This month’s ELCA Worship updates include exciting tools for Advent and Christmas, insights from the recent Pastoral Care survey, and new features like the NRSVue Bible on SundaysandSeasons.com. Discover Ordinary Blessings by Meta Herrick Carlson, join Lutheran Summer Music’s Advent Calendar, and dive into hymn stories with Living Lutheran. Read more for resources to support your ministry this season.
Read MoreWhat does Reign of Christ Sunday mean for us today? Established less than a century ago in response to rising nationalism, this celebration reminds us that Christ’s authority transcends all worldly powers. Discover how this modern festival calls us to place our ultimate allegiance not in rulers, but in the One who reigns through sacrificial love.
Read MoreArabic-speaking Christians in the ELCA and The Episcopal Church now have liturgical resources that honor their language and culture. From seasonal bulletins to rites for baptisms, marriages, and funerals, these translations empower communities to worship in their heart language, deepening their connection to faith. Learn more about how this work fosters unity and belonging in the Church at ELCA.org.
Read MoreFor elected officials in the United States during the transition of power…
For an end to violence and armed conflict in the world, especially in Ukraine, Gaza, and Lebanon, and Haiti…
For Gisele Pelicot and all survivors of sexual assault…
For those working for more democratic governments in the world, especially the Hong Kong 47…
For the Maori people and all indigenous peoples fighting for their rights…
For severe weather threats in the Pacific Northwest…
For all who fight against racism, anti-semitism, gender bias, and all forms of inequity and discrimination…
For the reign of Christ to prevail, that God’s kingdom come and will be done on earth as in heaven…
The November issue of Administration Matters offers essential resources for ELCA congregations, including guidance on church safety, cybersecurity, financial planning for 2025, and sustainable practices. Discover actionable steps to strengthen your church’s ministry and operations. Read more on the ELCA blog.
Read MoreAs wars in the Holy Land and Ukraine continue, Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) is providing vital aid to refugees and vulnerable communities through partnerships with local and global organizations. From creating safe spaces for people with intellectual disabilities in the West Bank to converting bomb shelters into schools in Ukraine, LDR is bringing hope and healing in the midst of conflict. Read more in Living Lutheran and learn how your support can make a difference at elca.org/ldr.
Read MoreELCA Disability Ministries is seeking 1–2 new advisory team members to help guide this vital work. If you have experience or knowledge of disabilities and a passion for ministry, apply by January 31, 2025. Visit this link to learn more and submit your application. New members will be announced by March 31, 2025! More info in this ELCA blog post.
Read MoreLearn how to foster deeper inclusion in your congregation with ELCA Disability Ministries’ workshops at the 2025 Extravaganza! Held January 23-26 in Louisville, these sessions explore accessible games for youth groups and baptismal theology from a disability perspective. Register today at elcaymnet.org/workshops.
Read MoreDiscover a powerful new Thanksgiving for Baptism resource from ELCA Disability Ministries, crafted to celebrate the diversity of God’s creation and reflect on baptism through the lens of disability. First shared at the ELCA Youth Extravaganza, this inclusive liturgy is now available for congregational use, offering fresh ways to affirm the sacredness of every life.
Read MoreEach year, we pause to remember the lives lost to anti-transgender violence, especially Black and brown transgender women. Vicar Vica-Etta Henrietta Steel reflects on the intersection of racial and transgender justice, urging us to honor this day by amplifying marginalized voices and committing to advocacy and allyship. Read more at ELCA.org about how the church can lift trans joy and pursue justice for all.
Read MoreThis Advent, explore justice and inclusion through the fourth annual Advent Pilgrimage in Palestine, hosted by ELCA Sumud and ELCA Young Adults. Resources drop November 22, leading into weekly reflections in December that connect the story of Christ’s birth with themes of empire and justice.
Read MoreRecent hurricanes have devastated congregations across the Florida-Bahamas Synod, yet the resilience of God’s people shines. From outdoor worship at Paradise Lutheran to emergency grants helping families rebuild, our church is responding with love and hope. Read how faith endures through the storm and how you can support recovery efforts.
Read MoreDiscover enriching worship resources and events for Advent and beyond! From the Lutheran Summer Music Advent Calendar to the ALCM’s 2025 conference and Augsburg Fortress seasonal offerings, there’s something for everyone. Explore tools for liturgical renewal, musical inspiration, and meaningful congregational engagement. Read more at ELCA Worship.
Read MoreAfter a fire displaced ministries and residents at Christ Lutheran Church in Baltimore, the congregation is working to restore critical community services, including a shelter for women and children. Drawing from Jesus’ reflections on the Jerusalem Temple’s fall, we reflect on how loss shapes faith and new beginnings. Join us in prayer and support for the resilient community at Christ Lutheran.
Read MoreFor ongoing wars in Gaza, Ukraine, Lebanon, and for an end to the violence…
For the nation of Haiti in the midst of rising violence…
For the families of those killed in Zhuhai China…
For those affected by wildfires on both the east and west coasts of the United States…
For Tuskegee University and those affected by the shooting on campus…
For vision, integrity, and humility for all elected leaders…
For collaboration and dedication to the common good in our national politics…
In our November 2024 Mission Support Memo we share a story about how the Accident-Friendsville Parish, in our West Virginia - Western Maryland Synod, was able to equip their rural congregations with digital technology and stream to reach out to member near and far. Plus consider attending a webinar on November 18th on “Theology and Practicality of Space Usage” (it will also be recorded so feel free to register to get the link).
Read MoreAssisting congregants up to the communion rail may seem like a small task, but it has brought unexpected blessings and a deeper sense of faith and fellowship. Through these weekly encounters, I’ve come to understand the beauty of shared vulnerability and compassion. Our journey together reveals resilience, humor, and connection that reinforce our faith and bring me closer to my church community. Read more in Living Lutheran.
Read MoreIn the quiet moments of waiting—whether in the school pickup line, at a red light, or as coffee brews—we can turn to prayer, finding peace and connection in these small pauses. This November, let’s embrace gratitude and prayer in our daily routines, teaching ourselves and our families to recognize God’s presence throughout our busy days. Explore daily prayer ideas and ways to serve as a family, making room for God even in our most ordinary moments. Read more in Living Lutheran.
Read MoreDiscover powerful stories from around the world in ELCA Global Mission’s latest Global Links. From Ukrainian refugees in Moldova finding a new beginning, to a call for peace in the Middle East from Presiding Bishop Eaton, and inspiring mission work in Serbia—learn how our faith continues to bring hope in challenging times.
Read MoreThe day after the 2024 presidential election, Bishop Eaton reflects on the many expressions of our church being woven together as strands of a large tapestry, even as individually people are experiencing joy or grief. She reminds us that regardless of who is elected president or to other leadership positions in our country, our call to be Christ in the world doesn’t change. View on YouTube or in this post, or download here.
“As we're moving through these next years, no matter what happens and what befalls … imagine all of us woven together and in Christ, and we will continue to serve the gospel and to serve the world.”
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