Mary Houck, Decatur, GA

Warm-up Question

Think of a time recently when you helped someone, and a time when you asked for help. 

Vulnerable Babies

When looking at the overall health of a group of people, the Infant Mortality Rate is a common statistic to look at. This is the percentage of infants who die in their first year of life. While it’s hard to think about families experiencing such a devastating loss, the rate gives us important information about how well we are caring for our neighbors. When babies don’t survive their first year, it is sometimes because of unavoidable genetic diseases or defects. But often, it’s because they and their mothers do not have enough food, good medical care; and safe, warm shelter. Sometimes political conflicts and wars create violence, hunger, and severe poverty. Poor, unstable countries typically have the worst Infant Mortality Rates, while stable, wealthy countries have the lowest. 

The United States, despite being the country with the largest economy in the world, has a higher infant mortality rate than most other large and wealthy countries. But it doesn’t affect everyone evenly. Babies of white, college-educated women in the US have a similar rate to those in other wealthy, developed countries. Babies of black mothers, on the other hand, have a rate more than twice as high. Breaking it down by age rather than race, mothers under age 20 have the highest rate of infant mortality. 

There are various theories as to why there are such differences in the US, but a few things we know for sure: 

• All mothers love their babies, are equally capable of caring for them when they have the resources to do so, and want them to thrive, no matter what their age or skin color. 
• Access to basics like food, safety, shelter, and health care can make a huge difference in these numbers and not all mothers have equal access to them.
• Every baby needs a supportive family and community to thrive, in addition to a loving mom.

Discussion Questions

• Who cared for you as an infant? Was it one of your parents? Both? Did grandparents or other family members help? Maybe you were cared for by foster or adoptive parents? If you don’t know, consider asking your parents or caregivers about it and who their support system was. 
• Do you know of organizations in your community that help mothers? That support families while their infants are in ICU care? 

Baptism of our Lord/ First Sunday of Epiphany

Isaiah 43:1-7

Acts 8:14-17

Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 or Matthew 2:1-12

(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 C at Lectionary Readings.)

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

Gospel Reflection

When Amy Grant spoke at the Wild Goose Festival in the summer of 2018, she said something that stuck with me: “need creates community.” She went on to give examples of how when we ask for help with anything from putting up a tent to dealing with depression to escaping poverty, it becomes an invitation to know and walk alongside each other which we would otherwise miss out on. 

Our culture, on the other hand, teaches us to worship self-sufficiency. It is usually considered weak and shameful to be vulnerable in any way or to need help of any kind. As babies, our parents do everything for us, and it’s natural and necessary as we grow to become more and more self-sufficient. This process has its ups and downs, and may lead to conflict with parents and other caregivers who can have a hard time acknowledging our newfound independence. Reacting against them, it’s easy to dig in our heels and pretend that we don’t need them or anyone else for anything. 

When Jesus was born, he was an infant just as needy and helpless as any one of us. Sleeping in Mary’s arms or in the manger, he had no idea of the chain of events he had set in motion. The star which appeared in the sky at his birth drew the wise men from far away countries. Unfortunately, it also set in motion Herod’s fear and brutality, leading him to order the murder of all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or less (a part of the Christmas story we tend to skip because it’s hard to think about).

Need can bring out the best in us–and also the worst. When we give in to the idea that need is shameful it can harden our hearts.  We blame our neighbors for their suffering or  prolong our own suffering, using self-destructive behaviors to mask our real needs. Sometimes, like Herod, feeling vulnerable makes us lash out at others in order to feel powerful again, trampling them in the process. The helpless baby Jesus in the manger is an invitation to respond to Jesus’ vulnerability by walking alongside our neighbors. It’s also an invitation to acknowledge our own needs and give others the gift of being our support system.

The wise men, who arrived at the end of a long journey to find, not a royal baby but the seemingly ordinary son of a carpenter, could have left in a huff and taken their gifts home with them. But, seeing the vulnerability of Jesus and his family and knowing that Herod had evil intentions, they responded by giving Mary and Joseph everything they needed and more to take Jesus to safety in Egypt. 

Discussion Questions

• Who is your support system? Who are the people you can call on when you need something? It might be family, friends, teachers, coaches, pastors, etc. 
• Is it more difficult to ask for a practical need (like borrowing money) or an emotional need (when you need comfort or encouragement)?

Activity Suggestions

• Learn more about efforts to reduce the infant mortality rate around the world by organizations like UNICEF. What can you as a group or individual do to help? Raise money with a fundraiser? Ask for donations for your next birthday? Dedicate loose change from your church offering for a month? 
• What does your church do to welcome new babies in your congregation? 
  • Make some cards to congratulate new parents. Discuss what you as a group or with your family could do. Bring a meal? Volunteer to babysit so parents can get some much-needed rest?
  • It can be very hard for parents to talk about it when they experience a miscarriage, stillbirth, or death of an infant, but it’s incredibly important to let them know they’re not alone. Make some sympathy cards and give them to your pastor, who can distribute them when appropriate. 

Closing Prayer

Gracious God, thank you for surrounding us with people who love and support us, whether they are our biological or chosen family. Open our eyes to the needs of others and our hearts to ask for help when we need it. Amen.

 

(original from ELCA Advocacy view here)

Across the United States and over the years, places of worship and people of faith have been key partners in welcoming refugees, asylum seekers and others in need of hospitality. ELCA members and congregations have recently poured in their concern, prayers, and offers of assistance for uprooted Afghan neighbors following the end of the U.S.’ long war in Afghanistan. As ELCA and through Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), we can continue to offer our support in the months and years ahead. The very heart of Christian faith leads us to welcome the newcomer among us.

