“Garriott, a Lutheran #ELCA minister, said her background as a parish minister and hospital chaplain are important to her personally and inform her work as a lawmaker.” religionnews.com/2026/08/04/p...

'They're not real pastors': As clergy run as Democrats, Republicans question their faith

(RNS) — 'It's a sign that they are really scared they're gonna lose this seat,' the Rev. Sarah Trone Garriott, a Lutheran pastor running for Congress in Iowa, said. She is part of a wave of religious ...

religionnews.com

When the Israelites saw it they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat.” The Israelites called it manna. It was like white coriander seed & the taste of it was like wafers made with honey. —Exodus 16

All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. —Acts 2

To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing. —Martin Luther

Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled. —Matthew 14

What Jesus never said: *Feed the hungry only if they have papers *Clothe the naked only if they're from your country *Welcome the stranger only if there's zero risk *Help the poor only if it's convenient *Love your neighbor only if they look like you -James Martin, S.J. #AscensionCitrusHeights

For I will pour water on the thirsty land  and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my spirit upon your descendants  and my blessing on your offspring. ‍They shall spring up like a green tamarisk,  like willows by flowing streams. —Isaiah 44

The #ELCA has released a new study, “Conscience & Conversation: A Study During the Reconsideration of the Social Statement Human Sexuality: Gift & Trust,” to foster conversation & generate feedback to guide its work. Survey link is open till 9/30 for participants. www.elca.org/publications...

Heavenly God, We are grateful for Your creative artistry. No matter what we hear, think, or experience, we can look up into the sky and be reminded of Your beauty. Help us remember this when the chaos clouds our vision. —Karl Heilman

The Lord is gracious & merciful, slow to anger & abounding in steadfast love. ‍The Lord is good to all, & his compassion is over all that he has made. ‍The Lord upholds all who are falling & raises up all who are bowed down. ‍The Lord is near to all who call on him in truth. ‍ —Psalm 145

 Wisdom cries out in the street;  in the squares she raises her voice. ‍At the busiest corner she cries out;  at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: ‍”How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing  and fools hate knowledge?” —Proverbs 1

“The First Amendment continues to protect peaceful proclamation of that message on public sidewalks whether the words strike listeners as religious, political, or unwelcome.” juicyecumenism.com/2026/07/28/t...

Tolerance Until the Street Preacher Arrives

If tolerance and inclusion are to have any meaning, they must extend to viewpoints that participants disagree with, including religious messages that challenge prevailing cultural beliefs.

juicyecumenism.com

People came from all the nations to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom. —1 Kings 4

He composed three thousand proverbs, and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He would speak of trees, from the cedar that is in the Lebanon to the hyssop that grows in the wall; he would speak of animals, and birds, and reptiles, and fish. —1 Kings 4

God gave Solomon very great wisdom, discernment, and breadth of understanding as vast as the sand on the seashore, so that Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt. —1 Kings 4

Good grief, this hits home.

Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. —Isaiah 55

Lord, give peace to our troubled world; and give to your children security of mind and freedom from anxiety. ~ Your kingdom come! #Vespers #EveningPrayer #PrayerforPeace #Prayer #JesusChrist

The #ELCA ranks 9th out of 20. www.advocate.com/news/religio...

Blessed be our rights: 20 American Christian churches, ranked on LGBTQ+ support

The Advocate presents a guide to major Christian churches in the U.S. that stand in support of our rights and the ones that fail to live up to Jesus's commandment to "Love thy neighbor as thyself."

advocate.com

As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God? —Psalm 42

We are only syllables of the perfect Word. —Caryll Houselander

‍The unfolding of your words gives light;  it imparts understanding to the simple. ‍Keep my steps steady according to your promise,  and never let iniquity have dominion over me. —Psalm 119

Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher).   Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and she told them that he had said these things to her. —John 20

Every ordinary thing in your life is a word of God's love: your home, your work, the clothes you wear, the air you breathe, the food you eat...the flowers under your feet are the courtesy of God's heart flung down on You! All these things say one thing only: "See how I love you." —Caryll Houselander

The desire of the righteous ends only in good,  the expectation of the wicked in wrath. ‍Those who trust in their riches will wither,  but the righteous will flourish like green leaves. —Proverbs 11

Real joy seems to me almost as unlike security or prosperity as it is unlike agony. —C. S. Lewis

They do not know, nor do they comprehend, for their eyes are shut, so that they cannot see, and their minds as well, so that they cannot understand, nor is there knowledge or discernment. A deluded mind has led him astray, and he cannot save himself or say, “Is not this thing a fraud?” —Isaiah 44

“One of the unique strengths of #Lutheran Disaster Response is our commitment to accompany communities for the long haul. We walk alongside affected communities as they rebuild homes, restore stability and find hope again.” #ELCA give.elca.org/page/100445/...

Support Lutheran Disaster Response!

Your gifts in support of Lutheran Disaster Response help our church provide immediate relief, such as water, clothing, gift cards, tarps and other needs.

give.elca.org

ACTION ALERT “Since one of the greatest challenges in the #MMIW crisis is a lack of support from law enforcement, we encourage all to engage with their representatives in support of the BADGES for Native Communities Act.” #ELCA #Lutheran act.elca.org/page/100325/...

Justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women

Amplifying support of the Bridging Agency Data Gaps and Ensuring Safety for Native Communities Act (BADGES) H.R.1010 is one meaningful way we can act now.

act.elca.org

“My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. —2nd Corinthians