Tag: 2026

Issue 105 of Administration Matters Six must-haves for a secure ACH approval policy A secure church ACH approval policy protects funds from fraud and upholds your ministry’s financial integrity. By establishing a strong ACH approval policy that is reviewed and updated annually, you can reduce the risk of ACH fraud. >More A stronger community, together Portico Benefit Services’ 2025 Community Impact Report highlights what’s possible when congregations, organizations and ministry partners come together to support those who serve. See how shared resources and collective care create meaningful impact for our rostered ministers and church professionals — and across our broader…

Augsburg Fortress is the publishing ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Each month ELCA Worship highlights resources from Augsburg Fortress Publishers that support worship leaders, worship planners, musicians, and all who care about the worship of the church. ELCA Worship also features resources from other partners in a monthly blog post. Sing Many Names: Scriptural Images for God in Hymnody No single word or image conveys the mystery of God; we need many images in lively conversation and even then, all our language cannot capture the fullness of the living God. In Sing Many Names, scholar and musician…

Editor’s Note: Many churches and youth groups embark on summer service trips. This Faith Lens post is a reflection we hope you’ll use with your group prior to your trip to spark conversation not only about what you are doing, but also why you are doing it and what outcomes you hope for. This post is the first in a two-part series designed to help groups reflect on their service work both before and after their trip. The second post, a post-service trip reflection guide, will be published in early July. Prepare So you’re leading your youth group on a…

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. The Hymn Society The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada encourages, promotes, and enlivens congregational singing by building supportive relationships and enabling networking and ecumenical cooperation which providing experience in performance practices to help in the introduction and leading of the congregation’s song. Hymn Society…

Augsburg Fortress is the publishing ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Each month ELCA Worship highlights resources from Augsburg Fortress Publishers that support worship leaders, worship planners, musicians, and all who care about the worship of the church. ELCA Worship also features resources from other partners in a monthly blog post. A Dazzling Bouquet: Songs on the Path of Justice and Community A Dazzling Bouquet contains 101 songs by Bret Hesla for churches, community sings, and social change movements to sing together. These beautiful, singable tunes lift up our common journey toward a just and beloved community, our…

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…

Prepare: The Gospel of John has a very different character than the other three Gospels (Mark, Matthew, and Luke, which are called “the Synoptic Gospels”). Whereas the Synoptic Gospels tell many similar stories about the life and ministry of Jesus, John emphasizes the mystic spirituality of Jesus’ life and mission. Together all four Gospels combine into a wonderful overlapping kaleidoscopic vision of Christ. The author of John especially wants their audience to understand that Jesus is God, and (for better or worse) they go about it with very circuitous, and sometimes confusing, language. Remember that this text is from an…

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…

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…

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,…