There are more than 100 Asian congregations and ministries in the ELCA. We remember in our prayers these congregations, ELCA Asian and Pacific Islander Ministries and the Association of Asian and Pacific Islanders, and ask God to bless their work with distinct, unique groups and communities as part of a common yet diverse Asian community.
Read MoreAt the August 2019 Churchwide Assembly, the ELCA became a sanctuary church body. If you have had the opportunity to read the text of the memorial, you will see that it contains important information about what is meant by “sanctuary.”
The memorial directed the ELCA Church Council to provide guidance to all three expressions of the ELCA on sanctuary. Here is your opportunity to give your input. Results from this survey are anonymous. Visit surveymonkey.com/r/PMWFTY6 to participate.
Read MoreThese petitions are offered as guides to prayer for the global, social and outreach ministries of the ELCA, as well as for the needs and circumstances of our neighbors, communities and world. Thank you for your continued prayers for the life and mission of this church. Download a Word doc, or PDF for letter size printout or legal size printout, or view the ELCA resource page.
Read MoreRemember in prayer the leaders, voting members and others of the Rocky Mountain Synod gathering online for a digital synod assembly. Pray that the Spirit will strengthen, guide and encourage them in proclaiming the gospel, growing the church, serving our neighbor and doing God’s work in an ever-changing world.
Read MoreWe are grateful to announce the birth of Carter Anthony Heller to Rev. Chris and Elissa Heller of Mountain View Lutheran, Phoenix. Carter was born on Saturday, April 25, and we thank God that all three are happy and healthy.
Oh Lord our God, creator of all that exists, we thank you for the joy of watching new life begin and for the privilege of sharing with you and your continuing creation. In your mercy grant that these blessings may continue to us and even to our children's children, that generations yet unborn may bless your holy name; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Read MoreTo celebrate Nurses Week and Hospital Week in the first two weeks of May, Rev. Mary Klaehn, with the Tucson Medical Center, asks us to pray at 7 pm and ring bells at 7 pm.
Read MoreOn May 6, Cal Lutheran & PLTS will share stories that reveal the many ways in which our students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents and friends care for the community, and we hope you will join us for Cal Lutheran Cares Day by sharing your story with us, too!
Read MoreO God our shepherd, you know your sheep by name and lead us to safety through the valleys of death. Guide us by your voice, that we may walk in certainty and security to the joyous feast prepared in your house, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Read MoreAs Paul taught us, let us not only boast in our hope but also in our suffering, because suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)
Read More12-year-old Abenet Coltvet is a bagpiper. When the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in St. Paul, Minnesota was cancelled, Abenet was disappointed. As the “Social Distancing” order went into effect due to the Covid – 19 pandemic, Abenet had an idea. Donning his kilt and other bagpiper apparel, Abenet made his way to the senior residence complex where his grandparents live and put on a concert.
Read MoreAll Creation Sings, the forthcoming supplement to ELW will include three new liturgical settings. Setting 11 (following the numbering sequence after the ten settings in ELW) will be a bilingual service in Spanish and English. Setting 12 will be a setting for Holy Communion with options for evening use. All Creation Sings will also include a service of word and prayer.
Read MoreIn the heated battle of humanity versus covid-19, the Zoom meeting app is booming. People want to see and be seen. Big learning curve for many. But free and open to everyone!
Indeed, being seen, and even loved, is one of life’s deepest joys. Conversely, not being seen, yet being hated, is a heavy stressor.
Read MoreThrough the generosity of donors to the Churchwide COVID-19 appeal, the Grand Canyon Synod received $10,000 and will use them for Daily Bread Grants. You can be a part of doubling the impact! We are seeking to raise a match of $10,000 which would mean $20,000 to provide basic needs throughout our synod.
Grand Canyon Synod ministries that may apply are those currently providing basic needs to significant populations of Native American, Latino and ethnic-specific communities. The ministry must be served by a rostered leader.
Read More‘R-naught’ represents the number of new infections estimated to stem from a single case of coronavirus. We will be hearing a lot about this as we decide how to reopen society.
Read MoreAs we journey through this Easter season, we are beginning to hear the question: when can we gather again?
In the midst of changing restriction policies across the three states of our synod, when and how will we worship in person as church? Some ask with concern, hoping that we not gather in person too soon. Others ask with excitement, because they miss the face-to-face community.
Read MoreOn April 28, 2020, the Nevada judicatory leaders of the 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 Steve Sisolak.
Read More“We will get through this together.” Over the past month, we’ve heard these words spoken countless times by health officials, governors, mayors, presidents, prime ministers, and journalists – but also doctors, nurses, grocery clerks, and other essential workers.
As a Christian, these words took on new meaning for me last week as my family navigated Holy Week while sheltering in place.
Read MoreMartin Molin—who spends long days alone in his workshop creating an elaborate marble music machine—shares this meditation on how he learned to find focus and satisfaction from the work of each day. He has been working four years on his current project, since the completion of first marble machine four years ago (143 million views).
As we seemingly work alone in creating new ways of making song, he advises turning off the dopamine of constant news and finding comfort in things like silence and walking.
Read MoreLooking for faith formation resources, especially during the new reality of COVID-19? Make sure to visit elcafaithformation.org for a curated list of resources as well as follow ELCA's Faith Formation ministries that are there to support you.
Read MoreSince 2015, undernourishment around the world has been on the rise, after years of decline. In the latest estimates from the United Nations, more than 820 million people are undernourished.
The current pandemic is revealing and exacerbating long-standing disparities – in income, access to health care, and social mobility. Here are some of the things to keep an eye on when it comes to hunger in a pandemic.
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