CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA) serve God in many different ways.
Members of Faith Lutheran Church, Everett, Wash., made more than
1,000 quilts to donate.
Congregations in California have raised almost $350,000 and served
30,000 meals to people who are homeless.
And one little boy from a foster home at church camp had "the best
day of his life" doing chores at Luther Springs Camp, Gainesville, Fla.
These stories are told by the 20 finalists in the 2009 ELCA video
contest. The videos represent a diverse group of people doing God's work
with their hands.
The contest was created to raise awareness of the church's tag
line "God's work. Our hands," and to help the ELCA tell its members'
stories, said Scott Hendrickson, director of marketing, public relations
and creative services, ELCA Communication Services.
The finalists are divided into two categories: 10 individual
submissions and 10 submissions from congregations. The videos come from
eight of the nine geographic regions of the ELCA. Some of the individual
submissions came from people who are not members of ELCA congregations.
Congregations and individuals submitted 224 videos for the contest,
which closed on July 15. Registered participants went to the Web site
http://www.GodsworkOurhands.org and rated videos, with the most "popular"
sent to a panel of judges.
The judges are: Anne Farrar, former photo editor of the Dallas
Morning News; the Rev. José Antonio Machado, Luther Seminary and Pacific
Lutheran Theological Seminary vocational coordinator, musician and ELCA
pastor; actress Kirsten Nelson, of the USA Network television series
Psych; and Rick Steves, television host, European tour guide and author.
The winning video in each category will be announced Aug. 22 at the
afternoon session of the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Minneapolis. A
small selection of all videos submitted to the contest will be shown
during each plenary session at the assembly.
First prize in the congregational category is a $5,000 ministry
grant and first prize in the individual category is $2,500. Second prize
for both categories is a high definition "Flip" video camera.
Hendrickson said he wishes he could give everyone who participated
in the contest a prize.
"I am thankful so many people participated," he said, adding that it
gave him a "great sense of pride" to be a part of the video contest.
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The congregational finalists can be viewed at
http://www.ELCA.org/ELCA/Video-Contest/Top10-Congregation.aspx and the
individual finalists can be viewed at http://www.ELCA.org/ELCA/Video-
Contest/Top10-Individual.aspx on the ELCA Web site.
All video submissions can be viewed at
http://www.godsworkourhands.org on the Web. Information on the 2009
Churchwide Assembly is at http://www.ELCA.org/assembly on the ELCA
Website.
* Carrie L. Draeger is a senior communication major with a
concentration in journalism at Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Wash.
This summer she is an intern with the ELCA News Service.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog
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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
