As we move toward Advent, I'm trying to learn more about Holden Evening Prayer. It's amazing and beautiful and perfect for Advent. At the same time, I'm exploring the ELW beyond the hymns for the first time. This has made me scratch my head over several issues.

Most of the words to the Holden Evening Prayer are the same as the Vespers words in the ELW. Did Marty Haugen use the words that Lutherans were already using for Vespers and set them to new music? Or did the ELW take the words from the Holden Evening Prayer and use them for Vespers? Some of the words are from scripture of course: Psalm 141 and Mary's Song from Luke's Gospel. But were the other words—for example, "Jesus Christ, you are the light of the world ..."—already in the LBW when Haugen composed the Holden Evening Prayer? If so, where did those words come from?

This is further confusing because some of the parts of the Holden Evening Prayer are also listed as individual hymns in the ELW. Were they published as separate hymns before they were published together as the Holden Evening Prayer? Or did the ELW separate them out as individual hymns?

How much of what Haugen created with the Holden Evening Prayer was new in 1990, and how much was pre-existing material that he adapted?

Why was the Holden Evening Prayer published by GIA, a Roman Catholic publisher? Augsburg Fortress distributes it today. Why didn't they publish it? Why would Haugen turn to GIA instead?

Holden Evening Prayer was published just two years after the ELCA merger. To was extent was Holden Evening Prayer heralded as a kind of hopeful anthem of the then newly merged ELCA?

Are there other famous (Lutheran) settings of Matins, Vespers, and Compline? I assume there must be tons of them. But which ones should I know? Are there any that are as well-known in ELCA circles as Haugen's Holden Evening Prayer?

Hi everyone, just a general question to see if anyone else has noticed an uptick in visitors and returning members (some I hadn’t seen attending in years) the last two Sundays? It’s been pretty noticeable in our congregation. It’s so nice! I hope it continues. Hope you’ve all had a nice Sunday.

I understand Lutheran theology of Saints (I think), but is there some rough equivalent to having a personal patron saint or anything remotely similar in the ELCA in particular or Lutheranism more generally? Or do people just have favorite saints (or not), and that's it?

Is there a store that sells things like home wall crosses, Advent calendars, and Christmas cards that also supports the ELCA or ELCA World Hunger or Lutheran Social Services or something like that? Augsburg Fortress doesn't sell that kind of thing. The ELCA Storefront part of the website doesn't sell that kind of thing either. I don't need a ton of junk, and I appreciate that the ELCA isn't trying to pimp out a bunch of plastic kitsch. But I do want a cross to put in my home. I also want to buy an advent calendar for a child. I understand that there are lots of places to buy those things, but I'd like to purchase from a place that will use some of the proceeds to make the world a better place.

I’m currently having a problem with my faith and The fact that there are thousands of denominations, I feel lost and confused but I don’t think Catholicism or orthodoxy are right either. Why did you choose ELCA out of all the other denominations?

If you have one that you love, please share. I prefer more scholarly ones that focus on history, geography and word meanings to give context to the reading. But post whatever you like and I'll check it out. I just got my copy of the NSRVue and I'm eager to dive in from a new to Lutheranism perspective. Thanks.

I’m an Episcopalian, and I’m Lutheran-curious. How defined is your liturgy? Do you have any guiding books? What are the most important doctrines/dogmas I should know about. I’m intrigued by the “sanctuary denomination” idea. How does that play out at the level of the congregation?

hi as a newbie was just wondering how the bishops role in the elca differs from other groups and is defined. my knowledge is limited to parish pastor selection and general admin work.

On the eve of the US election, does anyone have a favorite prayer for a nation? Want to share it? I don't have access to ELW or anything like that.

So I write this as I sit in an ELCA church parking lot. I've wanted to visit this church for a long time, but this is the second time that my nerves have gotten in the way. I have a whole slew of mental issues, one of which being serious anxiety. The ELCA church seems so focused on love and welcoming, and I know that I would experience that with open arms if I do make it through the doors, but I can't stand the idea of being in everyone's head as the 'new visitor'. Did anyone else join a new church by themself, and how did you get over the anxiety, if you had any at all?

I think I've been beaten yet again. I'm retreating to watch the service online, and I may reach out to the pastor to meet her first.

There's a ton of stuff in the ELW, but it seems like most of it goes unused in my parish. The hymns that are sung on Sunday mornings are all printed in the bulletin, and about half of those are from other hymnals. There are some nice prayers in the ELW, but I've never heard of anyone praying them. The Psalms are in there, but they're also in the Bible. The lectionary is in there, but it's also available in other places.

I'm not knocking the ELW. I think it looks like a great collection of resources. I just don't see it being used very much.

