Spirit of Joy Starts
The ELCA is starting a new mission in North Ridgeville called “Spirit of Joy” under the leadership of Pastor Glenn Zimbelman. Over the summer they had 3 Preview worships, with a worship total of 75, 108 and 90. They now are heading into every Sunday worship beginning September 7 at 10:30 a.m. Spirit of Joy has a new worship location and will be leasing space from the New Life Church at 38079 Center Ridge Rd. This move was necessary due to its worship size. They will be having Bible Blast countdown Sundays Sept. 7, 14, and 21 with Blast Off Sunday for Bible Blast set for Sunday, Sept. 28 (ages 4 through 6th grade). Confirmation will be coordinated with Prince of Peace, Westlake. Mid-August they had 137 families on the prospect list and God continues to provide people.
Caleb Earns Eagle Scout
Caleb Roberts is the latest member of Emmanuel Troop #110 to earn an Eagle Scout Award. His Court of Honor was held May 22 at the Lorain County Metro Parks Visitor Center. His eagle project was to construct a dog walking path behind the Friendship Animal Protective League. Caleb is the son of Janet and Tim Roberts, who are residents of Eastern Heights. Click here for a photo album of the event.
Methodists Vote for Full Communion
The United Methodist Church's General Conference has voted 864-19 to establish full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). In November, the ELCA's Church Council will consider transmitting this proposal to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly for approval. Under a full communion, the churches would work of visible unity in Jesus Christ, recognize each other's ministries and provided for the interchange of clergy where appropriate.
Youth Gathering Seeks Volunteers
Wanted: 800 young adults (ages 20 to 25) to volunteer as servant companions for the ELCA National Youth Gathering, July 20–26, 2009, in New Orleans, which has as its theme Jesus, Justice, Jazz. Each companion will welcome, lead, facilitate and care for a group of 45 youth and their adult leaders throughout the gathering. Volunteers must arrange their own transportation to and from New Orleans. The gathering will provide room and board. To apply, visit www.elca.org/gathering (click on “Gathering Volunteers”).
First Bible: Book of Faith Resource Available
This spring the ELCA published his first resource for the Bible: Book of Faith initiative. It is entitled Opening the Book of Faith: Lutheran Insights for Bible Study. It explores four methods of Bible study and then applies each to four Scripture texts. For more information on the initiative, visit www.elca.org/bookoffaith.
No Child Left Inside
You are invited to enjoy God's beautiful creation this summer at Camp Mowana or Camp Luther. There is a national movement called “No Child Left Inside .” This movement was sparked by Richard Louv's book Last Child in the Woods. In this ground-breaking work, Louv researched the effects of a society where children are “unplugged” from the outdoors and “plugged-in” to electronics. He refers to this nature-child disconnect as “nature deficit disorder.” He links the lack of time in nature with some of the most disturbing childhood trends including deficit disorders, obesity, and depression. A growing wave of research indicated that child who spend time outdoors are healthier, overall, than their indoor counterparts. Participating in a week at a Lutheran Outdoor Ministries in Ohio (LOMO) camp is a great way for your child and family to geat connected with creation and our Creator! Register online at www.lomocamps.org.
Family Promise
Family Promise of Lorain County and its Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) seek to help homeless families achieve and sustain independence by providing shelter, meals, and professional support through a community network of congregations. IHN guests stay each night in a congregation where trained volunteers serve home-cooked meals, spend time with the quests in the evening and stay with the guests overnight. During the day families spend time at the Day Center. There they have the opportunity to shower, complete laundry, and receive intensive case management to assist in securing housing and other needs. The maximum number of guests involved with each congregation is limited to 15. This program mainly serves young mothers and their families. Typically, half the guests are children, most of whom are under six years of age. It does not serve those using drugs or alcohol, those with untreated or severe mental illness, those seeking shelter from domestic violence or those with recent felony convictions. Emmanuel's Social Service Ministry is exploring the possibility of hosting this program one or two weeks out of the year over the summer. Watch for emerging developments and potential opportunities to help.
Your Money NOW Online
The office of the Ohio Treasurer of State has created a new web site called “Your Money NOW,” which seeks to be a neutral and timely resource for personal finance. The web site is located at www.yourmoneynowonline.org. It covers issues such as how to eliminate debt, deal with foreclosure, manage credit, make big purchases sensibly and buy a home. It is user-friendly, interactive and it is not biased because it does not try to steer consumers to buy products or services of any kind. [Webmaster: This is a public service announcement.]
