Drew Tucker, Columbus, OH

Warm-up Question

Who is an authority in your life that you trust? What makes them trustworthy?

Who Belongs/ Who is Free?

Topics of citizenship and migration remain front page news, not only in the United States, but across the globe. Many factors drive this discussion, such as the reasons for migration and the impacts on both the countries departed and the countries entered. Even more fundamental to this conversation is the question of belonging. Who belongs in what places? What are the factors that affect belonging? Who is the ultimate authority on affirming or denying belonging?

We must remember that this isn’t simply a theoretical topic. Questions of belonging, and who gets to affirm our belonging, affect the day-to-day lives of many migrants of various types across the globe. When I traveled to Europe with my wife this summer, customs agents checked passports every time we crossed a border to ensure we belonged to an acceptable country and had not overstayed our welcome in their land. However, for many migrants, their global travels aren’t simply for leisure. Many, like Miriam Vargas, seek a better, safer life for themselves and their families. Miriam and her young daughters have taken refuge in Columbus’s First English Lutheran Church because the church saw their need for safety after Miriam fled Honduras when gangs threatened her life. As First English declared their building a sanctuary for Miriam and her family, they became part of a wider network of organizations called the Sanctuary Movement, that promises belonging to migrants seeking safety and opportunity in the United States. This is not an isolated incident, either. Hundreds of congregations have stepped up to support the Sanctuary Movement, while the ELCA recently declared itself a sanctuary church body.

To the question of “who belongs,” First English, the Sanctuary Movement, and a growing commitment across the ELCA boldly declare that, because God first welcomed us, all belong. The authority of belonging, then, does not ultimately lie with a particular law or a governmental entity, but with God

To read more about becoming a sanctuary denomination, see this: https://elca.org/News-and-Events/8000. You can also learn more about the sanctuary movement here: https://www.wsj.com/articles/some-churches-offer-refuge-from-deportation-with-sacred-resisting-11564927200.

Discussion Questions

Share a story about your friends or relatives who are immigrants.
What would if feel like to receive death threats from gangs, run for your life, and then face deportation after making a new life in another country?
How do we balance the authority we give to God and government?

Reformation Sunday

Jeremiah 31:31-34

Romans 3:19-28

John 8:31-36

(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

These verses, commonly used for Reformation commemorations, center on concepts of truth and freedom. Yet, before we considers those central themes, we must address the presence of slavery as an image Jesus employs. Jesus just throws the word slave around like it’s a normal and appropriate thing. And while, for 1st century Palestinians, slavery was a common occurrence and a very different thing than the slavery forced upon African natives by European and American powers for hundreds of years between the 14th and 19th centuries, we can’t read the word slave in the United States without acknowledging Jesus’s metaphor has been forever changed by the oppression white people forced on black people. Especially since this reading appears on a day when we celebrate a movement started by a white European and there’s explicit mention of slave’s not having a place in the household, we should focus our attention on how this imagery impacts people of African descent and make explicit that the freedom Christ promises is for all people, including black people.

Jesus’s first words help us see this importance, for he says “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” Jesus, after all, is the way, the truth, and the life, so knowing the truth is knowing Jesus. This is beautifully complex. It means that when we know Jesus, we can comprehend the truth of the world more clearly. Yet, it also means that when we encounter anything that’s true, we’ve encountered a part of God. So when we encounter the Pythagorean Theorem, a² + b² = c², we encounter something of God’s wisdom in creating the universe. When we realize the wonder of evolution, we realize the beauty of God’s creative process that brings to life new and wondrous things across the universe over billions of years. When we engage the equality of humanity, we engage something of God’s wisdom in giving every person the divine image.

To continue in Jesus’s words isn’t simply to read scripture. It’s to live the life of love that Jesus teaches us. Knowing the truth who is Jesus means living the life that Jesus offers us. Despite the problematic imagery, his ultimate point is this: Jesus can offer us the fullness of God’s gifts eternally because he’s forever a part of God’s family. So the freedom we’re offered, the life that we’re offered, the truth that we’re offered, isn’t temporary or limited. When Jesus tells us that we belong, that we’re set free from sin and now a part of God’s household, he does so as one with authority. The authority of our belonging comes from God, who has desires that all people be truly free. Because God sets us free, we all belong with one another and with God.

Discussion Questions

What is something that you’ve learned outside of church – in school, on a team, in your family, or elsewhere – that’s helped you learn more about God?
If Jesus is the ultimate authority in our lives, how should that change the ways that we make decisions?
What’s another analogy that we could use, instead of slavery, to help highlight the point that Jesus is God’s Child?

Activity Suggestions

Imago Dei Game – Make a circle and the person in the middle says, “I am (insert name), the Image of God, and one way I see God is through (blank).” For the blank, insert things like, “people who like math,” “people who can draw,” “people who play an instrument,” and the like. Everyone who identifies with the last statement then has to move to a new spot in the circle, and the person without a spot becomes the next speaker. The goal is to help students see the various talents show perspectives on truth and then create more conversation around how people get to know God in dynamic ways.
Red Light, Green Light – Gather your group on one side of a large room, gym, or playing area. One person acts as the traffic light. When they yell “Green light!” players move toward the other side of the space and “Red light!” to get them to stop. You can add complexity to the game by giving certain players disadvantages, like carrying cup full of water they can’t spill or egg on a spoon. The ones who reach the other side of the space first win. The traffic light can also remove those obstacles, if they so choose. Then, converse about the nature of the authority in the game and how people can use authority to set people free or bind them to unnecessary obstacles.
Read together the ELCA’s talking points regarding our status as a sanctuary church and watch videos related to AAMPARO, (found here: https://www.elca.org/sanctuarychurch). Then discuss how the kinds of freedom that Christ promises relates to the Sanctuary Movement.
If you’d like to donate to support Miriam and her family at First English (mentioned in the first section of this faith lens), visit here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/miriam-and-family-at-first-english?sharetype=teams&member=374504&rcid=r01-153063240238-9a96725777c14416&pc=ot_co_campmgmt_w

Closing Praye

Lord God, you release us from the cuff of sin and free us to live a life that belongs to you. Shape our lives to reflect your freedom. Form our hearts to embrace your liberation. Empower us to share this gift not only with ourselves, but with all people in all places. We pray this in the name of our liberator, Jesus: Amen.

By Tessa Comnick, ELCA Hunger Advocacy Fellow

In a world where 820 million people go hungry, there never seems to be a lack of opportunity to support our neighbors. However, sometimes there’s an obstacle discovering how to show that support in ways that provide effective and lasting solutions. Thanks to the generosity of ELCA World Hunger, the three of us are able to take part in a 12-month transformative journey that combines leadership development and faith formation with impactful advocacy that moves us toward an end to hunger and a just world where all are fed. We are elated to be part of the third cycle of the ELCA Hunger Advocacy Fellowship in 2019-2020 and to introduce ourselves in the ELCA.

~ Jase, Nicole & Tessa

Tessa Comnick

Tessa Comnick is serving in Washington D.C. as the Hunger Advocacy Fellow with ELCA Advocacy there. She comes from Cleveland, Ohio with a bachelor’s degree in English from Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio and a master’s degree in Global Environment, Politics, and Society from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. The granddaughter of an ELCA pastor, Comnick has attended an ELCA church since she was born and is immensely touched by the support of her home congregation, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Westlake, Ohio. She is grateful for this opportunity to explore her passions for food security and waste reduction, along with the opportunity to expand her knowledge in other areas such as environmental economics and climate induced migration. Comnick is a staunch believer that good things will come in our future, in altruism as a society and in Cleveland sports.

Jasetyn Hatcher

Jasetyn “Jase” Hatcher is serving as the Welcoming All Program Coordinator for the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy in Richmond, Virg. Hatcher earned her bachelor’s degree from Laidlaw College in New Zealand and master’s degree in Conflict Studies from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, specializing in the effects of conflict on migration and displacement. Spending the last 13 years living in Korea, New Zealand and Ecuador, Hatcher developed an intimate look at several of the world’s many and varied communities. She has a passion for building awareness and recognition of systemic violence and its tangible effects on displaced persons.

Nicole Newell

Nicole Newell, working at the Lutheran Office for Public Policy – California in Sacramento, joins this year’s ELCA Hunger Advocacy Fellows’ cohort with a background in non-profit work, advocacy and teaching, both domestically and abroad. Her focus on food justice has led her to work in kitchens and on small-scale farms to develop context for sustainable food practices. With a bachelor’s degree in Practicing Theology from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., Newell has a love for Lutherans and served with Lutheran Volunteer Corps in Washington, D.C. from 2015-2016. She grew up in Des Moines, Iowa but was born in Sacramento. Newell is eager to use her passion for the intersection of faith and justice to effect policy-level change in California.

From the story of Pentecost – the coming of the Holy Spirit – as told in Acts 2: 17:

“In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your songs and daughters shall prophesy, and your young shall see visions, and your old shall dream dreams.”

