The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work(shop)
2026-04-24 18:30 - 2026-04-25 13:00 (America/Chicago) | St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church, 17205 County Rd 6, Plymouth, MN, 55447, United States
The Seven Principles Couples Program is marriage enrichment and pre-marital prep workshop for couples based on the scientific research published in the book The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by Dr. John Gottman, with Nan Silver. No need to read the book before attending. All materials will be provided.
Attendees will meet from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. on Friday, April 24, and again on Saturday, 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Snacks, coffee, and lunch will be provided.
More information >

Young Adult Faith and Climate Summit
2026-04-25 | St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN, United States
The Young Adult Faith and Climate Summit is a gathering of young adults and high school youth who are interested in the intersection of environmental justice, Lutheran theology, and science. The Summit features keynote speakers, workshops, and breakout sessions. Through the programming, we will explore our relationships to climate and the church in a cultural moment where past generations’ models fall short. At this summit, the focus will be on building community among those of us who share faith, values, questions, and hope, while also empowering us to shape the rest of our lives.
More information >

Spring Ring and Sing
2026-04-25 15:00 - 17:00 | Community of the Cross Lutheran Church, 10701 Bloomington Ferry Road, Bloomington, MN, 55438, United States
Celebrate Spring with Community of the Cross Lutheran, St. Luke’s Lutheran, and Oak Grove Presbyterian Church as they come together to offer a concert of choral and handbell music.

Holden Prayer Around the World
2026-04-29 18:30 - 19:30
Join University Lutheran Church of Hope for this special service as we gather with communities around the world to celebrate Holden Village and the 40th anniversary of Vespers ’86, the beloved liturgy composed by Marty Haugen during his residency at Holden.
The service will include a time of fellowship afterward and a special offering to support Holden Village as it recovers from the devastating mudslides and flooding that destroyed the access road to the village.

2026 Synod Assembly
2026-05-01 - 2026-05-02 | Lord of Life, Ramsey, 14501 Nowthen Blvd NW, Ramsey, MN, 55303, United States
Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:23-25)

Fear, scarcity, and division invade our streets and our world, threatening violence and leaving many feeling isolated and uncertain. But the church, set free in Christ for such a time as this, offers an alternative story and way of being. Grounding ourselves in our faith, we turn to one another for community, encouragement, and holy provocation. At this year’s Synod Assembly, we will reflect on how to set a course for the church amid troubling times by turning again to our unwavering hope that comes from God’s unwavering faithfulness.
—–
Lay voting members and rostered leaders are invited to gather as the larger church and worship, connect, and vote.
Friday evening:

5:00 p.m. – Hearings, orientations, youth gathering, optional dinner
6:00 p.m. – Devotion, grounding in theme and Scripture
6:30 – 8:00 p.m. – Plenary 1

Saturday:

9:00 a.m. – Opening worship
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Plenaries, lunch, speakers

More information coming soon.

National Lutheran Choir Concert: Rooted & Rising
2026-05-02 14:00 - 16:00 | Central Lutheran Church, 333 S 12th St., Minneapolis, MN, 55404, United States
The 40th Anniversary Celebration begins with a concert honoring the living legacy of the Lutheran choral tradition in the United States

Rooted and Rising | May 2, 2026 | 2:00 p.m. | Central Lutheran Church, Minneapolis
In the turning of the season, we rise – rooted in memory, reaching toward the future. This program bursts forth in song, celebrating the sacred bonds of community.

Joined by the St. Olaf Choir led by Dr. Anton Armstrong, and former NLC Artistic Director David Cherwien as guest organist, we mark 40 years of the National Lutheran Choir.

Works by J.S. Bach, F. Melius Christiansen, Larry Fleming, and David Cherwien bloom alongside new pieces by Earlene Rentz and Jennaya Robison. The concert concludes with a festival chorus of NLC alumni and friends—celebrating four decades of song and the promise of many more to come as we proclaim, “For all that has been, Thank you. For all that is to come, Yes!” (Dag Hammarskjöld).

