in Chandler, AZ, held their Adventure Break Camp during March 18-25, 2019. “Although we didn’t have the numbers we were hoping for, the children we had were new to our community and they had a wonderful time. We look forward to following up with them and continuing to invite them to events at Holy Trinity. Another Break Camp is planned for the fall.”
Read MoreFrom the Office of Bishop Pedro M. Suarez in the Florida-Bahamas Synod, we receive this update (also available as PDF) on local churches, and a request for prayer and donations.
Hurricane Dorian has caused widespread destruction and flooding throughout the Bahamas and the U.S. Virgin Islands. We have received an initial report from Pr. Cliff Lewis of Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Freeport that his family is okay, but that information is still being gathered about extensive flooding and building destruction. While we wait for further details, we continue to surround all affected in prayer.
Read MoreWe lift up in prayer the congregation of Community of Grace Lutheran Church in Peoria, AZ. We pray for their leadership: Tim Wright, Senior Pastor; Kathleen Lotz, Associate Pastor; Michelle Halonen, Director of Administration; Kendrah Germundson, Volunteer Coordinator/Receptionist; Jeff Wright, Director of Church Operations; Tony Lake, Director of Worship; Lise Hopson, Performing Arts Director/Worship Assistant; Alan Gardiner, Director of Pastoral Care; Alycia Wright, Director of Missions; and Joshua Lotz, Student Ministry/Missions Assistant.
Read MoreGive thanks and praise to God as we celebrate with the 2019 graduates of the ELCA International Women Leaders initiative: Sthela Gun Holly Hanitrinirina (Malagasy Lutheran Church); Yuen Ching Lee, Abby Lai and Melissa Neo (Lutheran Church in Malaysia); and Elisa Pérez-Trejo (Mexican Lutheran Church). Give thanks for all who have supported them throughout the program, and ask God to bless their service and ministry as they move forward.
Read MoreThe 2019 Churchwide Assembly adopted a social statement focused on sexism and gender justice which reads in part: "We believe all people are created equally in the image of God. Every individual is dependent upon God, and all share in the God-given vocation to contribute their gifts to help all of creation flourish."
Why is the ELCA studying the topic of sexism and gender justice?
Read MoreFrom Stephanie Petrilli comes our first article on the Young Adult Exchange with Senegal. Petrilli and others recently returned from the program.
When I told people that I was going to Senegal with my church, I got a lot of “good for you” and “have a wonderful mission.” It was hard to explain to people why I was going, that I wasn’t going there to build a school or feed hungry children, I was going to just be.
Read MoreWe pray for The Lutheran Church of the Foothills in Tucson. We lift up the congregation and Pastor John Lillie, Administrative Assistant Dakota Worden, “Desert Song” Pianist Marjorie Ahlstrand, Organist Ralph Geror, Jr., and Celebration Choir Director Dr. Andy Bade as they celebrate New Life in Christ, seek to love God with their whole being, and love their neighbors as themselves.
Read MorePraise God for filling us with mercy, compassion, joy, a sense of justice, and a bold, confident faith that spills over into the world.
Read MoreAs Hurricane Dorian moves on from the Bahamas, consider donating to Lutheran Disaster Relief (LDR). Learn how LDR has maintained a presence since the last hurricanes by reading 2017 Hurricanes: Two Years Later.
Except: “‘I was hoping to get help from FEMA. I wasn’t expecting the Lutherans,’ says Dennis, a 72-year-old retired Marine living in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. He told Lutheran Social Services of the Virgin Islands about the damage to his home, and soon after they came for a visit.”
Read MoreGive thanks to God for our early-learning centers, K-12 schools, lay schools for ministry, colleges and universities, and seminaries, and for the significant role they serve in faith formation, education and equipping leaders throughout life.
Read MoreOn this day we recognize and pray for the work and service people do to sustain their families and benefit their communities and society. Pray that all receive fair wages, work in safe environments, are renewed through times of sabbath, and experience joy and fulfillment in their labor; pray that all those who seek employment will find work and for the well-being, care and support of people unable to work.
Read MoreFaith Lens is a weekly Bible study that engage youth and young adults in connecting world events with the Bible, faith, and everyday life.
It was a warm night in Springfield, Illinois on August 16th when the rapper Twista took the stage, spitting bars in his traditionally rapid-fire style. On the side of the stage stood a sign language interpreter. Her hair was buzzed short on the sides, a fiery red on top. She was bobbing up and down with the beat and, to everyone’s amazement, keeping up with Twista’s rapid rhymes.
Read MorePray that we learn humility, respect and hospitality from the example and teachings of Jesus and the Spirit at work in the lives of people around us, and that we exercise in daily life this regard for others without bias, reluctance or feeling that we deserve something in return.
Read MoreKyle Lefler, a year round program coordinator at Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp in NW Montana, shares this story of service.
Jesus walked. Miles & miles across the hills and valleys of the Holy Land. He and his disciples traveled great distances with little comforts to be with, among and beside the people.
While we need not always travel great distances to be of service to others, we are called to be out among our neighbors.
Read More
