2023
Mission Support Memos

Wednesday may be a slump day for some, but at the La Crosse LuMin Lutheran Campus it’s all about grace through free cookie Wednesday. Want a cookie?

Being a member of a congregation council is significant in the life of a disciple. Serving as a leader in a congregation is rewarding, terrifying, awe-inspiring and messy.

Imagine people of ALL ages living their faith, claiming their Christian identity and sharing God’s love in the world in creative and unique ways — that is the hope for ELCA Ministry with Children.

Over 600,000 people are released from prison every year, and as they struggle to rejoin society, they face barriers to connecting with reentry service providers.

Increasing the harvest was the dream of both Wittel Farm Growing Project and FriEDENs Garden. The organizers knew food brings people together, but more importantly, people in their communities were hungry.

We arrived to record-high temperatures in Phoenix, where locals worked to convince us “it is dry heat.” It was hot, yet we were still eager to connect and learn from each other.

The Seward Peninsula in our Alaska Synod is a place of interconnectedness, collective being and deep spirituality. Brenda Blackhawk writes, “It’s no surprise that the people of the Seward Peninsula draw on the traditional values of community, relying on one another and the world to provide for them.

It is such a joy that our ELCA is committed to supporting, enriching and coordinating the ecumenical and interreligious life of this church across its various expressions, and enhancing the public commitments of this church in Lutheran, ecumenical and interreligious circles.

It was a typical fall day in northern Minnesota when I pulled up in Grand Rapids on Oct. 14. Yet the day started in awe.

The Rev. Jonathan Hemphill, assistant to the bishop for congregational life with the Southeastern Synod, shared an inspiring story on why Mission Support is grounded in Psalm 34:8: “Taste and see that the Lord is good!”

Throughout the fall our congregations are often focused on stewardship and gratitude for the generosity of members. Folks provide stewardship talks, members complete commitment cards, and sermons are proclaimed to encourage generosity of time, talent and finances.