The following is an overview of what’s happened, how Lutheran communities are stepping up to support, and where you can engage further by advocating for legal protections for new arrivals.

 

WEBINAR VIDEO: “Walking Beside Our Afghan Neighbors”

*NEW* The webinar, “Walking Beside Our Afghan Neighbors,” provided great insights from key Lutheran leaders, including a congregation leader involved in resettlement, a Lutheran social service organization, ELCA advocacy staff and LIRS policy leadership. View the archive of the one-hour session, originally presented Nov. 18, 2021. View from the ELCA Vimeo page at https://vimeo.com/648669699 (program begins at 1 minute 20 seconds).

 

SITUATION UPDATE

According to recent government figures, the United States is on pace to resettle around 75,000+ Afghans in the coming weeks. The U.S. government has evacuated tens of thousands of men, women and children from Afghanistan in recent months and plans to continue evacuation and resettlement operations through 2022.¹

 

Humanitarian Concerns

In Afghanistan, the situation continues to deteriorate, especially for many women and girls.  Advancements in women’s rights, education, employment, and political opportunities appear at risk under the Taliban government.² Additionally, Afghanistan is contending with a worsening humanitarian crisis. Most recent aid has gone towards staving off food insecurity and the collapse of the public health system and economy.³ Oftentimes, it is women and children who suffer the most during periods of prolonged conflict.

The international community and faith communities have continued to urge protection of civilians, including women and girls, academics, journalists, human rights defenders, and members of ethnic, religious, and other minority group from harm. The U.S. government has resumed the priority evacuation of some former U.S.-affiliated Afghans—mostly visa applicants left behind in the hasty operation, while tragically excluding others still at risk.

 

Humanitarian Parole

During the evacuation operations, many Afghans were admitted to the United States under temporary humanitarian parole status. Humanitarian parole, unlike U.S. refugee status or Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) status, expires after two-years, offers limited access to benefits, and has no direct path to lawful permanent residency (i.e. a “green card”). Afghans with this status face an uncertain future once they arrive.

Fortunately, as a part of the stop-gap funding bill recently passed by Congress and signed by the president on Sept. 30, lawmakers authorized Afghans admitted with parole to receive the same benefits as refugees, an ID and/or driver’s license.

 

Resettlement Processing

After being processed and rigorously screened on military bases, Afghan individuals and families are referred to resettlement agencies before continuing to their next destination. The multi-agency, Operation Allies Welcome has been coordinating their arrival, assistance, and resettlement with the help of resettlement agencies like LIRS through its affiliates.

The government has also launched the private Sponsor Circle Program, created to enable groups to sponsor and assist Afghans directly in acknowledge of unmet need. This program operates parallel to the existing framework of private resettlement agencies long supported by the American public and faith-based organizations.

 

LUTHERAN DISASTER RESPONSE ACTIVITY

Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) has reached out to synods, congregations and affiliates taking an active role in welcoming Afghan families. Support for volunteers and interpreters is critical, as are housing assistance, health and wellness care, and fostering community belonging. LDR works in partnership with LIRS and Church World Service (CWS), the lead organizations in resettling Afghan families.

• Find a situation and response update from Lutheran Disaster Response – “Afghan Humanitarian Crisis“
• With prayer and directions to give and connect, learn more from LDR blog post – “Situation Report: Afghanistan Humanitarian Crisis“

 

DIRECT INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Local connections, for example your area Lutheran Social Service (LSS) location, are a great first place to find out what needs you can help meet in your immediate community.

• The Refugee Council USA has posted a map that pinpoints local resettlement agencies, including LSS affiliates, which may direct you to volunteer opportunities.
• A more detailed state-by-state is available in the Reception & Placement Affiliate Directory (May 2021) and can help direct you to local opportunities.

LIRS continues to advocate for evacuation of Afghans and their families to give them a place of safety on U.S. soil. “Since we launched our Afghanistan-focused volunteer portal, LIRS and our partners have received more than 45,000 volunteer applications.” Applications to volunteer with LIRS are still open. Their team is hard at work connecting groups and individuals with opportunities to “help with airport pick-ups, apartment set-ups, English lessons, and other critical services,” states the LIRS “How to Help Afghan Refugees” page.

• Use the LIRS sign up portal on LIRSconnect to share your availability.
• Additional prayer, education and action steps can be found on the “How to Help Afghan Refugees” page.

Church World Service (CWS) has a new opportunity for remote placement of Afghan refugees for congregations that are more than 100 miles from a local resettlement office.

• Discover more about Afghan Placement and Assistance (APA) Program community partners from CWS.

 

A Resettlement Story shared by Lutheran Services Iowa (LSI) staff member

“’Home’ and ‘welcome’ are two concepts that have been central to Lutheran Services Iowa since our founding in 1864. With hearts full of prayer for vulnerable individuals remaining in Afghanistan, we are proud to open our arms to resettle those arriving in Iowa. As a resettlement partner of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, LSI is prepared to resettle 525 Afghans and other refugees in Des Moines, Sioux City, and other areas of the state in the coming months. To support current resettlement needs, LSI is actively recruiting Pashto and Dari interpreters, training volunteers, soliciting financial and in-kind donations, and hiring additional staff. LSI is working with property owners, employers, community partners, and faith leaders to meet individuals’ needs not only when they arrive at the airport, but in the months and years after. LSI has a broad array of post-resettlement services, such as financial literacy, small business development, family wellness, English classes, and more designed to ensure newcomers to our community thrive. [We’re responding] to the love of Jesus Christ through compassionate service.”

 

ADVOCACY

The “Safety for Our At-Risk Neighbors in Afghanistan” Action Alert from the ELCA Advocacy Action Center received a lot of support from Lutherans and friends who joined the ELCA in urging a strong federal response to support Afghan neighbors still at risk. The customizable way to reach out to your member of congress is still active.