The walk to Emmaus (Luke 24: 13-25) is a fairly “well-trodden” path for many Christians. It’s a story we hear once a year in the lectionary cycle – a story that comes together so well for me at the end when Jesus has vanished from the disciple’s sight – and yet, they “see” in a new and different way.

“Were not out hearts burning within us?” the disciples say to each other. Through the walking and talking, they caught a glimpse of God’s dream for a reconciled world – perhaps such a glimpse that the whole world might never look the same.

October 16, was World Food Day, a day that also occurs once a year to commemorate the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 1945.

On World Food Day this year, ELCA World Hunger announced our upcoming Big Dream grant ministry partners – a group of four ministries that exemplify innovation and best practices in the pursuit of a just world where all are fed.

At the same time, 14 people gathered to discern and award the 2020 Domestic Hunger grants. Domestic Hunger Grants walk with congregations and their ministry partners as they seek to love and serve their communities in transformative, holistic and integrated ways. The awards are for up to 3 years and up to $10,000 per year, for a possible total award of $30,000. During this process, staff like me are notetakers. My role is to listen and record (a true gift!)

And on days like this, as we walk together in conversation, you hear many things. But the one that stays with me today is from one of our decision makers at the table who said, “I will need some help deciding on award amounts. I am 17 years old. It’s hard for me to imagine $30,000. I have never seen that much money in my life!”

The group gathered chuckled a bit, but then … we paused.

Think about it.

When was the first time you could conceptualize or understand what $30,000 really meant? When did you first “see” that kind of money? Or, have you ever??

Around the room, people said, “when I went to college,” “when we bought a house,” “when I got a car,” or “when I saw a medical bill.” For many, the first time we had “seen” $30,000 was as debt.

And yet, others reflected, “Living on $30,000 a year isn’t easy, either.”

Though it is can be difficult to live on $30,0000 in a context like the United States, an annual income of $30,000 (USD) puts a person in the top 1.23% of richest people in the world (Global Rich List). $30,000 is an amount that many or even most of our global neighbors may never actually see.

And for our high school senior-aged award table member, if all goes according to her plan and she completes college, she may join the ranks of the 45 million people in this country carrying a total of $1.5 trillion in student loan debt (more than what Americans owe in credit card and auto loan debt combined.)

And in that moment, through the community gathered, I saw things differently.

Faith formation and leadership development are intentional, experiential moments found and honed in and with community – like the one gathered together on October 16.

What would it be like if most youth and young people in this church, the ELCA, first “see” or try to conceptualize $30,000 represented by the hopes and dreams and plans of program budgets put forth by courageous, creative congregations seeking to love and serve their neighbors and neighborhoods through anti-hunger work? And not as debt— which is what the world will almost surely present without the alternative.

What type of leaders would be in our midst if more leaders – of all ages – can catch these glimpses that may essentially change the way we see the world around us? How might not only our expectations change, but our communities, relationships and stewardship change too?

At that table gathered, $30,000 looked like a ministry working with neighbors toward equitable access to food through community gardening and land ownership or like community-led advocacy and capacity building to improve access to safe water in a region dealing with lead pipe infrastructure issues.

God creates and gifts diversely and abundantly – and we are freed by grace through faith to boldly discover and wonder what God is up to and how we can be part of that in service with our neighbors and neighborhoods. Faith is a living daring confidence in God’s grace.

As people of faith, we are called to see things differently because of who God is – and to help others catch a glimpse of it too.

God’s gracious abundance opens our eyes to the presence of God among us, freeing us to see visions and dream dreams. And by being church together – through the Spirit – those visions and dreams set our hearts on fire.

“Were not our hearts burning within us while [Jesus] was talking to us on the road?” (Luke 24: 23)

Mikka McCracken is Director, Strategy and Engagement for ELCA World Hunger.

Photo Credit: Cheri Johnson

Announcing ELCA World Hunger’s Big Dream Grant Awards

This World Food Day, ELCA World Hunger is pleased to announce four ministries that have been awarded Big Dream Grants. ELCA World Hunger’s Big Dream Grants, one-time gifts of $10,000 to $75,000, support domestic ministries as they pursue innovative and sustainable approaches to ending hunger. As we reflect on the meaning behind World Food Day and our shared commitment to address hunger until all are fed, we celebrate the big dreams of these ministries and their commitment to excellence.

New this year, ELCA World Hunger’s Big Dream Grant recipients were identified in part based on the contributions of their work toward the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs. The SDGs are intended to focus sustainable development toward overcoming poverty, inequality and environmental degradation. ELCA World Hunger is pleased to partner with the Lutheran World Federation as part of its “Waking the Giant” initiative. “Waking the Giant” is a global ecumenical effort which aims to build the capacity of churches to contribute effectively to the SDGs. Churches and partners are focusing on five of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – Goals 3, 4, 5, 10 and 16 – and the ELCA has an additional focus on Goal 2.

Ministries receiving ELCA World Hunger Big Dream Grants are:

IntegrArte, a ministry hosted in an ELCA congregation in Dorado, Puerto Rico, works with people of all ages to address mental health in a community where mental health services are otherwise inaccessible to many who need them, particularly in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. IntegrArte is building connections between church and community by expanding mental health services within the greater community. IntegrArte is preparing to realize its long-term dream of expanding into a community center that will host programming for older adults, a Montessori school and an emergency shelter.

Through its McClintock Partners In Education (McPIE) ministry, a partnership with the local middle school and community, Christ Lutheran Church in Charlotte, North Carolina fosters an environment where families have the opportunity to thrive through meals, clubs, camps and courses that open up pathways for both youth and parents. Christ Lutheran is increasing the ministry’s capacity to support the economic success of under-served populations in Charlotte through a commitment to bilingual support and the creation of the McClintock Innovation Lab & Library, which will focus on STEM programming.

The Table: A 1st Century Style Community in the 21st Century is a worshipping community in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, reducing barriers to food. The Table provides a place where families can learn to grow the food that they want to eat and fosters learning and entrepreneurial opportunities for community members. Looking ahead, The Table will further drive economic development and empowerment through expanding programming and a longer growing season made possible by new greenhouses.

End Hunger in Calvert County, based in a rural area in Maryland, is a coalition of local churches and other organizations working together to end hunger in the community. End Hunger Calvert County connects food-insecure communities with hunger relief options and works to reduce systemic poverty through a robust workforce program. Now, the organization is blazing new trails as it develops a mobile app to connect low-income families to comprehensive services.

We celebrate the work of these ministries and thank you for your support of ELCA World Hunger as we work together to fight hunger and poverty in the United States and 60 other countries around the world. To learn more about ELCA World Hunger’s approach, visit ELCA.org/hunger.

At the global level, the “Waking the Giant” initiative provides churches and church-related actors with tools and training to relate their on-going work to the SDGs. At the national level, churches and ecumenical partners set up implementation mechanisms for taking stock of their existing work in relation to the SDGs and engage in joint planning for direct action and advocacy. “Waking the Giant” is currently focused on four target countries: Colombia, Liberia, Tanzania and the United States. The ELCA is hosting and funding the initiative in the United States. To learn more, watch the video below or visit wakingthegiant.lutheranworld.org.

Tuhina Rasche, San Carlos, CA

Warm-up Question

How do you pray?
Why do you pray?
What do you hope happens through your prayers?

Your Words Made Flesh

This parable makes me think about my parents, especially my mom. My parents moved to the United States from India in 1970. My mom was a newlywed and eighteen years old. Just a few months after marrying my dad, they packed up two suitcases, with $200 dollars to their names, and boarded a plane to travel halfway across the world. My parents were strangers in a strange land. My dad was super gregarious and could make friends easily. He grew up speaking English regularly, so he was pretty much at ease in public spaces. My mom, while she knew English, was incredibly shy and was uncomfortable speaking in public places. She didn’t make friends as easily, and kept mostly to her close-knit circle of friends who were also from India. Yet my dad was always around to protect her and to advocate for her.

My parents were married for 45 years. My dad died a few years ago, leaving my mom to be a widow. Even though my mom has spent more of her life in the United States than India, she relied on my dad for a lot. Whether we want to admit it or not, men still have a lot of power in society; oftentimes men are taken more seriously than women. Our world is still bound by gendered expectations. My father was the head of the household in every way, and when he died, my mom was at a loss for what had to be done to manage the household she and my dad shared for so many years.

After my dad died, a lot that had to be done. There were the big things, like planning his memorial. But then there were small things that we didn’t immediately anticipate, like canceling his credit cards, stopping his mail, and transferring accounts that were in his name to my mom’s name. My older brother and I helped my mom through this bizarre checklist of things that have to happen after a loved one dies. My brother and I have done everything humanly possible to look after our mom, to make sure she receives just and fair treatment from the institutions and organizations she had to deal with. But we had to be persistent. If she didn’t have my brother and me, where would she be today? The thought is almost too much for me to handle. If she had to navigate this present climate on her own, having so much already that defines her as an outsider (like being an immigrant), she would be even more on the margins. I would be scared for her well-being. She would be a widow without an advocate.

