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LWF SUNDAY 2007
Celebrated October 7 in the ELCA
Celebrated October 28 in the ELCIC
66 million
Lutherans DO make a difference!
Join us in gratitude this year as
the Lutheran World Federation
celebrates its 60th anniversary. We came into
existence at the end of WWII – Lutherans gathering around the
table to organize care for the thousands of refugees in post-war
Europe. Now, 60 years later, with 66 million members, we are
still providing care for refugees, and in fact, are the UN’s
second largest partner in global refugee care. We act on behalf
of the 140 member churches in areas of common interest such as
humanitarian assistance, human rights, inter-faith
relationships, theology, mission and development. The LWF is how
we "hold hands" with Lutherans around the world as we come
together to pray, study, seek solutions for a hurting world and
share our joys and sorrows.
The LWF global offices are in
Geneva Switzerland. The North America office is in The Lutheran
Center in Chicago. In the ELCA, 30 cents of every World Hunger
dollar goes to LWF projects. In the ELCIC, gifts given to CLWR
directly impact projects of the LWF.
Contact information:
www.elca.org/lwf
www.lutheranworld.org
lwf@elca.org
1-800-638-3522 ext 2636
CELEBRATE! SING! PRAY!
TELL THE STORIES OF OUR WORK TOGETHER!
Suggested Hymns:
The LWF North America office
commissioned a hymn for this anniversary year. Written by Susan
Cherwien, the hymn is entitled,
By Grace God Calls. You
are free to make copies for your congregation.
Evangelical Lutheran Worship Book
479 – We Come to the Hungry Feast
725 - When the Poor Ones
704 - When Pain of the World
Surrounds Us
708 - Jesu, Jesu
674 – Let Us Talents and Tongues
Employ
Education Hour:
Download the Adult and Children's lesson
plans and use them this Sunday!
Bulletin Insert:
Download and print this black and
white bulletin insert designed for this anniversary year.
Order 4-color bulletins at no cost
(except mailing) from Augsburg Fortress:
1-800-328-4648 ISBN 978 6000 219 192
Interpretive Map:
Order the 4-color map at no cost
(except mailing) from Augsburg Fortress:
1-800-328-4648 ISBN 978 6000 219 178
Prayers:
During the Prayer of the Church,
include petitions on the LWF.
Gracious God, we gather here,
mindful of our family around the world.
We give thanks for all those who
woke this day to feed the hungry and care for those in need.
Make their hands gentle, their arms strong and their hearts
courageous.
Give safety to those who live in
fear of bombs and destruction and bring hope to those who
experience life as hope-less;
We pray for your healing goodness
for those who are ravaged with the disease and despair of AIDS.
We pray especially for the tens of thousands of children who
have been orphaned by the pandemic.
We pray for your gift of comfort for
those living in the destitution of refugee camps and who grieve
for a place called home.
We pray especially for those who
awoke hungry this morning and will go to bed hungry tonight.
We give thanks today for the mission
and ministry of the Lutheran World Federation as together we are
present in countless places around the world, working to create
unity, justice and peace in a world torn by poverty, violence
and oppression. We celebrate our common faith and re-dedicate
ourselves to you.
God of life and hope, may your
gracious Spirit be active and comforting to all. Open our minds
and awaken your call in us. Amen.
Stories for your bulletin or
newsletter or sermon:
Bangladesh- Feeding and teaching
It is 1:00 at Kathalbari Primary
School and there is a buzz of excitement as the children wait
for their lunch. Today, as every day, there are tasty and
nutritious biscuits provided by the LWF. Illiteracy rates are
very high in Bangladesh. The government encourages education but
it will take a long time to change the rates. Children arrive at
school very hungry. The LWF provides mid-day meals for over
600,000 primary school children every day. The children come to
school to eat and to learn!
66 million Lutherans DO make a
difference!
Eritrea – Farming
Gergishu Mebrahts says, "I am the
mother of six. My family depends on the produce from our plot of
land in order to live. We do not harvest enough to feed my
family for the whole year. Every year we hope for a better
harvest but don’t get it. I learned that it was lack of
knowledge and capacity that kept us from improving our
livelihood. LWF came to our village and taught us about credit,
sanitation and soil conservations. They also helped me buy
goats. We will sell young goats and be able to buy food. Thank
you, LWF."
66 million Lutherans DO make a
difference!
Malawi – Fish farming
Timbiri village is succeeding in
fish farming. The three ponds that the LWF helped them start
have increased to 14. The training that LWF offered, improved
the knowledge in feeding and management of fish. One club member
said, "We are now getting money from the sale of the fish. We
now are getting protein and have even opened a bank account. We
are teaching other villages how to construct and stock the ponds
and how to feed and manage the fish. Thank you, LWF!"
66 million Lutherans DO make a
difference!
In addition to your prayers you can
support the LWF and its ongoing work. In the ELCA, gifts to the
LWF Endowment Fund are handled through the ELCA Foundation.
Contact 1-800-638-3522 ext 2970 for more information. Gifts to
the ELCA World Hunger Appeal also directly support the work of
the LWF. In the ELCIC, gifts may be sent directly to the ELCIC
National Church Offices in Winnipeg or to Canadian Lutheran
World Relief (www.clwr.org)
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