Sanctuary Denomination Explaind by
Presiding Bishop The Rev. Elizabeth Eaton Dear siblings in Christ, As many of you know, last week the ELCA Churchwide Assembly adopted a resolution that, among other things, declared the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) a sanctuary denomination. Many of you are asking, “What does this mean?” Our call to love our neighbor is central to our faith. In our baptismal covenant we promise to strive for peace and justice in all the world. One of the ways we live out this vow is through our commitment to welcoming the stranger. With this declaration, we publicly state that walking alongside refugees and immigrants is a matter of faith. We have prepared talking points to provide a better understanding and further clarification on what sanctuary means for you and your congregations. We acknowledge this will look different in different contexts across the ELCA. Talking Points We also hope this resource will help guide conversations with your parishioners and your community about what our faith says about immigration. “Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God” (Romans 15:7). In Christ, The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton Presiding Bishop |
Dear
Grace Lutheran Church, We are delighted to announce that the meals from your Rise Against Hunger Experience on 9/7/2019 have been shipped in a container totaling 285,120 meals from our Lynchburg warehouse. The meals will be received by our in-country partner ARAHA - American Relief Agency for the Horn of Africa in Somalia. If you happen to receive more than one of these announcements, your meals have gone to impact multiple partners. ARAHA - American Relief Agency for the Horn of Africa is an organization that nourishes lives through food assistance and other services in Somalia. To learn more, please visit our partner/country spotlight on the Impact Stories tab and click and drag on our World Aid Map at https://www.riseagainsthunger.org/global-impact/. As the meals you packaged reach the hands of those in need, we invite you to continue your impact by Donate Today Every contribution enables people in need around the globe to rise! Thank you for generously giving your time as a volunteer with Rise Against Hunger. We are sincerely grateful for your dedication and for sharing our vision of a world without hunger. Gratefully, Rise Against Hunger Stay in touch! |
JULIE’S ABUNDANCE PROJECT
The people of Lutheran Family Services of Virginia are able, every day, to support the people we serve in uncounted ways. But when we dig a little deeper, we find that the people we care for often harbor unrealized hopes, dreams and experiences.
These aren’t impossible dreams, but they won’t come true without some help.
Julie’s Abundance Project looks for new ways to enrich the lives of the people we serve by opening doors to opportunities, experiences, and events that they may not otherwise have the opportunity to experience.
Getting a message from a favorite music star, owning a musical instrument, or going on a trip are just some examples of the wishes we have fulfilled. Julie’s Abundance Project allows us to better identify, coordinate, and fund the fulfillment of these wishes.
We hope you will join us in supporting this project in honor of our beloved, retired CEO, Julie Swanson. Julie believed in bringing abundance to the people we touch at LFSVA. Your gift to Julie’s Abundance Project will allow us to continue her legacy of abundance and joy.