An e-mailed message from ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson that received this evening:
January 13, 2010
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:
The first chaotic reports and images now are coming out of Haiti, documenting the devastation caused by yesterday’s massive earthquake. Haitian officials estimate that more than a hundred thousand people may have died and that the quake destroyed major parts of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America already is responding through the Lutheran World Federation’s Haiti Program. Given the devastation caused by this earthquake, the ELCA has committed an initial $250,000 from ELCA International Disaster Response for Haiti and has authorized an additional $500,000 as congregations respond both to the immediate needs and long-term rebuilding efforts.
We give thanks to God that LWF staff escaped injury from the earthquake. We also give thanks that we have trusted and effective partners on the ground in Haiti who already are at work helping earthquake survivors. The ELCA is the largest regular supporter of the LWF’s program in Haiti, which helps communities escape the deep poverty in which so many Haitians live. Since staff is already in place, no precious time will be lost in shaping an effective response. The work of providing food and shelter and in helping people to rebuild their lives is under way.
We give thanks also for our partners in this work. The LWF staff in Haiti also was tapped to coordinate the responses of Protestant and Orthodox churches throughout the world through Action by Churches Together (ACT). In addition, the ELCA, in coordination with the Florida-Bahamas Synod, will be working to provide disaster support to and possibly through the emerging Lutheran church in Haiti.
More details of the ELCA's response and a disaster insert for congregational use are posted on www.elca.org/disaster as communication channels are restored. Please share with members and friends both the urgent need in one of the United States’ closest neighbors and the effective means by which their church is responding. Please go to http://www.elca.org/haitiearthquake or call 800-638-3522 to give toward our response to the disaster in Haiti.
In God’s grace,
Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Showing posts with label Lutheran World Federation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lutheran World Federation. Show all posts
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Haiti's Devastation
There's not much to add to the various news reports of the earthquake destruction in Haiti other than to note Pastor Zip's and Zion's connections to relief efforts.
For over 20 years Peoria's Friends of the Children of Haiti, has been sending medical missionary teams to Haiti several times each year. They have operated a medical clinic in the rural, seaside village of Cyvadier since building it in 1999-2000. Cyvadier is on Haiti's southern peninsula, "25 miles and one mountain rages south of Port-au-Prince," writes the Journal Star's Phil Luciano in today's paper. Luciano serves as president of FOTCOH's board of directors.
The next medical missionary team was scheduled to leave Peoria this coming Monday for its 11-day mission. This team's co-leaders are Zionite Sue Behrens, Director of Emergency Services at OSF St. Francis Medical Center, and her husband Eric, who is also FOTCOH's Executive Director. As of now the team is still going. The clinic has been damaged, but is operating. You can read further updates from Eric and Sue on the Voices from the Clinic blog. Click here if you are interested in contributing to Friends of the Children of Haiti.
Lutheran Disaster Relief is already involved in relief efforts in Haiti, and you can learn about that at www.elca.org/haitiearthquake. The Lutheran World Federation's offices and staff in Haiti were spared, so they are already at work with Lutheran World Relief.. You can contribute directly to Lutheran relief efforts from this page or over the phone at 1-800-638-3522. Lutheran International Disaster Response has already committed $750,000 to Haiti earthquake relief.
There are, of course, many other worthy organizations on the scene now and for the long-term. Support them. Pray for them. Pray for the Hatians.
For over 20 years Peoria's Friends of the Children of Haiti, has been sending medical missionary teams to Haiti several times each year. They have operated a medical clinic in the rural, seaside village of Cyvadier since building it in 1999-2000. Cyvadier is on Haiti's southern peninsula, "25 miles and one mountain rages south of Port-au-Prince," writes the Journal Star's Phil Luciano in today's paper. Luciano serves as president of FOTCOH's board of directors.
The next medical missionary team was scheduled to leave Peoria this coming Monday for its 11-day mission. This team's co-leaders are Zionite Sue Behrens, Director of Emergency Services at OSF St. Francis Medical Center, and her husband Eric, who is also FOTCOH's Executive Director. As of now the team is still going. The clinic has been damaged, but is operating. You can read further updates from Eric and Sue on the Voices from the Clinic blog. Click here if you are interested in contributing to Friends of the Children of Haiti.
Lutheran Disaster Relief is already involved in relief efforts in Haiti, and you can learn about that at www.elca.org/haitiearthquake. The Lutheran World Federation's offices and staff in Haiti were spared, so they are already at work with Lutheran World Relief.. You can contribute directly to Lutheran relief efforts from this page or over the phone at 1-800-638-3522. Lutheran International Disaster Response has already committed $750,000 to Haiti earthquake relief.
There are, of course, many other worthy organizations on the scene now and for the long-term. Support them. Pray for them. Pray for the Hatians.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Baltic Lutheran Bishops Send Message
MESSAGE FROM THE MEETING OF THE BALTIC LUTHERAN BISHOPS
The leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Estonia, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia and Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lithuania met in Tallinn on the 3rd and 4th of November, 2009 to strengthen the long experience of unity of the Lutheran churches in the Baltic countries and to pray for the fellowship among Christians of the whole world, recognizing that in our time the ties among and within Christian communities in many places are put to the test. Bishops also discussed tasks and responsibilities of their churches looking for better ways of co-operation in the future. Christian faith means living with Christ and serving one another.
