June 2024 ELCA Mission Support Memo: U.P. Wild Church

Our June 2024 ELCA Mission Support Memo takes us back to U.P. Wild Church, in Northern Great Lake Synod: “a spiritual home for the seekers of beauty, wonder, & awe; where the ‘church goers’ supplement their journey and the ‘misfits’ finally feel connected within the congregation of paper birch trees & squawking geese via the Mystery which creates all things.”

Additionally find free access to ELCA Stewardship recordings on “The Spirituality of Capital Campaigns,” “Creating a Year-Round Stewardship Calendar,” “Narrative Budget Construction,” “Donor Motivations” or “Four Mindset Shifts” which are perfect for stewardship teams wanting to do some continuing education or for councils curious about what’s happening in the realm of stewardship.

Read More
Community Spotlight: Food Bank at Streams in the Desert Lutheran Church

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona (LAMA) shares an article after having had the pleasure of visiting several churches and feeding ministries in Tucson! They want to use their blog to help share the stories of various ministries around our synod, both to celebrate ELCA World Hunger’s 50th anniversary, and to foster connections between people doing God’s good work. Stay tuned over the coming weeks to hear more about ministries in Tucson and around the state!

Read More
Ordination celebrations: June 21 – 27, 2024

This week we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:

  • Rev. Michael Johnson, who celebrates 37 years on June 21.

  • Rev. Roger Thompson, who celebrates 43 years on June 21.

  • Rev. Joseph Carucci, who celebrates 63 years on June 21.

  • Rev. Terry Pletkovich, who celebrates 43 years on June 21.

  • Rev. John Sersland, who celebrates 43 years on June 21.

  • Rev. Nancy Milleville, Our Savior’s, Mesa, who celebrates 44 years on June 21.

  • Rev. Michael Girlinghouse, LCM Canterbury, Flagstaff, who celebrates 37 years on June 21.

  • Rev. Sarah Upham-Birdsall, who celebrates 22 years on June 22.

  • Rev. Matthew Dobyns, ELCA, Chicago, who celebrates 16 years on June 22.

  • Rev. Gary Hess, who celebrates 47 years on June 22.

  • Rev. Duane Peterson, who celebrates 66 years on June 22.

  • Rev. Andrew Schlecht, Maricopa, Maricopa, who celebrates 16 years on June 22.

  • Rev. Glenn Zimbelman, who celebrates 40 years on June 24.

  • Rev. Scott Hove, Good Samaritan, Las Vegas, Good Sam at The Lakes, Las Vegas, who celebrates 29 years on June 25.

  • Rev. Paul Overvold, who celebrates 46 years on June 25.

  • Rev. Dennis Hagstrom, who celebrates 47 years on June 25.

  • Rev. John Geske, Mayo, Scottsdale, who celebrates 36 years on June 26.

  • Rev. David Towers, who celebrates 48 years on June 27.

Read More
Lutheran World Federation newsletter: 6/14/2024
God's love in these times | 2024 ELCA Churchwide Report video

Have you heard the phrase, “May you live in interesting times?” Many would say we live in uncertain times, with a world experiencing war and famine, the stress and lingering effects of the pandemic. But Bishop Eaton reminds us that as people of the Resurrection we also live in hope. God’s love sustains us even in the most difficult times. We live in interesting times because God’s love is always real.

Read More
A Season of Music and Faith: Upcoming Lutheran Music Events

This 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 More
Commemoration of the Emanuel Nine: Guest blog writer Desta Goehner

To commemorate the 9th anniversary of the martyrdom of the Emanuel 9 – Clementa C. Pinckney, Cynthia Marie Graham Hurd, Susie Jackson, Ethel Lee Lance, DePayne Middleton-Doctor, Tywanza Sanders, Daniel Lee Simmons, Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, and Myra Thompson, our beloved siblings in Christ who were murdered by a self-professed white supremacist and ELCA parishioner while they were gathered for Bible study and prayer at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church (often referred to as Mother Emanuel) in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17, 2015 – Desta Goehner, Board President of the ELCA Association of White Lutherans for Racial Justice to share some thoughts about this day of repentance.

Read More
Missed the 2024 Assembly? Watch the Grand Canyon Synod’s Livestream Replays

Rewatch the 2024 Grand Canyon Synod Assembly on Love of Christ Lutheran’s Facebook page. All sessions, including the Diakonia Graduation, are now available online. Whether you missed the live event or want to experience it again, find all parts of the assembly at your convenience. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and the Diakonia Graduation are available for streami

Read More
Empowering Leaders: Apply Now for ELCA Disability Ministries 2024 Grants

The ELCA Disability Ministries is now accepting grant applications for 2024, offering a total of $50,000 to support projects that integrate and uplift people with disabilities within our congregations. Eligible projects should align with goals such as promoting leadership, enhancing support resources, and building inclusive community connections. Applications will close by July 31st or sooner if 30 applications are received. Apply today to contribute to a more inclusive church environment. For details and registration, visit ELCA Grants.

Read More
ELCA Youth Gathering to bring thousands to New Orleans

Meeting under the theme "Created to Be," nearly 16,000 youth, adult leaders and others from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will participate in the ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans, La., July 16-20. The Gathering brings together high school age Lutherans from across the country and overseas for faith formation, worship, fellowship and service. Read full press release at ELCA.org.

Read More
Living the Story: Moving from Membership to Discipleship

Join Luther Seminar’s faith+lead for an exclusive workshop, “Living the Story: Moving from Membership to Discipleship,” on June 27th via Zoom, designed to empower church leaders to foster a culture of active, daily discipleship in their communities. Explore effective strategies for spiritual growth and community engagement, led by Dwight Zscheile of Luther Seminary.

This workshop is free for Faith+Lead members, with special membership rates available for new joiners. Rediscover the joy in your spiritual journey and transform your ministry practices. Register now and be part of God’s unfolding narrative in new and impactful ways.

Read More
2024 ELCA Youth Gathering: In-Kind Offering

In the aftermath of a storm, hurricane, or tornado, New Orleans residents regularly find themselves without electricity. This quickly becomes a health crisis as people try to manage life in the hot, humid Gulf Coast summers. City leaders and community organizers identified the eight most-requested items to help residents as they wait for the power grid to be restored.

Our goal is to create 3,000 disaster relief kits filled with these items to help New Orleanians get through the days immediately following a natural disaster. It takes about $100 to create an entire disaster relief kit. We encourage you to collect the items for your region or raise funds to complete an entire kit! Click here to learn more.

Read More
Draw Your Dreams: Submit Art for a Better Future at Youth Gathering

Join the Lutherans Restoring Creation art contest to envision a better future through your artwork! Open to youth and young adults, this contest encourages participants to reimagine their communities in harmony with the environment. Submit your art by June 30, 2024, for a chance to have your work displayed at the Youth Gathering in New Orleans and turned into advocacy postcards. All levels of art skills are welcome. Click to learn more and submit your vision of a sustainable tomorrow!

Read More