Join Faith Lutheran Church in Phoenix on Saturday, April 19 at 7:00 p.m. for the Easter Vigil, beginning at sunset with the blessing of the new fire and Paschal candle. The service includes readings of salvation history, renewal of baptismal vows, the welcoming of new members, and the first Eucharist of Easter. All are welcome—especially those without a Vigil service at their own church.
Read MoreA 10-minute guided meditation from Thriving Leadership Formation offers church leaders a moment to pause, breathe, and reconnect with God during Holy Week. Designed to support those carrying much in this sacred season, this reflection is an invitation to rest and lead from a place of grace. Listen now.
Read MoreIn this 6-minute reflection from the Pivot podcast, Luther Seminary’s Terri Elton invites listeners to slow down and fully experience Holy Week—from Palm Sunday to Easter—highlighting how embracing its solemn moments deepens our faith and appreciation of Christ’s resurrection.
Read MoreHow we read John’s Passion on Good Friday matters. We encourage congregations to consider the historical misuse of the phrase “the Jews” in this gospel and to include a contextual note provided by the Consultation on Common Texts. ELCA worship resources are available to guide preachers and worship planners in proclaiming the gospel with care, respect, and theological integrity.
Read MoreLent is often marked by solemnity and sacrifice, but Minister of Word and Service Mindy Holland invites us to approach the season differently—by choosing joy. Whether through dancing, handwritten notes, or praying the Psalms in multiple languages, her Lenten practices highlight joy as a spiritual discipline and a witness to the goodness of God, even in a world of pain. This reflection reminds us that joy is not frivolous—it’s faithful. Find inspiration for your own joyous Lenten intention. Click here to read the full article on Living Lutheran.
Read MoreFor the 10th year, St. John Lutheran Church in Victor, NY, is celebrating Lint for Lent, a tradition of collecting discarded household items—like dryer lint and candle stubs—to create fire bricks used to light Easter worship. This creative ritual reminds us how God transforms what we cast aside into warmth, light, and purpose.
Read the full story of this fiery and faithful practice—click here to explore the article in Living Lutheran.
Read MoreFrom picture books that walk children through Holy Week to sharp theological insights on race, care, and church life, these seven new titles offer something for every ministry context. Featuring ELCA voices like Bishop Brenda Bos, Pastor Angela Denker, and Pastor Yolanda Denson-Byers, this spring’s must-reads can deepen discipleship, enrich congregational conversations, and offer rest to the weary.
Explore all the recommended titles and how they might shape your ministry—click here for the full article in Living Lutheran.
Read MoreAs Lent nears its end, this season reminds us that even in long, sorrowful journeys—whether personal or global—there is space for joy. Just as a woman anointed Jesus in love on his road to the cross, we too are invited to celebrate sacred moments, even in hardship. This reflection calls us to live intentionally, walk with those who suffer, and embrace joy as resistance and renewal during life’s most difficult seasons.
Read MoreLent isn’t just about giving up sweets — it’s a season of reflection, service, and drawing closer to God through meaningful action. This year, consider expanding your Lenten practice to include caring for creation. From reducing waste and plastic use to joining Earth Day clean-up events and advocating for environmental policies, your faithful service can help renew not only your spirit, but also the world around you. Let these final weeks of Lent reflect Christ’s love for all creation. Click here to read the full article from Blessed Tomorrow.
Read MoreWhat do Legos have to do with Lent? For Pastor JJ Dygert and others in his congregation, the answer is everything. By limiting their daily Lego builds over 40 days and pairing the practice with devotional readings, they’ve discovered a rhythm of discipline, reflection, and spiritual growth. This creative and surprisingly profound Lenten practice is spreading—brick by brick. Click here to read the full article from Living Lutheran.
Read MoreJoin us for an uplifting Hymn Sing at Desert Cross Lutheran Church in Gilbert on Sunday, March 30, 2025, at 4:00 PM. Featuring performances by the Desert Cross Chancel Choir, members of the Tempe Sanctuary Choir, the Junior Choir, and the Gilbert Town Fiddlers, this evening of music will renew your spirit this Lenten season. A free-will offering will support updates to the worship space, and homemade pie and ice cream will be served afterward. All are welcome! Read more at DesertCross.org or view this PDF flyer.
Read MoreWater is a sacred gift, essential for life, yet 2.2 billion people lack safe drinking water. This World Water Day (March 22), we reflect on our Lenten Challenge theme, A Watered Garden (Isaiah 58:11), and how we can celebrate, protect, and advocate for water justice. Join us in honoring this precious resource by exploring activities from the Lenten Challenge and participating in the Northeast Valley Consortium’s Walk for Water Fundraiser. To learn more and access the 2025 World Water Day Toolkit, click here.
Read MoreThis Lent, the five synods of Region 2 invite you to join the 40-40-40 Lenten Challenge, inspired by Isaiah 58:11, to reflect on the intersection of hunger and water. Through prayer, action, and learning, we explore Lutheran Disaster Response efforts, the ELCA’s Truth and Healing Movement, and the 70-year ministry of Navajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission (NELM) in Rock Point, AZ. Click here to explore water-themed activity ideas and learn how you can participate.
Read MoreIn this Pivot Podcast, Blair Pogue shares a Lenten reflection for church leaders.
Read MoreThe ELCA has joined faith leaders in signing The Ash Wednesday Ecumenical Declaration: Defending Refuge, reaffirming our commitment to welcoming immigrants and refugees. Rooted in Scripture and our call to love our neighbors, this declaration challenges harmful policies and advocates for justice. Now, individuals and congregations across the country are invited to add their voices by signing the declaration throughout Lent. Click here to read more and sign the declaration.
Read MoreELCA Racial Justice share this devotional, created in response to the call of the 2019 Churchwide Assembly to condemn white supremacy and racist rhetoric. As you journey through Lent, this resource will challenge you and bring you closer to the radical neighbor-love that Christ demands in the Gospels.
Read MoreWe are called not only to personal reflection but also to communal action—to live as people of grace, serving our neighbors and embodying Christ’s love. This Lent, let us consider how our thoughts, words, and deeds shape the world around us. In a time when political and social divisions run deep, may we be mindful of how we use our voices—not to cut each other down, but to build up, to witness to the hope we share in Christ.
Let us be bold and courageous in speaking for justice, compassionate in amplifying voices often unheard, and steadfast in proclaiming God’s grace through actions that heal and reconcile.
Read MoreJoin the 2025 Lenten Challenge and support the Navajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission (NELM) in Rock Point, AZ, where many households lack access to clean water. This friendly competition among ELCA Region 2 synods challenges participants to commit to three Lenten practices while raising awareness and funds for Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) and its water projects at NELM. The synod with the most sign-ups wins—so let’s make Grand Canyon Synod proud! Sign up today:lentenchallenge.org.
Read MoreLent is more than personal sacrifice—it’s an opportunity to refocus our attention on God and others. Inspired by Jesus’ time in the wilderness, fasting can be a practice that transforms not just our habits, but our relationships. This Lent, consider choosing a fast that serves others: share food, spend intentional time with loved ones, or give generously. Read more about how fasting can deepen your faith and community engagement in this week’s Faith Lens. Click here to read more.
Read MoreAs we enter the solemn season of Lent, Reverend Deacon Mary Sanders reflects on the connection between the ashes of Ash Wednesday and the mud left behind after a flood. In both, we are reminded of our mortality—and of God’s presence in the physical world. The Kingdom of God is found not only in Heaven but in acts of service, in neighbor helping neighbor, in the messiness of disaster response. Click here to read her full reflection on how we become truly human when we step into the work of love, service, and community.
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