White Lutherans for Racial Justice and ELCA Racial Justice Ministries invite you to a time of learning, reflection, and action as we prepare to honor the Emanuel Nine. Come be inspired to deepen your congregation’s commitment to racial justice.

Thursday, May 15, 2025 6:30-8 pm Central

To register, click: here

May 5 is National Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women’s (MMIW) Awareness Day.

In 2021, as a follow-up to the 2016 Repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery, the ELCA Church Council adopted the Declaration to American Indian and Alaska Native People by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. It reads, in part:

“…We commit to advocacy for and being in solidarity with Tribal Nations, MMIWGR organizations, families, and friends who have gone missing or who have been murdered.

“Indigenous women and girls go missing at a much higher rate than any other group in the United States. Indigenous men also disappear at a higher rate than other males. There are 2 foci in this commitment. One is advocacy. Tribes, states, and the US government can and should pass legislation to coordinate work to alleviate the problem. The second focus is relational. Synod leaders can establish relationships with Tribal Nations, express solidarity, help with prevention, with search and rescue, with comforting the anxious and bereaved. Congregations can, as well.”

How to honor MMIW Awareness Day (May 5) in your congregation:

1. Wear red (T-shirts available from the ELCA) and take pictures. Use social media to raise awareness. Use hashtags: #MMIW #NoMoreStolenSisters #TruthandHealing #ELCA
2. Organize a prayer vigil (using this resource).
3. Include MMIWGR in the prayers for the day.
4. Say the names of MMIWGR (this would be especially meaningful if you also did the research to identify locally/regionally specific MMIWGR) and light candles for them during worship.
5. Invite (and compensate) a local Indigenous expert to share on this topic as part of your educational time.
6. Invite (and compensate) local Indigenous musicians to play/sing during worship.

This resource guide provides an extensive list of resources that you and your community can use to learn more about MMIW & ways to take action! To download, click HERE.

For information on MMIW events for 2025, click here and scroll down to upcoming events. For more information on Indigenous Ministries and Tribal Relations of the ELCA, please visit:  Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women – Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (elca.org) and Indigenous Ministries and Tribal Relations – Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (elca.org)

ELCA Racial Justice Ministries and ELCA African Descent Ministries invites you to join us at the Rise & Remember Festival in Minneapolis, MN. The 3-day, annual event “exists to hold in remembrance George Floyd and those we have lost unjustly to the pervasive impacts of systemic racism. Activities focus on education, empowerment, healing, celebration, and our collective pursuit for racial justice and equity.”

We hope you will join us for the gospel concert and candlelight vigil on Sunday, May 25. We will meet in front of Calvary Lutheran Church (clchurch.org) at 5 pm.

If you plan to attend, please let us know by completing this short, 6-question survey:  https://forms.office.com/r/d3ZW4T7iWs

For more information:

The Truth & Healing Movement:  Truth & Healing Movement – Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

ELCA Indigenous Ministries and Tribal Relations:  Indigenous Ministries and Tribal Relations – Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

In May, we celebrate National AAPI Heritage Month. The Asian and Pacific Islander Ministries of the ELCA, in conjunction with the Minneapolis Area Synod, the St. Paul Area Synod, and their API leaders will be hosting a 4-person panel on Thursday, May 23 at 7pm to discuss the joys and challenges of being API. The panel will be live streamed on zoom and you can log on by clicking here.

For more information about this event contact: Pastor Jenn @ jennluong426@gmail.com

For more information on ELCA API Ministries, visit:  Asian and Pacific Islander – Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (elca.org) and Association of Asians and Pacific Islanders of the ELCA

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.

Lutheran Summer Music Academy & Festival

Lutheran Summer Music is pleased to announce the creation of The Eugene and Mary Sukup Church Music Program through a grant from the Sukup Family Foundation of Sheffield, Iowa. The Church Music Program will expand LSM’s curriculum and educational offerings, including the creation of a new Liturgical Composer-in-Residence position, with Anne Krentz Organ serving during this inaugural year, and funding a guest artist residency from nationally known church musician Paul Vasile. The Church Music Program will also respond to enrollment growth (LSM 2023 saw a 300% growth in applications from organ students compared to LSM 2022) by supporting scholarships for organ students, helping LSM further invest in preparing the next – and current – generation of church musicians and organists.

