Discover new resources and events for worship leaders and musicians this fall! From workshops hosted by Music that Makes Community to the latest video interviews from the Center for Church Music, explore ways to deepen your worship leadership. Plus, mark your calendars for ALCM’s 2025 Summer Conference and revisit LSM 2024 performances online. Read the full list of resources and events highlighted by ELCA Worship here.
Read MoreELCA’s monthly Worship news for July features: All Creation Sings resources for Time after Pentecost–Autumn, Reformation and All Saints; “God’s work. Our hands.” Resources; ELW Narrative Holy Communion; Narrative Holy Communion; Living Lutheran “Hymn of the Month”; ELCA Worship blog; Lutheran Summer Music Academy & Festival; and Assembly Song Companion to All Creation Sings.
Read MoreJust small mistake in a few lines of code. That’s all it took to cancel thousands of flights, lock hospital computers, freeze bank operations, and even temporarily shut down government operations. Throughout the globe, millions upon millions of people’s lives were impacted by just a small mistake in a few lines of code.
Some of you reading this may have dealt with the impacts directly. As I write this, I’m in a hotel room, hoping to make it home only 36 hours late, while others have been delayed as much as five days!
Read MoreAs you make plans for worship in the autumn months, ELCA Worship offers many ways to explore All Creation Sings.
Read MoreThis summer, engage with your faith through music at a series of Lutheran music events. Highlights include Augsburg Fortress Summer Music Clinics in five U.S. cities and the Lutheran Summer Music Academy at Valparaiso University, featuring over 30 public concerts. Additionally, Music that Makes Community offers community singing workshops, embodying our commitment to faith, music, and community. Embrace this opportunity to deepen your spiritual journey through music and read more at ELCA Worship’s monthly blog post.
Read MoreThis week’s Faith Lens explores the profound implications of the Holy Trinity on personal relationships, especially in the context of today’s social challenges. Dave Delaney discusses the increasing isolation among teenagers and the essential nature of meaningful relationships that reflect the interconnectedness of the Holy Trinity. The session emphasizes the transformative power of relationships modeled after the divine fellowship of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Read MoreAs Pentecost approaches, our community is called to reflect on the Holy Spirit's lessons of unity and inclusion. Inspired by scriptural insights and recent ministry experiences at the US-Mexico border, we are encouraged to view every human being as part of God’s diverse family. Join us in embracing the Spirit's power to transcend all barriers, fostering a more inclusive and compassionate community. Let's celebrate this Pentecost by welcoming all, just as the Spirit does.
Read MoreThis summer offers a vibrant array of musical and worship events lined up for our community. Highlights include the Lutheran Summer Music Academy and Festival for aspiring young musicians, the ALCM’s "Ponder Anew" conference at Valparaiso University, and the Calvin Institute's worship grants. Additionally, Music that Makes Community offers several workshops and community sings, and Augsburg Fortress presents resources for graduates and college students. Read the full article from ELCA Worship at ELCA.org.
Read MoreIf you have a preschool aged child in your household, then it’s likely you’ve watched the recently-released episode of Bluey called “The Sign.” In the first week of its release, it was viewed 10.4 million times! Without giving too much away, the episode begins with all of the children in Bluey’s class hearing their teacher, Calypso, read a Taoist parable called “The Farmer.”
Read MoreIn this week's Faith Lens, Kris Litman-Koon discusses the importance of teaching independence and conflict resolution to children, drawing parallels with spiritual growth in the Christian faith. The reflection emphasizes how, like children learning to resolve their disputes, Christians are called to love and support each other based on the teachings of Jesus. The passage from John 15:9-17 serves as a reminder that love and community are central to our faith, urging us to bear fruit by abiding in Christ's love and extending it to others within and beyond the church.
