The experiment that inspires Year of Plenty is one that grows out of a frustration with consumerism as well as a hunger for a sense of connectedness to place and people. Through an accessible and self-aware narrative, Craig Goodwin sketches his family’s year-long journey in sustainable living. Goodwin weaves personal experience with theological reflection (most of which is inspired by Wendell Berry)—an approach that leads him to articulate a rule for living the Christian faith in the midst of a culture and theology that has accommodated consumerism. As Goodwin explains, the rule is less a hard boundary and is more accurately seen as a reorientation to the kingdom of God present in our world. Against this backdrop the family’s explorations into the homegrown, the local, the used and the homemade offer a glimpse at the convergence of theology and practice.

 As a result of both style and content, the book lends itself well to small group study and discussion. The author’s intent is to make a case for a Christian voice in issues of consumption and creation care by means of personal experiment and reflection rather than theological treatise. This does not preclude the author from exploring a “theology of plenty”, where his reflections eventually lead. The book seems to read better as a personal commentary with theological reflection on hyper-consumption rather than the development of a theology. Its strength is in demonstrating a relationship between reflection, theology, and practice through a personal narrative. But as far as developing a theology, Year of Plenty lacks depth for those who cannot tear up their lawn and turn it into a garden or build a chicken coop in their backyard.

As it is, a distinct conversation about hunger, the effects of climate change, or food justice issues is simply beyond the scope of this book. The passing references to these issues serve as a means for understanding how faith is integrated with this personal journey of sustainable living. This strategy works in the author’s favor by making the book more accessible than if it were just a theological project. On the other hand, Year of Plenty illustrates a sense of urgency in the author’s personal life, but is not forceful enough in articulating a sense of urgency for the church. Goodwin offers a critique of traditional dualist theology and advocates for a more holistic one, but this is done in the context of his personal reflections on his family’s experiment. This has the advantage of allowing the reader to make his/her own connections. It has the disadvantage of not being able to speak to a variety of entry points into the sustainability conversation and the urgency required for the church to engage in a deeper theology.

Yet Goodwin reaches a conclusion that is accessible as any for his audience—our decisions and practices, both economic and personal, are matters of faith. Because these are matters of faith the importance of making connections among sustainability and hunger, climate change and food justice are necessary and crucial to the development of a deeper theology in a world of plenty.              

Goodwin’s blog: www.yearofplenty.org

BOOK REVIEW

Year of Plenty 

 Craig L. Goodwin

2011 Augsburg Fortress

Christian Life/Biography

ISBN: 978-1-4514-0074-8

It contains a beautiful glimpse into the daily cycle of tropical life in Papua New Guinea by Nancy Anderson, who like her husband, the Rev. Rodney Norby, is an

Bulletin inserts make a handy congregational resource.

The summer 2012 newsletter is now available to download.

ELCA missionary in that equatorial country. Pastor Rodney also reflects on what it’s like to be a pastor and, perhaps surprisingly, an accountant. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea is adopting Western accounting standards and “I help to translate these Western accounting standards to support the church’s ministry,” he says.

Also in the newsletter Young Adults in Global Mission volunteer Jackie Schuhle, who is serving in Malaysia, gives thanks to the Rev. Peter Harrits, a long-term ELCA missionary who is her coordinator. He also supports and guides seven other young adults volunteering in Malaysia. “I wouldn’t be able to be the best at my site without Peter’s support,” says Jacki.

Another Young Adults in Global Mission volunteer, Molly Cook, describes how connecting with a Malaysian youth group has deepened her faith. “They are some of the most passionate believers I have ever met. I have grown so much with them!” she says.

The individual stories are also available separately as bulletin inserts.

Go to www.elca.org/handinhand for more information, to read the complete stories and to download your copies of the newsletter and bulletin inserts. For printed copies of the newsletter, contact globalmissionsupport@elca.org.

To support any of the ELCA’s 230 missionaries, go to www.elca.org/missionarysponsorship.

A new series, called 10 Years On, examines how things have developed during these 10 years since Ariel Sharon announced plans for the barrier in April of 2002, after the Passover suicide bombing and many others.  The Israelis said they were building it in order to protect Israelis from suicide bombers.  Many Palestinians, however, question the route of the barrier, which is twice as long as the Green Line and cuts deeply into the West Bank, appropriating around 10% of West Bank land within the Israeli side of the barrier.  Palestinians question why, if the barrier is for security of Israelis, the barrier results in thousands of Palestinians on the Israeli side of the barrier and why the route follows settlements and allows plenty of room for their growth while cutting off areas of growth for Palestinian towns. Israelis believe the barrier has saved many Israeli lives, as suicide bombings have reduced in number since the beginning of the wall, while others point to other reasons, such as truces by Palestinian extremist groups and a general lack of support for suicide bombing. 

