About
Gather, the magazine of Women of the ELCA, offers a mix of articles, theological reflections, devotions and stories of comfort and challenge that help readers grow in faith and engage in ministry and action.
Join for free!
Sign-up for Gather’s free monthly e-newsletter and receive thought-provoking articles, online exclusives and bonus offers in your inbox!
December 2026 Advent devotional: “The anchor I choose: Hope,” by Kristina Diaz Rivera
What happens when hope becomes a choice? Sometimes, choosing hope is an act of courage; sometimes, singing is an act of resistance; and sometimes, when we allow ourselves to be fully present in the darkness, beautiful things can be revealed. Advent is an invitation...
I am worthy
By Elyssa Salinas-Lazarski When I heard the phrase “I am worthy,” I thought about how I use the concept of worth in my daily life. I go to the store, pick out a shirt and consider whether the price makes it worth buying. Looking at the clock, I consider whether an...
A place to belong: Creating spaces for youth mental health
By Cassidy Klein While at an ELCA gathering of young adults in New Orleans, John Christensen, the project officer for disabilities advocacy and mental health with the World Council of Churches, recalled a moment during a Bible study he once helped lead. That Bible...
Planting seeds in their lives
By Venice Williams I hadn’t yet checked the ride-sharing app on my cellphone to see who had accepted my request for transportation. That is normally my practice. But that evening, I was tired, irritable and hungry. I simply wanted to leave a community culinary event...
Tanzania: A WELCA-supported mentoring and scholarship program for girls
As part of Women of the ELCA’s global engagement trip to Arusha and Meru, Tanzania, Valora Starr, director of discipleship; Eva Yeo, director of membership; and Nola Smith, a WELCA participant; join women and girls from the African Girls Scholarship & Mentorship...
Summer 2026: “I am worthy” video supplement 3
Watch video. (August 2026) “I am because you are: We need one another.” Our individual identities are always bound up in community. Jesus describes this vision using a vine and branches. Paul talks about a body with many parts. The prophets describe communities of...
Advent 2026 playlist
(1) ADVENT - Hope 2026 - YouTube Advent Playlist - Hope - playlist by Kristina Diaz | Spotify Eleanor Rigby - song and lyrics by Cody Fry | Spotify Hasta la Raíz - song and lyrics by Natalia Lafourcade | Spotify Big Love, Small Moments - song and lyrics by JJ Heller |...
Getting to know Mary Magdalene
By Cara Strickland Years ago, I spoke to a pastor friend as Easter approached. She hadn’t decided on the theme of her sermon, but at least one point was clear. “I’m going to make sure people know that Mary Magdalene wasn’t a prostitute,” she said. Did these words...