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 online purchasing permanent. Additional positive bipartisan hunger provisions are expanding the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) to more seniors in rural areas, reauthorizing the GusNIP food program and more. However, the legislation does nothing to revert the newly imposed SNAP work requirements or the massive defunding of the whole SNAP nutrition program – which is set to start phasing in later this year.

Why It Matters in the ELCA:

Lutheran congregations across the country operate food pantries, partner with food banks and hunger relief networks and accompany rural communities whose livelihoods depend on stable agricultural policy – making the Farm Bill one of the most consequential pieces of legislation for our shared ministry. The Farm Bill, which authorizes the SNAP program and most nutrition policy, is one of the most germane vehicles to address some of the most severe cuts made to hunger programs made through a party-line budgetary measure (H.R. 1) passed outside of traditional authorization procedure. Despite some modest gains in the new House Farm Bill text, prioritizing farm policy at the cost of codifying large cuts to hunger programs risks rupturing a longtime bipartisan coalition that historically has operated well together.

What’s Next:

The House Agriculture committee is anticipated to mark up the legislation – but in a tight legislative calendar, it will be an ambitious effort to pass the bill on the floor ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The ELCA Witness in Society office will be collaborating with interfaith partners to share top priorities and goals with lawmakers as the legislation advances.

• • Updating of the ELCA Farm Bill Engagement page on the ELCA Advocacy blog has resumed, including a link to the Action Alert opportunity, “Strengthen Hunger Provisions in Farm Bill.”

SAVE AMERICA ACT:  The SAVE America Act has passed in the House and awaits action in the Senate. Baseless voter fraud claims have ignited support for the SAVE America Act and related legislation, with a call to election integrity masking legislation that would make voting and voter registration more difficult. This would impact millions of American citizens ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. ELCA advocacy staff added to other voices nationwide to reject the restrictive legislation leading to reduced House support for the bill compared to 2025. Through the ELCA Action Center over 5,700 messages from the “Reject Voting Barriers and Oppose the SAVE Act | SAVE America Act” Action Alert were sent to members of Congress.

Why It Matters in the ELCA:

The SAVE America Act, if enacted, would add additional burdens on voters to provide eligibility – which non-partisan experts say would not make any noticeable change to election security. The adjustments would disproportionately impact rural, low-income and marginalized communities and members of Tribal Nations by making it harder to both prove eligibility and register to vote.

• • The ELCA strongly affirms voter participation as an exercise in citizenship and resists efforts to restrict access – especially for low-income communities which are often left out of the election process. The ELCA social message “Government and Civic Engagement in the United States: Discipleship in a Democracy” urges rejection of “antidemocratic exclusion” efforts to restrict voting, including “requiring voters to show identification without issuing identification to all eligible voters,” purging voter rolls, and more.

What’s Next:

The ELCA will continue urging Congress to reject voting barriers and oppose legislation similar to the SAVE Act. The ELCA federal policy team will collaborate with ELCA Racial Justice and Ministries of Diverse Cultures and Communities colleagues to support and resource their ministries and partners. The “Reject Voting Barriers and Oppose the SAVE Act | SAVE America Act” Action Alert is still live.

ADMINISTRATION REPEALS THE ENDANGERMENT FINDING: In 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signed findings regarding greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, including what is known as the Endangerment Finding. Despite many advocacy efforts to bring forward concerns, repeal of the Endangerment Finding was announced by the EPA on Feb. 12, 2026. The Endangerment Finding is focused on the conclusion that current and projected concentrations of the certain greenhouse gases in the atmosphere threaten the public health and welfare of current and future generations. This finding served as the legal basis on which the federal government can regulate greenhouse gas emissions based on public health. In July 2025, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced a proposal to rescind that finding which led to the repeal.

Why It Matters in the ELCA:

The ELCA released an official statement in response to the announcement of the repeal. The statement outlines the social teaching basis for increased regulation of greenhouse gas emissions in opposition to any attempts to weaponize or distort scientific research. The ELCA gave testimony at an EPA public hearing in support of upholding the finding. The Rev. Kaari Reierson, ELCA Corporate Social Responsibility Program Director, delivered that testimony based upon ELCA social teaching, and several other ELCA ministers also testified. Public comments were also recorded in the Federal Register. Additionally, ELCA advocacy staff scheduled a meeting with the EPA Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs to discuss these concerns.

What’s Next:

ELCA Advocacy staff will continue to monitor legal challenges as well as any legislative opportunities to ensure public health protections for current and future generations.

FEDERAL POLICY IMPACTS FOR BURMA: The House of Representatives has passed the Bringing Real Accountability Via Enforcement in Burma Act (BRAVE Burma Act), extending expiring authorities outlined in the BURMA Act of 2022. The BURMA Act of 2022 authorizes humanitarian assistance and civil society support, promotes democracy and human rights. The BURMA Act of 2022 also imposes targeted sanctions against individuals and entities who helped stage the Feb. 1, 2021, coup d’état and are responsible for the subsequent repression of fundamental freedoms, human rights abuses and use of indiscriminate violence towards civilians and other gross atrocities.

Why It Matters in the ELCA:

The ELCA accompanies and works with four companion churches in Myanmar: the Myanmar Lutheran Church, Lutheran Church in Myanmar, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Myanmar – Lutheran Bethlehem Church, and the Mara Evangelical Church. This partnership helps support those displaced by fighting with living supplies and shelter, and children and young adults with education. Witness in Society staff worked with advocacy partners to ensure passage of the BURMA Act of 2022.

