Synod Focus

DAY OF SERVICE
Last year, many of you engaged in creative, inspiring projects reaching out in our neighborhoods. In less than a month it'll be "'God's work. Our hands.' Sunday." again. Do you have plans for Sun. Sept. 13? If so, the ELCA is asking congregations to tell them what's up at this website - www.elca.org/dayofservice/Register - to help them tell the story of the day, but in the synod we would also like to share your photos or ideas. Consider notifying kkrueger@metrodcelca.org. No plans yet? Check out www.elca.org/dayofservice/ for ideas & info.

Local Info

LSS/NCA CAMPAIGN UPDATE
          Many of our congregations have participated in Stronger Together: The Campaign for Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSS/NCA). ELCA congregations have pledged about $148,000 to-date, and LSS/NCA hopes to speak with another dozen pastors and congregations before the end of the year to close out the congregation phase. The goal during Stronger Together for pan-Lutheran congregational support is $600,000, and 43% of that goal has been reached with gifts from the ELCA and LCMS which work together serving neighbors in need through LSS/NCA. "We are well on our way to reaching our target, and I'm confident we'll get there," said LSS/NCA CEO Melissa Graves. More than $1.4M has been raised overall, which is 60% of the $2.5M goal.
          Funds raised during the campaign are already helping LSS/NCA serve more neighbors through the organization's Unaccompanied Refugee Minors, Foster Care and Youth Haven Camps & Retreats programs. LSS/NCA will also hire an agency-wide Outreach and Engagement Coordinator to increase volunteer opportunities - a goal of the campaign. More at http://lssnca.org/stronger_together/ . (Submitted by Summer Parrish, LSS/NCA Director of Development and Communications)

GOH GIFTS THROUGH AMAZONESMILE
"Gifts of Hope raised $120,000 during Advent 2014 and disbursed funds to our beneficiary organizations. Thanks to all who support GOH; your dollars are at work locally and globally," said Carolyn Sowinski, director, Gifts of Hope, in a July 6 announcement. She also reminds us that Amazon will share a small percentage of your purchase to GOH, an alternative gift-giving program of the synod, if purchased through smile.amazon.com. Details available at www.giftsofhopedc.org/amazonsmile-program/ .

D.C. YOUTH HOSTEL LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE
Group-oriented hostel accommodations at First Trinity Lutheran in D.C. are available for youth groups, college groups, scout troops, community activists or any other groups looking for affordable lodging in the heart of the city. The hostel has a new website and invites you to check it out: www.ftdchostel.org .

LSA'S HABERAECKER HONORED
Lutheran Services in America (LSA) President and CEO, Charlotte Haberaecker, has been honored as one of this year's recipients of The NonProfit Times magazine's "Power & Influence Top 50" listing for her impact on behalf of the LSA network and Lutheran social ministry. LSA is one of the nation's largest health and human services networks, touching the lives of one in 50 people in the U.S. every year. (LSA News Release, 8/3/15)

NATIONAL CATHEDRAL SITE FOR INSTALLATION
Our full communion partners are planning a Holy Eucharist with the Installation of the 27th Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church at Washington National Cathedral on Sun. Nov. 1, 2015. The Rt. Rev. Michael Bruce Curry, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, was elected and confirmed to the post on June 27 by the denomination's General Convention.

Resource Alert

FREE STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN KIT & MAGAZINE

Announced Churchwide

CONFRONTING RACISM WEBCAST RECORDED
Did you miss the ELCA Confronting Racism webcast? Click below to link to the online recording. A follow-up list of resources is also found at www.elca.org/en/webcast .


ELCA FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
The ELCA was granted a federal charter July 7 to create the ELCA Federal Credit Union. The new credit union will provide products and services to the denomination's members and employees. A Frequently Asked Questions document about the ELCA-sponsored credit union is available on elca.org.

FULL COMMUNION ANNIVERSARY
This year marks the 15th anniversary of the full communion agreement between the ELCA and the Moravian Church in America. Happy anniversary!

YOU MAY SEE #SMS15
Social Media Sunday (#SMS) was an initiative started at an Episcopal congregation in Connecticut in 2013 which has gained momentum and ecumenical attention, including in neighboring ELCA Delaware-Maryland Synod. #SMS15 has been declared for Oct. 25, 2015. If you are curious about this opportunity to focus on the potential of social media and church, check out the Facebook group at: www.facebook.com/groups/SMS15 .

ELCA MALARIA CAMPAIGN UPDATE
As of June 2015, ELCA members and congregations raised $14.5 million, and we are just $500,000 from reaching our ELCA Malaria Campaign goal! Thank you! This last $500,000 is critical to fully funding the work of our Lutheran partners in Namibia, the Central African Republic, and Burundi. The ELCA Malaria Campaign has created a fantastic video to show how your generous gifts are supporting our partners' work to contain malaria, and to announce just how close we are to fully funding all of the programs. Please view and share the 2-minute video, linked from www.elca.org/News-and-Events/blogs/ELCAMalariaCampaign/327 . (Submitted by Dorothy Sorrell, Synod Coordinator, ELCA Malaria Campaign)