“For what shall we pray?” is a weekly post inviting individuals, groups, and congregations to lift up our world in prayer. This resource is prepared by a variety of leaders in the ELCA and includes prayer prompts, upcoming events and observances, and prayer suggestions from existing denominational worship materials. You are encouraged to use these resources as a starting point, and to adapt and add other concerns from your local context. More information about this resource can be found here.
 

Prayer prompts:
For peace and reconciliation among the nations, especially in Iran, Lebanon, Gaza, South Sudan, Ukraine, and Venezuela…
For the Artemis crew and all who are guiding the mission…
For protests in the West Bank against death penalty laws…
For victims of a Russian military plane crash in Crimea…
For casualties of a migrant boat capsize near Turkey…
For families of those killed in gang attacks in Haiti…
For Pope Leo XIV, the Dali Lama, and all faith leaders speaking hopes for peace in the world…
For all immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers…
For all affected by rising fuel and food costs and access…
For support, visibility, and civil rights for transgender individuals…
For all who have experienced religious trauma and feel alienated from the church…
For the church in every place as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ…
For Jewish siblings during the observance of Passover…

Events and observances:
April Observances: Autism Awareness Month, National Alcohol Awareness Month, National Child Abuse Prevention Month, Sexual Assualt Awareness Month

John Donne, poet, died 1631 (Mar 31)
Transgender Day of Visibility (Mar 31)
Maundy Thursday (Apr 2)
Good Friday (Apr 3)
Resurrection of Our Lord: Vigil of Easter (Apr 4)
Benedict the African, confessor, died 1589 (Apr 4)
Resurrection of Our Lord: Easter Day (Apr 5)
Albrecht Dürer, died 1528; Matthias Grünewald, died 1529; Lucas Cranach, died 1553; artists (Apr 6)
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, theologian, died 1945 (Apr 9)
Mikael Agricola, Bishop of Turku, died 1557 (Apr 10)

Prayers from ELCA resources:
A prayer for the church’s ministries (ACS p.46)
God of compassion, your Son came among us not to be served but to serve. We give you thanks for those whom you have called to the ministry of word and service. Give to all deacons faith to serve you with gladness; sustain them with a living hope, especially in times of despair; and kindle in them your love so that they see in every neighbor the face of Jesus Christ, our Lord, in whose name we pray. Amen.

A prayer for the spread of the gospel (ELW p.75)
By your word, eternal God, your creation sprang forth, and we were given the breath of life. By your word, eternal God, death is overcome, Christ is raised from the tomb, and we are given new life in the power of your Spirit. May we boldly proclaim this good news in our words and our deeds, rejoicing always in your powerful presence; through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord.
Amen.

—

The following topical resources are available from resources.elca.org for use in public worship and personal devotion:
Worship resources in a time of war
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

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.

“For what shall we pray?” is a weekly post inviting individuals, groups, and congregations to lift up our world in prayer. This resource is prepared by a variety of leaders in the ELCA and includes prayer prompts, upcoming events and observances, and prayer suggestions from existing denominational worship materials. You are encouraged to use these resources as a starting point, and to adapt and add other concerns from your local context. More information about this resource can be found here.
 

Prayer prompts:
For peace and reconciliation among the nations, especially in Iran, Lebanon, Gaza, South Sudan, Ukraine, and Venezuela…
For Dame Sarah Mullally and her installation as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury…
For the families of those killed in hospital attack in Sudan…
For safe working conditions for all workers, especially in wake of car parts factory fire in South Korea…
For victims of the Air Canada runway crash at LaGuardia Airport…
For all who know the trauma and pain of sexual assault, abuse, or exploitation…
For elections and political transitions, local and global…
For those affected by flooding in Hawaii, and all impacted by natural disasters…
For travelers, especially those facing airport delays and uncertainties, and for TSA workers…
For all immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers…
For ongoing energy crises and rising fuel costs…
For pastors, church musicians, and congregational leaders preparing for Holy Week…