Rooted & Rising Concert Tickets >

ReconcilingWorks Reception & Fellowship
2026-05-02 18:00 - 20:30 | Urban Growler, 2325 Endicott St, St. Paul, MN, 55114, United States
You are warmly invited to join the staff and Board of ReconcilingWorks for a special evening of gratitude, connection, and fellowship. This gathering is a chance for us to celebrate the growing impact of the Reconciling in Christ movement and to thank you the partners, donors, and community members who help make this ministry possible.

Together we will share updates from ReconcilingWorks, connect with friends old and new, and celebrate the faithful work happening across our church to ensure LGBTQIA+ people and their families experience welcome, inclusion, celebration, and advocacy.

Reception & Fellowship
📅 Saturday Evening, May 2, 2026
🕕 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
📍 Urban Growler
2325 Endicott Street, St. Paul, MN 55114

Enjoy a relaxed evening with light hors d’oeuvres, mocktails, and beers while spending time with ReconcilingWorks staff, board members, and partners from across the community.

Register today >
Download the flyer >

CYF Meetup at the Twins Game
2026-05-14 11:30 - 17:00 | Target Field, 1 Twins Way , Minneapolis, MN, 55403, United States
CYF Leaders in the Saint Paul and Minneapolis Area Synods are invited to gather at the MN Twins Game. Game starts at 12:40, but come to Graze Food Hall before for lunch if you’d like!
More details coming soon

Churches with Childcare Centers Gathering
2026-05-14 12:00 - 13:30 | Minneapolis Area Synod Office, 122 W Franklin Ave, #600, Minneapolis, MN, 55404, United States
Church leaders are invited to gather for conversation and connection with others serving congregations that partner with childcare centers on Thursday, May 14 from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. at the Synod Office. Please bring your own lunch. This informal gathering offers space to share experiences, ask questions, and learn from one another, with this meeting focusing in particular on governing documents and policies that shape the relationship between congregations and their childcare centers, including bylaws, contracts, and other agreements. All clergy and church leaders are welcome, and you are encouraged to share this invitation with others who might be interested.
Contact Pastor Ashley Osborn or Pastor Joanna Mitchell with questions.

Stories the Land Holds: Celebration and Music
2026-05-14 18:30 - 20:00 | Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 4801 France Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN, 55410, United States
Introducing “Stories the Land Holds” – A Community Invitation to Listen, Reflect, and Connect

Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd is beginning a new initiative that invites the community into a deeper relationship with the land we inhabit and the stories it holds. “Stories the Land Holds” is a multi-session project beginning October 9 at 7:00 p.m. Rooted in the belief that the land beneath us speaks—through its history, its people, and its enduring presence.

Hosted by Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Minneapolis, and supported by a generous foundation grant, this series explores the layered histories of the neighborhood lands between the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers. Through storytelling, reflection, and dialogue, participants will ask:

– What has the land absorbed?
– Who has lived here, been welcomed, excluded, or expelled?
– How have these histories shaped our present?
– And how can listening to the land guide us away from division and racism and towards justice and harmony?

More information >

Church Security Seminar
2026-05-16 09:00 - 14:00 | Emmanuel Christian Center, 7777 University Ave NE, Spring Lake Park, MN, 55432, United States
This seminar equips church leaders, volunteers, and security teams to protect with purpose — balancing preparedness, and community responsibility. Awareness and prevention in everyday church life – practical steps anyone can take to improve safety.
Key Topics Include:
• Biblical foundations for church security
• Building ministry-minded security teams
• Legal, ethical, and liability considerations
• Partnerships with law enforcement
• Training, preparedness, and de-escalation
Cost: $20 for 3 attendees (includes 1 hour Church Security Consultation to be scheduled at a later date)
Register >

The Stewardship of AI: Benefits and Concerns Webinar
2026-05-18 18:00 - 19:00 | Online
The Stewardship of AI: Benefits and Concerns
Artificial intelligence (AI) has quickly moved from the plot of sci-fi movies and TV shows to office spaces and everyday activities. As the technology evolves, so should our thinking around how we are called to steward this tool with wisdom.
In collaboration with the ELCA program director for Theological Ethics, we’ll use a Socratic conversational style to dissect the potentially good and potentially troubling uses of AI and think theologically about how we’re invited to steward this tool. Even if you don’t use AI, the topic is swirling all around, and people will look to pastors and church leaders for some perspective. This will be an opportunity to think critically about the topic through a cruciform lens.

