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“For what shall we pray?” is a weekly post inviting individuals, groups, and congregations to lift up our world in prayer. This resource is prepared by a variety of leaders in the ELCA and includes prayer prompts, upcoming events and observances, and prayer suggestions from existing denominational worship materials. You are encouraged to use these resources as a starting point, and to adapt and add other concerns from your local context. More information about this resource can be found here.   Prayer prompts: For peace and reconciliation among the nations, especially in Iran, Lebanon, Gaza, Mali, South Sudan, Ukraine, and…

Burma (Myanmar) earthquake | Photo credit: USGS When a powerful earthquake struck Myanmar in March 2025, it left devastation in its wake. Entire communities were shaken—homes reduced to rubble, livelihoods disrupted, and access to essentials like clean water suddenly uncertain. Yet even in the midst of loss, something remarkable began to take shape: stories of resilience, recovery, and hope. Supported by a coordinated humanitarian response through Lutheran Disaster Response, the ACT Alliance, and Lutheran World Relief, families and communities began the hard work of rebuilding—not just structures, but their sense of stability and dignity. Restoring What Matters Most: Water In…

This post gives the background and practical implications for an addition to the church year calendar. “Creation in Christ” (or “Feast of Creation”), to be observed on September 1 or the Sunday following, is supported with lectionary readings and forthcoming worship resources. A New Ecumenical Observance Following several years of study, prayer, and collaboration, a new ecumenical observance is encouraged in the church throughout the world. Grounded in the ancient liturgical tradition of the Orthodox Church, “Creation in Christ” (or “Feast of Creation”) celebrates God as Creator and ponders the great mystery that everything was created through Christ. And, as…

Shawna with members of ROAD in Muskogee, OK | Photo credit Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma In the first week of May 2022, severe storms and flash flooding swept through Eastern Oklahoma, leaving a trail of destruction across multiple counties. In Muskogee alone, more than seven inches of rain fell in a single day, overwhelming homes, properties, and communities. Thousands of households were impacted, many of them uninsured and uncertain of how they would recover. Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) partnered with Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma through a grant supporting unmet needs from the storms. Together, this collaboration became a source…

Rom Chan Oun, (Note the ELCA sticker on the tuktuk) Unlike many Cambodians who live near the border with Thailand, Rom Chan Oun decided not to migrate to Thailand to work. Instead, she joined the local Bour Samaki Meanchey Agricultural Cooperative.  The Bour AC, located in Battambang province in western Cambodia, is a initiative that supports farmers, creates employment opportunities, and improves access to essential goods and services within the community.  The cooperative is supported by Lutheran Hope Cambodia Organization, which in turn is supported by ELCA World Hunger. Before joining the agricultural cooperative, “I was just a housewife and…

Following are updates shared from submissions from ELCA-affiliated state public policy offices (SPPOs) this quarter (formerly shared monthly). Full list and map of SPPOs available. ARIZONA| KANSAS | PENNSYLVANIA | WISCONSIN   Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona Solveig Muus, Director This spring, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona (LAMA), a ministry of the Grand Canyon Synod, has been helping Lutherans “voice our common needs in the public square” by connecting congregations, synod leaders, ELCA Advocacy and community partners around hunger, immigration, civic engagement, health care and housing. LAMA’s 2026 priorities center on food insecurity, voting, health care and housing/homelessness, rooted in ELCA social teaching and carried out through partnerships…

Refugees from Sudan in May 2023 | Photo credit: Henry Wilkins, Voice of America Across the globe, humanitarian needs continue to rise at an alarming rate. As of April 2026, millions of people are facing the compounded impacts of conflict, climate disasters, and economic instability. For communities already living on the margins, these overlapping crises, often called a “poly-crisis,” are stretching resilience to its limits. At Lutheran Disaster Response, we are witnessing how these interconnected challenges are reshaping the humanitarian landscape and deepening the urgency of our shared response. When Climate and Crisis Collide In many parts of the world,…

Issue 104 of Administration Matters Property insurance FAQ 2026 The ELCA Church Property Resource Hub, provided by the Office of the Secretary, offers insights to help you better understand the current property-insurance marketplace. >More Investing in what lasts: How one congregation connects savings and service How can your congregation’s savings serve today’s ministry and tomorrow’s needs? When Bethany Lutheran Church, Lemont, Ill., asked this question, it guided investment discussions. Seeking a financial partner with the same values, Bethany opened investment accounts with the Mission Investment Fund (MIF), a ministry of the ELCA. Interest accruing to the account supports the growing…

In honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, ELCA Racial Justice Ministries invited Pastor Jill Rode to reflect on this topic. For more information on AAPI Heritage Month, visit Asian & Pacific American Heritage Month. Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month brings me pride but also a complex mix of emotions. As a Korean American adoptee raised by a white Midwestern family, I have always felt my sense of culture, identity and belonging to be layered and, at times, uncertain. Though I celebrate this month, I also wrestle with where I fit within the broader Asian American narrative. I…

A home damaged by Hurricane Helene | Photo Credit the Southeastern Synod Almost two years following Hurricane Helene, communities across Georgia are still navigating the long and difficult road to recovery. From Augusta to the coastal counties, the Southeastern Synod’s Disaster Ministry Team continues to walk alongside survivors as they rebuild homes, restore stability, and reclaim hope. A Wide-Reaching Response While North and South Carolina have been the focus of much of the nationwide reporting about Hurricane Helen, the scale of devastation across Georgia has been immense. Sixty-two counties were declared disaster areas, with severe damage stretching from inland communities…