• Use the Action Alert to express your priorities as we “urge the administration and Congress to commit to providing refuge for those at-risk and expand and expedite their access to the United States resettlement program.”

 

Afghan Adjustment Act Needed

Again, we are called to be leaders in society in both offering hospitality and advocating for the newcomer. Congress has a real opportunity to come together, to acknowledge the humanity of our Afghan neighbors, and to realize the hope of a future free from harm. The Administration and Congress must be able to simultaneously ensure a future for Afghans in Afghanistan, prioritize pathways to safety, pass legal protections for newcomers, and address barriers holding families apart.

An uncertain legal limbo awaits Afghans who fled their war-torn country unless Congress takes urgent action to introduce and pass an Afghan Adjustment Act. An Afghan Adjustment Act would allow humanitarian parole recipients, here in the United States, to adjust their status, providing long-term stability and security for themselves and families. Congress has authorized similar legal pathways for Cuban and South Asian refugees. The ELCA is actively monitoring developments and advocating for a quick response to the plight of our Afghan neighbors caught in this precarious situation.

 

POISED FOR WELCOME

People of faith in the ELCA are uniquely poised to advocate for a welcome that lives up to the biblical call to love our neighbor, as a church that “holds power accountable, advocates justice, stands with those who are poor and vulnerable, provides sanctuary, and meets human needs” (from the ELCA social statement For Peace in God’s World). In the decade after the fall of Saigon in 1975, Lutheran congregations sponsored over 50,000 refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.⁴ We are here, as Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton articulated in her “Supporting Afghanistan” video, for the long welcome.

Again, we hear God’s call to accompany one another while speaking up for a generous policy of welcome. We will walk with our Afghan neighbors as they arrive, as they are resettled, and as they continue to become part of our communities. And we will advocate with and for our neighbors in this moment of need.

ENDNOTES

1  The administration is seeking $6.4 billion for the ongoing effort to resettle Afghans who were evacuated during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
2  More in “What Will Peace Talks Bode for Afghan Women?” (International Crisis Group, 4/6/20)
3  Additional information is available in “Donors pledge $1bn in aid for Afghanistan as UN warns of crisis” (Al Jazeera article, 9/13/21)
4  Find this statistic and more in the ELCA social message “Immigration.”

Paul Baglyos, Baltimore, MD

Warm-up Questions

• How many different meanings and uses of the word “grace” can you think of? 
• How many definitions of the word can you find online?

Alpine Angels of Grace

Seeking safety, refuge, and opportunities for a better life, people fleeing conflict and oppression in various parts of the world sometimes brave the extreme hardships of crossing the Alps from Italy into France.  Some of them perish in the effort.  All are wary of encountering hostile border patrols intent on repelling their movement.  Lately, however, some migrants have been astonished to encounter a different sort of presence in the Alps.  Networks of volunteers  greet them with provisions of hot tea, warm clothing, food, safe passage to shelter, and offers of transportation.  Beyond all differences of race, nationality, culture and politics, these volunteers and the migrants they meet in the mountains encounter one another in a shared humanity of hardship and hope, compassion and care, dignity and dreams.

Discussion Questions

• Have you ever made a deep personal connection with someone from a very different background, circumstances, or culture than your own?  If so, how, when, where and why did that happen?  What made it easier or harder for you to form a connection with that person?
• Have you ever received unexpected comfort or support from someone you had not previously known?  If so, share that story with your group.

Second Sunday of Christmas

Jeremiah 31:7-14

Ephesians 1:3-14

John 1:[1-9]10-18

(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 C at Lectionary Readings.)

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

Gospel Reflection

The word “grace” appears several times in this passage, twice in the phrase “grace upon grace.”  The biblical and theological meaning of grace is “love freely and generously given without obligation and beyond all expectation.”  Grace, in this sense, is the character and activity of God in relation to human beings.  The most profound demonstration of God’s grace is the birth of Jesus Christ, God’s own Son, in the flesh and blood of humanity.  God’s participation in our humanity, by sharing our life in the world, testifies to God’s desire for deep personal connection with all human beings.  This is grace, says the gospel writer John, “grace upon grace.”

Discussion Questions

• Which Christmas hymns or carols suggest the meaning of this  passage from John?  If you had to choose a Christmas hymn of the day to accompany this gospel reading in worship, which hymn would you choose?
• John writes, “The Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory.”  How, when, and where have you seen the glory of Christ?

Activity Suggestions

Decide what you might do as a group for someone in your congregation or your community that would demonstrate “grace upon grace.”  What ideas come to mind as you consider the story about the migrant aid volunteers in the Alps?

Closing Prayer

Almighty God, you gave us your only Son to take on our human nature and to illumine the world with your light.  By your grace adopt us as your children and enlighten us with your Spirit, through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.  (Evangelical Lutheran Worship, page 20)

 

URGENT NEED FOR CONGREGATIONAL ACCOMPANIMENT OF AFGHAN REFUGEES

At the end of August, we watched with anguish the fall of Afghanistan’s government and the evacuation of thousands of Afghan refugees to U.S. military bases called safe havens. Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reminded us of the critical need for Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) engagement:

“Afghan families coming to the United States will need support for months, not just for days. And we need to call on our congregations to be sponsoring entities for the months to come. Join us in supporting the ‘long welcome’ for these families.”

Not since World War II, when Lutheran congregations resettled 57,000 refugees, and the end of the Vietnam conflict has the United States been faced with the formidable challenge of resettling 100,000 refugees who have arrived at the same time.

