For What Shall We Pray? 6/27/2023

For all experiencing the effects of smoke, air pollution, and poor air quality…
For cleanup and recovery following tornadoes in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Indiana…
For areas facing extreme heat and other extreme weather conditions…
For fire fighters and all in the paths of brush fires in California and Arizona…
For all victims and wounded in shooting events, especially in Kansas City, MO; Willowbrook, IL; Saginaw, MI…
For police protests in Paris…
For peace in the world, especially in Ukraine, Palestine, and Syria…

ELCA, PrayersBrian FlatgardJune 28, 2023ELCA Worship, For What Shall We PrayComment

New ELCA World Hunger Director: A Greeting from Haemin Lee

Join us in welcoming Haemin Lee, the new director of ELCA World Hunger, who will lead the amazing team working with ELCA World Hunger’s domestic and international grants! Welcome, Haemin! Read Haemin’s greeting in this post.

ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardJune 26, 2023Hunger, ELCA World Hunger Comment

Café: June, 2023

The June 2023 version of the Women of the ELCA’s monthly newsletter Café is available, under the theme Art as Activism, featuring : Beating Swords into Plowshares (and Guitars), Art activism, Litany of Freedom: Juneteenth Colorful Family; and Boldcafe dinner.

ELCA, Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian FlatgardJune 26, 2023Women of the ELCA (WELCA), Café, 2022 Advent and ChristmasComment

ELCA Worship News: June, 2023

ELCA Worship shares their news for January, 2023, including: Worship Resources for “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday; a helpful listing of anthems based on hymns and songs in All Creation Sings; Augsburg Fortress Music Clinics; Lectionary Mosaics: Three Readings Juxtaposed for Reflection and Proclamation; and more.

ELCA, Resources, Worship ResourcesBrian FlatgardJune 26, 2023ELCA WorshipComment

For What Shall We Pray? 6/20/2023

For all victims and wounded in shooting events, especially in San Francisco, CA; Milwaukee, WI; and Columbus, OH…
For recovery efforts and healing following tornadoes and severe weather in Mississippi and Oklahoma…
For communities in the path of Tropical Storm Bret as it continues to develop…
For national governments and legislative bodies in their discernment and collaboration…
For fragile ecosystems threatened by global warming and for climate justice advocacy efforts…
For peace in our world, especially in Ukraine and Palestine…
For grieving families in Pakistan following the migrant boat disaster off the coast of Greece…
In thanksgiving for the community-strengthening gifts of LGBTQIA+ leaders who serve as teachers, artists, first responders, business owners, city council members, and church workers…
For long daylight hours in the northern hemisphere and for all flora and fauna who thrive in sunlight…

ELCA, PrayersBrian FlatgardJune 21, 2023ELCA Worship, For What Shall We PrayComment

ELCA Disability Ministries June 2023 newsletter

Click here for the ELCA Disability Ministries June 2023 newsletter, with a reminder that July is Disability Pride Month, commemorating the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act and celebrating the disability community.

Check out this article to learn more about Disability Pride and what it means for so many people — including you. This resource explains the meaning behind the design and colors of the Disability Pride flag. How can your congregation and/or ministry partner with your friends in the disability community this month and all year?

ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardJune 20, 2023Disability Ministries, ELCA Disability MinistriesComment

YAGM expands age range and application process

Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) program announces two changes to the application process:

1) Young adults ages 21-35 are welcome to apply for YAGM. This expands the previous age range of 21-29 to align more closely with ELCA Young Adult Ministry.

2) Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, year-round. The timeline for decisions and the period of service for program participants will remain the same as in previous years.

ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardJune 20, 2023Youth and Young Adult, Young Adults in Global MissionComment

Try Pledge Campaigns with Tithe.ly

Tithe.ly is a leading online-giving platform and a preferred vendor of the ELCA. Through its new Pledge Campaigns tool, churches can raise money more quickly and easily than ever. Learn about the features of this new pledge platform through a video demonstration. The tool has already helped many congregations reach their goals.

ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardJune 20, 2023Stewardship, Tithe.lyComment

Seeds Monthly: June, 2023

The June, 2023 edition of Seeds Monthly is available here, featuring articles, events, and resources.

ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardJune 20, 2023Seeds MonthlyComment

RECLAIM: Empowering Ministry for People of African Descent

RECLAIM is a gathering for people of African descent, brought to you by African Descent Ministries. People of African descent of all ages and gender identities will gather in Minneapolis on September 14 - 17, 2023. Standard registration ($300) and young adult registration ($200) end 6/30. Late registration ($350) ends 8/15. Register here.

Participants will engage in workshops, shared meals, praise and worship that will enable us to build community, learn new skills, share resources and rejuvenate weary souls.

ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardJune 20, 2023African Descent MinistriesComment

Mission Support Memo: May, 2023

The ELCA mission support memo for May, 2023 is available as PDF, as a Word doc, or in this blog post. This month’s memo features our very own Inside Own Network (ION), the “eHarmony of Prison Reentry.

ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardJune 20, 2023Mission Support, Stewardship, Inside Out NetworkComment

Five reasons to attend the Rostered Ministers Gathering

Registration is open through July 1! Register today. The Rostered Ministers Gathering in Phoenix is an opportunity to:

Hear from inspiring keynote speakers.
Enrich your ministry through workshops and caucuses.
Attend meaningful worship services.
Connect with your colleagues and meet new ones.
Remember, reclaim, rekindle and revive yourself.

ELCA, Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian FlatgardJune 20, 20232023 Rostered Ministers GatheringComment

Candidacy Research summaries and hearings available

In March 2022 the Candidacy Leadership Development Working Group (CLDWG) was appointed to examine and improve the candidacy process that equips rostered ministers for service in our church. View an executive summary of their findings here.

All members of the ELCA are invited to hearings hosted via Zoom to hear and respond to findings. You do not need to register for these sessions. Please mark your calendars and click a link for:

June 20, 2023, 4pm PDT/MST, 5pm MDT
June 22, 2023: 10am PDT/MST, 11am MDT
June 26, 2023: 11am PDT/MST, noon MDT
June 28, 2023: 7pm PDT/MST, 8pm MDT

ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardJune 19, 2023CandidacyComment

Understanding and supporting gender-expansive Christians

In the latest episode of Portico’s Being Here Podcast – Gender Identity and the Church – host Pastor Melissa Pohlman and guest Austen Hartke discuss ways we can seek to honor the image of God found in all of us and help our church embody a spirit of welcome and acceptance.

Hartke brings his perspective as a Biblical scholar and founder of the Transmission Ministry Collective to offer practical resources and theological framework for starting these important conversations.

ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardJune 19, 2023LGBTQIA+, Being Here podcast, PorticoComment

EmployerLink security enhancements coming soon

Portico’s EmployerLink sign-in process will be changing as part of their ongoing commitment to data security and privacy protection. If you’re a registered EmployerLink user, later this summer Portico will walk you through setting up a new way to access your account that includes two-step phone verification every time you sign in.

ELCA, News, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardJune 19, 2023PorticoComment

Attend the Women of the ELCA Triennial Gathering in-person or online

It’s been six long years since we all came together and explored the All Anew theme. Bring the hopes and fears born of the last six years to Phoenix this September as we explore God’s call to Just Love.

If you can’t join us in Phoenix, you can still explore the Just Love theme by participating online in worship and plenary sessions. Visit welcatg.org for more info and to register. Guest include Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, Bishop Deborah K. Hutterer, and Dr. Kelly Glow.

ELCA, Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian FlatgardJune 16, 20232023 WELCA Triennial Gathering, Women of the ELCA (WELCA)Comment

ELCA Worship partner organization resources and events: June 2023

Each month ELCA Worship highlights resources and events from other organizations and institutions. These Lutheran and ecumenical partner organizations work alongside the ELCA to support worship leaders, worship planners, musicians, and all who care about the worship of the church. Read more at ELCA.org.

ELCA, News, Worship Resources, ResourcesBrian FlatgardJune 16, 2023ELCA WorshipComment

AMMPARO Guest post from David Atkinson

No matter where one’s views fall on the spectrum of thoughts about immigration issues, members of our Lutheran faith family should be extraordinarily disturbed by the massive displacement of individuals and families across the globe.

ELCA, LettersBrian FlatgardJune 16, 2023AMMPARO, Immigration and RefugeesComment