News - News & Events

Responding to the Coronavirus Threat: WHAT CAN WE DO IF SERVICE ATTENDANCE REDUCES?

What to do if service attendance lowers in your congregation in response to the current Coronavirus threat?

A Pastoral Letter Concerning the Coronavirus

We are all stronger and better equipped to face challenges of every degree as a calm, collected, and aware church community. Each of us, along with our holy siblings, can remain safe by acting collectively and responsibly. With the Holy Spirit in our hearts, we may be the shining example of hope and courage.

The Chimes - March & April 2020

Enjoy The Chimes, March & April 2020 edition, published by The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer.

The Lutheran Contact - March 2020

Lent is a season of simplicity, reflection, renewal and preparation. Stretching back to the begin-ning of the early Church, it was also a time of preparation for baptismal candidates, who were baptized during the Easter Vigil, which, in our context, will take place this year at St. Paul’s Epis-copal Church beginning at 8 PM on April 11th. Therefore the Season of Lent is also an opportuni-ty to reflect on our baptismal calling, which is to participate in God’s mission in the world.

St. John's Journal: Cross Words (March 2020)

Bottom line: You never really know the heart of a person until you ‘slice it open.’ That is precisely what we do during Lent. It is a time of ‘slicing open’ our innermost selves, of laying bare to God what's really at our core. We confess in public fashion (especially on Ash Wednesday) that we are not really so ripe inside, although we would like to be. It is an admission of our humanity, of our imperfect timbre in God's world. But it is also an act of freedom.

Good News: Koinonia has plans for reopening

Corporation members heard many positive reports. In 2019, significant financial gifts to the ministry were made, volunteers contributed many hours of work and a second-opinion mold report gave hope to repairing the buildings. The expectation is that the Camp will begin again its ministry in 2020.

John Weit accepts call as assistant to the bishop, executive for Worship

Deacon John Weit has accepted a call as assistant to the bishop, executive for worship of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Weit has served in the role in an interim capacity since July 2019.

ELCA Presiding Bishop Issues Response to President Trump's "Peace to Prosperity" Document

I call upon President Trump to develop a different plan that would involve all parties, and to pursue efforts that would adhere to international law and human rights conventions. This plan should ensure the protection and preservation of internationally recognized human rights and realize, for Palestinians and for Israelis, two viable, secure states living side by side in peace.

Bishop Eaton Issues Pastoral Message on Death of Herbert Chilstrom

With sadness I bring you the news that Presiding Bishop Emeritus Herbert W. Chilstrom died at home early this morning. Bishop Chilstrom was the first presiding bishop of the ELCA. Many of you knew him in those early days when the ELCA was just getting started – there was no furniture at the Lutheran Center, files were in boxes, phones were on the floor, and the skeleton staff worked on card tables and folding chairs.

ELCA Presiding Bishop Issues Pastoral Message on Iran Conflict

For our part, we have a window of opportunity to stop the current conflict before it worsens. We should appeal now to our elected officials to pursue the path of dialogue and diplomacy with Iran — for our sake, for the sake of the people of Iran and for the sake of the world God so loves.