In his book, Silence the Power of Quiet in a World Full of Noise, Thich Nhat Hanh talks about two kinds of knots. The first knot is our notions, ideas, concepts, and knowledge. These things are not bad, but when we get stuck on them we miss out on the truth of life.
The second knot is our afflictions, fears, anger, discrimination, despair, and arrogance. Thich Nhat Hanh believes that until these knots are undone we remain bound up and not truly free.
Read MoreThe housing allowance is an important tax advantage for clergy. However, your congregation must officially designate the amount in writing each year, before compensation is earned, that might be used for housing expenses. As you look ahead to 2022, be sure to take action to document this amount. Learn more on the Portico site when you sign in with your EmployerLink.
Read MoreFor most of our lives, we’ve been aware that the promise of Thanksgiving—warm and loving reunions of family and friends around a common table heaped with abundance—can set us up for disappointments.
This year, in our first post-vaccination Thanksgiving, our hopes may even be higher as we finally gather in the larger groups we’ve yearned to be in. We’re striving for a “normal” Thanksgiving.
Read MoreThis Thanksgiving, we share a photo taken 27 years ago of barren pantry shelves replenished by Living Hope Lutheran in Las Vegas (then Reformation Lutheran). Read more of the history of Lutheran Social Services of Nevada in this post, as they prepare for their silver anniversary on Silver Anniversary on December 20, 2021.
Read MoreThis study guide for the social statement Faith, Sexism, and Justice: A Call to Action has six sessions that guide participants to engage the social statement and discern ways to take action.
In this post we share Bishop Eaton’s invitation to participate. View the study guide here.
Read MoreAll but two counties in our synod have extremely high levels for unvaccinated people.
Extremely high risk counties for unvaccinated people in our synod include Apache, Cochise, Coconino, Gila, Graham, Greenlee, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, Washington, Yavapai, and Yuma counties.
This week’s update features photos from the Ordination of Pastor Ruby Myers and the Installation of Pastor Amalia Vagts. Read the post to see what the staff is up to as we enter the busy Thanksgiving, Advent and Christmas season.
Read MoreAdvent Pilgrimage in Palestine: a four-week virtual pilgrimage from the ELCA’s Peace Not Walls and Young Adult Ministry teams featuring young adult voices from the ELCA and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land.
Read MoreThe Rev. Bertha Godfrey Munkhondya recently became the first woman ordained to the ministry of Word and Sacrament in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malawi (ELCM). She studied theology at the Tumaini University Makumira in Arusha, Tanzania, with the help of an ELCA International Leaders Program scholarship. Read more about the Rev. Munkhondya here.
On Oct. 16, the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland (ECACP) voted to allow women to be ordained as pastors. Presiding Bishop Jerzy Samiec of the ECACP said: “I believe it’s a good decision and we will see good fruits come of it. It has been a long process for the church, and now we will find a way of walking together into the future.” Read more about the landmark decision here.
Read MoreDid you know we’ve increased the number of candidates in the Grand Canyon Synod nearly tenfold? With around 30 people in the candidacy process, we’re excited to build on this momentum.
If you or someone you know is interested in being a candidate, we’ve updated candidacy information on the synod site, with initial steps for candidates to follow, our candidacy committee roster, and news archive. Visit the updated page at gcsynod.org/candidacy.
You can also contact Pastor Jacqui Pagel, Assistant to the Bishop for Candidacy at jpagel@gcsynod.or or (480) 678-4406.
Read MoreFor all affected by flooding in the Pacific Northwest…
For all who are lonely or grieving a first holiday without a loved one…
For those in power, whose decisions effect the well-being of others…
For all who are experiencing anxiety and worry…
For all who struggle with strained family relationships
For lament over injustices perpetuated against American Indian and and Alaska Native peoples…
Wondering how you can make a positive impact in the world right now? With ELCA Good Gifts, you can choose from more than 50 charitable gifts to give in honor of friends and loved ones.
Start your holiday shopping now and order free, customized cards for each gift you give. Print-at-home and online cards are also available instantly at any time. Shop now…
Read MoreELCA World Hunger Education and Networking Grants fund projects that educate participants about hunger — and how to end it. The application for 2021 Education and Networking Grants is open until Dec. 1, 2021. Visit the ELCA World Hunger blog to learn more.
Read MoreA.J. Striffler, a Navy chaplain, served onboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower last year. Because the ship avoided port to prevent spread of COVID-19, it set a record for the longest consecutive time at sea for any naval vessel. Read his letter in this post.
Read MoreAdvent is just around the corner! Have you ordered ELCA World Hunger’s resources for your congregation yet? View online versions of the resources or order them on their website: ELCA.org/HungerAdvent.
Read MoreELCA Advocacy shares their November, 2021 updates. The first is from the ELCA Advocacy office in Washington, D.C., and the second is the UN and state edition, updates shared from submissions of the Lutheran Office for World Community and state public policy offices (sppos) in the ELCA Advocacy Network this month.
Read MoreIn this season of giving thanks, celebrate the spirit of giving by creating a story for our second annual Generosity Film Festival. Making a film can be a fun project for the loved ones gathered for Thanksgiving.
Visit our film festival web page for tips and guidelines. The deadline for submission is December 8, 2021, with videos premiering Christmas week.
Read MoreWe pray for Rev. Andrea Cain, Rev. Thaddeus Book and the people of Desert Cross Lutheran Church in Tempe, part of the Fiesta Conference. Visit their site at desertcross.org, and their social media pages on Facebook and YouTube.
Read MoreThe 2021 Mohrenweiser Lecture Series, co-sponsored by PLTS Center for Climate Justice & Faith, presents "Climate Justice, Health and Wellbeing" with Dr. Manoj Kurian. Friday, 12/10/2021, 10am - 1pm MST, 9am - noon PST. Free to join, registration required here.
This lecture will discuss how climate change is threatening human health and well-being, and the ethical and moral imperative for action.
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