Lutherans Engaging in the Electoral Process
What is at stake in the electoral process? For Lutherans, our response is not exclusively individualistic. FOUNDATIONS OF OUR CONSIDERATION The electoral process is one way in the United States that we steward our life together as a nation, care for our neighbor and promote the common good. The topic may get additional attention during an election cycle, but the foundations of its consideration are shaped by a Lutheran understanding of God’s intent to work through human activity to order and provide earthly justice and enough for all. These foundations are expressed in Bible studies and sermon reflections and…
For what shall we pray?
“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…
Tier 1 Digital Ministry Grants: Digital Assessments from Evoke
ELCA Innovation is excited to offer three tiers of support for digital ministry in 2026. We recognize the challenges of digital ministry in our current landscape as a church and a society. We’ve developed these opportunities to support ELCA congregations and organizations in their digital ministry efforts and to encourage some creative and meaningful ministry ideas in your congregation or organization. As we collect feedback from congregations throughout the year, we also hope to curate additional digital ministry resources and learning opportunities, where needed. The first tier of support for digital ministry is a limited number of Digital Assessments, which…
For what shall we pray?
“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, South Sudan, Ukraine, and Venezuela……
April Update: Advocacy Connections
from the ELCA advocacy office in Washington, D.C. – the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, Senior Director Partial expanded content from Advocacy Connections: April 2026 HUNGER PROVISIONS IN THE HOUSE FARM BILL | SAVE AMERICA ACT | ADMINISTRATION REPEALS THE ENDANGERMENT FINDING | FEDERAL POLICY IMPACTS FOR BURMA | WAR WITH IRAN | DHS PARTIAL SHUTDOWN CONTINUES AS CONGRESS WEIGHS MORE FUNDING FOR ICE HUNGER PROVISIONS IN THE HOUSE FARM BILL: The House Agriculture Committee Chairman has released new Farm Bill text (see the committee summary here). The proposed bill includes some positive bipartisan hunger provisions – including making SNAP…
April 26, 2026 – Awe and Belonging
Prepare Each year in the Easter season, we venture into Acts, a book of the Bible I like to talk about as “Jesus is risen, now what?” And what we learn through Acts, about what it means to be people of faith, is much different than what the world often tells us marks a faithful life. So often we hear on the news or from others in the world that Christians act, dress, and talk a certain way, or in more recent weeks we’ve been told that Christians need a war to follow God. But we don’t find any of…
April 19, 2026 – When Easter Hope Isn’t all Shiny and Pastel
Prepare The Road to Emmaus story is chock-full of theological imagery and imagination. We meet disciples and Jesus on the road and yet something is keeping the disciples from recognizing Christ. There’s a lot that could be explored as to why the disciples don’t recognize Jesus throughout their entire conversation, especially in light of other resurrection stories we have about Christ where folks recognize him immediately. Moreover, it is theologically significant that his identity is revealed through the Eucharist. It is as they break bread that Christ is recognized for who he is. The meal is the disciples “touching of…
For what shall we pray?
“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, South Sudan, Ukraine, and Venezuela……
Happy Arab American Heritage Month by guest author Dr. Ryan LaHurd
In observance of Arab American Heritage Month, ELCA Racial Justice Ministries invited Dr. Ryan LaHurd to share his thoughts on this topic with our readers. April is Arab American Heritage Month. As an Arab American, I might be expected to write about all the great things Arab Americans have contributed to our culture. But as I think about anti-Arab attitudes in the United States and the massive destruction of innocent lives in the Middle East, I must focus on something more substantial. We used to hear that Inuit people have hundreds of words for snow. The later correction is that…
Partner Organization Resources and Events – April 2026
Each month ELCA Worship highlights resources and events from other organizations and institutions. These Lutheran and ecumenical partner organizations work alongside the ELCA to support worship leaders, worship planners, musicians, and all who care about the worship of the church. ELCA Worship also features resources from Augsburg Fortress Publishers in a monthly blog post. Lutheran Summer Music Academy & Festival Transforming and connecting lives through faith and music since 1981. Blessings in this Easter Season from Lutheran Summer Music! Please enjoy this joyful musical offering of “O Clap Your Hands” by Ralph Vaughan Williams, performed by the LSM 2025 Festival Choir,…