As we enter the season of Lent, LCANZ Bishop Paul Smith reflects on the meaning of Ash Wednesday and the journey toward Good Friday and Easter – the great story of death and life. ‘Because of Jesus, Good Friday is now a matter of death and life – for our sake,’ he writes. Read Bishop Paul’s message

Last month, LCANZ Bishop Paul Smith and LCA International Mission Program Officer Erin Kerber joined more than 850 delegates and 1,000 visitors in Siassi, Papua New Guinea, for the 35th Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELCPNG). Read more

Felix Tong was ordained and installed as a Specific Ministry Pastor at Mountainside Lutheran Church, Auckland, New Zealand, on 7 February 2026. Left to right: Bishop Richard Schwedes, Pastor Phillip Husband, Pastor Felix Tong, Pastor Maccarinth Thomas, Pastor Mark Tung, Bishop Paul Smith 

Lifelong LCA member Liam Hensel is the new Lutheran Media manager. An Adelaide-based marketing, communications and community engagement professional, Liam last month succeeded former manager Dr Tania Nelson, who had served in the role since August 2023. Liam described taking on the role as ‘both an honour and a privilege’. Read more

Explorations in Mission and MinistrY (EMMY) is a new monthly online conversation for LCANZ pastors, church leaders and congregation members. Join the February evening session tonight, 17 February at 6.30pm (AEST), as it explores the LCA’s 'Presence' video series and its use in supporting congregations leading up to Easter. Find out more 

Are you 18–25 and ready to grow as a disciple of Jesus? Cultivate, LCA International Mission’s year-long young adult leadership program, helps you build confidence in sharing the gospel while connecting with other young adults across Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. Applications close 1 March 2026. Learn more

With Lent beginning tomorrow, have you thought about how you might use these 40 days of preparation? Mid-week Lenten devotions are something you can do on your own, with your family or with your congregation. Find prayers for each week of Lent, including PowerPoints and sermons, at www.lca.org.au/worship/wpp/seasonal-lent 

Thank you to those who serve as statisticians for their congregation or parish. Please remember to enter the 2025 statistics into LAMP2 by the end of February. Click here for instructions on accessing the statistics app in LAMP2 and entering your statistics. If you need assistance, contact your district office.

Is your Safe Church training up to date? The LCANZ is continuing to offer both self-paced online training and live online webinars in 2026. Several live sessions are already scheduled for February, March and April, with additional sessions arranged according to demand. Read more or view sessions

• New library director for ALC
  (4 February)
• Full steam ahead for little learners at Navigator (3 February)

• LCNZ Te Ōriwa – The Olive Tree 
  (13 February)
• Queensland District (11 February)
• Lutheran Education Australia
  (11 February)
• Online Together (SA–NT District)
  (11 February)
• LCA eNews Special Edition (ALWS Asante events) (10 February)
• Lutheran Tract Mission (5 February)
• LCA International Mission (4 February)

• OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
  Faith Lutheran Church, Warradale SA
  Part-time, nine hours per week
• CAMPUS MISSIONAL ENGAGEMENT TEAM LEADER
  Our Saviour Lutheran Church
  Aberfoyle Park SA
  0.4 FTE, initial 12-month contract

• EXHIBITION CENTRE VOLUNTEERS
  Church House
• CHAIRPERSON VACANCY
  Board for Finke River Mission
• LAY MEMBER VACANCY
  Lutherans for Life