In 1988 when the ELCA was birthed one of our original commitments was: 10% diversity in 10 years. “What a fantastic idea!” I thought. We were woefully inadequate at connecting with people of color. By 1993 the Freed in Christ: Race, Ethnicity and Culture Social Statement was approved, calling us to look more carefully at ourselves, and to repent of our faltering. We had a long way to go. Were we up to the task?

Presented by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the annual Hein-Fry Book of Faith Challenge seeks to enliven the biblical engagement of the whole church by encouraging the development of faithful, innovative and effective ways to teach and learn Scripture. The event is sponsored by the seven ELCA seminaries, the Hein-Fry planning team and the ELCA Book of Faith Initiative.

Every year, one student from each seminary is invited to develop and present a class or series for people both familiar and unfamiliar with biblical texts. In follow-up, the students are invited to report their findings.

This year the challenge will comprise four online events:

The public is invited to attend these free online events, but registration is required for each of them. Registration information is available here.

Read full article here: https://elca.org/News-and-Events/8071

October 15: https://www.facebook.com/events/673630460239110

October 22: https://www.facebook.com/events/2722102408051775

October 29: https://www.facebook.com/events/421322075502372

RSVP required to Leblanc@CalLutheran.edu for pre-registration and zoom link.

This is a brave space to uncover our whiteness and process racism in ourselves. We will do the personal work, in community, necessary to show up as more effective co-conspirators and change agents for racial justice in our church. Share a flyer here.

Questions? Desta Goehner, Director of Congregational Relations, California Lutheran University, Desta@CalLutheran.edu

Trinity Lutheran, Boulder, CO

Color of the Day: Green

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Trinity Lutheran, Las Cruces, NM

Color of the Day: Green

ZOOM info TBD

Trinity Lutheran Church, Fort Collins, CO

Color of the Day: Red

ZOOM info TBD

How to focus on the good things and hear practical tips on how to survive this challenging season in human history. Contemplation, exercise, cooking, organizing, reading, thrifting, mending- connect with others and hear how to carry on and stay inspired and focused on a life of meaning and purpose even in a pandemic.

Rev. Nicole Lamarche, a spiritual creative, a community organizer and a public faith leader and pastor of Community United Church of Christ in Boulder. Committed to building a just world for all beyond the walls of sacred spaces, Nicole was a member of the Interfaith Tent at Occupy Oakland as part of Occupy Wall Street and a member of People Acting in Community Together for the Black Lives Matter movement in San Jose, CA. In 2003, she won the title of Miss California.

Hosted by Atonement Lutheran Church and Interfaith Network on Mental Illness.

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4264420220

Jackie will share a video (or 2) she made of interacting with her horses and how it helped her. How can animals help you with stress reduction and emotional awareness? Jackie Hibbard is the Pastoral Associate at Community United Church of Christ, Boulder, and the Owner/Coach with Dancing Spirit Equine Facilitated Learning and Coaching. In her practice, she offers personal and spiritual growth opportunities in partnership with her horses for people wanting to deepen their self-awareness and expand into their most authentic self and state of being.

Hosted by Atonement Lutheran Church and Interfaith Network on Mental Illness.

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4264420220

Join us as Pastor Steph from Christ the Servant Lutheran in Louisville, CO leads through a weekend of fellowship and exploration!

Using scripture as a springboard, Christians throughout history have imagined heaven and hell and expressed it through art and literature. Our language and popular culture continue to reflect these enduring images. Most of the time, we don’t think a lot about heaven or hell, but there are moments that bring the topic of the afterlife into sharp focus like the death of a loved one or a critical word from a fellow Christian. We’ll invite students to examine their beliefs about heaven and hell and to root themselves in what scripture offers us about the afterlife. This is also a time to use the lens of the Lord’s Prayer to learn about what it means for God’s kingdom to come and God’s will to be done on earth as in heaven. What we think about heaven and hell–who “deserves” it, how we get there, whether it exists at all–shapes our choices and life right here and now. Let’s look at this matter of life and death more closely.

