By Deacon Jessica Noonan, Associate Director, LEAD Although Summer 2023 is only recently over, it’s already time to think about ministry opportunities in your congregation for next year. I’m Camp Hope Director for LEAD and would recommend our day camp experience and curriculum 10/10! The Camp Hope 2023 staff at St James/Santiago Apostol Lutheran Church in Houston, where Camp Hope has been happening for 10 years, had this to say about this unique ministry, "It means happiness, supporting, and...

By Will Nunnally and Hellen Rios-Carrill The publication Stories of Faith in Action and the resources that go along with it are designed to share how important your weekly offering in your congregation is in sustaining and growing God’s mission. The portion of your offerings that support the ELCA’s synodical and churchwide ministries is called Mission Support. The publication and resources found here help explain and answer questions about Mission Support and tell the story of those gifts in...

By Tracey Breashears Schultz, Bishop’s Associate for Leadership You’ve probably heard of Boss’s Day, Nurses Day, Teacher Appreciation, and maybe even World Octopus Day, but did you know about Clergy Appreciation Month? Whether it was started by Focus on the Family or by Hallmark, I am not quite sure, but October is a month to recognize and give thanks for the clergy—the pastors and deacons—in our lives. Specifically, Sunday, October 8 is Clergy Appreciation Day this year. You may be tempted to...

By Bishop Michael Rinehart Let every person be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God… For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s agents, busy with this very thing. Pay to all what is due them: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due. Romans 13:1, 6-7 Inviting Luther to speak to...

By Lisa Brenskelle For more information on any of the below, or for creation care assistance/information, contact Lisa Brenskelle at [email protected] or see our new website! The team is seeking additional members. If you would be willing to serve, please contact us. The mission of Lutherans Restoring Creation is to promote incorporation of care for creation into the full life and mission of the church, working in five areas: worship, education, discipleship, building & grounds, and public...

By Pete Lopez, St John Lutheran Church, Angleton This simple door with the faceplate “Classroom 2” is found at St John Lutheran Church in Angleton. But there is no longer a classroom as the faceplate states. Truthfully, Classroom 2 has not had a regular class in years; it had slowly become storage space for unused VBS material. Today, if you open this door, you will be very surprised as to what is in there. It is my honor to share the good news about what’s behind the door, the people who...

By Evangeline Dai, Ministry Coordinator We, the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod (TLGCS) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), are now a new member of the Texas Gulf Coast Regional Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (TGCRVOAD). We will also apply for membership for the Louisiana VOAD. Their new President, Jessica Vermilyea, used to work at Lutheran Social Services Disaster Response (Upbring), so we already know her, and our leaders have good connections with her. In...

By Stephanie N. Grimoldby The publication Stories of Faith in Action and the resources that go along with it are designed to share how important your weekly offering in your congregation is in sustaining and growing God’s mission. The portion of your offerings that support the ELCA’s synodical and churchwide ministries is called Mission Support. The publication and resources found here help explain and answer questions about Mission Support and tell the story of those gifts in action. The...

By Lisa Brenskelle For more information on any of the below, or for creation care assistance/information, contact Lisa Brenskelle at [email protected] or see our new website! The team is seeking additional members. If you would be willing to serve, please contact us. The mission of Lutherans Restoring Creation is to promote incorporation of care for creation into the full life and mission of the church, working in five areas: worship, education, discipleship, building & grounds, and public...

By Bishop Michael Rinehart Christian nationalism is not Christianity. What is Christian nationalism? Christian nationalism is a dangerous political ideology and cultural framework that distorts both church and state by attempting to merge American and Christian identities. It suggests that America is a divinely appointed nation instituted by God. Deifying the American state, it suggests that true Americans are Christians. If you are not Christian, you are not a true American. Seeking to create...