St. Luke Lutheran Church, Woodland Hills welcomes you to join with us in celebration.
This is the Season of Advent leading up to the time we celebrate Christmas, the birth of the Christ child, and also look forward to the second coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Events at St. Luke Lutheran Church:
More information on this printable e-card.
Posted by Janis Hatlestad
Many of us are at a loss to give meaningful gifts to our friends and loved ones at this time of year. We might look at alternative giving to a charity, but wonder how to choose.
If you are looking for a way to make a difference in someone’s life by helping to respond to disaster or helping lift people out of the cycle of poverty through community resource development, Lutheran World Relief (LWR) just might be the charity you are look to support. If you want to make sure your dollars are well spent, you may be happy to know Lutheran World Relief, as an international relief and development charity is “high-rated” by Consumer Reports.
Did you know, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, including St. Luke Lutheran as a member congregation, supports Lutheran World Relief? Additional direct support contributed by individuals and families will further the work Lutheran World Relief is able to do in the world.
This article by The Rev. Dr. David J. Lose, President, The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia shares further insight into the ways in which Lutheran World Relief stands out as a charity.
Finally, on “LWR’s Blog”, Lutheran World Relief shares its best five videos of 2014 in which you can see results of its programming. And, there is a “donate” button conveniently located on the blog site.
This is the Season of Advent leading up to the time we celebrate Christmas, the birth of the Christ child, and also look forward to the second coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Following are upcoming special events to be held at St. Luke Lutheran Church:
Full schedule and more information on this printable flyer.
Posted by: Janis Hatlestad, member, St. Luke Lutheran Church, Woodland Hills, August 18, 2014
As follow on to announcement made in church on Sunday, here is more information about immediate and near-term advocacy opportunities on Immigration Reform:
1) Draft letter to Senator Diane Feinstein. Asking those able and willing to print and send* a signed copy of this letter to Senator Diane Feinstein explaining our concern for those, especially children from Central America, arriving at our border. The letter also states the Synod’s position supporting international efforts to increase economic development in affected countries of Central America, while at the same time improving security. If you would also add a sentence or two in your own words, it will have even greater impact. That is, it may lead to greater weight in forming positions and when various issues supported by constituents are considered.
We believe the vast majority of these children are not criminals. Rather, most of them have come here hoping to reunite with family already here in the U.S., and/or they are seeking asylum from terrorism, violence, and/or domestic abuse. We want to see each of them treated with dignity, compassion, and allowed due process, thoroughly considering the validity of each of their claims to be here.
You might read the letter to get a brief overview of topics of concern. More detailed information is available here, and in a previous blog post.
* Update: Bring your signed letter to church on Sunday, September 7. They will be gathered up then, and delivered personally to Senator Feinstein’s office by Rev. Alexia Salvatierra in the week following. A small supply of the letters will be available for those without print capabilities. Thank you!
2) Congressman Brad Sherman Town Hall Meeting. Currently on Congressman Sherman’s website home page is information about upcoming Town Hall Meeting. Janis Hatlestad hopes to speak briefly at this meeting, Sunday, August 24, sharing our views on the issue of Immigration Reform. You are welcome to attend in order to speak, to listen, or just to be present for moral support. If you would like to attend and carpool with others from St. Luke, you might email Janis.
On Saturday, August 2, I was blessed to attend a meeting at Pueblo de Dios Lutheran Church, Compton of the Immigration/Welcoming Congregations Network. The meeting was chaired by Pastor Alexia Salvatierra, Southwest California Synod, ELCA. Key presenter was Folabi Olagbagu, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), Washington, DC. For the first part of the meeting, we were “skyped” in with several folks presently meeting at the companion ministry partner, Lutheran Church in El Salvador (Iglesia Luterana Salvadoreña). After opening prayers and introductions, there were five parts to the meeting. Below is a very brief synopsis, followed by information about getting involved in this ministry and a list of key resources:
1) Live report from El Salvador. While we in turn briefly introduced ourselves, we went “live” via Skype to welcome those presently in El Salvador to the meeting. They shared a little about what the people of El Salvador are experiencing in the way of economic hardship brought on by and/or exacerbated by climate change effects, and compounded by financial pressure and violence being perpetrated by apparent extortionists in their communities who are part of a strong network of organized crime. The group in El Salvador also reported on ideas they are exploring to help congregants there develop safer ways to support and to provide for their families. They also seek the donation of a truck.
2) Testimonies. Then, we heard testimony from a young woman who with her daughter attended our meeting and had arrived in the U.S. within the past several weeks. Also, the testimony of a meeting participant with extended family in El Salvador.(†Update: LIRS blog post sharing “Mari” and “Alejandra’s” story.)
3) LIRS Presentation. From Folabi Olagbaju, LIRS, we learned about the background of LIRS and its long history of advocating for immigrants to the U.S. from the Lutheran perspective. Also, current work in advocating for immigration reform, with special concern for unaccompanied migrant children crossing the border between Mexico and the U.S.
4) Advocacy Training. Over lunch, we received a condensed training on advocacy centering around Bible-based messages of empowerment, logical arguments as contained in LIRS position papers (see below references), and appealing to the notions of justice and compassion which are foundational to Christians [as well as to followers of the world’s other major faiths*].
5) Plan: Advocacy & Guardian Angels. Alexia Salvatierra shared a plan for engaging members of the Welcoming Congregations Network to help in two important ways, and here is how you may want to get involved:
(1) To volunteer to accompany migrant children to a series of appointments where their cases will be heard in court. The purpose is to pick up the children where they are staying, surround them with love and compassion, and help them get to the proper courtroom and connect with the proper personnel. [My understanding is LIRS or others are working to arrange legal representation for the children.*] Then, to return the children to where they are staying. Immigration Court is in Downtown Los Angeles. The children may be staying in outlying areas of Los Angeles or a neighboring county. Alexia would like a list of volunteer “Guardian Angels” from each congregation by or before September 1, 2014.
(2) To volunteer to meet (individually or in groups) with local Representative(s) to U.S. Congress to advocate for comprehensive immigration reform. We received a brief training on how and when to do this, especially while Representatives are in their home districts while the House is not in session during the month of August. As Alexia learns of those interested, she will follow up with particulars.
NOTE: We are not being asked at this time to foster migrant children. However, if someone wishes to do this, there is an application process about which information may be obtained through LIRS.
* Information added in [ ] represents my characterization or additional information not directly shared in the meeting.
Background/resources from meeting and from SoCalSynod website:
Background/resources from LIRS.org:
Saturday morning July 20, 2013, a baker’s dozen of St. Luke members and friends set out on a 2-mile hike around the perimeter of King-Gillette Ranch, Calabasas, CA. The morning was refreshingly cool, and the hike mildly strenuous for those of us not as accustomed to hitting the trail. We took a few brief breaks to catch our breath and to enjoy the lovely views, pausing for a couple of photos.
King-Gillette boasts a beautiful, new visitors’ center, complete with real, clean bathrooms! Also, free 2-hour parking. We began and ended our hike by the center.
Following our hike, we gathered in a picturesque spot with a picnic table, enjoying delicious bagels and spreads along with cold water — all provided for us by Neil and Megan Gillespie. Thank you!
Special thanks to Neil Gillespie for organizing and leading the hike, ensuring everyone was accounted for, well fed, and had a good time.
We hope you’ll consider joining us on our next hike. Stay tuned as plans are firmed up. We’ll possibly hit the trail again sometime in August.
Janis
St Luke News 