How do you use the ELW? How many of you use it at home? Is there any reason for a lay person to get a copy for home use?

I am so beyond grateful for the ELCA today. I could post a whole long story, but today I'll leave it at this. This week my congregation has officially sponsored my candidacy for Word and Sacrament ministry. And my partner has given their blessing and support for my going to seminary. There's a lot that still has to happen between now and starting seminary, but officially getting my pastor, the church council, and my partner's blessing seem like huge first steps. I'm beside myself with joy and gratitude, and so you all get to hear about it!

“Ellis Island was the first and largest federal immigrant processing station, receiving over 12 million future Americans between 1892 and 1954, when it was abandoned.”

“Border officials encountered 11 million unauthorized migrants attempting to enter the US between October 2019 and June 2024.”

The progressive wing of the Democratic Party (and progressive Independents and Greens), the wing often at odds with the Biden/Harris administration on issues such as the Gaza war, criminal justice, and energy production, has begun to criticize the Biden administration’s crackdown on asylum, saying that it’s a “betrayal of American values” as we are largely a “nation of immigrants.” While we are indeed a nation of immigrants (and, before that, colonists who didn’t always treat the Native people very kindly), the notion that any crackdown on asylum and crossings at the southern border is a “betrayal of American values” is nonsense, as seen in the 2 above statistics being displayed side-by-side. There has always been regulation to the amount of immigration we allow.

The far-left will often point to the words on the Statue of Liberty - specifically “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.” - when advocating for unlimited asylum, decriminalizing border crossings, abolishing ICE, etc. The hypocrisy of this is that the number of people who immigrated through Ellis Island in a 62-year span is only 1 million people larger than the number of people who have crossed our southern border in the past 5 years, under both the Biden and Trump administrations.

Should we be welcoming to immigrants who come here legally? Yes. Are the majority of immigrants, legal or illegal, serial killers and pet-eaters? No, of course not. But, as with all other times in American history, we need to regulate the amount of people coming in.

One of the most mature things one can do is realize when mistakes were made and own up to them. Democrats have made many mistakes in the past, everything from endorsing slavery and segregation to advocating for shifting funds away from law enforcement and the military, which is why I applaud the current Democratic Party for turning back to the center on immigration and realizing that having unregulated immigration at the southern border was a mistake. While some of my more progressive friends are angry, and some of my ultra-conservative friends still think the Harris campaign stands for “open borders,” I’d rather give the Democratic Party credit where credit is due when they talk about their recommitment to border security and cracking down on illegal immigration AND asylum.

1. OVERVIEW: My partner and I have been members of a wonderful ELCA church in the SC Synod since 2020. Neither one of us have any complaints about the ELCA, the SC Synod, or our church. But here's the thing....

2. QUESTION: We'd like to join our local Unitarian Universalist church while maintaining our ELCA membership. The UUs, by their very nature, have no problem with this. But the ELCA might. Does anyone have any insight on the formal ELCA SC Synod rules about "dual denomination membership"?

3. INTEGRITY. Whether my partner and I choose to go or stay with the ELCA, we want to behave with integrity, compassion and kindness. If you have any advice on how we might navigate this tough situation, please feel free to share.

- Blessed Be

My understanding is that Luther insisted that God's grace is imputed, and not infused. This was a big theological development, as every theologian since Augustine believed grace was (at least also) infused in the soul. I believe this was because Luther insisted on one-- and only one-- way of understanding justification, that being the forensic model. The infusion of grace would contradict the legal understanding of justification as "throwing out the charges" in God's court of law.

I think Luther's insistence on "Faith Alone" (apart from Grace Alone) makes sense only if you stick exclusively to the forensic model.

The thing is, I believe strongly that the forensic model is only one way to understand justification. It's not wrong, but it's not the only model. I prefer the medical model, myself, which views salvation as a "healing" and allows for infusion of grace. I'm not saying that grace is not imparted--it absolutely is-- but I believe it is ALSO infused, transforming the person and allowing them to heal and grow more and more into the person Good created them to be, a process that ends only in heaven (I also believe in purgation after death, not as a place but a process, perhaps instantaneous, but conscious purgation nevertheless).

Is there room for this view in today's Lutheran Church (ELCA)?

Just so nobody misunderstands me I wanna make it clear that I believe those with homosexual attraction can be saved and should be welcome in church to hear the gospel but I don't think it should be affirmed or supported. Here's my post: So I usually go to a wels but have been exploring a local ELCA and from my understanding not all churches within rhe synod are affirming and I made friends with a lady at that church who had the same concerns and said that in her discussion with the pastor he said that he doesn't agree with if, belives it's a sin as the Bible says, and that as long as he's pastor the church won't be affirming or allow gay marriage etc so that very reassuring since I really like this church but don't wanna go to one that condones sin. I'm just curious what others experiences are. Are there actually quite a few ELCA churches that don't affirm it?

