Today’s blog post is from Megan Neubauer, Interim Program Associate for the ELCA Strategy on HIV and AIDS.

 

Each year, December 1^st marks World AIDS Day; a day to commemorate all of those who have and continue to be affected by HIV and AIDS. The day is a powerful one to remember, but also a day to look, with hope, toward the future. This year marks 35 years since the first reported case of what would come to be known as AIDS in the United States by the Centers for Disease Control. Since that time, we have learned much more about effective treatment and prevention. However, there is much progress to be made. HIV continues to affect many in our communities and throughout the world, including more than 1.2[i] million people in the United States alone, and approximately 36.7[ii] million worldwide.

In 2009 the Church Council passed the ELCA Strategy on HIV and AIDS. In it, we outlined the many ways that we must respond. Together we are called to reflection, and we are called to action. This year on World AIDS Day, let us join in prayer, worship and reflection for HIV and AIDS in our community. This church can be a resounding voice in speaking out against stigma and discrimination; Let us examine how we become or maintain a welcoming community for all affected. In remembering World AIDS Day in our worship, we continue to raise awareness. December 1^st is a day we join in prayer, reflection and remembrance, and we go forth renewed to continue the response.

World AIDS Day worship resources are now available at www.elca.org/hiv.

 

If your congregation will be commemorating World AIDS Day or wishes to integrate commemoration into your Sunday worship on Dec. 4th, prayers, a brief healing rite, hymn suggestions and more worship components are available here.

 

 

[i] Centers for Disease Control, 2016. HIV in the United States: At A Glance [10/5/2016]. http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/statistics/overview/ataglance.html

[ii] UNAIDS, 2016. Fact Sheet 2016[10/5/2016] www.unaids.org/en/resources/fact-sheet

 

 

Worship at the Center events give you the opportunity to explore topics and rites of worship in the church through worship, presentations and workshops. They are designed for pastors, musicians, worship teams and anyone else interested in vibrant worship in their communities.

Mark your calendars for:

Worship at the Center: Engaging Worship and Culture, Feb. 19-21, 2017, Santa Monica, California

and:

Worship at the Center: Exploring the Occasional Services, April 30-May 2, 2017, New Haven, Connecticut

Registration is $40 per person with a maximum of $100 per congregation.

More information is available on the ELCA Worship Facebook page under “Upcoming Events.” (https://www.facebook.com/elcaworship/)

 

This Advent season is an opportunity to reflect on what faithful advocacy means. Join the ELCA Advocacy in our Advent Devotions Series. Please share with friends and family.

This weeks devotional is given by Tammy Walhof. She works at Lutheran Advocacy – Minnesota.

The lectionary readings for this Sunday are:

1. Isaiah 2:1-5
2. Psalm 122
3. Romans 13:11-14
4. Matthew 24:36-44

Blessings

Scott A. Moore, Erfurt, Germany

 

Warm-up Question

What do you need to do in order to get ready for school (or a trip)?

Change is Coming

Once again we are in the weeks leading up to a transition of administrations. There are many situations a new, inexperienced White House staff will encounter in the weeks and months to come. Press releases, motorcades, and the State of the Union address are some of the easier ones. The President, Vice-President, and others in the White House need to be prepared for any and everything. The two last presidents had to deal with crises in their respective first years of office that no one could have known would happen.  For President Bush, it was 9/11 just nine months after taking office and for President Obama, there was a Swine flu outbreak and Somali pirates.

Preparing for pirates was not on anyone’s agenda, but the Obama administration was able to respond to the flu outbreak because President Bush’s team had prepared them with their experiences learned from dealing with the Avian flu a few years earlier. Aside from such catastrophes and all the various natural disasters that can happen, each administration needs to be adequately prepared for major cataclysmic events such as nuclear war. This is also something the White House teams will practice in the coming months so that should anything happen, the President and his team will be able to continue to provide the necessary leadership.

Discussion Questions

• What do you think is most difficult part about being the president in a time of crisis?
• When is information from the White House in such times of crisis “too much”?
• When have you looked to the leadership of someone in a time of crisis (president or otherwise)?
• What would you want to know in the event of major cataclysm: meteor crashing to earth, terrible unstoppable plague, nuclear war, … zombie apocalypse?

