By Bishop Mike Rinehart The Sunday after a shooting at a gay night club in Florida, it was interesting to see which preachers changed their sermons to respond to the situation. The same for the shooting of Trayvon Martin, or Alton Sterling. Pastors who write sermons early in the week sometimes have to toss it out when the national consciousness shifts due to a major event. Still others ignore it completely. In the 1930’s life was getting difficult for German Jews. In his effort to promote a...

By Bishop Mike Rinehart Pastor Lisa Gaye used to serve St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Metairie, a suburb northwest of New Orleans, on Lake Ponchartrain. Now she serves a diverse group of people at Oschner Medical Center’s main campus a little over a mile away. Her work there is primarily in three areas of the hospital: The Pediatric Unit Pediatric Intensive Care Pediatric Emergency   This is challenging and soulful work, more with the parents than with the patients, most of whom are...

By Chris Markert, Bishop’s Associate for Misison “My dear friend, I pray that all is well with you, and that you are as healthy physically as your soul is spiritually.” -3 John 2(INCL) In April I joined a gym. This was after a surprise stay in the hospital in January. I came to realize that I have spent years not taking care of my body. I ate whatever I wanted and rarely exercised. And it finally caught up to me. However, joining the gym wasn’t enough. It wasn’t until I started utilizing the...

By Tracey Breashears Schultz, Bishop’s Associate for Leadership My internship site was on the plains of eastern Colorado in a rural community about an hour’s drive from Denver, the population of which was about 1400. When I was first assigned the site, I went to my seminary dean and asked him if he was trying to kill me. I had been raised in cities and suburbs and did not think I had what it took to do ministry in a rural setting. My dean told me I’d have the best year of my life and asked me...

By Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding Bishop, ELCA This church had a meeting in August. We gathered in Milwaukee for the 2019 Churchwide Assembly. We were filled with anticipation and excitement—what would unfold during the assembly? How would we be inspired by worship and Bible study? How would we be challenged? What new insight into the work of the church would we receive? It turned out to be quite a week. The assembly adopted a social statement, “Faith, Sexism, and Justice: A Call to Action”;...

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 ministry/advocacy.  For some timely tips in these areas, see below: WorshipConsider these creation themes for Advent in year A. Get inspired by this sermon on sabbath or this creation-focused liturgy. Creation-focused prayers which can be used in worship are posted...

Saturday, Nov. 9, 1 - 3 pm. The synod Lutherans Restoring Creation Team invites you to explore Sheldon Lake State Park through nature journaling, led by master naturalist Irmi Willcockson.  "Nature journaling is your path into the exploration of the natural world around you, and into your personal connection with it." Leslie and Roth, 2000. This introduction is for all ages, and supplies will be provided.  We'll meet at the Sheldon Lake State Park Visitor Center to distribute supplies and...

Sunday, November 17, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. The synod Lutherans Restoring Creation Team invites you to join with people of other faiths to care for our shared environment.  We will engage in hands-on environmental stewardship at the Willow Waterhole Conservation Reserve in Houston. This event will offer activities for all ages and skill levels, so bring the whole family, your neighbors and your friends.  Meet at The Gathering Place, 5310 South Willow Dr., Houston 77035 to sign in. Metro bus line 7...

Sunday, Nov. 24, 6 p.m., online The synod Lutherans Restoring Creation Team invites you to a monthly environmental education web meeting series whose theme in 2019 is environmental issues, and what you can do. In November, Lisa Brenskelle, head of the synod team, will discuss the U.N.'s Global Environmental Outlook, a report issued earlier this year, and how faith enables our response to the ecological crisis. Lisa will address: What is our present ecological crisis? & What specific issues...

By Bishop Michael Rinehart I have always been impressed with those who give generously to charities that are making a difference in the world. There are some incredible charities out there. My own denomination produced the much-respected Lutheran World Relief (LWR), the game-changing Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS.org), and the many Lutheran Social Services affiliates. Our own churchwide body worlds through Global Mission, Companion Synods and ELCA World Hunger. I’m proud of...