Prayers seriously helped my family after my dad died, and it wasn’t just my family praying for relief and release. There were people who were consistently naming us in their daily prayers, that we would find peace and comfort in the midst of so much loss and sadness. But prayers took other forms, like meals that appeared on our doorstep, a lovely bouquet of flowers delivered, having coffee with friends to gently remind us that we were not alone while we were cooped up in a house making phone calls, sending emails, and sorting through paperwork.

I am forever grateful to those who heard the cries of my mom and my family when my dad died. I hoped that someone would hear our prayers, and not only were our prayers heard, they were embodied! The words became flesh! I also wonder what if no one heard our cries? Are we hearing the cries of the present-day widows around us? Are we not just hearing the cries and prayers, but are we also acting on them out of response to God’s love and grace?

We are called into action, into persistence, into an active, lived, and embodied prayer. I do not know how this will look for you; that is a conversation you have to undertake with your siblings in Christ and with God. We are not called to give into who and what this world wants us to be. We are not called to give into giving into the ways of empire; that will kill us. We cannot look away from one another. We are intertwined with one another; we are accountable to one another. That was professed to us in our baptisms, that we belong to God and we belong to one another. We’re called to do something. We’re called into a form of action. We’re learning that people’s identities and their lives very much depend on how we act or how we do not act. Your prayer is your action; let your action be your prayer.

Discussion Questions

What are ways that you can embody your prayers?
Is there someone in our faith community who is currently struggling? How can you pray for that person, both spoken prayers and putting actions to those spoken prayers?
What keeps you going in tough times when you’re close to giving up?

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Genesis 32:22-31

2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

Luke 18:1-8

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

Gospel Reflection

The primary focal point of this Gospel lesson is a widow with no one to advocate for her but herself. What does this look like in the world of this Gospel lesson? This widow can be considered to be ultimate loser. When it comes to telling stories about marginalized people, she’s lowest of the low for many reasons:

she’s low because she’s just a she;
she doesn’t have a husband or a family to be her advocate and to be her voice; and
she has no property.

Theoretically, her community in this city is supposed to take care of her. That’s all good in theory, but there is something wrong.

This woman repeatedly—over and over and over and over—confronts a judge to grant her justice against an opponent. We’re not given much information on this opponent. Time after time, the judge is unmoved. But then, the judge’s thoughts run away with him. He says to himself, “I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.” If we want to get to the nitty-gritty of the translation here, let’s rephrase it to the more honest and more brutal, “I shall avenge her, or she will give me a black eye.”

Only when the judge thinks that violence will be inflicted upon him does he decide to finally act, because heaven forbid that violence be inflicted upon those in positions of power. Yet violence has already occurred with the judge; he should have moved to act without the threat of violence. The judge’s inaction in the face of obvious need is evidence of his own spiritual brokenness. This system of oppression has damaged the judge, too.

It is important to name that both the widow and the judge are under God’s care. Because God’s grace is ultimately unfair, we cannot talk about one being outside God’s grace and the other being the sole recipient. What we must come to understand, especially in situations where we seem to be pitted against one another, where one has offended the other, where one has done damage to the other, is that the Gospel is still for both the widow AND the judge. What they may hear is different. The Gospel comforts, but if it only comforts, we would be a people of cheap grace. The Gospel both challenges and afflicts. We are a people of both/and, simultaneously saint and sinner, and we are to be both challenged and comforted. We cannot just receive grace and not respond to the Gospel message. We are called to respond.

But there was something to the widow’s response in her persistence. She kept coming back to the judge. She kept using her voice to advocate for herself. She used the strength of her voice to advocate for her survival. She spoke out, she moved. This was her embodied and incarnational prayer. This prayer for her survival against her opponent was her life of prayer. In that prayer we need to be persistent. The lives of our neighbors depend upon it. Our prayer should be that of movement, that of action, that response. If our Lord and Savior was of flesh and blood, that can be the embodiment of our prayer life.

Discussion Questions

Has God answered your prayers? Are there unexpected ways in which God has responded to your prayers? How do you feel when God hasn’t answered your prayers the way you wanted?
What are they ways in which the world has been unjust and unfair to those in need? How do you feel called to respond? How have those in Scripture (like Isaiah, who said, “Here I am, send me) responded? How do you think they felt?
Where have modern-day judges not acted justly to present-day widows? Have any of these present-day judges had a change of heart? How do you think that change came about?

Activity Suggestions

Is your faith community hearing the cries of present-day widows? If so, how is your faith community responding? If not, find a way for your faith community to pray for and engage with those who need our help. Is there participation in local, state, national, and international connections? Are there gaps where your faith community can participate? If so, how could your faith community further participate in being connected to the greater world in spoken and active prayer?
Have a conversation on how you can best pray for one another. Spend a few minutes each week praying in the way that you feel most comfortable, holding members in your faith community in prayer. Is there a way you can act on those prayers? Meditate on how such prayers can create an active response.
Prayer can take many shapes and forms. Have you colored while you prayed? Sang? Danced? Explore and try out a form of prayer that is different from what you are used to.

Closing Prayer

Gracious and loving God, you are so wild and free in giving your grace and mercy. In receiving your grace and mercy, may we prayerfully be called to action. In these actions, may we be reminded of your beloved Son Jesus, who both prayed and acted on his prayers. In our prayers and actions, may you continue to guide us to act for justice. Amen.

Scott Mims, Virginia Beach, VA

Warm-up Question

As you look to the future – both your own personal future and the future of our world – what are some of the greatest challenges that you see?
In terms of the above, what gives you hope?

Gratitude, Good for the Heart

Want to live longer? It turns out that looking on the bright side could save your life. A study recently published in the medical journal, JAMA, found that people who look at life from a positive perspective have about a 35% lower risk of major heart complications, such as a cardiac death, stroke, or a heart attack, compared to those whose outlooks were pessimistic. In fact, this meta-analysis of nearly 300,000 people found that the more positive a person’s outlook, the greater the protection from any cause of death. These results correlate well with prior studies that have also found links between optimism and other positive health attributes.

Yet, as lead author, Dr. Alan Rozanski, notes, it is important not to confuse optimism with happiness. Whereas happiness is an emotion, and thereby transient, optimism is a mindset – a persistent approach to life. The good news in this is that optimism can be learned. You can train yourself to be a positive person. Using mental exercises such as meditation and the practice of gratefulness, we can actually change the structure of our brains in ways that support a positive mindset.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/27/health/optimism-heart-attack-stroke-wellness/index.html

Discussion Questions

It is said that an optimist sees the glass half-full, while a pessimist sees the same glass half-empty. In general, how would you describe yourself? Is your glass half-full or half-empty? (Or are you an engineer who sees a glass that is twice as big as it needs to be? 😊)

At some point you have probably heard the story of “The Little Engine that Could.” In your own experience, what role does one’s perception or mindset play in successfully (or not) meeting a challenge or overcoming a difficult situation? Can you think of an example from your own life?

It has been shown that regularly practicing gratitude or “gratefulness” can actually help to “rewire” our brains toward a more positive mindset. What do you think of this? What role might “counting our blessings” play in cultivating optimism?

Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c

2 Timothy 2:8-15

Luke 17:11-19

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

Gospel Reflection

Samaria. Once again Luke reminds us that Jesus’ ultimate destination is Jerusalem and the cross, and this encounter helps to enlarge our perspective on who will be included in his saving ministry. Since Samaritans were generally considered by their Jewish neighbors to be outcasts and only marginally connected to the people of God, the location of this story also serves as a backdrop to the “scandal” at the heart of an otherwise straightforward story about healing.

Jesus’ initial contact with these ten people who suffer from leprosy fits with how lepers were supposed to act according to the Jewish law. Lepers kept their distance from non-lepers and were required to call out in warning so that others would not accidentally come into contact with them. (see Leviticus 13:45-46) In essence, they were totally cut off from their families and communities. So, when these ten see Jesus, they cry out, begging for mercy. And Jesus responds!

Jesus, like the prophet Elisha in this week’s first reading from 2 Kings 5, does not make a big show. Such is the power of God at work in Jesus that he doesn’t need to. He simply tells them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” This was what people who had already been cured of leprosy were supposed to do in order to be readmitted to the community. (see Leviticus 14:2-32) They go, and, in their obedience, discover along the way that they have been healed. One of them, however, turns back. Praising God with a loud voice, he lays down at Jesus’ feet in an act of gratitude and worship. The scandalous surprise, of course, is that he is a Samaritan! Those who should be most attuned to God and most grateful for the lives they have received back are not, while the despised “outsider” becomes the example of gratefulness and faith. We see this elsewhere in Luke’s gospel and in the book of Acts, with sinners, outsiders, and Gentiles receiving God’s grace with joy and gratitude while the “insiders” seem to miss the point entirely.

In the end, Luke doesn’t say that the other nine former-lepers were any less cured than the Samaritan, though he does imply that they are less thankful. Jesus himself points to a deeper experience for the Samaritan. The word that gets translated as “get up” in verse 19 is a word early Christians would have recognized as having to do with “resurrection.” Similarly, Jesus’ final phrase might also be translated, “your faith has saved you.” The Samaritan has been made “new” by the power of Jesus and he knows it! There is a connection here between grace and gratitude, between faith and salvation.