First Sunday of Advent

Isaiah 2:1-5

Romans 13:11-14

Matthew 24:36-44

(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year B at Lectionary Readings

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.

 

Gospel Reflection

Happy New Church Year! The first Sunday in Advent (from Adventus=coming). It is a time of getting ready for the joy of Christmas. Longer and cooler nights for us in the Northern hemisphere mean a chance to get cozy and start thinking about the beautiful decorations, the sharing of good food and gifts, and what in the heck is this text doing here? Why on earth would we want spoil the mood before it really gets going with this? Jesus talking about all the destruction of the Great Flood is a serious downer. And, if Jesus thinks he will lift our spirits by sharing with us that the Son of Man coming again will take some and leave others standing, he is sorely mistaken. Okay, the hearers of this text have an advantage over those in the time of Noah. Whoosh, rain and floods and destruction were sent without any real warning. This time around there is a warning: be ready! The Son of Man is coming—like a thief in the night. Advent is a big yay for Jesus coming as a cute little baby, the big Word of God in a tiny bit of flesh; and it’s a big uh oh for Jesus coming again at some point in the future. We are on pins and needles if we think on it and sit with it.

So if we take Jesus’ promise in this text seriously, we need to be prepared. How do we do that? What does it mean for us to be awake and aware and ready for when Jesus comes? It has been about 2,000 years since these words of Jesus were shared. If it hasn’t happened now, should we really worry that it’s going to happen in our lifetimes? This text calls us to vigilance. It is exactly that kind of “it’s not going to happen anyway” thinking that this text wants to prevent. We can’t sleep—in the spiritual awareness kind of way. At the same time, we can’t get caught up in trying to predict the signs because this text (and others like it) tell us: like a thief in the night. We just don’t know. The angels in heaven don’t know. The Son doesn’t even know. We will never be able to predict it so we shouldn’t bother with that. Our energy is not to be spent on figuring out when Jesus is coming but figuring out how to be ready.

Discussion Questions

• How do you get ready for Jesus’ coming? And, how do you stay ready?
• What does it mean for you when you recite the words of the Creeds, “he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.”?
• “Advent” means coming.  How do you experience God coming each day?

Activity Suggestions

Fire Drill:

Walk through the fire drill plan for your location. Maybe even walk through to the other classrooms and ask them if they know their fire escape routes. Learning to be ready in every day situations can help raise awareness for the spiritual kind of readiness talked about in the Gospel reading for the day.

Closing Prayer

Reflect on the following poem and then join in the responsive prayer.  How does this poem change how you see God coming and our preparation for that coming?

Making the House Ready for the Lord


Dear Lord, I have swept and I have washed but

Still nothing is as shining as it should be

for you.  Under the sink, for example, is an

uproar of mice—it is the season of their

many children.  What shall I do?  And under the eaves

and through the walls the squirrels

have gnawed their ragged entrances—but it is the season

when they need shelter, so what shall I do?  And

the raccoon limps into the kitchen and opens the cupboard

while the dog snores, the cat hugs the pillow;

what shall I do?  Beautiful is the new snow falling

in the yard and the fox who is staring boldly

up the path, to the door.  And still I believe you will

come, Lord: you will, when I speak to the fox

the sparrow, the lost dog, the shivering sea-goose, know

that really I am speaking to you whenever I say,

as I do all morning and afternoon:  Come in, Come in.

–Mary Oliver–

Closing Prayer (from ELW Evening Prayer)

Leader:           The Spirit and the church cry out:

All:                  Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Leader:           All those who await his appearance pray:

All:                  Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Leader:           The whole creation pleads:

All:                  Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

 

As Advent approaches, Bishop Elizabeth Eaton has co-authored a devotional resource for your congregation with three other Lutheran and Anglican leaders.

Along with Bishop Eaton, the weekly devotions were contributed by the Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, presiding bishop and primate, The Episcopal Church; the Most Rev. Fred Hiltz, primate, Anglican Church of Canada; and the Rev. Susan C. Johnson, national bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. The resource is, in part, a way to celebrate the full communion partnership between the contributing churches.

