Posts in ELCA
Workshop: Community Resources to Manage Personal Issues and Family Needs

Over the past two years of the pandemic, an increasing number of our congregants have come to the church for help with personal issues like depression, substance abuse, and domestic violence.

Our leaders minister to them and often need to refer them to others. View a list of resources in this PDF or in this post. Barbara Keller will host a one hour zoom workshop on this topic on Thursday, Mar 3, 2022 9am MST, 8 am PST. Register here.

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Prompts for Prayers of Intercession: February 27, 2022
  • For peace to prevail, especially between Russia and Ukraine…

  • For all firefighters working to contain destructive wildfires in Argentina…

  • For all members of the LGBTQIA+ community, especially beloved transgender women and girls at the heart of recent legislation…

  • For an end to rising, deadly violence against Asian American women…

  • For all who grieve the loss of loved ones to gun violence…

  • For all those living with mental illness…

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The Power of Peacebuilding

Since the beginning of the civil war, South Sudan has been gripped by a cycle of violent retribution. The Episcopal Church of South Sudan–Upper Nile Internal Province (ECSS-UNIP) is striving to break that cycle.

Through its Peace and Reconciliation project, which is funded by Lutheran Disaster Response, ECSS-UNIP is fostering peace and understanding in the Upper Nile Internal Province.

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February Update: UN/State Edition and Advocacy Connections

ELCA Advocacy shares submissions of the Lutheran Office for World Community and state public policy offices (sppos) in the ELCA Advocacy Network this month, including U.N., Arizona, Colorado, Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. We also share Advocacy Connections from the ELCA Advocacy office in Washington, D.C.

In our post, we highlight the update from Solveig Muus, Director of Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona (LAMA).

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ELCA 2022 federal policy priorities for advocacy action

By building relationships with policymakers, taking joint action with values-sharing issue partners, writing comments and much more, we advocate to end world hunger and stand up for policies that create opportunities to overcome poverty, stimulate peace and dignity, preserve God’s creation, promote racial and gender justice, and promote good order in public life.

Shaped by the ELCA’s social teaching documents and the experiences of its congregations, ministries and partners, the following are policy priorities on the federal horizon for advocacy action in 2022. Also available as a downloadable pdf from ELCA advocacy resources page.

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Prompts for Prayers of Intercession: February 20, 2022
  • For those impacted severely by climate change, especially parts of the Western United States experiencing “megadrought” conditions…

  • For the escalating situation at the Russia/Ukraine border…

  • For state and local leaders navigating ongoing decisions about Covid-19 response and mitigation efforts…

  • For all parents of children under age 5, continuing to wait for Covid-19 vaccine authorization for their children…

  • For the people of Tonga as they continue to deal with the destruction and trauma inflicted by January’s volcano and tsunami…

  • In gratitude for the generous and faithful stewardship of all who donated to ELCA World Hunger through the Big Game Challenge 2022…

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Talks at the Desk: Black Boy Joy Ep. 2

Part two of the “Talks at the Desk” video series celebrates youth ministry and mentorship in the Black Church. Black men and boys speak about their connections across generations. They reflect on how their faith communities and mentor relationships have guided them and nurtured their passions. A discussion guide to help individuals and congregations engage with these conversations is available at ELCA.org/ADM.

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Faith Lens: Love Your Enemies

The notion of enemies is all over the news. There’s military buildup at the Ukrainian border with Russia, making enemies of global neighbors. Many countries are enacting diplomatic boycotts of the Olympics, making enemies of athletes who often train together, regardless of their national origins.

What I’ve found fascinating are the stories of people whom we might consider enemies behaving rather friendly.

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OMNIA: Striving Towards Beloved Community

More than 50 years ago, Dr. Mary Nelson marched with Dr. Martin Luther King and gospel singer Mahalia Jackson in Chicago. For several decades, Dr. Nelson was a faculty member of OMNIA Institute’s predecessor organization SCUPE and she continues as an Advisory Board member of the OMNIA Institute for Contextual Leadership.

In an OMNIA podcast, Dr. Nelson talked about the Beloved Community as God’s vision for the city. It is that same vision that animated the founders of SCUPE to prepare pastors to break down all barriers to the flourishing of community. At the beginning of Black History month, it is fitting that we remember the power of this vision.

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Faith Lens: Burned Out

Americans across the country are resigning from their jobs in mass numbers. Though you may not be in the working world yet, chances are that you know an adult who has resigned from their job sometime since March of 2020. Maybe your teacher or your medical provider has resigned.

One of the major reasons cited for resigning is burnout. The feeling of extreme exhaustion due to prolonged stress makes it difficult to take care of oneself and work. While burnout isn’t an official medical diagnosis, it does affect your physical and mental health.

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ELCA World Hunger’s Big Game Challenge 2022!

It’s game time! The Big Game Challenge has kicked off, and our church is racing toward the goal of ending hunger! While you are cheering on your team and celebrating with family and friends— let’s help tackle hunger together!

From kickoff to the final whistle, Team Cincinnati and Team Los Angeles will seek to outdo one another for the sake of the gospel. The fans that donate the most through their team page to ELCA World Hunger by midnight Central time on February 13th will help their synod take home the title of ELCA World Hunger Champion.

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