Since their arrival at safe havens, Afghans continue to be processed and rigorously screened on military bases. These individuals and families are then referred to resettlement agencies before continuing to their next destination. Operation Allies Welcome was created to coordinate their arrival, assistance and resettlement with the help of agencies such as Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) and Church World Service (CWS) through its affiliates.

In this season of Advent, as we wait for the coming of our refugee Savior who was forced to flee his birthplace as a tender baby, ELCA congregations are urged to help resettle these vulnerable people.

Across the country, many congregations have already begun working with their local resettlement agencies and are sponsoring Afghan individuals and families, in addition to the many asylum-seekers currently being sponsored within the AMMPARO (Accompanying Migrant Minors with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities) network. But the need is huge and right now. We call on congregations to see how they can engage in this important effort.

The following resources provide more information about how you and your congregation can get involved:

• An information session will be held February 8, 2022, at 6 p.m. Central time
• Local organizations, such as Lutheran social service agencies or other resettlement affiliates, are great resources for congregations looking to meet the needs of refugees in their communities.
• The Refugee Council USA has posted a map that pinpoints local resettlement agencies, including Lutheran social service affiliates, which may direct you to volunteer opportunities.
• The Reception & Placement Affiliate Directory provides a detailed state-by-state listing of resettlement agencies.

The ELCA has long and historic ties to LIRS and CWS, two of the nine resettlement agencies in the United States.

The ELCA and LIRS are working closely on resettlement in five U.S. cities. LIRS has resettlement operations in 53 cities across the country. The Rev. Rafael Malpica Padilla, executive director of Service and Justice, will convene ELCA bishops to see how each synod can support resettlement.

CWS is focusing its efforts in additional cities around the country where it has affiliates and a program of remote refugee resettlement, which will allow every congregation, no matter how far from a resettlement agency, to get involved in this important work.

In addition to synod and congregational accompaniment, the ELCA has provided a $77,250 grant to ACT Alliance / Community World Service Asia to provide emergency cash assistance to 9,000 Afghan families in-country and those at the border of Pakistan. Contributions can be made through Lutheran Disaster Response’s Afghan Humanitarian Crisis effort.

In this Advent season, we urge all ELCA congregations to follow our Lord’s call to welcome the stranger by joining this important effort and taking steps to welcome refugees.

 

There is no Faith Lens this week

 

 

 

“The true light that enlightens every person was coming into the world…”

 

 

 

 

from the ELCA advocacy office in Washington, D.C. – the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, Senior Director

Partial expanded content from Advocacy Connections: December 2021

HUMAN INFRASTRUCTURE  |  HOUSING IN FEDERAL BUDGET  |  CLIMATE RISKS  |  CUBA POLICY  |  IMMIGRATION POLICY PROVISIONS

 

“HUMAN INFRASTRUCTURE”:  The President signed into law the long-awaited Jobs and Infrastructure bill. This paves the way for movement in the Senate on the now House-passed Build Back Better budget reconciliation package with investments of $1.75 trillion in “human infrastructure.” Those investment areas include climate change, housing, paid leave, universal pre-k, expanded child tax credits, immigration reforms and international investments to name a few. Many priorities of the ELCA to create opportunities to overcome poverty, promote peace and dignity, preserve God’s creation and promote racial and gender justice would be advanced.

 

HOUSING IN FEDERAL BUDGET: As this fiscal year continues with ‘flat level funding’ and no formal budget in place, certain programs, notably housing and homeless assistance programs, will begin to experience constraints on existing vouchers due to rising inflation, housing costs and contract prices. When funding for the federal government was poised to to expire on December 3, and the absence of a prepared budget for Fiscal Year 2022, Congress passed another stop-gap resolution to keep the government open through early next year – the second measure taken since October. Action Alerts encouraging Congress to move now and pass appropriation bills for certain programs are currently active from the ELCA Action Center. As Congress operates through another stopgap measure, it is a critical moment to tell lawmakers that postponing budget talks impact those of us in the greatest need the most.

 

CLIMATE RISKS:  The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP26) accomplished a key objective for completing the Paris Agreement rulebook by issuing the Covered Decision, which maintains the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. COP26, also for the first time, began to address loss and damages (those impacts of climate change that cannot be addressed by mitigation and adaptation measures). It established a means for providing technical expertise, knowledge and resources to assist vulnerable developing countries in addressing climate risks via an entity known as the Santiago Network, which is to be funded by richer countries.

 

CUBA POLICY:  With advocacy partners, our advocacy is encouraging an appeal to President Biden urging him to implement a U.S. policy towards Cuba that addresses Cuban humanitarian and economic crisis and restores a policy of engagement between our two countries. Cubans are currently experiencing severe distress related to food and basic medicine shortages, as well as shortages on vital materials to support their efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

IMMIGRATION POLICY PROVISIONS:  The House-passed version of the Build Back Better Act includes important immigration provisions. One part of the bill looks to recapture unused visa applications and improve processing, helping immigrant families and American employees. Another would provide undocumented immigrants temporary protection from deportation and work permits, both renewable up to ten years. ELCA advocacy staff joined the interfaith community in urging bold Congressional action on permanent legislative solutions. Senators continue to negotiate and debate the details of the immigration provisions.
In mid-November, President Biden met with Mexico and Canada’s leaders for the North American Leaders Summit (NALS). The meeting reaffirmed a shared interest and approach to regional migration pressures. Emphasizing human rights, leaders committed to protect and expand safe and orderly pathways to migrate whilst investing in human security and livelihoods. These commitments stand in contrast to ongoing punitive and unfounded pandemic-era expulsion policies, like Title 42. Despite profuse advocacy, the Remain in Mexico (MPP) is also expected to restart in early December. ELCA advocacy firmly supports restoring access to asylum and terminating the harmful Remain in Mexico program.