Discussion Questions

With which of the people in this passage do you most identify? Why?
At the beginning of this encounter with Jesus, the ten lepers were all in the same predicament. How can a shared experience (such as going through cancer or a disaster) break down barriers between people? How does God’s love and grace for all people fly in the face of the distinctions we often make between “insiders” and “outsiders”?
Why do you think the Samaritan was more grateful for Jesus’ actions than the other nine lepers? How might his status as an “outsider” have contributed to his response?
Why is giving praise and thanks to God so important? How do such acts of worship impact/change us?
The lepers in today’s reading experience God’s love and grace both in healing and in being restored to their families and communities. When and where do you experience the grace of God?
What connection do you see between gratitude and faith? How can praying for the small things, seeing God at work, and giving thanks encourage us to pray for larger matters?

Activity Suggestions

Prayer Journals: Encourage participants to keep a list of the people and situations for which they pray. They might even put a check mark besides prayers that are eventually “answered”. The point of this activity is to notice, over time, how God works in and through our prayers, even if in unexpected ways. To help folks get started, you might provide a small, inexpensive pocket-sized notebook for those who are interested.
Count Your Blessings: Have everyone make a list of the people, things, and experiences for which they are grateful. Don’t forget the small everyday stuff that we normally take for granted (e.g. clean water, food to eat, a hot shower). If you have time, have participants share from their list – you may well discover in the course of this discussion that you have even more reasons for gratitude. End the activity by giving thanks to God. You might connect this to the closing prayer by first gathering in a circle and having each person lift up one thing from their list that they are especially grateful for today. Then end with the prayer below, or something similar.

Closing Prayer

Gracious and loving God, source of every good gift, in the waters of baptism you name us and claim us and make us your very own. Thank you for the gift of faith, and for your relentless love that will not let us go no matter what. Help us to count our many blessings, that we may live lives of praise and thanksgiving. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Lutheran Office for World Community, United Nations, New York, N.Y.

Dennis Frado, director

“TIME FOR HARD CHOICES” REPORT LAUNCH: On September 6, 2019, the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation and the Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office launched a report titled “Financing the UN Development System: Time For Hard Choices.” Split into two sections, part one provides UN funding data on revenue and expenditure, while part two delves into the financial complexities of the 2030 Agenda, told from the perspective of more than 30 authors within and outside the UN system. Read the full report here.

30^TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD: UNICEF installed a display of 3,758 backpacks at the UN Headquarters, representing the ”senseless loss of a young life to conflict,” and a “reminder to world leaders of the stakes,” in the lead up to the 30^th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child on November 20. The 2019 Annual Report of the Secretary General on children and armed conflict states, “more than 12,000 children were killed or maimed in conflict zones last year, the highest number since the UN started monitoring and reporting this grave violation.”

“WOMEN IN POWER” CALL TO ACTION: H.E. Mrs. Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, the 73^rd President of the General Assembly, led the final informal high-level event in her “Women in Power” series. The call to action was titled “Voices for Change and Inclusion: Joining Forces and Redoubling Efforts to Achieve Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment for All,” influenced by Espinosa Garcés’ eight priorities to advance female leadership. During opening remarks, Ms. Susan Malcorra stated, “We are deeply convinced that for peace to be achieved and sustained, the full participation and potential of women must be unleashed.” View the session here. This event is in line with the call for action to accelerate full implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, as we head towards its 25^th Anniversary in 2020. Read more here.

ANNUAL PRAYER FOR PEACE: In the lead up to the United Nations International Day for Peace (21 September) and the general debate during the 74^th Session of the General Assembly, the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations hosted its 33^rd Annual Prayer for Peace service. Archbishop Bernardito Auza led three prayers by Pope Francis, UN Secretary-General António Guterres spoke of the value of such a service, and His Excellency Tijjani Muhammad-Bande of Nigeria, President of the 74^th session of the General Assembly, expressed how ”it is important to seek the help of God in the work of the United Nations.”

LOWC FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE: On Friday, September 20, 2019, LOWC staff joined an estimated 60,000+ students, adults and activists in the Climate Strike for climate action in New York. Greta Thunberg delivered a speech during the event in New York stating, “we are doing this to wake leaders up… We are a wave of change, together and united we are unstoppable .” It is estimated that more than 1 million people participated in climate strikes globally across 125 countries on this day.

The UN Youth Climate Summit and SDG Action Zone took place the following day (September 21) at the United Nations Headquarters where Greta Thunberg criticized world leaders for their lack of urgency, during the opening session. Young entrepreneurs from around the world were given the opportunity to take the mic and discuss solutions.

On September 22, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres convened the Climate Action Summit 2019, where leaders were urged to showcase “concrete, realistic plans to enhance their nationally determined contributions by 2020, in line with reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45% over the next decade, and to net zero emissions by 2050.” During the event (view here), members of governments, the private sector, civil society and other international organizations came together to develop six action portfolios to curb global greenhouse gas emissions and promote global action.

74^TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONVENES: The 74^th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA74) began on 17 September with the general debate taking place 24 – 30 September under the new GA President, His Excellency Tijjani Muhammad-Bande of Nigeria. To view what each country had to say during the General Debate, click here. Many other high-level events were held, such as on Universal Health Coverage, the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, financing for development, and the review of progress made in addressing priorities of small island developing states (SIDS) also took place during this time.

California

Regina Q. Banks, Lutheran Office of Public Policy- California (LOPP-CA) lutheranpublicpolicyca.org

LEGISLATURE ADJOURNS: September 13 marked the end of the 2019 legislative year. Governor Gavin Newsome has until October 13, 2019 to sign or veto legislation in his possession. LOPP-CA is eagerly awaiting the final disposition of legislation we have been following this session. Please standby for word on all of our legislative priorities.

CLIMATE EMERGENCY SUMMIT: LOPP-CA had a unique opportunity to engage with faith leaders across the world and spanning numerous traditions at the Climate Emergency Summit hosted by ELCA Advocacy in New York, NY. The summit was an extension of the United Nations General Assembly and provided an opportunity to turn a faith-based lens to the work of climate justice in our world.

HUNGER FELLOW WELCOME: LOPP-CA is pleased to welcome Ms. Nicole Newell to our office as the 2019-2020 California Hunger Advocacy Fellow. Nicole Newell joins this year’s ELCA Hunger Advocacy Fellows with a background in non-profit work, advocacy and teaching, both domestically and abroad. Her focus on food justice has led her to work in kitchens and on small-scale farms to develop context for sustainable food practices. With a BA in Practicing Theology from St. Olaf College, Nicole has a love for Lutherans and served with Lutheran Volunteer Corps in Washington, DC from 2015-2016. She grew up in Des Moines, IA but was born in Sacramento. Nicole is eager to bring her passion for the intersections of faith and justice to effect policy-level change in California. Please look for ways to invite Nicole into your policy ministries.

SYNODICAL AND CONGREGATION VISIT THANK YOUS: A sincere “Thank You” goes out to the pastors and members of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran in Simi Valley for their warm welcome this month. This congregation made a special effort to include Advocacy in their “Gods Work. Our Hands.” Day of Service observance, and it was truly special. Please consider adding an advocacy component to this and other special occasions in your ministry.

Similarly, Sierra Pacific Women of the ELCA offered a warm and sisterly welcome to their annual retreat September 18-20 at the beautiful Bishop’s Ranch retreat center in Healdsburg, CA. The majestic scenery was a great backdrop for worship, work and rejuvenation. Congratulations to the new board of SPWELCA, and we at LOPP-CA look forward to working together closely.

Minnesota

Tammy Walhof, Lutheran Advocacy- Minnesota (LA-MN) lutheranadvocacymn.org

IMMIGRATION: There is a great deal of interest in immigration issues across the state. Several congregations and synod groups are becoming more engaged with the ELCA AMMPARO Program, and considering what welcome and partnership with asylum seekers and refugees should mean in their context. This is increasing interest in LA-MN’s work on policy issues and raising lots of questions about the intricacies of US immigration programs. In addition to the Migrant Monday posts on Facebook, Tammy (LA-MN director) did immigration forums three times in September and will be doing similar programs in October and November.

MINNESOTA ENVIRONMENTAL PARTNERSHIP (MEP): Lutheran Advocacy-MN works with many partners and coalitions. One of those coalitions, made up of around 80 organizations, is MEP. Tammy served for two years as the co-chair of the MEP Energy & Climate Cluster and has been working with MEP staff and partners in finding ways to restructure the work to be more impactful. In early September, she was part of a small group of member organizations proposing that MEP take on Climate Change as its one main marquee issue, since most every other issue fits under that big umbrella. The proposal was accepted unanimously by members. This will allow the various clusters or issue groups to collaborate better on messaging with both the public and with legislators, and it should help move groups out of singular silos of interest, even while allowing support for legislation in the various areas of member organization expertise. Lutheran Advocacy-MN expects to continue efforts on clean energy, but we look forward to broader collaboration on other parts of the climate crisis. Watch for more information to come as we develop the MEP detailed legislative agenda over the next couple of months.