What’s Next:

The BRAVE Burma Act (H.R. 3190) has been referred to the Senate for consideration. Witness in Society staff will continue to advocate for passage of this bill in the Senate.

WAR WITH IRAN: On Feb. 28, the United States and the State of Israel initiated hostilities with the Islamic Republic of Iran via an intensive bombing campaign of Iran’s civilian, theological and military infrastructure. This joint attack was initiated without Congressional authorization for the use of force (war powers act). Since Feb. 28, the U.S. military and the Israeli military have jointly conducted 2,000 airstrikes across the country. The resultant airstrikes have killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and around 40 top military and civilian leaders within the government.

Why It Matters in the ELCA:

The ELCA social teaching provides numerous opportunities to discuss the parameters under which a war may be necessary, and the considerations required through the discussion of the just/unjust war tradition. As explained through the ELCA social statement For Peace in God’s World, “We seek guidance from the principles of the ‘just/unjust war’ tradition. While permitting recourse to war in exceptional circumstances, these principles intend to limit such occasions by setting forth conditions that must be met to render military action justifiable. We begin with a strong presumption against all war; support for and participation in a war to restore peace is a tragic concession to a sinful world. Any decision for war must be a mournful one.” It is clear the American public has not been provided the necessary time or engagement to deliberate on the necessity of this war, and thus have Congress render a legal judgement on whether to authorize the use of force and a war.

What’s Next:

ELCA advocacy staff continue to visit Congressional offices to draw attention to the necessity of war powers resolutions as this use of force continues to pummel the region. It is important that members of Congress use their constitutional power to ensure that our government is engaging constructively in matters of war, peace and the common good.

DHS PARTIAL SHUTDOWN CONTINUES AS CONGRESS WEIGHS MORE FUNDING FOR ICE: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) remains partially shut down after legislators failed to reach a funding agreement after over two months of negotiations. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) continue to work and receive pay throughout the shutdown Funding for ICE and CBP continued work comes from the more than $170 billion for immigration and border enforcement passed last July.

No immediate Homeland Security budget deal is in sight. In late March, the Senate reached a bipartisan deal to pass a DHS funding bill that carved out ICE and parts of CBP – overall a win for immigration advocates despite a remaining lack of clarity around ICE oversight and reforms. The House rejected this bill, and are instead working on a “Reconciliation 2.0 package” that would provide even more funding to ICE and CBP.

Why It Matters in the ELCA:

The ELCA has been raising the importance of meaningful accountability in outreach to legislators, noting how lack of accountability threatens our communities from Minneapolis to Chicago and in many communities where ICE has increased its presence. This negotiation period is a critical time to push for meaningful changes to be written into appropriations law.

What’s Next:

An ELCA Action Alert is available to transmit your message to law makers: “No ICE Funding Without Accountability.” We will continue to press legislators to reach an agreement that includes specific, measurable protections for immigrants and communities.

Receive monthly Advocacy Connections directly by becoming part of the ELCA Advocacy network – http://elca.org/advocacy/signup , and learn more from elca.org/advocacy .

Tropical Cyclone Gezani | Image credit MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC

February and March 2026 were marked by a series of devastating climate-induced disasters and escalating conflicts across the globe. Together, these crises have profoundly impacted lives, livelihoods, health, housing, and the environment—placing millions of people in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. During this period alone, national and international agencies reported seven medium and large-scale weather and climate-related disasters, highlighting the growing intensity and frequency of such events.

Major Climate and Natural Disasters

• Brazil – Floods and Landslides: In late February, relentless rainfall triggered catastrophic flooding and landslides in Minas Gerais, particularly in Juiz de Fora. More than 70 lives were lost, and nearly 10,000 people were displaced, leaving communities devastated and in need of urgent relief.
• Madagascar – Tropical Cyclone Gezani (Early February): Cyclone Gezani struck Madagascar with destructive force, claiming over 30 lives and displacing thousands. It was the second major cyclone to hit the country within just two weeks, compounding vulnerability and damage.
• Southern Africa – Regional Flooding: Persistent heavy rains worsened flooding across Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. The widespread inundation caused severe damage to infrastructure, agriculture, and homes, deepening regional humanitarian needs.
• Colombia – Widespread Floods: Continuous rainfall from early February led to flooding across 17 municipalities, damaging more than 12,000 homes and disrupting thousands of lives.
• Kenya – Floods (March): Beginning March 6, intense rains triggered deadly flooding across parts of Kenya, resulting in more than 70 reported deaths and widespread displacement.
• India – Tornado and Floods (March 15): A powerful tornado struck Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district, killing two people and injuring dozens. The disaster was followed by extensive flooding, further exacerbating local hardship.
• Philippines – Canlaon Volcano Eruption (Mid-March): A moderate eruption of Canlaon Volcano sent a 5-kilometer ash plume into the sky, affecting at least 54 villages with ashfall and disrupting daily life.

Escalating Conflicts and Humanitarian Crises

Alongside natural disasters, ongoing conflicts continue to force millions from their homes and deepen global instability. In Ukraine and Gaza, displacement remains widespread as civilians continue to flee in search of safety. Meanwhile, intensifying conflict in Iran and other parts of the Middle East is claiming thousands of lives and rendering vast areas uninhabitable. These conflicts are not only humanitarian tragedies but are also straining the global economy and worsening living conditions far beyond the immediate regions. Fear, uncertainty, and psychological stress have become part of daily life for affected populations.

