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.

KANSAS | PENNSYLVANIA | VIRGINIA | WISCONSIN

Kansas Interfaith Action

Rabbi Moti Rieber, Executive Director

These last few months have been a whirlwind of advocacy, community building, and rapid response at Kansas Interfaith Action (KIFA). Following a much-needed holiday recharge, our team hit the ground running as the 2026 legislative session began, a session that has already proven to be as grueling as anticipated.

We rang in the new year by launching our legislative platform centered on a singular truth – human needs are human rights – and announcing a rally with the same theme. This vision came to life in January when over 650 Kansans and over a dozen coalition partners gathered at the State Capitol for our “Human Needs are Human Rights” rally, sending a powerful message that demanded human-centered policy and reminded elected leaders that every person is made in the image of God. In addition to this rally, KIFA has joined partners under the dome this legislative session for LGBTQ+ Equality Day, Anti-Hunger Action Day, and Latino Lobby Day to stand in solidarity with our neighbors.

Since the very start of this legislative session, we’ve been in high gear, mobilizing our KIFA base and navigating a legislative session defined by procedural chicanery and fast-tracked legislation. Critical priorities include mobilizing against SB 244, an anti-trans bill that threatens the safety and rights of the trans and broader LGBTQ+ communities. It would require gender markers on state IDs to match a person’s sex assigned at birth and require them to use the bathroom that matches that marker. We are now calling on our base to urge lawmakers to sustain the governor’s veto, which is widely and imminently expected. Both chambers passed it via “emergency action.” Read the “Kansas Interfaith Action Condemns Legislators’ Attacks on Gender Freedom and Broken Legislative Process” statement here, which includes a strong renouncement from Rabbi Moti Rieber, KIFA Executive Director.

We are also fighting SB 254 and HB 2448/HCR 5021, which collectively aim to strip benefits from immigrants and create unnecessary barriers to voting. Regarding the former, instead of receiving a hearing in a House committee, leadership decided to bypass the hearing process (like they did with SB 244, the anti-trans bill) and pass it via “emergency action” on the house floor. That being said, an amendment was passed stripping out the in-state tuition portion, so it doesn’t match the Senate bill. This means a joint Senate-House conference committee will be called to iron out the differences between the bills. Regarding the latter, HB 2448 requires that citizenship status be listed on Kansas state issued IDs, such as a driver’s license, regardless of legal immigration status. HCR 5021 rewrites the Kansas Constitution to require these state issued IDs or a passport in order to vote, restricting our right to vote to only those who can overcome certain barriers. While these bills have been introduced separately, together they lay out a deliberate plan to deny our freedom to vote while also putting our immigrant neighbors at risk.

On a non-legislative note, KIFA has also launched “We the People,” a virtual series on faith and public life, with the ELCA Central States Synod! We also completed a major overhaul of our website. Visit kansasinterfaithaction.org to check it out. We’re committed to helping Kansans put their faith into action, offline and online.

Contributing writer: Sagi Rudnick, KIFA Program & Advocacy Associate 

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania

Tracey DePasquale, Director

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania (LAMPa) staff kicked off 2026 by equipping youth and their leaders in the Lower Susquehanna Synod for hunger advocacy at Winterfest Youth Gathering. More than 200 youth and leaders at the synod’s annual winter retreat heard from recent LAMPa racial justice fellow Anna Oslikova about the transformative power of advocacy and then took first steps themselves — writing postcards to policymakers after packing more than 30,000 meals for hungry neighbors.

Oslikova, who completed an Isaiah 58:12 racial justice fellowship in 2025, shared her experience getting to know immigrant farmworkers in her region. “The lasting impact for me was the fact that advocacy takes courage, and stepping out of my comfort zone inspired me in ways like showing me my capabilities that I never thought I would have been able to have,” said Oslikova.

To mark MLK Day and equip disciples to pursue justice all year long, LAMPa partnered with United Lutheran Seminary and Gettysburg College to host “Prophets, Saints and Kings: Resisting Christian Nationalism and Building Beloved Community with King and Bonhoeffer.” Recordings of the event are available here.