As the bishops write in a joint cover letter, “May our prayers united be a modest but hopeful sign of what our churches can do together as we bear witness to the One who first reconciled himself to us.”

The themes of each week’s reflections are: “Liberated by God’s Grace,” “Creation-Not for Sale,” “Salvation-Not for Sale,” and finally, “Human Beings-Not for Sale.”

The Advent devotions, formatted for easy printing with your congregation’s bulletin, are available in PDF here:

http://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/2016_Advent_devotions_all.pdf?_ga=1.80319888.683376320.1466460903

 

 

 

 

Community gardens are a great way to build community and provide nutritious food for your congregation and your neighbors. This week, ELCA World Hunger is grateful to welcome Ed Merrell as a guest blogger to offer his expert tips for community gardeners as we move into the fall and winter. Ed is an Independent Seeds Professional. He engages with seed-centric charity organizations and other agricultural groups. In this capacity, he applies his extensive seed industry skills and experience to provide relevant information and solutions.

His 35+ year career in the vegetable and flower seed industry included plant breeding to develop new and improved varieties, domestic and international seed production, quality assurance and seed testing, seed processing plant operation, and quality information systems. Ed is a member of Advent Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Morgan Hill, Calif.

If you are planning a new garden or growing an existing garden, ELCA World Hunger’s Community Gardens How-To Guide is a great resource to help! It has practical advice and suggestions from community gardeners across the ELCA, along with resources for tying your congregation’s garden to your worship life through prayer and education.

Download ELCA World Hunger’s Community Gardens How-To Guide: goo.gl/Q2G3Yb;

Order a free printed copy: goo.gl/tsdr1q

For community gardens, autumn is a productive time. If your congregation already has a community garden, activities could include finishing the harvest and assessing the gardening year. Or, if your congregation is thinking about creating a community garden, it could be a good time to start planning.

1. Review the Past Season

Congregations with established community gardens can consider updating their garden map showing what crop was grown where and how productive each crop was. If you sowed seed, did it germinate well? Were pest problems observed such as soil-borne organisms like cutworms, flying insects, or animals? Were preventative actions taken and what were the results? Did any plant diseases occur? All the information you gather can be added to your previous community garden experience in that location and will help you plan for next year.

2. Tap Local Expertise

If you have not already connected to a source of local gardening expertise, consider contacting the County Cooperative Extension office or the Master Gardener organization.  These experts share firsthand knowledge of local growing conditions, vegetable varieties adapted to your area, fertilization and watering recommendations, and pests and how to control them.

3. Update Your Planting Plan

Use your garden maps from previous seasons to plan crop rotation and avoid planting the same vegetable in the same space. A 3-year rotation plan is often recommended. Crop rotation reduces the likelihood of diseases on next year’s plants and promotes healthy soil. If you have remnant seed of a variety that germinated well and yielded tasty produce, you may want to sow that same seed again next season. By storing the seed packets in a cool, dry place, you preserve the seed viability and improve the chances that the seed will germinate well next year.

4. Re-vision and Re-imagine

Successful community gardens start with a vision. As you plan for next season, ask these questions. Is the community garden fulfilling the vision statement that you wrote? Does it meet a community need? Is the congregation support sufficient in terms of volunteers and financial resources? The next few months are a good time to consider these questions and assess what worked well, what needs to be improve, and make plans for next year.

5. Get Started!

If your congregation is discerning whether to create a community garden, the ELCA World Hunger Community Gardens How-To Guide (download: goo.gl/Q2G3Yb; order printed copy: goo.gl/tsdr1q) is a great place to begin.  In autumn, planting time seems far away. But it’s never too early to start creating a community garden. As the guide describes, understanding your community’s needs and assets and the capacity of your congregation to create a vision for your garden will take time.  Are there some experienced gardeners willing to share their expertise? Can you make this an intergenerational activity? There are tasks for everyone from young children sowing bean seeds to adults building raised beds to seniors sharing their recipes for fresh produce. In addition, you will need some funding and some land for your garden.

