These are daunting moments.
To be honest, I don’t know where to start. I can’t find adequate words to address the deep anger, anxiety, anguish, and grief spreading through our world today, growing from a mix of COVID-19 deaths, political turmoil, and repeated episodes of racial injustice.
Read MoreOn June 17, 2015, a white man named Dylann Roof entered a historic Black church in Charleston during a prayer meeting and opened fire, killing 9 people and wounding 3 more. He overtly and explictly espoused white supremacist beliefs and targeted the people of Mother Emanuel Church because of their race and commitment to civil rights. I felt my stomach sink when I found out that Roof was raised in an ELCA church.
Read MoreHymnody resources for worship at home can be found through The Hymn Society. For your devotional time, you might be interested in knowing about the Community Video Hymn Sing FaceBook page led by Paul and Elizabeth Damico-Carper.
Read MoreThis month has the most daylight of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and the least daylight of the year in the Southern Hemisphere. Give thanks that the gift of sunlight sustains all life on Earth and that the light of God’s love and truth, shining through Jesus, gives us the gift of new life, purpose and direction as children of God.
Read MoreBishop Eaton has called on the church to join with faith communities across the United States in lament and remembrance, and on our elected leaders to observe Monday, June 1, as a day of mourning to honor the more than 100,000 people who have died from COVID-19.
The day of mourning calls on all religious communities to come together in observing this historic moment in their own traditions and practices. A toolkit and other resources are available for local religious leaders and mayors.
Read MoreOne of the common hymns sung on Pentecost Sunday is “O Day Full of Grace” from our hymnal Evangelical Lutheran Worship #627.
In celebration of Pentecost and as a gift to the Lutheran Church, the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians performed a stunning arrangement of this hymn virtually, each of the 1300 organists, violinists, and singers performing in their own home but melding with the gift of technology to share “…bring light from our God that we may be abundant in joy this season. God, shine for us now in this dark place; you name on our hearts emblazon.”
Read MoreWhat does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8).
In a statement signed by many bishops of The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, including Bishop Hutterer, the ELCA reaffirms its commitment to combating racism and white supremacy following the recent murders of Black Americans. Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Dreasjon (Sean) Reed, and George Floyd were our neighbors.
Read MoreDay of Pentecost Lift up prayers of joy and thanksgiving for how we are united in one Spirit yet manifest diverse gifts, abilities and wisdom for sharing the gospel, building up the body of Christ and serving our neighbor.
Read MoreToday, we, the Jewish People, have finished counting and fulfilling seven weeks of seven days, forty-nine days since Pesakh and the liberation from slavery in Egypt-Mitzrayim. As the Torah records, we were freed from slavery in the sight of all the world.
Every human being is created in the Tselem Elokhim, the Image of God. And into every human being has God breathed the breath of life. As we remember the last words of George Floyd, “Please, I can’t breathe!”
Read MorePray that our church’s endeavors to foster understanding and unity between Lutherans, other Christian denominations and other faiths will yield abundant fruit for the glory of God and for healing our rifts and our brokenness.
Read MorePastor Carol Breimeier with Esperanza Lutheran Church, Ahwatukee, shares a a video about of an assistance effort put together by Dr. Jayne Peterson and her husband, Dr. Todd Peterson, carrying supplies to the Navajo Nation. Jayne and Todd are members of Esperanza in Ahwatukee.
Posted by Arati Pandya, the video provides touching story of a Navajo patient cared for at Banner University Medical Center - Phoenix, an inspiring collaboration amongst U of A College of Medicine medical students, and the Arizona community to support the Navajo Nation during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Read MorePray for congregations, Christian education leaders, youth and family ministry leaders, and volunteers preparing for summer programs, that they will deepen and stir the faith of members and reach into neighborhoods and surrounding communities with the gospel and an active spirit of hospitality and service.
Read MoreAs we approach the twentieth anniversary of our full communion agreement, “Called to Common Mission,” we give thanks to God for the partnership we share with The Episcopal Church. In the coming months, we will pray for and with one another, seeking spiritual renewal in these challenging times, and revival for the common mission we share.
From Pentecost Sunday through the first Sunday in September, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton and her Episcopal counterpart Presiding Bishop Michael Curry welcome congregations and individuals to regularly pray “A Prayer for the Power of the Spirit Among the People of God,” available in English, Spanish, and French.
Read MoreWe lift up in prayer Pastor Pat and Mike Reed and their family following the death of Pat’s father, Michael Nigro.
Eternal God, your love is stronger than death, and your passion more fierce than the grave. We rejoice in the lives of those whom you have drawn into your eternal embrace. Keep us in joyful communion with them until we join the saints of every people and nation gathered before your throne in your ceaseless praise, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Read MoreRich Johnson—Master Gardener and member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Mesa—got the front cover treatment in the May edition of Living Lutheran. The best quote from his “I’m a Lutheran” article?
Read More“I tell people that if they don’t believe in God’s power, you try making a tomato plant!”
Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton was interviewed live on CNN May 26 to discuss how the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is navigating a return to in-person worship during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read MoreI have been encouraged to respond to what I believe is an ill-advised statement to “open houses of worship,” given all the evidence that the coronavirus is still spreading. This week, the COVID-19 death toll across our country reached 100,000 souls. To date, infections number over 17,000 in Arizona and over 8,000 in both Nevada and Utah. Over 1,300 people have died in the three states.
Such statistics testify this is not the time to gather in-person. I would sum up guidance to churches in one, simple phrase: “Just because you can gather for worship, doesn’t mean you should.”
Read MoreGive thanks for the commitment, creativity and compassion of teachers, teacher assistants, professors, educators and school staff who, facing difficult and uncertain situations, have persisted in attending to the educational and personal needs of their students ― our children, youth and young adults.
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