CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In October, congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) are asked to light a candle and say a prayer honoring or remembering people who live with mental illness, said the Rev. Lisa T. Cleaver, director for disability ministries and deaf ministry, ELCA Division for Church in Society.
The Lutheran Network on Mental Illness/Brain Disorders, a ministry of the ELCA and LCMS, sponsors the Annual All-Lutheran Candelighting for Mental Illness. The network prepared a special "call to worship" and prayer that congregations can use to begin worship services one Sunday in October.
"Last year we answered more than 300 requests by ELCA congregations for the candlelighting material. I am sure we will reach that number again and will probably surpass it," said Cleaver.
There are about 10,851 congregations in the ELCA and 6,145 congregations in the LCMS, across the United States and Caribbean. The materials invite other Christians and people of other faiths to use or re-write the prayers.
"As a caring community of believers, there are things that members of congregations can do to help and support those who live with mental illness," said Cleaver.
"First, be supportive. Mental illness can be very isolating. Persons with mental illness need to be included in congregational life. This support should also include the families of people with mental illness. They, too, live with this disease, even though it is secondhand. They also need our support, love and understanding," said Cleaver.
"Second, make an effort to get to know individuals with mental illness as people. People with mental illness are not only people with a disease that many people are uncomfortable around. They are some of God's gifted people who have much to offer all of us. We are all created in the image of God. We are all called by God. We are all loved by God. Therefore, we are called by God to love and support all God's people wherever and whenever we can," she said.
"Finally, pray for people who live with mental illness every day of their lives, for those who love them, for those who work to help them and for those who struggle to understand and support them," said Cleaver. -- -- --
The "call to worship" and prayer, as well as instructions on ordering church bulletin inserts, are posted at http://www.elca.org/dcs/candlelighting.html on the ELCA Web site.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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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 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities 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.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
