Participate in the Run, Walk and Roll and the Quilt Challenge this summer at the triennial gathering

April 2026

Participate in the Run, Walk and Roll 5k and the Quilt Challenge this summer in Des Moines!

If you’ve been to a triennial gathering before, you probably remember the fun of joining the Run, Walk, and Roll 5K for the Raising Up Healthy Women and Girls health initiative, as well as the Quilt Challenge. For years, these events have brought extra excitement to the gathering and inspired people of all ages to join in. If this is your first time attending, we are especially excited to welcome you. Everyone is invited and we encourage newcomers to join these activities, connect, and make new memories together.

Girls that run

Meet two girls, Eleanor and Gwyneth Hill, who will be with us in Des Moines and will lead our Run, Walk and Roll 5K. If you are in the Des Moines area, you are invited to participate in the 5K! To join, simply click the registration link, fill out your contact details, and submit the form. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with more event information. Learn more and register.

2026 Quilt Challenge

You still have time to make a quilt and bring it along! The 2026 Quilt Challenge is open to everyone, regardless of experience. All ages and skill levels are welcome to participate, so whether you're an experienced quilter or trying this for the first time, we encourage you to join in. Check out the details about the 2026 Quilt Challenge and the entry form. View photos of the 2023 Quilt Challenge.

There is still time to join your friends and daughters at the gathering. Register to attend the full event at the triennial gathering website: https://welcatg.org.

Boldcafe Monthly Dinner: Intergenerational ministry

Come be part of a conversation led by WELCA Campus Ambassadors Lila Woodard and BillieJo Shahan, as they share about the new intergenerational ministry they created with girls in their congregation. Their insights and creative ideas are sure to spark inspiration for you and your group!

Join us for the next Boldcafe Monthly Dinner on Thursday, April 30, at 7 pm CST. Granddaughters, daughters, nieces, and friends are welcome to join and bring their favorite stuffed animal. Register and share the invitation at https://boldcafe.org/dinner .

Candlelight Vigil for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW), May 5

In honor of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women's Day, Monday, May 5, join leaders, staff and more as we pray together, "Candlelight Vigil for Murdered and Missing Women," written by Dr. Kelly Sherman-Conroy. Download the vigil.

Join the vigil via Zoom webinar, Monday, May 5.

For more information visit the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women webpage on the ELCA website.

New! Spring 2026 three-part Bible study in Gather

The three-part Bible study beginning in March, “I AM: God’s holy name and promise,” is written by the Rev. Hannah Hawkinson.

(April) Session two—Gate and shepherd: Guiding and protecting us (John 10)

Session two builds on the theme of God’s abiding love as we explore another dimension of I AM, God’s holy name and promise: God’s guidance and protection. Guidance and protection are the major themes of the famous “Good Shepherd” discourse in John 10, in which Jesus declares that he is both the good shepherd and the gate for the sheep. Our God who abides with us is also a God who moves with us—who knows us, protects us and leads us through the ups and downs of life.

Download session two .

Watch video supplement .

Download session one.

Watch video supplement.

Raising Up Healthy Women and Girls Seed Grant Applications are due April 6

Make a difference in your congregation and community by applying for a Raising Up Healthy Women and Girls Seed Grant. Seed grants enable active Women of the ELCA units to add a project that is focused on health and wellness for women and girls. Award amounts are up to $2000. Applications must be postmarked or emailed by April 30, 2026. Learn more.

Scholarship applications due April 30

Thanks to endowments created in the past for this purpose, Women of the ELCA is able to offer academic scholarships in two categories: for Lutheran laywomen and for those studying for ordained ministry.

Learn more about Women of the ELCA Scholarships. All application materials must be submitted on or before April 30, 2026. Learn more and apply on the Women of the ELCA website.

A resource for the 50 days of Easter

In Luke 20:36, we are called “children of the resurrection.” What does this mean? Is it a reference to a future event, the resurrection of our spiritual selves? Or might it have implications for our lives and the lives of others here and now? Consider how resurrection might appear in our everyday lives here and now with this multi-session program. Download the resource, "Resurrection: a holy discipline."

Daily Grace is an on-the-go companion for your spiritual journey, offering a faith reflection every day. Encounter God’s extravagant, boundless, and often surprising grace by signing up for a daily email message. Learn more at welca.org/dailygrace.