According to recent reports from UN and UN-supported platforms:

• Lebanon: Over 1.2 million people—nearly one-fifth of the population—have been displaced.
• Somalia: Rising fuel costs and supply disruptions linked to Middle East conflict threaten to worsen conditions for children already suffering from prolonged drought.
• Afghanistan: Nearly two-thirds of families affected by severe drought report increased child labour, while only about one in five children is attending school.
• Yemen: An estimated 18.3 million people are facing acute food insecurity, highlighting one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises.

A Growing Global Emergency

These overlapping crises—climate disasters and armed conflicts—are placing unprecedented strain on vulnerable communities and humanitarian systems worldwide. The scale and complexity of needs underscore the urgency for coordinated global action, sustained funding, and long-term resilience-building efforts.

Without immediate and collective response, the gap between humanitarian needs and available support will continue to widen, leaving millions at risk.

Supporting Communities Through Lutheran Disaster Response

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 those things in Acts. In Acts, we find a community that is desperate for survival, at odds with empire, and who have no idea how they are going to survive.

When this text tells us that everyone gave what they had and nobody was in need, we see them acting much more like a family than how we often think about churches. The people of this early church relied on one another to survive, not because of who they were or where they came from. Rather, because following Christ required it. We know from later on in Acts that this type of community didn’t last very long. However, for a brief time, their gathering as people who believed in the resurrection of Christ allowed them to overcome the challenges that come with being a Christian community. 

We’re talking about Awe today. The text says it was the awe and reverence that the early followers had for Jesus and the signs and wonders the apostles were still performing, that built that community. Which is to say, Christ’s presence built the community, not human strength, kindness, or pleasantries. We don’t know exactly what these signs and wonders were that were spreading the gospel, yet I have to imagine they were a continuation of Jesus’ ministry: sitting with people, loving them despite their failings, calling out cultural wrongs, performing miracles. All signs and wonders that many churches continue to do today, though not often the ones that make the news. 

Opening Exercise

Awe is a feeling of wonder, respect, and admiration mixed with joy and fear in response to something vast and

“Earthset” captured on Flight Day 6 of the Artemis 2 mission to the moon. (Image credit: NASA)

powerful.

Share about a time you remember experiencing awe. Find a photo that attempts to capture either what gave you awe (the mountains) or the feeling (celebrating a sports victory). 

• What commonalities do you find between your photos? 

Note: Nowadays, I ask our youth to use their phones to find a photo, with a device or two on standby in case someone doesn’t have one. In the past, I would have printed a set of “awe” photos for students to pick from.

Read the Text

Acts 2:42-47

Awe and Belonging

When I think about the book of Acts, the first thing I think of is a community that shared everything so that no one was in need.  This verse has stuck with me in a way that many Bible verses don’t. I suspect it’s because it’s so incomprehensible to me. I’ve known incredibly generous people who give their time and money to help others in need. I have even given money and time on my own, but I have never been a part of a community where everybody had their needs filled. I mean that in a physical sense, but this verse could just as easily apply to emotional safety, friendship, hobbies, academic support, and love.

A community where nobody is in need would certainly be awe-inspiring to me. What’s striking is that, for this community in Acts, Awe comes first. We read that the people were filled with awe after Jesus’ resurrection and before a community formed where everyone had what they needed. Awe came first. Awe at what? At the presence of God. 

While Jesus was in heaven, his followers continued his ministry. People were perceptive enough to notice the Jesus-like work in their midst. Then they were bold enough to claim it. This community existed because people were dwelling together with God. Today, we often talk about God, but this wasn’t about opinions, education, or even the Bible. This was a community of people who had experienced God’s grace and trusted one another when they shared their experiences. It was holy in a really simple way.

Awe and Belonging

If we were to continue reading Acts, we know that this community without need does not last. It makes me wonder if it’s the Awe fading away into the background that leads to the dissolution of the community. Being in awe of Jesus, or God’s power, or the Holy Spirit’s guidance, changes what it means to be a person of faith in our world. We are not starting each day looking for a way to serve. We’re simply starting each day asking God to show us awe. We no longer have a to-do list so much as we are tasked with looking for where God shows up in mysterious and powerful ways. Perhaps being a follower of Christ starts with the expectation that God is already doing something wonderful. Our role is to notice it.

Reflection Questions

• What does the text say caused the awe the community experienced? What do we think those wonders and signs were?

• Do you know any extremely generous people? Have you ever asked them why they give so much?

• When you have experienced awe, what did you want to do next?

• Where do we look to find God doing something wonderful out in the world?

Closing Activity 

• Make a list of things, or types of things, that inspire awe. (Ex. Nature, someone sharing something deep, a good dessert)
• Send your group to find something that deserves awe and wonder and bring it back to your space.
• Share with a partner what was awe inspiring about what you brought back.

Closing Prayer

Holy One, you created a world more marvelous than we can even know. Lead us into awe this week, spark wonder in our minds and reverence in our hearts. Guide us into community through a deep appreciation of your majesty. Amen.

Bio

Lindsay Batesmith is the pastor of Rejoice Lutheran Church in Erie, CO. She is consistently in awe of the power of vulnerability to connect us to each other and invite the Holy Spirit to transform lives. When not at Church or her favorite coffee shop, Lindsay is usually playing with her dog, Echo, or watching the Great British Bakeoff with her wife, Tillie.

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 the wounds” moment that Thomas was so desperate for. The meal is where Jesus is the most recognizable version of himself.

