Ordination celebrations: 2/3/2023 – 2/9/2023

This week we celebrate the following ordination anniversaries:

  • Rev. Katie Langston, New Promise, St. George, who celebrates 1 year on February 4.

  • Rev. Shari Bernau, Living Water, Scottsdale, who celebrates 18 years on February 5.

  • Rev. Pam A. Reynolds, Lord of Life, Sun City West, who celebrates 2 years on February 6.

  • Rev. Mark Wickstrom, Living Hope, Las Vegas, who celebrates 37 years on February 9.

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Deanna Branch speaks at White House Lead Pipe Summit

Deanna Branch is an activist for lead-poisoning awareness. She is a mother, a member of Hephatha Lutheran Church (ELCA) and a resident of Milwaukee, Wis. Vice President Kamala Harris invited Deanna to attend the recent White House Lead Pipe Summit.

Deanna Branch and her sons, Jaidyn and Aidan are featured in "Blessed are the peacemakers," the first episode of the new season of "Talks at the Desk" video series.

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Living Faithful: Called and Thriving leadership event

Lutheran women will gather via Zoom for Living Faithful: Called and Thriving, a new online leadership event, February 16-18, 2023.

The four-hour sessions from Women of the ELCA on both Friday and Saturday will include worship, Bible study presentations, breakout time, Q&A and much more. Prior registration is required. Spanish language translation services will be provided. Learn more and register here.

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Prompts for Prayers of Intercession: 2/5/2023
  • For the family of Tyre Nichols and the city of Memphis as they experience the trauma of police brutality…

  • For the city of Jerusalem as it mourns those killed in the recent synagogue shooting…

  • For victims and families following a mosque bombing in Pakistan…

  • For labor strikes in the U.K. and for fair working conditions for all…

  • For the UN, NATO, and all world leaders working in global collaboration…

  • For warmth and safety following ice storms in the southern and central USA…

  • For a renewed commitment to seeking racial justice as we enter Black History Month…

  • For free access to education, and in thanksgiving for all educators…

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The Chrysalis Initiative: One congregation's long-term response to a devastating fire

Watch a video from the Rocky Mountain Synod on Ascension Lutheran’s response to the Marshall Fire.

On Dec. 30, 2021, the Marshall Fire, a destructive wildfire and urban conflagration whipped by sustained winds, swept across Boulder County, Colorado. The fire completely destroyed the homes of several families who are members of Christ the Servant Lutheran Church in Louisville, including pastor Stephanie Lord’s.

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Join Pastor Jose Valenzuela for an India Tour and Retreat in October, 2023

It's been a rough few years and it may be time for you to reset. This tour will include a visit to India's Golden Triangle (Delhi, Jaipur, Agra) which includes visiting the famous Taj Mahal. We will also spend five days in a retreat in the holy city of Varanasi.

Contact Pastor Jose at chaplainjosevalenzuela@gmail.com to learn more and be a part of this small, 10-person tour.

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“Talks at the Desk” premieres for Black History Month

Black History Month begins this week — and so does a new season of the “Talks at the Desk” video series. This four-part series amplifies and celebrates Black voices across our church.

Wednesdays in February, 6:30pm MST, 5:30pm PST. Watch this and last year’s season videos on YouTube here. For more information and accompanying discussion guides, visit ELCA.org/ADM.

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Have you registered for the Rostered Ministers Gathering?

Professional ministry can be isolating and lonely. We were created to be together – that story is told in our scriptures from Genesis through Revelation. Let’s practice that this summer.

You can still register for the Rostered Ministers Gathering, July 17-20, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona, and the early-bird rate of $245 is good through March 31.

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Join the 2023 Festival of Homiletics: in-person, free livestream, or full-access recordings

At the Festival of Homiletics on May 15 – 18, 2023, you’ll have the chance to hear respected and thoughtful speakers present on this year’s theme: Preaching Hope for a Weary World.

 Like last year, the 2023 Festival will be hybrid: both in person in Minneapolis and virtually online—and we want to welcome as many attendees as possible. We even have a FREE livestream option for those with limited budgets. You can register to attend in the way that best meets your needs.

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WSYG & WYLE Schedule Release

The schedules for the July 2023 Western States Youth Gathering (WSYG) and Western States Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (WYLE) have been released. Register and learn more at wsyg.com.

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Living Lutheran magazine will print its final issue in December 2023

Today we are announcing that Living Lutheran magazine will print its final issue in December 2023. Also, the magazine will print six issues in this final year. The Churchwide Organization will not stop telling stories of this church when the printing of the magazine ends.

This year, we will begin transitioning Living Lutheran to a full online storytelling engine featuring new ways of reaching people, providing a more economical and far-reaching approach for us to engage with a broader audience.

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