Music that Makes Community

Music that Makes Community practices communal song-sharing that inspires deep spiritual connection, brave shared leadership, and sparks the possibility of transformation in our world.

MMC continues our focus on intergenerational worship with a One-Day Workshop in Nashville on June 11, followed by worship and workshops at the Intergenerate Conference. And, we just added another One-Day Workshop at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh on June 24! You can view the MMC calendar to find more, including upcoming in-person and virtual learning opportunities.

Association of Lutheran Church Musicians

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

Register at alcm.org/2023-webinar-series/

Augsburg Fortress Events and Resources

Augsburg Fortress is an imprint of 1517 Media, the publishing ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Luther’s Small Catechism App

Operation Restoration VBS Starter Kit

Kids Celebrate All Creation Sings

Sale on ELW Gift and Pocket Editions

Today’s post is from Luke Tegtmeier, 2017 ALCM Planning Committee Member.

The Association of Lutheran Church Musicians is having its biennial national gathering in Minneapolis this summer, July 10-13. If you lead worship in any way – as an organist, director, guitarist, pastor, or singer – there will be something for you!

Not convinced? Here are ten reasons that you should come!

1. Connect with other musicians. Pastors have a variety of opportunities to share experiences and ideas, but musicians are often alone in a church. Attending an ALCM conference is a great way to spend time with colleagues who share the same challenges.
2. Experience something new. Whether it’s a new piece of music, a new rehearsal technique, or a new way to think about ministry, you’ll go home with something new.
3. Celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation! There are lots of events happening in this Reformation year. For our conference, the planning committee chose the theme “Rise, Remember Well the Future.” Our hope is to find a balance between highlighting the treasures of the last 500 years and looking carefully at the future.
4. Visit St. Olaf College. Opening worship will be held at St. Olaf’s Boe Memorial Chapel, with organist Jamie Bobb and Rev. Christine Carlson preaching. ALCM got its start at St. Olaf 30 years ago, and we will recognize those charter members.
   
5. Visit St. John’s Abbey. We will also visit Collegeville, MN to explore our relationship with Roman Catholics 500 years after breaking away from them. We will close the day by singing Compline with the monks in their landmark Abbey Church.
6. Relax into worship. We’re all professional worship leaders. Take this opportunity to let someone else lead worship.
7. Attend a workshop to go more in-depth. Whether you want to learn more about the Orff Schulwerk technique for children’s choirs, conducting a choir from the organ console, bulletin design, writing hymns, or hear about church music in modern Germany, you can choose from over 20 workshops.
8. Hear the National Lutheran Choir. This nationally renowned ensemble, directed by ALCM member David Cherwien, will be leading a Hymn Festival for us one evening – sure to be a memorable evening of excellent singing!
9. Explore two great cities. Come early or stay late to explore the Twin Cities! Minneapolis and St. Paul offer a wide range of attractions, whether you want to visit parks, experience history, wander through a world-class art museum, or listen to live music.
10. Have a blast! With this many church musicians in one hotel, who knows what could happen around the piano in the hotel bar in the evenings?

Hope to see you in Minneapolis! Register here.

This October and November, join Susan Briehl, Matt James, Daniel Schwandt, Kevin Strickland and Scott Weidler in exploring the core foundations and new possibilities of the ELW family of resources. Strong Center, Open Door is two days of worship, workshops, music and conversation designed for everyone who plans worship in a Lutheran setting. Workshop topics range from “Worship as Faith Formation” to “Seasonal Worship Planning” and from “Navigating Sundays and Seasons” to “Singing the Word of God.”

Strong Center, Open Door is designed to give you experiences and tools to take home and share with your own worshipping community. Registration is open for two remaining locations: Minnesota (October 14-15, Rochester) and Pennsylvania (November 4-5, Lansdale). The cost is $40 per person including lunch both days. For full information and to register, go to the ELCA web site.

Come explore some of the many ways your congregation can engage Lutheran worship today!