6.  Keep Costs Down

Raised beds, an irrigation system, garden tools, etc. for your new community garden can cost money. To keep expenses under control, look for websites like Freecyle.org, Trashnothing.com, or other sites where people offer for free what they don’t need or ask for what they want. Craigslist.org has free offers too. Reduce, reuse, and recycle helps everyone and preserves God’s creation.

7. Find Good Quality Seeds and Young Plants

Selecting good quality seeds and young plants is critical to success. Seeds labeled “Packed for year 20__” or “Sell by mm/yy” should be sown during that year or before the sell-by date. Store seeds in cool, dry conditions to preserve viability. Young plants should be free of disease (discolored leaves or stems) and free of insects (worms, aphids, etc.)

8. Find Partners

Consider reaching out to other faith communities and ask if they would like to help your congregation start a community garden. The opportunity for people of faith to work side-by-side planning, growing and nurturing, and harvesting a community garden can build lasting relationships.

Gardening is enjoyable in every season!  Get started today!

 

 

 

 

 

By Christine Mangale, Lutheran Office for World Community, New York.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has been sounding the alarm bells on the plight of refugees and migrants for some time to call attention to the urgent concerns on populations on the move. There are approximately 65 million forcibly displaced persons, including over 21 million refugees, 3 million asylum seekers and over 40 million internally displaced persons (IDPs). In 2015, the number of migrants passed 244 million[1]. There are many reasons for migration, but in recent years, forced displacement of people is being driven by root causes such as conflicts, persecution, violence, loss of livelihoods and natural disasters.  Even so, all countries are somehow affected by migration.

A refugee, according to the United Nations Refugee Convention, is “someone who is unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion”[2].  The International Organization for Migration (IOM) defines a migrant as “any person who is moving or has moved across an international border or within a State away from his/her habitual place of residence…”[3]

The world keeps witnessing hundreds of people drowning at sea, exploitation and abuse of refugees and migrants and refusal of some countries to protect and assist them with the most basic services, such as food, shelter, health care, education, and safety.

The international community was jolted to action in 2015 and for the first time ever, the United Nations General Assembly called for a high level plenary meeting on addressing large movements of refugees and migrants. The summit’s aim was to galvanize Member States to collaborate, coordinate and offer lasting solutions to protect and assist the millions of refugees and migrants. Civil society organizations (CSOs), including faith-based organizations (FBOs), many of whom provide aid and services to refugees and migrants joined in to call for political will, solidarity and responsibility sharing to protect refugees and migrants on the move, upon arrival and during resettlement.

The Ambassadors of the Permanent of Missions of Ireland and Jordan were appointed to facilitate the Summit process. Informal meetings and negotiations took place from February to July 2016. The negotiation resulted into an outcome document titled the “New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants” which was formally adopted by the General Assembly on September 9, 2016, and Heads of State and Governments endorsed it at the High-Level Summit on September 19,2016. The Declaration commences a two multi-year process to prepare a Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework and a Global Compact for safe, orderly and regular migration.

CSOs responded to the outcome of the Summit saying “There is progress in this, but nowhere near enough. Some governments are ready with energy, practical solutions and political will to work together and with civil society, but too many governments continue to hold back”[4].

The Lutheran Office for World Community (LOWC) collaborated closely with the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in advance of the summit as part of a civil society action committee. LWF endorsed the committee’s call for “A New Deal for refugees, migrants and societies” and a subsequent Act Now statement and scorecard. LOWC staff attended the Summit and is planning to be engaged with LWF in post-Summit follow-up activities in New York and Geneva. LOWC is also coordinating post-Summit follow-up with the Assistant Director for Migration Policy and Advocacy in the ELCA Advocacy office in Washington, DC.

Looking ahead, CSOs including FBOs are playing significant role to urge the implementation of the commitments that the governments made. The following are advocacy and action asks to Member States that you can use to urge them:

• To save lives and ensure safe passage for all people on the move
• To promote and protect the rights of all refugees and migrants, regardless of status
• To recognize and promote the contributions that refugees and migrants make to the countries to and from which they move
• To combat and counter xenophobia, racism and discrimination in all communities, countries and regions of the world[5].

