National Day of Racial Healing

The National Day of Racial Healing is an annual observance that follows Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This year, the ELCA will join the movement of racial healing for our church and the nation. On Jan. 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Central time, join a free online educational event that centers the voices of ELCA leaders of color. This event is open to all ELCA rostered ministers, lay leaders and members, as well as the church’s affiliate organizations and ecumenical and interreligious partners. Learn more, browse speaker bios and register.

Living Lutheran: Top five articles of 2024

As Living Lutheran began a new year, it took a look at some of its top stories from 2024. Among them are a review of the movie Inside Out 2, a message from the ELCA Conference of Bishops, kickoff moments from the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering, a family-centered worship service that has transformed a Florida congregation, and a conversation with two Lutheran legislators. They’re worth a read or a reread!

Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust reconsiderations

The 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly called for two reconsiderations of specific sections of the 2009 social statement Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust. As a first step in this process, a task force from across the ELCA has released draft edits to the sections of the social statement, which address possible word changes without altering the substantive meaning of the social statement. Your feedback is needed as the church considers the draft edits.

Resources, including a survey, FAQs and a discussion guide, are available at ELCA.org/Reconsiderations. Please provide feedback by Jan. 31. Read and respond.

FEATURED VIDEO

"Our church has wheels"

A video interview with the Rev. Amy Beitelschees-Albers takes us through her work with So Much More Ministries. Once a week, Pastor Amy and her team of volunteers work to make free meals for the community of Fort Wayne, Ind.

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FEATURED RESOURCES

BULLETIN BLURBS

Lutheran Disaster Response: California wildfires

Over the last two weeks, multiple wildfires have broken out across Los Angeles County in California, which placed over 100,000 people under evacuation orders. These fires have destroyed homes and businesses and have led to injuries and loss of life. Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) is coordinating with the Southwest California Synod and Pacifica Synod to assess the needs of people impacted. LDR will work with them to address immediate needs amid the destruction and assist with recovery efforts for months and years to come. Give today to support the response.

Living Lutheran print is back!

We heard you — and listened. We have found a way to bring Living Lutheran back to print in a quarterly fashion. Each issue (spring, summer, fall and winter) will feature the stories you know and love, along with updates on the church and your ELCA community.

The cost for one year will be $19.95 for an individual subscription and $17 for a congregation group subscription. To start receiving the print magazine, individuals and congregations can sign up at livinglutheran.org/subscribe. For congregation plans, enter the name of your church, along with the email address of the person who will be overseeing the subscription plan.

Living Lutheran — Got an idea for our next great story?

Living Lutheran is your source for news, reflections and stories from the ELCA and its local and global companions. Living Lutheran belongs to the people of the ELCA and welcomes article ideas from readers. Tell us about those stories of God’s people living their faith at [email protected]. Please include the name of your congregation or your story’s connection to the church.