Join Faith Lutheran Church in Phoenix on Saturday, December 13 at 3:00 PM for a candlelit service of Advent Vespers with Lessons and Carols. This cherished annual tradition weaves Scripture, choir anthems, congregational singing, and organ music into a beautiful proclamation of Advent hope. A Dessert Festival follows the service. All are welcome as we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ.
Read MorePresiding Bishop Yehiel Curry shares a Christmas children’s sermon inviting us to listen for God’s gentle whispers of love, hope, and peace. The video is available for congregational use, along with downloadable English and Spanish PDFs. This Christmas, Bishop Curry reminds us that “the heavens are still whispering: Jesus is here. God loves you. Share that love with the world.”
El Obispo Presidente Yehiel Curry comparte un sermón infantil navideño que nos invita a escuchar los susurros de amor, esperanza y paz de Dios. El video está disponible para uso en congregaciones, junto con los PDFs en inglés y español. Este mensaje nos recuerda que “los cielos todavía susurran: Jesús está aquí. Dios te ama. Comparte ese amor con el mundo.”
Read MoreDesert Cross Lutheran Church in Gilbert invites you to The Winter Rose: Songs of Worship and Wonder on Sunday, December 14, from 4:00–5:00 p.m. This free Advent cantata weaves scripture, prayer, and music into a beautiful reflection on Emmanuel—God with Us. Featuring choirs, guest musicians, and a Christmas cookie reception, the event is offered as a gift of love to the community. All are welcome.
Read MoreMountain View Lutheran Church hosts “I, Joseph,” a free one-man Christmas presentation by Tom Owen, on Friday, December 12, 6–7 pm. Walk with Joseph through the Nativity story in a powerful dramatic experience. Refreshments provided; all are welcome. View the event flyer here.
Read MoreJoin Mountain View Lutheran Church in Ahwatukee on Sunday, December 14, 2025, for a German-Language Christmas Service, beginning with caroling at 4:10 p.m. and worship at 4:30 p.m. Enjoy fellowship afterward with coffee, tea, and Christmas cookies (donations welcome). The service will also be livestreamed at bit.ly/weihnachtsgottesdienst2025inphoenix. Learn more at weihnachtsgottesdienstphoenix.com.
Read MoreNew Spirit Lutheran Church in Tucson once again hosts Arizona’s exclusive production of Bending Towards the Light: A Jazz Nativity on December 13 at 7 p.m. and December 14 at 5 p.m. This joyful retelling of the Nativity—written by Anne Phillips and inspired by “The Jazz Pastor” John Garcia Gensel—blends the Christmas story with the expressive beauty of jazz. Tickets and details at jazznativity.org/tucson.
Read MoreLSS-SW is seeking volunteers for Christmas gift-wrapping, delivery, Shopping Guide roles, and card-making in both Tucson and the Phoenix area. All gifts and Christmas cards are due December 15, with deliveries taking place December 18–21. More than 1,500 gifts will be distributed this year, and volunteers can also support ongoing needs such as Refugee Youth Mentors, English tutoring, and homework helpers.
Read MoreThe Grand Canyon Synod joins the Iglesia Luterana Mexicana in mourning the death of Rev. Daniel Trejo, father of ILM Pastor President Rev. Roberto Trejo Haager, who died on December 1. A wake and devotional were held on December 2, and the funeral took place on December 3. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
Read MoreLEAN is planning for 2026 and invites your congregation to complete two short surveys that will guide next year’s hunger and advocacy priorities. Share how your congregation engages ELCA World Hunger and which justice issues matter most in your community—including housing, food insecurity, and voter engagement. Your input strengthens our shared Lutheran witness in Nevada.
Read MoreThe Center for Climate Justice and Faith at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS) is accepting applications for two online certificate programs—one in Faith-rooted Community Organizing for Climate Justice (due Dec. 15, 2025) and one Spanish-language Climate Justice and Faith program (due Nov. 28, 2025). These nine-month courses equip faith-based teams and Spanish-speaking leaders to develop projects addressing the climate crisis through faith and justice. Learn more and apply at centerforclimatejusticeandfaith.org.
