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"Gardening the Community"
at 2011 Synod Assembly
More than 250 years ago, the playwright Voltaire extolled the productive and peaceful virtues of "cultivating your own garden"...and then giving the surplus away to your neighbors. "Gardening the Community" (GtC) is a community-based, urban agriculture program in Springfield, Mass., that allows youth to put those principles into action. Committed to teaching the benefits of organic farming and healthy eating, GtC employs youth to grow fruits and vegetables on vacant and abandoned lots in the city.
The organization fosters the vision of sustainable living through active engagement within the community, and the food that is cultivated is sold at farmers' markets, local restaurants and a health food store in Springfield. Youth also bring the food home to their families, and any additional produce is donated to open pantries and food banks. To reduce air pollution and help advocate healthy lifestyle choices, all produce is delivered to market and stores through the use of bicycles and bicycle trailers. No pesticides or herbicides of any kind are used, and all work is done by hand. Rain collection and other water conservation methods reduce GtC's dependence on the city water supply.
The youth working for GtC also assist in various community service activities, including providing education to residents who are interested in starting their own backyard gardens, and helping local non-profits supply vegetables to senior centers and Springfield businesses. Making this a truly "organic" experience is the fact that young people also take field trips to deepen their knowledge of agriculture, social change, and community service.
Gardening the Community regularly hosts groups from around the region to expose youth and adults to the role that urban agriculture can play in community transformation. On Saturday afternoon, June 4, Lutheran youth from all around New England will have a "hands on" opportunity to participate in this exciting project!
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ELC in Jordan and the Holy Land
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 | | Archbishop Kari Mäkinen of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Finland bestows the St. Henrik Cross upon Bishop Munib Younan April 5 in Jerusalem. Photo © Tapio Kujala. |
Finland awards St. Henrik
Cross to Bishop Younan of the ELCJHL in Jerusalem
"Bishop (Munib) Younan has been encouraging people to make peace in this world ..." These were just a few of the words Archbishop Kari Mäkinen of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Finland spoke as he awarded the St. Henrik Cross last week to Bishop Munib Younan of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, a companion relationship of the New England Synod. The ceremony was held in Jerusalem during a visit to the Holy Land by the Finnish delegation. The award focused on Younan's tireless work for peace and justice, as well as his commitment to ecumenical and interfaith dialogue. Younan is only the eleventh person to receive the St. Henrik Cross. The group also presented Younan with new bishop's robes and a mitre. Younan received his master of theology degree in 1976 from the University of Helsinki, Finland. Since his studies, he has returned to Finland many times, most recently to attend the consecration of Archbishop Mäkinen last June.
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St Luke installs energy-efficient solar system
In its continuing effort to become a "greener" congregation, St. Luke Lutheran Church, Gales Ferry, Conn., is installing a solar system that should save it more than $2,000 a year in electric charges from Connecticut Light and Power (CLP). The system is part of a program offered to non-profit companies, in which companies lease the system for five years at five dollars per month and then purchase it for one dollar at the end of those five years. There are no installation costs or deposits. "What is unique about our system," said Pr. Stephen Schmidt, "is that it doesn't require massive batteries, and as our solar panels produce electricity our electric meter will actually run backward and only move forward as we need to take power from the CLP grid." The system should be fully connected later this week, enabling St. Luke to use less power from the power grid as it produces its own solar energy. To learn how your congregation might qualify for this program, click on dcsenergy.com.
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Forum on Spirituality and Mental Health set for May 11 in Framingham, Mass.
A forum, "Spirituality and Mental Health," will be held Wednesday, May 11, from 2-4 p.m. at The Plymouth Church in Framingham (UCC), 87 Edgell Rd., Framingham, Mass. Speaker is Nancy Kehoe, author of "Wrestling with Our Inner Angels: Faith, Mental Illness and the Journey to Wholeness." Participants will explore how the riches of faith can bring restoration and wholeness to those who struggle with mental illness. For more information, email events@advocatesinc.org or click here.
