May Update: Advocacy Connections from the ELCA Advocacy office in Washington, D.C. – the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, director. This May wrap-up includes updates on Disaster Aid Bill, Central American Minors Program, Affordable Housing in the Federal Budget, Foreign Assistance to Northern Triangle, Global Conflict Prevention.
Read MoreThe 2019 ELCA Advocacy Convening was held April 29–May 1 in Washington, D.C., gathering bishops (including Bishop Hutterer) and community leaders around the theme “Prepared to Care: Our Advocacy in Light of Disasters Intensified by Climate Change.” In her welcome letter to participants, Amy Reumann, ELCA Advocacy director, said this topic requires urgent action. Read the article in Living Lutheran »
Read MoreFrom Lutheran Disaster Response, we have a situation report on the 29 tornadoes that impacted Missouri, including one through Jefferson City. Read the full report here, including ways you can be part of the response through prayer, gifts, and connections.
Read MoreThe intricacies and diversity of creation are mind-boggling, a reflection and reminder of the power and glory of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit expressed through the created order. The United Nations honors creation on May 22 through the International Day for Biological Diversity. This year’s theme is “Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health.” Marking the dayincreases our understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues in God’s good creation.
Read MoreRead the situation report and be a part of the response:
Pray: Please pray for the people who have been affected by wildfires in California.
Give: Gifts to “U.S. Wildfires” will be used to assist those affected by the wildfires until the response is complete.
Connect: Share a bulletin insert, receive Lutheran Disaster Response alerts, like LDR on Facebook and follow @ELCALDR on Twitter, view a PDF of the report.
Read updates from ELCA Advocacy and learn about their work at the United Nations, California, Colorado, New Mexico,North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Southeastern Synod, Washington, Wisconsin.
Read MoreWe are called by God to "keep the earth" (Genesis 2:15). On this ELCA page, https://www.elca.org/Resources/Caring-for-Creation, find resources and educational materials to help you and your congregation grow in your own faith journey to appreciate fully and cherish creation and find different ways to engage in earth-keeping activities.
Read MoreRead Lutheran Disaster Response’s update on this situation, the worst weather-related disaster ever recorded in the Southern Hemisphere. Please pray for the communities who are impacted by Cyclones Idai and Kenneth. May God’s healing presence give them peace and hope in their time of need. Pray that God will comfort those who mourn the loss of loved ones and strength to those who are delivering aid and rescue.
Read MoreWhen I attended the Bishop’s Academy this January, the featured topic was care of creation. Dr. Cynthia Moe-Lobeda and Dr. Larry Rasmussen shared their brutal facts, resources for hope, and the reminder of our baptismal call to strive for justice and peace throughout all the earth. I was awakened to the urgency of their message.
Read MoreThursday, May 23, 2019, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00p.m., at four locations around the Phoenix Valley.
Summer is just around the corner! Your Thrivent Member Network - Southwest Region is offering a day of service to help Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest (LSS) prepare to serve Arizona’s most vulnerable during the summer months.
Read MoreJesus “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3).
Scripture makes clear that God’s will is for each of us, and the entire planet, to have health, wholeness and longevity. But how we secure these things for ourselves and others can be a lot less clear.
Read MoreBishop Hutterer joins Lutheran leaders to advocate on Capitol Hill. Join them in taking action!
Over 80 ELCA bishops, ministry leaders, and advocates from across the nation visited Capitol Hill speaking about critical disaster recovery and environmental needs in our communities. Send your legislators a customizable letter at the ELCA Action Center to illustrate specific disaster concerns with your legislators today!
Read MoreIn mid-2018, the ELCA Advocacy team decided to focus the 2019 ELCA Advocacy Convening, an advocacy gathering for bishops and key community and ELCA leaders, on disasters intensified by climate change. The earth is groaning as our warming climate intensifies drought, floods, wildfires and sea level rise, each in turn accelerating hunger, conflict, migration and the well-being of every inhabitant of our planet. Read in English, en Español.
Read MoreOn March 28, 2019 the ELCA joined other US churches and Christian organizations in a statement rejecting President Trump’s recognition of Israeli annexation of the Golan Heights. Read the full statement here.
Read MoreLeave no one behind.
This was the ambitious commitment in the creation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are a set of universal goals “unique in that they cover issues that affect us all. They reaffirm our international commitment to end poverty, permanently, everywhere. They are ambitious in making sure no one is left behind” (undp.org background). These 17 goals, such as zero hunger, are for striving toward by developed and developing countries.
Read MoreELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton has released a pastoral message addressing the mass shootings that occurred Friday at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.
“Together with our ecumenical and inter-religious partners, we stand shoulder to shoulder in condemning hatred, bigotry, racism and violence whenever and wherever it occurs. We do so because all people are made in the image of God,” the statement read in part. Read the full message here.
Read More“There is a safety and refuge in that is in this place that is so, so very holy,” proclaims Rev. Kirsten Fryer in this video. Fryer is an ELCA missionary serving as the pastor of an English-speaking congregation, St. Andrew’s United Church of Cairo. St. Andrew’s houses several ministries including St. Andrew’s Refugee Services, which serves 25,000 refugees annually. You can support Kirsten and the over 240 ELCA missionaries serving around the world by visiting ELCA.org/missionaries.
Read MoreWe are facing the world’s worst refugee crisis in recorded history with over 25 million refugees, over half of whom are children. In response, last year the Administration agreed to welcome 45,000 refugees to the U.S. But only 22,491 refugees were accepted in, leaving 22,509 refugees behind.
Help Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest send a total of 1,018 postcards to all Arizona members of Congress. One postcard for every refugee who never made it to Arizona last year. One postcard for every reason refugees are important to our communities.
Read MoreThe Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) stands with and holds up in prayer the people of Venezuela during the current multifaceted crisis within their nation. We care about the consequences of this crisis as already felt in neighboring countries and about its wider impact on international peace and security.
Read MorePray, fast and give during ELCA World Hunger’s 40 Days of Giving – for the good of our families, our neighbors and communities around the world.
This Lent, you’re invited to join together with fellow members and supporters of ELCA World Hunger to study, reflect and give during ELCA World Hunger’s 40 Days of Giving. Experience how the grace of Christ moves us to engage in transformative works of love around the world as God calls us into the ministry of hope, liberation and restoration for our world.
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