[Seeds Monthly] Care for creation this Earth Day

“Our Kairos Moment”

A new, four-session study guide for small groups is available for Earth Day – or any day – to inspire learning and action. Based on the ELCA’s 2023 social message “Earth's Climate Crisis,” “Our Kairos Moment” invites participants to learn about the impact of climate change and the actions we can take to respond. The resource uses videos, storytelling, Bible studies and interactive activities to help your group explore the effects of climate on communities everywhere. Each session can be done independently or as part of an educational series, and all sessions end with actions participants can take following their time together. Download the study.

Living Lutheran: “Beyond Evangelism: Sharing What Matters”

Throughout 2024 the Living Lutheran column “Deeper Understandings” will feature teaching scholars of the ELCA reflecting on the many ways that Lutheran theology makes a difference for our daily lives. In the most recent column Anthony Bateza, associate professor of religion at St. Olaf College, writes about his discomfort with evangelism and gives his perspective on sharing what matters.

“Because theology is about the God who matters, sharing with others what matters is a gift, bestowed as we all seek to live out our relationships in faith and love.” Read more from this reflection.

LIving Lutherans - Deeper Understandings

Living Lutheran: “I’m a Lutheran: Hannah Wolfe-MacPike”

In the March “I’m a Lutheran” column from Living Lutheran, Hannah Wolfe-MacPike shares her love of history, the importance of participating in her church community and the connection she feels between spirituality and art. Read more of her faith story.

"I view Lutheranism as a pair of glasses — and this is the pair of glasses I feel like I see Christianity best through and I understand Christ through, that matches my personality, and matches how I believe in and view God."

WATCH THIS

Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton | Easter 2024

In case you missed it, Bishop Eaton shared an Easter message focusing on three words that describe what the women at Jesus’ tomb experienced when the angel announced that he had been raised from the dead: fear, amazement and being seized or possessed.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Synods and Creation Care Lutherans Restoring Creation	ELCA Youth Gathering New Orleans, La.
“God’s work. Our hands.” Day of service	Draft social statement on civic life and faith Public comment period closes

FEATURED RESOURCES

Caring for Creation

Living Lutheran Hymn of the Month

“Preaching and Teaching ‘With Love and Respect for the Jewish People’”

As stewards of this world, we are called to care for the earth and examine our behavior toward creation. This Earth Day, browse ELCA resources related to climate justice and creation care.

BROWSE

Every month Living Lutheran will share history and fun facts behind some beloved Lutheran hymns.

BROWSE

As our Jewish siblings observe Passover, this resource helps inform Christian preaching and teaching so that they respect the integrity of the Jewish tradition and avoid anti-Jewish interpretations of texts.

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BULLETIN BLURBS

These snippets are available for you to copy and paste into your bulletins.

ELCA Advocacy: Increase policy pressure for an immediate, permanent cease-fire

The devastating loss of life in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories has shaken our church and its members. ELCA Advocacy Action Alerts make it easy to contact your elected officials. Use these alerts to call for a cease-fire, end military arms transfers to Israel while Israel violates the terms of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, and support continued humanitarian aid to Gazans. Take action at ELCA.org/advocacy/actioncenter.

ELCA Coaching

Faith-based coaching is a ministry of accompaniment available to anyone in the ELCA. Contrary to many helping modalities, a coach approach does not work from a deficit or fixing posture. Coaching is distinctive in the posture designed to help a person notice, name and expand on possibilities. ELCA coaching ministry believes that every person is naturally creative, resourceful and whole, as well as beloved of God and specifically gifted by God. Each coaching relationship invites you to explore ways to use your unique giftedness to partner with God in God's good work of loving and healing the world. Learn more about the ELCA's coaching ministry at ELCAcoaching.org.

Augsburg Fortress free summer music clinics

Learn from our exceptional clinicians, Mark Sedio and David Cherwien, at the Augsburg Fortress free summer music clinics. Attendees can also enjoy a handbell clinic and a hymn festival. Learn more and sign up at www.augsburgfortress.org/music/summer-music-clinics. Dates and locations:

Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.: July 16-17
Columbia, S.C.: July 19-20
Philadelphia, Pa.: Aug. 1-2
Columbus, Ohio: Aug. 5-6
Chicago, Ill.: Aug. 8-9