The series is in seven parts, with interesting comments and debate about the effects, cost and benefit of the barrier.  The link goes to part 7, and at the bottom there are links to the first 6 parts.  Several slide shows by Active Stills and maps  illustrate the series.

Its timing was significant for me. A month or so earlier, I heard an interview with author Michelle Alexander about her book called The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. Then, I read it. In the book, Alexander observes that the criminal justice system is devastating black communities in America through the war on drugs. This policy, she says, was established in the 1970s and ’80s to control black men by locking them away in prison and labeling them criminals when they are released. You may not agree with her broad conclusion. Regardless, the stories and facts she tells about the criminal justice system are important and compelling.

The war on drugs is especially dangerous, she notes, because it is hidden from the majority. Unlike Jim Crow, which happened out in the open, the war on drugs is happening primarily in poor black neighborhoods, police cars, courthouses and prisons. The book has spent weeks on the best-seller list and is galvanizing readers (including at least one Lutheran pastor).

This blog post is one of my first steps to respond to the book and to contribute to the church’s conversations about criminal justice. I hope Women of the ELCA starts more conversations and shows up where conversations are already happening in our congregations.

We are a community of women that aspires to work against racism.  I hope we bring questions about race to these conversations. Alexander says that Americans are less likely to talk about race today because we’re supposed to be better than that in an age of supposed colorblindness. (As in, “How bad can racism be? We elected a black man president.”) For Women of the ELCA to be “anti-racist” in the age of colorblindness, we have to acknowledge racism where it happens. As Christians, in any age, we are called to shine light on what is hidden. How will you participate?

Emma Crossen is director for stewardship and development.

We give you thanks, most gracious God, for the beauty of earth and sky and sea; for the richness of mountains, plains, and rivers; for the songs of birds and the loveliness of flowers. We praise you for these good gifts, and pray that we may safeguard them for our posterity. Grant that we may continue to grow in our grateful enjoyment of your abundant creation, to the honor and glory of your Name, now and for ever. Amen. 1979 Book of Common Prayer

Another Earth Day (April 22) has come and gone. It is now May, the flowers are blooming and the trees are thickening each day with shades of green foliage. Robins hop around my front lawn in search of fresh worms after the recent spring shower and the finches are rebuilding their annual nest in the straw wreath that hangs by my front door. I can easily sit back and watch Mother Nature unfold. But I also realize that the seasons during this past year have been unusual. In 2011, Connecticut had over 4 feet of snow, in 2012 we had a few dustings. We had a week of 80-degree weather in March and the forsythia, magnolias, tulips and daffodils all blossomed 6 weeks earlier than usual.

Our environment is changing. Whether this is all God’s plan or not, we humans have responsibility for the care of the Earth, our garden home. We are currently facing extreme climate variability – the earth’s warming is occurring 10 times faster than had previously been estimated and the polar ice sheets are dropping at 10 meters per year. One of the qualities of leaders of the future will be to have “bio-empathy” – the ability to see things from nature’s point of view; to understand, respect and learn from nature’s patterns. Nature has its own clarity, if only we humans can understand and engage with it.

I believe it is the responsibility of our faith community to lead the way in teaching how to be good stewards of our environment. And it can start in our own churches, modeling good practices: recycling all bottles, cans and paper; not using Styrofoam coffee cups (better yet – use real dishes); using electronic means for communication; not relying on print paper for Sunday bulletins. Add your own ideas here.

The climate challenge is about respect for God’s creation. How could the wisdom of our Christian tradition help people engage with the dilemmas of extreme climate change? What is the carbon footprint (the contribution you are making to global warming) of your church? How can churches prepare to react with vision, understanding, clarity and agility in facing the challenge before us and future generations?

There aren’t easy answers and it’s not something we can each do on our own. But individual working together can make a difference. Check out these places to start:

• National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Programs
• Green Interfaith Network
• Interfaith Earth Network

Accept, O Lord, our thanks and praise for all you have done for us. We thank you for the splendor of the whole creation, for the beauty of this world, for the wonder of life, and for the mystery of love.

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Sharon Ely Pearson is the Christian Formation Specialist for Church Publishing and author of The Prayer Book Guide to Christian Education, 3rd edition and Call on Me: A Prayer Book for Young People. You can follow her on Rows of Sharon www.rowsofsharon.com and Building Faith www.buildfaith.org and Twitter @rowsofsharonp

At a taxi rank, or terminal, there can be hundreds of minibus taxis waiting for passengers.