Join us Monday, May 18, at 6:00 p.m. CT
https://zoom.us/j/93898552704?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 938 9855 2704
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Conducting, Leadership, & Vocational Institute
2026-06-14 - 2026-06-18 | Augsburg University
The National Lutheran Choir’s first ever Conducting, Leadership and Vocational Institute is a four-day immersive experience for musicians exploring their calling through conducting, singing, leadership, and vocational discernment.
Participants will learn from leaders in the field of choral music, engage in conducting study, vocal pedagogy, ensemble leadership, and career exploration while singing together as a festival chorus.
Designed for students and emerging professionals at multiple stages, the institute blends artistic excellence with mentorship and community. The Summer Institute will have opportunities for high school students who are interested in exploring what a career in choral music entails, undergraduate students who want to refine their conducting practice, and graduate students/emerging professionals who are looking to advance their skills and earn continuing education credits.
More information >

Pastor’s Family Camp – A Week of Renewal for Ministry Families
2026-06-14 - 2026-06-18 | Green Lake Bible Camp, Spicer, MN, United States
Ministry can be deeply meaningful—and also demanding. Pastor’s Family Camp at Green Lake Bible Camp (June 14–18) offers a space for clergy families to rest, reconnect, and be renewed together.
While youth spend time with camp staff enjoying classic camp activities, adults participate in continuing education with Minister-in-Residence Daniel Kirschbaum, Senior Director of Young Adult Communities at the ELCA Churchwide Organization. This year’s theme, “The Things They Didn’t Teach Me in Seminary,” explores practical leadership areas like strategic planning, volunteer engagement, and congregational leadership—tools that support healthy ministry and sustainable leadership.
Families can enjoy daily worship, lakeside afternoons, creative activities, games, and shared meals—all designed with ministry families in mind.
Supported pricing and family maximums help make this week accessible, and infants and preschoolers attend free.
Learn more or register at gllm.org/family-camp

Gustavus Faith, Science, and Ethics Camp
2026-06-20 - 2026-06-26 | Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, MN, United States
This camp for 8th – 12th graders explores the Mississippi through the lenses of faith, science, and ethics while enriching students’ views of themselves and the world!
More information >

Woven Together: Rostered Ministers Gathering
2026-07-06 - 2026-07-09
Now more than ever, in this time of seemingly endless chaos and disconnect, it’s essential for us to remember the ties that bind us together. Rostered leaders of the ELCA are invited to gather for a time of intentional connection to renew their strength, enjoy camaraderie with colleagues and reflect on the Holy Spirit’s continuing work among us.
All ELCA deacons, pastors, bishops (under call, on leave or disability, or retired) and candidates approved for call are invited to the Rostered Ministers Gathering, July 6-9, 2026, in Indianapolis, Ind. They’ll gather under the theme “Woven Together” and center ourselves each day on a thread of that theme:

“Woven Together With God.”
“Woven Together for Creation.”
“Woven Together as Community.”
“Rostered Ministers Woven Together.”

Learn More and Register >

We’re doing something new and different at this year’s Rostered Ministers Gathering.
The Rev. Leila Ortiz, former bishop of the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod, will serve as the event’s theologian-in-residence, working in tandem with the Rev. Lori Kochanski, a fiber artist, ELCA rostered minister and the event’s artist-in-residence.
Through word and craft, Pastor Leila and Pastor Lori will weave together our worship, workshops and keynote sessions. Pastor Lori will create a tapestry made from fabric contributed by you, her fellow pastors and deacons, and “by the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit,” Pastor Leila will “give language to what we’re experiencing together – how all the conversations, all the sermons, and all the addresses have implications for our discipleship and leadership beyond our time together …
“Especially for such a time as this.”
Register today to get the early bird rate through March 31. A limited number of scholarships are available to defray registration costs and other expenses–learn more on the Rostered Ministers Gathering webpage.
Don’t miss the opportunity to engage with these dynamic presenters. Take the time to be in community, lamenting, rejoicing, listening and learning from one another in these messy, complicated and challenging times.

