We were pleased to host Pr. Alexander and Evgeny with the help of the good folks at Unity Lutheran, Bel-Nor who housed them, hosted them showing the city, giving them rest time, an audience at an evening event, and arranging for air transportation to Wichita.  Thanks much, Unity !

We at Christ Lutheran had them for the day of June 11.  We had an interpreter in the morning and evening from the Latvian Lutheran congregation that meets in our building.  A Webster U. student from Russia was able to help us in the afternoon.

In the morning we visited St. Philip’s Lutheran in St. Louis city.  We had a conversation with Janis Hutchinson about the Outreach Ministry out of the congregation.  Pr. Ledbetter also showed the church building and outside gave a description of the  ministry context. We proceeded to the site of the former Immanuel Lutheran and viewed the building exterior, mentioned the historic Lutheran cemetery there, and described the Project Cope ministry across the street. READ MORE.

God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday is an opportunity to celebrate our 25th anniversary as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America — one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor.

We are a church that rolls up our sleeves and gets to work. On Sept., 8, 2013, let’s join together as 4 million members, nearly 10,000 congregations, 65 synods and the churchwide expression for a dedicated day of service.

Let’s clean up neighborhoods, deliver meals, collect supplies for refugees overseas, visit our neighbors or help a child learn to read.

You work every day to welcome your neighbors and make your community a better place. Now let’s do it together as one body, using our hands to do God’s work of restoring and reconciling communities in Jesus Christ’s name throughout the world.

Resources are available at “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday. Bulletin inserts, flyers, t-shirts, may be ordered and a congregational toolkit is available.

CHICAGO (ELCA) — The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) continues to advocate for comprehensive federal immigration reform as the Senate Judiciary Committee holds hearings on legislation that calls for reform. A bipartisan group of senators introduced a reform bill April 17.

In anticipation of the Senate’s bill, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service sponsored a leadership summit April 14-16 that brought together 40 Lutheran leaders from across the country to Capitol Hill to support the new legislation.

“I’m proud that Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service could convene so many skilled and respected leaders at such a critical time at this year’s Lutheran Immigration Leadership Summit, as the Senate rolls out history-making immigration legislation. There’s never been a more important time for us, as Lutherans and Americans, to make our voices heard,” said Linda Hartke, president and CEO of the service.

Based in Baltimore, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service is one of the nation’s leaders in welcoming and advocating for refugees and immigrants and works on behalf of the ELCA. READ MORE