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Restoring creation workshop set for May 21 in Worcester
A workshop, "Celebrating and Sharing our Abundance: Networking and Training for Creation Care," will be held Saturday, May 21, from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 73 Lancaster St., Worcester Mass., sponsored by the synod's Lutherans Restoring Creation (LRC) team. This day is for all congregational leaders, lay people and volunteers who have integrated creation care into their Lutheran worship inside and outside of the church -- or those who hope to do this. Participants will gather to share information, resources and insight. A suggested donation of $5 is requested to help with coffee and lunch. "The unique theological foundation given through the LRC curriculum of the ELCA, along with the strength of fellowship, will enable us all to keep the momentum of our efforts moving," said Phoebe Morad, a member of the synod LRC team. RSVP as soon as possible to Morad at 617-599-2722 or pheebscongo@yahoo.com.
"The earth is a planet of beauty and abundance; the earth system is wonderfully intricate and incredibly complex. But today living creatures, and the air, soil, and water that support them, face unprecedented threats. Many threats are global; most stem directly from human activity. Our current practices may so alter the living world that it will be unable to sustain life in the manner we know." (ELCA, " Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope, and Justice," 1993)
LRC is a resource of the ELCA. While 10 synods have approved a common "Energy Stewardship" resolution, New England is one of only three synods that has a synod-level creation team. Learn more here.
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Opportunities and Resources
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Go Green for Earth Day April 22
Earth Day is April 22. Earth Day materials are provided by the National Council of Churches at www.nccecojustice.org and Interfaith Power and Light at www.interfaithpowerandlight.org. "Please use the service to inspire and educate your congregation to act on caring for God's Earth," urges Pr. Nancy Wright, environmental liaison to the New England Synod. Wright also suggests that since April 22 is Good Friday, congregations may want to plan their focus on care for creation on another weekend. If you have a story on how your congregation has gone or is going green, please send it to sisterv@nesynod.org. For news on how congregations in the synod are caring for creation and other resources, click here Contact Wright at pastornancy@alcvt.org.This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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Texas Lutheran offers scholarship valued up to $14,500 a year
Texas Lutheran University (TLU) recently announced a new scholarship created especially for Lutheran students - the Lutheran Advantage Scholarship - valued at up to $14,500 per year. The award is designed to offer highly qualified Lutheran students the opportunity to continue their education in a challenging and nurturing faith-based environment. TLU, founded in 1891, is an undergraduate university of the liberal arts, sciences and professional studies. For more information about scholarships and financial aid at TLU, visit www.tlu.edu/scholarships_and_financial_aid or email admissions@tlu.edu or call 800-771-8521.
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Calumet hosts retreat to support church office staff May 1-3
Bulletins, newsletters, communications ... the work of dedicated office staff who help congregations carry out their mission should be called "administry," rather than administration. A retreat for such faithful servants will be held May 1-3 at Calumet Lutheran Camp and Conference Center, Freedom, N.H. This time away will include opportunities to share, read, reflect, sing, walk, have fun and enjoy delicious food from Calumet's kitchen. Sessions will include whole body wellness, desk nourishment and helping congregations help the office. Cost is $150 per person. To register, contact Betsy at Betsy@calumet.org or 603-539-3223 x219.
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LSS, churches in Connecticut launch joint ministry to parishioners in need
Lutheran churches in Fairfield (Conn.) County and Lutheran Social Services (LSS) have launched a joint ministry they call "Neighbor to Neighbor" that matches volunteers from congregations with church members who need some help in their homes. With consultation and the professional resources of LSS, these congregations bring in-home, non-medical support to parishioners in need.
So far, 45 volunteers have submitted volunteer surveys and 13 have completed the application process. Approved volunteers may choose to help members of their own or another congregation. Participating congregations include:
Salem, Bridgeport, Conn.
Good Shepherd, Monroe, Conn.
Grace, Stratford, Conn.
Holy Cross (LCMS), Trumbull, Conn.
Holy Trinity (Slovak Zion Synod), Trumbull, Conn.
Joseph's Coat of Many Colors, Bridgeport, Conn.
Our Saviour's, Fairfield, Conn.
Trinity, Shelton, Conn.
All of the congregations will participate in a senior luncheon May 16 at Salem Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, to kick-off the program. Congregations and friends of this partnership program between congregations and LSS have raised more than $16,000 to support this new ministry. For more information, contact Marty Mann at lssne.org or toll free at 877-500-8263, 814.
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Have you checked out the new page on the synod website that highlights people of faith in our synod who are doing what matters in the world? Click here to read the story of Joseph Deranamie, a worship assistant at Concordia Lutheran Church, Worcester, Mass., who recently was honored by the American Red Cross for his ministry to people in Liberia, from which he fled for his life about 20 years ago..
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