Rev. Rodger A. Babnew, Jr., with Cruzando Fronteras, shares this letter asking our help in celebrating Christmas with families waiting in Nogales.
We also share his September 2020 video report.
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ELCA Lutherans have taken to heart “that energetic civic engagement is part of their baptismal vocation, both as individuals and through the church’s corporate witness.”
Americans turned out to vote in record numbers last week, reaching the highest voting rate in 120 years.
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It was a privilege to be one of the contributing writers for Hear My Voice: A Prison Prayer Book. As a person in prison, it has been a joyful satisfaction to see how valuable and much appreciated the book is among the incarcerated men I have come to know.
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In her weekly video, Bishop Eaton asks that we give thanks for the service of all our veterans and pray that we never take for granted the privileges they secured for us all.
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The first thing that comes to mind when I think about volunteering with the Youth Gathering is stepping outside of my comfort zone.
It was an unexpected invitation that pulled me out of my day-to-day cycle and reminded me of the variety of talents and gifts God creates in me to love, support and connect to my neighbors.
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We are tired. We're exhausted. But, as Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reminds us, we need to remain vigilant. Wear your mask and wash your hands.
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The theme for the November issue of Living Lutheran is “Together at the table.” In keeping with this theme, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton shared her favorite food and faith story, which originally appeared in her September 2017 column. Read her column in English at https://bit.ly/3eJf7Ki and in Spanish at https://bit.ly/3pcjt1r.
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I encourage you to take advantage of this year’s limited gathering ability to focus on what is most important to you and the ones you love as you enter these holidays.
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Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton calls for prayers and patience as the election process continues in the U.S.
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When we come before God in worship, we bring our whole selves. What does that actually mean? For many people in the ELCA it means coming to worship with the assistance of a mobility, audio, visual, or sensory device.
Unfortunately, in many of our churches or places of worship, it is our siblings in Christ who have disabilities and need such devices who feel the least welcome at the table.
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To celebrate Pr. Johnson’s life and service to ELCA World Hunger, we share words from his book, No Time for Silence:
I have Alzheimer’s disease. Nothing to brag about, nothing to be ashamed about, and I see no reason to be silent about it. My brain served me well for eighty-five years … I want to give people resources that will help them think and act critically in an age of confusion and conflicting voices.
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In observance of All Saints Day, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton recalls the lives of two notable saints in the ELCA and reminds us that on this day we give thanks to God for the lives of all who have died this year and for the promise of the resurrection that is sure to come.
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As the United States and Canada commemorate National Domestic Violence Awareness months, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton and National Bishop Susan Johnson of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada discuss gender-based violence and pray for all who are victims of gender-based violence.
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This coming Sunday, Nov. 1, at 4 p.m. Eastern time (2 pm MST), I will join many other religious leaders in the Holding On to Hope National Prayer Service. Please join me for this special occasion to pray for the good of our nation.
Throughout our church, many are experiencing heightened anxiety around the 2020 election. I confess that I feel it, too.
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I am ready for a new season, one to comfort and cool our nation’s hot wounds. A season for allowing the swelling to go down long enough for us to feel something besides the pain and see something besides the red blisters.
I am praying for a season change that will be long enough for us to put a balm on our wounds. I am longing for a cold, quiet winter.
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As Bishop, one of my main goals is to work with all of you to change and grow our church. The year 2020 has been wildly successful in implementing change, far more than anything we could have initiated on our own.
As church and people of faith, we have a huge advantage over most organizations and individuals. Our “product” is eternal and unwavering. The love of God, the good news of Jesus Christ, and the fruits of the Holy Spirit do not cease with the seasons of the world or the actions of humankind.
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As we brace for colder weather and the regular flu season, Bishop Eaton reminds us to respect the disease, respect science and trust God.
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The stress we are experiencing these days is real. Bishop Eaton shares with us an exercise reciting the words from Psalm 46 – Be still and know that I am God. Breathing in and out, believing that promise is true.
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In her October column for Living Lutheran, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reflects on the liberation we receive in Christ through faith. She reminds us that Martin Luther, in The Freedom of a Christian, made the case that liberation in Christ is both freedom from and a freedom for. Read her column in English at https://bit.ly/34200I5 and in Spanish https://bit.ly/3dub2ZA.
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While so many in our country endure a time of suffering and despair, God is present with us as we seek to see more clearly, heal from unrest and renew ourselves and our relationships. The way we talk about people matters. Names matter. Renaming a day matters. Recognizing the original people who have been here for time immemorial matters. Indigenous Peoples Day matters.
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