Events and observances:
March Observances: Women’s History Month, Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, National Social Work Month

Oscar Arnulfo Romero, Bishop of El Salvador, martyr, died 1980 (Mar 24)
Annunciation of Our Lord (Mar 25)
Sunday of the Passion / Palm Sunday (Mar 29)
Hans Nielsen Hauge, renewer of the church, died 1824 (Mar 29)
John Donne, poet, died 1631 (Mar 31)
Maundy Thursday (Apr 2)
Good Friday (Apr 3)
Resurrection of Our Lord: Vigil of Easter (Apr 4)
Benedict the African, confessor, died 1589 (Apr 4)
Resurrection of Our Lord: Easter Day (Apr 5)

Prayers from ELCA resources:
A prayer for faithful living in society (ACS p.50)
Sovereign God, your Son Jesus lived within the structures of society even as he spoke truth to those in power and challenged systems of oppression. Empower us to be courageous disciples and responsible citizens. Grant that our life in the public realm be grounded in love for our neighbors, care for the most vulnerable in our midst, and respect for the common life we share, following the example of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

A prayer for those who are incarcerated (ACS p.52)
Mighty God, merciful and just: we pray for our jails, prisons, and detention centers, that they be places of fair and humane treatment for all. Lead us to end solitary confinement and other cruel and demeaning practices. Guide police and corrections officers, attorneys and judges to use wisely the power entrusted to them. Inspire prison worshiping communities and chaplains. Rouse us to eradicate racism, corruption, and greed in the criminal justice system. By your Spirit, transform our society, that the dignity and worth of every incarcerated person be honored. We ask this through your resurrected Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

—

The following topical resources are available from resources.elca.org for use in public worship and personal devotion:
Worship resources in a time of war
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.

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.

It seemed fitting to meet Floricel on International Women’s Day. She is a mother, community organizer, and beloved community member. Floricel Liborio is an indigenous woman from Guerrero, Mexico. At the age of 18, she arrived in San Jose, California and has since built a family and life that includes compassionately supporting her community. Unfortunately, due to more ICE check ins resulting in disappearances of our immigrant community members and sometimes even citizens, Floricel has decided to prepare for the worst and vows to never go silently or alone.

Including Lutheran Pastor Nelson, who accompanied her to her most recent meeting that she had at the Ice Office with her lawyer, who feared the worst. However, Florical said that even some of the ICE agents were moved by her supporters and the LOVE that was experienced. That is the only thing that is stronger than the current fear being spread and multiplied, is to Love you neighbor, your friend, your community member and don’t let them be disappeared by ICE, don’t let them go hungry, through one another and Christ we may have life and have it abundantly.

At church on International Women’s Day, Floricel addressed the congregation, Iglesia Luterana Santa María Peregrina, letting us know how she was moved by the hungry families with children from her quadrillo who were asking for more bread but there was nothing left. So moved she called Pastor Nelson to see if there was anything they could do to help. Thanks to an ELCA World Hunger Grant to Santa Maria, Pr. Nelson was able to step up to distribute grocery store gift cards to households working directly in the fields, growing and harvesting. Thanks to his 8 year long relationship building trust with Floricel, she was able to coordinate along with the foreman of the quadrillo distribution of the grocery cards. The congregation she recounted this story to were mostly women, and in the reading that day highlighting an unnamed Samaritan woman, who Pastor Nelson shared a history lesson about.  Instead of solely viewing the unnamed woman as a result of the historic and even present patriarchy and the sexism that come with that, Pastor Nelson encouraged every woman to see themselves in this Samaritan woman who engaged directly with Jesus. This reclamation was powerful for the woman and girls of every age in attendance. This Women’s Month, we celebrate all the women from the Samaritan woman at the well with Jesus to Floricel ensuring her cuadrillo and others are fed, thank you for all that you do to ensure a just world for all!

Family, friends, clergy from many faiths all come with her to her check-ins and stand outside the Stockton Ice Office in support of Floricel.

