“I was homeless from 2008 to 2013,” says Jacqueline Chapman. Today the active Welcome Church leader is advocating for the needs of homeless people as vice-president of the board of the Sanctuary Village project, which will develop tiny houses in Northeast Philadelphia to house people now living on the streets. Jacqueline shares her story in...
Category: Faith in action
March 8, 2021
’I Was Homeless, Now I Help Make Tiny Homes for People on the Street’
“I was homeless from 2008 to 2013,” says Jacqueline Chapman. Today the active Welcome Church leader is advocating for the needs of homeless people as vice-president of the board of the Sanctuary Village project, which will develop tiny houses in Northeast Philadelphia to house people now living on the streets. Jacqueline shares her story in...
February 10, 2021
Your congregation can sponsor a missionary
Dear friends: Bethany Friberg works as an ELCA missionary in Ketumbeine, Tanzania, but her definition of missionary service is much more expansive. She believes all Christians are missionaries. “I’m always struck by how wonderful it is when people have committed their life to the Lord and are praying, ‘Lord Jesus, show me how to live...
July 8, 2020
Sacred Hospitality
Even before the 2019 Churchwide Assembly declared the ELCA a “sanctuary” denomination, congregations have been working out just what it means to be a “sanctuary.” For First English Lutheran Church in Columbus, OH, it means opening its doors to an undocumented immigrant who had lived in Columbus over a dozen years, held jobs, and paid...
June 1, 2020
Called to Racial Reconciliation and Healing
Three years ago our Synod Assembly focused on racial justice. As part of the Assembly’s opening worship there was an order of Anti-Racism Confession and Reconciliation, which was also shared for use in congregations. Today our city, region, and nation are rocked by the ongoing tensions painfully exposed in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna...
May 19, 2020
Offerings of Hope in the Pandemic
From Trinity Lutheran, Fairview Village: Even in a pandemic, Christ’s love shines! The people of Trinity, Fairview Village faithfully serve every month at Cecil and Grace Bean’s Soup Kitchen in Norristown. Even in a time of social distancing, the soup kitchen is still serving bagged meals to the hungry. We prepared the bagged meals and handed...
May 8, 2020
Disaster Update: Flooding in Tanzania
Be a part of the response: Pray Please pray for people who have been affected by the flooding in Tanzania. May God’s healing presence give them peace and hope in their time of need. Give Thanks to generous donations, Lutheran Disaster Response is able to respond quickly and effectively to disasters around the globe. Your...
April 28, 2020
Disaster Update: COVID-19 Response
Be a part of the response: Pray Please pray for people who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. May God’s healing presence give them peace and hope in their time of need. Give Thanks to generous donations, Lutheran Disaster Response is able to respond quickly and effectively to disasters around the globe. Your gifts...
April 13, 2020
Feast of Justice is Food ‘Supersite’
As the need for emergency food grows in Philadelphia and food sites dwindle, Feast of Justice in Northeast Philadelphia decided not to close and instead expanded its services to food-insecure people in the city. They are prepared to serve from 600-700 households per week, up from 285 households a week before COVID-19. Volunteer with Feast...
April 10, 2020
St. Paul’s Gets Creative in Olney
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in collaboration with the health ministry staff of St. Helena Catholic Church, regularly hosts Senior Wednesdays each week for the older adults of their community. Providing opportunities to benefit their spiritual, physical, and mental wellbeing, this program brings seniors together and provides ministry, meals, activities, exercise and more. But with the...
April 10, 2020
‘E-Meals’ Fill the Gap in Souderton
Knowing that other local food sources would be stressed, Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Souderton started the E-meals program on March 16. Meal bags are for “anybody in need,” Pastor John Heidgerd said. “We don’t ask any questions. We don’t ask you to prove that you’re in need. You come to us for help and the...
February 19, 2020
Food From Pickleball
Pastor Chris Franz of Advent, West Chester and Pastor Dan Krewson of Calvary, West Chester, recently presented a check for $901 to the West Chester Food Cupboard. The funds were raised by the Tuesday night Pickleball Fellowship players, who are each asked to donate $1 or more per session to play. This joint ministry of...
February 19, 2020
What Are We Taking On For Lent?
Lenten Message from Bishop Davenport Reflection on Isaiah 58:6-9 Watch video message Download print vision February, 2020 Greetings, beloved. So what are we taking on for Lent? Jesus’ journey to the cross was a path through sacrifice and discipline. Our Lord took on the weight of the whole world. He poured...
January 21, 2020
Extravaganza of Generosity
“You can’t love Jesus and not give,” pastor and author Clif Christopher said in his keynote at the 2020 Extravagant Generosity program Jan. 10. “It’s just impossible.” Yet some churches lose the battle with money because “there are more people who think money can save them than think Jesus can save them,” said Christopher, author...
January 21, 2020
Cultivate a Heart of Love
Dear friends, If you missed our Stewardship Extravaganza in January, you missed a great event with excellent keynote addresses, an outstanding sermon and wonderful workshops. But, here is a chance to benefit from that experience. One of the workshop leaders, Rob Blezard, has a monthly “Toolkit” that provides helpful bulletin inserts, thoughtful newsletter articles and...
January 7, 2020
Christian Minimalism Focuses on What Really Matters
Jesus’ simple life, focus on what was most important, and trust in God to provide testify to his minimalist lifestyle. The minimalism movement offers that attending to what matters and eliminating things and ideas that distract can provide “meaning” to our lives. Pastor Becca Ehrlich of Philadelphia, author of the Christian Minimalism blog, writes in...
December 18, 2019
Anti-Racism Education Feb. 8
The SEPA Anti-Racism Team will host the third in a four-part series of educational events for rostered and lay leaders on Feb. 8, 2020, 9 am to 5 pm, at the Brossman Center on the ULS Philadelphia campus. This part, Connection, examines how our (mis)perceptions of others can be due to a lack of connectiveness....
December 10, 2019
Synod Council and Committees seeking Nominations for 2020
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod’s Nominating Committee is asking for your help in identifying gifted and qualified persons, both clergy and lay, to serve as nominees for election at the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod Assembly on May 1-2, 2020 Every year the Synod Assembly elects members of the Synod Council, which serves as “the board of directors...
December 4, 2019
Called To Serve Our Neighbors
Through baptism, we are called to serve our neighbors and steward God’s good creation. As Lutherans, our attention turns to the policies that make a broader difference in our lives and the lives of our vulnerable neighbors. It is important that we add our voice into the process. In this video presented by Lutheran Advocacy...
November 27, 2019
Support Jane Addams Place On Giving Tuesday
This year, #GivingTuesday donations through the synod will benefit Lutheran Settlement House’s Jane Addams Place emergency shelter. Lutheran Settlement House’s Jane Addams Place is an emergency shelter for families experiencing homelessness. Whether due to domestic violence, a house fire, or losing a job, residents at Jane Addams Place arrive during times of crisis. Jane Addams Place...
November 27, 2019
Congregations Learn About Enhancing Vitality
Lay and rostered leaders from congregations across the synod gathered Nov. 9 to explore ways of making their churches more vital communities of faith. Vital congregations nurture individual and community relationship with God, build relationships, and develop a strong presence in community. The day included experienced practitioners and group brainstorming and networking. Resources from the...
