Join the National Lutheran Choir and guest artists, the Keith Hampton Singers, for a FREE virtual program blending spoken reflections, songs and familiar hymns of joy and hope with new music that speaks to our present time, inviting all people of faith to sing in joy together! Sunday, March 14 @ 1pm MST/PST @ NLCA.com.
Read MoreWe pray for the family of Pastor Kristin Rice, All Saints Lutheran Church, Phoenix, after her father-in-law died last week in Alabama.
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 MoreThe first and only program of its kind, the National Fund for Sacred Places is a matching grant program that offers technical assistance and financial support to actively worshiping faith communities who are working to preserve their historic houses of worship. Letters of Intent are due March 15, 2021. Apply here.
Read MoreAt the Office of the Bishop, we are blessed to be continually flooded: with prayers, with mission support from congregations and individuals, with unexpected fruits of the Spirt, with companionship from ministry partners, and with joyful work from so many volunteers and church leaders. On Sunday morning, we were finally flooded with actual water.
Read MoreWe pray for the people of Senegal and our companion church, the Lutheran Church of Senegal (Eglise Lutherienne du Sénégal), as this normally stable nation goes through a period of unrest. Rev. Adama Faye, president of the Lutheran Church of Senegal, reports he is safe and is grateful for our prayers.
Eternal God, amid all the turmoil and changes of the world your love is steadfast and your strength never fails. Guide the leaders of Senegal with your wisdom, comfort those in distress, and grant us courage and hope to face the future; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Read MoreWe pray for Rev. Patsy Koeneke and the people of Lutheran Church of the Foothills in Tucson, part of the Sunrise Conference. Visit their site at foothillslutheran.org, and their social media on YouTube.
Read MoreDuring this Lenten season, I am discovering new meanings in the Lord’s Prayer. This common prayer, known to so many throughout the world, yields new treasures upon repetition.
When I prayed this prayer today, I was profoundly moved how each petition turns our attention away from heaven and toward our neighbor on earth. This is a justice prayer.
Read MoreA recent episode of NBC’s Zoe’s Extraordinary Playlist contained a conversation between Mo (Alex Newell) and Max (Skylar Astin) about the menu for their new restaurant. Mo asks Max to help decide on a font, saying the font needs to be something that both shows whimsy and strength. Max responds, “Like Cambria?”
Read MoreIn her weekly message, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton shares what she finds extraordinary about the ELCA Conference of Bishops.
Read MoreFor those affected in our synod, Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, March 14, 2021 at 2:00 A.M.
On Saturday night, set your clocks forward one hour (i.e., losing one hour) to “spring ahead.” Sunrise and sunset will be about 1 hour later on Mar 14, 2021 than the day before. There will be more light in the evening.
Read MoreVaccination hopes, fears and falsehoods are around us in this time of heightened anxiety. A new resource, ‘All in’ Against COVID-19: FAQ and Guide to Supporting Vaccine Confidence for Faith and Community Leaders, released March 1, 2021, is examined in this post from ELCA Advocacy. Get and share the facts here.
Read MoreWe have watched with horror recent news reports of attacks on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders – fueled by racist rhetoric which has attempted to lay blame for the cause of the Coronavirus on Asian Peoples. The Conference of Bishops, meeting on March 4th, voted to affirm the “Statement on Anti-Asian Racism,” and to encourage the congregations and leaders of our synods to take action. A Day of Lament has been set for Sunday, March 21, 2021.
Please consider the points of encouragement in the statement as ways your congregation or ministry can stand in solidarity with our Asian and Pacific Islander brothers and sisters.
Read MoreLouise N. Johnson, a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), has been elected by the ELCA Church Council as the executive for administration, a position that is coterminous with the term of the presiding bishop. She begins in this role on March 15, 2021.
Read MoreWe pray for Rev. Scott Hackler, Rev. Gary Benson, and the people of Spirit of Grace Lutheran Church in Surprise, part of the Cactus Conference. Visit their site at spiritofgrace.com, and their social media pages on Facebook and YouTube.
Read MoreThe Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), has joined more than 500 ELCA rostered ministers and the CEOs of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) and Lutheran Services in America (LSA) in calling on Congress to support the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021. In a March 4 letter, the leaders urge lawmakers to work collaboratively to advance legislation "around a long overdue solution that reflects our shared values as a nation."
Read MoreOn Saturday, March 13, Beth Gallen will be ordained into the Ministry of Word and Sacrament of the ELCA. The service will be live streamed on Saturday, March 13 at 10:30 am through Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church's YouTube channel. Her son will also be baptized in the service. Join the celebration!
Read MoreAs we approach the time last year when we ceased in-person gathering, we take time to lament: an opportunity to express deeply held grief and frustration. Through Scripture, music, and prayer, we invite you to allow yourself to lament our life under COVID.
This service premieres on March 14th, 5pm MST, and will be available on our Facebook, YouTube, and Vimeo pages. Featuring Bishop Hutterer, Rev. Alan Field, Diakonia participants, and music from Tanque Verde Lutheran in Tucson as well as Pastor Sarah Stadler.
Read MoreA reminder to rostered ministers to use the quick and easy online form to send in your report to the bishop. She’s only received a few dozen so far.
These constitutionally required reports are a great way to connect, and Bishop Hutterer looks forward to your feedback.
Read MoreAfter years of exuberantly singing new songs to the Lord, Pastor David Drach-Meinel had surgery on Monday, March 1, 2021, to repair vocal cord damage. Healing is going well, and prayers are appreciated as he survives on soup and ice cream. He and his wife Diane are pastors at Christ the Servant, in Henderson.
O God of majesty, whom saints and angels delight to worship: Pour out your Spirit on your servants who, with the gifts of music, enliven our praises and proclaim your word with power. Through this ministry give us new awareness of your beauty and grace, and join our voices with all the choirs of heaven, both now and forever; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Read MoreThe Grand Canyon Synod is inviting you for an hour of conversation with Bishop Deborah Hutterer and Dr. Karen Kibler to review the year of Covid and where what might be in store for the coming months on Tuesday, March 23, 2021 at 6 pm.
This is open to congregation councils, pastors, and deacons. Please register here by March 21, 2021.
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