The Rev. Violet Little, pastor of Philadelphia's Welcome Church ministering to people experiencing homelessness, is one of seven winners of the 2013 Purpose Prize, which honors people over 60 who are using their "second acts" to make a difference against tough social problems.

Little will receive an award of $25,000 from Encore.org, a non-profit organization that supports people who are translate their decades of experience to work of society's greater good. Seven leaders who serve veterans, federal prisoners, cancer survivors, homeless people and others among "the least of these" will receive awards at a ceremony Dec. 5 in California.

"Some have said I am a voice for the voiceless, but that's not true," Little said after learning of the prize. "People experiencing homelessness have voice; the key is how we can be better listeners."

Read more at http://ministrylink.org/article/little-receives-purpose-prize/ 

One of the most powerful storms ever recorded, Super Typhoon Haiyan, crashed across the central islands of the Philippines Saturday (Nov. 9). With winds of over 200 miles per hour and torrential rains, it has forced millions of people to flee their homes. Loss of lives and massive destruction has been confirmed. 

Through partnerships and as a member of ACT Alliance, Lutheran Disaster Response is responding to the most urgent needs of food, water, clothing, shelter, sleeping material and medicine. A rapid needs assessment will take place in the affected region. Possible assistance may also include helping those whose livelihood of fishing or farming has been destroyed.

Your donation to Lutheran Disaster Response , designated for "Pacific Typhoon Response," will be used entirely (100 percent) to help families whose lives and livelihoods have been impacted by this disaster. Donations from people like you allow the ELCA to respond to those in need. Donate at:

http://www.elca.org/Our-Faith-In-Action/Responding-to-the-World/Lutheran-Disaster-Response/Disaster-Responses/Ongoing-Responses/Pacific-Typhoon.aspx

Download a bulletin insert to use in your congregation.

Lutheran World Relief staff in the Philippines plan to travel Monday to some of the most-affected areas, Tacloban and northern Leyte, to assess damages, identify needs, and begin planning a response. LWR's team will travel with staff from the British agency Christian Aid, a fellow member of Action by Churches Together (ACT), a global alliance of faith-based organizations responding to humanitarian needs.

The teams will meet with representatives of the United Nations, government agencies, local partners, churches and community groups in Tacloban to coordinate a response. LWR's response will likely include a cash-for-work program similar to the program it implemented following 2012's Typhoon Bopha. That response assisted more than 6,000 households through short-term work assignments clearing storm debris from schools, parks, roads and other public spaces.

LWR's response may also include the distribution of emergency shelter kits, provision of drinking water, and distribution of LWR Quilts, School Kits, Baby Care Kits and Personal Care Kits. Following last year's Typhoon Bopha, LWR provided more than $1 million worth of these donated items to an estimated 16,000 households. 

Visit http://lwr.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=dmJXKiOYJgI6G&b=7535365&ct=13383171 for more information.

Ten Thousand Villages in Souderton is sponsoring a holiday shopping night on Tuesday, Nov. 19, with 20 percent of sales donated to support Tom and Susan MacPherson, SEPA missionaries in Tanzania. Stop by the store in the Souderton Shopping Center at 787 Route 113 between 4 and 8 pm on Nov. 19 and purchase beautiful gifts made by artisans from around the world.

Download a flyer at http://ministrylink.org/equipping/resources/macphersons-shopping-night-2013/ 

TEN THOUSAND VILLAGES provides vital, fair income to Third World people by marketing their handicrafts and telling their stories. It is a non-profit program working with artisans who would otherwise be unemployed or underemployed. This income helps pay for food, education, health care and housing.

Sponsored by the Christian Education Committee of Trinity Lutheran Church, Perkasie. For info call the store at 215.723.1221.

Nadia Bolz-Weber will speak about her bestselling memoir Pastrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner & Saint - and conduct a ham raffle for charity (just because she's always wanted to raffle off a ham) - TONIGHT at 7 pm at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lansdale. Learn more at http://ministrylink.org/article/pastrix-author-to-speak-in-lansdale/ 

The new Practice Discipleship initiative kicked off with intro sessions around the Synod on Sept. 27. Now the series continues with the first of three Saturday workshops on Nov. 23, 10 am to 3 pm, at St. Luke, Devon. The topics are "Dog Eating Chicken" and "Theories of Culture." The sessions will explore how our language and cultural assumptions engage the Gospel.

Get more information and register online at http://ministrylink.org/article/practice-discipleship-continues-nov-23/