Give thanks for the generous support of Lutheran Disaster Response by ELCA members and congregations, support that makes possible immediate aid to those in need when disasters strike or political violence takes its toll.

"Whoever is not against us is for us." -- Jesus (Mark 9:40)

God's Spirit comes on Mary

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" The angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God." Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has made worship resources available May 21 in response to recent severe storms across the Midwest. Through Lutheran Disaster Response, ELCA members and congregations are supporting tornado survivors in partnership with local Lutheran affiliates and ELCA synods. In a letter to congregations the Rev. Michael K. Girlinghouse, bishop of the ELCA Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod, asked members to pray for affected communit...

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Robert G. Schaefer, Venice, Fla., was elected May 4 to a six-year term as bishop of the Florida-Bahamas Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Schaefer was elected on the sixth ballot during the synod assembly May 2-4 in Orlando, Fla. “I am deeply grateful for the confidence that our assembly has placed in me in this call to serve as their bishop,” said Schaefer, who serves as lead pastor of Emmanuel Lutheran in Venice. “I p...

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Rodger C. Prois, Storm Lake, Iowa, was elected April 27 to a six-year term as bishop of the Western Iowa Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Prois was elected on the fifth ballot during the synod assembly April 26-28 in Sioux City, Iowa. Prois serves as interim pastor at St. Mark Lutheran in Sioux City, Iowa, and New Life Lutheran in Sergeant Bluff, Iowa. He will be installed as bishop Sept. 1 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ch...

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