Let us remind governments that “Refugees and migrants may lose many things when they cross international borders, but never their human rights and dignity”[6]

Check out the following documents for more information:

• Statement by the High Commissioner for Human Rights H.E. Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein at the High-level plenary meeting on addressing large movements of refugees and migrants. His statement received sustained applause from civil society.
• President Barack Obama’s Leaders Summit on Refugees
• Migrants in Countries in Crisis (MICIC) Guidelines
• The 1951 Refugee Convention
• The UN International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
• Civil society “A New Deal for refugees, migrants and societies” and Scorecard for the UN High-level Summit “New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants. The Scorecard is a resource for civil society organizations to advocate with Member States not only in New York and Geneva, but also in their capitals.
• Civil Society  Joint Statement on the UN summit for Refugees and Migrants
• Lutheran World Federation news release on the summit
• Joint ACT Alliance/WCC/CCME/CWWM statement
• #WithRefugees petition
• NGO Committee on Migration
• The Churches Witnessing With Migrants (CWWM) –  an international platform for advocacy and forthright action focused on global migration, particularly forced migration in all its forms

[1] United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/71/L.1

[2] 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. Adopted in 1951, and entered into force on 22 April 1954. (Art. 1(A)(2).

[3] International Organization for Migration – Key Migration Terms https://www.iom.int/key-migration-terms.

[4] ACT NOW: Civil Society response and scorecard for the UN High-level Summit “New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants”.

[5] Act NOW: Civil Society advocacy and action in and beyond the summit.www.refugees-migrants-civilsociety.org

[6] The Lutheran World Federation

(Photo credit: United Nations)

Danny Stone, Marion, IA

 

Warm-up Questions

What are some of the items that have been passed down in your family?  Were there any hard feelings that followed the inheritance?

Inheritance

Rock legend Prince (Prince Rogers Nelson) died from a fentanyl overdose on April 21, 2016 at his Minnesota home, Paisley Park.  Fans were stunned that this star with a reputation for clean living was another victim of the opioid epidemic.

Prince had a near messianic following with his fans.  Your parents grew up listening to “Purple Rain,” and the world celebrated the new millennium with “1999.”  His performance during the 2007 Super Bowl was legendary.  Prince even made the news the winter of 2016 when his new passport photo went viral.  His gaze was past Blue Steel – it was epic.  His cool expression, pouty lips, flawless makeup, and amazing hair were the quintessential Prince.  No one can doubt he was rock royalty. (Have one of the kids look up this passport photo on their phone.)

Soon after his funeral and the investigation that uncovered the drug addiction, 35 people filed claims with the Minnesota probate court hoping to get a piece of Prince’s $300,000,000 estate.  Prince was married and divorced twice and had an infant child who died soon after birth.  Unfortunately, Prince did not have a will which could have illuminated his wishes. In July, nineteen claims were dismissed.  One spurred claimant purported that she and Prince were married in a secret CIA ceremony. Remaining heirs include four paternal half-siblings, two maternal half-siblings, a niece and grandniece.

Prince’s family has turned Paisley Park into a Graceland-style attraction.  Fans can pay to see the inner sanctum where he recorded, held invitation only concerts and kept his collections of outfits and instruments.  As with Michael Jackson, Tupac, and Elvis, his heirs can make money for generations from unreleased studio recordings and selling memorabilia.

Discussion Questions

• What do you know about Prince?  Have you ever listened to his music or seen Purple Rain?
• Why do you think that the ordinary and salacious deaths of rock stars make the headlines?
• Have members of your family talked about having a will?  What are their plans?  Who gets what?
• Many communities are struggling with the opioid epidemic (heroine, morphine, codeine, Vicodin, OxyContin, Percocet).  How has your family, congregation, school and community been affected?

Christ the King Sunday

Jeremiah 23:1-6

Colossians 1:11-20

Luke 23:33-43

(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year B at Lectionary Readings

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.

Gospel Reflection

We know this story well – it’s the crucifixion of Jesus — one of the corner stones of our Christian faith.  “Christ has died, Christ is risen. Christ will come again.”  Jesus was proclaimed “King of the Jews” by the snarky Roman soldiers as they gambled over his meager possessions.  However, we understand the rich irony.  Jesus is truly the King. He is the king of love, forgiveness, hope, and the true Son of God.

