In mid-August about 30 people from the Board of Trustees, the Ministry Board, the LCMC staff, and representatives of our districts and fellowships met at Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines, IA, with an additional handful of participants joining us online. Along with the regularly scheduled board meetings, the time was spent in training, preliminary planning for the 2027 Annual Gathering, and conversation around the opportunities ... [...]
Our 26th Annual Gathering & Convention will be here before you know it! As we step into the month of September, the LCMC staff is hard at work preparing for this year's event. Here are a few things to keep in mind in the weeks leading up to the gathering. Don't Forget to Register If you're planning on joining us in person October 4-7, 2026 at Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines, IA, keep in mind that ... [...]
Service Dog Awareness Month kicks off next week! It's the perfect opportunity to learn more about the highly trained dogs that help people with disabilities live more independently and enjoy a better quality of life. Although service dogs have gained visibility in recent years, many people still have questions about what they do and the laws that protect their access to public places. Whether you're here because you're ... [...]
Since our 2025 Annual Gathering, we have been focused on the conviction that God has been our help in ages past and that he will continue to be our hope for years to come. Above all else, this is a confession of faith because the signs of God’s help and the reasons for hope are not always apparent to us. In fact, sometimes they are nowhere to be found. My assignment for this month’s e-newsletter was to provide a mid-year ... [...]
Across Southeast Wisconsin, congregations are witnessing a quiet but unmistakable movement of the Holy Spirit among Gen Z and Millennial adults. Over the past seven years, Trinity Lutheran Church in Genoa City, Wisconsin has hosted a regional formation experience known as the Revive Retreat—a ministry that integrates the strengths of Cursillo, Alpha, and Purpose Driven Life into a distinctly Lutheran, Christ-centered framework for ... [...]
In Central Montana, drought has become a constant. Currently–and perpetually–it seems, we are in “severe drought”. Rain is thrilling when it arrives. We long for days of soaking rains to displace drought. I subscribe to the monthly drought outlook compiled by drought.gov (the irony of the name of this website cannot be overstated). Month after month, the email never deviates: “Fergus County is in severe ... [...]
For more than a century, Lebanon Lutheran Church stood on its corner in south Minneapolis as a witness to the gospel. Its building held generations of baptisms, confirmations, funerals, and potlucks. Its people carried deep roots: families who had worshiped there for decades, in some cases their entire lives. It was not just a church, it was a spiritual home layered with memory and meaning. And yet, like many congregations, Lebanon ... [...]
Where is God’s work being UNLEASHED in your congregation and community? The LCMC Photo Contest offers churches an opportunity to share inspiring images and stories that celebrate faith, ministry, service, and the life of the local church. From worship, fellowship, and celebrations to service projects, education, and everyday moments of faith in action, we want to see how God’s work is being unleashed in your congregation and ... [...]
Each summer arrives with fresh hopes—more space to read, time to rest, chances to dream and plan. But none of those things happen by accident. Summer may bring a different rhythm, but it still calls for the same intentionality. It is a good season to shape us in meaningful ways. One of the gifts of a new season is the invitation to pause and take an honest look at our lives—personally and in ministry. Not just to ask what ... [...]
Pastoral ministry isn’t simply a career, it’s a calling, and the pathway to getting there can be anything but linear or predictable. Here, five pastors serving in LCMC share their stories of how inspiration, encouragement, and experience helped lead them to serve in the role of pastoral ministry. [...]
Building a better tomorrow starts with the work we do today. That’s why at our upcoming Annual Gathering & Convention, the LCMC Board of Trustees is introducing a new feature to help make the event more accessible, practical, and engaging for both current and future church leaders: breakout session tracks tailored to specific ministry interests. This year there are five different breakout tracks to choose from, each one ... [...]
Registration is now open for our 26th Annual Gathering & Convention, and church leaders and members from across the association are invited to join us October 4-7 at Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines, IA for a four-day gathering designed to deepen theological understanding, strengthen ministry connections, and equip participants with practical tools for service. The theme for our 2026 event is ... [...]
In Mark 5, a man once feared and pushed to the margins is restored by Jesus, yet his community responds with fear instead of joy, exposing how quickly we define others by what we don’t understand. As we reflect during Mental Health Awareness Month, this story invites us to see beyond stigma and remember the deeper truth: you belong to Christ, and that is what defines you. [...]
Struggles with mental health are far more common than many of us realize, and help is more accessible than we often think. In our churches and communities, there are people quietly carrying burdens like anxiety, depression, grief, or burnout. Some are unsure what they’re experiencing. Others recognize the struggle but feel stuck, uncertain, or even afraid to take the next step. The good news is th [...]
Ash Wednesday took on a deeper dimension this year at Faith, Seguin. While the congregation gathered in the sanctuary as it normally would for the imposition of ashes, Pastor Jeremy Pedersen and two church members carried the ancient rite beyond the church walls into the Guadalupe County Jail. [...]
In 2024, St. Paul Lutheran Church in Kodiak, Alaska suffered structurally compromising damage to their roof. Today, the congregation is rebuilding thanks to an outpouring of prayers and support from the LCMC community. [...]
LCMC pastors, leaders, and congregations from around the world are working together to build better relationships and share the gospel, bridging the gaps between cultures, languages, and continents. Here's how you can be a part of it. [...]
At first, a small congregation can feel a little too close for comfort—fewer faces to blend into, fewer places to hide. But what if that’s exactly the point? Here's how a small church setting can help people feel seen, known, and cared for. [...]
For the past eight months, Pastor Scott Hawkins and I have been thinking, dreaming, scheming, recording, editing, and releasing a new LCMC podcast called the TableCast. What started as a wild idea on an airplane has now become reality. The TableCast is a conversation designed to explore the people and theology of LCMC. Both Scott and I see the podcast as a way to celebrate the beautiful variety within our association—whether ... [...]
Our FREE 2026 Lenten Devotional is now available. A full color version and a "printer friendly" grayscale version are both included below. Feel free to download and share them with your congregation, family, friends, etc. Click on the images to download the PDF. [...]
As you plan your savings for the year ahead, please review the 2026 contribution limits for the LCMC 403(b) Retirement Plan, and keep in mind these important reminders about upcoming recordkeeping changes. The IRS changes the contribution limits of the retirement plan each year. For 2026, the limits are as follows: Employee contributions: $24,500 Age 50 to 59 and 64+, catch-up contribution: $8,000 Age 60 through 63 catch up ... [...]
Throughout the year, events are held throughout the LCMC community to help connect congregations, train and care for church leaders, and support youth in the local church. From our Annual Gathering & Convention, to in-person retreats and gatherings, to zoom meetings, there are many opportunities for church leaders coming up in 2026. If you haven’t checked it out lately, please visit the Calendar Page on our website. Every day ... [...]
The theme for the 2025 Annual Gathering, that continues to shape our work through the coming year, came from a beloved hymn – O God Our Help in Ages Past. In the middle of the first verse of that hymn, we find the line, “our shelter from the stormy blast.” The hymn delivers the sure and certain promise that in the midst of the storms of life, we have shelter. We have protection and security. It is not difficult to ... [...]
Because Healthy Leadership Makes a Real Difference. Clarity Is Kindness Imagine a basketball team where no one knows their position. Chaos, right? The same happens when church councils and pastors are not clear on roles. Training helps define who does what—and why. Councils govern; pastors shepherd. When those lanes are clear, everyone breathes easier. “In my first call, my church council thought I was ... [...]
New "year in review" resources are available online to share with your congregation. This year, we're offering a fresh new video and a downloadable year-end report. [...]