The Four S’s That Keep Church Leaders Awake at Night, a new e-book by Kenneth Q. Tan, a partner at CapinCrouse, delves into four key topics — sustainability, succession, structure and security — that leaders must address to prepare their churches for the challenges and opportunities presented by this ever-changing landscape. This free e-book includes checklists, best practices and discussion questions for your leadership team.
Read MoreRecent research about Gen Z from the Springtide Research Institute suggests that a combination of three things leads to young people, aged 13-25, feeling like they belong in school: being noticed, named, and known by a community. Paying attention to someone, noticing rather than ignoring them, increases that person’s sense of connectedness. Greeting someone, holding the door for them, blessing them after a sneeze—all are simple ways to notice.
Read MoreNew treasurers or congregation members responsible for paying their church’s monthly Portico bill should check out three new videos available on EmployerLink to illuminate our billing process. Look for these updated videos in the “What to Do” tab on the “How to Work With Us” page.
Read MoreLisa Marie Higginbotham, CFRE, one of our Regional Gift Planners with the ELCA Foundation is presenting virtual workshops on three related topics: planned giving, stewardship, and endowment. Use the links below to join the meetings.
Planned Giving, Tuesday, 5/31/2022, 1pm MST/PDT, 2pm MDT: Join Zoom Meeting
Stewardship, Wednesday 6/1/2022, 9am MST/PDT, 10am MDT: Join Zoom Meeting
Endowment, Thursday 6/2/2022, 1pm MST/PDT, 2pm MDT: Join Zoom Meeting
All Creation Sings includes several for lament including “Lamenting Gun Violence” (Leaders Edition, p. 107) and “Service after a Violent Event” (Pew Edition p. 64-66, Leaders p. 110-113) as well as several collect prayers including the one below. This content is also available on SundaysandSeasons.com in the Library. (All Creation Sings/Prayers, Thanksgivings, and Laments/Resources for Lament)
Lord Jesus Christ, your own mother looked on when your life ended in violence. Our hearts are pierced with grief and anger at the [death of / mass shooting in_________]. We commend the slain to your wounded hands, and their loved ones to your merciful heart, trusting only in the promise that your love is stronger than death, and that even now, you live and reign forever and ever. Amen. (ACS, p.49)
Read MoreJesus repeatedly prays that “they may all be one,” that through the communion of God and Jesus, we all may be one. This oneness is rooted in God’s immense love which goes beyond all time and space.
Even in that upper room, the reality of this oneness rooted in love is hard to conceptualize. The folks who fill that room are far from perfect, they will mess up some in pretty significant ways in the days to come, as they struggled to understand and cope with Jesus’ death and resurrection. Yet, knowing all this, Jesus prays for them and, in that moment, Jesus prays for us too.
Read MoreThe 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly will take place Aug. 8-12 in Columbus, Ohio. Under the theme “Embody the Word,” the assembly will meet around word and water, wine and bread, to carry on its work on behalf of the entire church.
A key action during the assembly will be electing a vice president. Live video of worship and plenary sessions will be accessible at Churchwide Assembly — Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (elca.org).
Read MoreA disciple has asks Jesus how he will reveal himself to the disciples when the world cannot see him, as Jesus describes in John 14:19. It’s a good question. They have never experienced anything like what Jesus describes. Of course, Jesus gives a very Jesus-y answer to that question. Love. Love is the way the disciples will know Jesus.
Read MoreThe May, 2022, bimonthly e-newsletter for ELCA congregational and synodical leaders is here, featuring: the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, 4 things you can do to keep your organization cyber-safe, new videos on Portico’s billing process now available, creating a congregation mission statement, a new e-book entitled The Four S’s That Keep Church Leaders Awake at Night, and 10 essentials of severe-weather preparedness.
