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August 2026 Newsletter

One Synod, One Book

Join the Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod as we read "Separation of Church and Hate" by John Fugelsang. This is a great book as we continue to learn about Christian Nationalism. Written by a comedian, "Separation of Church and Hate" is easily accessible to all levels of readers including lay and ordained people alike. We are encouraging congregations to form a book study in their congregation be that with the adult education group, a WELCA gathering, an established book group or any other way this fall.

You can also join two book studies on zoom. One group will meet at 1pm on Tuesday starting 9/15 and another at 7pm on Thursdays starting 9/17.

Join Synod Confirmation for the 2026-2027 school year!

Opened to all youth, we will meet every Wednesday (except during Advent and Lent) on Zoom from September 9 through May 5 from 6:30-7:30pm.

And if you want to share your favorite bible story with our confirmation class, you can sign up here. Be sure to tell us what your favorite story is when you sign up so we don't hear the same story a bunch of times.

Calling all 8th through 12th graders!

Join an AOK Synod Group for the 2027 Youth Gathering for a once in a lifetime experience!

If your congregation is not forming a group to attend the ELCA Youth Gathering in Minneapolis June 28-July 2, but you want to go, join a group of youth from around the synod.

Total cost to be determine, but fundraisers in congregations are encouraged.

It will be a week of worship, learning, faith forming and friendship building.

Contact Bishop Becca (becca@aokelca.org) or Pastor Jerry (jerry@aokelca.org) if you have any questions.

You can also help support youth going to the Gathering by making a donation HERE.

A letter from Eli Farrow

Eli was able to travel to the Taize community this summer with a group of young adults from the Lutheran Church in Great Britain, one of our companion synods.

This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to travel to Taizé, France, and it is an experience that I know will stay with me for the rest of my life.

Taizé opened my eyes to just how much bigger the world is than what I know. During my time there, I met young people from countries all over the world, speaking different languages, coming from different cultures, and bringing with them very different understandings and expressions of Christianity. Despite all of those differences, we were able to worship together, learn from one another, share our stories, and discover how much we actually have in common.

That experience challenged me to rethink many of the assumptions I have carried about faith and Christianity. It reminded me that there is no single way to experience or express faith, and that listening to Christians from different backgrounds can deepen rather than diminish our own faith. Being surrounded by so many people who were seeking God in their own unique ways was incredibly eye-opening.

More than anything, Taizé reinvigorated my faith. The prayer, worship, conversations, and community made the entire trip deeply faith-building. I returned home with a renewed excitement about my relationship with God and a greater desire to continue learning from Christians who see the world differently than I do.

I am incredibly grateful to the Synod for making this opportunity possible and for investing in young people by helping send us to experiences like Taizé. Supporting young people in opportunities that allow them to encounter faith, community, and the wider Church is an investment that can have an impact far beyond the trip itself.

I sincerely hope the Synod will continue supporting opportunities like this for years to come. For me, Taizé was truly life-changing, and I hope to make the journey an annual part of my faith journey. I came home with a deeper faith, a broader understanding of the world, and a renewed appreciation for the incredible diversity of the Church.

One in the Spirit Youth Retreat

Join youth from around the Synod at Peace Bessie for a youth retreat focusing on the Spirit and spirits. We will be talking about the Holy Spirit, how we are all one in the Spirit, learning about some of the Indigenous community of Oklahoma and their idea of spirit and we will hunt for spirits in the church graveyard and in the 100+ year old church building. Saturday October 10-Sunday October 11, noon to noon. Open to all youth grades 5-12 and their adult leaders/parents.

LEAD Love Our Neighbors Cohort

Leaders who are curious about the neighbors around their church building and ready to take the first step - Love Our Neighbors Cohort is for you! Together we will dig into the practice of holy listening to God through our neighbors. Learn practical skills to do this important work right away so you can take the first step of building relationships. Short-term cohort starts Sept 21st! Get registered by Sept 4th!

Add the Synod Newsletter to Your Congregation’s Newsletter!

Want to help your congregation stay connected with the latest Synod updates, events, and resources? It’s easy! You can now add content directly from the Synod newsletter into your congregation’s newsletter.

Simply scan the QR code or click the link below to visit our new Newsletter Archive webpage, where you’ll find past issues packed with ready-to-use graphics and text. Feel free to copy and paste articles, event listings, or visuals to share with your community and keep everyone in the loop!

https://www.aokelca.org/newsletter

 Hey congregations! We LOVE seeing all the amazing work you're doing in your communities—worship, outreach, events, and more.

 When you share on Facebook, tag us so we can celebrate and share your stories with the whole synod!

 Let’s lift each other up by sharing the good work happening across Arkansas and Oklahoma.