“Life is a gift and we are called to life together,” says Pastor Amanda Highben of Duke Lutherans, quoting the words of Bonhoeffer that her campus ministry holds as central to its mission. “What we’ve been lifting up in this time of COVID is that we are still called, that has not changed. But the means through which we share life together have had to change for the safety and wellbeing of our students.”

On Tuesday, October 27, at 7:30 p.m., join us for an All Saints Worship remembering those who have died from COVID-19 and those who have died as a result of police brutality. The service will be available on the NC Synod Facebook page and will be led by Pastors Athena Thomasson-Bless, CeCee Mills, and Danielle DeNise. If you would like to have a name added to the litany of remembrance for someone who has died from COVID-19 or as a result of police brutality, please submit the name using this form. This worship service is being co-sponsored by the Racial Justice Network and the Social Justice and Advocacy Ministries of the North Carolina Synod. 

Lutheran World Federation (LWF) member churches are called to engage with one another as they mark this year’s anniversary of the Reformation on October 31, 2020. Ahead of the annual celebration of Reformation Day, LWF General Secretary, the Rev. Dr Martin Junge highlights new resources to unite Lutherans across the globe through worship and prayers, publications, and online encounters.

In her October column for Living Lutheran, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reflects on the liberation we receive in Christ through faith. She reminds us that Martin Luther, in The Freedom of a Christian, made the case that liberation in Christ is both freedom

from and a freedom for.

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

As part of the collective effort to create safe and empowering environments during Early Voting and on Election Day, there's a call for volunteer clergy members to participate in the NC statewide Safe Site program, helping to prevent, mitigate, and respond to voter intimidation and anti-democracy activities.

We know members love ELCA Good Gifts. And with Christmas right around the corner, they are the perfect option to replace traditional gift-giving with something more meaningful. Each gift in honor of a loved one supports the lifesaving ministries of our church and the people we serve–one goat, water well or school uniform at a time. Since worship and in-person gatherings look different now, we have prepared a how-to guide for online fundraisers to help you make the most of our digital tools this year.

The NC Synod Council gathered via Zoom on September 10-12. Read highlights of the minutes from that meeting. This great group of folks serves on your behalf, giving their time to listen, discern, and make good decisions. The next council meeting will be held in early December.

All are invited to the Ordination of Ethan Shane Overcash on Friday, October 23, at 6:00 p.m. via streaming on the NC Synod Facebook page via Facebook Live. The Reverend Dr. Timothy Smith, bishop of the NC Synod, presiding; Deacon Tammy Jones West, preaching. Your prayers and online presence are requested. Ethan will serve as pastor at Emmanuel, High Point.

All are invited to the Installation of Pastor Richard Hogg on Sunday, November 7, at 3:00 p.m. There will be a small in-person gathering in the sanctuary at St. Thomas, Charlotte, but you are invited to join via Zoom (Meeting ID: 830 5190 7180—Passcode: 221460). Your prayers and online presence are requested.

Rose Rosenberg, mother of Pastor Carl Rosenberg (St. Mark's, Lumberton), died on September 22. We mourn with her family. Read the full obituary.

Sally Sloop, wife of Pastor David Sloop (retired, Raleigh), had her aortic valve replaced on October 15 at Rex Hospital, Raleigh. She is recovering slowly and steadily.

C.P. Shaw, father of Pastor Pierson Shaw (Bethany, Hickory), has returned home after a week in the hospital and surgery for a dislocated hip joint.

Pastor Carl Rosenberg (St. Mark's, Lumberton), has a painful case of sciatica and is hopeful treatments work so that he can avoid surgery.

By your power, great God, our Lord Jesus healed the sick and gave new hope to the hopeless. Though we cannot command or possess your power, we pray for those who want to be healed. Mend their wounds, soothe fevered brows, and make broken people whole again. Help us to welcome every healing as a sign that, though death is against us, you are for us, and have promised renewed and risen life in Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, Salem, Lincolnton, came together to do “God’s Work” with “Our Hands.” Members of Emmanuel, Lincolnton, also joined in the project since the two congregations began worshipping together in the arbor at Salem earlier this summer.

In 2019-2020 we celebrate 50 years of Lutheran women being ordained in the U.S., 40 years of women of color being ordained, and 10 years of LGBTQIA+ individuals being able to serve freely. The women of Christ the King, Cary, invite you to join us and special guest speakers as we both reflect back and look forward! There will be virtual and partially-live options for this no-cost event on November 7.

St. John’s, Salisbury, has a new “Conversations that Matter” podcast episode available in October. In October, we continue our celebration of the 50th year of ordaining women in the Lutheran Church as Pastor Rhodes Woolly engages in a fascinating and sometimes hilarious conversation with Bishop Elizabeth Eaton. Eaton is the first female presiding bishop of the ELCA, first elected in 2013.

Lutheran Services Carolinas Board member Frances Lamb and the St. Paul’s, Wilmington, “Quilt Ministry” team are showing some extra warm compassion for disaster survivors in North and South Carolina. Each year the group, coordinated by Linda Pfeifle, makes handmade quilts to be distributed to disaster survivors around the world. Their group is one of many Lutheran quilt-making teams around the United States.

Practical Resources for Churches invites you to a FREE webinar focusing on at-home and online ideas for small congregations to connect on Christmas Eve. Join us on Friday, October 23, at 1 p.m.

The 2020 fall and holiday seasons will be like no other. Make plans for meaningful ministry! People will be yearning to connect with a loving community this Christmas. Extend warm invitations to online and/or in-person worship services with the help of customizable outreach resources, such as banners, postcards, invitation cards and more. A wide variety of designs, messages and languages is available from United Methodist Communications. Some resources are free; some you have to purchase. (Save $300 on an order by using code UMCA20.)

For the seventh year in a row, #AdventWord will gather prayers via a global, online Advent calendar. Virginia Theological Seminary is offering meditations and images during this holy season beginning Sunday, November 29. Images and meditations can be experienced via the #AdventWord website, direct daily emails, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter and ASL videos via YouTube. This year, meditations will also be available in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole. Join an international community in prayer to explore the mystery and wonder of Advent!

As racial tensions have risen in recent months, a new report reveals that some Christians are becoming less motivated to act on racial justice, and an increasing share say there is “definitely” not a race problem in the country. “Christians generally, and practicing Christians in particular, have changed their minds on addressing racial injustice, but if anything, they're actually moving away from being motivated,” said David Kinnaman, president of Barna Group. Read more from RNS and get the statistics from Barna.