[Seeds Monthly] God’s love in these times

Living Lutheran: “Pride Month interviews”

June is Pride Month! Living Lutheran is excited to affirm and embrace everyone in the church, and to amplify the voices of our ELCA siblings in the LGBTQIA+ community. Throughout the month you can find interviews with LGBTQIA+ Lutherans on livinglutheran.org, where they share what gives them hope, their stories as Lutherans and their prayers for the future. Read these interviews and more LGBTQIA+ stories.

ELCA Youth Gathering to bring thousands to New Orleans

Meeting under the theme “Created to Be,” nearly 16,000 youth and adult leaders will participate in the ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans, La., July 16-20. The Gathering brings together Lutherans for faith formation, worship, fellowship and service. A livestream of Mass Gathering programming will be available while it’s taking place in New Orleans. Links to watch the livestream will be featured on ELCA.org/Gathering as we get closer to the event. Mass Gathering is scheduled for July 16-19 from 7 to 9:15 p.m. and July 20 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Learn more.

Family and parental leave for ministers across the ELCA

Leave policies are opportunities to connect our values to the realities of caregiving needs within families and to respond in ways that promote just, equitable and supportive practices. The Quality of Call Initiative has assembled a report examining how synod compensation guidelines recommend parental and family leave policies and practices for rostered ministers providing care. In three years of reporting, over one-third of synods have updated their policies. Regardless of gender, age or family makeup, family and parental leave should be included in the compensation for all rostered ministers. View the report and synod maps.

WATCH THIS

God's love in these times | 2024 Synod Assembly

Have you heard the phrase “May you live in interesting times”? Many would say we live in uncertain times, with a world experiencing war and famine, and the stress and lingering effects of the pandemic. But Bishop Eaton reminds us that, as people of the resurrection, we also live in hope. God’s love sustains us even in the most difficult times. We live in interesting times because God’s love is always real.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Final Q & A Webinar ELCA Youth Gathering	What does it mean to be Lutheran in a crucial election year? Series begins
ELCA Youth Gathering New Orleans, La.	God’s work. Our hands. Day of service

FEATURED RESOURCES

New resources from ELCA Foundation

Vote: Top 100 Technology Team Award

New social message: Gun-related violence and trauma

This 10-lesson curriculum is designed to get your group talking about the daily themes of the ELCA Youth Gathering.

EXPLORE

The ELCA Task Force on Civic Life and Faith has released a draft social statement for public comment and is looking for your feedback by Sept. 30.

VOTE

Are you in the mood for some nostalgia? We sometimes share full episodes of Davey and Goliath on our YouTube channel. Check out our playlist to watch!

READ

BULLETIN BLURBS

These snippets are available for you to copy and paste into your bulletins.

Join an Online Discernment Group

Do you ever get a sense that God might be tapping you on the shoulder? Are you wondering what God is calling you to do with your life? Considering learning more about church leadership and pondering whether it might be for you? Have you ever thought about enrolling in seminary or even wondered what seminary study is like today? Starting July 1, you can join an online group with others across the ELCA who share your curiosity. Sign up by visiting elcaseminaries.org and filling out the contact form, or by emailing [email protected].

What does it mean to be Lutheran in a crucial election year?

As our faith informs our day-to-day lives, Lutherans recognize that “faith is active in love [and] love calls for justice in relationships and structures of society” (ELCA Social Statement on Church in Society). We also know the church is called to be a community that prays, deliberates, and acts together when it comes to complex social issues. In this election year, how might our Lutheran faith shape our thinking, acting, and voting on major issues? Join United Lutheran Seminary to learn and ponder timely social teachings of the ELCA and to learn tips for leading discussions in your own community. This informational flyer has more information, including how to register.

Augsburg Fortress free summer music clinics

Learn from clinicians Mark Sedio and David Cherwien at the Augsburg Fortress free summer music clinics. Attendees can also enjoy a handbell clinic and a hymn festival. Learn more and sign up at www.augsburgfortress.org/music/summer-music-clinics. Dates and locations:

Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.: July 16-17
Columbia, S.C.: July 19-20
Philadelphia, Pa.: Aug. 1-2
Columbus, Ohio: Aug. 5-6
Chicago, Ill.: Aug. 8-9

Supportive Spaces Conversations Sponsored by ELCA Coaching Ministry²

ELCA Coaching is a ministry of accompaniment and encouragement. Through this lens we piloted two support groups across multiple synods in 2023 and are ready to expand this offering in anticipation of an even more polarized landscape in 2024. This is a cohort-based program, designed to support the holistic well-being of leaders across the church, similar to grief-support groups. These groups will require registration (with no financial cost to participants) and a one-hour commitment each week for six weeks. Learn more and register: elcacoaching.org/events/.