HOMES FOR ALL COALITION: Although there is still much left to accomplish from the bold Homes for All biennium agenda created last year, the policy team (where LA-MN is an active participant) is in the process of considering whether changes or additions need to be made. One of the partners has been meeting with Tammy and other key partners on eviction policy concerns that will be proposed as additions to the agenda in mid-October.

GUSTAVUS NOBEL FORUM: The Nobel Forum at Gustavus Adolphus College was called “Climate Changed: Facing our Future.” We’re glad that many LA-MN advocates were able to listen to world-renown scientists and speakers by LiveStream or in person. Those presentations and panels are now available on the Gustavus YouTube Channel at https://tinyurl.com/y6xyhxhs.

New Mexico

Ruth Hoffman, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry—New Mexico (LAM-NM) lutheranadvocacynm.org

CONGREGATIONS BUILD RELATIONSHIPS: All Saints Lutheran Church in Albuquerque spearheaded the organizing of a gathering of advocates from the ELCA congregations on the west side of Albuquerque. State legislators representing the west side were invited to the event which also involved Cross of Hope Lutheran Church and Community of Joy Lutheran Church. Six legislators attended and spoke at the gathering on September 22. Representatives from our ecumenical partners of St. Francis Episcopal Church and Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Community also attended. Advocates expressed their appreciation for the work that legislators do, and legislators learned about LAM-NM priorities.

Ohio

Nick Bates, Hunger Network in Ohio hungernetohio.com

DAYTON CONGREGATION JUMPS INTO ADVOCACY WITH PASSION: North Riverdale Lutheran Church is responding with the gospel in face of tragedy. On August 4^th, a gunman opened fire at 1:00 in the morning in the Oregon Entertainment District of Dayton – just a few miles from the church. Congregation member Brien Dyer told the Columbus Dispatch, “I was watching a movie when he heard a faint ‘pop, pop, pop, pop’ shortly after 1 a.m.” Dyer and Pastor Monte Stevens joined 150 people in Columbus for a rally on September 18^th to call on the Ohio legislature to “DO SOMETHING” – a phrase that was popularized the day after the shooting and is the name of their new congregational advocacy team. During a vigil, Governor Mike DeWine was shouted down by attendees with the refrain to “do something,” and it has inspired many people in the area to get involved with advocacy over the past few weeks.

North Riverdale’s newly formed committee with more than 12 active members is discussing best practices for phone calls, letters to the newspaper, and how to have effective meetings with legislators. Pastor Monte is also connecting with clergy groups that have met with Governor DeWine to discuss these issues. Our ELCA state public policy office in Ohio has offered guidance and support to their work. Through partnership with each other, policy and community experts, and legislative leaders, we can solve the issues impacting our community.

While many of our congregations begin with issues related to hunger, the Hunger Network in Ohio doesn’t end there. HNO works on a wide variety of issues, including immigration, community safety, education, racial justice and much more. We have our faith advocacy guidebook available online to assist congregations in starting their own advocacy teams!

SAVE THE DATE: The Hunger Network in Ohio is partnering with Faith in Public-Ohio to host a Facebook Live event about what sanctuary means for Lutherans in Ohio – tentatively scheduled for the evening of Tuesday October 29^th. More details to come!

Pennsylvania

Tracey DePasquale, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry–Pennsylvania (LAMPa) lutheranadvocacypa.org

ELCA CONGREGATIONS LIFT THEIR VOICES: “Thank you Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania for pointing Union Lutheran in York towards the excellent church wide resources for ‘God’s Work. Our Hands.’ Sunday!” wrote Vicar Carla Christopher of Union Lutheran Church in York. “Our letters on creation care and disaster relief mailed this morning!” Learn more.

LAMPA POLICY COUNCIL SHARES ANNUAL RETREAT: LAMPa Policy Council recently gathered for their annual retreat. The group engaged in discernment about strategic direction as policy council to support LAMPa’s mission and to foster being a church in the public square. Their work built upon responses to a statewide survey of Pennsylvania ELCA rostered leaders and LAMPa’s advocacy network. The survey showed that striving for justice and peace and care for creation rank high in leaders’ sense of call and discipleship. It also identified barriers and opportunities for building greater capacity to live into that call. After hunger and poverty, which will always be at the core of LAMPa’s work, respondents listed gun violence, climate change/environmental stewardship and standing for welcome for migrants as top priorities for advocacy. Read more.

CONCERNS WILL ENERGIZE PA LEGISLATION: LAMPa’s creation care advocates spoke out against “Energize PA” that touts itself as a pro-growth, pro-jobs legislative package that will create jobs and redevelop infrastructure with no new fees or taxes, but which strips protections for the environment and the health of Pennsylvanians and our neighbors far and wide.

STAFF ATTENDS ULS FALL CONVOCATION AND THE ANNUAL CAPITOL ALL-STARS BALLGAME: Tracey and Lynn attended the United Lutheran Seminary (ULS) Fall Convocation on the Philadelphia campus. The theme was: A Christian Response to Rising Violence in the World. ELCA Director of Advocacy, the Rev. Amy Reumann, was the keynote presenter. It was a welcome opportunity to connect ULS staff and alumni. In a show of support for our partners in the Pa. Hunger Action Coalition and encouragement for legislative support of anti-hunger programs, staff also attended the annual Capitol All-Stars Ballgame that benefits Pennsylvania Food Banks. Team Youse (eastern PA) outpaced Team Yinz (western PA) 16-3, breaking a three-year streak of Yinz dominance.

Southeastern Synod

Hilton Austin, Southeastern Synod advocacy team

CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM: We have signed on as co-sponsors of The Second Chance Act along with Georgia Justice Project and Georgia Interfaith Public Policy Center. GJP is currently looking for the best sponsor for a bill they are drafting. “As the time gets closer, we will have specific targets. This fall, I think we will focus more broadly on public education through letters to the editors, calling your own legislator, calling your own elected prosecutors and as the session approaches or starts, we may shift to calling the Judiciary committees,” said Ann Colloton, GJP Policy and Outreach Coordinator.

IMMIGRATION: Iglesia Luterana Augustina de Guatemala had their second annual ‘Milagro Gala’ on September 7^th.

MILAGRO VISION: Rural women will attend the MILAGRO Women’s Education Center to continue their education and develop a wide range of skills vital to a future of improved daily living. Utilizing these skills, the women will be empowered to return to their communities to start a sustainable business, to serve as leaders and examples to be followed in their churches, community and family, and they will serve as teachers for future generations of young women and girls.

WOMEN OF THE ELCA: Policy Council member Dawn Bennett and myself did workshops at our synod’s Women of the ELCA convention. We also had an advocacy exhibit; the women have been very involved in the battle to end human trafficking. Southeastern Synod Advocacy was also the recipient of their Love Offering this year. Ladies, thank you for your presence and generosity.

DOMESTIC HUNGER GRANT REVIEWS: This was a very enlightening adventure. The Grant Review Team had the opportunity to speak with nine ministries across the synod and hear about some exciting ministries supporting those dealing with poverty in their communities. I only wish we had the resources to fulfill all of their visions.

Washington

Paul Benz, Faith Action Network (FAN) fanwa.org

FALL CLUSTER GATHERINGS: Every fall, FAN convenes our geographic clusters of our 153 Network of Advocating Faith Communities all around our state to listen to what’s going on in each of these areas, share what FAN staff are working on, and sometimes hear from a local state legislator. These meetings will run from mid-September through mid-November. Cluster Gathering details can be found at http://fanwa.org/our-network/cluster-meetings/.

CANDIDATE FORUMS: This fall, FAN is engaged in five candidate forums – four city council (Bellevue, Federal Way, SeaTac, and Seattle) and one county sheriff’s race – on the topic of police accountability in Snohomish County. These forums are co-sponsored by many of our faith, community and policy partners. The flyers for these events can be found at fanwa.org/calendar.

INTERIM ELECTED OFFICIAL MEETINGS: FAN is scheduling and participating in many meetings with elected officials (primarily state legislators) on bills that are still alive for the 2020 legislative session, as well as seeing what new bills our partners and legislators will be introducing in January.

ANNUAL FUNDRAISING DINNER: FAN’s Annual Dinner will be on Sunday, Nov. 10 with the theme “Raising Our Voices.” ELCA member, travel guru, and social justice advocate and philanthropist Rick Steves will be present. This is always a great end of the year event for our progressive faith communities to celebrate our wins, be strengthened for the coming year, and hear about FAN’s 2020 legislative agenda. See more at fanwa.org/annual-dinner.

Wisconsin

Cindy Crane, Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin (LOPPW) loppw.org

LOPPW WELCOMES AMELIA GONZALES: Amelia joins LOPPW as a graduate student in social work at UW-Madison. She comes to us via the university’s 4W-STREETS (Social Transformation to End the Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking for Sex) program. Amelia is a recent graduate in social work and sociology from UW Oshkosh. She will be with LOPPW for 18 hours per week for the first semester.