ELCA on Human Sexuality
The ELCA's Task Force for Studies on Sexuality has released the “Draft Social Statement on Human Sexuality” for study and response.
In the ELCA, social statements are teaching documents that assist Lutherans in forming judgments on social issues. They set policy for the church and guide the church's advocacy and work in church and society.
The draft states that “degrees of sexual intimacy should be carefully matched to degrees of affection and commitment” and that “the greatest physical intimacies, such as intercourse, should be matched with and sheltered by the highest level of legally binding commitment, as found in marriage between a man and a woman.” Marriage is understood as “a structure of mutual promises between a man and woman blessed by God (Mark 10:7-9) and authorized in a legal arrangement required by the state.”
The draft statement says that the ELCA “does not favor or give approval to cohabitation arrangements outside of marriage,” although it does note that “certain laws and economic realities in this society create economic hardship for many, including senior citizens, who desire to be legally married.”
The draft observes that “after many years of study and conversation, this church does not have consensus regarding loving and committed same-gender relationships.” Although this church lacks consensus, it encourages all people to live out their faith in the community of the baptized. Following previous decisions of this church, the statement calls on congregations to welcome, care for and support same-gender-oriented people and their families, and to advocate for their legal protection.” And it declares that this church “has committed itself to continuing to accompany one another in study, prayer, discernment, and pastoral care” on this difficult matter.
The full document can be viewed and downloaded at www.ELCA.org/faithfuljourney/draft on the ELCA's Web site.
Community Meal Program Grows
The Community Meal Program hosted at Saint Andrew's is a cooperative venture of area churches to ensure that a hot meal is served in the city of Elyria every day of the year. It covers the 8–10 days each month that are not covered by other providers. The ministry has grown from serving an average of 30 people in an evening to over 90 per meal. Here are the stats:
- In 2003, we served 2,000 meals
- In 2004, we served 6,700 meals
- In 2005, we served 8,300 meals
- In 2006, we served 8,900 meals
- In 2007, we served 9,700 meals
Emmanuel takes two nights per month (first and second Mondays). That means that we served up 2,000 of those plates in 2007. Good job, team! Most meals are heat and serve. If you can set and clear a table, dish up food, and wash dishes, we have a place for you. Even a single hour at the beginning or the end helps if you cannot be there for the entire time.
Summer Jobs at Lutheran Camps
Are you a college aged person looking for a summer job? We encourage you to apply for a summer job with Lutheran Outdoor Ministries in Ohio (LOMO). This is an outstanding opportunity to earn money while at the same time engaging in a very meaningful ministry and service. There is a summer application and reference form on LOMO's web site at www.lomocamps.org. See the pastor if you need a reference.
Mission Investment Fund of the ELCA
Earn interest while you build the church. The Mission Investment Fund of the ELCA offers a number of different investment products at competitive rates. Some work like CDs. Others like a money market checking account. Through your investment, the Fund provides loans to new mission congregations for purchasing land and the initial construction, and to established congregations for renovations, additions and relocations. Call (877) 886-3522 or visit www.MissionInvestmentFund.org for the current rates and offerings.
Pronouncing Biblical Words
Are you having a tough time pronouncing biblical words as a reader during worship. Visit the Netministries web site to HEAR pronunciations of those unfamiliar words or names.
How Rich are You?
The “Global Rich List” has a free calculator to determine where you stand in the line of wealth compared to the other 6 billion people in the world. Plug in your numbers and check it out.
Grace Matters
Grace Matters is a radio and podcast ministry of the ELCA. It can be heard in Cleveland on WHK AM 1420 on Sunday mornings at 7:30 a.m. Each program aims to meet listeners where they happen to be in their lives, but not leave them exactly as they were found. The host is the Rev. Peter W. Marty, senior pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Davenport, Iowa.
He says, “There is nothing quite like grace. It's one of the most bizarre things in the world. Like punching 3 + 3 into your calculator and coming up with 7, grace is that love of God that always adds up to more than we deserve.” To learn more about Grace Matters go to the Web site at www.gracematters.org where you can also listen to the program online or download programs to your MP3 player or iPod. The quality of this program is excellent.
Daily Discipleship
Daily Discipleship is a lectionary-based curriculum available online from the ELCA Web site. It is ideal for groups desiring to focus on God's Word and apply that Word to their daily lives. This free downloadable resource provides a two-page reflection guide for each Sunday's Gospel. Click here for the studies.