There are two things that I really struggle with when riding the mimibus taxis here. The first is that the taxi doesn’t depart until it is full so you never know when you will leave. The other problem I have is that they are always so hot! For some reason no one likes having windows open no matter how hot it gets so I often arrive at my destination feeling sweaty and gross.

Last week, when I was going from Estcourt to Pietermaritzburg, my tolerance for the taxis was maxing out. After 90 minutes of waiting, the taxi was full but for some reason the manager decided we should go in a different taxi so all 15 of us had to get out and move to another taxi. I had been in the back by a window which was great because then I could control how hot it was by me. However, upon moving to the other taxi I ended up being the last one to have to squeeze into the back row. I got to Pietermaritzburg and told Elise, another volunteer, that I don’t know how many more of those I’m going to be able to handle!  Then, right on cue, my return trip to Estcourt was very different.

Because there are so many taxis in one rank (or terminal), it can become confusing and difficult to find the one that is going where you need. On my way back to Estcourt we had just gotten on the interstate when an older woman a few rows ahead of me started asking about where the taxi was going. I couldn’t understand most of the conversation as it was in Zulu but I did hear her saying, “Tugela” several times, which is another hour past Estcourt. She was realizing, too late, that she had gotten on the wrong taxi.

She soon began to cry as she did not have enough money to then make the trip from Estcourt to Tugela. Without pause, a girl sitting next to her began asking everyone to put some money together for her. Through everyone’s donations the woman was given  more than enough to make the next leg of her journey.

I watched the whole thing in awe and humility. God knew that this was just the thing I needed to renew my spirit as frustration and annoyance had begun to take over.  “Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu” is a Zulu expression meaning, “A person is a person through people.” In other words, we do not get where we are solely by ourselves. There are so many people around us that make us who we are and help us along the way. The spirit of Ubuntu filled that taxi as a group of strangers were willing to help another stranger for no benefit of their own. Such a small but awesome experience to be a part of and one I will not soon forget!

Pastor Paul Baardseth served for 34 years at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Amery, Wisconsin.  Even in retirement he continues to be active and hard-working. Last summer, he raised a vegetable garden on an acre of land at the end of a friend’s corn field.  For the entire summer, Paul dug and planted, weeded and weeded for at least four hours a day in the humid heat of summer.

His labors bore much fruit. As he harvested his produce, Pastor Paul was able to share with his extended family, his neighbors, and even his wife’s workplace. Everyone shared in the bounty of the land tended by Paul’s hand.  

And then Paul took his generosity a step further. For six weeks last fall he supplied a table at his church, to sell baby potatoes (for a dollar a bag) and many varieties of squash. He had a French variety called potimorran, buttercup and butternut, and pumpkins.  The little ones sold for a dollar, and the big one for two dollars.  From his dedicated efforts, Pastor Paul raised $500.00 for the ELCA Malaria Campaign. 

And still his generosity wasn’t finished. After the malaria funds were raised, Paul then delivered 120 squash to his local food pantry.  What a wonderful way to share God’s bounty with those in his community and to share the gift of malaria protection with sisters and brothers across the world! I’d call Pastor Paul a shining example of someone who “thinks globally and acts locally.”

Many, many thanks to Pastor Paul for his generous and dedicated labors, and to his wife Nancy Baardseth for sharing the story and photos of his “Harvest for Malaria”!

Truth is, moms (and dads and aunties and all those who love us) have some great words of wisdom. We don’t always have to admit it, but it’s true. And it may just be that for most of us, as we age we find out more and more just how much our moms really know (or knew).

In honor of Mother’s Day, we asked our Facebook community to share the best piece of advice received from mom (or a motherly figure). Here are a few nuggets of advice. To read them all, go to our “Advice from Mom” board on Pinterest. To add your own, post a comment below.

Anne’s mom: Pick your battles.

Sharon’s mom: Always remember God loves you!

Judy’s mother: This too shall pass.

Sue’s mom: People are more important than things.

Debbie’s mama: Do something nice for someone everyday and listen more than you speak.

Karen’s mother: Celebrate birthdays — they remind us of the gift of life!

Jeanne’s mom: Enjoy the moment. Time goes by so fast.

… and then they modeled one of those suggested fundraising activities!  As part of their Synod Assembly experience, participants were invited to join in the “Miles Against Malaria” walk.  Those electing to take part in the walk collected pledges from their home congregations and walked two miles through business and residential neighborhoods in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. 

Pastor Megan Crouch, Miles Against Malaria participant, proudly displays a sign proclaiming "Walking to Save Lives!!"

They carried signs made by the youth of St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids.