CARE FOR GOD’S CREATION: The director spoke at an interfaith gathering on the day of the Climate Strike and set up a table with an LOPPW Advisory Council member at the rally. The Care for God’s Creation team also met and discussed holding an event that highlighted renewable energy and would include advocacy.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING: LOPPW and Women of the ELCA from the East-Central synod, the Northwest Synod and South-Central Synod organized a rally on September 24. LOPPW and Women of the ELCA supporters from five synods were in attendance.

IMMIGRATION: LOPPW’s director consulted with a congregation interested in starting an immigration task force. She was also in dialogue with members of two other synods on addressing immigration in congregations.

SNAP: Via one message to our list serve and social media we encouraged people to comment on the new proposed rule for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Congregational Vitality Training Event Week & Border Experience

San Diego, California, February 17-21, 2020

UPDATED DECEMBER 4, 2019

SAVE THESE DATES:

February 17: Travel Day & REDIL/Latinx Leaders Meeting

February 18: Worship at United States ̶ Mexico Border

February 19-21: CV Training Event

Events and Timing

Homeless and Justice Network Gathering – Sunday and Monday — Plan arrival for Saturday PM or Sunday early AM
Boundaries Training for Mission Developers – Monday (8:00 am – 5:00 pm) — Plan arrival for Sunday PM
ELCA Level 1 Coach Launch Training – Monday and Tuesday (8:00 am – 5:00 pm) (Contact Jill Beverlin, ELCA Coaching Coordinator, to learn more — also, keep scrolling in this article to find more info.) — Plan arrival for Sunday PM
REDIL/Latinx Leaders Meeting – Monday
United States – Mexico Border Experience – Tuesday (8:00 am – approx. 4:30/5:30 pm) — Plan arrival for Monday PM
CV Training Event Facilitators Meeting – Tuesday evening (approx. 5:30 pm — stay tuned for details)
CV Training Event: Wednesday – Friday — Plan arrival for Tuesday PM
- Wednesday – Thursday timing: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Friday timing – 8:00 am – 2:30 pm — Friday evening flights home are strongly encouraged. Friday housing is not provided.

Keep reading to learn details about who should come to each track and applicable fees.

A moment of prayer, captured at the Baltimore CV Training Event. Photo courtesy of Katie Simbala, Metro DC Synod creative director.

CV Training Event Tracks

The Congregational Vitality Team is offering all the tracks from the Baltimore training event, with one addition: Anchor Churches.

Please note that the Prison Congregations track will not meet in San Diego. The goal is to offer it at the Chicago CV Training Event (August 26-28, 2020).

Two groups are in the cohort-developing process, which means they will be focusing on curriculum building with a smaller group (not training). These two groups are Arab – Middle Eastern Churches and the Synod Vitality Focus Group.

If you are a new DEM or anyone with questions about any of these training tracks, please contact a member of the CV Team.

MISSION DEVELOPMENT

Fees:

No Registration Fee for NEW (2019-2020) mission developers (and other approved leaders) and accompanying DEMs.
Housing is included (double occupancy, up to three nights). You may pay a fee ($88 per person per night) to upgrade to a single room.
Flights (up to $500) for approved mission developers and sponsoring DEMs are covered and may be booked through Direct Travel, ELCA (budget code will be provided in registration communications)
Please read ALL the event information and Travel & Logistics information before booking flights.

Expectations:

PART 1 TRAINING: For new developers (2019-2020) and their accompanying DEMs. To bring any previous leaders who have not been trained, please consult with Rev. Ruben Duran or Rev. Anna-Kari Johnson.
PART 2 TRAINING: Returning developers and lay leaders who need part 2 training are welcome, but please consult with Rev. Ruben Duran or Rev. Anna-Kari Johnson before registering.
FOR SEMINARIANS: Contact Rev. Rob James to plan student participation before registering.
ALL OTHERS: Returning leaders (developers from previous years) and other ministry leaders are welcome, but please consult with Rev. Ruben Duran or Rev. Anna-Kari Johnson before registering.

If you are a new director for evangelical mission or anyone with questions about any of the training tracks, please contact a member of the Congregational Vitality Team.

USE THIS LINK for the following Mission Development (New Start) Tracks: No-Fee Registration — Fee for Single Room

New Start Tracks (for mission developers)

African Descent Churches
This course readies developers who will be serving in an African descent context for all aspects of development through a foundation that embraces the tenets and practices of the historic black church and the African descent community through a Lutheran lens. It includes best practices for many areas not limited to, but including: self-care, financial practices, mission planning, leadership development, marketing, technology, evangelism, stewardship and more.

African National Churches
This training track is designed for African national mission developers in the ELCA who desire to grow in theological, pastoral, liturgical, missiological, apologetic and practical leadership in their own contexts. It helps participants to understand an increasingly fast changing American cultural environment, the place and role of Lutheran churches in local communities and American society at large. It’s an opportunity to teach, learn, share common experiences and strengthen networks.

American Indian – Alaska Native Churches

Arab – Middle Eastern Churches (INVITATION ONLY, developing curriculum)

Asian Churches
This track provides insight and information for Asian developers and lay leaders as they are developing their ministries. Participants will learn from several developers in the field who will share their real experiences. Several issues that are unique to Asian community will be presented and discussed.

Church Launch
Basic principles and best practices, including nuts and bolts and practical tools in developing a new church.

Churches Starting Churches
This track is content-heavy and covers key aspects of church planting, including helpful concepts and models from the business and nonprofit world. Some of the modules we cover are especially helpful for those who are considering becoming a multisite church or planting a new church out of an existing church. DEMs can invite pastors (not just mission developers) from their synods to attend, in consultation with Rev. Ruben Duran.

Multicultural Churches – description coming

Postmodern Churches
This track empowers mission developers and lay leaders to listen and respond to the spiritual needs and varied contexts of those outside of traditional church models. Developers and lay leaders will gain and share tools to design innovative ministries and unconventional worship experiences that are feasible, desirable, and sustainable while engaging in Jesus’ way of love, justice and transformation.

Poverty Justice / Homeless Justice Ministries Network
This track provides resources and support for developing new ministries of accompaniment with people experiencing poverty, hunger and exclusion. Together we will explore how loving our neighbors as ourselves, especially the marginalized, creates a space for the “Balm of Gilead” to heal our broken communities. We will look at ways to be in partnership with other ministries within the ELCA and across denominational lines, and how to find other community partners.

Prison Congregations — The Prison Congregations track will NOT meet for the San Diego training event. The goal is to offer it at the Chicago CV Training Event, coming up August 26-28, 2020.

Recovery Churches
Building communities of worship that are in ministry with individuals, families and neighborhoods affected by and recovering from addictions.

Reentry Churches
Ministries that develop out of and around ministry with people reentering society after incarceration. How congregations can be a welcoming place and provide spiritual support and community connections to help people transition back into the community.

REDIL / Latinx Churches — REDIL stands for: Red Ecumenica Para el Desarollo de Iglesias Latinas (translated: Ecumenical Network for the Development of Latinx Churches)

——————————

EXISTING OR NEWLY FORMED CONGREGATIONS
(for church pastors / leaders)

Note to DEMs: If you are accompanying one or more mission developers, you may use the “Mission Development” (no-fee) link for yourself.

— Anchor Churches (contact Rob James for more details)

No fee for registration. | Participants will cover hotel expense via the registration link. | Participants must cover travel expenses.

USE THIS LINK: No-Fee Registration — Housing Fee

If you are a lead pastor of a potential or active Anchor Church who has attended an Anchor Church Conference, this track is the next step! Join the ELCA Congregational Vitality Team and Anchor Church facilitators to more deeply explore how your vital congregation can partner with other congregation(s) through Accompaniment or Adoption to grow and enhance vitality for God’s reign. Follow-up activities will include one-on-one coaching and regular Zoom cohort participation for support and sharing tools and ideas.

If you are interested but have not yet participated in an Anchor Church Conference, contact Rob James to learn more and explore this option.

— Newly Organized, Merged and Consolidated Churches (contact Anna-Kari Johnson for more details)

No fee for registration. | No fee for double-occupancy housing (up to three nights). You may pay a fee ($88 per person per night) to upgrade to a single room. | Participants must cover travel expenses.

USE THIS LINK: No-Fee Registration — Fee for Single Room

For leaders of congregations in (or on the way toward) new seasons of shared ministry, including consolidations and mergers. This track will explore the realities of finances, language as a tool to shape change, the importance of visioning at each stage, the impact of naming core values for partnering work, and resources for attending to grief throughout the transitions.

We welcome DEMs to bring one pastor and two lay leaders for this track. Contact Anna-Kari Johnson for more details.

— Vital Congregations (for church leaders focused on revitalization)

Registration Fee: $250 | Participants will use a special link to reserve housing ($149 per night [plus required hotel fees and taxes] per room; please find a roommate as needed) | Participants must cover travel expenses.

