ELCA Worship shares their news for January, 2023, featuring: Sundays and Seasons, Compelling Preaching Initiative, Call for Songs for the Global Achtliederbuch, All Creation Sings , Resources for multi-religious ministry, Music that Makes Community, Invitation to join the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, Finding our Rhythm, in Fullness of Time Valparaiso University April 17-19, Worship resources from Augsburg Fortress, and more.
Read MoreMy home congregation is the same church my parents grew up in and got married in. I was baptized and confirmed there. I went to Sunday school after services there for as long as I can remember, and I really got involved in the youth group program there in middle school. I also have been on multiple mission trips with my church to different locations out of state.
Read MoreThe 70-voice Nordic Choir, directed by Andrew Last, is Luther’s principal touring choir, and will be traveling the Grand Canyon Synod from Sunday, January 29 through February 3, 2023, with stops at Grace Lutheran in Phoenix, Our Savior's in Tucson, Pinnacle Presbyterian in Scottsdale, Shepherd of the Hills in Flagstaff, Faith Community in Las Vegas, American Lutheran in Prescott, and Lord of Life in Sun City West. View this post for full schedule and ticket information.
Read MoreRev. Mytch Pierre-Noel Dorvilier, the new pastor serving in Senegal, shares her January 2023 update, writing from the lands of the Teranga, Senegal.
Read MoreThe January, 2023 edition of Seeds Monthly is available, featuring: Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church nominations; Living Lutheran’s top five Storie of 2022; Talks at the Desk; featured resources; bulletin blurbs, and more.
Read MorePrayers for Pastor Nathan and Sharonette Bowman on the death of their son Isaiah on Friday (1/20/2023). It has been a hard journey for Isaiah and the Bowman family as they battled a rare blood disease for many, many years, and we pray for God's grace to enfold them and Christ's resurrection to give them hope.
There will be a memorial service this coming Saturday (1/28) at 10:30am at Shepherd of the Desert (11025 N 111th Ave, Sun City, AZ 85351).
Read MoreUpdated 12/18/2023 with lists of legislators. Lutherans and friends of Lutherans from across the state will gather at the Arizona Capitol in Wesley Bolin Plaza for a day of advocacy on Monday, January 30, 2023 from 9:30 am - 11:30 am to learn, to witness, and voice our common needs in the public square, activating our faith in love. Register here for Lutheran Day at the Legislature.
Read MoreThe final deadline to apply for Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) is Feb. 1, 2023.
Now even more communities are ready to welcome you. The YAGM team recently announced that the Mexico and Central Europe country programs will be reopening in 2023. Volunteers will have the opportunity to serve there and in four other country programs. Learn more at ELCA.org/YAGM.
Read MoreELCA is offering a webinar with practical stewardship tips on Wednesday, 2/1/2023, 5pm MST, 4pm PST. Click here to join via Zoom.
In this increasingly post-pandemic world, rostered and congregational leaders might well explore some of the nuances of giver motivation with the upcoming webinar “Practical Stewardship Tips,” which is free and open to all.
Read MoreI have always known myself to be a “self-doubter.” I am constantly doubting myself – my ability to lead, my ability to be a good friend, but especially my ability to lead God’s people. I have been a self-doubter when it has come to God’s plan for me. How was I supposed to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with my God if I didn’t even believe I could do so?
Read MoreWe pray for Rev. David Pavesic and the people of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Tucson, part of the Kino Conference. Visit their site at beautifulsavior.net, and their Facebook page.
Read MoreAt the beginning of this month, the U.S. House of Representatives elected a new Speaker. Typically, electing a new Speaker occurs rather quickly, needing only one vote, but this time the situation was different. While Representative Kevin McCarthy (Republican from California) was the early favorite, it took fifteen votes for him to be elected Speaker. This is the first time in 100 years that the election for Speaker took more than one vote.
Read MoreMore than two decades after the ELCA and The Episcopal Church became full communion partners, congregations from both denominations are joining forces in arrangements that many see as the way of the future.
Read MoreELCA Advocacy shares updates from state public policy office in the ELCA Advocacy Network for January, 2023.
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 MoreThe 118th U.S. Congress convened on January 3, 2023. Following finalization of House speakership, the official swearing in took place January 7, 2023. In this post are some of the legislators with Lutheran affiliation who will serve the country in this new session.
Read More2022 was a full year for Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR). The highest profile event is the ongoing war in Ukraine.
In addition to the war, LDR worked with partners to respond to a wide range of other disasters, including Hurricanes Fiona and Ian, tornadoes, flooding, wildfires and gun violence. Internationally, some examples of responses in 2022 include monsoon flooding in south Asia, migration in Central America and refugees in the Middle East.
Read MoreUpdated hours: Faith/La Fa in Phoenix is holding a Rummage Sale on Saturday, January 28, 2023 from 8am to 1pm. There will be snacks, sales, and a sock & underwear drive for NAUM. Read the full post on how to donate and learn more.
Read MoreThe ELCA Foundation is pleased to announce a new partnership with the investment consulting firm Fund Evaluation Group LLC (FEG).
Previously, the Foundation worked with Graystone Consulting to provide reporting and oversight of three core portfolios — the Ministry Growth Fund, Charitable Gift Annuities and Charitable Trusts.
Read MoreThe Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has received a $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help establish the Formation Lab Project.
The goal of the project is to help congregations move past prescriptive, outdated models of youth ministry that often separate youth from the vital faith practices they need if they are to embrace God as the center of their life in today's world.
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