By: Roselle Tenorio, Program Manager ELCA World Hunger – Domestic

Today’s post comes from ELCA Disability Ministries advisory team member, Anita Smallin. 

I have had the honor of attending the Extravaganza as a participant and as a workshop leader over the course of my career. The E (as it gets called) feels like a family reunion of sorts. Whenever I go to the E, I know I’m in a room of people who understand what life in ministry is like.

The Disability Ministries team was present at the event in two ways. We had a display table where we were available to have conversations with youth leaders. We heard about the needs of congregations, the frustrations of attitudes and cultures of congregations, and the joys and successes of congregations and ministries back home.

We also led a workshop: Breaking Down Accessibility: Moving from Inclusion to Belonging. We asked some big questions, including: What does it mean to be not just present, but included? “That seems to be a primary thing religious communities can do: create spaces where people can learn to care for one another, even if people are quite different, in some respects, from yourself. And it’s not just for people with disabilities…. It’s for all of us; we need to be missed.” (Theologian John Swinton)

We had conversations around physical environment and inclusive programming. We talked about travel to the youth gathering, service-learning trips, and camps for our friends with disabilities. Lastly, we provided resources for workshop attendees. These resources included physical things to have on hand, everything from accessible crayons and sports balls to articles and helpful guidelines for further research and empowerment.

The most important things that happened at the Extravaganza were the connections made and conversations had. We met so many leaders around the country who are doing great work. We got to hear the joys and successes, and we heard the frustrations too. We also heard about things that would make ministry easier back home. We as a team take that information and use that as a guide to figure out what resources would be helpful and what we need to develop.

I always come back from the E feeling revitalized for the important work of disability ministry. I love meeting all our partners in ministry and hearing about the great work that we are all doing.  Thank you for being a part of our cloud of witnesses!

By Jeffery Jordan II, ELCA Hunger Advocacy Fellow (2025-26 cycle)

The experience felt both deeply personal and globally significant while at the United Nations Headquarters for the recently-concluded 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70). CSW70 gathered advocates, policymakers, attorneys, faith leaders and young people from around the world, all committed to advancing justice for women and girls. Walking into those spaces each day, I was reminded that justice is not just an idea we debate, it is something we build together, across cultures, languages and lived experiences.

Meaningful Touchpoints

One of the most meaningful moments for me was serving as a panelist during the Ecumenical Women CSW orientation. In that space, we welcomed new advocates into the movement, grounding them in both the purpose of CSW and the role faith communities play in advancing gender justice. I shared reflections on how faith traditions can be powerful tools for dignity, equity and liberation when they are rooted in compassion and accountability. It was inspiring to see so many individuals ready to engage not only with policy, but with the moral call to ensure that women and girls are seen, heard and protected.

Later in the week, I had the honor of being a panelist for “Youth in Faith Want Justice,” a conversation that centered the voices of young people who are actively shaping what justice looks like today. In that discussion, we explored how youth are reimagining systems that have historically excluded or harmed women and girls. We spoke about the urgency of addressing issues like gender-based violence, economic inequality and access to education, but also about the hope that comes from a generation unwilling to accept injustice as the status quo. For me, it was a powerful reminder that young advocates are not just the future, they are the present.

Another deeply meaningful moment was leading an African libation during morning worship. That act of honoring ancestors, grounding ourselves in history, and recognizing the spiritual dimensions of justice brought a different kind of depth to the week. In a space often focused on policy language and negotiations, the libation created room for reflection, connection, and reverence. It reminded us that the fight for justice for women and girls is not only political, but also spiritual, rooted in resilience and collective care.

Justice as Lived Reality

Throughout CSW70, the theme of justice for women and girls echoed in every session, conversation and gathering. But what stood out most to me was how justice was being defined as not just legal equality, but as lived reality. Justice means access to housing, healthcare, education and safety. It means building systems that affirm dignity rather than deny it.