LAMPa also unveiled a six-week curriculum (perfect for Lent) on the new ELCA social statement, Faith and Civic Life: Seeking the Well-being of All. Download the curriculum from here.

As we pray for the church in Minnesota and communities standing up for immigrant neighbors across our country, LAMPa has been working within the PA Immigration Coalition and supporting synods and congregations speaking up for state and local welcoming policies while developing rapid response networks across the Commonwealth.

Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy

Rev. Dr. LaKeisha Cook, Executive Director

The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy (VICPP) kicked off the 2026 General Assembly Legislative Session on January 14th with renewed momentum for change. This year, our priority bills address critical issues affecting Virginia communities: maternal health reform, higher education access for incarcerated individuals, affordable housing expansion and increased support for working families, including paid sick days.

As these bills move through the legislature, we’re encouraged by the bipartisan support many of our initiatives have garnered which is a hopeful sign in these politically divided times.

Beyond legislative advocacy, we mobilized faith leaders across Virginia to voice concerns about a proposed Department of Homeland Security purchase of a warehouse in Hanover County. Through coordinated efforts and unified advocacy, we successfully prevented this purchase from moving forward. This was a powerful demonstration of the power of organized faith communities to protect their neighborhoods.

On January 21st, we hosted our annual Day for All People lobby day in Richmond, Virginia. This signature event brought together over 425 participants who engaged directly with legislators and attended educational workshops focused on our policy priorities. The day’s programming featured a powerful panel discussion on the importance of intergenerational advocacy in the pursuit of justice, highlighting how voices across age groups strengthen our collective impact.

The strong turnout and enthusiastic participation demonstrate the deep commitment Virginians have to building a more just and equitable commonwealth. As the legislative session progresses, we remain dedicated to advancing policies that reflect our shared values of dignity, fairness, and opportunity for all.

Lutheran Office of Public Policy in Wisconsin

Kacy Kostiuk, Director

The Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin (LOPPW) continues to engage faithfully in public witness, policy advocacy, and outreach across the state.

Letter to Elected Officials

Recently, LOPPW sent the letter, “To Elected Officials Entrusted with Public Leadership in Wisconsin,” which expressed deep concern about the violence and fear in Minnesota following U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deployment and the ripple effects in Wisconsin communities. The letter called on public officials to speak clearly against violence, reject rhetoric that dehumanizes, promote transparency and accountability and work across political lines to build trust and ensure safety.

Legislative Advocacy

LOPPW has been engaged on a range of policy priorities with the Wisconsin Legislature this year. Advocacy efforts include collaboration with faith-based and secular partners to:

• Advocate for state funding to address federal changes to SNAP/FoodShare.
• Support groundwater protection measures.
• Oppose deregulation of potentially predatory lending practices.
• Oppose legislation that would criminalize homelessness.

LOPPW has also supported legislation to prevent human trafficking and support survivors, create a task force addressing missing and murdered African American women and girls, and enable DACA recipients to access professional licensure in fields such as nursing and teaching.

Outreach

LOPPW has been connecting with ELCA congregations and members across Wisconsin, including at the synod-sponsored Winter Theological Event in northwestern Wisconsin, “Together in Mission” in the greater Milwaukee area, and the LEAD Conference in southcentral Wisconsin.

LOPPW launched a newly designed website and has developed several new outreach materials, including this “Faith in Action” What Can You Do? flyer.

Spring outreach will continue with updated electronic resources and in-person visits during Lent and beyond, as LOPPW prepares for engagement ahead of the 2026 elections. We are also supporting an emerging inter-congregational collaboration effort related to advocacy. Stay tuned for more about this and opportunities to connect with others!

by Zachary Olson, ELCA Hunger Advocacy Fellow [About the author]

In October 2025, I had the opportunity to take part in a national gathering of the Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) community of practice in our nation’s capital. Over 70 people from across the country came to Washington, D.C., bringing their stories and their experiences. In the midst of a federal government shutdown, these brave Lutherans were a public witness and shined a light to the members of Congress. They shared their experiences in the offices of Senators and Representatives in boldly advocating for laws that would reform emergency management and disaster response. These Lutherans spoke up to help people in their communities recovering from natural disasters.

