Got the blues? Go to church A study in the Journal of Religion and Health suggests that—at least for some postmenopausal women— there’s a link between optimism and attendance at religious services. “We looked at the religious practices of nearly 100,000 women and ... found a strong connection between going to church or synagogue or any other house of worship and a positive out- look on life,” said Eliezer Schnall, clinical associate professor of psy- chology at Yeshiva University, New York. Those who attended services frequently were 56 percent more likely to have an optimistic outlook than those who didn’t, and were 27 percent less likely to be depressed.
Religious advocacy triples Religious advocacy groups in the nation’s capital have more than tri- pled since the 1970s, with conserva- tive organizations seeing the biggest growth. Faith-based lobbying and advocacy groups spend $390 mil- lion a year to influence lawmakers, mobilize supporters and shape public opinion, according to a November report by the Pew Forum on Reli- gion & Public Life. “Religious advo- cacy is now a permanent and sizable feature of the Washington scene,” said Allen Hertzke, author of the report that reflects shifting fortunes in religion and politics: the rise of the religious right 35 years ago and the decline of mainline Protestant churches.
1,900 malaria nets When the synodical affairs commit- tee at St. Mary Lutheran, Kenosha, Wis., last spring heard about the tragic results of malaria in sub-Sahara Africa, the congregation stepped up to buy as many $10 malaria nets as possible. A $5,000 leadership grant from the church’s foundation pro- vided the incentive, and individual
giving and church fundraising pro- vided the rest: $14,000 over five months. After all ages participated in a community fest, car washes and bowling tournaments, on Nov. 20 $19,000 was presented to a Lutheran World Relief representative during worship.
Middle East peace ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson and leaders of several U.S. churches met Nov. 8 with mem- bers of the Obama administration to call for stronger U.S. leadership in resolving the stalemate in peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. The group said Israel’s construction of a settlement in East Jerusalem threatens the possibility of a viable Palestinian state, preclud- ing a two-state solution and a shared Jerusalem. Hanson told ELCA News Service that more progress must be made toward a two-state solution.
Pastor ministers via Twitter Keith Anderson, pastor of Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Woburn, Mass., calls himself a “Twitter chap- lain.” When a police officer was shot in Woburn, the ensuing manhunt called Anderson to minister to a com- munity that was trying to make sense of the violence. Recognizing many of the people who were tweeting, Anderson was able to provide criti- cal information while the city was on lockdown. “I realized that my role, not only as a resident of Woburn but as a minster in this community, was to try to offer some measure of sol- ace and support and to point to God’s presence in a horrific and confusing situation,” he said. “So I began to tweet prayers.”
Unbelted pope Pope Benedict XVI can cross an out- standing charge of failing to use a
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Parking to drive Youth at Trinity Lutheran, Pullman, Wash., raised funds to travel this July to the
ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans by parking cars in the church lot during Washington State University football games. The first few games were so success- ful the youth decided to use funds from the last game to participate in the com- munity’s toy drive. On Dec. 4 the group headed out to shop for toys, said Megan Brannan, office manager.
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