The gospel of Luke, more than the other gospels, emphasizes roads and journeys for both Christ and people of faith. It is fitting, therefore, that we meet Christ on the road as the disciples’ doubts, questions, and pain swirl around them. Their movement in the passage reflects where the disciples are in their processing. They are moving and progressing forward as they are vulnerable with each other and this stranger. When they cry out that they had hoped Jesus really was the messiah, they reveal their underlying fear: it now appears he was not. It isn’t until right before Christ is revealed to them that they find a place to stop and sit with their grief. Once he is revealed, the disciples are on the road again, this time to redeem the story that was told as they left. 

Opening Exercise

Are you currently hoping for anything in particular? What does it feel like to hope for something with true hope (something you cannot work towards on your own, but something you have to trust God, or someone else, to come through for you?). 

Read the Text:

Luke 24:13-35

When Easter Hope Isn’t all Shiny and Pastel

A few years ago I was talking with a friend about her husband’s cancer diagnosis. In this conversation I could feel the

The Road to Emmaus (Gang nach Emmaus), 1877, by Robert Zünd. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

sadness and frustration starting to get me down so I said something along the lines of “but we’re hopeful the next treatment will work!” I am ever the person to add sugar to a terrible situation. Luckily, my friend was willing to be honest and vulnerable with me. She said, “honestly, I’m feeling kind of burned by hope. I’d rather not.” I was stunned…Isn’t hope a good thing? 

But she shared that they’d been hoping. That they had hoped the tumor wasn’t cancer at all and then it was. They had hoped the cancer wouldn’t progress and then it did. They had hoped chemo would work and then it didn’t. She, like the disciples on the road in our story, was tired of hope.

When you think about it, hope sets us up to be burned a time or two because, when we start hoping, our whole demeanor changes. We go from a place of accepting our circumstance to dreaming about what things could be like if God, or someone more powerful than we are, stepped up. It’s the dreaming that makes hope dangerous. The disciples who met Jesus on the road had been hoping that Jesus was going to redeem Israel. When it looks like that hasn’t and won’t happen, they are down worse than they were before they met Jesus. They are more upset than when they had no hope.

Easter Hope

What really gets the disciples is that they assume this is the end of the story. They have left the other disciples, wallowing as they walk back towards their lives before hope. But that isn’t how Jesus works. They stop having hope because they tied their hope to very specific outcomes. They hoped that Jesus would redeem them in an earthly battle. They hoped Jesus would never die. They hoped in far smaller ways than our God works. 

When Jesus is revealed in the meal, what the disciples start to see is that their hope made Jesus way too small. They didn’t need to hope he wouldn’t die, because he overcame death. They didn’t need to hope that Jesus would win some earthly battle leaving some new people to be corrupted by power while others struggled. Christ brings the Kingdom of God in which there is abundance for everyone and nobody is lesser than anyone else. This story shows us the danger of hope in our world, not because we might be disappointed (though that’s always a bummer), but because if we hope with too much specificity we might miss who God is altogether. 

When we hope, we hope in a God who is doing far bigger things than our imaginations can handle. The same God who has kept my friend’s husband alive and well for far longer now than any doctor expected.

Reflection Questions

• What do you think the disciples had hoped would happen instead of the cross?
• When have you missed, or almost missed, something really good because you were hoping for something else?
• How can we hope while being faithful to how gigantic our God is? How do we make sure our hopes aren’t putting God in a box?

Closing Activity 

Have students get into pairs and share their hopes. Invite them to gently “correct” each other until their hope is Christ sized, not limited to our own imaginations.

Here’s an example:

• I hope my friend gets better.
• I hope my friend is no longer in pain or the hospital.
• I hope my friend is able to live a rich and happy life with/without their illness.

Once each student has a God-sized hope, share them with the group.

Closing Prayer

Prayer of Good Courage:

O God, you have called your servants
to ventures of which we cannot see the ending,
by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown.
Give us faith to go out with good courage,
not knowing where we go,
but only that your hand is leading us
and your love supporting us,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Bio

Lindsay Batesmith is the pastor of Rejoice Lutheran Church in Erie, CO. She is consistently in awe of the power of vulnerability to connect us to each other and invite the Holy Spirit to transform lives. When not at church or her favorite coffee shop, Lindsay is usually playing with her dog, Echo, or watching the Great British Bakeoff with her wife, Tillie.

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, conducted by Dr. Shannon Gravelle, with Dr. Catherine Rodland, organ. Watch here!

Association of Lutheran Church Musicians

ALCM nurtures and equips musicians to serve and lead the church’s song.

ALCM  2026 Conference “Now and Forever”

St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn.
Celebrating the 1986 ALCM Constituting Convention
Overlapping with Lutheran Summer Music’s Festival Week!
Featuring Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, Bach Collegium Valparaiso, Christopher M. Cock, artistic director. (Made possible through generous support provided by Pauline and John Kiltinen.

Registration is open.
The emphasis of this conference is on practical skill-building. Check out the nearly complete list of presenters and workshops on the conference website. Reasonably-priced, air-conditioned dormitory housing is still available and can be booked at time of conference registration or at a later date. Register now and make plans to envision the future of Lutheran Church music.

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 Annual Conference
Rebirth: Singing Death, Singing Life
Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, N. J.
July 19-22

For eighteen years, we have seen Lutherans lead ecumenical worship with theological depth and musical excellence. This tradition continues at The Hymn Society’s 2026 Annual Conference in Princeton, NJ, from July 19–22.

