As we are immersed in the joy, festivities and busyness of Advent and Christmas, pause to pray for our global neighbors who have suffered through devastating natural disasters and need our support, generosity and assistance. Pray particularly for the many nations that have experienced drought and for those impacted by the earthquake in Turkey and Greece, Typhoon Goni hitting the Philippines and multiple hurricanes impacting Mexico, the Caribbean region and the United States.
Read MoreWhat do you anticipate and watch for during this season of Advent? Pray for what you yearn and hope for, and give thanks that God is faithful to God’s promises, especially through the gift of life to the world through Jesus Christ.
Read MoreELCA Mission Support unveils a brand-new digital platform for Stories of Faith in Action, featuring content in a modern, dynamic format, mixing video and visual elements with stories to take you further into the work of Mission Support.
This site is a fantastic tool to include in your next stewardship communication or as part of your annual meeting materials.
Read MoreGive thanks for the new ELCA social message “Government and Civic Engagement in the United States: Discipleship in a Democracy.” Pray that it will help us understand how government is a gift from God but can also be abused and misused. Ask the Spirit to guide us as we prayerfully reflect on how we can view civic engagement as Lutherans.
Read MoreWhen we come before God in worship, we bring our whole selves. What does that actually mean? For many people in the ELCA it means coming to worship with the assistance of a mobility, audio, visual, or sensory device.
Unfortunately, in many of our churches or places of worship, it is our siblings in Christ who have disabilities and need such devices who feel the least welcome at the table.
Read MoreThe Spirit is at work in times of anticipation and yearning, reminding us of God’s promises and activity, helping us stay calm and patient, and redirecting our attention from ourselves to our neighbors in need ― nearby and around the world.
Read MoreWe invite annual meeting organizers to an information session in which we will share best practices for your online annual congregation meeting: Monday, 12/14/2020, 7pm MST, 6 pm PST. Click here to register in advance.
Please join attorneys Peter Westby and Bryan Daum, synod council secretary Pastor David Brandfass, and the Office of the Bishop staff in a review of constitutional requirements, state regulations, technical aspects of a Zoom meeting, resource review, and Q&A.
Read MoreWorld AIDS Day Pray for compassion, understanding and healing for individuals, families and communities worldwide that are living with or affected by HIV and AIDS. Give thanks for the dedicated service and skill of doctors, pastors, public officials, health care educators, care providers and researchers who treat the infected, bring hope to the discouraged and weary, and respond to the disease’s spiritual, physical, emotional and social impacts.
Read MoreThese petitions are offered as guides to prayer for the global, social and outreach ministries of the ELCA, as well as for the needs and circumstances of our neighbors, communities and world.
Download a Word doc, or PDF for letter size printout or legal size printout, or view the ELCA resource page.
Read MoreIn the course of your day, envision the people who, working behind the scenes in service industries, attend to our needs, ease our stresses, make our lives more enjoyable, help us manage each day and attend to the little things we take for granted. Pray that we will open our eyes and see them, valuing their work, advocating for their fair wages and benefits, and expressing our gratitude for their hard work serving others.
Read MoreFirst Sunday of Advent This is a year of hope, yearning and anticipation, when we cry out for relief, healing, positive signs of change in the world and reassurance that we’ll all be OK. Pray that we will trust in God’s promises and presence through faith in Jesus Christ — son of man and son of God, our hope, security and salvation in all times and circumstances.
Read More“O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!” Like the immense, complex and awesome universe, we are God’s handiwork. Raise up prayers of glory and thanksgiving to God!
Read MorePray that we will be humble but not shy about praying in private or with others, trusting that God understands us even when our words — spoken or silent — feel awkward or inadequate.
Read MoreThanksgiving Day As we celebrate Thanksgiving, lift up prayers of gratitude for the blessings and abundant resources we enjoy, and remember the people in our communities and world who suffer food insecurity, hunger and poverty. Ask the Spirit to increase our generosity and engagement with our neighbors in need and to help our communities become more just, generous, compassionate and committed to addressing difficult social issues.
Read MoreLutheran World Relief provides a full suite of resources that can be used digitally or in-person each week: sermon illustrations, powerful videos, candle lighting litany and at-home engagement.
Visit lwr.org/congregations to download these free resources and make plans for your congregation to experience a Season of Hope.
Read MoreThe Sacred Work of Grief, Part 4, with Rev. Solveig Nilsen-Goodin is Wednesday, December 2, 2020, 12pm MST, 11am PST. Links to the meeting at elcacoaching.org.
There will be no gatherings December 9, 23, and 30, 2020. Upcoming gatherings are: December 16, 2020, Growing Young: Empathy, with Rachel Alley and others; and January 6, 2020, The Sacred Work of Grief, Part 4, with Rev. Solveig Nilsen-Goodin.
Read MorePraise God for our creative siblings in Christ whose hymns stir our faith, inspire us, speak of God’s work and express our joy and gratitude to God.
Read MoreGive thanks for followers of Christ and children of God who gather in faith communities everywhere to praise God, grow in faith and celebrate the unity we have in Christ. Pray that we might never show bias toward or rebuff people who are curious and seek the good news we have received.
Read MoreCOVID-19 has taken a heavy toll on our emotional health, disrupting the way we live, work, connect, worship and care for our loved ones.
In a blog post and two-minute video message, Portico leaders share how new 2020 online mental health support services are playing a critical role.
Read MorePray that, as followers of Christ who treasure life as a gift from God, we will exercise patience, caution and concern for our neighbor as the COVID-19 pandemic continues long past our expectations and assumptions.
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