In this video, high school students share about their experience learning at the Lutheran Schools in the Holy Land. The 4 ELCJHL schools (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land) start with preschool and continue to Grade 12.
Read MorePray that God’s righteousness, justice, peace and compassion for the poor and oppressed will flourish in the world, and that we will be bold and persistent in doing God’s work together.
Read More“Don’t go wishing your life away.” I can remember how hard my eyes rolled when my mom said this to me for the umpteenth time. She was driving me home from driver’s ed and I was laying out my life plan with clarity and ease. I was sure that once I had my driver’s license the problems of 15.75 year-old me would go away completely! Isn’t that how it works? Driver’s license = freedom and freedom = doing whatever I wanted!
Read MoreWe are excited to announce that the Lilly Endowment has recently awarded the Grand Canyon and Rocky Mountain Synods a $1,000,000 grant, beginning January, 2020!
The new grant will expend a total of $1,000,000. Half of that amount consists of Lilly dollars, and half is required to be raised in order to match each grant dollar. The plan is to expend $700,000 in the Rocky Mountain Synod and $300,000 in the Grand Canyon Synod. Each Synod will raise half of their expenditures.
Read MoreGive thanks that we are freed by our faith to serve our neighbor and affect change in our communities, nation and world — change that is grounded in the gospel and God’s vision of justice, compassion, healing and peace for all people.
Read MoreSt. Andrew Lutheran Church will host a service of “Blue Christmas, the Longest Night” on Saturday, December 21, at 7 pm. For those of us who are struggling with the Joyous Holiday Season as we experience our grief, loss, struggle, pain, and need solace!
A simple service for all! Pastor Tweedy Sombrero Navarette will share in leading the service. Light up the night, the longest night of the year. Remember the losses and ask for God’s healing.
Read MoreWe pray for Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Paradise Valley, AZ, a faith based community rooted in God's Grace and the Good News of Jesus Christ. We lift up in prayer Pastor Brent Maxwell, Deacon Connie Rose-Kamprath, Office Manager Ann Skipper, and Minister of Music Karen Murphy.
Read MoreThe “Declaration of the ELCA to People of African Descent” is a public apology offered by our church in the context of the quadricentennial remembrance of slavery in this country. With faith in God’s forgiveness and mercy, pray that we will be unconflicted in our repentance, committed to understanding injustice and racism, and bold and persistent in working to end racism and white supremacy wherever they exist, including in the church.
Read MorePray for clarity and faith in the lifelong baptismal journey for which the Holy Spirit calls, renews and equips us — a journey for the sake of the world.
Read MoreWhen you see an Advent wreath, reflect on the circle of evergreen branches and give thanks for the gift of eternal life we have in Jesus Christ — the promised Messiah, born for the sake of the world.
Read MoreRead the minutes from the synod council meeting on December 7, 2019, in PDF format.
Read MoreRemember in prayer Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH) and the other hospitals in East Jerusalem. AVH is owned and operated by the Lutheran World Federation and supported by several of its member churches, including the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Pray that our government will restore funding vital to the safe and effective operation of the East Jerusalem hospitals as soon as possible so that patients — especially children, who are particularly at risk — will continue to receive the treatment and care they need.
Read MorePastor Ben Bergren was installed as the new Senior Pastor at Community Lutheran Church in Las Vegas on November 16, 2019. He begins a new chapter for the church that has had only two other Senior Pastors in its 46 year history. Bishop Deborah Hutterer installed Pastor Ben and other pastors in the Las Vegas Valley came for the event.
Read MoreELCA Advocacy brings their December Update: U.N. and State Edition, with news from: U.N. | Colorado | Minnesota | New Mexico | Pennsylvania | Texas | Washington | Wisconsin.
Read MoreLutheran Thrift Shop has been gifted with many sets of choral music, copies of anywhere from 15-80 copies of each selection. There are many Christmas selections, Easter selections, and much more. Contact Karen Austad, karenaustad@gmail.com, if you are interested.
Read MoreThe ELCA is responding as stewards of God’s good creation, and we need more #CreationCareAmbassadors. You can learn more on Dec. 11 from the free webinar “ELCA Caring for God’s Creation Today: Pass It On!”
The moment is now. The opportunities are many. The resources exist and are expanding. Learn how you can make a difference through this webinar hosted by ELCA Advocacy on Wednesday, Dec. 11, at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time, 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM MST. Maybe being a #CreationCareAmbassador is for you: facebook.com/pg/elcaadvocacy/events/.
Read MoreFrom Pastor Lars Hammar comes Open Space’s newsletter. Click here to view it in PDF.
Excerpt: “Live Graffiti Art Show was a great hit again this year. We had more artists outside, musicians inside, and stuff being made than ever before. A shout out to our mural painters: Nox, Boer, Rogue, Segy, Qwik, Eroe, Citizen Klown, Ivan, Eagle, Retro.” Learn more at www.openspacetucson.com.
Read MoreRemember in prayer Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH) and the other hospitals in East Jerusalem. AVH is owned and operated by the Lutheran World Federation and supported by several of its member churches, including the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Pray that our government will restore funding vital to the safe and effective operation of the East Jerusalem hospitals as soon as possible so that patients — especially children, who are particularly at risk — will continue to receive the treatment and care they need.
Read MoreThe 2019 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP25) is underway in Madrid, Spain, and an unprecedented number of people from the ELCA are present as part of an ELCA Advocacy delegation – including Lutheran state public policy office directors, young adult leaders, global companions and members of the Lutherans Restoring Creation network.
Read MoreWe pray for the congregation of Celebration Lutheran Church in Peoria, AZ, which exists to share and embrace God’s life-changing grace. We lift up Pastor David M. Sivecz, Event and Administrative Coordinator Cristina Ramos, Music Director Randy Badsgard, Custodian Lora McDermitt, and Agape Preschool Director Tori Preston.
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