Read MoreIn this week's Faith Lens, we explore how, like toddlers trying to read before they fully understand, we often emulate spiritual practices without full comprehension. The article reflects on Acts 8:26-40, emphasizing that God appreciates our earnest attempts to live faithfully, even when we falter. Through discussion questions and activities, we are encouraged to embrace our spiritual journey with humility and trust, much like a child learning to navigate the world, and to draw nearer to Jesus to bear fruit in our lives.
Read MoreThe ELCA Worship News for April 2024 features an array of resources to enhance worship experiences throughout the church calendar. Highlights include new blog posts on utilizing "All Creation Sings" for post-Pentecost services, commemorative resources for the Emanuel Nine, and insights into Lutheran hymns. Additionally, the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians is hosting a conference at Valparaiso University to delve deeper into church music leadership. Resources from Augsburg Fortress also offer vital support for congregations welcoming leaders of color. Read more here.
Read MoreIn the latest Faith Lens, Rita Argus shares a reflection on the importance of connecting with nature and the teachings of Good Shepherd Sunday. By drawing parallels between personal experiences in nature and the biblical imagery of shepherding, Rita explores how these serene moments help ground us spiritually, mentally, and physically.
Read MoreApril brings a host of resources and events from ELCA's partners, perfect for those involved in church worship to refine their craft, connect deeply with their faith, and celebrate the joy of communal singing and planning. Read more in ELCA Worship’s monthly update.
Read More"Bikes of Faith" offers a refreshing perspective on doubt as an integral part of faith, likening Jesus' support in our spiritual journey to a parent's encouragement in learning to ride a bike.
Read MoreAs you make plans to celebrate the festivals of Pentecost and Holy Trinity and look ahead to summer worship, consider the following ways to explore All Creation Sings.
Read MoreIn this week’s Faith Lens, Mariah Mills explores the post-Easter contemplation of "What now?" after celebrating Jesus’ resurrection. As followers grapple with witnessing ongoing injustice and evil in the world, the story of the disciples and Thomas post-resurrection provides a reminder of Jesus' peace amidst fear and doubt. Mills encourages us to recognize the "marks of the resurrection" around us as signs of hope and to live as Christ's body in the world, embracing our role in spreading this hope amidst challenges.
Read MoreResurrection brings action: Today, the Easter message comes from the Gospel of Mark 16:1-8. Mark gives an account of the resurrection. In the tomb, a young man dressed in a white robe conveyed two messages to the women. First, Jesus is risen, and second: tell the disciples and Peter to meet him in Galilee.
Easter Message by Rev. Chang Chun Wa, Ben, LWF Vice-President for Asia. He is a former bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hong Kong.
“Go, therefore and, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.
– Matthew 28:18-20
When God is absent and silent: In his Large Catechism Martin Luther talks about a God who is like “a kind father who cares for us so that no evil may befall us.” To believe that we are created and cared for by a benevolent God rings true to our experience when things are going well, and we do indeed feel loved and cared for. View original post at LWF, or read PDF in English, German, Spanish, or French.
Read MoreWhen God is absent and silent: In his Large Catechism Martin Luther talks about a God who is like “a kind father who cares for us so that no evil may befall us.” To believe that we are created and cared for by a benevolent God rings true to our experience when things are going well, and we do indeed feel loved and cared for. View original post at LWF, or read PDF in English, German, Spanish, French.
Good Friday message by Rev. Dr Arnfríður Guðmundsdóttir is LWF Vice-President for the Nordic Countries. She is an ordained pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland and a Professor of Theology at the University of Iceland.
Read MoreMy God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from helping me,
from the words of my groaning?
O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;
and by night but find no rest.
— Psalm 22:1-2
In this week's Faith Lens, Kelsey Green from Baltimore, MD, offers reflections for Easter Sunday amidst the tiredness and worry of the world's current state. She explores the assurance that nothing is too big for God, drawing from Paul's words to the Corinthians about the cross's power. The discussion centers around personal powerlessness, the need for reminders that death does not win, and the joy of resurrection as seen through the women at the tomb in Mark's Gospel. This post encourages readers to find joy, share the good news, and support those in grief with the message that death does not have the last word.
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