I will always carry this memory with me, and it reminds me of Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:14-15 to be “salt and light” in our Christian walk. Often, we connect these verses with Jesus’ Great Commission [see Matthew 28:19-20] to spread the truth of the Gospel of Christ into the world, but this radical truth possesses implications for us in our public witness before the world in how we move through the world. That can look as simple as talking to a neighbor or as bold as speaking to lawmakers. We are called to be that city on the hill, letting our light shine for others to see.

When we are grounded in the truth of the Gospel and let our convictions shape us and our actions, we engage with the world differently. We should be moved towards compassion, doing justice and loving mercy. And that light should flow out into our daily walk in this world.

This truth and hope for restoration of the struggles we see is for the here and now. Our hope is not that we will escape this world and go to heaven, but that heaven will come down here, and that God will dwell among us with every tear wiped away.

Our faith gives us a renewed sense of the world and a renewed outlook on life. When we see each other as beings created in the image of our God, when we see this world we live in as God’s handiwork, that changes you. It changes how you interact with it. We have hope for a better future, and a responsibility to share that hope with those around us.

We have a great history of those who have gone before us in letting their light shine. Martin Luther King Jr., Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and many others have gone before us in letting their lights shine. Let us continue in that great history, letting the light of Christ shine in the world.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Zachary Olson is part of the D.C.-based staff of the ELCA Witness in Society office specializing in Communications. Olson is a communications and journalism graduate student at American University with an Associate Degree in Communications and Media Studies from Carroll Community College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from American University. He has several years of research and communications experience working with non-profits from local news media to advocacy think tanks. Beyond work, he enjoys spending time with friends, reading books and conducting his own research.

Prepare

To begin, let’s admit that the Transfiguration is a weird story. We’ve got heroes from the Bible’s past. There are voices from heaven. People faint from fear. Jesus transfigures, whatever that actually means. This story is just weird.

There are a few things to keep in mind about Moses and Elijah that might be helpful for understanding this story. First, no one saw Moses and Elijah die. When Moses dies, God grants him, alone, a glimpse of the promised land and then God buries Moses, but no one knows where (Deuteronomy 34). Elijah ascends into heaven by means of a chariot, fire, and whirlwind (2 Kings 2). But here is more: both Moses and Elijah, in their time, meet God on mountaintops, in fact, it’s the same mountain – Mount Horeb. God calls Moses through the burning bush and later, on the same mountain, gives him the Torah, the law. Elijah meets God in the sound of sheer silence and receives instructions to anoint new kings and name a successor. 

Before and after this story, Jesus predicts his death several times, and he confronts his disciples with the truth about how hard it is to follow him: it is like taking up a cross. And, when Jesus, Peter, James, and John come down from the mountain, they’ll learn the other disciples have been trying, and failing, to help a little boy with epilepsy.

Transfigured means changed—not like a costume change, but a change in form. Yes, Jesus’ appearance changes, but there seems to be something more. Whatever it is, the disciples see him both more clearly and less so. Peter lacks the words to express the depth of this moment, but he knows what is true: it is good to be here.

Opening Exercise

• You’re hosting a dinner party for yourself and five other people—some you know now, some from history you wish you could’ve met. Who do you invite? Why? How do you introduce them to one another? What kinds of conversations would you hope to have?

Text Read Aloud

Matthew 17:1-9 

It is Good to Be Here

Winter is never mild in Ukraine, but it has been particularly harsh this year. Many people are without power for all or part of the day. A lot of people don’t have water in their homes anymore because of the war with Russi

BBC News. Watch: Frozen river hosts dance party in Kyiv.

a. It is easy for things to feel helpless. But the people have started to throw dance parties on frozen rivers and lakes. They’ve got little racing buggies that they run on the ice, and DJs set up full rigs in the middle of frozen lakes. In an interview, one person said, “It’s gotten so much harder to be happy, but we have the small flame of hope in our hearts that we try to keep burning.” When the way looks helpless, God kindles hope in our hearts within communities where we know it is good for us to be.

