Tag: October

Following are updates shared from submissions of the Lutheran Office for World Community and state public policy offices (sppos) in the ELCA Advocacy Network this month. Full list and map of sppos available. UN | ARIZONA | COLORADO |MINNESOTA | OHIO | PENNSYLVANIA | TEXAS | VIRGINIA | WISCONSIN Lutheran Office for World Community, United Nations, New York, N.Y. – ELCA.org/lowc Christine Mangale, Director Summit of the Future/Pact for the Future: Lutheran Office for World Community (LOWC) was a strong presence at the Summit of the Future, which occurred in September, where a Pact for the Future was produced. The Pact…

Chris Heavner, Clemson, SC Warm-up Question At what point did you realize that this week is Reformation Sunday? Have you been planning for weeks? Did you make sure your red clothing was washed and ready? Is this devotion your first reminder? Reformation? Renewal? Realignment? Reformatting? “Reformation” is one of those words which can refer to a general reforming of “an institution or practice,” or it can refer to the events which began in Wittenberg, Germany in the 16th century.  Which reference is best known in your community? I had opportunity to be in Wittenberg, Germany on Reformation Day in 2022. …

Warm-up Question What are the qualities you look for in a leader? Why do those attributes matter to you? Why Did You Get Into This? Through the United States of America, we are in the midst of election season. From local trustees to state representatives to the President of the United States, many leadership positions will be decided on November 5. If you’re of voting age, make a plan to vote! Even if you’re not, engage in the process. Learn about the candidates and issues at hand. Research deeper than just soundbites and slogans. One of the questions I always…

Warm-up Question Tell a story about when you were genuinely surprised. Maybe you learned something shocking or experienced a surprise party. How did being surprised impact you? Left Behind in Paradise Another hurricane is coming. Even as parts of the country from Florida’s panhandle to the Appalachian mountains try to clean up from Hurricane Helene, younger sibling Hurricane Milton is already threatening life with similar ferocity. Those of us who live further away might think of these vacation destinations as wealth centers. Massive beach houses on the coast to log mansions on the Blue Ridge Parkway are annually rented by…

Warm-up Question When is the last time you asked a child their opinion about something related to faith? Is that more or less often than talking to teens or adults about religious perspectives? Why is that? Kids Talk. Do We Listen?  If you haven’t yet discovered research from the Springtide Institute, it’s well worth your time. They spend much time researching Gen Alpha (born after 2010 or so), as well as Gen Z (who are now all in high school or older). The research often focuses on issues of mental health and religious belief, among other things. Newsweek summarized a…

Following are updates shared from submissions of the Lutheran Office for World Community and state public policy offices (sppos) in the ELCA Advocacy Network this month. Full list and map of sppos available.   U.N. | ARIZONA | CALIFORNIA | COLORADO |KANSAS | MINNESOTA | WASHINGTON |WISCONSIN   New York Lutheran Office for World Community (LOWC), U.N. – ELCA.org/lowc Christine Mangale, Director LWF Assembly: Lutheran Office for World Community (LOWC) director Christine Mangale joined more than a thousand participants from around the global Lutheran communion who gathered in Krakow, Poland for the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Thirteenth Assembly. It took…

Drew Tucker, Columbus, OH Warm-up Question Think of something that affects everyone, that’s often unpopular, and that’s necessary for living in a society. Share with a group or a trusted friend how you feel about that thing that you’ve named.  Taxing Question Thanks to the recent threat of a government shutdown, averted by a last-minute stopgap funding bill that President Biden signed into law on September 30th, 2023, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about how we fund living in our shared society. From infrastructure like roads and utilities to people like first responders and postal workers, our taxes…

from the ELCA advocacy office in Washington, D.C. – the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, Senior Director Partial expanded content from Advocacy Connections: October 2023 IN A TIME OF WAR | NATIVE AMERICAN HOUSING REFORMS | COUNTERING GLOBAL CORRUPTION | YOUNG ADULT MIGRATION ADVOCACY | CLIMATE WEEK NYC   IN A TIME OF WAR: The devastating loss of life in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories since Oct. 7 grieve us all. U.S. churches including the ELCA have spoken on the conflict several times (including 10/7/23 and 10/12/23); the Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, ELCA presiding bishop, issued a statement on Israel-Hamas…

Courtney Geibert, Redwood City, CA Warm-up Question What is your relationship with nature and the planet?  Climate Crisis and Stewardship In March 2023, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its final report on climate change. Drawing from the research of over 700 scientists, the IPCC spent thirty-five years recording the physical science, impacts, and mitigation of climate change. According to the IPCC, humans have made unprecedented changes to our planet in a short time, resulting in irreparable harm to people and the environment. Today, over 3 billion people live in countries susceptible to climate impacts such…

These prompts are provided for worship leaders as they prepare the prayers of intercession for weekly worship. The prompts are prepared by several leaders in the ELCA and reflect current world and national events. You are encouraged to adapt and add other concerns for your local context, including staying informed of events and concerns in your synod. Election Day Resources: ELCA prayer and worship resources for Election Day are available here. Intercession prompts: For those grieving in the aftermath of the shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in St. Louis, Missouri… For all affected by school shootings…