Rich in Spirit Amidst Poverty at Pine Ridge
Emma Grinde, Iowa State University student and member of campus ministry
If you've heard about the Pine Ridge Reservation in South West South Dakota, chances are you know that it has one of the highest unemployment rates and is in one of the poorest counties in the USA. While the poverty and unemployment are prominent parts of the story of the Oglala Lakota people who live on the Pine Ridge Reservation, this is certainly not their whole story. Lakota people have always maintained a sense of heritage through their dynamic language and culture. They are kind, generous, and thoughtful people with many stories to tell and much wisdom to share if we just listened.
For Spring Break this year 9 people from Lutheran Campus Ministry and a leader from St. Andrew's Lutheran Church headed out to the Pine Ridge Reservation to help install drywall and build shelving for Healthy Start, a federally-funded donation center for the women and children of Pine Ridge.
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A Statement by Religious Leaders in Iowa on
the Moral Impacts of Coal
Iowa Interfaith Power & Light
Bishop Michael Burk was one of 50 clergy and other faith leaders that signed "A Statement by Religious Leaders in Iowa on the Moral Impacts of Coal". Faith leaders representing 12 different religious traditions and 33 congregations or organizations in Iowa signed the statement that was released by Iowa Interfaith Power & Light for Earth Day 2013 (April 22). The statement reads, in part, "We do not speak as scientists or environmental experts, but as pastors and teachers who are concerned that the moral and ethical dimensions of this issue could be lost in the competing voices of economic and political pressures." Rev. Susan Guy, Executive Director of Iowa Interfaith Power & Light said that the goal for releasing this statement so close to the celebration of Earth Day is to draw attention to the fact that burning coal is the largest source of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, which is a leading cause of global climate change. |
Double Your Impact On Malaria This Week
Jessica Nipp Hacker, Coordinator of ELCA Malaria Campaign
In the Katakwi District of Uganda, malaria is the leading cause of death among children under the age of 5. Malaria is an additional burden on an already strained population recovering from conflict. The time to help is now. Thanks to a generous group of friends, this week your gift to the ELCA Malaria Campaign will be matched -- dollar for dollar -- up to $130,000. In Uganda, the ELCA Malaria Campaign is working with The Lutheran World Federation, which has built up trust and experience in Uganda for over 30 years. The connections have been made, the people are ready, but we need you.
This week (April 22 - April 29) our goal is to raise $250,000 -- enough to jumpstart our anti-malaria work in Uganda this year. Will you help with a gift?Read More
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Remember in Prayer - Ordination and Installation
- Pastor Ryan Cosgrove who was ordained April 13 and installed as Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church, Burlington on April 14, 2013.
- Pastor Anne Strickert who will be installed as Associate Pastor at Bethesda Lutheran Church, Ames on April 27-28, 2013.
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