"Come all you people! Come now and serve the Lord!"   

This past Sunday congregations from across the Southeastern Iowa Synod donned bright yellow t-shirts and went out into their communities as part of the ELCA's first "God's Work. Our Hands." Sunday in celebration of the ELCA's 25th anniversary.  To quote Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson, "We are a church that rolls up our sleeves and gets to work," and in this synod we got to work by: packaging 2800 meals for "Kids Against Hunger," collecting donations for local food pantries and clothing closets, building a Habitat for Humanity home for a fellow congregation member and his family, singing at assisted living homes, visiting elderly neighbors, painting, picking up litter along highways and in parks, making quilts and school kits for LWR, creating care packages for military personnel, and serving at Ronald McDonald House. 

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Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is a longstanding expression of the ecumenical movement - a worldwide movement among Christians to heal divisions within the Church. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity also promotes dialogue among churches and Christian communities and encourages Christians everywhere to better understand and reflect the implications of "one Lord, one faith, one baptism."  Each year from January 18 - 25, Christians are encouraged to pray together as a sign of the unity that is already theirs in Christ. 

Learn more about the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

2014 brochure for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."  -Matthew 25:35-36

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation is pleased to offer the Matthew 25: Neighbors in Need Grant Program to qualifying Lutheran organizations and congregations which provide ongoing outreach ministries to their local communities. Based on Jesus' words in Matthew 25:35-36, the program seeks to help Lutheran nonprofit organizations that address the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of their neighbors. The competitive program includes an immediate grant of $5,000 for outreach operations and an additional $5,000 challenge grant opportunity designed to encourage ministry support locally (for every $2 raised, $1 in grant funds will be provided, up to $5,000).  

Grant Information and Application 

ELCA Primary Health Benefits

In response to health care reform, Portico has announced that ELCA-Primary health benefits will offer four options in 2014 instead of the one option available today. This fall, every congregation that provides ELCA health benefits and every ELCA health plan member under age 65 needs to decide, together, which option to participate in next year.

Visit Portico's website for resources to help congregations and plan members understand the four options and how to approach this decision.

• Sponsoring employers, visit EmployerLink.PorticoBenefits.org. Report your decision online Sept. 16 - Oct. 14.
• Plan members, visit myPortico.PorticoBenefits.org. Report your decision online Nov. 1 - 22.

For more information, contact Portico at 800.352.2876.