Walkers from Zion Lutheran Church in Cloquet, Minnesota led the fundraising efforts by bringing in over $3,000 from the members of their church and community.  All in all, Miles Against Malaria raised over $5,000 for the ELCA Malaria Campaign!

The ELCA Malaria Campaign was featured in other ways at the Northeast Minnesota Synod Assembly, as well. Senior high youth created cardboard mosquitoes and “story people” to decorate tables in the plenary hall.  Part of a plenary session was dedicated to malaria. Malaria buttons and net corsages were also for sale.

Many thanks to Brenda Wagner, the synod malaria coordinator from Northeast Minnesota, for letting us know of the great efforts of this synod to make malaria history.

At the same time, more prisoners are being arrested.  Here is a blog post from Lauren-Whitney Gottbrath, a Young Adult in Global Ministry who has recently had a good friend arrested.  Below is her blog prayer for him.  UPDATE:  Lauren recently wrote and said that Mousa has been released.  Loren thanks all for their prayers, but says that he has been profoundly affected by this experience.

Salaam Friends and Family,
As I sat down to write my newsletter on Sunday, I couldn’t stop thinking about some terrible news I had received earlier that day; one of my really good friends, Mohamad (better known as Mousa), was arrested by the Israeli Defense Force right outside his home the night before.  At this point no one knows exactly why he was arrested. Unfortunately, that is the sad reality of many prisoners currently within Israeli jails.  Israel uses administrative detention to hold prisoners without charging them or giving them a reason for their arrest.  Mousa is just one of many prisoners who are under this sort of detention.  I have so many things that I could share with you about the last two months, but to be quite honest, it is Mousa’s story that I want to share in hopes that you will feel in some small way the great man that he is and offer your thoughts and prayers for him and his family

Mousa is 22 years old and is from Aida Refugee Camp.  I met him through my work at the Lajee Center within the camp.  Basically he is my boss there.  I work most closely with him since he is the director of the media center of Lajee.  At the age of 22 with no formal training, he is one of the most talented photographers and filmmakers I know.  He is more creative and knows more about the craft than do I, even having graduated from college.  From the time I started working at the Lajee Center in October, I have learned more about filmmaking and photography than I did throughout the last four years.  He also teaches the kids that come to the center about photography, film and radio.  He gives them an outlet to share their story.

Not only is he a fantastic photographer and filmmaker, but he is also one of the most kind-hearted guys I have met.  He is always welcoming me into his home for lunch or calling me to invite me to go with him and others from the center to the Dead Sea or to a bbq.  I will never forget the hospitality that he showed both my parents and friends on their visits.  He arranged for my family to spend the entire day at the camp and have lunch with his family.  He also made sure there was enough room on a bus for all my friends to go to a dance festival…something that most visitors never experience.   Just two weeks ago when I was having terrible tooth pain, he called and texted me time and time again to make sure I was feeling better.  And he would be the first person I would call if I were ever in need of any help.

Over the last few days, I keep thinking about what he must be feeling or thinking about right now, but no part of me can even imagine what he is feeling.  It makes me sad that something like this can happen to such an amazing person.  He certainly doesn’t deserve it.  I am angered that this is the reality in this place I live.  Sadly, many of my friends here could tell you the same exact story of their friends and family members.  It isn’t something I understand no matter how hard I try.

In the Lajee Center there is an exhibit of some of the photographers entitled Hopes and Nightmares.  The photographers took photos, one representing their dream and one representing their nightmare.  Mousa’s still hangs on the wall (he took the photos when he was 16 years-old).  He had dreams of becoming a professional football player, playing on the Palestinian National Team, but his nightmare was being arrested and taken away by the occupation.  I have heard him tell visitors to the center about these photos time and time again and sadly his nightmare has come true.  (follow link to see his photographs, 8th one down on the screen)

I pray that God is watching over Mousa and his family.  I pray that Mousa is feeling the love that his friends are sending from all over the world.  I especially pray that he will be back home and in the center soon.  Mousa is a friend that I quite possibly may never see again due to this occupation; but he is a friend that I certainly will never forget.

I know that this is far from a newsletter, but it is something I needed to share, far more than sharing about my many trips to the Dead Sea.  I promise I will get a “newsletter” out soon enough, but in the meantime, I ask that you too pray for Mousa and his family because right now that is all we can do.

I have dreams of going into the center on a Friday to find Mousa there, sitting in “his” chair (only to give it up to me as he always does) ready to start a day’s work… I have nightmares of never getting to see him again.

Thank you for listening.  If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.
Laurin-Whitney Gottbrath      lwgottbrath@gmail.com