Read More“Scatter the Imagination of our Hearts,” at St. Olaf College, Northfield Minn., July 25–July 28 2022. Under the theme “Scatter the Imagination of Our Hearts” (Luke 1:51), St. Olaf College's Conference on Worship, Theology, and Arts (CWTA) invites you to reflect on how the people of God can challenge, change, and inspire others, especially as faith communities imagine new responses to the twin pandemics of COVID-19 and structural racism.
Read MoreValparaiso University, Valparaiso, Ind., June 26–July 24 2022. Did you know that few Lutheran Summer Music students actually pay full tuition? Thanks to scholarships and congregational support through programs such as the Young Musicians Partnership, many LSM students receive matching grants that reduce out-of-pocket costs. Scholarships are still available for LSM 2022; nominate or encourage a young musician you know to apply today!
Read MoreGrand Canyon and Rocky Mountain Synods announce a Lutheran cohort for ASU Lodestar Center’s Best Skills Best Churches certificate program starting in July. View a PDF brochure for more info and click here to register.
Thanks to the Lilly Endowment and funding from our Growing Generosity appeal, we provide this opportunity for rostered and lay leaders for only $150 per student. Act now: space is limited to 20 students from our synod and the deadline to register is June 13, 2022.
Read MoreFrom the work of psychologists Drs. John & Julie Gottman we will explore the concept of the Four Horsemen, first published in the book The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work. We also welcome The Rev. Sara Cutter, Senior Director for Operational Effectiveness in the Christian Community and Leadership Home Area of the ELCA’s churchwide organization. Join us May 18, 2022, 11 am MST/PDT, 12pm MDT, (and every Wednesday). The login information can be found on the ELCA Coaching website.
Read MoreThe Office of the Bishop organized an online presentation from the Phoenix Police Department and FBI Phoenix Field Office on security in houses of worship. We thank Tom Vega from Esperanza Lutheran Church in Phoenix for all his great work in making this possible.
In this post we share a wealth of great resources provided by our presenters. Click here to view a recording of the webinar, and use this passcode: ^^8$%JXX
Read MoreIn this gospel reading, Jesus tells his disciples “A new commandment I give you, that you love one another. As I have loved you, you should love one another.” This is a commandment that calls us into a relationship, with both God and one another. It calls us into a relationship of love.
Read MoreMMC is excited to announce an event exploring paperless singing, to take place in Eugene, Ore., on June 25. In preparation for the Annual Conference of the Hymn Society, join us in Washington, D.C., on July 16.
Online programs continue, including the new song-writing workshop “Composing Ourselves,” a webinar with Jorge Lockward exploring creative liturgical composition, Morning Grounding, and more. Visit the MMC website for additional details and to register.
Read More“Hindsight is 20/20,” the old saying goes, meaning that it is easier to see the meaning of things when you are looking back. Perhaps that is why today’s gospel reading is a flashback to John 10, a time well before Jesus’ death and resurrection. It is as if to say, now that we have encountered the Risen Jesus, we are finally ready to make sense of what he was saying.
Read MoreLooking for information about topics related to worship? ELCA Worship’s Frequently Asked Questions page offers guidance, including additional resources, that may be considered within your local context. Visit elca.org/worshipfaq.
Read MoreWhen Jesus began His ministry, He immediately formed a small group. Following in the footsteps of Jesus, we are continuing to offer opportunities to gather in small groups for discussion and empowerment around the prominent topics swirling in the crucible of change for us as faith leaders. Join us May 4, 2022, 11 am (and every Wednesday). The login information can be found on the ELCA Coaching website.
Read MoreThe Office of the Bishop presented an online symposium on Parliamentary Procedure and Robert’s Rules of Order by David Swartling on Tuesday, 4/26/2022. View the PDF handout here, and the presentation is available for viewing here with passcode: TQgC5E!7
Special thanks to our amazing guest, David Swartling, for providing this valuable information. Please feel free to share this information with your congregation leadership, as well as your congregation’s synod assembly delegates.
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