ELCA members to put their faith into action

     ​CHICAGO (ELCA) – The 4 million members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are being called to put their faith into action and engage in service activities across the country Sept. 7 as part of “God’s Work. Our Hands.” Sunday.
     “Whether we plant gardens in urban communities, write letters to soldiers and veterans or serve meals to people and families who are food insecure, we dedicate this day to be church together – as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – for the sake of the world,” said the Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, ELCA presiding bishop, who shares how she plans to spend her day in a video greeting at http://bit.ly/1pCrGEN.
     Now in its second year, “God’s Work. Our Hands.” Sunday is designed to celebrate the mission and ministries of the denomination and invite the nearly 10,000 ELCA congregations to gather together in service in ways that share the love of God with all people.
     A group of 14 ELCA congregations of the ELCA Southeastern Iowa Synod, for example, are banding together to participate in the day of service by partnering with local grocery stores and communities to donate food for local food pantries and more. This effort is a continuation of the synod’s theme from their 2013 Synod Assembly, “When Hungry Hearts Find Bread.”
     “We hope that the community will see Lutherans being church in the world, responding to the needs of others – in this case those who are hungry,” said the Rev. Travis Fisher, pastor of St. Mark Evangelical Lutheran Church in Davenport, Iowa. “It will also show that we as congregations are working together for the sake of the gospel.”
      With the help of the 14 communities, they hope to fill 14 pickup trucks full of non- perishable items as well as inviting members of the community to come worship. At each of the 14 stations, they hope to have eight to 10 people from each congregation to serve as volunteers at a site, working two or three shifts.
     Helping to store food is just one example of how ELCA congregations are serving alongside their neighbors. Although the designated day of service is targeted for Sept. 7, 2014, ELCA congregations engage in service projects all-year round.
     “Our lives have been changed by our relationship with God through Jesus Christ, and it’s that encounter with Jesus that frees us to make a difference,” said Eaton.
     Information about “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday is available at http://www.elca.org/dayofservice.
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with about 4 million members in nearly 10,000 congregations across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer, Martin Luther.
 By Jeremy Lensing, an intern for ELCA Public Relations and a student at Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill., majoring in multi-media mass communication and communication studies.
For information contact:
Melissa Ramirez Cooper, Manager, Public Relations
773-380-2956 or email
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