The event features a strong Lutheran roster, including Marcell Silva Steuernagel, Gracia M. Grindal, Maren Haynes Marchesini, Lola Bobrow and Adan Fernandez. From veteran scholars to rising students, our voices are shepherding this year’s song.

Join your colleagues for a week of professional growth and spiritual renewal. Let’s show up and sing together. Watch this video announcement and visit The Hymn Society website to register. Information about registration fees, accommodations, meal plans and other important details are available on the website.

Advance registration through June 1
Regular registration starting June 2

Center for Church Music

The Center for Church Music, on the campus of Concordia University Chicago, provides ongoing research and educational resources in Lutheran church music.

 2026 Awards for College and Seminary Students

THE 2026 WILLIAM WOLFRAM STUDENT AWARD IN LITURGICAL ART
Recognizes student artists who evidence:
* Commitment to Christian faith and practice
* Excellence in artistic expression
* Commitment to creating pieces purposed for use within worship settings
$1,000.00 prize

Deadline: May 1st, 2026  Submit a single PDF with quality images of your work, one full image and one or two detail images along with title, media, dimensions, year created, and anything else you want the judges to know.  Send to Barry.Bobb@CUChicago.edu  (Recent grads—since May 2024—may also apply.)

THE 2026 RICHARD HILLERT AWARD IN STUDENT COMPOSITION
Submitted piece must be a church music composition (3-5 minutes in length) – suitable for a liturgical service.
$1,000.00 prize

Deadline: June 1st, 2026   Submit two copies (one with your name and one unattributed). Recordings are encouraged but not required. Send to Barry.Bobb@CUChicago.edu (Recent grads—since May 2024—may also apply.)

Prepare:

Jesus’ disciples are familiar with fear. Throughout the gospel of John, we hear that Jesus’ followers are filled with fear, especially of the Jewish authorities. To proclaim Jesus as messiah is to face expulsion from the synagogue and separation from family and friends. Following Jesus comes with fear and risk. This fear is compounded at Jesus’ death. He tries to prepare his disciples for his death and resurrection, but they are unable to comprehend these predictions.

After Jesus’ death, the disciples’ fears are intensified by grief. They had hoped for Jesus to rebuild Israel into a great nation and end Roman occupation. They also had hoped to be at his side when he did it. But now their leader and friend, as well as their status and hopes for the future, are all lost. They are unsure of their standing in the Jewish community and unable to trust in the news of Jesus’ resurrection. Consequently, the disciples have no idea what to do next.

Into this situation of fear and uncertainty, Jesus shows up. Jesus shows up, gifting the disciples with his peace and the Holy Spirit. These gifts empower the disciples to begin planning for a new future of proclaiming Christ’s love to others.

Opening Exercise:

Listen to the hymn Let There Be Peace on Earth or read the lyrics.

Discuss together what you felt and heard as you listened to the hymn.

• What lyrics stood out to you?
• What does it mean for peace on earth to begin with you?
• The hymn emphasizes seeing others as our family. How does seeing others as family help promote peace on earth?

Text Read Aloud:

John 20:19-31

Peace Be With You

If you are like me and my congregation, you have been praying for peace. A lot. Praying for peace in our world is a regular worship practice. It has certainly felt needed in the last month as we have watched the war between Iran and Israel and the United States. Amid the violence and loss of life, we pray for God’s mercy and presence. Among the fear and chaos of war, we pray for Jesus’ peace, hoping this ceasefire holds.

The time after Jesus’ death was filled with fear and chaos. The disciples were hiding in a locked room. They didn’t trust

James Tissot, The Appearance of Christ at the Cenacle, 1886–1894. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

the message from Mary Magdalene that Jesus was risen. They were afraid of the religious leaders. They had no idea what to do next. So, alone and afraid, they hid.

Into their fear and chaos, Jesus shows up and proclaims not once but three times, “Peace be with you.” In some ways, we could say Jesus’ proclamation of peace changes nothing. The disciples are still alone in a locked room, afraid of what will come next. Yet, in other ways Jesus’ proclamation of peace changes everything. Jesus’ greeting of peace offers reassurance to the scared disciples. It does not change the disciples’ present circumstances, but it changes the disciples. Blessed with Jesus’ peace, the peace that passes all understanding, the peace that provides calm even in a chaotic world, the disciples are empowered to go out and begin their ministry.

Peace Be With You

Jesus’ peace does not yet equate a world in harmony. We know that on this side of heaven, we will not know a world without war and violence, pain and strife. Unfortunately, this is what we do as humans. This does not mean, however, we are left in fear and despair. Instead, Jesus blesses us with the peace that passes all understanding. Jesus’ peace gives us the ability to trust in God’s presence and provision even when surrounded by fear and chaos. Jesus’ peace gives us hope, even when the world gives us so many reasons for worry and despair. Such a peace moves us to action.

As we await Jesus’ second coming and the redemption of the world, we do not simply accept the violence of the world. We are called to share Jesus’ peace with those around us. As the hymn states, let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me. We, like the early apostles, have received the gifts of Jesus’ peace and are empowered to go out and share that peace with others.

Reflective Questions:

• How do you think Jesus’ disciples felt before Jesus arrived? How did their emotions change after Jesus arrived?
• Jesus tells the disciples, “as the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” What are the disciples sent out to do? How are we, as Jesus’ disciples, also sent out?
• What was a time where you felt at peace? Share what makes this memory special to you. What provided you with peace?
• What are some ways you find peace when you are feeling anxious?

