Page 3 - ELCA News

ELCA to Offer Worship Jubilee 2007 in Chicago, August 3-6
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) second Worship Jubilee is August 3-6 at Navy Pier, Chicago, Ill. The event precedes the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. Organized by the worship staff of the ELCA, the event will draw more than 700 people involved in worship and music throughout synods and congregations of the ELCA.

The event will celebrate the publication of Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW), and the future of renewing worship under the theme, "Thanks Be to God." ELW is a new primary worship resource developed by the ELCA, released Oct. 3, 2006.

"Worship Jubilee 2007 will reflect the diversity of the worship practices of the ELCA. Although this will be the culmination of our year-long celebration of ELW, this event is where the family of resources that the ELCA offers will really begin to unfold," said the Rev. Michael L. Burk, ELCA executive for worship and liturgical resources.

Worship Jubilee 2007 will feature worship, workshops, five primary presentations, and educational opportunities for children and adults. Pre-Jubilee events Aug. 2-3 will include tours of some Chicago congregations for "pilgrimage and prayer."

Workshops to be offered include: "Worship in Bilingual Assemblies," "Preach It, Pastor -- A Preaching Primer for the Person in the Pew," "Gathered for Worship in a Wounded World," "Liturgical Drama: Enacting the Sacred Stories" and "Living Chant: The Heartbeat of the Assembly's Song."

On Aug. 4 the Rev. Gladys G. Moore and the Rev. Clayton J. Schmit will present papers on the sending sentence, "Go in peace -- Share the good news." Moore is an assistant to the bishop of the ELCA New Jersey Synod, Hamilton Square, and Schmit is associate professor of preaching, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, Calif. Moore and Schmit will discuss the relationship between worship and what it means to be an evangelizing church.

On Aug. 5 the Rev. David J. Lose and the Rev. Gláucia Vasconcelos Wilkey will each speak about benefits and challenges related to the promise that Christ is with people as they are sent out from worship with "Go in Peace-- Christ is with you." Lose is an academic dean at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., and Wilkey is founder and director of the Summer Institute for Liturgy and Worship, Seattle University.

On Aug. 6 "Go in peace -- Remember the poor" will be the focus of a presentation by the Rev. Raymond L. Schultz. He has been the national bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), Winnipeg, since 2001 and will leave that role Aug. 31.

Worship Jubilee 2007 will conclude Aug. 6 with opening worship service for the ELCA Churchwide Assembly. The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, will preach and preside at the service.

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Information about Worship Jubilee 2007 is found at http://www.ELCA.org/worship/Jubilee/index.html on the ELCA Web site.

ELCA News in Brief
Get the full stories at www.elca.org/news

'Summer 2007 ELCA World Hunger Resource Packet' available
by Lauren A. Lamb*, ELCA News Service

The summer 2007 World Hunger Resource Packet of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is now available. The packet contains resources to help individuals, congregations and synods learn more about and participate in ending world hunger.

"Our 'go and do likewise' theme journeys its way through ELCA World Hunger resources. The theme is drawn from the parable of the Good Samaritan, the gospel text for Sunday, July 15. This would be a natural Sunday [for congregations] to distribute ELCA World Hunger resources," said Sue Edison-Swift, communication director, ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal.

The packet also includes popular items such as the world hunger guide for congregations and a booklet explaining why the church should participate in the "Stand With Africa" and more. Financial gifts to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal designated for Stand With Africa help communities and churches in Africa work to banish hunger, overcome HIV/AIDS and build peace. The summer "Top 40 ELCA World Hunger Resources Catalog" can also be found in the packet. The 2007 Hunger Resource Packet was mailed to ELCA congregations in mid-May.

* Lauren A. Lamb is a senior public relations and speech communication major at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. This summer she is an intern with the ELCA News Service.

Pages 4-5 - Saying 'Yes' to God's Call
by Katie Butler
Synod Communications Director

Yes. Sometimes it is a question, sometimes an answer. How many times have we said it more as a question in response to God’s call? We hear the call, we’re just not ready to say “yes” as the answer so we follow it with a question mark instead. Would your “yes” have an exclamation point or a question mark if you were asked to move to another country for three months, a country where you only knew a little of the language, and to a place where you didn’t know anyone?

In January the board of the Lutheran youth organization in Colombia (JLMC) told participants at their gathering that there was an opportunity to go to the United States through the ELCA’s camp program. This program brings young people from throughout the world to ELCA camps to serve as counselors during the summer. JLMC’s membership of 16-30-year-olds from throughout Colombia was perfect for the job.

