The United States is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, and its economy is by far the largest. Yet, the U.S. has one of the highest rates of child poverty among developed countries.
In 2019 (the most recent year for data), 14.4% of children – about 10.5 million children – in the U.S. were living in poverty. This is tremendous progress from 2010, when 22% of U.S. children were living in poverty.
Read MoreRev. Michael Woolf, with Lake Street Church of Evanston, Illinois, wrote a short prayer that may be recited before receiving the coronavirus vaccine. “Even in the midst of much suffering, I give thanks for this jab, a strange way to receive a blessing.” Read the full prayer in our post or on the Lake Street web site.
Read MoreWe pray for Rev. Jeremy Nausin, Pastoral Intern Lourdes Olson, and the people of Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Las Vegas, part of the Colorado River Conference. Visit their site at holyspiritlasvegas.org, and their social media pages on Facebook and YouTube.
Read MoreNew Fire. Easter Proclamation. Ancient stories. Baptismal waters. Bread and wine. This is the night. As you plan worship for the Vigil of Easter, All Creation Sings offers many and various ways for us to sing the centrality of our faith.
2021, like its 2020 counterpart, will be unique in how the Easter Vigil liturgy is offered.
Read MoreLutheran Social Services of Nevada (LSSN) shares their February 2021 newsletter, highlighting 50,000 people fed in 2020 through their DigiMart food distribution network, which officially expanded on 2/16/2021 with a virtual ribbon cutting.
Read MoreOn Thursday, March 11 at 6:30-8pm MST, 7:30-9pm PST, join Sarah Morris from Our Saviour's and Pastor Sarah from Grace for a discussion about how our social location shapes our experiences in a nation marred by racism, sexism, and classism.
You are invited to read one of three books prior to the discussion in order to enter into the world of someone different than you.
Read MoreWhy a lament, as opposed to a prayer or litany? This lament is intended as an action that acknowledges what has been broken in our relationship with our neighbor – the neighbor that we as the ELCA are called to love as we love ourselves. Specifically this lament is a way to recognize points of brokenness in the relationship between the ELCA and African Americans.
Read MoreIn 2014, during the lead-up to the commemoration of the Reformation’s 500th anniversary, a group of African descent Lutheran theologians gathered to explore and reflect on Martin Luther’s Small Catechism. While affirming the catechism’s gift in the life of the church, they recognized the importance of broadening its explanations of Christian faith to address the experience of Lutherans of African descent.
Read MoreWith partnership and support from the Mission Investment Fund of the ELCA, the ELCA Federal Credit Union (FCU) is now offering the second round of Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loans to congregations and ministries.
To review eligibility requirements and apply for a PPP loan, please visit the ELCA FCU’s website, www.elcafcu.org/PPP. The ELCA FCU will be accepting loan applications through March 31, 2021, or until funding is exhausted.
Read MoreThe phrase “Stop Swapping Air” was coined on an episode of the Osterholm Update: COVID-19 podcast, hosted by infectious disease expert Dr. Michael Osterholm.
This simple practice of not swapping air is the most effective step you can take right now to protect you and your family, friends, and colleagues. Learn more here.
Read MoreYou're invited to a new conversation on Christian nationalism for the southwest region.
Free webinar: Confronting Christian Nationalism in Your Congregation, Friday, February 26, 9am-10:30am MST, 8-9:30am PST. Click here to register.
Read MoreThe Stewardship Team of the Grand Canyon Synod invites you to a presentation on “Building an Effective, Productive and Faithful Stewardship Team", Tues. Feb. 23rd at 7pm MST, 6pm PST.
We will share the rationale and strategies for your congregational stewardship team to engage in effective year round ministry. Please register here.
Read MoreAs part of ELCA World Hunger’s 40 Days of Giving, this post and accompanying video begin a series weekly reflections.
Ending hunger means seeing what unjust power tries to keep hidden. It means defining “we” in a way that threatens the principalities and powers — including our own privilege — that make everything about “I.”
Read MoreIn this post we’re highlighting Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona’s update, focusing on: hunger and associated food security issues; community-based senior support; and fair and equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.
For a full updates, see the original blog post on ELCA.org, or click an area you’re interested in: U.N. | Arizona | Colorado | Florida | New Mexico | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Texas |Washington | Wisconsin.
Read MoreBefore going into the story of my racial justice work, let us take a detour and consider how becoming Lutheran was part of my overall journey of integration as a former refugee.
I was born in Burundi and resettled in Fargo, N.D., in fall 1998 through Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota.
Read MoreLent is probably the church year’s midlife crisis. And, like real midlife crises, it doesn’t always come when we expect. This year Lent comes on the heels of Valentine’s Day, with the ashy cross marking our brows just days after the dust from candy hearts will cross our lips.
Read MorePhotographer Libby Oliver has a portrait series called “Soft Shells,” which explores people’s personalities through the clothes and accessories they wear. Libby asks subjects to collect every piece of clothing they own and then photographs them underneath their huge pile of clothes. In all the photographs the person’s identity is completely covered up.
Read MoreThis week, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton tells us of the steps she takes to find peace when she feels overwhelmed by stress and anxiety.
Read MoreA year ago, congregations gathered as usual and began the Lenten journey. Many of us attended midweek services, and shared soup and bread.
All was interrupted with the arrival of the coronavirus. Most of us did not imagine this fast of physical gathering would last a year, let alone become a new and strange “normal.”
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