A study by Christian publisher Lifeway showed that while most people (66%) say they believe the biblical accounts of the physical resurrection of Jesus are completely accurate, most young people ages 18 to 34 (59%) say they don’t believe the physical resurrection really happened.
Read MoreFor the millions of people suffering from hunger and famine, especially in Nigeria, Somalia, Yemen and South Sudan…
For the joy of the resurrection to bring hope to those to whom death draws near…
For support and care for transgender people, amidst ongoing legislative actions…
For protesters and politicians in Nashville, TN…
For journalists and politicians imprisoned for seeking truth…
That the needs of the poor would be held in mind in our state and national legislatures…
For recent elections and their ramifications…
For peace in Ukraine, Palestine and Israel…
For victims of severe storms in the US Midwest and South…
For victims of the avalanche in northeastern India…
For victims of the train derailment in the Netherlands…
For ongoing recovery efforts in Tukey and Syria…
For courage among Christians to boldly proclaim love, justice, and resurrection hope…
We’ve entered Holy Week, and Bishop Eaton hopes and prays that we will not skip from the hosannas of Palm Sunday right to the hallelujahs of Easter Sunday. It’s important, as we travel through this week, to see not only incredible sacrifice and love that God has shown us in Jesus Christ, but all of the human condition that comes out during this week.
Read MoreThis Tuesday in Holy Week, I invite you to consider the times God's resurrection life has surprised you, or how out of a grief experience God created something new.
Read MoreAs we move through our Lenten journey into Holy Week, I find myself thinking of the theme of our spring gatherings: From Worry to Wonder.
The journey of the church involves becoming something new, not returning to the past. The path forward is to move together, exploring worries and shifting from a posture of worry to a posture of wonder.
Read MoreWe pray for the people of Emmanuel Sudanese Lutheran Church in Glendale, part of the Cactus Conference. Visit their site at stjchurchaz.org, and their Facebook page.
Read MoreThe Spirited Book Club's April selection is Neighbor Love through Fearful Days: Finding Purpose and Meaning in a Time of Crisis by Jason A. Mahn. Click here for book details & to register. Thursday, 4/13/2023, 2 pm MST/PDT, 3pm MDT.
Neighbor Love through Fearful Days is a reflection on the Covid-19 pandemic, the accompanying economic collapse, a summer of climate chaos, and the pandemic of white supremacy, as well as on the calling to “serve thy neighbor” and work toward the common good.
Read MoreIn the summer of 2024, young people and their adult leaders will gather in New Orleans for a week of faith formation, learning, worship and fellowship under the theme “Created to Be.” Our theme deep dive video gives you a glimpse of how the theme was created and why we feel like it so perfectly connects to our host city, New Orleans. To learn more about the 2024 Gathering, visit elca.org/Gathering and watch the video in this post.
Read MoreWhat is this week all for? Many of us look at the weekly schedule and see… so many things, and a few worship services on top of them. It can sometimes seem like it’s a bit overkill to do these services.
Yet this is the week. THE week which celebrates God’s unrelenting love, Christ’s solemn unity with humanity and unspeakable suffering, and the Holy Spirit’s persistent gentleness, breathing life again.
Read MoreAs we prepare to enter into Palm/Passion Sunday, I invite you to reflect on the ways that this day encompasses a wide spectrum of human experience: from praise to denial, joy to fear, and palm waving to stone throwing.
Read MoreJesus did not have to suffer. He did not have to endure the mocking, the betrayal, the shame, and injustice of it all. He, though he was God, emptied himself and became obedient to the point of death. And the beauty of this reality about the God whom we worship is that this is the truth of love.
Read MoreStart reading your copy of US: The Resurrection of American Terror, and be ready to join Simon’s Project for discussions with Rev. Kenneth W. Wheeler about his new book. Reading the book is encouraged, but not necessary.
Our first discussion is Tuesday, 4/4/2023, 10am MST/PDT, 11am MDT. Click here to join the Zoom meeting.
Read MoreOn March 26, 2023, Mount Olive Lutheran Church held a commemorative mortgage burning ceremony at all three of its worship services to celebrate the milestone accomplishment of paying off their building loan.
They share their history and how this came to be in this post.
Read MoreLinda Staats’ story, centered on children, bears striking similarities to the biblical story of Sarah, who was 90 years old when God surprised her with a child.
Linda, who currently serves on the Grand Canyon Synod stewardship team, is featured in this Living Lutheran story of an ELCA family who helps settle a Kenyan family through the green card lottery.
Read MoreFor some of us, the phrase “sermon prep” can create a sense of panic. It seems like there’s never enough time to give planning, writing, and revising your undivided attention. Besides, your work is among the people, and that’s hard to do if you’re holed up in your office.
Sermon Camp offers preachers the chance to refresh and be empowered for a better way forward.
Read MoreThank you, to those of you who have already registered! For those who haven’t, you can still register and receive the early-bird rate of $245 through April 21, 2023. You will need to book hotel and travel separately. Highlights of the gathering, and more information are available at elca.org/rmg.
If you like to welcome people, help with registration, or have the gift of hospitality, please connect with Pastor Doug Dill: pastordoug@centrallutheranaz.org or 402-235-6969. Click here to register as a volunteer at elca.org.
Read MoreThe Great Commandment calls us to love our neighbor as ourself, and God teaches us to honor every person’s dignity. On Transgender Day of Visibility, Bishop Eaton affirms that transgender and nonbinary siblings are children of God, created in God’s image, who are embraced in God’s unconditional love. We stand together, advocating for the full humanity and dignity of all people.
Read MoreI find this Jesus, the suffering servant, to be welcoming and comforting – one who stretches his arms wide on the cross, willingly bearing suffering and evil knowing that the resurrection dawn will certainly come.
Read MoreThe Office of the Bishop participates in the Installation of Rev. Dan Potaznick, (Apr 1, 2023, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM, St. John’s, Glendale) in multiple ways, and continues to prepare for assembly and other meetings. We also share photos from the High Country Conference Spring Gathering, as well as the Installation of Rev. Scott Klimke.
Read More
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