ELCA Blogs » Blog Archive - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Jan 21, 2026

January 25, 2026 – Repentance as Fulfillment

Prepare In today’s gospel lesson we find Jesus “withdrawing” to Galilee. This happens right after Jesus’ temptation in the desert....

Administration Matters

Jan 20, 2026

Index of the January 2026 Issue of Administration Matters

Issue 102 of Administration Matters January: Start the year strong with Portico’s 2026 New Year Checklist Kick off 2026 with...

ELCA World Hunger

Jan 20, 2026

The Story of Wild Bee Apiary in the Mentawai Islands

Pak Esli lives in a small hamlet called Sua, located in Saibi Samukop Village, Mentawai Islands, off the western coast...

ELCA Racial Justice

Jan 15, 2026

ELCA Observes National Day of Racial Healing

ELCA Observes National Day of Racial Healing CHICAGO (Jan. 15, 2026) — In observance of the 2026 National Day of...

Jan 14, 2026

January 18, 2026 – Who Do We Say God Is?

Prepare Today marks the second Sunday after Epiphany when we again consider the baptism of Jesus and the different symbols...

Faith Lens

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January 25, 2026 – Repentance as Fulfillment

Jan 21, 2026 - Prepare In today’s gospel lesson we find Jesus “withdrawing” to Galilee. This happens right after Jesus’ temptation in the desert....

January 18, 2026 – Who Do We Say God Is?

Jan 14, 2026 - Prepare Today marks the second Sunday after Epiphany when we again consider the baptism of Jesus and the different symbols...

January 11, 2026 – Preparing the Way for New Things

Jan 8, 2026 - Prepare This week’s Gospel reading is brief and familiar, so looking back at Matthew’s opening chapters helps us see the...

December 21, 2025 – What Makes You Afraid?

Dec 20, 2025 - Note from the Editor: This week on Faith Lens, we’re revisiting a post from the archive. Originally published several years...

Administration Matters

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Index of the January 2026 Issue of Administration Matters

Jan 20, 2026 - Issue 102 of Administration Matters January: Start the year strong with Portico’s 2026 New Year Checklist Kick off 2026 with...

Index of the September 2025 Issue of Administration Matters

Sep 15, 2025 - Issue 101 of Administration Matters Living Lutheran is back in print! Throughout the past few months, the staff of Living...

Index of the July 2025 Issue of Administration Matters

Jul 15, 2025 - Issue 100 of Administration Matters Online hearings – 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly The 2025 Churchwide Assembly hearings will be held...

Index of the May 2025 Issue

May 20, 2025 - Issue 99 of Administration Matters Online Bible Studies — 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly Join ELCA Churchwide Assembly voting members in...

ELCA World Hunger

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The Story of Wild Bee Apiary in the Mentawai Islands

Jan 20, 2026 - Pak Esli lives in a small hamlet called Sua, located in Saibi Samukop Village, Mentawai Islands, off the western coast...

Women Empowerment on the Island of Nias!

Nov 13, 2025 - Agusiang Zebua is a newly ordained pastor in the Protestant Christian Church (BNKP) on the island of Nias in far...

Interview with Filmmaker and “Intersections” Editing Producer, Mikayla Irle

Sep 17, 2025 - On September 22nd, 2025, ELCA World Hunger will officially release our short educational documentary, “Intersections: Justice Ministry with ELCA Partners,”...

Interview with Young Adults in Global Mission Alumna, Ashlyn Rhyne

Sep 16, 2025 - On September 22nd, 2025, ELCA World Hunger will officially release our short educational documentary, “Intersections: Justice Ministry with ELCA Partners,”...

ELCA Racial Justice

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ELCA Observes National Day of Racial Healing

Jan 15, 2026 - ELCA Observes National Day of Racial Healing CHICAGO (Jan. 15, 2026) — In observance of the 2026 National Day of...

Observing Native American Heritage Month: ELCA Indigenous Ministries and Tribal Relations events

Nov 13, 2025 - In celebration of Native American Heritage Month which is celebrated in the United States in November, we share the following...

Native American Heritage Month: Events from ELCA Indigenous Ministries

Nov 4, 2025 - November is Native American Heritage Month. Racial Justice Ministries seeks to lift up the voices and work of our Indigenous...

Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month

Oct 6, 2025 - In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month which is celebrated in the United States September 15- October 15, we share...

ELCA Worship

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For what shall we pray?

Jan 13, 2026 - “For what shall we pray?” is a weekly post inviting individuals, groups, and congregations to lift up our world in...

Partner Organization Resources and Events

Jan 8, 2026 - Each month ELCA Worship highlights resources and events from other organizations and institutions. These Lutheran and ecumenical partner organizations work...

For what shall we pray?

Jan 7, 2026 - “For what shall we pray?” is a weekly post inviting individuals, groups, and congregations to lift up our world in...