As I left the United Nations at the end of the week, I carried with me a renewed sense of purpose. It was about being part of a movement. That movement is one that continues long after a CSW ends, calling each of us to act, to advocate and to believe that a more just world for women and girls is not only possible, but necessary, and men can support that change.

Greetings Hunger Leaders,

Below you will find ELCA World Hunger resource suggestions for the 2026 season of ELCA Synod Assemblies and congregational engagement! Please feel free to order printed copies or create a QR code with these resources for download.  Please read to the end; there are many valuable resources here!

Lifelines

o   For the World Hunger annual report please see the 2025 Fall Lifelines issue, now available for download, as a PDF and interactive flipbook, and also available for order as a physical copy. 2026 Spring Lifelines should also be available by April.

Print/Digital Resources

Feeding Ministries Guide

o  If you are interested in starting a feeding ministry, this guide provides tips and strategies for planning, sourcing food, engaging volunteers, and much more. If you’re part of an existing feeding ministry, you’ll find ideas for growing, expanding or reimagining the work you’re already doing.

Backpack Buddies Guide

o  This helpful guide contains tips for starting a backpack hunger relief program in your community. It was developed in partnership with ELCA congregations already engaged in backpack buddy programs across the country. Approaching your local elementary schools is also an effective way to begin identifying specific needs in your community.

Know Your Neighborhood: Worksheet and Guide

o   This guide provides suggestions for finding data related to several areas that impact food security: housing, employment and food access. Data can help you and others know more about the challenges our neighbors face and the assets available in a community.

“At the Table” Vacation Bible

o  “At the Table” is ELCA World Hunger’s 2025 VBS curriculum, inviting your community to learn how storytelling can make a difference in your neighborhood and the world.

“En la Mesa”/”At the Table” Bilingual English/Spanish VBS

o   For the first time ever, ELCA World Hunger has a bilingual VBS. Designed to be either a traditional VBS or an intergenerational program, each day offers large- and small-group activities, crafts, games, snacks and more.

Act 2 Day 4 Tomorrow

o  This overnight program brings youth together to learn about the role they can play in eradicating hunger and poverty in the world.

Generation Zero-Hunger Interactive Journey Guide

o   With your youth group or congregation, experience the challenges faced by a family in Nepal as they seek a sustainable livelihood with this interactive roleplaying guide. The setup is based on how ELCA World Hunger designed the track for the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering. For an intergenerational activity, consider asking a group of youth and young adults to run this experience for your community.

Many other resources can be downloaded here.

Videos

“Intersections: Justice Ministries with ELCA Partners” — an ELCA World Hunger Documentary

o   “Intersections” was created to introduce the ELCA and its communities to the overlapping causes of hunger. Using the M.E.R.G.E. (Migrant, Economic, Racial, Gender, and Environmental) justice acronym as an illustration, the film follows the stories of three ELCA companion ministries and explores how the church is working at poverty’s tangled roots.

o   Consider playing this video at your table or running a discussion session at your synod assembly based off the documentary. If you are interested in putting on running a discussion around the film, and have any questions, please contact Peter McLellan at peter.mclellan@elca.org.

• “We live in a hungry world” w/ Bishop Michael Rinehart
• “ELCA World Hunger in Puerto Rico” w/ Everidys Concepción

Online Course: “What is a Hunger Leader?”

• https://bit.ly/hungerleader— This 20-25-minute online learning resource introduces prospective, new, and longtime advocates to ELCA World Hunger’s ministries and invites them to join us. Through brief reflections and videos, this tool helps people in your network see themselves in the work of ending poverty. Share “What Is a Hunger Leader?” with your neighbors of any level of familiarity with anti-hunger ministry!
• Print the attached flyer to display at your synod assembly tables.

How to Order Printed Resources

• See attached flyer for how to order!

How to Create a QR Code

• Click here for a YouTube tutorial on how to create a QR code using Google Chrome web browser or Canva.

Please send us photos of your synod assembly table displays!

Thank you, and have a wonderful time at your assembly and engaging your congregations!