“When the pandemic hit, we knew that congregation councils were having to make all kinds of very hard decisions,” says Deacon Tammy Jones West, North Carolina Synod Assistant to the Bishop. “So we gathered names of council presidents and treasurers and started meeting with them monthly by Zoom. And that’s grown into a really amazing group of folks."

Engage the Bible Task Force is partnering with the Racial Justice Network to sponsor a synod-wide adult faith formation study this fall. Using the curriculum Dialogues on Race, we’ll explore our relationship with race, the Bible, and our theological responses. Each week’s dialogue explores the history of racism, personal faith stories, and biblical reflections with an eye toward community building. In early November, we will host a Zoom panel discussion with some of the authors! Congregation groups wanting to participate can get free copies of the curriculum through the synod office. Individuals wanting to participate apart from their congregations can do so either through the Racial Justice Network or through the synod's website. Stay tuned for more details!

In her August Living Lutheran column, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton writes: “This is the faith which declares that through pandemics, droughts, floods, famines, deadly bigotry, war, all the death-dealing things in nature and the human heart, life—the abundant life that Jesus promises—will prevail. Plant something in the summer.”

Read her column in English. Read her column in Spanish.

On Sunday, Sept. 12, congregations will join together for “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday. This annual day of service is an opportunity for us to celebrate who we are as the ELCA—one church, freed in Christ to love and serve our neighbor. To help you plan here are some resources including a planning toolkit, a worship resource, and much more!

Also, here's a video invitation from Bishop Eaton to share with your congregation.

Our ministry partner Practical Resources for Churches (PRC), will be offering two September workshops via Zoom on welcoming. Be sure to mark your calendar and invite others from your congregation to attend with you. "Welcoming Guests to Your Church" is Tuesday, September 14, from 7-8 p.m. And "Church Signage: Make Your Maze Easy to Navigate" is Tuesday, September 21, from 7-8 p.m. Both are led by Kimberly Pope-Seiberling. Take advantage of these free training opportunities!

Materials for the 2022 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity are now available. The dates are January 18-25, 2022, and the theme is: “We saw the star in the East, and we came to worship him” (Matthew 2:2), chosen by the Middle East Council of Churches. These annual materials are jointly prepared and published by the Political Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches.

The 2021 wildfire season is devastating the western United States. More than 100 wildfires are now burning throughout 15 states. Lutheran Disaster Response is working with synods and social ministry organizations in California and other western states to develop a coordinated response to the wildfires. Immediate needs will include food and other necessities. Long-term recovery will likely take years.

Pastor Terry Graunke, retired, has transferred from the Oregon Synod. He lives in Lexington with his wife, Barbara.

Pastor Todd Cutter has been called to serve as Campus Pastor at Lenoir-Rhyne University.

Pastor Sara Cutter has transferred from the Southeastern Synod; she is called by the ELCA as Senior Director of Operational Effectiveness.

Pastor Scott Homesley is transferring from the Virginia Synod. He will serve as the interim pastor at St. John’s, Cherryville, beginning September 15.

A celebration of life and ministry for Pastor Tim Gamelin, who died on June 30 in CO, will be held on Saturday, August 28 at 2 p.m. at Emmanuel, High Point. While in NC, Pastor Tim served and loved both Emmanuel and Prince of Peace, Greensboro, and both congregations will celebrate his ministry together. Pastor Susie Gamelin will be in attendance and she will also worship at Prince of Peace on Sunday, August 29 at 11 a.m. Face masks will be required.

Florence "Tiny" Russell, sister of Pastor Jack Russell (Living Waters, Cherokee), died on August 10 in OK, from complications due to the COVID-19 virus. We mourn with her family. Read her obituary.

Bill Horne, ELCA Vice President, member of the Florida-Bahamas Synod, died August 18. We mourn with his family and the whole church. Learn more.

Josef Herz-Lane, son of Pastor Wolfgang Herz-Lane (Christ the King, Cary) and Pastor Margaret Herz-Lane (retired, Cary), was hospitalized with pneumonia (negative for COVID), but is now home and feeling better.

Emily Nichole Shifley, first grandchild of Pastor Tennyson Shifley (Christ, Concord), was born on July 28.

Carson Messenger, grandson of Pastor Susan Bame (retired, Kannapolis), was born on August 5.

Margot Jean Stouch, first grandchild of Pastor Dale Cline (St. Enoch, Kannapolis), was born on August 6.

O Lord, you who have called and equipped the teachers in our community, we pray for them today. Watch over them, provide for them, guide them, sustain them. May you be their sun and shield, so that they might do the work that you have entrusted to them and sense your care in these uncertain times. In Jesus’ name. Amen.—from christianitytoday.com

Last August, Sarah Coomber completely uprooted her life. The strain of the COVID-19 pandemic had convinced her and her husband, both ELCA members and Minnesota natives, that after nearly two decades in Washington state they needed to move home, near family. “By the time we got semi-settled in Minnesota, we were tired and had a lot to process.”

Read more from Living Lutheran.

In July, new missionaries gathered with staff and colleagues from across the ELCA for Summer New Missionary Orientation. They attended sessions on topics such as the accompaniment model, what it means to be a missionary, regional area desk time, health tips and practices, safety and security, and race, power, and privilege. These missionaries will begin their service as early as August.

The Lutheran World Federation Council has elected Estonian theologian Anne Burghardt as the next general secretary of the global communion of Lutheran churches.

This virtual FREE 1.5-hour, interactive training will teach you about safely standing up to hate and bigotry in person and online. Join us on Thursday, August 19, at 6:30 p.m. and learn what to look for and the positive impact that bystander intervention has on individuals and communities. Feel more confident intervening the next time you see identity-based harassment online or in person. Appropriate for anyone of high school age or above.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2020 over 93,300 people died due to an overdose. The Overdose Crisis: The Faith Community Responds has created an adult Sunday School Guide that is designed for small group conversations covering what are opioids, harm reduction, and how to connect harm reduction to our faith. The guide is a starting point for more in-depth discussions about substance use and how faith communities can respond to this crisis.

Descriptions of the 200 assembly songs in the new hymnal, ACS, are now available with a Sundays and Seasons subscription. These give context through biographical background, lectionary or Scripture connections, or usage suggestions. For more information, see this Augsburg Fortress blog post. Visit the All Creation Sings website to place an order and more: view videos of recent webinars and selected hymns and songs, access introductory helps, and read additional blog posts.

Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) produces a "Congregational Disaster Preparedness Guidebook" to help congregations educate themselves on what needs to happen when disaster strikes. Download yours today.