FIRST, USE THIS LINK TO Reserve Your Hotel Stay

Please find a roommate as needed. You will be able to note whether you want final payment arrangements to be separate (per person) at hotel check-out, in the “Additional Requests” field of the room-reservation link.

You may also contact the Town and Country reservation department directly by calling 800-772-8527, Option 2, and reference the “Sub 2020 C. V. Training Event” room block. A reservation agent will then be able to assist.

SECOND, USE THIS LINK TO REGISTER: Regular Paid Registration

This training track is for rostered leaders involved in leading a congregational process toward revitalization, renewal and/or transformation. Participants will receive training with a team of experienced practitioners who will share principles, best practices and tools. Topics to be discussed include: spiritual transformation, congregational history, discovering assets, re-rooting in the community, identifying guiding principles and purpose, changing congregational culture, stewardship, evangelical outreach, faith sharing, mission/action planning, and more.
Participants will be invited to learn both from the trainers and from each other as they engage in small group discussions. This is not Part 2 of what was offered in Baltimore.
Nancy Nyland, DEM for the Indiana – Kentucky Synod, will support this team. DEMs: If you have a leader currently engaged in, or about to begin a revitalization, renewal or transformation process, we encourage you to attend this training with your leader(s).

——————————

SYNOD VITALITY STRATEGIES

— Synod Vitality Strategy Basics for DEMs (for DEMs only)

FIRST, USE THIS LINK TO Reserve Your Hotel Stay

SECOND, USE THIS LINK TO REGISTER: Regular Paid Registration

Join Maristela Freiberg, DEM for the New Jersey Synod; Amsalu Geleta, DEM for the Delaware-Maryland Synod; Matthew Short, DEM for the Greater Milwaukee Synod; and Erika Uthe, DEM for the Southeastern Iowa Synod, for a time of collaborative learning and sharing specifically for new DEMs and other DEMs who are working toward developing a framework for building a synod vitality team and strategies. This track will also include 2.5 hours for developing a coaching system in your synod. This is not team training, but rather a collaborative time for DEMs only, who will begin to work on a plan over the 2.5 days of training.

Synod Vitality Strategy Basics for DEMs will include the following components:

Listening to each participating DEM as they tell and describe: their synod context, what they are noticing and wondering about synod vitality strategy planning, as well as naming the strengths, opportunities, hopes and challenges going forward.
Answering questions and providing guidance on: What is a synod vitality strategy? Why have a synod vitality strategy? What are key components to developing and actualizing a synod vitality strategy? How to assemble a synod strategy planning team or table. What resources are available to the synod? What are some of the key learnings and practices resulting from other synod vitality strategies? How to prepare for bringing a synod vitality team for training at the August 2020 event in Chicago.
One synod will present their Synod Vitality Strategy. We rely on a cadre of other DEMs, presenters and partners for this track.
Takeaways will include: an action plan reflecting the DEM’s next steps, ongoing collegiality among the participants via Zoom conversations, and availability of ongoing coaching and mentoring.
This is about a collaborative conversation to share and encourage as well as to learn and support each other in the journey. We aim to become a learning community in 2.5 days of training.

— Synod Vitality Focus Group (INVITATION ONLY — DEMs and synod teams)

FIRST, USE THIS LINK TO Reserve Your Hotel Stay

SECOND, USE THIS LINK TO REGISTER: Regular Paid Registration

DESCRIPTION: This track is for synod teams who desire to develop relationships and capacity within their synod to foster a culture of congregational vitality. Outcomes will include enhanced ability to offer synod-based training for congregations and their leaders to become more vital in their ministry. Participants must come as a team with a director for evangelical mission and minimum of two additional synod vitality team members (teams can be and are encouraged to be larger than this). Participation in this track also requires the presence of an established coaching network within the synod or the intention of fostering one as a commitment to being in this track. This track will be led by Pastor Dave Daubert; DEM Richard Jorgensen, Lower Susquehanna Synod; and Melanie Wallschlaeger, Southwest Washington Synod.

Attention will be given to:

Building a strong synod vitality team
The importance of coaching in renewing congregational vitality
Building shared accountability for success
Developing your own contextually sensitive delivery system
Curriculum for revitalization within the church

A pre-event Zoom session will be held to help leaders prepare and know what to expect from the event. In addition, participants will receive two follow up times: a shared Zoom coaching session and an individual coaching call after the event as a part of this module.

Pre-Event Activities

BOUNDARIES TRAINING FOR MISSION DEVELOPERS

February 17 | Monday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Registration Fee: $95 | Housing Fees: double occupancy: $88/person per night; single occupancy: $176/person per night [includes required hotel fees and taxes] | Participants must cover travel expenses.

USE THIS LINK: Boundaries Training

Note to DEMs: Please share this link with your mission developers who need to take Boundaries Training. Note that the Boundaries Training link will NOT be included in other links. Participants must use the Boundaries Training link. You will need to send it to them.

ABOUT BOUNDARIES TRAINING:

Boundaries Training is required every 24 months for all mission developers who have not completed this
8-hour training in their home synods.
Contact Terri Novak, administrative coordinator, Congregational Vitality (or call 773-380-5072) to send in previously earned Boundaries Training certifications.
Plan to arrive by 7:45 am Monday, February 17, to attend Boundaries Training. Class begins promptly at 8:00 am.

ELCA LEVEL 1 COACH LAUNCH TRAINING

February 17-18 | Monday & Tuesday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

DESCRIPTION: Coaching is a skill of using deep listening and powerful questions as you journey with others to empower them to live more fully into their vocations in life. Coaching is a posture that helps you move forward (even through the most difficult things), builds on learning from relationship and is a powerful catalyst for congregational vitality. This course will introduce you to coaching basics and provides an opportunity to practice these skills. Upon completion, you will have a framework to begin using these tools in formal and informal coaching relationships and you will be a Level 1 Coach in the ELCA.

Contact Jill Beverlin, ELCA Coaching Coordinator, for criteria and availability (or call: 773-380-2692).

UNITED STATES – MEXICO BORDER EXPERIENCE: FRONTIERS FOR MISSION

February 18 | Monday, 8:00 am – approx. 4:30/5:30 pm

Visit this page to learn more.

Questions and Contacts

ONCE REGISTRATION OPENS: For registration questions or problems, contact Kholoud Khoury (773-380-2830), or Philip Rivera (773-380-2553).

For overall event logistical questions, contact Kris Mainellis (773-380-2749).

For content/training questions, contact Anna-Kari Johnson (773-990-0814); Rob James (773-380-2999); or Ruben Duran (630-440-8591), or the contact person listed.

Stay tuned for more details and updates!

by Kris A. Mainellis, program director for communication and events

Directors for Evangelical Mission:

Invite your mission and ministry partners:

United States – Mexico Border Experience

February 18, 2020

Travel Day: February 17

Registration is now open!

The Congregational Vitality Team is reaching out to Directors for Evangelical Mission and their mission partners with a special opportunity to worship together near the beach at the United States – Mexico border.

The Spanish word for “border” is frontera. As we think about the borders in our lives — country, state, neighborhood, even our churches — why not think about these “borders” as FRONTIERS to explore? How can we grow and learn together, as Christ’s people in mission? How can we explore the frontiers of our faith and reach out to all people in love and service, united in the Good News of Jesus Christ?

This experience will take place the day before the Congregational Vitality Training Event in San Diego in February 2020.

This one-day opportunity on February 18 is also open to people who will not be attending the CV Training Event.

USE THIS LINK TO REGISTER: Border Experience

REGISTRATION OPTIONS (per person)

$50 — Includes Registration and Bus Fees

$150 — Includes Registration, Bus, and Double-Occupancy Hotel Room for Monday night, February 17.

$250 – Includes Registration, Bus, and Single-Occupancy Hotel Room for Monday night, February 17.

IMPORTANT NOTES ON HOUSING:

For Congregational Vitality Training Event participants who ALSO want to participate in the Border Experience, Monday night housing (if needed) MUST be reserved through the Border Experience link.

Please use the Border Experience link above to reserve your Monday night housing.

Register for Tuesday – Thursday housing using the CV Training Event link found on the Timing and Training Tracks page. Don’t worry, we will reconcile all the housing requests so that you will remain in the same room for the week’s events.

UPDATED (12/4/19) Rough Agenda:**

8:15 am: Load charter buses at Town and Country Hotel; depart by 8:30 am.
Up to 200 participants will cross the border to the Mexico side to participate, and up to 100 people will participate on the US side.
Join in a border worship experience in a park / open space near the beach (approximately 10:00-11:00 am).
Lunch (arranged with our help, “on your own”)
Travel by charter bus to an immigrant-hospitality center on the Mexico side of the border OR to one or two historic Latinx churches on the US side of the border. This activity will include time to process and share regarding this experience.
Return to the hotel (via charter bus) approximately 4:30 – 5:30 pm.
Testimony from this experience will be shared at the Congregational Vitality Training Event, which begins Wednesday, February 19.
Participate in an optional dessert reception gathering Tuesday evening (beginning at approximately 7:30 pm). You will have an opportunity to hear about what other participants experienced (on each side of the border). This activity is for:
- People who can stay longer in the evening before traveling home OR:
- People who have been invited by their DEM to register (using a separate link) and stay overnight Tuesday night to participate in the CV Training Event, which begins Wednesday, February 19.
- Housing is extremely limited at the Town and Country Hotel: People who are not involved in the CV Training Event who need a room on Tuesday night will need to book their own room at a nearby hotel (there are plenty!) if planning to stay over on Tuesday night. Thank you!

