Hunger in the Time of COVID-19: Life for Today and Hope for Tomorrow
Rick Steves, guidebook author and travel TV host, the Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and the Rev. Shelley Bryan Wee, bishop of the Northwest Washington Synod of the ELCA, invite you to a virtual benefit – the first of its kind – for ELCA World Hunger. This Zoom virtual event will take place Thursday, September 24, 7 p.m. central time. Our goal is to raise $250,000 to confront hunger in the time of COVID-19.
We are called by God to share hope in this time of challenge. Join us to face this global hunger crisis head-on, and continue to move toward a just world where all are fed. Please spread the word about this extraordinary event among your congregations and communities. Register now.
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BULLETIN BLURBS
These snippets are available for you to copy and paste into your bulletins.
Government social message
The ELCA Church Council has unanimously adopted a new social message: “Government and Civic Engagement in the United States: Discipleship in a Democracy.” This project was called for at the 2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, with an intention that it be ready to read before the national election this fall. The social message defines government as a gift from God that can also be abused and misused. It also delves into how we can view civic engagement as Lutherans. You can find the social message and study guide in English here. A Spanish translation of the message is also available.
Living Lutheran reader call
Living Lutheran wants to hear from you! What seasonal recipes have been important to you in your faith life? By Aug. 30, send your complete recipe and a 300-word story to livinglutheran@elca.org for consideration, along with your congregation’s name and location. Your recipe and story could be featured in our November theme issue on food and faith!
Vanco offers special pricing for ELCA congregations
With Vanco’s simple and secure eGiving and communication tools, you can offer your members an easy way to give and engage with your ministries. To help you get started, Vanco is offering a special promotion. For congregations that start online giving between July 15 and September 30, 2020, the special rate will be 1.75% for all debit/credit transactions + $0.35 per transaction. This rate will apply on all debit/credit transactions through October 31, 2020. The rate for debit/credit card transactions will be 2.35% + $0.35 per transaction starting on November 1, 2020. Request a demo here to get started!
Season of Creation
Season of Creation 2020, a series of weekly devotions for Sept. 1-Oct. 4, is now available! The season, which begins with the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, is a time to join with the global Christian community in renewing, repairing and restoring commitments to God, to one another and to all creation. For the four churches that prepared the resource — the ELCA, The Episcopal Church, the Anglican Church of Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada — this is also a time for strengthening relationships with one another. Through Scripture, hymns, advocacy and action, these weekly devotions, which begin Sept. 6, invite people to live out their vocations as stewards of creation.
Considerations for safely reopening by Church Mutual
Church Mutual offers a webinar, slides and guidelines on preparing and implementing a plan to return to in-person ministry safely. Find the webinar and other resources related to the risks and challenges of COVID-19 at coronavirus.churchmutual.com/.
Caring for Creation online worship service on Sept. 20
Utilizing the lectionary texts for Pentecost 16 (Sept. 20), Lutherans Restoring Creation is preparing a creation-focused worship service for congregations to download. The service will include participants from all over the country, including Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, the Rev. Barbara Rossing, the Rev. Lenny Duncan, Rebekah Bruesehoff, rostered ministers, and members of the Lutherans Restoring Creation Board of Directors. Music will be provided by Marty Haugen, the Rev. Leah Schade and Pastor John Tirro. A bulletin and a recording of the service will be available for free download on Sept. 14 at LutheransRestoringCreation.org.
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