Peter sounds pretty ridiculous when he starts babbling about tents, but it has been a harsh journey to this point. He and his fellow disciples have been stretched and challenged in countless ways. They have seen incomprehensible things: Jesus walking on water, feeding thousands, curing all sorts of diseases. The disciples who followed Jesus had been criticized and scolded by Pharisees. And, while they had left home, left their jobs, and left their families to follow Jesus, he recently told them that that wouldn’t be enough. Jesus told them that disciples carry crosses, instruments of torture and death. 

And it wasn’t like things were easy before they followed Jesus, either. The Sea of Galilee was being overfished, the treasures of their lake exported to Rome. They had been taxed, tolled, and fined by the Romans, who occupied every inch of their homeland. 

So when Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a mountain, and they see the heroes of their bedtime stories—Moses and Elijah—we can understand why Peter says, “It is good for us to be here.” Things were hard, and Jesus drew together this extraordinary community, renewing his disciples’ sense of hope.

Recently, I was at a reunion of sorts, an opportunity to bring together people who work in the same field. We get together once a year or so, and we look forward to it. But it seems like things have been especially hard for people recently: there’s a lot of bad news, and people are lonelier and more disconnected than they used to be. We were all feeling disconnected and discouraged. So, we were all in agreement when one of my colleagues walked into the room and proclaimed loudly, “It is good to be here.”

At its best, this is what church can be for us: that when we’re discouraged and disconnected, Jesus gathers together an extraordinary community, renewing our sense of hope. And this is what other communities—times of fellowship and time with our friends and family—can also be for us: gathered together, Jesus with us, hope renewed.

Reflection Questions

• Who can give the best impression of Peter on the mountain?
• What would you have said if you were Peter? 
• Where do you go when you’re feeling disconnected or discouraged?
• What are some things you do to help you feel more hopeful? What is something someone else has done for you?

Closing Activity

• Take a few minutes to draw or write about a place where you’ve been a part of a gathering that renewed you. Maybe it was a team meeting in a locker room before a big game, or during worship, or just getting together with friends. Invite participants to share their responses, if they’d like.

Final Prayer/Blessing

• Light a candle and place it on your drawing or writing, or carefully hold your work while you pray.
  • Encouraging God, you gathered Moses, Elijah, Peter, James, and John with Jesus on the mountain when they were feeling challenged, stretched, and even frustrated. When we’re uncertain about the future, disconnected from one another, or discouraged, put your hope within us. Fan it from a spark into a flame, that we may be sustained in community with one another, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Bio

Adrianne Meier is an ELCA pastor who serves among the people at St. Thomas Lutheran Church in Bloomington, Indiana. When she’s not working—and even when she is working—you can find her furiously knitting.

“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 an end to war, conflict, and uncertainty, especially in Gaza, South Sudan, Ukraine, Iran, and Venezuela…
For protection, compassion, and dignity for immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers…
For all victims of gun violence, especially in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia…
For strained diplomatic relations between nations in the United States, Canada, and Cuba…
For those grieving the death of Hallie Tobler, daughter of Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Jeff Johnson…
For all victims of domestic violence and abuse, and all victims of sexual abuse and exploitation…
For those affected by severe cold weather, especially those without access to adequate heat and other resources…
For the continued safety of athletes, reporters, and others participating in the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy…
For the conclusion of the Buddhist monks’ Walk for Peace, ending in Washington DC this Tuesday…
For affirmation, dignity, and celebration of LGBTQIA+ individuals and communities…
For pastors, deacons, church administrators, and musicians preparing for Lent…

Events and observances:
February Observances: Black History Month, American Heart Month, National Cancer Prevention Month

Cyril, monk, died 869; Methodius, bishop, died 885; missionaries to the Slavs (Feb 14)
Valentine’s Day (Feb 14)
Presidents’ Day (Feb 16)
Ash Wednesday (Feb 18)
Martin Luther, renewer of the church, died 1546 (Feb 18)