Especially at times of the economic difficulties when so many people have lost their external foothold and inner peace, we invite our compatriots to expand their appreciation of their Christian roots and to utilize all the spiritual wealth that is revealed in the Holy Scripture and offered to everyone who turns to God and puts their trust on Christ. The present crisis in the world economy is a fruit of a long term failure to act accordingly the principles which God has laid in the foundations of His creation. Consumerism and individualism of the modern society have taken their toll. To look for solution only by means of mending economy would mean to repeat the same mistake. A spiritual renewal must come first, a renewed sense of balance between rights and obligations, communion empathy, solidarity, and mutual support. We believe that the most convincing inner motivation for that change is found in an encounter of a person with the living Christ. To facilitate that encounter by word and deed is the first and foremost calling of the Christian church. Jesus Christ said: “Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” (Matt.28:19-20)
The Christian community as a part of the society is not separated from issues related to the natural and human environment both locally and globally. Justice in the society and life quality of the people or protection of our Baltic Sea against the state negligence and corporate exploitation are some of the critical examples of this area of concern. As communities gathered around the Word of God and the keepers of Christian ethos our churches must address the spiritual root-causes of the contemporary problems. The churches must remember that the main instrument entrusted to them by God is His word – the law and the gospel - and the service to the neighbour in charity.
We also invite our political powers to realize more clearly the spiritual dimension of the human life and the good fruits of a positive co-operation between state, municipalities, schools and the church. Teaching and implementing Christian principles strenghthen the family as well as the whole community. Liberty of conscience and freedom of speech belong to the values of society defining religious life not only as a private but also as a public social right which has to be fostered. Religious education and religious studies form an inseparable part of this right.
At the present time a common witness of churches is vitally important, therefore we express our deepest concern about modern tendencies that weaken the fellowship among Christians and cause divisions in and among churches. The recent decisions made by some member churches of the Lutheran World Federation to approve of religious matrimony for couples of the same gender and to equate such conjugal life with marriage or to ordain non celibate homosexual persons for pastoral or episcopal office epitomize these tendencies that are tearing apart fellowhip among Christians. We affirm that the marriage is the conjugal life between a man and a woman and that a homosexual activity is incompatible with the discipleship of Christ. We believe that in following the modern trends, churches are departing from the apostolic doctrine of human sexuality and marriage. We see the Lutheran communion and eccumenical efforts endangered by such decisions and actions because they lead to a situation where the Lutheran churches, members of the Lutheran World Federation are not able to fully recognize each others ecclesiastical offices, to exchange the ministries and to participate together in preaching the Word and celebrating the sacraments.
We call upon our Lutheran sisters and brothers to unity and co-operation based upon the foundation of Holy Scripture and loyalty to the Lutheran confessions. Contemporary challenges demand a firm stand based upon timeless truths and values. The common understanding of the Gospel by churches is a treasure we cannot afford to lose and it needs to be passed on to the current and future generations. Our mission is to be faithful in that which we have received, God’s mercy. We are to serve our Lord and our neighbours thus until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God (Eph. 4:13)
Archbishop of Riga Janis Vanags
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia
Bishop of Daugavpils Einars Alpe
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia
Bishop of Liepaja Pavils Bruvers
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia
Bishop Mindaugas Sabutis
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lithuania
Archbishop Andres Põder
Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church
Archbishop emeritus Kuno Pajula
Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church
Bishop Einar Soone
Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church
The leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Estonia, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia and Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lithuania met in Tallinn on the 3rd and 4th of November, 2009 to strengthen the long experience of unity of the Lutheran churches in the Baltic countries and to pray for the fellowship among Christians of the whole world, recognizing that in our time the ties among and within Christian communities in many places are put to the test. Bishops also discussed tasks and responsibilities of their churches looking for better ways of co-operation in the future. Christian faith means living with Christ and serving one another.
Especially at times of the economic difficulties when so many people have lost their external foothold and inner peace, we invite our compatriots to expand their appreciation of their Christian roots and to utilize all the spiritual wealth that is revealed in the Holy Scripture and offered to everyone who turns to God and puts their trust on Christ. The present crisis in the world economy is a fruit of a long term failure to act accordingly the principles which God has laid in the foundations of His creation. Consumerism and individualism of the modern society have taken their toll. To look for solution only by means of mending economy would mean to repeat the same mistake. A spiritual renewal must come first, a renewed sense of balance between rights and obligations, communion empathy, solidarity, and mutual support. We believe that the most convincing inner motivation for that change is found in an encounter of a person with the living Christ. To facilitate that encounter by word and deed is the first and foremost calling of the Christian church. Jesus Christ said: “Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” (Matt.28:19-20)
The Christian community as a part of the society is not separated from issues related to the natural and human environment both locally and globally. Justice in the society and life quality of the people or protection of our Baltic Sea against the state negligence and corporate exploitation are some of the critical examples of this area of concern. As communities gathered around the Word of God and the keepers of Christian ethos our churches must address the spiritual root-causes of the contemporary problems. The churches must remember that the main instrument entrusted to them by God is His word – the law and the gospel - and the service to the neighbour in charity.
