From 1991 through 2019, photographer Deanna Dikeman took a photo of her parents waving goodbye after each visit to their home in Sioux City, Iowa. This portrait series doubles as a family album, compressing nearly three decades of her parents’ adieux into a deft and affecting chronology.
Read MoreProspective seminary students from across the metro Phoenix area gathered to learn first hand about our ELCA seminaries. We spent 2 hours with PLTS, LSTC, hearing about course options, community engagement, and scholarship availability. We hope the event expands across the GCS and eventually all 7 seminaries will be easily represented to prospective leaders for our church.
Check out Elcaseminaries.org for more info.
Read MorePastor Tony Scheer, Spirit of Hope Lutheran, Mesa, invites us to travel to the Holy Land, January 21-31, 2021.
The registration website for the Spirit of Hope Israel Trip is now available, http://www.cvent.com/d/9nq7ms. Please follow this link, register, and pay your deposit as soon as possible so you can reserve your spot on the trip.
Read MorePray for peace, reconciliation and healing in the world wherever there is conflict or war, especially in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and parts of Africa. Ask that the Spirit of God will guide and inspire political leaders, diplomats and mediators, soldiers and peacekeeping forces to be persistent and unified in seeking peaceful, just and compassionate solutions and treaties.
Read MoreGive thanks for the gift of grace we have in Jesus Christ, which sets us free to live our faith with boldness and to serve our neighbor.
Read MoreOur communities are significantly shaped by census data, and Census 2020 will update these numbers for the first time in 10 years. The ELCA is an official partner of the 2020 Census to encourage the most accurate count possible.
Posters placed in your congregation’s common areas and social ministry locations can raise awareness and encourage all to follow-up when their invitation to complete the census arrives by National Census Day on April 1, 2020. A toolkit with additional tools and bulletin inserts as well as the posters can be downloaded from the “Civic Engagement” tab at ELCA.org/resources/advocacy.
Read MoreThe Arboretum’s Mediterranean collection is home to many plants found in the Bible lands including frankincense, palms and pomegranates. This relaxed, slow-paced, easy going tour highlights historical plants and their references mentioned in the Bible. Sat Mar 7th 1:30pm, and Sat Apr 4th 1:30pm.
Read MoreThis year, on Sunday, March 8, your congregation has the beautiful opportunity to celebrate and honor women leaders around the globe. It is the perfect time for your congregation to take an offering for IWL, as it will go twice as far. Because of the generosity of IWL supporters, your congregation’s gifts will be matched dollar for dollar until we reach $100,000.
You can download this worship resource with prayers and hymns to use in your service, as well as this new bulletin insert. Thank you so much for celebrating with us and investing in the future of women leaders!
Read MoreA great practice for expanding language is to read the definition of a word that you already understand.
I’ve heard the word lament plenty of times—I was an English major who loved Gothic novels—but I had never actually taken the time to really define it.
The definition didn’t hold any surprises, but as I researched definitions, I also researched Bible verses.
Read MoreEarly Tuesday morning, a powerful tornado ripped through Nashville and other parts of Tennessee, leaving destruction in its wake. The tornado was part of a series of severe storms. At least 24 people have been killed, homes and other buildings have been destroyed, and thousands of people are without electricity. The worship space for St. John’s Lutheran Church of Nashville, an ELCA congregation, was crushed by the tornado.
Read MorePray that during Lent we will carve out time in our busy lives to pause and reflect on our faith, our baptismal journeys and the life and suffering of Christ, who sacrificed himself for us that we might enjoy a new life, reconciled to God and full of love, mercy, hope and a spirit of service.
Read MoreWith the outbreaks of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the United States, congregations and houses of worship need to be well-informed and well-prepared. According to the World Health Organization, COVID-19 is now a pandemic. A step-by-step approach to prepare for a serious outbreak can be useful. View the Congregational Planning Checklist for Public Health Concerns (updated 3/11/2020).
Read MoreThe ELCA has updated its “Worship in times of public health concern” document, available as a PDF document (updated March 12, 2020). Specifically addressed are best practices during passing of the peace and Holy Communion.
Read MoreAt the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering, I left each Mass Gathering feeling a buzz of energy, passion, and excitement that coursed through every extremity of my body like a wave of adrenaline. This feeling came from the power of experiencing God’s love, grace, and hope in community with tens of thousands of other equally energized worshippers.
Read MoreAsayel Slay, a female rap artist from Saudi Arabia, currently faces arrest and punishment by Saudi officials because of her YouTube video/song “Mecca Girl.” The work, which celebrates women in Mecca, has been condemned by conservatives as disrespectful toward the values and traditions that have long prevailed in Meccan society. Asayel’s supporters regard her as a champion of women’s progress in that society, while her detractors view her as a threat to social norms. Religious convictions animate both sides of the controversy.
Read MoreLutheran Social Services of Nevada has released their March newsletter, available online.
Highlights include a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, March 5th, 2020; the 2020 Wine Tasting and Silent Auction Fundraiser will be Thursday, May 7th, 2020; LSSN is collecting Easter baskets; a calendar of their March programs; and news of 2 interns from UNLV.
Read MoreBrad Munroe of the Phoenix presbytery would like to invite pastors and lay leaders to a Leading Emotional Systems Training (LEST) to be held at the presbytery office in Phoenix the week after Easter, April 13-17. See brochure.
The LEST training covers communication and family system dynamics the first three days and then divides into separate tracks for interim training and conflict reconciliation the final two days.
Read MoreBe glad and shout for joy! Trust in God’s love and mercy, which strengthen and preserve us in our every need and circumstance.
Read MoreRev. Ron Hovick (last rostered in Pacifica Synod), member of Reformation Lutheran Church, Las Vegas, died February 20, 2020.
Funeral will be at Reformation Lutheran Church, Saturday, March 7, 2020 at 11 am.
Read MoreGive thanks for the witness and work of the Rev. Lancelot Themba Mkhabela and Kwena Mkhabela, regional representatives for Madagascar, West Africa and Central Africa; the Rev. Kirsten Laderach, YAGM country coordinator for Madagascar; and the seven volunteers serving alongside our companions in that country as part of the Young Adults in Global Mission program.
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