Thursday, January 28, 2010

2010 Prayers for our ELCA Missionaries Kate Lawler and David Wunsch

Please support our ELCA missionaries, Kate and David through prayer. Here are some suggested ways you can support them in prayer each month.

January - for safe travels on their visit to sponsoring churches in the US and as they return to South America

February - for financial support of the Global Mission work of Kate and David and other ELCA missionaries

March - for the companion Lutheran churches Kate and David serve in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Peru and Uraguay as they celebrate Lent and Easter.

April - for the Young Adults in Mission program Kate and David coordinate in Argentina and Uraguay

May - for our missionaries Kate, David, and their children Emily and Matthew

June - for the work of Kate and David in supporting leadership development in our companion churches in South America

July - for the work of Kate and David in encouraging and supporting peace and reconciliation in South America

August - for the ongoing financial support of our missionaries Kate and David and other ELCA missionaries

September - for Kate and David and their work with the young women in South America

October - for Kate and David and their work with confirmation classes in South America

November - for Kate and David who face challenges in feeding the spirits of those they serve in South America many of whom also have hungry bodies

December - for our missionaries Kate, David and their children Emily and Matthew as they celebrate Christmas in South America. We remember with thanks their visit to St. Thomas at this time last year.

Friday, January 15, 2010

ELCA Resources for the Earthquake in Haiti

Gracious God,
Your word of peace stills the storms that rage in our world.
Bring hope to places that know devastation in the calm after the earthquake.
Bring comfort to those who grieve the loss of loved ones and property.
Let your love be known through those who work to bring order in the chaos.
Help us to shoulder the burden of suffering
and make us bearers of the hope that can be found in you
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

from the ELCA website

We mourn the loss of life and ministry of Ben Larson, ELCA Wartburg seminary student in this earthquake. He and his wife led the music at the recent ELCA Global Mission Event we attended:

http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization/Communication-Services/News/Releases.aspx?a=4394

Here is the link for ELCA resources in disaster response worship materials, prayers, donating to LWR for Haiti relief work and more:

http://www.elca.org/Our-Faith-In-Action/Responding-to-the-World/Disaster-Response/Ongoing-Responses/Haiti-Earthquake.aspx

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Prayer for Haiti

Comforting Lord,
Be with the people of Haiti
As they mourn their loved ones
Who have died in the earthquake.
Give the rescue and relief workers
The strength, courage and compassion
They need for the difficult job they face.
Help us to continue to hold this country
In our thoughts and prayers over the
Coming months as they continue
To rebuild their lives and their country.
Amen.

Friday, January 1, 2010

2009 Mission Report

Hello!
Please review this draft report to council and let us know if we missed something. It's been an active year and we continue to seek God's guidance for how we can be involved in 2010.

January: "Taste of South America" event with recipe booklet as fundraiser for our ELCA missionaries, Kate Lawler and David Wunsch.

February/March: Planning increased communication and educational activities for our Sister Parish relationship: create bulletin board, send Easter card to Chichipate, plan panel discussion.

April: Guatemalan Panel Discussion to raise awareness of important issues in Guatemala.

May: St. Thomas Lenders group started, providing global micro loans through Kiva.org online. Plant sale fundraiser for ECHO (Education Concerns for Hunger Organization).

June: Mission Media Series continues with several summer sessions on environmental issues, "End of the Spear" and the documentary with our bishop in it, "In God's Name."

July: Visit from our sister synod - Francesca joined us from Chile, participated in our community and then the ELCA Youth Gathering.

August: Solidarity Scarves fundraiser for the Sister Parish Solidarity trip to Guatemala.

September: St. Thomas Mission Fair, where all are welcome to share their projects, activities, organizations with an emphasis on education, not fund raising. Began involvement with new local Inter-faith winter shelter. Introduction to "Every Person a Missionary" materials through small groups at St. Thomas.

October: CROP Walk to eliminate poverty and hunger. Sister Parish Solidarity trip to Guatemala.

November: Guatemalan Advent Series, Sister Parish Devotions book and "Sharing the Dream" fundraiser for our Sister Parish activities.

December: Visit from our ELCA missionaries, Kate Lawler and David Wunsch (and David's parents and Kate/David's kids)

Mission Related Worship: Throughout the year, the Mission Committee recommended various additions to our worship to focus on certain mission issues, eg. Global Mission Sunday, Sister Synod Sundays, Crop Walk commissioning/prayers, Earth Day liturgy/prayers and more.