God's Work, Our Hands 2019 - Tri-Cities Summary

God's Work, Our Hands 2019 - Tri-Cities Summary

God's Work, Our Hands is a national ELCA initiative to get our congregations serving within our communities. Since 2016, the three congregations of the Tri-Cities (WA) have worked together for a weekend of service. This year we saw a record number of participants across all four ministry sites: First Lutheran - Kennewick, First Lutheran - Pasco, Lord of Life (Kennewick), and Pasco Latino Lutheran Ministry (PLLM). Approximately 155 people participated in six service projects across the area over the weekend (October 4-8).

ELCA as a sanctuary church: What does this mean?

Dear siblings in Christ,

As many of you know, last week the ELCA Churchwide Assembly adopted a resolution that, among other things, declared the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) a sanctuary denomination. Many of you are asking, “What does this mean?”

Our call to love our neighbor is central to our faith. In our baptismal covenant we promise to strive for peace and justice in all the world. One of the ways we live out this vow is through our commitment to welcoming the stranger. With this declaration, we publicly state that walking alongside refugees and immigrants is a matter of faith.

We have prepared talking points to provide a better understanding and further clarification on what sanctuary means for you and your congregations. We acknowledge this will look different in different contexts across the ELCA.

Talking Points

We also hope this resource will help guide conversations with your parishioners and your community about what our faith says about immigration.

“Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you,
for the glory of God” (Romans 15:7).

In Christ,

The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton
Presiding Bishop

"We Were EWAID" T-Shirts Availalbe To Order Until July 15!

Do you want a "We Were EWAID" shirt? These are the shirts for Churchwide Assembly in August--but there's no reason not to open the orders to everyone!

Click here to order. For those of you who have the teal EWAID shirt from the 2018 Assembly, this is the same weight and softness--but a new design and color!

Order will close on July 15 so that the voting members have their shirts in time for CWA in early August.