Eight young people from Colombia submitted their applications to the JLMC board for the one spot to come to the United States. Francisco Javier Ramirez Castellanos was the individual selected to participate in the program.

Even though Francisco was selected, he was not yet guaranteed the opportunity to come to the United States. Because of the difficult process of obtaining a visa to the United States, he was denied a visa twice before finally being granted one on his third interview.

Francisco, as well as another young man from Liberia, have been the international staff for the summer at Good Earth Village, Spring Valley, Minn. As a counselor he does many things including helping with small group activities like crafts and creek splashing, leading large group activities like signing, and leaving the camp with other counselors to lead day camps at congregations in Southeastern Minnesota.

When asked about the decision to come here, Francisco said that he did have to consider what would happen with his studies and the work he was doing in his home congregation, Prince of Peace in Tunja, Colombia. Until coming to Minnesota, he was studying international trade at a university in Tunja and he teaches Bible school two nights a week, once in a neighborhood far from the congregation for children whose families, for the most part, do not attend worship, and once at the church. He was sad about leaving both his studies and his work in the church, but he believes that this opportunity was God’s will and is grateful for it. He will return to the university and his congregation when back in Colombia.

In fact, despite his worries about being absent from his work in Prince of Peace, Francisco is learning new things that he hopes to take back to his congregation. One of the things he has noticed is all the motions that go along with the songs he has learned at camp. He also likes having all the resources, such as the craft materials, available.

As many of us can imagine, the most difficult thing for Francisco has been the language barrier. Prior to this experience he had studied English, but most of his experience has been in reading and writing the language. Listening and speaking are a lot different than the written word. For a while he didn’t say much, but he has learned and now communicates quite well. When asked about how difficult it is to be so far from his family he said, “It is a good experience…I’m taking this time for learning to love my family.” In being so far away, he explained, it makes him realize how important they are.

Even though there is still some difficulty with language, you don’t need words to know that Francisco is happy to be at Good Earth Village. Ask anyone who works at or who has attended Good Earth Village this summer and Francisco’s name will bring a smile to their face. Everyone is unanimous that they love his smile, his energy and the enthusiasm with which he serves God.

Good Earth Village and the Southeastern Minnesota Synod are happy to have Francisco here for the summer as one more way to help strengthen our synod’s connection to our companion synod – the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Colombia. The campers are coming away knowing more about people from around the world and Francisco has gained a wealth of knowledge from his experience here.

Francisco’s new friends at Good Earth Village have a running joke of replying to everything he says by saying “yes” because of an incident that happened this summer and his frequent reply of “yes.” For him it sometimes is a question and sometimes is an answer. When he heard God’s call to come to the United States, though, he is very happy to have said “yes” with an exclamation point.

Trip to Colombia
The next synod delegation to Colombia has been scheduled for October 11-20, 2007 and the group is now being formed. This trip is especially encouraged for pastors, staff, and members of congregations that have or are considering forming partner congregation relationships with congregations in Colombia. All are welcome! If you are interested in participating, please contact or at the synod office (507-280-9457, 800-426-6376 (MN only), or by e-mail (click on either name).

Page 5 - Thanks from Tanzania
Bibles and dictionaries given to students training to work in the church

By Rev. Kristen Schlauderaff
Global Mission/Companion Synod Committee

My dear friends, praise the Lord. – Isaac

Friends, I want to give you thanks because you love me. I say that because you continue to pay my tuition…so I say thank you very much. – Mathias.

I ask God to continue to strengthen our relationship. – Paulo

Before this assistance, I was lacking this support…May God bless the partnership between you and us. – Martha

I am here at Kiamboi…I want to be a pastor. Thank you very much for your gifts of Bibles and dictionaries. – Eliachim

Many thanks to the Southeastern Minnesota Synod for Pastor David Hernes. He is a good ambassador of your church in Tanzania, especially in Kiamboi Lutheran Bible Institute. – Stanley

I hope we will continue to remember each other in the service of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. – Felix

These are just a few excerpts from the letters of thanks written by students of the Kiamboi Bible Institute in Tanzania. You gifts to our companion synod, the Central Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, provided Swahili/English Bibles and dictionaries for 43 evangelism, parish worker, and theology students. Tuition and fees have also supported these students. Many have families to support. Many have already worked in the church as teachers and evangelists. Their passion to spread the Good News of God’s love through Jesus Christ has led them on a journey to further study and to become pastors. Their words say it best. “Thank you for your partnership through the Southeastern Minnesota Synod!”

Pages 6-7 - 2007 Churchwide Assembly