Closing Activity:

Brainstorm three ways your group can work for peace: one within your congregation, one in your community, and one in our country.

Some ideas to get you started:

• Write cards to a group or family in need of encouragement
• Reach out to a different faith community to learn about their ministry and build relationships of understanding
• Volunteer with an organization working for the good of your community

Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with you!

Final Prayer:

Holy God,

We ask that you draw near to us when we are feeling anxious or afraid. Fill us with your peace and empower us to share your peace with others. Amen.

Bio

Amy Martinell serves as the Associate Pastor of Congregational Care at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, SD. Amy shares her life with her husband, three kids, a disinterested cat, and a disobedient beagle. She loves reading, baking, and swimming.

Prepare

The gloom and despair of Matthew 26-27 hangs over the beginning of chapter 28. Those who had followed Jesus, who had been welcomed by his grace, had lost everything. All of their hopes had been cruelly nailed to the cross with violent and stunning finality. Many of those close to him, fearing for their own lives and darkened by unspeakable despair, hid in a room. Three women who had followed him, however, forced themselves to bring honor to Jesus one last time, heading out early in the morning to anoint his broken, scarred, dead body for burial.

Jesus had interrupted their lives with the call to follow him. It was an interruption that took them places they never dared dream possible.

But now, his execution put paid to all of that.

Until…

Opening Exercise:

When you hear the word, “Easter,” what memories/feelings/images/stories does it conjure up for you?

Text Read Aloud:

Matthew 28:1-10

A Bike Crash and the Empty Tomb

On March 11, 2019, I was finishing up a 20-mile bike ride. I’d been riding the bike paths of Glendale, Peoria, and Phoenix, AZ for over 13 years. To that point I had cycled over 40,000 miles! Starting out the day with an early morning ride was one of the best parts of my day. In fact, it still is!

But that day, about two miles from my house, riding around a corner I had ridden dozens of times, my front tire slipped on some loose gravel and I fell. Hard. My right shoulder and head did battle against the cement path. Thanks to my helmet, my head won. My shoulder, however, lost. Badly.

I wasn’t in pain, but the first thing I noticed, after getting up off of the ground, was that my right shoulder was several inches higher than it should be.

I had blown up all of the ligaments that held my shoulder together. Two weeks later I was in surgery.

That split second interrupted my life for several months. Being right-handed and now in a harness, it interrupted my eating. My teeth brushing. My sleep­­; I slept in an easy chair for 12 months! My ability to type/text. My bathing habits. My ability to show up and lead worship. My ability to drive and hug my grandkids.

Interruptions are a part of life. Moments that can reset the paths of our lives. Some of those interruptions impact us positively: falling in love; graduating high school; starting a job; gaining new friends; moving to a new city. Others can set us back and negatively impact our lives: cancer; the loss of a loved one; divorce; an injury.

Sometimes those interruptions break us.

Easter’s Interruption

Matthew’s Gospel recounts an interruption that not only changed the trajectory of two women’s lives, but one that continues to reverberate to this day; an interruption that changes everything.

The Women at the Tomb, Novgorod School icon, 15th century. Public domain image via Wikimedia Commons.

2000 years ago God interrupted human history when God’s grace exploded out of a tomb in Jerusalem, interrupting:

• Death with life
• Sin with forgiveness
• Despair with hope
• Anxiety with peace
• Grief with the presence of God

For three years, Jesus made his way throughout Israel interrupting people with the call to follow him; to live as loved and forgiven people; to live as loving and forgiving people. It was a call that changed the trajectory of the lives of all who followed him.

Easter’s Interruption

That mission of interrupting people’s lives with God’s grace, however, was seemingly interrupted itself—and finished—when Jesus was crucified.

But God’s grace interrupted that interruption by raising Jesus from the dead. In the process, God interrupted all those interruptions that rob us of life.

Easter, the interruption of God’s grace, changes the orientation of our lives. It roots our lives in God’s love for us. It holds us steady through all the ups and downs and all the interruptions thrown at us in this life.

And that grace, that unconditional love that God has for you and for me, is the one thing in life we can always count on. It’s the one thing that no interruption can ever interrupt.

Today, Jesus, the crucified and risen Savior comes to interrupt your life with grace. He says to you:

• You are mine
• You’re my child
• I love you

No matter what life throws your way, I will always be there for you. I will always have your back.

So follow me as I interrupt your life with my grace!

Reflection Questions:

• How do you think the women felt when the Angel of the Lord interrupted their visit to the tomb?
• Think back to one or two positive and negative interruptions in your life. How did they affect you?
• Why or how does Jesus’ resurrection change everything?
• How has the call of Jesus interrupted your life?

Closing Activity:

As a group, or as individuals, think about one practical way that you might interrupt the life or lives of someone with a tangible expression of God’s love for them.

Final Blessing:

Choose someone to pray this blessing over the group:

I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:16-19, NRSVue)

Bio

Tim Wright served as an ELCA pastor for 41 years. He and his wife, Jan, have been married since 1979. They have two adult children, five grandchildren, and two dachshunds. They live in Glendale, AZ. You can access Tim’s Reckless Grace Substack at https://recklessgrace.substack.com/ and his Deep-Grace Diving Podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/4WPRRpqMtUzyPeqcqbqrgv

He is also the author of the middle school series: The Adventures of Toby Baxter. https://www.timwrightbooks.com/

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.

