JUNE 1, 2026

“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place” (Acts 2:1).

Every day, I receive emails and messages from members across this church. Many of you share concerns about the state of the world and how faith informs your response to troubling or perplexing events. Sometimes you ask me to speak out more often regarding current affairs, and sometimes you ask me not to speak so much. I cannot answer every message, yet I am learning from you and feel the heartbeat of this church through the concerns, fears and hopes you share with me.

To continue our conversation and respond to what I am hearing from you, I will issue a monthly message through the end of this year in a series called “All Together in One Place.” Each message will share a pastoral word that witnesses to God’s presence today, rooted in Scripture, our rich theological tradition and the social teaching that connects us for life together.

At the first Pentecost, the disciples were guided by the prophet Joel’s assurance that, even in troubling and perplexing times, God is faithfully present.

Our baptismal vocation together is to serve God and neighbor in daily life, fostering “a faith that is active in love, a love that seeks justice, and an insight that strives to discern what is right, good, and fitting” (ELCA social statement The Church in Society: A Lutheran Perspective, 1991, p. 6). Baptism invites us to love our neighbor, to steward creation, to advocate justice and mercy in situations of brokenness, and to seek peace.

As much as we strive to be “all together in one place,” we may not agree on how to do this. The letters I receive testify that we span a beautiful and God-given diversity that invites Lutherans into deep listening, moral deliberation and a certain humility as we seek the common good.

In our differences, we can still be together in one place, when that place is connection in the unity that only Christ gives us (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). We stand in one place when we embrace the dignity of every human being by engaging others with curiosity and respect. We stand in one place when we shake off the immobility of fear to nurture connection in diversity. Our witness to the world embodies 2 Timothy 1:7: “God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.”

Just as those early followers of Jesus Christ experienced the power of the Holy Spirit, may we also trust when the Holy Spirit comes blowing into our lives to connect the body of Christ.

In peace,

Join the Cuba Interfaith Virtual Action Hour to learn about the humanitarian crisis in Cuba and take action by calling your representatives and senators. Visit https://bit.ly/4a53uen to register.

For-profit immigration detention is rapidly expanding across the U.S. On June 24 at 1-1:30 p.m. ET, hear from @elcaammparo, Theological Discernment, and Witness in Society staff about the history of immigration detention and the theology and biblical witness that can inform churches’ response, as well as ways to engage

To register, visit https://bit.ly/ELCAwebinarForProfitDetention

Congress is debating a reconciliation package that includes $38 billion in additional funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and $26 billion for Customs and Border Patrol (CBP).

Congress is currently debating a $70+ billion reconciliation package that includes $38 billion in additional funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and $26 billion for Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) – enough to fund both agencies for the next three years. This package includes none of the reforms, accountability, or oversight that faith leaders advocated for following the killing of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, the detention of children, refugees and U.S. citizens, and both widespread fear and faith-filled resistance. 

Earlier this year, faith leaders including Presiding Bishop Curry wrote in a letter to legislators that they “see this as a critical moment to legislate immigration policies that are just, humane and respectful of the dignity of immigrants who, like all people, are beloved children of God,” citing the verse: “The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the native-born among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:34).

Ask Congress to protect our neighbors by opposing funding for actions that are harming our communities, and by supporting reforms like protections for churches and other places of worship and an end to family detention.

Contact your lawmakers today. Customize your message with your experiences and values.

Find your Member of Congress Here

Senator Catherine Cortez Mastro, 202-224-3542, https://www.cortezmasto.senate.gov/

Senator Jackie Rosen, 202-224-6244, https://www.rosen.senate.gov/

Rep. Dina Titus, (202)-225-5965, https://titus.house.gov/

Rep. Mark Amodei, (202)-225-6155, https://amodei.house.gov/

Rep. Susie Lee, (202)-225-3252, https://susielee.house.gov/

Rep Steven Horsford, (202)-225-9894, https://horsford.house.gov/

Read the Action Alert in the ELCA Advocacy Action Center

On Mothers’ Day weekend of 2026, Border Church sponsored a ministry to deliver yellow flowers to women detained in ICE Detention Centers and other shelters located in San Diego, Tijuana, Pahrump, Nevada and McAllen, Texas.   

Shaunda and Jeff Jacobson, St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Las Vegas and Pastor John Biggs, Saved by Grace Lutheran Church, Pahrump delivered yellow flowers and Mothers’ Day cards to women detained at the Southern Nevada Detention Center in Pahrump.  

Chaplain Dan Johnson, Southern Nevada Detention Center, greeted us in the lobby and thanked us for this outreach.  According to Chaplain Dan the feedback from the women was very appreciative and in his words, “a swimming success.”

By: Jeff Jacobson, St. Andrew Lutheran Church

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Church doesn’t end when worship is over.

At Lutheran Engagement and Advocacy in Nevada, we know that congregations are living out their faith every day—serving neighbors, advocating for justice, caring for creation, feeding the hungry, and building stronger communities.

That’s why we’re launching Congregational Spotlights to celebrate how Lutheran congregations across Nevada are living out their baptismal calling beyond the walls of the church.

How is your congregation making a difference? We’d love to share your story email Pastor Paul Larson.