El Centro para la Justicia Climática y la Fe del Seminario Teológico Luterano del Pacífico (PLTS) acepta solicitudes para dos programas en línea: el Certificado en Organización Comunitaria Basada en la Fe para la Justicia Climática(plazo 15 de diciembre de 2025) y el Certificado en Justicia Climática y Fe (en español) (plazo 28 de noviembre de 2025). Ambos cursos de nueve meses forman líderes y comunidades de fe comprometidas con proyectos que abordan la crisis climática desde la fe y la justicia. Más información en centerforclimatejusticeandfaith.org.
Read MoreGet the latest updates from BJC in their December Faith Freedom Dispatch, including the replay of last week’s Respecting Religion LIVE episode, open applications for the 2026 BJC Fellows Program, staff news, and Amanda Tyler’s op-ed on protecting congregations from partisan pressure. Read the full newsletter here.
Read MoreNearly sixty congregations and ministries applied for ELCA Disability Ministries grants this year, reflecting deep commitment to belonging throughout the church. Six ministries were selected for 2025 funding, each undertaking creative accessibility projects in their communities. More details will follow in a future update. Read the announcement on ELCA Disability Ministries.
Read MoreELCA Disability Ministries recently gathered 168 leaders for a webinar on affordable, practical steps toward accessible worship and congregational life. The session explored “holy creativity,” resources for Blind and Deaf community members, and ways to support people with invisible and cognitive disabilities. A full recording is now available. Watch the webinar on ELCA Disability Ministries or in this blog post.
Read MoreWriter Nola Smith reflects on her travels with Women of the ELCA’s Global Education program and the powerful faith and resilience of young women in Tanzania. She highlights the impact of scholarships, mentorship, and international accompaniment—and invites us to pray for and support this transformative ministry. Read more on Boldcafé,
Read MoreRev. Sara Olson-Smith reflects on why truth-telling by survivors remains essential for healing, justice, and Christian community. Drawing on Scripture and the #MeToo movement, she reminds us of the simple, powerful response Christians are called to offer: “I believe you. It’s not your fault. You are not alone.” Read more on Boldcafé.
Read MoreOn a spring-break service trip to New Orleans, Augsburg University students of many faiths (and none) discovered a deep sense of joy and belonging as they danced together in Jackson Square—until a fundamentalist campus ministry group turned the moment into an aggressive proselytizing effort. The experience opened rich conversations among the Augsburg group about faith sharing, respect, and what it really means to serve in Christ’s name.
University pastor John Rohde Schwehn reflects on this story through a Lutheran lens, drawing on theologian Samuel Wells to shift the focus from doing things for others to being with others, especially in a time of loneliness and isolation. Campus ministry, he writes, is called to form beloved community where Christ is present in shared life, not just in doctrinal correctness. Read the full reflection on Living Lutheran ›
Read MoreIn this powerful first-person reflection, Khader Khalilia, a Palestinian Christian and ELCA leader, names how life under occupation and the ongoing devastation in Gaza are inseparable from the silence and complicity of much of the Western church. He argues that “peace” without justice merely covers injustice, and that Christian Zionism—confusing the gospel with empire and military power—is a theological distortion that must be rejected.
Khalilia frames Gaza’s suffering as a spiritual and moral crisis for the global church, calling Lutherans to repentance, courage, and a public witness rooted in the Jesus who lived and died as a colonized, brown-skinned Palestinian. This is a challenging and deeply faithful word for our time. Read the full reflection on Living Lutheran ›
Read MoreA small but resolute group of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) Lutheran leaders and community members gathered outside the Adelanto ICE Processing Center to pray for the release of Evi Sarlita Sihomping, a longtime ELCA member detained since June 7. Led by Pacifica Synod Bishop David Nagler and organized alongside the API Leaders Migration Justice Training, the vigil lifted up Evi’s humanity, rejected the “model minority” myth, and insisted that immigration policy must be shaped by empathy, not punishment.
The article from Living Lutheran highlights the broader advocacy of API ministries, AMMPARO, and ELCA leaders who refuse to stay silent as families are separated. It also shares practical ways to support Evi—including sending cards and contacting elected officials. Read the full story on Living Lutheran ›
Read MoreIn the latest Pivot podcast, Wes Granberg-Michaelson shares insights from five decades of church leadership about why tending your inner life is essential for sustainable ministry.
Read MoreLutherans in Southern Africa join action to end gender-based violence
16 Days: Communities must be part of the solution in combatting digital violence
16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence 2025
Resources and daily updates
Augsburg 2030: LWF launches preparations for Fourteenth Assembly