Dangerous Songs: The Psalms and a Gloriously Disrupted Life

Taking us on a tour through the Psalms, Dangerous Songs explores three grand dimensions of human life–thriving, desolation and uncertainty. With an eye toward trauma theory, the psychology of recovery, practices of cultivating delight, and the inherent musicality of the Psalms, longtime Psalms teacher Richard Bruxvoort Colligan offers an integrative approach to the complexity of life and lifelong spiritual formation. People have long turned to the Psalms for comfort and consolation. Now Dangerous Songs also reveals how, if we read them with fresh eyes and a willing heart, these ancient texts will wreck our perfectly okay faith–and transform it into something deeper.

Preaching to the Choir: The Care and Nurture of the Church Choir, Second Edition

Preaching to the Choir imparts practical and pastoral wisdom to church musicians in their vocation as choir directors. With deep care for those who sing and a warm sense of humor, Wold invites all who work with choirs to discover the amazing responsibility and opportunity in this unique and wonderful ministry. This second edition attends to recent challenges choir directors have encountered and provides guidance as they look to the future, always with a sense of the Spirit’s presence.

For Every Matter under Heaven: Preaching on Special Occasions

Beyond ordinary Sunday morning worship, many other “seasons”–special occasions–arise for preaching in the life of the church, whether by virtue of the secular calendar or celebrations or circumstances in the congregation or community. For Every Matter under Heaven: Preaching on Special Occasions offers preachers a process for creating sermons that are biblically grounded and relevant to the occasion. Beverly Zink-Sawyer and Donna Giver-Johnston offer preachers a process for finding appropriate sermon texts for special occasions by considering the occasion itself, the listeners who might be gathered, and the ways God is at work in that time and place. Through this process, preachers can offer a word for every matter under heaven.

ChildrenSing Creation

This engaging collection for singers 8-12 years old provides 11 anthems that highlight a variety of themes related to creation from the delight of God’s creative activity to our role in honoring and caring for the earth. Composers include Helen Kemp, John Ferguson, and Mark Patterson. To facilitate the learning process, this collection includes both the complete score with accompaniment for the director and a reproducible melody line version for the singer.

Augsburg Fortress Music Clinics

Locations
Columbia, S.C. — July 24-25
Twin Cities, Minn. — July 27-28
Columbus, Ohio — August 3-4
Philadelphia, Pa. — August 6-7
Chicago, Ill. — August 10-11

More information about the event and registration for a FREE music clinic near you is available here.

By Abigail Raghunath [About the author]

Origins of the Declaration of Human Rights

In the aftermath of World War II, the United Nations began to take shape, grounded in a vision of peace, dignity and shared responsibility. Its foundational document, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, was not just a promise; it was a global commitment that human rights are universal and must be protected.

While the declaration was drafted by representatives from across the globe, it holds a special connection to the Lutheran community. The Rev. O. Frederick Nolde, a professor at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, participated in the drafting through his work with the World Council of Churches. In collaboration with Eleanor Roosevelt, he helped shape Article 18, affirming the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

Given this history, it serves as a reminder to not only Lutherans but to Christians more broadly that advocating for justice and human dignity is part of our moral duty.

Experience in 2026 at CSW70

Each year, at the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), UN entities, civil society organizations and Member States come together to assess both the progress made and the gaps that remain in advancing gender equality. These discussions are guided by the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, as well as the 23rd special session of the General Assembly (Beijing+5), and they continue to address emerging issues affecting women and girls worldwide.

In 2026, CSW70 looked quite different from previous sessions. Visa restrictions affecting participants from over 70 countries, disagreements over key terminology and rising geopolitical polarization all shaped the experience. In response, there was a stronger emphasis on virtual participation to ensure that voices unable to be physically present were still heard.

At the same time, conversations around issues such as armed conflict, sexual and reproductive health care and migration required thoughtful and careful engagement.

Despite these challenges, CSW70 ended on a hopeful note, with the adoption of agreed conclusions that renewed the global commitment to ensuring that all women and girls have access to justice.

Religion and Human Rights

Human rights are often framed as secular and sometimes even in tension with religion; but we know that this narrative falls short. The call to love our neighbor, to treat others with dignity and to stand against injustice is deeply rooted in scripture.

Today, churches and other faith-based organizations work tirelessly to advocate for human dignity, provide humanitarian aid and protect vulnerable communities. Churches like ours hold a unique role because we are trusted within our communities and carry a moral responsibility to speak out for what is right.

Within spaces like CSW and the United Nations, the Lutheran delegation shows up not just as another civil society organization, but particularly as a faith-based voice that reflects the values of the Christian tradition. That voice is demonstrating how our faith calls us to stand with and protect others.

Seeking Justice Together

At CSW70, we saw this in action. Through interfaith dialogue, ecumenical women’s engagement and youth participation, we were able to advocate for greater access to justice for women and girls. Together, we are stronger; and together, we continue the call to seek justice and serve others.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Abigail (“Abby”) Raghunath is an ELCA Hunger Advocacy Fellow placed with the Lutheran Office for World Community (LOWC), the Lutheran representation to the United Nations. Raghunath is a native New Yorker. She recently earned a master’s degree in International Security, Conflict Resolution, and Gender Public Policy from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, where her research focused on the impacts of climate and conflict on civilians. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Relations from City College of New York. Earlier this year, Raghunath interned with the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, contributing to advocacy on women’s participation in defense and security reform.

