Following are resources published today (1/13/2011) through the Metropolitan Washington DC Synod (ELCA)
Haiti – One Year Later
LOCAL WORSHIP OPPORTUNITY – On Sunday, January 16 from 3-6:00 p.m., “Service to Serve Haiti – Washington, DC: A Time of Remembrance and Action for Haiti and the Martin Luther King, Jr., National Day of Service” will be held at Church of the Reformation on Capitol Hill. The event is an ecumenical and interfaith gathering to commemorate the earthquake that devastated Haiti and to engage local citizens in partnership with Haitian organizations actively involved in Haitian relief and reconstruction, according to the Rev. Conrad Braaten.
ELCA DISASTER RESPONSE PRINTABLE UPDATE – The most powerful earthquake to strike Haiti in more than two hundred years devastated that country on January 12, 2010. More than 250,000 people were killed, 300,000 injured and more than a million people left homeless. When the quake hit, your gifts to ELCA Disaster Response enabled the ELCA’s companion church in Haiti and partners to act quickly and effectively. For an update of what has been done, one year later, download and print Haiti Earthquake Update. (Also see “ELCA Commits $500,000 for Cholera Prevention, Treatment in Haiti,” ELCA News Service, 11/16/10)
ONLINE VIDEO FROM CHURCH WORLD SERVICE – A short, online video presentation from Haiti has been prepared by Tim Frakes for Church World Service, posted to the Odyssey Network. View it at http://www.odysseynetworks.org/faith/haiti. The ELCA is a member of Odyssey Networks, the nation’s largest multi-faith coalition dedicated to promoting tolerance, peace and social justice through the production and distribution of media.
MESSAGE FROM ELCA PRESIDING BISHOP – ELCA Presiding Bishop Hanson wrote a message on the earthquake anniversary which reads in part: Our long-term goal in Haiti is to help renew hope and rebuild lives and livelihoods, seeking to end the cycle of poverty and injustice. Find the full letter by selecting “Messages and Statements” at www.elca.org/bishop.
LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF NEWS RELEASE – A year after the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti, Lutheran World Relief (LWR) continues its long-term efforts to assist earthquake-affected communities. “Thanks to LWR’s generous supporters, LWR has raised more than $7 million for Haiti’s long-term recovery,” says John Nunes, LWR’s president and CEO. “Because of this support, LWR has committed to working in Haiti for at least five years to help communities recover and move forward.” (Read the full LWR Press Release, 1/11/11; and learn more at http://lwr.org/Haiti/)
CHURCH WORLD SERVICE NEWS RELEASE – Media coverage of the first year since the devastating January 12, 2010, earthquake is focused on government inaction, the slow pace of recovery and the seeming inability of Haiti to recover. But the story has another side: Haitians helping Haitians, say Church World Service staff and CWS partners in anticipation of this week’s anniversary. (Church World Service News, 1/11/10; the ELCA is a member of CWS)
Civic Reflection and Tucson Tragedy
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES NEWS RELEASE – As Rep. Gabrielle Giffords lies in critical condition in an Arizona hospital and other innocent shooting victims make hopeful recoveries, religious leaders around the nation continue to express grief and anger over the January 8 Tucson shooting rampage. “It’s hard to assess the tragedy in any way that makes sense,” said the Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, general secretary of the National Council of Churches. “Clearly the overheated political climate in this country is provocative and unhealthy. The constant use of guns and ammo metaphors in political rhetoric may lead an unbalanced person to think it’s okay to bring guns to public meetings.” (NCC News Service, 1/11/11; the ELCA is a member of the NCC)
BLOG POST FROM ELCA PRESIDING BISHOP – Originally presented in November 2010, a reflection piece by the ELCA presiding bishop titled “Putting the civil back in American civilization” has been reposted to http://livinglutheran.com (1/13/11). “I’m adding my voice to those who call for respectful political engagement for the common good and renewal of common decency in public speech,” writes the Rev. Mark S. Hanson.
Epicurious Lutheran 