Posts in Covid-19
Families First Coronavirus Response Act: UCC Update
Families First Coronavirus Response Act: UCC Update

From the ELCA Public Health page, Families First Coronavirus Response Act from the UCC is available (download PDF), updated March 23, 2020.

Shared with permission from the United Church of Christ, this update helps explain The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), signed into law on March 18, 2020. It expands the provisions of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), including which employers are covered under the Act, which may bring smaller religious organizations under the new provisions.

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ELCA, Covid-19Brian FlatgardComment
Three ecumenical organizations release unprecedented letter
Three ecumenical organizations release unprecedented letter

The National Council of Churches (NCC) joins with Christians Uniting in Christ (CUIC) and Christian Churches Together (CCT) sends a letter to congregations across the United States. View the letter in this post or read at nationalcouncilofchurches.us/holyweek.

The letter states, “Holy Week is April 6-12 for Western Christians and April 13-19 for Orthodox Christians.” Christians are then asked to join in specific acts of worship as they celebrate this unprecedented Holy Week and Easter.

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Bishop Eaton, Holy Week, Covid-19, Ecumenical and Inter-Religious RelationsBrian Flatgard Comment
Bishop Eaton issues Holy Week invitation
Bishop Eaton issues Holy Week invitation

As three ecumenical organizations unite in an unprecedented way, Bishop Eaton invites us to visit nationalcouncilofchurches.us/holyweek, and join in specific acts of worship with other Christians as we celebrate this Holy Week and Easter in time of pandemic.

View Bishop Eaton’s video, visit the Holy Week page, and read the letter and share.

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Bishop Eaton, Holy Week, Covid-19, Ecumenical and Inter-Religious RelationsBrian Flatgard Comment
Can You Flee a Pandemic? Four Lessons from Luther
Can You Flee a Pandemic? Four Lessons from Luther

As new as the COVID-19 pandemic is to us living today, it is far from the first pandemic the church has had to address.

In 1527, the plague hit Wittenberg in late summer, the University of Wittenberg closed. The students were sent home, and many residents self-quarantined to avoid the deadly sickness. Luther responded with his letter “Whether One May Flee from a Deadly Plague.”

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Covid-19Brian FlatgardMartin LutherComment
CARES Act inclusions and next steps in response to COVID-19
CARES Act inclusions and next steps in response to COVID-19

ELCA Advocacy breaks down elements of the (CARES Act), the third economic aid package passed March 27, 2020, and encourages us to these links to learn more about programs for eligible individuals seeking assistance.

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ELCA Advocacy, Covid-19Brian FlatgardComment
Post your #eastertogether sunrise photo on Easter morning
Post your #eastertogether sunrise photo on Easter morning

Let’s share #eastertogether photos. On Sunday, April 12, 2020, we will be an Easter people physically distanced from each other. Yet on that day, like every other day, we will welcome the rising sun and be grateful for God’s victory over death through Jesus Christ.

As you are able, take of a photo of Easter morning from your perspective. Share the photo on social media with the hashtag #eastertogether, and throw in #gcsynod while you’re at it.

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Covid-19Brian Flatgard Comment
Daily Bread Grants available
Daily Bread Grants available

ELCA World Hunger is announcing the immediate launch of Daily Bread Matching Grants. Through these grants, ELCA congregations can raise funds for their feeding ministries using an online fundraising platform and will receive a grant of $500 from ELCA World Hunger.

Up to 100 Daily Bread Matching Grants are available for ELCA congregations on a first-come, first-served basis, with the possibility of more grants becoming available in the future. Apply or donate here.

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ELCA, ELCA World Hunger, Covid-19Brian FlatgardComment
COVID-19-related benefits for ELCA ministries and their employees
COVID-19-related benefits for ELCA ministries and their employees

From the ELCA Public Health page, Update and Resources on COVID-19-related Benefits for ELCA Congregations, Synods, Other Ministries and their Employees is available (download PDF) , updated March 30, 2020.

Congress has passed three acts recently in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This summary focuses on the provisions of these acts that most directly affect churches and their employees and provides relevant resources.

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ELCA, Covid-19Brian FlatgardComment
Mission Investment Fund and ELCA Federal Credit Union offer assistance
Mission Investment Fund and ELCA Federal Credit Union offer assistance

Eva M. Roby, President and CEO of the Mission Investment Fund of the ELCA, shares a letter of commitment and reminder that MIF stands with the Grand Canyon Synod. Read her letter here. If congregations have special needs at this time, please reach out to Amelia Dawkins, MIF’s Vice President for Lending, at Amelia.Dawkins@elca.org.

The ELCA Federal Credit Union is also prepared to offer similar assistance to its members at this time. Credit Union member pastors and congregations that may be facing hardship should contact the Credit Union at info@elcacu.org or visit www.elcafcu.org.

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Covid-19, ResourcesBrian FlatgardComment