** Exact details may vary. We will keep you posted!

What You Should Bring:

A valid (blue) US passport that will not expire for at least 6 months from February 18, 2020. Please see the very important legal notes below.
Water
Money (U.S. dollars are fine) to purchase food/lunch/snacks.
Snacks, such as snack bars and fruit.
Comfortable shoes (high-sided tennis shoes or boots), and please dress for the weather and for walking on sand and through watery/muddy paths.
Sunscreen and/or a hat.
Travel light, as you will be walking for 30+ minutes both to and from the worship site.

Important Participation Notes:

All participants must be present at the Town and Country Hotel, San Diego, and ready to travel to the border at 8:00 am, Tuesday, February 18. This may mean you will need a hotel room on Monday, February 17.
Participants must be able to walk for up to 30 minutes to and from the worship destination (sandy/wet area near beach).

Legal and Safety Considerations to Help You Plan

Preparation Requirements:

All participants MUST submit the following to our team and to a designated alternate person: emergency contact information including name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address in case of a participant’s ill health, detainment, death or other circumstances.
All participants who plan to enter Mexico MUST have a valid US (blue) passport that will not expire for at least 6 months after February 18, 2020.
All participants who plan to enter into Mexico MUST make a copy of their passport and give it to a family member or other designee.
All participants who plan to enter into Mexico MUST sign an ELCA waiver (available at registration).

Additional Important Notes:

No participant is to allowed to drive a vehicle into Mexico. We have been advised that driving into Mexico without proper Mexican auto insurance is a very serious violation of Mexican law that is strictly enforced by Mexican authorities.
Please check the following US State Department sites for risk information concerning Mexico:

Questions? Contact Pastor Anna-Kari Johnson (se habla Español).

Erin Haligowski, Dayton, OH

Warm-up Question

What is something you could use a little more of? More faith? More money? More talent? More time? More friends? What would having more enable you to do that you can’t do now?

A Little More

Just a couple weeks ago, at 22 years of age, singer/pianist Kodi Lee was named the winner of season 14 of America’s Got Talent. Early in the season, Kodi earned a Golden Buzzer from judge Gabrielle Union to put him directly to the live shows in a performance that went viral online (watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDPdRYF7hTQ).

Kodi Lee was born with optic nerve hypoplasia, which causes his blindness, and was diagnosed with autism at age 4. Early in life, he discovered a love of music that, according to his mom, gave him the ability to “withstand living in this world.” “Because when you’re autistic, it’s really hard to do what everyone else does. It actually saved his life, playing music.”

Discussion Questions

What are the things Kodi has been given “more” of in order to get to where he is now?
How does Kodi’s story help to frame your understanding of needing “more”?

Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4

2 Timothy 1:1-14

Luke 17:5-10

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

Gospel Reflection

In today’s gospel lesson, the disciples ask Jesus to increase their faith. Maybe with just a little more faith, they could really be good disciples, capable of all that makes up Jesus’ command to “follow me.” Maybe with just a little more faith, they could forgive others over and over and over again. Maybe with just a little more faith they could heal sickness and cast out demons like Jesus.

And then Jesus turns back to them and says, “You’ve got everything you need.” He says, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” In Matthew’s gospel, he says “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”

So, what does it mean to have “faith the size of a mustard seed”? A mustard seed is tiny—usually about 1 to 2 millimeters in diameter. That’s not very much. Surely the disciples must have that much if they have already left their homes and lives to follow Jesus.

So, perhaps the question is not whether or not we have enough faith. Perhaps our concern should instead be about how our faith, even if it is so very tiny, is shaping our lives. Do we trust God to walk with us through the storms and trials in our lives? Are we allowing our faith to shape our actions on a daily basis? Whatever challenge we face, when we walk with God, our faith is enough to do the most impossible things.

Discussion Questions

What are the times in your life when you have wanted to ask God for a little more (or a lot more) faith?
When is it difficult for you to follow Jesus’ example?
How does your faith shape your actions on a day to day basis?

Activity Suggestions

Take 5 Minutes: Invite students to spread out (outside is a great option for this) and take five minutes for some one-on-one time with God. Have them use this time to listen, to pray, and to reflect on how the faith they have is more than enough. Come back together and talk about what that experience was like—Uncomfortable? Relaxing? Refreshing? Easy? Difficult?
Invite some guests to come and talk about their life and faith with your class—some older members of the congregation, or parents, or young adults. What do they think is the most important thing for people to learn about Jesus and the church? How does their faith shape their daily lives?

Closing Prayer

Loving God, thank you for the gift of faith, even when that faith is tiny. Help us to walk with you in our daily lives and to serve others in your world. Surround us with a loving community so that we can always know that we are more than enough in your eyes. Amen.

ELCA Blogs

October 27, 2019–Who Belongs/ Who is Free?

Hunger Advocacy Fellows move past obstacles

Seeing Things Differently

“Big Dreams” on World Food Day

Announcing ELCA World Hunger’s Big Dream Grant Awards

October 20, 2019–Your Words Made Flesh

October 13, 2019–Gratitude, Good for the Heart

October Update: U.N. and State Edition

Lutheran Office for World Community, United Nations, New York, N.Y.

Dennis Frado, director

California

Regina Q. Banks, Lutheran Office of Public Policy- California (LOPP-CA) lutheranpublicpolicyca.org

Minnesota

Tammy Walhof, Lutheran Advocacy- Minnesota (LA-MN) lutheranadvocacymn.org

New Mexico

Ruth Hoffman, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry—New Mexico (LAM-NM) lutheranadvocacynm.org

Ohio

Nick Bates, Hunger Network in Ohio hungernetohio.com

Pennsylvania

Tracey DePasquale, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry–Pennsylvania (LAMPa) lutheranadvocacypa.org

Southeastern Synod

Hilton Austin, Southeastern Synod advocacy team

Washington

Paul Benz, Faith Action Network (FAN) fanwa.org

Wisconsin

Cindy Crane, Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin (LOPPW) loppw.org

Timing and Tracks for San Diego CV Training Event

Congregational Vitality Training Event Week & Border Experience

San Diego, California, February 17-21, 2020

UPDATED DECEMBER 4, 2019

Events and Timing

Keep reading to learn details about who should come to each track and applicable fees.

CV Training Event Tracks

MISSION DEVELOPMENT

Fees:

Expectations:

USE THIS LINK for the following Mission Development (New Start) Tracks: No-Fee Registration — Fee for Single Room

New Start Tracks (for mission developers)

EXISTING OR NEWLY FORMED CONGREGATIONS (for church pastors / leaders)

Note to DEMs: If you are accompanying one or more mission developers, you may use the “Mission Development” (no-fee) link for yourself.

— Anchor Churches (contact Rob James for more details)

USE THIS LINK: No-Fee Registration — Housing Fee

— Newly Organized, Merged and Consolidated Churches (contact Anna-Kari Johnson for more details)

No fee for registration. | No fee for double-occupancy housing (up to three nights). You may pay a fee ($88 per person per night) to upgrade to a single room. | Participants must cover travel expenses.

USE THIS LINK: No-Fee Registration — Fee for Single Room

— Vital Congregations (for church leaders focused on revitalization)

FIRST, USE THIS LINK TO Reserve Your Hotel Stay

SECOND, USE THIS LINK TO REGISTER: Regular Paid Registration

SYNOD VITALITY STRATEGIES

— Synod Vitality Strategy Basics for DEMs (for DEMs only)

FIRST, USE THIS LINK TO Reserve Your Hotel Stay

SECOND, USE THIS LINK TO REGISTER: Regular Paid Registration

— Synod Vitality Focus Group (INVITATION ONLY — DEMs and synod teams)

FIRST, USE THIS LINK TO Reserve Your Hotel Stay

SECOND, USE THIS LINK TO REGISTER: Regular Paid Registration

Pre-Event Activities

BOUNDARIES TRAINING FOR MISSION DEVELOPERS

USE THIS LINK: Boundaries Training

ELCA LEVEL 1 COACH LAUNCH TRAINING

UNITED STATES – MEXICO BORDER EXPERIENCE: FRONTIERS FOR MISSION

Questions and Contacts

United States – Mexico Border Experience: Frontiers for Mission

Directors for Evangelical Mission:

Invite your mission and ministry partners:

United States – Mexico Border Experience

February 18, 2020

Travel Day: February 17

Registration is now open!

USE THIS LINK TO REGISTER: Border Experience

IMPORTANT NOTES ON HOUSING:

October 6, 2019–A Little More

EXISTING OR NEWLY FORMED CONGREGATIONS
(for church pastors / leaders)