A smiling person with dark curly hair and a light brown collared shirt stands next to a smiling person with a light green jacket and a lanyard.

NEPA Synod Represented at ELCA Churchwide Retreat

Roughly 400 Churchwide employees, including those based in Chicago and those deployed (like Directors for Evangelical Mission (DEM) and global missionaries), gathered for a retreat July 20-23 at the Q-Center in St. Charles, Illinois.

A group of people carrying a large blue inflatable raft over their heads on a grassy area with trees and a playground in the background.

We Are One

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Dingmans Ferry spent June living out the theme, “We Are One,” through a youth camping trip, leadership training, and Vacation Bible Camp. Together, youth, volunteers, and families grew in faith while serving and building community.

A group of six people wearing yellow ponchos stand on a wooden platform in front of a large waterfall.

The Goodness of God in Community

A simple trip to Niagara Falls became something much more: a journey marked by unexpected hospitality, breathtaking moments in creation, shared worship, and friendships that grew across generations and congregations.

Five people stand in a room filled with luggage. Some of the luggage is stacked high behind them. A "radiation hazard" symbol is visible on the wall.

When a Conversation Becomes Ministry

What happens when congregations listen, respond, and work together? Discover how one conversation between two pastors inspired a synod-wide effort that provided more than 1,300 suitcases for children entering foster care while introducing many congregations to the ministry of InsideOut.

Colorful InsideOut Church logo featuring a family walking along a path surrounded by icons representing worship, community, creativity, gaming, and fellowship, reflecting the ministry's mission of connecting community and changing lives.

Building Community from InsideOut

Discover how InsideOut is creating spaces where people can belong. Based at Advent Lutheran Church in West Lawn, this community-centered ministry brings people together through creative gatherings, meaningful conversations, and partnerships that extend God’s love beyond the church walls.