Obama asking for renewed diplomatic efforts to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “With rapid change under way in the Arab world, we believe the time to act is now—before events make the task of reaching an agree- ment more difficult,” the 20 leaders of Lutheran, Episcopal, Roman Catho- lic and Orthodox churches wrote in a March 7 letter. They also expressed disappointment that the U.S. vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution that called Israeli settlements in Palestin- ian territories illegal. Read the letter at
www.cmep.org.
Extremists in Ethiopia The head of Ethiopia’s Lutheran church welcomed government help to end attacks on Christians in the country, but he warned that political extremists stand in the way. Some Muslim groups attacked Christian homes and buildings (12 belonging to the Lutheran church) in western Oromia in March. “It’s clear certain extremists are trying to use religion as an instrument for disturbing the peace and working hard to use the ensuing conflict for political ends,” said Wak- seyoum Idosa, president of the Ethio- pian Evangelical [Lutheran] Church Mekane Yesus, whose membership comprises 19 percent of the country’s 83 million people.
Boost for campus projects President Barack Obama’s administra- tion asked U.S. college and seminary students to plan and commit to year- long interfaith projects that serve their community. The projects, to be carried out during the 2011-12 academic year, “can unite people of all faiths or even no faith around a common purpose of helping those in need,” Obama said in a video launching the program.
‘It Gets Better’ features Hanson An essay by Presiding Bishop Mark
12 VICTORIA ELFSTROM-BENDER
Six years later, still rebuilding New York Lutherans take a break in February from framing out a six-bedroom
Habitat for Humanity home for a family of refugees in Bayou La Batre, Ala. These volunteers are among the 51 who came to help from congregations in Long Island: Trinity Evangelical, Rocky Point; St. John, Bellmore; St. Peter, Hun- tington Station; and Ascension, Franklin Square. They ranged in age from 14 to 79. For six years, members of these congregations have traveled to areas dam- aged by Hurricane Katrina to help rebuild and repair homes.
Remember military families C
hildren at United Lutheran Church, Red Wing, Minn., made 600 gift bags for families of Minnesota National Guard members serving in the Middle
East. Two Sundays later, parishioners helped stuff each bag with an inspira- tional bookmark, a $10 gift card, note cards, a list of groups the families can call for help, and a personal note.
Many members invited friends to worship to help with the effort called “While They’re Away.”
“About 2,400 soldiers from Minnesota are going to Kuwait and Iraq this spring,” said Steve Timm, a pastor of United. “Those soldiers leave behind husbands and wives, moms and dads, and kids who are making huge sacri- fices. Having them gone a year is a big thing, and for many it’s the second deployment. While many organizations send care packages to soldiers, we wanted to provide care packages for families to let them know we’re praying for them too.” Why 600? “We thought, ‘What can we reasonably do?’ Then we decided to do a little more,” said Timm, who has been deployed to Iraq and areas hit by Hurricane Katrina as a guard chaplain. For more information, contact Timm at revsteve@unitedlutheranchurch.
com. May 2011 11
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