Prayers from ELCA resources:
A prayer for peace among the nations (ELW p.76)
Gracious God, grant peace among nations. Cleanse from our own hearts the seeds of strife: greed and envy, harsh misunderstandings and ill will, fear and desire for revenge. Make us quick to welcome ventures in cooperation among the peoples of the world, so that there may be woven the fabric of a common good too strong to be torn by the evil hands of war. In the time of opportunity, make us be diligent; and in the time of peril, let not our courage fail; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A prayer for refugees, migrants, and immigrants (ACS p.51)
Holy God, as you have accompanied your people through times of captivity, wilderness, and exile, shelter and sustain all those who flee persecution, oppression, warfare, violence, hunger, and poverty. Open our hearts and homes, our gates and doors, so that they find safety, peace, and welcome—a place to live in freedom and without fear; through Jesus Christ, our refuge and our hope. Amen.

—

The following topical resources are available from resources.elca.org for use in public worship and personal devotion:
Worship resources for the crisis in the Holy Land
Worship resources for the Eastern Europe Crisis

—

ELW = Evangelical Lutheran Worship
ACS = All Creation Sings: Evangelical Lutheran Worship Supplement

Additional topical prayers are found in Evangelical Lutheran Worship (pp. 72–87) and All Creation Sings (pp. 46–55), as well as in other resources provided in print and online at sundaysandseasons.com.

Crafted intercessions for every Sunday and festival are provided in the Sundays and Seasons worship planning guide published in-print and online by Augsburg Fortress. Further assistance for composing prayers of intercession can be found here: Resources for Crafting Prayers of Intercession

Prayer Ventures, a daily prayer resource, is a guide to prayer for the global, social and outreach ministries of the ELCA, as well as for the needs and circumstances of our neighbors, communities and world.

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 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.

Early registration through March 15
Advance registration through June 1
Regular registration starting June 2

Lutheran Summer Music Academy & Festival

Transforming and connecting lives through faith and music since 1981.

Youth musicians from across the country are headed to St. Olaf College this year for the 2026 Lutheran Summer Music Academy & Festival (LSM). Students in grades 8-12 will be immersed in a supportive community that nurtures their musical growth, and invites them to share their musical gifts in performance and in worship. The Standard Enrollment deadline is March 1, and spots are filling fast. Do you know young musicians who would thrive at LSM? Nominate them today at LSMacademy.org/nominate, or remind them to submit a free application by March 1 at LSMacademy.org/apply.

Institute of Liturgy Studies

An ecumenical conference on liturgical renewal for the church today.

The Feast of Creation – liturgy as creation groans
Valparaiso University, Ind.
April 13-15, 2026

Registration is now is open.
Regular Registration: $450
See website for other registration categories.

The 77th meeting of the Institute of Liturgical Studies will consider the possibilities of such a festival and season. We will reflect on creation, incarnation, and Jesus’s death and resurrection, all received by us through the created materiality of our sacramental life together. Furthermore, we will examine how petroleum culture has influenced our sacramental life and begin to envision ways to counter its impact. A model lectionary will be used, and sample liturgies will be celebrated.

The schedule, plenary speakers and workshop information are now available.

To receive notifications when new information is added to the site, add yourself to the mailing list 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!

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. And 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.
Early Bird registration deadline is March 17!

Music that Makes Community

Rooted in Christian contemplative and activist traditions, Music That Makes Community envisions a liberative culture that empowers individuals and communities to claim and use the power of singing to heal our spirits, nurture our common lives, and work for justice.

To see more scheduled events, go to the MMC website and view the calendar and “Workshops and Retreat” links.

Sign up for Monthly Newsletter for regular updates on resources and events.  Read recent issues here.

Center for Church Music
offers 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.)

