ELCA presiding bishop and other faith leaders offer Advent devotions

     CHICAGO (Nov. 7, 2016) – The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and leaders from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, the Anglican Church of Canada, and The Episcopal Church have prepared a series of Advent devotions for members of the four denominations.

     "Over fifteen years ago, our churches' respective full communion agreements inaugurated new relationships in which we fully recognized each other 'as churches in which the gospel is truly preached and the holy sacraments duly administered,'" the bishops wrote in a joint cover letter.

     "May our prayers united be a modest but hopeful sign of what our churches can do together as we bear witness to the One who first reconciled himself to us."

     In addition to Eaton, devotions were contributed by the Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, presiding bishop and primate, The Episcopal Church; the Most Rev. Fred Hiltz, primate, Anglican Church of Canada; and the Rev. Susan C. Johnson, national bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.

     The Advent devotions are available at

http://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/2016_Advent_devotions_all.pdf​

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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with more than 3.7 million members in more than 9,300 congregations across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.​

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