July 25, 2025
Dear Church,
Grace Lutheran is a congregation in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), one of the mainline Protestant denominations in the United States. We are part of a larger church body, which is then part of the global church. Currently, there are 8,500 congregations in 65 synods that make up the ELCA. Our national church body gathers every three years as a Churchwide Assembly, and the next one convenes this upcoming Monday through Saturday in Phoenix, AZ.
From the ELCA website: The ELCA Churchwide Assembly, the primary decision-making body of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is a process of communal spiritual discernment. When the ELCA Churchwide Assembly convenes, its voting members meet with confidence in God’s grace around word and water, wine and bread, to carry on their work on behalf of the entire church. Over the course of the assembly, voting members learn about the work and impact of our church, elect leaders, establish ELCA churchwide policy, adopt a budget, and conduct other business related to the ELCA churchwide organization.
This year, we are especially holding the assembly in prayer as they elect the new Presiding Bishop of the ELCA. Bishop Eaton has faithfully served for the past 12 years; now a new leader will be discerned and elected to serve and lead our church. Sometime between July 28 and August 2, I invite you to pray in these or similar words as Churchwide meets. One of the roles for those of us not in attendance is witness and prayer!
Holy and loving God, you gather us as your people, from all walks of life, from all urban, rural, and suburban spaces, from churches that are thriving to churches considering holy closure. Be with those traveling to Churchwide Assembly. They gather to discern where you are leading us as church together. Guide their discernment on behalf of the whole. May Spirit’s wisdom, and love, and justice guide them. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
In Christ,
Pastor Reed
Every Friday, we send an email to the congregation and any others who would like to learn more about the Grace community. The last four Friday emails are posted below.