Crucified between two criminals is far from a regal end.  Jesus owned only the clothes on his back.  He was not rich and had seen his trusted disciples scatter in fear.  In his final minutes, one of the criminals dying next to him uttered mocking taunts.  When you think of the death of a king, many imagine a gray-bearded monarch peacefully passing in bed.  Family and trusted aids would gather to hear the final words and the king would pass.  As children of the Christmas story, we should not be surprised that the king born in a manger would be the king dying on the cross.  Jesus life was focused on this moment.  He was born to live as us, to walk as us, and to die as the most cursed of us.  He was born to die on the cross to save us from sin and death.

The “other” criminal defends Jesus.  The promise of Verse 8, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” is not just for the criminal.  It is a promise – a gift – for all of us.  Jesus is the king of love, forgiveness, hope and the true Son of God. We are all welcomed into paradise.

Discussion Questions

• Our actions and the stuff we pass along are our legacy.  What do you think Jesus wanted his legacy to be?  What do you think he wanted to be remembered for?
• How did Jesus prepare his disciples for his death?  What are some specific Gospel stories?
• How have people in your family, faith community and community prepared for their death?

Activity Suggestions

• Review the obituaries of church members who were honored on All Saints Sunday. What can we learn from their lives?  What were their legacies?
• Brainstorm a list of places where families can seek assistance in coping with addiction.  Who are the go-to people in your community?  Trusted school counselor? Pastors? Youth workers?
• Invite a trusted member of your congregation to share their 12-step story.

Closing Prayer

Dear God, our blessed parent, you sent your son to be our King of love, forgiveness, and hope.  Through Jesus, we are freed from sin and death.  Please, help your children who struggle with the loss of loved ones and crippling power of addiction.  Hold us in your merciful hands and help us the reach out those in need.  In your holy name, we pray. Amen.

Issue 49 of Administration Matters

Mission support interpretation resources

The ministry of the ELCA is present around the corner and the globe. Financial resources shared from congregations, synods and churchwide, called Mission Support, are deployed across this church and work to transform God’s people and God’s world. Three new Mission Support interpretation resources are now available for use in ministries across the ELCA:

• Stories of Faith in Action is a printed resource that shares stories about ELCA ministries and impact all around the globe.
• Where does my offering go is a printed resource that shares how Mission Support financial resources are invested to support churchwide ministries around the globe.
• Where does your offering go? is a video showing how congregational offerings support the ministries of the ELCA.

It’s annual enrollment season in the ELCA.

Congregations have already chosen a health benefit option, and the window for plan members to complete their benefit selections closes Nov. 16. If you sponsor people through Portico Benefit Services, it’s time to review their choices on EmployerLink. Then, in December, return to see how much to withhold from paychecks in January. >More.

HR Series – the job interview: asking the right questions

The hiring process can be daunting, but knowing how to conduct a successful interview can help you land the best employee. A job interview provides a valuable opportunity for you and the candidate to learn about each other and make an informed decision. >More.

Selecting management software for your congregation

Church Management Software (ChMS) can help with a range of administrative tasks in your congregation: member database, donation tracking, visitation logs, congregation finances, etc. If you are shopping for a new or replacement ChMS, the Congregational Resource Guide has an index of at least 11 articles, organizations or websites that can help in that selection process. >More.

About W-9 and 1099 IRS Forms

If you have independent contractors working in your congregation this year, it is important to ensure, before you make payment, that you have a completed IRS Form W-9 in your files for each of them. As the end of the fiscal year approaches, you want to confirm that all your documentation is in compliance with IRS rules which will also be helpful when completing and distributing IRS 1099 Forms for FY2016. >More.

Frozen pipes and sprinkler systems

Frozen pipes are a major wintertime problem. Contrary to what one might think, losses due to frozen pipes occur more frequently in climates that are not normally associated with cold weather, especially when unexpected cold fronts sweep through a region. >More.