“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 an end to war, conflict, and uncertainty, especially in Gaza, South Sudan, Ukraine, Iran, and Venezuela…
For victims of violence and abuse and for those who tend to their physical, emotional, and psychological wounds…
For protection, compassion, and dignity for immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers…
For those who were killed and injured in a bus accident during the pilgrimage of Our Lady of Candeias in northeastern Brazil…
For the safety of athletes, reporters, and others who travel to and participate in the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy…
For pastors, deacons, church administrators, and musicians preparing for Lent…
For congregations and their leaders in the midst of annual meeting season…

Events and observances:
February Observances: Black History Month, American Heart Month, National Cancer Prevention Month

The Martyrs of Japan, died 1597 (Feb 5)
Cyril, monk, died 869; Methodius, bishop, died 885; missionaries to the Slavs (Feb 14)
Valentine’s Day (Feb 14)
Ash Wednesday (Feb 18)

Prayers from ELCA resources:
A prayer for congregational ministries (ELW p.76)
Almighty God, your Holy Spirit equips the church with a rich variety of gifts. Grant that we may use them to bear witness to Christ in lives that are built on faith and love. Make us ready to live the gospel and eager to do your will, so that we may share with all your church in the joys of eternal life; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

A prayer for those who suffer abuse and violence (ACS p.53)
Mighty Jesus, living Word, soothe the bodies, souls, and minds of the victims of sexual abuse, sexual violence, domestic violence, or gender-based violence. Bring them peace, hope, comfort, and strength. Bring abusers to justice and prevent them from causing further harm. Stir up the heart of your church gathered here and around the world, that we value justice and healing over silence and shame. Show us the way to your righteousness, led by the voices of those who suffer. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

—

The following topical resources are available from resources.elca.org for use in public worship and personal devotion:
Worship resources for the crisis in the Holy Land
Worship resources for the Eastern Europe Crisis

—

ELW = Evangelical Lutheran Worship
ACS = All Creation Sings: Evangelical Lutheran Worship Supplement

Additional topical prayers are found in Evangelical Lutheran Worship (pp. 72–87) and All Creation Sings (pp. 46–55), as well as in other resources provided in print and online at sundaysandseasons.com.

Crafted intercessions for every Sunday and festival are provided in the Sundays and Seasons worship planning guide published in-print and online by Augsburg Fortress. Further assistance for composing prayers of intercession can be found here: Resources for Crafting Prayers of Intercession

Prayer Ventures, a daily prayer resource, is a guide to prayer for the global, social and outreach ministries of the ELCA, as well as for the needs and circumstances of our neighbors, communities and world.

Prepare

As Jesus continues his Sermon on the Mount, he shifts his focus from God’s character and wide blessing to the character of disciples. He proclaims they “are the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” and encourages them to act accordingly (Matthew 5:13-14, NRSVue).

Verse 16 is commonly used in Lutheran baptismal liturgies as a way of proclaiming that this same identity and calling, first given to Jesus’s earliest followers, now belongs to those who are newly baptized and to us as his followers today.

But Jesus also reminds his disciples (ancient and modern) that what he is preaching is nothing new. He did not “come to abolish the Law or the Prophets” (Matthew 5:17, NRSVue). He points us to the commandments, and not just the Ten! There are actually 613 commandments in the Torah. Jesus famously mentions the two most important in Matthew 22:35-40.

These two might be considered one because one can’t fully love God without loving your neighbor and vice versa. Martin Luther might agree, as he starts each of his commandment explanations in the Small Catechism with the same phrase: “We are to fear and love God, so that…” But regardless of how these are numbered, we are called to follow the guidance of the past.

Which brings us to today’s assigned reading from Isaiah. Chapter 58 is part of what scholars call Third Isaiah, which means its original historical context is the return from exile in Babylon. The people’s ancestors were sent into exile after they strayed from God and God’s ways, failing to live in accordance with God’s commandments. They did not heed the warnings of God’s prophets. So God “hit the reset button” by allowing Babylon to conquer them. Upon their return, they had to rebuild and make decisions about how to order their society, and here the prophet shares words of wisdom from God.

Opening Exercise

1. Icebreaker Question Options:

• Which of the five basic tastes (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami) do you think is your favorite? And what is your favorite food that highlights that taste?
• Tell about a time when you fasted (it doesn’t have to be from food or for religious reasons).

Text Read Aloud

Isaiah 58:1-12
Matthew 5:13-20

Salt, Light, and the Life of Discipleship

This week’s assigned Gospel reading is a continuation of Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount, which began last week with the Beatitudes. In that opening passage, we heard about how wide, and at times seemingly illogical, God’s blessing truly is.

