From Pastor Sara

I just returned from two days at the Northwestern Minnesota Synod Assembly.  This year’s theme was “To Be. To Do.”  We heard about many wonderful things that are happening in Christ’s name in this synod and also around the world.  The President and CEO of Lutheran World Relief, John Nunes, shared about the many ways that Lutheran quilts have been shared around the world:  to provide shelter from the sun, to serve as carpets in shacks with dirt floors, to provide warmth in refugee camps and comfort to shivering AIDS patients as they die.  What a blessing these quilts have been all around the world for so many years!

We also heard about the ELCA’s ongoing campaign to combat the disease of malaria.  Our Sunday school and WELCA have worked to bring awareness to how we can help prevent the spread of this disease by providing money to purchase bed nets.  In 2000, before the ELCA’s and other campaigns started, malaria was responsible for a person’s death every 30 seconds, mostly affecting African children under 5.  The statistic that has been used since 2010 is that the number of deaths has been reduced to one every 45 seconds.  At the assembly we heard that, due to the efforts of the ELCA and other organizations working to prevent and control this disease have reduced this number to one death every 60 seconds!  This is major progress in a few short years!  It is hoped that one day this disease will be eradicated, much like polio was years ago in the United States.  If you are interested in why and how the ELCA got involved in this effort, please visit www.elca.org and look for the Malaria Campaign under the Resources section.

The Assembly also took time on Friday afternoon to actually DO service in the Fargo-Moorhead area.  Groups went to various places like nursing homes and city parks, as well as tying quilts and rolling bandages for Lutheran World Relief.  It was a real opportunity for assembly-goers to put their faith in action and serve their neighbors!

At Calvary we offer opportunities to serve as well.  We have connections to many community organizations that help families, children and the elderly, with many of our members serving on boards and as volunteers.  Pastor Steve and I have the ability to reach out in the name of Christ to people needing help with rent and heat because of your generous donations to the Pastors Discretionary Fund.  The congregation has actively supported mission partners in Texas and around the world for many years!

There are many other opportunities to reach out in love, both within and outside our congregation.  A few examples of these opportunities include welcoming new members, serving as a hospital or home communion visitor or helping to raise awareness of world hunger and how we can help.  Most of these activities fall under the responsibility of the Caring and Outreach Core which is in need of more people to serve as part of the committee.  If the activities mentioned above sound interesting to you, we would love to have your voice and energy as part of the Caring and Outreach Core.  This Core is responsible for MANY other things, but if you are drawn to serving Jesus through acts of love and service, this may be the group that can help you find the best way to use the gifts God has given you.  For more information, you can talk to me or to the Kaaren Soderberg, Caring and Outreach Chairperson.

In Christ’s service,

Pastor Sara Jensen