CHICAGO (14 de noviembre de 2016) – La reverenda Elizabeth A. Eaton, obispa presidente de la Iglesia Evangélica Luterana en América (ELCA), emitió la siguiente declaración sobre Standing Rock.

Declaración de la obispa presidente de la ELCA sobre Standing Rock

Al congregarnos para la adoración, solemos comenzar con la confesión y el perdón utilizando estas palabras: “Confesamos que estamos esclavizados por el pecado y no podemos liberarnos nosotros mismos”. La comunidad luterana reconoce que este es un mundo quebrantado y, como parte del mismo, hasta nuestra mejor sabiduría y nuestros mejores esfuerzos se quedan cortos. Con mucha frecuencia, enfrentamos cuestiones extraordinariamente complejas en las que todos los bandos ofrecen argumentos razonados en defensa de su realidad. La situación actual en Standing Rock, en Dakota del Norte, es precisamente uno de esos casos.

La ruta del oleoducto Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) atraviesa terrenos en disputa, que la tribu sioux de Standing Rock ve como su patria y su suelo sagrado, incluyendo cementerios. Los defensores del DAPL lo ven como una combinación de propiedad pública y privada. El oleoducto pasará por debajo del Lago Oahe, la principal fuente de agua de la tribu sioux de Standing Rock. Lo que nosotros vemos es la tensión entre dos pueblos que intentan compartir unas mismas tierras. También podemos ver la tensión entre nuestra dependencia de combustibles fósiles y el compromiso que esta iglesia ha asumido de cuidar de la creación.

En agosto, la Asamblea General de la ELCA de 2016 aprobó una resolución en la que se repudiaba la doctrina del descubrimiento. En la misma, prometíamos “practicar el acompañamiento con los pueblos nativos”. La doctrina declaraba que las tierras indígenas estaban “desocupadas” siempre y cuando no hubiera cristianos presentes. Por lo tanto, las tierras consideradas “desocupadas” eran “descubiertas”, como si anteriormente fueran desconocidas para la humanidad. Esta doctrina fue utilizada como justificación por monarquías europeas, y después por el gobierno de Estados Unidos, para despojar a pueblos indígenas de sus tierras. Muchos de nosotros en esta iglesia, y que somos inmigrantes, nos hemos beneficiado de las injusticias cometidas contra los habitantes originales de esta tierra donde ahora vivimos y adoramos. Nuestra iglesia también incluye a indígenas estadounidenses y nativos de Alaska que han sido perjudicados por las injusticias cometidas. Cuando repudiamos la doctrina del descubrimiento, los luteranos prometimos hacer mejor las cosas en el futuro de lo que las hemos hecho en el pasado.

Al reconocer la complejidad de esta cuestión y las limitantes que el pecado impone a las decisiones humanas, creo que estamos llamados como iglesia a apoyar a la tribu sioux de Standing Rock: a solidarizarnos con la tribu en su búsqueda de justicia; a alentar a nuestras congregaciones a orar por ellos y ofrecer apoyo material y a analizar el racismo inherente en nuestro sistema que contribuye a la crisis actual.

Como se prometió en nuestra resolución que repudia la doctrina del descubrimiento, escucharemos a los líderes tribales y respetaremos su sabiduría.

Ofreceremos nuestra presencia cuando seamos invitados; nuestros esfuerzos de defensa de los derechos cuando sean solicitados; los recursos de nuestra gente cuando sean requeridos, y nuestras oraciones, amistad y arrepentimiento en todo momento.

Su hermana en Cristo:

Elizabeth A. Eaton

Obispa Presidente

Iglesia Evangélica Luterana en América

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Sobre la Iglesia Evangélica Luterana en América:

La ELCA es una de las mayores denominaciones cristianas en los Estados Unidos, con más de 3.7 millones de miembros en más de 9,300 congregaciones en los 50 estados y la región del Caribe. Conocida como la iglesia de “La obra de Dios. Nuestras manos”, la ELCA enfatiza la gracia salvadora de Dios por medio de la fe en Jesucristo, la unidad entre los cristianos y el servicio en el mundo. Las raíces de la ELCA se encuentran en los escritos del alemán Martín Lutero, reformador de la iglesia.