India: A Bible first
One of the world’s newest transla- tions of the Bible was dedicated in October by the Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church in India. It took 10 years and 10 days for Ramchandra Singh, an NELC pastor, to translate the Bible into the Mal Paharia tribal language of northeastern India. His New Testament translation was pub- lished by the Bible Society of India. The NELC now plans to enhance evangelism among the Mal Paharia tribal people through radio broad- casts in that language and the publi- cation of a hymn book.
Moral Mondays Many Lutherans and others across North Carolina are increasingly con- cerned over recent legislation that impacts voting rights, employment, health care and public education. Their concerns have spurred “Moral Mondays,” weekly protests at the state capitol where hundreds have been arrested for civil disobedience. Gordon Myers, pastor of Church of the Abiding Savior, Durham, N.C., is leading an effort to convene ELCA clergy, laity and churchwide staff to explore political issues within a theo- logical context and consider ways faith can shape and inform public participation.
Pope inspires naming Moved by the election of Pope Fran- cis last March, the name Francesco is No. 1 on the list of the most popular baby names in Italy, according to a study. A name origin researcher at Rome’s Tor Vergata University, along with a telephone directory publisher, also showed a trend toward renam- ing streets, town squares and parks for St. Francis of Assisi, the pontiff’s namesake. Before the pope’s elec- tion, Francesco was the No. 2 name behind Lorenzo. The study didn’t include baby girls named Francesca.
SERVIZIO FOTOGRAFICO L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO
A gift for the pope During an audience at the Vatican in October, Lutheran World Federation Gen-
eral Secretary Martin Junge presented Pope Francis with a teapot from a Somali woman who lives in Dadaab, the world’s largest refugee camp. Junge thanked the pope for his clear and passionate reminder to protect migrants and refugees. The pope said the gift would serve as “a reminder of this dimension of ecumen- ism, the ecumenism of martyrdom. [Persecution] does not know denominational barriers. Religious divisions do not define people fleeing conflict or migrating in order to safeguard their own lives. They are ultimately defined by what they are: children of God.”
Shooting anniversary low key Dec. 14 marks one year since 26 children and adults were killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Conn. The Brookfield (Conn.) Clergy Asso- ciation, of which Prince of Peace Lutheran Church is a member, will honor the request of Newtown resi- dents to keep the anniversary low key and private, said Mark Nord- skog, pastor. Churches will pray for Newtown during worship services on that weekend. “Whether we’re trying to make sense of tragedy ourselves or seeking to help our neighbors in Newtown, we rely on our Lord to provide strength, help and hope,” Nordskog said.
Sunday in Pakistan To advocate for religious tolerance, Mufti Mohammad Farooq and 200 to 300 Muslims gathered in Octo- ber outside St. Anthony’s Church in
Lahore, Pakistan, carrying signs that read: “Many faiths, one God” and “One nation, one blood.” The Mus- lim crowd was there to show sup- port after Sept. 22 attacks by Islamic extremists killed more than 100 Christians at a church in Peshawar, Pakistan. “The terrorists showed us what they do on Sundays,” Pakistan for All organizer Mohammad Jibran Nasir, a Muslim, told the crowd. “Here we are showing them what we do on Sundays. We unite.”
10 Quote
Only God can protect us, not the government.
Egyptian Coptic priest Bishay Lofty, after four Coptic Christians were gunned down outside a church as they waited for a wedding in the fall. He was quoted by USA Today.
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