Ingathering

Kit Information

Dear Friends, 

 As Lutherans, more than ever we see opportunities all around us to serve our siblings in Christ who desperately need us.  One of the ways we serve each year at Synod Assembly is by hosting an Ingathering to provide items for people in need, both locally and globally.  Continuing in that tradition, Women of the ELCA (WELCA) of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod are once again holding an Ingathering in conjunction with the Annual Synod Assembly, but this year we will be collecting for not one but TWO important ministries!   

 

Each year we have collected 100’s of quilts and kits during Synod Assembly for Lutheran World Relief, with WELCA members transporting them to the Lutheran World Relief’s warehouse in Maryland following Assembly. Congregations are once again invited and encouraged to bring quilts and kits (personal care, baby care, school and fabric kits). Please review the instructions for assembling and packaging LWR quilts and kits, which can be found HERE Kits are easy to assemble and even one quilt or kit can make a difference! 

 

This year we will also be collecting items for Lutheran Disaster Response in connection with the Synod Assembly offering which is designated for Lutheran Disaster Response and directed toward the recent wildfires and hurricane relief. Lutheran Disaster Response shares God’s hope, healing and renewal with people whose lives have been disrupted by disasters in the United States and around the world. Lutheran Disaster Response has requested two items that are in particularly high demand for their cleanup kits: 

• pairs of heavy-duty, waterproof dishwashing gloves (latex-free preferred, durable for multiple uses) 

• pairs of heavy-duty, reusable work gloves (such as nitrile, cotton with leather palm, or all leather) 

 

The 2025 Ingathering will take place at the Synod Assembly at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lansdale on Saturday, May 31, 2025.  There will be a drop-off area near the entrance to the church staffed by volunteers who will be ready to assist you between 7:00 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. before the morning worship service.  Everyone donating that morning is invited to stay for the worship service and a blessing as we send off the items. 

 

With so many options – whether that be using your talents for quilting, collecting for and assembling kits within your congregation, adding a few pairs of gloves to your order the next time you head to the store, or even bringing a monetary offering from a special collection within your church, we hope all our congregations can contribute to the effort in some way.   If you have any questions, please reach out to Carrie Schwab at cschwab@sepa.org.   

 

The Rev. Bryan Penman 

Bishop, Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod

 

Linda Garcia  

President, Women of the ELCA 

Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod 

 

---