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Receive monthly Advocacy Connections directly by becoming part of the ELCA Advocacy network – http://elca.org/advocacy/signup , and learn more from elca.org/advocacy .

 

“Attending the most recent annual UN climate change conference in Glasgow, COP26, was great for the ELCA living out its public witness and social teachings. Our ELCA delegation was diverse and included frontline people – folks most impacted by climate change and that through ELCA’s work in areas such as Lutheran Disaster Response, state public policy offices, and ELCA World Hunger, appreciate both the urgency and what it takes to build a resilient and sustainable society,” said Ruth Ivory-Moore, ELCA program director for environment and Corporate Social Responsibility. News sources have told us many outcomes of COP26. Hear also from Lutheran leaders who give us a sense of what it meant to be there.

 

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By Isa Petersen, ELCA Hunger Advocacy Fellow at Texas Impact

As the exciting intensity of COP26 wears off, I have truly been able to reflect on the amazing opportunity it was to represent the U.S. Civil Society as a young Lutheran. The number of young adults I was able to engage with on a daily basis was something that made COP26 extra special to me. Never before would I have been able to converse with young people who are passionate about climate change from parts of Sweden, Italy, Uruguay, and more.

This facet ofCOP26 made the event feel optimistic and full of hope, as I witnessed many young individuals leading panels and running their own events. The Glasgow youth protest is one example of global youth taking action and calling for change. It has become increasingly evident that now is the time for climate action, with young voices leading those driving forces.

Although the outcome of COP26 was not perfect, I am still left with passionate hope for the future.

I stand with my colleagues in demanding climate justice, not just for us in the United States, but also for our brothers and sisters around the world who are currently suffering the consequences of our actions. As Lutherans, we just stay committed to being good stewards of our planet and hold our representatives accountable for staying committed to their pledges. I wish everyone could have felt the immense sense of urgency and saliency of this global event.

Just know that fighting for climate justice doesn’t end here. We must stay alert, informed, and continue to be environmental advocates!

 

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By Vance Blackfox (Cherokee), Director, ELCA Indigenous Ministries and Tribal Relations

The choir was present in Glasgow. And it was a global choir. The hymns and compositions sung at COP26 were similar in message, but the melodies are distinct.

It is clear that we, the great majority of those attending COP26, are in agreement that the time is now to take action and make happen the promises set forth by the parties in previous and present conventions.
In my short few days observing the happenings, it was also clear that countries and organizations are beginning to embrace the fact that Indigenous people do indeed hold the knowledge and wisdom about Mother Earth and all our relatives in Creation necessary for a healthy continued existence. Such has been spoken by both Natives and non-Natives, at numerous presentations and panels.

I journeyed at COP26 with other ELCA climate activists, including my nephew Manuel Glenn (Cherokee), a young adult, through whose eyes I wish I could see at this moment. How must he feel knowing that his life on Mother Earth will be drastically impacted, and soon, if we don’t act now.

Yet, we cannot not wait on him and his generation to do the work. We must do the work now so that he and all young people will one day regard us and not resent us. We Natives value the responsibility of centering the next seven generations in all things, doing so is critical today.

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“In our ministry, we learn about the extent of the environmental crisis, its complexities, and the suffering it entails. Meeting the needs of today’s generations for food, clothing, and shelter requires a sound environment. Action to counter degradation, especially within this decade, is essential to the future of our children and our children’s children. Time is very short.”
~ from ELCA social statement Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope, and Justice

Hear an overview of COP26 actions from ELCA and Lutheran World Federation leaders, as well as four spiritually centered, passionate young Lutherans who attended, in “Now Not Later: Lutheran Young Adults Look at COP26,” video of a post-COP26 webinar.

And continue to raise your voice as we care for God’s good creation today. More at ELCA.org/environment.

 

Saturday, December 18, is International Migrants Day, a day set aside by the United Nations to raise awareness and focus attention on the 281 million people around the world where are on the move, in search of peace, stability, security and an opportunity for new life. In 2020, more than 3.6% of people around the world were migrants.

 

Hunger Policy Podcast-Migration (Audio Only)

 

In the US, the latest data we have on hunger and poverty confirms what we had guessed. Hunger is on the rise, poverty is on the rise, and yet neither is quite as high nationally as we thought they would be, due largely to the unprecedented federal legislation that expanded the safety net in the United States. While that is true nationally, that’s not the case for every community and every family here in the US or around the world, however. Immigrant and non-citizens in the US saw a steeper decline in income in 2020. Internationally, migrants are more vulnerable to hunger and poverty than native residents, and migrants experience unique risks when it comes to COVID-19. All this, coupled with the large numbers of people forced to flee their homes worldwide, makes immigration a key conversation we need to be having.

In this podcast, Giovana Oaxaca, the ELCA’s program director for migration policy, joins Ryan Cumming of ELCA World Hunger to talk about the realities of migration and immigration policy. As they describe in this conversation, “immigration policy” refers to more than just who is able to enter the United States, but also to questions about who has access to public benefits, what it means to be a “non-citizen” and how policy changes can impact individuals and communities. Ryan and Giovana also discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic specifically impacted immigration and immigrants in the United States and confront some of the prevailing myths about immigrants and migration.

https://youtu.be/p-iIASCYOMU

Prefer to read the interview? Follow this link to access a transcript of the conversation.

Immigration and Migration Links from the Podcast

Newsletters

• AMMPARO Blog
• ELCA Advocacy Connections Monthly Newsletter:
• Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service Daily Digest

Social Media

• AMMPARO Facebook
• ELCA Advocacy Twitter: @ELCAadvocacy

AMMPARO Resources

• Bible Studies
• Sanctuary
• Videos
• Words Create Worlds

ELCA and Peace Not Walls: Advocacy Summer School

• Session 5 – Let’s talk: About Immigration
  • Direct link to Session 5 Discussion Starter
  • Discussion starters

Interested in other podcasts? Visit the ELCA World Hunger blog and click “subscribe.”