We also invite our political powers to realize more clearly the spiritual dimension of the human life and the good fruits of a positive co-operation between state, municipalities, schools and the church. Teaching and implementing Christian principles strenghthen the family as well as the whole community. Liberty of conscience and freedom of speech belong to the values of society defining religious life not only as a private but also as a public social right which has to be fostered. Religious education and religious studies form an inseparable part of this right.
At the present time a common witness of churches is vitally important, therefore we express our deepest concern about modern tendencies that weaken the fellowship among Christians and cause divisions in and among churches. The recent decisions made by some member churches of the Lutheran World Federation to approve of religious matrimony for couples of the same gender and to equate such conjugal life with marriage or to ordain non celibate homosexual persons for pastoral or episcopal office epitomize these tendencies that are tearing apart fellowhip among Christians. We affirm that the marriage is the conjugal life between a man and a woman and that a homosexual activity is incompatible with the discipleship of Christ. We believe that in following the modern trends, churches are departing from the apostolic doctrine of human sexuality and marriage. We see the Lutheran communion and eccumenical efforts endangered by such decisions and actions because they lead to a situation where the Lutheran churches, members of the Lutheran World Federation are not able to fully recognize each others ecclesiastical offices, to exchange the ministries and to participate together in preaching the Word and celebrating the sacraments.
We call upon our Lutheran sisters and brothers to unity and co-operation based upon the foundation of Holy Scripture and loyalty to the Lutheran confessions. Contemporary challenges demand a firm stand based upon timeless truths and values. The common understanding of the Gospel by churches is a treasure we cannot afford to lose and it needs to be passed on to the current and future generations. Our mission is to be faithful in that which we have received, God’s mercy. We are to serve our Lord and our neighbours thus until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God (Eph. 4:13)
Archbishop of Riga Janis Vanags
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia
Bishop of Daugavpils Einars Alpe
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia
Bishop of Liepaja Pavils Bruvers
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia
Bishop Mindaugas Sabutis
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lithuania
Archbishop Andres Põder
Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church
Archbishop emeritus Kuno Pajula
Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church
Bishop Einar Soone
Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church
Monday, October 02, 2006
Our Father?
This is the prayer included in the materials provided by the Lutheran World Federation for use on LWF Sunday 2006, which was yesterday:
Our Creator in heaven,
you have created everyone--those dear to us and also our enemies. You are our creator and you love us all, unconditionally.
Hallowed be your name
in our lives so that your love may change our hearts and fill our lives with what really matters.
Your kingdom come
through us now--so that the abundance of mercy will give a new perspective to what we do and say, and to the faith we live.
You will be done on earth as it is in heaven,
for your thoughts are not ours, neither are our ways your ways. You know your plans for us - plans to prosper and not to harm us, plans for hope and future.
Give us today our daily bread
for body and soul. Many needy people are seeking justice, truth and freedom. Encourage us by your Word.
Forgive us our sins
when our hearts are filled with anger, sadness and hopelessness. Teach us how to
Forgive those who sin against us.
Give us love and heal our wounded memories.
Lead us not into temptation
of being deaf, blind and mute. Give us courage to denounce what is wrong. Make us ambassadors of truth who stand beside the suffering.
Deliver us from evil
You are holy, God. You lead us and love us above all, for
Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
(Adapted from a prayer by Slavka Danielova, 2005 LWF Youth Pre-Council Workshop, Jerusalem.)
No, we did not use this prayer at Zion.
Our Creator in heaven,
you have created everyone--those dear to us and also our enemies. You are our creator and you love us all, unconditionally.
Hallowed be your name
in our lives so that your love may change our hearts and fill our lives with what really matters.
Your kingdom come
through us now--so that the abundance of mercy will give a new perspective to what we do and say, and to the faith we live.
You will be done on earth as it is in heaven,
for your thoughts are not ours, neither are our ways your ways. You know your plans for us - plans to prosper and not to harm us, plans for hope and future.
Give us today our daily bread
for body and soul. Many needy people are seeking justice, truth and freedom. Encourage us by your Word.
Forgive us our sins
when our hearts are filled with anger, sadness and hopelessness. Teach us how to
Forgive those who sin against us.
Give us love and heal our wounded memories.
Lead us not into temptation
of being deaf, blind and mute. Give us courage to denounce what is wrong. Make us ambassadors of truth who stand beside the suffering.
Deliver us from evil
You are holy, God. You lead us and love us above all, for
Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
(Adapted from a prayer by Slavka Danielova, 2005 LWF Youth Pre-Council Workshop, Jerusalem.)
No, we did not use this prayer at Zion.
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