Now Jesus’s teaching shifts to focus more on the life of discipleship, that is, who we are called to be in light of who God is. Jesus tells his followers that they are salt and light. But he also warns them that one can be those things and not fulfill their intended purpose. You can be salt, but not preserve and flavor food, maintain healthy bodies, or melt ice.

Chemically speaking, any neutral compound made up of an anion and a cation held together by an ionic bond is a salt. But for simplicity, going forward, when I say salt, I’m going to be referring to table salt (sodium chloride NaCl). As the proud owner of a BS in Chemistry, I hope you will believe me when I tell you: salt CANNOT lose it saltiness.

When you grind salt, you break down its crystalline structure, but you don’t break the ionic bond. Crushing salt does not cause it to lose its saltiness. When you dissolve salt in water, you do break the ionic bond and are left with Na+ and Cl- ions floating around in solution. But when the water is removed—evaporated away—the ions simply recombine back into salt. Water does not cause salt to lose its saltiness.

What you can do is render salt not useful by mixing it with impurities. If you mix salt with the wrong things—for example dirt—then you aren’t going to want to use it to flavor your food or balance your electrolytes. However, it is still salt.

Same thing with a light. You can be light, but not usefully illuminate anything. A light doesn’t stop being bright just because you block the photons from getting to your eyes. Yet, what is the point? It is simply a waste of electricity or fire fuel.

Thankfully, Isaiah gives us some guidance on what exactly Jesus means when he tells his followers to be salt and light. God is not as interested in personal piety and ritual as God is interested in mercy and justice. God yearns for us “to loose the bonds of injustice […] let the oppressed go free […] share [our] bread with the hungry […] bring the homeless poor into [our] house,” etc (Isaiah 58:6-7, NRSVue).

That is how God wants us to shine our light. God’s word, including the commandments, are not meant to be a grading rubric for us to use against others to see if they measure up and are worthy of God’s love. All humans are beloved children of God, made in God’s image. We are all salt and light, and we are called to act accordingly. And when (not if, but when) we fall short, we can trust that God will still love us and welcome us into the kingdom, for the “least in the kingdom of heaven” are still in the kingdom (Matthew 5:19, NRSVue)!

Reflection Questions

• What work does Jesus call his disciples to be about?
• What does it mean to be “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world”?
• What things get in the way of you being salt and light? What might we need to fast from?
• Which commandment is the hardest to keep? Which commandment is the most commonly broken?

Closing Activity

• Make a two-column chart. At the top of one column write “Fast” and at the top of the other column write “Feast.” Work as a group to fill in the two columns with specific examples of what God calls us to fast from (aka give up, avoid, divest from, spend less time/money/energy on) and what God calls us to feast on (aka prioritize, invest in, spend more time/money/energy on). If you need help getting started, look up William Arthur Ward’s poem “Fasting and Feasting.”

Final Blessing

• Give each participant a candle to hold or light one candle in the midst of the group (be careful around open flames). Then go around the group and say to each participant: “(Name), you are the salt of the earth, you are the light of the world.”
• You could have the whole group say it to each person, the leader proclaim to each, or pass the message from one person to the next, sort of like a game of telephone.
• End by announcing “(Local slang for the plural you ex: y’all or youse) are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.” And the group responding “We are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.”

Bio of Author

Leslie Weber is a pastor, spouse, mother, daughter, sister, friend, and ally. She serves at Grace Lutheran Church (Chesapeake, VA) and Holy Communion Lutheran Church (Portsmouth, VA). Her favorite salty snack is soft pretzels served with warm cheese dip and her favorite sweet treat is a chocolate-covered caramel with plenty of sea salt on top.

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.

See Me, Believe Me: An Updated Guide to Deepen Allyship with Congregational Leaders of Color

In this updated edition of See Me, Believe Me, Rev. Dr. Yolanda Denson-Byers offers an honest and unflinching look at the challenges faced by leaders of color in the predominantly white ELCA. The book contains a new chapter reflecting on the ground-breaking election and leadership of ELCA Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry and includes excerpts from her interview with him.  Her insights and concrete suggestions for action illustrate how seeing and believing leaders of color are essential steps in the journey of allyship. Chapters beckon readers to acknowledge ignorance, respect boundaries, join in celebration and lament, offer reparations, and continue doing their own work to dismantle racism and live into the fullness of loving God and neighbor.

