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Advent is Coming!

Advent will be here before we know it! As you prepare your hearts for Christmas, there are many resources available to you - both as an individual and as a congregation! Highlighted below are just a few from our partners in the ELCA, as well as resources within our synod.

ELCA World Hunger’s 2024 Advent Study Guide expands on the Advent readings for this year, includes information about ELCA World Hunger at work in the world, and is perfect for individual study or with a group.

ELCA World Hunger Advent Calendar: Celebrate the excitement, anticipation and wonder of the birth of Christ with this Advent calendar. Each day is a reminder of the reason for the season with hymns, prayers, Bible verses and information about how ELCA Good Gifts make a difference in the world.

As the Gospels recount, innkeepers told Mary and Joseph there was no room for them or their expected child. God’s self-revelation through a baby whose mother made room for him in the humblest of accommodation, a manger, invites Christians today to ask ourselves; who does not have room in the empire? How did Jesus make room for all, and how can we do the same?

This advent season, join ELCA Sumud and ELCA Young Adults to explore and engage with our responsibility to examine power, empire, and occupation in the fourth annual Advent Pilgrimage in Palestine. Resources drop on November 22nd. Keep your eyes on @elcayoungadult and @Sumud social media for more info!

2024 LSM Musical Advent Calendar

Experience the anticipation and hope of the Advent season with Lutheran Summer Music's fourth-annual Musical Advent Calendar. From December 1-24, immerse yourself in a daily moment of music and reflection shared on our Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube pages and archived on our website.

Advent Bulletin Stock Available for Churches in Need:

This Advent season, we’re pleased to announce that Advent-themed bulletin stock and other materials have been made available through generous contributions from churches eager to support congregations with limited funds. If your church could benefit from these materials, please reach out to Rebekah Wissler (rwissler@neos-elca.org), and we’ll connect you with the available supplies.

If your church has extra bulletins or other materials to share, please contact Rebekah Wissler to arrange a donation. Let’s join together to support one another as we prepare for this season of hope and celebration.

As Advent approaches, the season invites us to pause, reflect, and embrace the hope and wonder of Christ’s coming. This year, we are excited to present a Bible study, Journey of Promise and Peace through the Gospel of Luke, crafted to guide individuals, congregations, and small groups on a spiritual journey through the Gospel of Luke.

Curated by the Kaufman Resource Center, this study delves into the rich themes of Advent—Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love—as they unfold in Luke’s narrative of Christ’s birth. Throughout the season, participants will explore scripture in ways that deepen understanding, foster connection, and inspire action, all while reflecting on God’s promises revealed in this sacred story.

Each session highlights a key Advent theme, offering biblical reflections and their relevance to daily life. Participants will engage deeply with passages from Luke, discovering God’s promises through the stories of Zechariah and Elizabeth, Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, and Simeon and Anna. Thoughtful discussion questions are included to encourage deeper exploration of the text and its significance for your faith journey. Additionally, the study emphasizes practical application, inviting you to consider how the Advent themes resonate today, shaping your relationships, actions, and perspective as you live out your faith.

Download the Bible study using the button below, or feel free to email me for additional Advent resources!

Growing in Faith is a ministry committed to fostering learning environments for followers of Jesus to grow in faith. They believe that lay members of our parishes are integral to healthy discipleship in our churches and communities. So, they gather followers across congregations and synods to grow in faith together. Hear what students have to say about the program, and register.

Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) Applications are Rolling!

The 2025-2026 application is open and ready for you to apply for a year of accompaniment in one of our many partner country programs!

Not quite ready for the 2025-2026 cycle? Our applications are rolling, so you can apply for the 2026-2027 cycle now!

*applicants must be between 21-35 years old and citizens of the US

Join us for the 95th Capital University Christmas Festival!

For nearly a century, this beloved event has been our university’s gift to the community, showcasing the internationally renowned Capital University choirs. Let the voices of the Chapel Choir, Choral Union, Cantabile, Consort, and Philomel, alongside talented instrumentalists from the Conservatory and the Columbus arts community, fill you with the spirit of Christmas. 

Set in the beautiful and intimate Mees Hall, this immersive concert experience blends music with storytelling through poetry, prose, and scripture. Every corner of the hall will come alive with song, creating an atmosphere that surrounds you with holiday magic.



Dates & Times: 

Thursday, December 5: Concert at 7:30 PM 

Friday, December 6: Concert at 7:30 PM 

Saturday, December 7: Concert at 7:30 PM 

Sunday, December 8: Concert at 3:30 PM

Join us for the Ohio Rostered Ministers Gathering January 21-23, 2025 at Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio.

Being a rostered minister is no easy task in our time. Institutions are weaker, budgets are in decline, people are uninterested, and commitment is wavering. But these are only symptoms of a bigger issue. During this gathering, we will seek to peer beneath the symptoms and explore why many pastors and deacons find themselves in an identity crisis. As we engage with the presenter and colleagues, we will examine what living in a secular age does to ministerial identity and how rostered ministers can find new footing within it.

This event will be commuter-friendly as housing arrangements will be on your own. A daily schedule and other details are available on the website.

Save the Date:

Prayers of Thankgiving

Deacon Lindsay Stertzbach and her husband, Austin, on the birth of their daughter

Prayers for Healing

Pastor Jack Delk

Pastor Scott Anderson

Pastor Bonnie & Pastor Brian Peltomaa

Prayers of Sympathy

Pastor Keith Baker, on the passing of his wife, Judy

Prayer concerns will be removed after four weeks unless otherwise requested.

Consent is required for all submissions. Thank you.

These pages are updated every week with new trainings, events,

opportunities, and more! Be sure to check them out.