Worship Resources from Augsburg Fortress

Jan 7, 2026 - Augsburg Fortress is the publishing ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Each month ELCA Worship highlights resources from...

ELCA Advocacy

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January Update: Advocacy Connections

Jan 9, 2026 - from the ELCA advocacy office in Washington, D.C. – the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, Senior Director Partial expanded content from...

Companion Information: Progress and Setbacks in Reducing HIV in Tanzania

Nov 20, 2025 - When Dr. Paul Mmbando was in medical school 20 years ago, AIDS was generally a death sentence. Nowadays with better...

Gratitude Shared with Federal Elected Leaders for Reopening of Government

Nov 14, 2025 - After a record-setting 43 days of shutdown, the federal government resumed operations with a bill signed by President Trump on...

Fall Updates: State Edition

Nov 13, 2025 - Following are updates shared from submissions from ELCA-affiliated state public policy offices (SPPOs) this quarter (formerly shared monthly). Full list...

AMMPARO

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Created in the Image of God: A Conversation Guide to Affirm our Shared Dignity

Dec 16, 2025 - By: Kate Parsons Migration Policy Advisor The Bible writes of one human family, honored and elevated through the image...

Faithful Resistance: Fighting the Sin of Dehumanization

Nov 17, 2025 - They are hard to miss. “Invasion“, “Animals“, “Illegals” … We hear these words all the time, whether on the...

And Moved into the Neighborhood

Jun 25, 2025 - And Moved into the Neighborhood By: Deacon Erin Brown – Lutheran Office for World Community The Word became flesh...

What Can Congregations Do to Prepare for Immigration Raids?

Apr 1, 2025 - What Can Congregations Do to Prepare for Immigration Raids? April 1, 2025 The information shared here does not constitute...

Disability Ministries

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2025 Disability Ministries Grantees

Dec 3, 2025 - Hello and a blessed Advent to everyone! On behalf of ELCA Disability Ministries’ advisory and our groups of grant reviewers...

Creating Accessible Spaces On A Budget: webinar

Dec 3, 2025 - Hi everyone! Lisa Heffernan, coordinator, here on the blog today. I wanted to share a short note with all of...

Churchwide Assembly Recap: Disability Ministries

Sep 9, 2025 - For five days, hundreds of ELCA Lutherans descended on Phoenix, AZ, for the 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. This gathering is...

Reflection: Disability and Mental Health Advocacy

Sep 9, 2025 - John Christensen is a life-long ELCA Lutheran, currently working with the World Council of Churches as a Project Officer in...

SUMUD

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Sumud Summer Newsletter 2025

Jul 9, 2025 - Click here to read Sumud’s 2025 Summer newsletter.

2025 ELCA Sumud Lenten Series Resource Guide

Feb 26, 2025 - Dear Sumud community, Thank you for your patience in receiving this Sumud Lenten resource. Below you will find a link...

My American Christian Voice

Feb 20, 2025 - How can we use our voices for justice in Palestine and Israel as American Christians?

Sumud Lent Series 2025

Feb 17, 2025 - This Lent, join ELCA Sumud with a six-week series in which Palestinian Christian theologians and pastors will weave together the...

ELCA Innovation Lab

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Innovation Is a Privilege—Let’s Make It a Right

Jun 20, 2025 - By: Rahel Mwitula Williams “Infrastructure is the dream!” stated one of the members of an inner city congregation. In my...

No One Is Prototyping a New Jesus: Innovation in the ELCA

Mar 4, 2025 - This year marks two years in my role as the ELCA Director of Innovation and Ideas. While I’d love to...

Blog Series: Parents, Pressure and Passing on Faith – Communicating Shared Values

Nov 20, 2024 - This blog post “Communicating Shared Values” is part two of a series designed to spark conversation! To read the previous...

Blog Series: Parents, pressure and passing on faith (or not)

Oct 31, 2024 - This blog post is part of a series designed to spark conversation! To read future posts in the series, you...

Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Perspectives

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Addressing Anti-Judaism: A Proposed Update to the Revised Common Lectionary

Jun 17, 2025 - The Consultation on Common Texts (CCT)— a joint American and Canadian ecumenical body—oversees the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL), a schedule of biblical passages read...

New Study Guide on the Joint Statement on the Filioque

Apr 25, 2025 - This post is shared jointly on the Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Perspectives blog and the ELCA Worship blog. 1700 years ago,...

Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Guide to 2024

Jan 17, 2024 - The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is upon us once again. To commemorate this time of collective witness we’ve...

Preview the Thirteenth Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation

Sep 6, 2023 - One week from today the Thirteenth Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation will begin in Krakow, Poland. The Assembly will...

Lutheran Disaster Response

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Nominate a Leader in Your Life for the Inaugural Building Resilient Leadership Cohort

Jun 2, 2025 - The ELCA Building Resilient Communities (BRC) team invites nominations of adult leaders, ages 18-and-older, to participate in the inaugural Building...

