Category: Protestant

These prompts are provided for worship leaders as they prepare the prayers of intercession for weekly worship. The prompts are prepared by several leaders in the ELCA and reflect current world and national events. You are encouraged to adapt and add other concerns for your local context, including staying informed of events and concerns in your synod. Intercession prompts: For those suffering and battling wildfires… For peaceful transitions of power, especially in the United Kingdom… For an end to violence between nations, especially Russia/Ukraine, Israel/Palestine, Eritrea/Ethiopia, and Armenia/Azerbaijan… For those in the path of Typhoon Muifa… For congregational council presidents…

Issue 84 of Administration Matters Stewardship Kaleidoscope: Sept. 26-28 Join us online or in person in Savannah, Ga., to hear practical stewardship tips from outstanding plenary and workshop leaders: • New York Times bestselling author A.J. Jacobs, whose numerous books include The Year of Living Biblically and My Life as an Experiment: One Man’s Humble Quest to Improve Himself. • The Rev. Dawn Hyde, pastor at the thriving Downtown Church in Columbia, S.C. • The Rev. Michael Bos, senior minister at Marble Collegiate Church and author of A Church Beyond Belief: The Search for Belonging and the Religious Future. Register…

Happy National Hispanic Heritage Month! As we celebrate, I can’t help reflecting on what is being celebrated: independence, legacy and identity. As far as my own identity, I  grew up, like many Puerto Ricans, hearing the poems and songs that claim we all have a Black grandma hidden away somewhere. There was this shared idea among the people in my life that, no matter how hard we try to hide it, somewhere in our DNA we are all Black.   However, I wouldn’t attribute this to my other hispanic-identifying compatriots. We may share a similar history of colonial conquest, building…

Scott Moore, Erfurt, Germany Warm-up Question How can good come from evil?   Can you give an example? Heavenly Mansions Mackenzie Scott, novelist and former wife to Jeff Bezos, both of Amazon fame, is increasing her reputation for generosity with a significant donation to the California Community Foundation. This week she donated two mansions in Beverly Hills estimated at worth around $ 55 million. The foundation announced that 90% of the proceeds will go toward providing grants for affordable housing. The remaining 10% is slated to be used for programs for integration of immigrants.  At the end of 2020, Scott’s net…

“Embracing God’s call, Mosaic relentlessly pursues opportunities that empower people.” Mosaic’s mission statement encapsulates the ministry of this serving arm of the Church. Born out of the Church, Mosaic’s two legacy organizations–Bethphage Mission, founded in 1913, and Martin Luther Homes, founded in 1925–came together in 2003 with the purpose of greater impact for those who are often excluded and marginalized by society. Lifting up the values of belonging, connection, faithfulness, and grit, Mosaic is relentless in our pursuit of opportunities that enrich the lives of people with diverse needs. Entering our second century, we are reinventing whole-person health care with…

Situation: Beginning on July 27, a line of severe storms dumped record amounts of rain on eastern Kentucky, overflowing rivers and creeks onto streets and neighborhoods. Rising waters damaged infrastructure, including roads, bridges and power lines, which hindered rescue efforts. The flooding destroyed hundreds of homes and other buildings. Response: To respond to the flooding, Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) is supporting the Indiana-Kentucky Synod to rebuild homes in Owsley County, one of the poorest counties in Kentucky. The homes all belong to families who wouldn’t have been able to rebuild without financial support. Additionally, the synod is replacing septic tanks for…

These prompts are provided for worship leaders as they prepare the prayers of intercession for weekly worship. The prompts are prepared by several leaders in the ELCA and reflect current world and national events. You are encouraged to adapt and add other concerns for your local context, including staying informed of events and concerns in your synod. Intercession prompts: For those participating in ‘God’s Work. Our Hands.’ Sunday and for those they will serve… For church musicians, faith formation leaders, and all church staff and volunteers at the start of the program year… For those enduring extreme temperatures and power…

These prompts are provided for worship leaders as they prepare the prayers of intercession for weekly worship. The prompts are prepared by several leaders in the ELCA and reflect current world and national events. You are encouraged to adapt and add other concerns for your local context, including staying informed of events and concerns in your synod. Intercession prompts: For the United Nations team and all those navigating the dynamics surrounding the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine… For those remembering the life of Mikhail Gorbachev, the former Soviet leader who brought the Cold War to a peaceful end.. For peaceful…

As Russian forces advanced on his town in Ukraine’s heavily contested Donbass region, a group of friends helped to save Igor Gusev’s life. Born with cerebral palsy, Igor has lived independently with some limited support and the companionship of a beloved black cat. His community shunned him, but for the efforts of his few friends. Igor Gusev fled Ukraine after the invasion by Russia and is now living in Poland. As bombing and violence approached his home, Igor’s friends packed him and just a bit of luggage into a car and headed west. While Igor sadly had to leave his…

Hello! The time to receive grant proposals is on the way! Thank you to those who have reached out recently to ask this very question. My answer, in short, is soon– right at about the end of September. After some more work with the Grants Management team we will send out details regarding the kind/number of proposals we will consider, and the time frame in which we will be accepting and approving them. You can come here for those details, and please know that other communication will be sent out as well. For now, you may direct questions to me…