For more information email daniel@rainbowtrail.org or visit our website:

RSVP for interest: rgianzero@iliff.edu

We will begin each 60-minute session with a short Gospel reading and prayer.

Reading and discussion of After "Whiteness: An Education in Belonging," by Willie Jennings. Jennings “shares the insights gained from his experience” as Dean of Duke Divinity, one of the only African Americans to hold that role. “He reflects on the distortions wrought by whiteness – and its related constructs of masculinity and individualism – but holds onto an abundant hope. Jennings discusses how theological formation can position itself at the front of a massive culture shift away from white, Western hegemony. The book is part poetry, memoir and a decolonial analysis which calls us from isolation to intimacy – calls us to belonging. Reading commitment is about 60 pages for each of three (3) sessions, one final open discussion. (Overview and schedule here)

Goals: Engage collegially among ministry leaders in examining what “whiteness” means from a theological and cultural hegemonic identity formation. Discussion of how whiteness distorts identity, theological imagination and practical ministry. To engage with three short excerpts from Reggie Williams, James Cone, and James Baldwin alongside After Whiteness. We examine “whiteness” as a constructed identity.

One book to purchase:

Other Readings (provided as PDF)

(Other locations use time zone converter)

In this four-session workshop, we will explore Mark’s story. Pam Faro, a professional storyteller with world-wide experience, will tell key parts of Mark’s story, and Richard Swanson, director of the Provoking the Gospel Storytelling Project, will guide our exploration of Pam’s performances. We will experience the story together and we will join in exploratory thinking about this old, audacious story.

The cost for this opportunity to join Pam and Richard’s exploration of Mark’s gospel is $160(USD) per person.

(Full details on Eventbrite registration page)

Each of these wide-ranging views represents the stance of some members in a typical ELCA congregation. It’s little wonder, then, that much of the conflict we experience in the church today is generated by differing views about the proper relationship between church and state, faith and politics.

Advent Box includes: all supplies to build Advent Tree with daily bible verses, daily prayers, and a Pay-It-Forward daily activity; supplies to make candy nativity set; Activity Book including coloring pages, full time staff's favorite Christmas recipes, word search, worship to do as a family with a box of crayons; 2 tree cookie ornaments for you to paint or wood burn; and a 20% off store coupon!

Pre-order your Advent Box through October 31 and boxes will be shipped in early November. Boxes can be ordered at: https://www.skyranchco.org/product/advent-box/92?cs=true

Even in a year when the needs can seem overwhelming, ELCA Good Gifts provides an easy way to make a real impact. Your gifts share the love of Christ one goat, water well or school uniform at a time.

One of the best ways you can help is by sharing ELCA Good Gifts with your members. Our social media graphics are perfectly sized for Facebook posts.

If you’re planning a congregation-wide fundraiser for ELCA Good Gifts and would like to track your giving as a group, be sure to take advantage of our new online tools ― like “wish lists” and “group gifts” ― to make collective giving a breeze. Learn more with our new how-to guide for online fundraisers.

St. Andrew Lutheran Church, an active, service-oriented ELCA congregation in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, invites individuals who are passionate about sharing God’s good news with others, particularly children, youth, and their families, to apply for the position of Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministry.

(Full job posting here)

Christ Lutheran Church is seeking a friendly, outgoing, and detail-oriented individual to fill the role of Office Coordinator. In this important role, you will be the face of CLC to our members and the public by being the first point of contact for the church. In addition, you will provide office services for church staff and various committees, organize communications, act as a receptionist for the church, and keep church records. We are looking for someone with strong organization, computer, and communication skills. This is a part-time position that will average 30 hours per week.

Resumes should be sent to, and job descriptions can be obtained from, Executive Pastor Gail Mundt, Christ Lutheran Church, 8997 S. Broadway, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126, pastorgail@clchr.org. *Covid restrictions are in currently in place. Please contact Pastor Gail Mundt at pastorgail@clchr.org for additional information.

St. Andrew Lutheran Church - Vancouver, WA

Christ Lutheran Church - Highlands Ranch, CO

Joy Mission Preschool - Parker, CO

Atonement Lutheran Church - Boulder, CO