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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 all in the pathway of Hurricane Idalia… For victims of gun violence, especially in Chapel Hill,…

On August 28, 1963, an estimated 250,000 people gathered for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, rallying to draw attention to the nation’s racial inequities and insist on change. From the steps in front of the Lincoln Memorial, several leaders moved the crowd with resonance, challenge and inspiration, including delivery of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. Just steps – literally – from the podium was Mark Raabe, long-term member of First Trinity Lutheran in Washington, D.C., who helps us all relive and reflect on that pivotal day.   SIGHTS AND…

My frequency of posting has clearly dropped off. Years ago I would write a blog post every single day. As life’s demands became greater that slowed to a few posts a week. At the moment it seems as if I’m generally down to one post a week. My work schedule, once again, has changed (to being on-call 24/7) which is why my pace of posts has slowed to nearly a trickle. It isn’t because I want to write less, it is simply because I am physically exhausted all of the time. Pray that the Lord might open other doors for…

Cross posting from ELCA Advocacy blog. Resounding Call from March on Washington Then and Now By guest blogger Jennifer DeLeon, ELCA Director for Racial Justice [more] As we commemorate the 60th anniversary of the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963, the resounding importance of that pivotal event echoes powerfully into the present day. The factors that propelled the March, including ending racial segregation, fighting for economic justice and securing voting rights, remain as urgent and relevant as ever. Racism—a mix of power, privilege, and prejudice—is sin, a violation of God’s intention for humanity. The resulting racial, ethnic,…

Have you thought about what it would look like to serve as a volunteer at the Gathering next summer? Applications to serve as a volunteer at the Gathering are now open!  There are five different volunteer opportunities: the Gathering Volunteer Corps (GVC), Servant Companions, local volunteers, MYLE and the tAble volunteers, and Young Adult Gathering volunteers. Responsibilities and commitments vary by category, so check out our website for more information.   Daniel has volunteered at both the 2015 Gathering and 2018 Gathering and has some insight they’d like to share — Hi, My name is Daniel Mambu and this will be…

Unreality. 17 Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word. 18 Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law. 19 I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me. 20 My soul is crushed with longing After Your ordinances at all times. 21 You rebuke the arrogant, the cursed, Who wander from Your commandments. 22 Take away reproach and contempt from me, For I observe Your testimonies. 23 Even though princes sit and talk against me, Your servant meditates on Your statutes. 24 Your testimonies also…

“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 areas experiencing excessive heat and for access to cooling stations for vulnerable individuals… For relief and…

The article below was originally published on the “Our Synod Stories” webpage of the Northwestern Minnesota Synod of the ELCA. It is re-posted with permission from – and gratitude for – the synod and the author, Pastor Devlyn Brooks, a member of the synod’s storytelling team. Since its charter as a Lutheran church in 1960, Calvary Lutheran Church in Perham, Minn., has always had a heart for supporting missions outside their church walls, says Associate Pastor Eric Clapp. So, it wasn’t a surprise when the Northwestern Minnesota Synod bishop’s staff announced at this year’s synod assembly that Calvary had again…

The following is taken from my final exam from my Patristic Theology class in seminary (circa 2003); we had to answer three out of five questions in essay form. This essay highlights the person and theology of Irenaeus. I will provide a brief description of Irenaeus first, and then get into the essay. This was before I ever started reading either Barth or Torrance in any depth. But you might see how once I did, I was already predisposed to their respective theologies vis-à-vis informing theologies like Irenaeus’ represents. Irenaeus (ca. 130-200) was Bishop of Lyons. Most likely he grew…

from the ELCA advocacy office in Washington, D.C. – the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, Senior Director Partial expanded content from Advocacy Connections: August/September 2023 FEMA FUNDING CRUNCH  |  CLEAN ENERGY TAX CREDITS FOR CHURCHES  |  ELCA FARM BILL ACTIVITY  |  AFGHAN ADJUSTMENT ACT  |  HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS PROPOSES INTERNATIONAL CUTS   FEMA FUNDING CRUNCH:  As August comes to a close, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) finds itself confronting a dire situation. The agency, responsible for responding to natural disasters in the United States, is on the verge of running out of critical funding – with the strain of coping with…