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 | Colorado | Minnesota | Texas | Washington

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U.N.

Lutheran Office for World Community (LOWC), United Nations, New York, N.Y. – ELCA.org/lowc

Dennis Frado, Director

Global Reports

Several global reports of interest were issued in November:

The Global Report on Internal Displacement 2021 focuses on “the relationship between climate change, disasters and displacement, and presents good practices from across the globe in advancing policy, displacement risk reduction and effective response.” The report summarized the global situation stating, “In 2020, conflict and disasters triggered 40.5 million new internal displacements across 149 countries and territories.”

The Congressional Research Service outlined the Global Economic Effects of COVID-19 in an update issued on November 10.

The Global State of Democracy Report 2021 lamented the facts that the “… world is becoming more authoritarian as non-democratic regimes become even more brazen in their repression and many democratic governments suffer from backsliding by adopting their tactics of restricting free speech and weakening the rule of law, exacerbated by what threatens to become a ‘new normal’ of Covid-19 restrictions. For the fifth consecutive year, the number of countries moving in an authoritarian direction exceeds the number of countries moving in a democratic direction. In fact, the number moving in the direction of authoritarianism is three times the number moving towards democracy.”

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Arizona

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona (LAMA) – lamaz.org

Solveig Muus, Director

The LAMA policy council met in retreat this month to discern legislative policy priorities for 2022. The committee agreed the priorities for the coming year will be to continue building on LAMA’s early efforts in (1) Food Insecurity as it relates to the root causes of hunger, as well as (2) Civic Engagement as it relates to the ELCA being a publicly engaged church and the ELCA’s social teachings on educating, advocating, and engaging in our political process. The group was blessed, and the conversation enriched by the presence of the Rev. Amy Reumann, ELCA Senior Director, Witness in Society, who brought experience and insight, and helped the council to identify a framework for discernment in the future. Pr. Reumann also energized the participants at the LAMA Summit on Sunday, December 5 with her speech on “The 12 Things I know For Sure about Advocacy.”

LAMA looks ahead to the Arizona State Legislature convening on January 10. With a record number of shifts in the Arizona state house mid-term, the LAMA team has been busy connecting with Arizona’s 18 new and returning elected officials. Lutheran Advocacy Day at the legislature is set for Tuesday, February 1 from 8:30 – 10:30am in the Capitol Rose Garden. Many invitations have been extended, and LAMA expects to have several Arizona legislators on hand for its first advocacy day at the Capitol in more than 15 years. We pray for all government leaders as the 2022 session convenes, that they might work as one for the benefit of all God’s people.

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Colorado

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Colorado (LAM-CO) – lam-co.org

Peter Severson, Director

2022 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA ADOPTED: The Policy Committee of Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Colorado has adopted its agenda for the 2022 legislative session. When the Colorado General Assembly returns in early January, LAM-CO will be prioritizing six key areas:

• Fighting root causes of hunger & poverty
• Promoting access to safe, stable housing
• Addressing sentencing in the criminal justice system
• Protecting public health
• Supporting the needs of refugees
• Caring for the environment & energy transition

You can see our agenda in more detail at rmselca.org/colorado-advocacy-agenda. Once the session begins, key legislation and Action Alerts will be listed in detail on our website and shared through our e-news and social media platforms.

LUTHERAN DAY AT THE CAPITOL: We invite all advocates to mark your calendar for Lutheran Day at the Capitol on Thursday, February 17, 2022. The event will take place at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and the Colorado State Capitol, with a virtual option available for our morning programming. Local guidelines may change, but we anticipate good opportunities for people to meet their legislators face to face at the Capitol and advocate on key legislative issues.

More details will be coming soon to our website!

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Minnesota

Lutheran Advocacy – Minnesota (LA-MN) – lutheranadvocacymn.org

Tammy Walhof, Director

Federal Infrastructure Bill: The Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act, passed at the federal level, promises significant influxes of funds to Minnesota. Through various meetings and hearings, we’ve been trying to learn how the provisions will impact Minnesota and the programs we believe are important. The next step is to predict what it will mean for the upcoming legislative session.

The process for distribution to states includes a complicated set of formulas, competitive grants, and required state matches. If Minnesota does not act to apply or provide matching dollars, funds could go to other states. While much of the money is designated for transportation, including roads, bridges, and transit, there are categories which address clean energy, grid modernization, and other climate-focused concerns.

Unfortunately, predictions differ, so we still have much to learn, especially within the narrow areas impacting our clean energy and climate work.

Budget Surplus: The latest budget forecast for Minnesota predicts a $7.7 billion surplus. That could make a significant difference in transitioning to a clean energy economy or go a long way toward addressing Minnesota’s affordable housing crisis. Or it could get diverted into other legislative priorities. Previously, surpluses have caused more legislative fighting than normal years. Even if our priorities get new appropriations, we will want to monitor appropriations and usage. Sometimes the quantity of available dollars can overshadow the quality of how it is used.

Our Website: Rachel Wyffels has been redesigning and simplifying the look of our website. Watch for the launch soon at www.lutheranadvocacymn.org.

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Texas

Texas Impact – texasimpact.org

Scott Atnip, Outreach Director

It has been a busy year in Texas with the Texas Legislature convening their regular 140 day legislative session followed by three special sessions, concluding in October. Following the Texas Legislature concluding for the year, Texas faith communities began to focus on responding to the efforts to suppress votes. Texas Impact joined the Brennan Center’s lawsuit against the Texas voting bill and hosted an “All Hands on Deck for Democracy” event to help congregations prepare to support the Texas election infrastructure in 2022. Almost 150 Texans of faith attended.