Prepare 

Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem in Matthew 21:1-11 marks the beginning of Holy Week. The scene feels celebratory, but it’s actually layered with tension. Jesus enters the city not on a war horse nor in a display of political power, but on a donkey. In doing so, he fulfills the prophecy from Zechariah 9:9. This signals a different kind of kingship: one rooted in humility and solidarity with ordinary people. 

As Jesus enters, the crowds respond with enthusiasm. They spread cloaks on the road, wave branches, and shout “Hosanna,” which means “save us.” This is both praise and protest, a cry for deliverance. Many in the crowds likely expected Jesus to overthrow Roman rule and restore political power to Israel. Their understanding of “salvation” was shaped by their lived oppression. 

Yet, the kind of salvation Jesus brings does not align with their expectations. His path doesn’t lead to a throne of dominance, but to the cross; and the same crowds that shout “Hosanna” will, within days, fall silent or turn away. 

This passage invites us to consider how we recognize, or fail to recognize, God at work. It challenges assumptions about power, leadership, and what it means to be saved. It also raises an important question for today: What kind of change are we hoping for, and are we open to it if it looks different than we imagined? 

Opening Exercise 

Watch this video about a community organization in Minneapolis called Singing Resistance. 

As you watch, pay attention to what you hear in their voices. 

• What are they carrying? 
• What are they hoping for?

After the video, ask: 

• What emotions did you notice? 
• What do you think they are longing for or crying out for? 
• Where do you hear something like “Hosanna” in this?

Transition to the text: In Matthew 21, the crowd is also crying out, but the word they use is ‘Hosanna,’ literally: save us. 

Text Read Aloud 

Matthew 21:1–11 

Hosanna: When Salvation Looks Different

It looks like a parade. 

There’s movement, noise, energy. People are lining the road, waving branches, shouting. Cloaks are thrown down like a makeshift red carpet. The crowd is caught up in the moment. 

“Hosanna!” they cry.
“Save us!” 

This is what hope looks like when it spills out into the street.
But look closer.
Jesus isn’t riding in like the kind of king they know. There’s no armor, no horse, no show of force. He comes on a donkey, easy to miss if you weren’t paying attention. 

And still, they cheer.
They cheer because they believe this, this will change everything. 

The crowd has expectations. They are living under occupation. They are tired, burdened, longing for freedom. And here comes Jesus: healer, teacher, miracle-worker. Surely, this is the one who will fix it. Surely, this is the one who will take power, restore order, and make things right. 

But unbeknownst to them, Jesus is not entering Jerusalem to take power. He is entering to give himself away.
That’s the tension of this story. 

The same voices shouting “Hosanna!” are filled with hope. But, it’s a hope shaped by their understanding of how the world works. Power defeats power. Strength overcomes strength. Kings conquer. But Jesus redefines all of it. 

He comes in humility and vulnerability.
He comes in peace. 

And the kind of salvation Jesus brings won’t look like what they imagined. That’s what makes this story so close to us. 

We also carry expectations. We pray for change, for healing, for justice, for things to be made right. And often, we imagine what that should look like. We imagine how God should act, how quickly things should shift, how clearly victory should appear. 

Hosanna: When Salvation Looks Different

But what if God is already moving, and it just doesn’t look like what we expected? 

What if salvation doesn’t come through domination?
What if salvation doesn’t come through force?
What if salvation doesn’t come through winning?
Instead, it breaks in through love that refuses to let go, through relentless presence, or through a commitment to wading through trenches together. 

The crowd saw Jesus.
But they didn’t fully SEE Jesus. 

And maybe that’s where we begin too.
Learning to see again.
Learning to let go of the version of God we’ve constructed.
Learning to recognize that sometimes the most powerful thing God does… is easy to overlook. 

Hosanna still means “save us.”
The question is: are we ready for the kind of saving that actually comes? 

Reflection Questions 

1. What stands out to you about how Jesus enters Jerusalem in this story? What are the people doing, and how are they responding? 
2. Why do you think the crowd expected something different from Jesus? What does this tell us about how people understand power or leadership?
3. What does Jesus’ choice to ride a donkey (instead of a horse) say about the kind of king he is? 
4. Where in your life might you be expecting God to act in a certain way? What would it look like to be open to something different?

Closing Activity 

Hand out a small piece of paper to each person and invite them to write one word or short phrase they would shout “Hosanna” about. What do they need saving from or for right now? 

When they’re ready, invite them to fold their paper, holding their words with care and privacy, and place it on an altar or in another shared sacred space. 

From there, you have a couple of options depending on the trust and comfort level of your group. You may choose to read some of the prayers aloud, being mindful to protect what feels tender or personal. After each one, the group can respond together: “God, hear our cry.” 

Or, if it feels more appropriate, you can offer a few collective petitions shaped by what surfaced in your conversation, again inviting the group to respond: “God, hear our cry.” 

Final Prayer

Jesus,
you come to us in ways we don’t always expect.
You meet us in humility and presence.
Help us to see you clearly.
Help us to let go of what we think salvation should look like.
And open us to the kind of love that changes everything.
Hosanna.
Save us.
Amen. 

Bio of Author 

Emily Harkins is the Lead Pastor and Founding Developer of The Dwelling in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, a community rooted in belonging, dignity, and shared life alongside neighbors experiencing homelessness. She is passionate about justice, advocacy, and building spaces where people are fully seen and known. Emily is a Colorado native turned Southern Belle who loves Diet Coke, good stationery, and using “y’all” as often as possible.