2026 WELCA Annual Gathering
2026-07-16 - 2026-07-19 | Iowa Events Center, 730 3rd Street, Des Moines, MN, 50309, United States
Save the date!
The Triennial Gathering brings together 1,000-3,000 WELCA leaders and participants for four days to worship, hear inspiring speakers, engage in service projects, participate in a 5K run, and interact with others in a large exhibit hall with educational, service, and shopping experiences.

Event registration will open July 15, 2025!
More information >

2026 Conference on Worship, Theology, and the Arts
2026-07-20 - 2026-07-22 | St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN, United States
You are invited to the 2026 Conference on Worship, Theology, and the Arts (CWTA), July 20–22, 2026, on the St. Olaf campus in Northfield.
CWTA is a high-quality, affordable conference—for ministry practitioners and by ministry practitioners— designed to nourish participants through life-giving accompaniment and spiritual renewal. Participants experience meaningful professional development and they report being refreshed, rejuvenated, and renewed. The conference will combine signature musical experiences with innovative and imaginative work being done by the Nourishing Vocation Projects under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Char Rachuy Cox. In rhythm with the theme, programming will focus on:

Nourishing Vocation Every Time – Embracing Sabbath rest and stewardship of life, caring for self and others.
Nourishing Vocation Every Age – Emphasizing intergenerational and children’s ministry across life’s journey.
Nourishing Vocation Every Place – Grounding ministry in local community, global context, and all of creation.

Lay people, church musicians, youth ministers, faith formation leaders, Deacons and Pastors from denominations and congregations of varying sizes participate in the conference.
More information >

Working Preacher's Preachers' Retreat
2026-08-03 - 2026-08-07 | Ghost Ranch, 280 Private Drive 1708, Abiquiu, NM, 87510, United States
Working Preachers at Ghost Ranch is a preachers‘ retreat August 3-7, 2026, with Sermon Brainwave co-hosts Karoline Lewis, Cody Sanders, and Matt Skinner.
This four-night “preachers’ retreat” includes presentations and workshops, worship and lectionary-based study—all designed to enhance your gifts as a biblical preacher. Take in the awe-inspiring landscape of the high desert near Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Space is limited, so sign up today!

Stewardship Kaleidoscope Conference
2026-09-21 - 2026-09-23 | Baltimore, MD
In partnership with the Presbyterian Foundation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the ELCA Stewardship and Generosity team is proud to present a three-day conference dedicated to digging deeply into stewardship and generosity utilizing workshops and plenaries that highlight diverse and authoritative voices from across the PCUSA, ELCA and partner church bodies. This year the event will be in Baltimore, Md., exploring how stewardship is a matter of “doing more with less” and hearing from a number of voices engaged in both the practical and cutting-edge thoughts around fueling ministry.
Stewardship Kaleidoscope offers real tools for real ministry and is perfect for both rostered ministers and lay leaders. The mission of the conference is to ignite generosity, give practical tools for cultivating congregational generosity, expand leadership capacity for stewardship leaders, and cultivate adaptive approaches for funding Christ’s mission throughout the world. Very limited partial scholarships are available! Contact the Rev. Tim Brown at Tim.Brown@elca.org if interested.
For information and registration, visit Annual Conference – Stewardship Kaleidoscope.

ConNext Summit 2026: Beyond Belonging: Branching Out - Bringing In - Building Together
2026-10-11 - 2026-10-13 | Clearwater Forest Camp and Retreat Center, 16595 Crooked Lake Rd, Deerwood, MN, 56444, United States
Practice branching beyond belonging to build communities where all can thrive with Dave ‘Agape’ Scherer.
Registration in late spring.
October 11-13, 2026
More information >
The ConNext Summit’s biennial 2-day/2-night retreat-style conference creates a space to inspire Progressive Christian faith formation leaders as they reflect together, form networks, and cultivate innovative and sustainable ministries with children, youth, families and adults. Both newer and more seasoned leaders create a community in which to connect and grow!

ELCA Youth Gathering
2027-06-28 - 2027-07-02
More info at elca.org/gathering