In addition, Texas Impact amplified support of ELCA priorities in the Build Back Better Act, hosting John Johnson on Texas Impact’s Weekly Witness podcast to talk about the bill and encourage Texans of faith to act.

Texas Impact’s delegation to COP26, including Hunger Advocacy Fellow Isa Peterson participated in the work for climate justice in Glasgow and are continuing to help engage Texans of faith in the continued work in their own communities.

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Washington

Faith Action Network (FAN) – fanwa.org

Paul Benz and Elise DeGooyer, Co-Directors

Co-Director Rev. Paul Benz’s Retirement – from Paul: Been a great ride of first being the director of Lutheran Public Policy Office (LPPO) for 10 years (ELCA state office) and then very proud to be a part of the visionary effort to merge LPPO and the WAC (WA Association of Churches) into FAN (Faith Action Network) – which the ELCA advocacy leadership fully backed 10 years ago and still do!! For which I am very grateful! As an interfaith advocacy organization and also an ELCA state office we have the opportunity to keep and expand our voices for justice not only in the ELCA here in WA state but amongst all other Christian denominations, our Jewish & Muslim neighbors, and other religious communities – which we have done with our Buddhist and Sikh neighbors. I am grateful for the ELCA’s continued support to do this important work of advocating for social justice in the halls of power.

FAN Annual Dinner: We are full of gratitude for a successful Annual Dinner on November 21! We gathered virtually and in small watch parties with over 400 advocates across the state to celebrate our 10th birthday, Benz’s years of service, and our shared future. With thanks to our sponsors, yearly denominational sustainers like the WA state ELCA synods and the national ELCA World Hunger Grant, and matching sponsor Rick Steves, we raised over $130,000 for the work ahead.

2022 Legislative Session: The 2022 WA State legislative session will take place January 10 – March 10. FAN will host two Pre-Session Trainings in early January in partnership with Paths to Understanding to prepare advocates for the virtual session, share our legislative priorities, and dive deeper into issue topics. Then we will host a virtual Interfaith Advocacy Day on February 10 with opportunities for advocates to meet with their legislators by district, as well as an Eastern Washington Legislative Conference on January 22 with partners in Spokane.

Advent Week 4

“Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me?'”

-Luke 1:41b-43

This Advent reflection is part of ELCA World Hunger’s 2021 Advent Study and ELCA World Hunger’s weekly Sermon Starter emails. You can download the full study here. You can also download the corresponding advent calendar here. You can sign up for the weekly Sermon Starter emails here on the right side of the page if on a computer or near the bottom of the page if viewing from a phone.

Reflect

We are nearing the end of Advent and the start of that special holiday, Christmas. In the United States, stores have been filled with seasonal music for six months now (it feels that way, at least), garlands and lights are draped over homes and lampposts, and pine trees are adorned with baubles of all shapes and sizes. In many countries, Christmas markets have taken over city squares. As the old carol says, “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.”

Doesn’t the season, at times, feel almost too big, perhaps even overwhelming? Shopping for Christmas is such a big affair that, at least in the United States, it has come to dominate stores earlier and to fill social media feeds and websites with ads earlier and more visibly, refusing to be confined to the last weeks of the year or even to the month between late November and Dec. 25. In the life of the church, we often hear voices reclaiming Advent as a season distinct and separate from Christmas. Yet, the liturgical calendar aside, the bigness of Christmas often overshadows the important time of Advent.

Christmas is a big deal, and rightfully so. On Christmas Day, we celebrate the birth of the Christ, who will transform the world. Everything changes on that Christmas morning. The Gospel reading for this final Sunday of Advent tells us that even John the Baptist, though still in the womb, “leaped for joy” (Luke 1:44) when the pregnant Mary drew near.

Clearly, something huge is happening. But the story in Luke is a little curious, given what we know now about the importance

of that first Christmas. Sure, there are angels, but in the Gospel story, they appear in quiet moments of solitude –  to Zechariah as he attends to the incense in the temple, to Mary at home and to a small group of shepherds. There are no magi in Luke’s Gospel, either. Instead, there are Mary, Zechariah, Elizabeth and, later on, Simeon and Anna – by all accounts, relatively unremarkable people. Yet Luke’s story begins here: with Zechariah at work, in a

private conversation between cousins Mary and Elizabeth, and in a manger.

Amid the ordinariness of daily life, work and conversation, great miracles are afoot. And in a manger in a stable, the Savior of the world lies wrapped in bits of cloth. Later, there will be talk of kings and rulers, high priests and other important figures, but for now, in these opening chapters of Luke, the sacred breaks in among the ordinary and, as Mary sings, among “the lowly” (Luke 1:52). Even Elizabeth is surprised. “Why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me?” she asks.

Luke powerfully reminds us what it means to work for a just world where all are fed. This is hard work. It takes time, energy and prayerful patience. It can be frustrating work too. Watching the number of hungry people around the world climb again after decades of work to reduce it is discouraging. Hearing political leaders speak blithely about cutting funds for much­

needed programs can be infuriating. Along the way, we hope and yearn for that promised day when “[we] will hunger no more” (Revelation 7:16), when our cupboards will be full, when we won’t have to visit the food pantry every week or stretch insufficient public assistance to the end of the month.

We yearn, we long, we wait …

Isn’t that the meaning of Advent? Advent is a time of longing and anticipating the coming of Christ. Perhaps that is why Christmas can feel so huge next to Advent. We’re tired of waiting, and the problems we face are so large – hunger, poverty, injustice, inequity

– that we need the bigness of Christmas. Monumental problems require monumental solutions.

