December 10, 2025

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FX Incubator: Messy Church


January 28, 2026, 11:00 am – 1:30 pm


Monthly workshops that spark imagination and equip you to design and launch Fresh Expressions of Church uniquely shaped for your community. Click here for more info. 

Praying for Peace - 20th Annual Service of Christmas Lessons & Carols


December 13 10:00 am


Simulcast from Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral & Christmas Lutheran Church, Bethlehem, Palestine 


Join us in person at the Cathedral or online for the 20th annual service of Christmas Lessons and Carols simulcast live from the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral in the United States and the Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, Palestine. Hear familiar carols and readings in Arabic and English and words of hope. The Most Rev. Dr. Hosam E. Naoum, Archbishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem will preach. For information visit www.diopa.org.


Click here to watch the livestream.

Introducing TLU Sunday: Celebrating Our Shared Mission  


On February 1, 2026, Texas Lutheran University (TLU) will launch TLU Sunday, a new initiative in partnership with the Bishops of the Synods of Texas and Louisiana. This special day celebrates the strong connection between TLU and our congregations as we work together to prepare faithful, educated leaders for the church and the world. 


Building upon engagement programs such as Presidential Visits and TLU Takeovers, TLU Sunday will deepen relationships with congregations, alumni, and friends. The goals are to: 

  1. Increase awareness of TLU among students, alumni, and church leaders. 
  2. Share how TLU fulfills its mission in partnership with congregations. 
  3. Invite support for the Lutheran Advantage Scholarship and Campus Ministry. 

 

Participation is simple and optional. Congregations that opt in will receive in early January a TLU Sunday marketing packet with a short video, sample announcements, bulletin inserts, and social media content. Churches can share these materials during worship or in their own communications—and may also invite TLU students, alumni, or parents to offer a short testimonial. 


To incentivize participation, one donor from each Synod has pledged $10,000 for TLU Sunday. Our goal is for each Synod to collectively raise another $10,000 across its congregations. 


If your congregation would like to host a TLU Sunday, please identify a coordinator for your congregation then complete this form by December 19TLU Sunday Contact Information – Fill out form 


If you have questions regarding TLU Sunday, please reach out to the TLU Office of Development and Alumni Relations at development@tlu.edu

Launch of the New Living Lutheran Website


We’re excited to pass along a little early good news this Advent season: the new LivingLutheran.org has launched! Members of congregations in your synod will be able to set up a free digital membership that offers these perks: 

  • A welcoming, easy-to-access format. 
  • A personalized dashboard prioritizing the stories that interest them. 
  • Access to members-only content, and the ability to save and “like” articles. 
  • E-news delivery options to get the stories they want, both online and in their email inboxes. 


Encourage your congregants to visit livinglutheran.org/subscribe to sign up for their free digital membership. 


Living Lutheran tells the stories of the ELCA, bonding us as a church across congregations, synods, states, regions and countries. Invite your churches to get informed, inspired and equipped with the perspectives they need to deepen their faith and connect with the broader Lutheran community. 


For more information, visit livinglutheran.org/subscribe. You’ll also find options for individual and group subscriptions to the print magazine.  


Please email questions to livinglutheran@elca.org.  

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