What is your experience with adopting a contemporary music service? We made this move in belief that potential younger families/visitors were turned off by the ‘stuffiness’ of the traditional service and hymns. I personally prefer the traditional over contemporary, but willing to change as needed. We’ve noted a decline in attendance and no uptick of younger visitors. Your experience?

I'm interested in learning more about this subset of Lutheranism. I am currently a RC, but discerning a new home. My concerns with Lutheranism is that it can sometimes seem too "low church" for me. The fathers of the early church are important to me, as are liturgy, the Great Tradition, the Mass, Marian devotion, and certain symbols. Are Evangelical Catholic Lutherans a cognate to Anglo- Catholicism? What are the differences? Do they say the rosary? Where can I learn more? Thanks!

Who is using the new curriculum produced by LAMPa and the International Bonhoeffer Society in their congregations? What’s been your greatest learning? Where has the dialogue been the richest?

For more context on the curriculum, “Lessons from Dietrich Bonhoeffer in a House Divided and a World on Fire,” visit https://www.lutheranadvocacypa.org/bonhoeffer/

Are any of your churches leaning into all things German and having an Octoberfest dinner or celebration? If so, what's your favorite German food?

Pastor Jeff Lilley, a long serving pastor primarily in the Pacifica Synod, passed away unexpectedly yesterday morning. The congregation of the Lutheran Church of Honolulu, Hawaii is grieving, while providing support for Jeff's wife Jeannie, and their children Seth and Meghan and family. Jeff had served this congregation for more than 16 years and was beloved both within and outside the church. Please keep his loved ones in your prayers and thoughts during this most difficult time. Information on memorial services are pending.

I am a baptized member and I didn't want to ask my pastor because this situation doesnt apply to me at all, at the very least yet, and it seems complex with many things to unpack, but I was wondering if elca churches conduct marriages between a member and someone who is not any type of Christian when requested as it is something that I want to learn but can't find much elca specific info on.

Can someone explain from an ELCA perspective what is meant by Justification? This is not a concept I grew up with but I keep running into it. Is it a fancy word for Salvation? Is it something that happens before or after salvation? Thanks for all explanations and perspectives. Feel free to point me to other resources.

I was raised LCMS and became Catholic in college; however, I feel less and less at home in the RCC and am thinking of reverting to my Lutheran roots. The thing is, I don't really agree with some of Lutheran theology. I see the Augsburg confession as a product of 16th century Germany and not some timeless dogma. My sense is that the ELCA does not really hue to the confessions all that much, at least not in the way the LCMS of my youth did. How does the ELCA view the confessions, and what about folks who suffer in their beliefs from the "official Lutheran party line"?

Are they all well? Are they short on resources? Do they plan to create new episodes again in the future? Or is it over for good?

Folks, I know this is a long shot but I'm really hoping to find a new congregation so here goes. I'm looking for a church in western Maine or northern New Hampshire. (Would rather not say exactly where I live.)

I'm a lifelong ELCA member and have been heavily involved in church choirs, council, and various volunteering things. Since moving to a small town in Maine I have been totally unable to find a church that fits my needs. Suggestions for finding a church home here? I am totally open to joining an Episcopal church too. What I love most about our ELCA tradition is liturgical worship, theology of God's grace and acceptance, concern for social justice, and rich musical tradition. I know finding a strong community that is involved in social justice and has a choir is already a big ask, but I'd also love to be part of a church with at least some younger adults -- people closer to my own life stage.

I've tried driving to congregations in faraway towns (not finding anything within a reasonable distance or worth a long commute for me... Like more than an hour), trying out the Congregational Church (lovely people and community, not kind of worship/liturgy I am seeking), and searching for churches on the ELCA website. What am I not considering? Anything? Is online worship something anyone has found fulfilling long term? And how does that work for you?

No need to tell me I'm in a sparsely-populated place, that Lutheranism is less common here than elsewhere in the US (like yeah, a small town in Minnesota would have a Lutheran church), or that our church is dwindling in membership. I am aware that moving is a solution to my problem. What should I be doing while I'm here??

ETA: Thank you all so much for your replies. I felt a little ridiculous asking for help finding a church on Reddit and you all reminded me that it's never ridiculous to turn to the church community for help. :) Some great ideas here and I am feeling encouraged.

Another Edit: anybody know about churches in/around Lewiston/Auburn? Depending on location might be a little closer for me than North Conway.