The Gospel story for this week, though, reminds us that Advent is about learning to look for signs of God at work even as we await the fulfillment of God’s promise to us. In her pregnancy, Mary, with

the help of an angelic messenger, sees the “great things” God has done for her and for the people. Elizabeth, too, sees in her pregnant cousin “a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord”

(Luke 1:45). Later, Simeon and Anna will recognize the seemingly ordinary couple entering the temple as an extraordinary sign of God’s presence.

The Advent story teaches us not just about learning to be patient but learning how to wait. It reminds us to look for the miraculous in the mundane, for the ever-present work of God in the everyday.

That’s an important lesson as we and our neighbors face intractable, even overwhelming challenges. We may long for the “big things” that make a difference, but as we saw during the C0VID-19 pandemic, God was at work in countless local ways – at food pantries that met increased needs, in schools that reached out to families needing support, at clinics and hospitals, and through rental assistance programs.

In Belgrade, Serbia, 15-year-old Leyla, whose family fled Iran as asylum-seekers, was one of millions of students around the

world impacted by the pandemic. The transition to online learning meant she and her peers faced additional obstacles to taking the final exams that would allow them to continue their education.

With support from ELCA World Hunger, the (APC) in Belgrade worked with the school to make sure Leyla and other students had the support they needed to take their exams and keep working toward their goals. Leyla did well on the exams, far better than she expected, given the language barrier and the significant gaps in her education as she and her family settled into a new land. With support from APC and the school, Leyla went from dreading the exams to celebrating her results and anticipating the next step in her education.

Through the ministry of ELCA World Hunger, we accompany neighbors such as Leyla in Serbia, Carlos in North Carolina, Hala in Egypt and Charity in South Sudan. A student in a new city, worried about her exams; a family in a small town, worried about paying their bills; a mother, working hard to pay rent; a woman in labor, walking into a clinic. In Advent, we are reminded that this accompaniment of our neighbors is, in the end, about the

active anticipation that seeks and finds God at work, transforming ordinary situations into extraordinary signs of the coming fullness

of God’s reign, when all will be fed, when “justice [will] roll down like waters,” when “God will wipe away every tear from [our] eye” (Revelation 7:17), and when “Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety” (Jeremiah 33:16).

That is the promise of Advent and the joy of Christmas, that in ways both big and small, in the local and the global, amid huge crowds and with a single neighbor, God is at work, weaving “the promise [God] made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever” (Luke 1:55). Ending hunger doesn’t always mean seeking miracles

of impressive scale. The gospel message invites us to see the miraculous ways God is already at work among our neighbors when we come together to work for a just world where all are fed.

Ask

1. Where have you seen God at work through ordinary events or people?
2. In what ways might neighbors see God working through you and your congregation?
3. Why do you think the church is called to accompany neighbors such as Charity, Hala, Carlos and Leyla?
4. What does it mean to find God at work with and among our neighbors?

Pray

Loving God, even when the challenges we face seem too great to handle, you remind us that we are never alone. Inspire us to seek your presence within each other and within the work of your church. Guide us, that we may be open to seeing the miraculous within the everyday, that we may recognize your image in our neighbors, your work through their hands and our own. Inflame us with a holy yearning for a just world where all are fed, that we may participate in the promise you are fulfilling in our midst. In your holy name, we pray. Amen.

Children’s Sermon

By Pr. Tim Brown for ELCA World Hunger Sermon Starters

Riffing off the Micah text for today and the literal meaning of the name Bethlehem, surprise youth with a lesson on the sacraments.

Have a large manger of some sort, perhaps from your Christmas decorations, and have it empty except for a loaf of bread (maybe even the loaf that you use for communion) wrapped in a corporal or similar cloth. If it is not safe in this pandemic to share from one large loaf, have pieces of the loaf individually wrapped along with the larger loaf to use for the sacrament, and place them all in the manger.

“Hi all!  I’m so glad you’re here today.” Have the manger and bread hidden somewhere in the church. “In our first reading for today a town was mentioned, a town some of you may have heard of before. Does anyone remember what town?”

Allow time to field responses.

“Yes! Bethlehem. What special happens in Bethlehem?” Invite the youth to answer “Exactly. In Matthew and Luke we’re told that Jesus was born in Bethlehem.  Want to hear something cool?  The name “Bethlehem,” it means something in Hebrew.  Does anyone happen to know what it means?  Probably not. It means ‘House of Bread.’ So that means Jesus was born in the ‘House of Bread.’  Which is also kind of cool, because Jesus will call himself the ‘Bread of Life.’”

Pretend to think for a minute

“You know what?  You know how people always put a baby in the manger in their Christmas decorations?  Well, I think maybe we should put something different in there.  In fact, I hid a manger in the sanctuary today.  Did anyone see it? Do you know where it is?”

Allow time for them to answer. Go over to it and have one of the youth pull out the bread.

“Jesus, the Bread of Life, born in the House of Bread, invites us every Sunday to share in God’s amazing communion feast of bread and wine, special ways that God blesses us.  I think maybe instead of a baby doll we should start putting the communion bread in the manger.  What do you think?”

Allow the youth to answer, most will probably say no.

“Well, even if we don’t do that every Sunday, we’ve done it today to remind ourselves that God in Christ is the Bread of Life giving us the gift of communion, and the gift of community, so that we can live together in love.  I have a surprise for you. Come closer. <whisper> Those people out there?  They need reminding that Jesus is God’s surprise gift for us at Christmas. Can you remind them? Go up to someone and say, ‘Jesus is God’s gift to us,’ and I’ll remind them again right before communion where we’ll use pieces of this bread. Ready? Go!”