“We are stewards of something greater than our monetary wealth. Paul tells us we are stewards of God’s mysteries. We have a new stewardship campaign at our church. We are pledging to invite people into these mysteries.” Read in this post or view as PDF.
Read MoreIn this updates we share photos from last week’s “Synod on the Move,” where a number of the Office of the Bishop staff traveled to southern Arizona for a variety of events. We also share what the team is up to in the upcoming days.
Read MoreWhen Jesus began His ministry, He immediately formed a small group. Following in the footsteps of Jesus, we gather in small groups for discussion and empowerment in the crucible of change for us as faith leaders. Join ELCA Coaching on April 6, 2022, 11am MST/PDT, noon MDT.
A majority of this hour will be spent in breakout rooms with conversations facilitated by our ELCA Coaches focused on: Growing Young, Grief in our Communities, Personal Grief, Rural Ministry, Urban Ministry, Hybrid Church, Advocacy, Race Relations, Allyship – LGTBQIA+, Conflict, Leadership Development.
Read MoreThe 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering will be held in New Orleans, July 16-20. The Gathering pre-events — the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE) and the tAble, the ELCA gathering for youth living with disabilities — will be held July 13-16.
The Gathering leadership team is collecting ideas to help choose a theme for the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering. Participate in the survey here.
Read MoreAs we approach Holy Week and the Easter season, you may desire worship texts that hold in tension the joy of the resurrection with the reality of violence and suffering in our world in Eastern Europe and around the globe.
Below are three newly composed worship texts by Gail Ramshaw — For Good Friday, For the Easter Season, and an Eastertide Lament — available for use in your context during Holy Week. Guidance for use precedes each selection.
Read MoreWe pray for Rev. Jeffery Gallen and the people of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Goodyear, part of the Cactus Conference. Visit their site at christevangelical.org, and their social media pages on Facebook and Youtube.
Read MoreDr. Cynthia Moe-Lobeda, Director of the Center for Climate Justice and Faith, lets us know about their new website at centerforclimatejusticeandfaith.org. The Center, part of Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary of California Lutheran University, connects ecological healing to racial and economic justice. Visit the site and be sure to sign-up for email updates.
Read MoreSan Juan Bautista Lutheran in Tucson shares news of their new sanctuary mural, created over a weekend in a collaborative project with Our Saviour’s Lutheran in Tucson and Casa De La Misericordia y de Todas las Naciones. Read in this PDF or view more in this post.
Read MoreELCA World Hunger announced recently that two ministries in the Grand Canyon Synod received Domestic Hunger Grants in 2022: Native American Urban Ministry in Phoenix and Grace Lutheran Church, also in Phoenix. Read more in this post, and learn about the 2023 Grants here.
Read MoreAs language continues to evolve around the way we identify ourselves and others, so has the ELCA’s style guide. The most recent shift involves use of gendered language regarding our siblings in Christ, with a focus on ways to ensure that we represent everyone in the church, emphasizing gender-inclusive terminology and using titles and pronouns to reflect and honor nonbinary identities. Download the newest version at ELCA.org/brandmark.
Read MoreLent is a practice of pouring myself out. An act of emptying out all I have collected in my heart.
Well, at least this is what I am praying for: that I might pour myself out before God and the World, and then be filled up through the promise of Easter.
Read MoreCarey Nieuwhof’s blog shares a guest post on how economic disruptions may affect ministries, with six steps to get ready for the “great giving reshuffle.” Read the full post here.
Make sure your board of directors is prepared and aligned.
Model privately and publicly your personal resolve to Biblical stewardship.
Care for the souls of your people more now than ever.
Rather than presume pre-existing giving patterns, artfully craft an environment that invites people into a community story.
“Major giver” discipleship and development are paramount.
Retool how you engage new givers into your community.
To plan and plant a garden is an act of faithful preparation. To nurture and tend to tiny stems is to have hope for a time when those same stems may grow into something large enough to nourish another being.It’s a practice that can bring us closer to the divine.
Read MorePastor Lars Hammar, Mission Developer and Pastor of Open Space Church, writes: “After 8 years Open Space is closing down. Join us for one last paint night, where we can catch up and say good bye and make some cool stuff. Thank you for all your support over the years.
Read MoreLutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona (LAMA) was featured on the Advocacy page of the March 2022 issue of Living Lutheran.
Read MorePastor Rebecca Boardman shares news coverage of two events held at the University of Arizona Mall, with speeches, poems, and songs. The event by the University Religious Council centered around 2,800 white flags placed on the UofA Mall, one flag for every ten Arizonans lost to COVID-19. View the story here.
Read MoreWar in Ukraine: Donate
Stories
Human Rights Council: Upholding the right to freedom of religion or belief
Human Rights Council: LWF welcomes appointment of special rapporteur for climate
Shaping the spiritual and community life of the Thirteenth Assembly
Philippines: Training program equips lay leaders to share the Gospel
We pray for Rev. William Timm and the people of Gloria de Cristo Lutheran Church in Yuma, part of the Cactus Conference. Visit their site at gloriadecristo.com/, and their social media pages on Facebook and Youtube.
Read MoreEvery congregation requires a secretary. The secretary is arguably the most important officer, responsible for organizing, assimilating and disseminating information within and without the organization. They need to be organized, hardworking and intelligent, with excellent writing skills. In this post (or view as PDF), your congregation’s secretary can find some recommendations/guidelines for performing their duties efficiently.
Read MoreELCA World Hunger will host a Zoom webinar April 6 at 10am MST/PST to review granting priorities and cover the basics of applying for ELCA World Hunger’s 2023 Domestic Hunger Grants. To join us for this virtual event, please register here for a Zoom link. The webinar will be recorded and accessible via the Domestic Hunger Grant FAQ page.
Visit the Domestic Hunger Grants page and this FAQ page about applying.
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