Lutheran Study Bible, Second Edition (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

Lutheran Study Bible, Second Edition, features the NRSVue translation and introductions, notes, and articles written by more than seventy Lutheran pastors and teaching theologians. Explore the Bible and its message through solid background material, unique Lutheran insights, and questions for reflection and discussion. Reader-friendly, inviting, and engaging, this is the perfect study Bible for those who want to encounter scripture and dwell in God’s word!

Kids Celebrate Lent and Easter, Young Reader

For grades 1 – 3. Engage your young church-goers in the passion story with activities and explanations for young readers. A perfect size for pews, activity bags, or home use. Quantity per package: 12.

Augsburg Organ Library Series 2 Lent

Augsburg Organ Library: Lent, Series II, contains 43 pieces for worship or recitals based on Lent hymn tunes.  The Augsburg Organ Library is a highly acclaimed multi-volume series that reflects the twentieth century renewal of the organ and its music.

From now until the final whistle, Team Northwest Washington and Team New England will seek to outdo one another for the sake of the gospel. The fans that donate the most through their team page to ELCA World Hunger by midnight Central time on Feb. 8 will help their synod take home the title of ELCA World Hunger Champion — regardless of the outcome on the field. Whether your favorite formation is 3-4, 4-3, or 3:16, you can send your nickels and dimes to support your team!

Click here to support Team Northwest Washington!

Click here to support Team New England!

“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 an end to war, conflict, and uncertainty especially in Gaza, South Sudan, Ukraine, Iran, and Venezuela…
For an end to violence and especially political violence…
For protection, compassion, and dignity for immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers…
For those evacuated and displaced by landslides in Sicily…
For those targeted by violence at the Chabad Lubavitch world headquarters in New York City…
For all facing winter weather and storms, especially those still without power…
For newly-confirmed Archbishop of Canterbury Dame Sarah Mullally…
In memory and commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the Challenger disaster…

Events and observances:
January Observances: National Blood Donor Month, National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, Poverty in America Awareness Month, Mental Awareness Month
February Observances: Black History Month, Boy Scout Anniversary Week (Feb 1-7), American Heart Month

Lydia, Dorcas, and Phoebe, witnesses to the faith (Jan 27)
Thomas Aquinas, teacher, died 1274 (Jan 28)
Presentation of Our Lord (Feb 2)
Ansgar, Bishop of Hamburg, missionary to Denmark and Sweden, died 865 (Feb 3)
The Martyrs of Japan, died 1597 (Feb 5)

Prayers from ELCA resources:
A prayer for interreligious cooperation (ACS)
God of creation, we give you thanks for our wonderfully diverse human family. We pray for the well-being of all people, including our neighbors of other religions and worldviews. Grant that, together with them, we will find ways to cooperate for the common good of all, as you desire. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

A prayer for those in civil authority (ELW)
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, bless public servants in the government of our nation and states, that they may do their work in a spirit of wisdom, charity, and justice. Help them use their authority to serve faithfully and to promote our common life; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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The following topical resources are available from resources.elca.org for use in public worship and personal devotion:
Worship resources for the crisis in the Holy Land
Worship resources for the Eastern Europe Crisis

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ELW = Evangelical Lutheran Worship
ACS = All Creation Sings: Evangelical Lutheran Worship Supplement

Additional topical prayers are found in Evangelical Lutheran Worship (pp. 72–87) and All Creation Sings (pp. 46–55), as well as in other resources provided in print and online at sundaysandseasons.com.

Crafted intercessions for every Sunday and festival are provided in the Sundays and Seasons worship planning guide published in-print and online by Augsburg Fortress. Further assistance for composing prayers of intercession can be found here: Resources for Crafting Prayers of Intercession

Prayer Ventures, a daily prayer resource, is a guide to prayer for the global, social and outreach ministries of the ELCA, as well as for the needs and circumstances of our neighbors, communities and world.