Mud on my Boots on Ash Wednesday

Mar 4, 2025 - Cleaning the mud off my boots after a recent flood response, I noticed the grittiness of it. It reminded me...

Humanitarian Response Training in Indonesia

Dec 18, 2024 - Asia is one of the most disaster-hit regions in the world, with floods, cyclones, earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic eruptions. Unplanned...

Faith through the Storm: Rebuilding Together in Christ’s Strength

Nov 14, 2024 - By Pastor Rob Rose, Assistant to the Bishop, Florida-Bahamas Synod Republished from the Florida-Bahamas Synod E-Spirit Weekly Newsletter ...

ELCA Youth Gathering Blog

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Scenes from a Street Car: Created to be Disciples

Jul 21, 2024 - Saturday, July 20 – Created to Be Disciples Today was our closing worship for the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering, and...

Scenes from a Street Car: Created to be Disruptive

Jul 20, 2024 - Friday, July 19 – Created to Be Disruptive Today, the final full day of the Youth Gathering, was a whirlwind...

Scenes from a Street Car: Created to be Free

Jul 19, 2024 - Thursday, July 18 – Created to Be Free Today, over 5k Gathering participants in bright orange shirts launched into the...

Scenes from a Street Car: Created to be Authentic

Jul 18, 2024 - Wednesday, July 17 – Created to Be Authentic Today, the spirit of authenticity radiated through the streets of New Orleans...

ELCA Young Adults

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The Wolf Shall Lie Down With the Lamb: #NoPlasticsforLent

Mar 15, 2021 - The Word Genesis 1:29-30 29 God said, “See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the...

Creation Care on Campus: #NoPlasticsforLent

Mar 11, 2021 - A Starting Place Creation care looks different at different stages of our lives. College is a transitional time for many...

Local is Global: #NoPlasticsforLent

Mar 4, 2021 - The Word “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to...

Justice Alongside Indigenous Peoples : #NoPlasticsforLent

Feb 23, 2021 - ‘Wild’ Places I have been interested in environmental activism, indigenous justice, and decolonization since I was a kid (I was...

Congregational Vitality: Stories and Learning

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Reviving hope in Memphis

Dec 18, 2019 - by Rev. Antoinette Robinson, Peace Lutheran Church, Memphis Peace Lutheran Church, Memphis, formed Trinity Ministries in partnership with two...

Reclaiming faith with LGBTQIA+ community in Los Angeles

Dec 11, 2019 - ADORE LA is seeking new and creative ways to do church in the city of Los Angeles. This LGBTQIA+...

Communing with Christ in the strawberry field

Dec 11, 2019 - The faith community of Iglesia Luterana Santa Cruz communes with Christ in a strawberry field of Santa Maria, Calif....

CV Training Event Travel and Logistics – San Diego – February 2020

Dec 4, 2019 - Congregational Vitality Training Event — San Diego Travel & Logistics for Training Event & Pre-Events: February 17-21, 2020 TRAINING EVENT...

Stories from the Global Church

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Helmut and Rotraut Diefenthal: Service in Malaysia and Tanzania

Apr 8, 2015 - Franklin Ishida The son of a Jewish father, Helmut Diefenthal and his wife, Rotraut, survived Nazi Germany and World...

Nurturing the church in Japan

Mar 31, 2015 - Nathan and Sharonette Bowman New playground equipment is enjoyed at the kindergarten. The Rev. Nathan and Sharonette Bowman accompany...

Hunger

Mar 24, 2015 - Kirsten Fryer The Rev. Kirsten Fryer serves as pastor at St. Andrew’s United Congregation in Cairo and is also pastoral...

Women’s Sunday in Kenya

Mar 17, 2015 - Leslie Weed-Fonner and Michael G Fonner Women’s Sunday worship March 1 at the Nairobi International Lutheran Congregation. The Rev....

Blog Latino

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Mensaje navideño

Dec 25, 2016 - Jesús es nuestro verdadero hogar. Esa es nuestra esperanza en Navidad y durante todo el año. Nunca estamos lejos de…

Reflexiones sobre las elecciones recientes

Dec 6, 2016 - Video de reflexiones sobre las elecciones por parte de la reverenda Elizabeth Eaton, obispa presidente de la ELCA

Obispa presidente de la ELCA emite declaración sobre Standing Rock

Nov 14, 2016 - CHICAGO (14 de noviembre de 2016) – La reverenda Elizabeth A. Eaton, obispa presidente de la Iglesia Evangélica Luterana en...

Una mirada mayor al Catecismo menor

Nov 10, 2016 - Por Elizabeth Eaton, Obispa presidente de la ELCA, columna de octubre de 2016 en Living Lutheran Nota del editor: Esta es...