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Lutheran Disaster Response: Eastern Europe crisis response
Lutheran Disaster Response is accompanying companion churches and ecumenical partners as they respond to the crisis in Ukraine and Eastern Europe. There are major humanitarian concerns for both internally displaced people and refugees. Partners including the Lutheran World Federation and Church World Service are providing refugees with immediate support and supplies such as food, blankets, water and hygiene kits. Care for people also includes pastoral and psychological support to address the trauma they’ve endured. Use this bulletin insert to encourage support in your congregation. Gifts designated for “Eastern Europe Crisis Response” will be used entirely (100%) to provide support for people impacted by conflict in the region.
Give today.
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Living Lutheran: Facing divisive issues in the Beloved Community
“How can we talk about difficult issues without dividing our congregation? In a church body as large as the ELCA, how much common ground remains? How can I even begin to converse with neighbors, friends and family members who see things so differently from my convictions?”
In Living Lutheran’s March issue, Michael Cooper-White uses Scripture, personal experience and theology to suggest answers to these questions, and explains to readers how conversations within their communities can help heal a fractured society. Read more and download the study guide.
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A healing and strengthening Lent
Has it felt like Lent for the last two years? We have journeyed through the wilderness, retreated into stillness, refrained from celebration and encountered grief. What does a trauma-informed Lenten observance look like? “As Lent nears, I’m convinced I need to approach it not just as a reverend but as a trauma-informed pastoral caregiver,” writes Carla Christopher Wilson in Living Lutheran. “This Lent will be about centering contemplation, realization and practical coping mechanisms that cultivate resilience and hope.” May your Lenten journey be one of compassionate understanding. Read more.
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WATCH THIS
What do Lutherans say about . . . gender justice?
What does it look like for a church to confront sexism? Explore issues of faith, sexism and justice with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and learn how Lutherans are seeking justice and equity for all.
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR
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FEATURED RESOURCES
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“Tree of Healing” Vacation Bible School program
Come learn about health at the
“Tree of Healing,” ELCA World
Hunger’s VBS program for 2022.
Through skits, stories and
activities for children of all ages,
in-person or online, participants
will learn what it means to be
healthy in body, mind and spirit.
ORDER | DOWNLOAD
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Updated suicide prevention social message
Download an updated resource
on theological understandings
and practical strategies related
to preventing suicide.
LEARN MORE & DOWNLOAD
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We are church, we are called
In Living Lutheran’s series “We Are Church, We Are Called,” women and LGBTQIA+ leaders share their joys, struggles and gospel hope.
READ MORE
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BULLETIN BLURBS
These snippets are available for you to copy and paste into your bulletins.
Updated ELCA style guide
As language continues to evolve around the way we identify ourselves and others, so has the ELCA’s style guide. The most recent shift involves use of gendered language regarding our siblings in Christ, with a focus on ways to ensure that we represent everyone in the church, emphasizing gender-inclusive terminology and using titles and pronouns to reflect and honor nonbinary identities. These changes may seem small, but they are significant steps toward ensuring that we are all seen and loved as children of God throughout the church. Download the newest version at ELCA.org/brandmark.
What do rising interest rates mean for your ministry?
Experts predict that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates several times in 2022. This means that interest rates on loans from financial institutions are likely to jump too.
Because of its uniqueness as a financial ministry, the Mission Investment Fund (MIF) is maintaining its interest rates, currently at near-historic lows, for a little longer than others might. You can still take advantage of these rates for new building projects, land purchases or refinancing. Request a free estimate, and a dedicated member of the team will help you explore all your options. Get started at mif.elca.org/.
ELCA Youth Gathering City Bracket Challenge
Where will the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering be held? Follow the Gathering’s City Challenge as staff work through a bracket to narrow down candidates for the host city in 2024. You can get updates by following the Gathering on social media and at ELCA.org/Gathering. The big announcement will take place on March 31!
Augsburg Fortress free summer music clinics
Read through new seasonal music, attend workshops, participate in a hymn festival, attend handbell workshops, and more at the Augsburg Fortress summer music clinics! Jan Kraybill and Tom Trenney are the featured clinicians this year. Learn more and sign up at go.augsburgfortress.org/summer-music-clinics.
Dates and locations:
- Twin Cities, Minn., July 14-15
- Philadelphia, Pa., July 26-27
- Columbus, Ohio, Aug. 1-2
- Columbia, S.C., Aug. 5-6
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