Whether born of fear, ignorance, or bigotry, the calumny and actual harm that the Chinese American community has suffered is morally reprehensible. The same is true for those of other communities who are assumed to be Chinese. Any sense of isolation that might be compounded by our silence only adds to the pain and offense.
Read MoreGod is bringing about something new for the world and for the church - and we have hopes and dreams for that - but we are waiting for God to reveal that. So, in the meantime, in our anxiety, in our joy, in our hope, let's remember: Christ is risen! Christ is risen, indeed! Alleluia!
Read MoreRecently I heard a story about a Lutheran woman from the United States traveling through eastern Europe years ago. As she talked with a group of locals, it came up that she was Lutheran. One woman in the group told the American, “I know who you are.”
The European woman went into her house and came out with a quilt. She showed the American woman a label sewn onto the quilt which gave the name of an ELCA church who had made and donated it. "I was once in a refugee camp and had nothing,” the woman said. “You gave this quilt to me.”
Read MoreThe Arizona judicatory leaders of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, The United Methodist Church, the United Church of Christ, and The Episcopal Church jointly sent the following letter to Governor Doug Ducey.
Read MoreLutheran Social Services of Nevada continues to offer services, including Identification Recovery Services (Birth Certificates), Rapid Rehousing Services, Senior Case Management, and more, although our one-on-one services will now be by appointment only.
Please call our main line at 702-639-1730 Monday - Friday or e-mail info@lssnv.orgat any time for more information about our services or scheduling an appointment.
Read MoreBishop Deborah K. Hutterer of the Grand Canyon Synod brings greetings, the Gospel, and a sermon for the first Sunday after Easter. The Bishop's greetings can be found at the beginning of the video. The Gospel starts at the 1:45 mark, and the sermon starts at 3:50.
Read MoreRead the minutes from the synod council meeting on April 18, 2020, in PDF format.
Read MoreLutheran Social Services of Nevada is setting appointments to help individuals sign up for SNAP (food stamps). For more information or to set an appointment, contact Nutrition Services Manager Maria at maria@lssnv.org.
Read MoreWe pray for Rev. Jeff Kallevig, whose final Sunday at Our Saviour’s, Tucson, was this Easter. Rev. Kallevig is accepting a call to North Hollywood, California.
Eternal God, we thank you for Jeff and for our life together in the Grand Canyon Synod. As he has been a blessing to us, so now send him forth to be a blessing to others; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Read MoreWe lift up Rev. Thomas Stephens, who is retiring from Central Lutheran Church in Arizona City. Ordained in 1984, we thank God for Rev. Stephens’ 35 years of service.
Gracious God, we thank you for the work and witness of your servant Tom, who has enriched this community and brought gladness to friends and family. Now bless and preserve him at this time of transition. Day by day, guide him and give him what is needed, friends to cheer his way, and a clear vision of that to which you are now calling him. By your Holy Spirit be present in his pilgrimage, that he may travel with the one who is the way, the truth, and the life, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Read MorePlease pray for Rev. Dr. Gene Perry (retired), who was anticipating a heart procedure designed to help prevent strokes. That surgery is now delayed 2-3 months by COVID-19 issues because it’s considered an elective surgery.
By your power, great God, our Lord Jesus healed the sick and gave new hope to the hopeless. Though we cannot command or posses your power, we pray for those who want to be healed.
Read MoreDikos Nitsaaígíí-Náhást'éíts'áadah: That’s what the pandemic is called in Navajo. “We shouldn't be the last to get equipment," said President Nez, "We are the first citizens of this country, our nation. And we just got to remind our federal partners out there that we are still here and we're resilient and we'll overcome this."
On April 7, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 on the Navajo Nation reached 321, with 13 deaths. These numbers are not included in the overall reporting for the State of Arizona.
Read MoreCongrats to Saved By Grace Lutheran Church which recently received a Best of Pahrump 2020 in the Houses of Worship category!
Read MoreThe Office of the Bishop staff is giving this article from The Praxis Journal a deep read: The novel coronavirus is not just something for leaders to “get through” for a few days or weeks. Instead, we need to treat COVID-19 as an economic and cultural blizzard, winter, and beginning of a “little ice age” — a once-in-a-lifetime change that is likely to affect our lives and organizations for years.
Read MoreA worksheet to help congregations evaluate their financial situation during Covid-19 is available from Dr. Jerry Kingston, Special Bishop’s Associate for Mobility, and ASU Economics faculty member from 1969 to 2011.
The worksheet is based comparing available liquid assets for the period May 1, 2020 through September 30, 2020 to two sets of costs: (1) legally-required expenses; and (2) legally-required + pledged expenses to the synod and the churchwide organization. The worksheet is available as a PDF or Word doc.
Read MoreEvery day is an adjustment. As we continue to lean into the discomfort and the unknown of this pandemic, let us remember what we do know. We know that God’s love for us is boundless. God’s love cannot be measured. We know that God’s boundless promise, no matter the darkness, is that Christ prevails.
Read MoreDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, the ELCA churchwide organization is here to support our members, congregations, synods and partners. Call 800-638-3522 and press #4 or email HereToServe@ELCA.org for prayer, support and to ask your questions.
Read MoreYou can help the ministries of the ELCA by supporting your local congregation and making a gift to the ELCA’s COVID-19 Response Fund.
Your donation will provide funds to the ministries of the ELCA most in need and best positioned to help. This includes our congregations as well as local and churchwide ministries capable of reaching and assisting those in need.
Read MoreThere’s a fair amount of advice out there on what to do about funerals or memorial services during the current “stay at home” shutdown. Often people are encouraged to plan for a memorial service whenever that becomes possible.
There’s another piece to ritual care for grieving people in the current situation, though: helping them create home ritual that fills some part of the need for more immediate ritual. Read more here »
Read MoreELCA Advocacy shares submissions of the Lutheran Office for World Community and state public policy offices: U.N. | California | Minnesota | New Mexico | Pennsylvania | Texas | Washington | Wisconsin
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