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
Transforming and connecting lives through faith and music since 1981.
Youth musicians are invited to Lutheran Summer Music
Enrollment for LSM 2025 is open now! Lutheran Summer Music (LSM) is a faith-based residential music academy for high school students who come together to immerse themselves in musical excellence and build a supportive and fun community. Musical experiences include large ensembles (band, choir, orchestra), chamber music, private lessons, and electives like handbells, jazz, musical theatre, composition, conducting, church music and more. Priority enrollment deadline: December 1. Standard enrollment deadline: March 1. Learn more at LSMacademy.org.
Association of Lutheran Church Musicians
ALCM nurtures and equips musicians to serve and lead the church’s song.
Where Do We Go from Here is a symposium that will , first, attempt to stimulate conversation about being faithful, creative, and nurturing stewards of the church’s song; and give composers a focused opportunity to explore the changing offerings of music software.
Join us from August 4-8, 2025, in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina for our 2025 national biennial conference, For all that is to be. This conference will be an exciting opportunity to gather with friends and colleagues, old and new, who share a passion for leading the church’s song. Attendees will leave feeling both inspired and equipped with knowledge and new ideas.
Institute of Liturgical Studies
An ecumenical conference on liturgical renewal for the church today.
Rites of Passage: Engaging Occasional Practitioners in a Secular Age
Valparaiso, Ind., April 28–30, 2025
The American religious landscape is characterized by declining participation in religious institutions, increasing uncertainty about matters of faith, and a growing population identifying as non-religious. Nevertheless, many people continue to turn to churches at some of the most significant moments in their lives—such as the birth of a child or the loss of a loved one—and many others show up to support them. At last year’s Institute, Rev. Dr. Sarah Kathleen Johnson introduced the idea of occasional religious practice to describe a way of relating to religion that is characterized by participation in religious practices occasionally rather than routinely, most often in connection with certain types of occasions, including holidays, life transitions, and times of crisis. She encouraged us not to rush to judge occasional practitioners’ lack of involvement or to come to hasty conclusions about why they are seeking out these practices but instead to listen to and learn from them.
Most of our planning resources are directed at the Sunday assembly. Yet, baptisms, weddings, and funerals are liturgical events rich in their potential for service and outreach. How might we more fully consider the possibilities of these occasions to be better prepared to serve a decreasingly churched culture?
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Music that Makes Community (MMC) practices communal song-sharing that inspires deep spiritual connection, brave shared leadership, and sparks the possibility of transformation in our world.
Music that Makes Community invites you to consider the following events and resources for continuing education, community building, professional development, and celebrating this practice of paperless communal song-sharing.
Communities around the nation gather together to sing and build bridges of connection. Be sure to go to our events pages for information on Workshops and Retreats, Community Events and other gatherings in your area. Join one of these regular groups, if they aree near you or start your own (we can help you with that; just reach out!):
Albuquerque, New Mexico – 1st Tuesdays
Brownsburg, Indiana – 1st Tuesdays
Chicago, Illinois – 3rd Wednesdays
Ellensburg, Washington – 2nd Thursdays
Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota – varies
The Hymn Society & The Center for Congregational Song
The mission of The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada is to encourage, promote, and enliven congregational singing. The Center for Congregational Song is the resource and programmatic arm of The Hymn Society, connecting resources, leading deep and vital conversations about the church’s song, and collaborating with our partners.
Back in 2020, The Center for Congregational Song hosted a 12-hour broadcast of music and pastoral moments on Election Day in an effort to provide a space for peace in a time of great anxiety. Four years later, the political discourse in the United States is not all that different, and, in some ways, even more charged than it was before. If you find yourself in need of a break from the news, we invite you to recharge by watching our broadcast from four years ago.
Resources from the Center for Church Music
The Center for Church Music is a place where one can tap into an expansive library of resources and perspectives on the music and art of the church, with a focus on a Lutheran context.
“Profiles in American Lutheran Church Music” presents video conversations with prominent church musicians Nancy Raabe (conversation with Barry Bob, 2023) and Paul Westermeyer, (conversation with Carl Schalk, 2013) as well as many other Lutheran Church musicians.
Augsburg Fortress Events and Resources
Augsburg Fortress is the publishing ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
A Watered Garden: Christian Worship and Earth’s Ecology
A Watered Garden by Benjamin M. Stewart explores the deep ecological connections within our patterns of worship and the inherent wisdom that ties us to creation. From the waters of baptism to the ashes to which we return, our sacraments and natural world are inseparable. Insight, meditation, and conversation around these various roots can lead us to a renewed relationship with an ailing earth. The Worship Matters Studies Series examines key worship issues through studies by pastors, musicians, and lay people from throughout the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Come, Lord Jesus: Devotions for the Home: Advent/Christmas/Epiphany 
This devotional collection is perfect for little hands to hold and experience through the seasons of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany. Readings, meditations, seasonal blessings, mealtime prayers, and songs prepare the home for the celebration of the Savior’s birth. With the introduction of customs from around the world, these activities also invite our curiosity about the lives of the people around us. The varied ideas in Come, Lord Jesus can also support creative worship planning during these seasons.
See Me, Believe Me: A Guide to Deepen Allyship with Congregational Leaders of Color 
In See Me, Believe Me, Rev. Dr. Yolanda Denson-Byers draws from the wisdom and experience she has gained—and the racism she has endured—as a female, Black, and queer pastor in the ELCA. Through storytelling, biblical reflection, and colleague interviews, Denson-Byers offers an honest and unflinching look at the challenges faced by leaders of color in the predominantly white ELCA. 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.
Good News, Great Joy: Devotions for Advent & Christmas 2024-2025 
This pocket-sized devotional explores, shares, and celebrates the joyous good news by continuing a centuries-old Christian tradition of setting aside time to prepare for the celebration of Jesus’ birth and to anticipate his return. From the first Sunday in Advent through Epiphany, this collection of readings, images, reflections, and “To Ponder” sections can focus us on the messages of the season. Amidst the busy Advent and Christmas seasons, use these devotions as an opening meditation for a church meeting or a gift to treasured groups – especially a handbell choir!
Activities included the ever popular “Acolyte Olympiad” with new competitive categories for pastors and bishops. The “Vestment Photo Booth” was, once again, a youth favorite as we witnessed so many young people seeing themselves in church leadership no matter how many silly poses or creative vestment combination choices they made. In the “Music Corner,” (where we always clap on 2 and 4), youth could show off their musical skills or learn how to use a new percussion instrument. We even had a few spontaneous hymn sings! The ELCA Spiritual Renewal Team brought new ways to pray with fun things like Jenga, coloring, and labyrinths. Before youth left our area, we encouraged them to grab a button to write their own dismissal with the encouragement to take them home and use them in worship. Additionally, we had a baptismal remembrance table, information about Lutheran Summer Music
