Living Lutheran

Bullying at summer camp: tips for parents

2013-05-24T07:00:00-06:00

The ELCA offers a wide variety of outdoor ministries. With approximately 140 Lutheran camps, retreat centers and conference centers throughout the country, there are plenty of programs to choose from.

Through worship, study, games and activities, participants hear and see how active their faith can be, learning how to live and work together in an intentional Christian community. But as in any situation where children are away from home, parents need to give their kids the tools to protect them from bullying. They need to know how to handle situations and when they should talk to their counselors or other people in authority.

What is bullying?

Bullying is aggressive behavior by a child or a group of children who take advantage of the power they have to hurt or intimidate others.

Bullying can take many forms:

Verbal abuse, including taunting, gossiping, mocking, name calling and dirty looks
Physical abuse, including hitting, pushing, shoving and kicking
Organized social rejection, including exclusion from activities or groups
Public humiliation
Threatening racist or sexist remarks
Frightening acts

Bullying at camp

Camp is similar to school and other settings where bullying occurs. Children engaging in new activities, meeting new friends, establishing varying social groups at camp, and sharing living quarters with other campers present challenges to even the most well-adjusted child.

The good news is that camps are well equipped to address bullying and help the bully deal with counterproductive behavior, too. Proven supervisory practices, activities geared to the developmental level of individual children, and the promotion of a spirit of inclusivity and caring help children to exert higher degrees of cooperation and self-control.

How can I help my child deal with bullying?

Before camp begins:

Discuss bullying with your child — what it is, why it is unacceptable and what your child’s response to it should be.
Tell your child that you expect them to help a child who is being bullied or excluded.
Encourage your child to talk to the camp staff — children need support from responsible adults to address bullying.
Establish clear expectations about respecting others and gaining respect.
Follow through with a consistent set of rules and consequences.

Once camp begins:

Listen and communicate regularly once your child is at camp.
Reinforce positive behavior with specific praise such as “Your counselor told me you controlled your temper when another child pushed you. That really helped the other campers not to get in a fight.”

What can I do if my child is bullied?

Support your child — bullying is not the fault of the child being bullied.
Gather information about the incident — who, what, when, where and how?
Praise your child for attempts likely made for resolving the situation.
Talk with the camp director about consequences for the child being the bully and help for your child with increased support from other campers and staff.
Help your child understand that real friends are not mean to each other.

What If my child bullies?

Try to get a full understanding of what happened.
Ask yourself if there have been any recent changes or negative events in your child’s life.
Discuss consequences of bullying with the camp director regarding specific episodes and the response from camp staff.
Reinforce your rule that bullying must stop.
Help your child understand how bullying affects others.
Cooperate with the camp director and the staff to reinforce positive behaviors in your child.

You might also want to read:
Cyber-bullying
Bullying: ancient problem, serious issue
It’s not polite to be a racist

Help for military families

2013-05-24T06:00:00-06:00

We express our deep concern, love, and care for our troops in many different ways. We send them care packages, letters, Bibles, pictures and e-mails. We tell them that they are missed and that we pray for them.

But what about the families and friends who wait at home? Throughout the ELCA there are mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, spouses, children, extended families and close friends of the troops.

One ELCA pastor relates that, “It was a difficult time when our son was in Baghdad for 16 months. Being a pastor who is supposed to have it all together in terms of faith, it was hard to ask for help and to tell people that I struggled daily with fear for my son.

“It would have been great if someone had said to me, ‘I sent a letter to your daughter today.’ I would have felt easier knowing she was getting a note from home.”

Another parent, whose child was in the Vietnam conflict, felt that her congregation did not support her or her family, “I cannot remember any great support from my church — friends, yes — but somehow one got the idea that in the church’s eyes the military was frowned upon.”

With waiting and worrying, anxiety is high. There is uneasiness during the day and emptiness that haunts at night.

A parent remembers the anxiety she felt during Desert Storm: “There was never any mail from him. I didn’t know where he was — was he OK?

“I saw the Desert Storm news every day, every newscast, but where was my son? I needed someone to help me cope with my nearly debilitating fear.”

For some there is greater responsibility and more work, which adds to the feelings of anxiousness. All the child rearing, bill paying, housework and problem solving, now fall on their shoulders.

Finances are tight, on top of the stabbing worry, the throbbing headaches, the addiction to the television and the weight loss (or gain) that results from a spouse, child or grandchild having gone to war. All this, while the children of soldiers act out in school, suffer from anxiety attacks and cry themselves to sleep.

One spouse regrets not asking for help: “I wish I had asked for a Stephen Minister to comfort me. I needed someone I could call when I was really afraid, someone who would just listen. And it would have been great if someone had called and offered to stay with the kids so I could have a day out.”

How can we as individuals and as congregations help the families and friends of our deployed military? The following are a few suggestions for consideration.

“It would have helped so much if someone would have invited us to dinner in their home, or to go to a movie with them. We felt very isolated during that time.”
“It would have been great if someone had said to me, ‘I sent a letter to your daughter today.’ I would have felt easier knowing she was getting a note from home.”
“I silently said ‘Tim,’ when in the Prayers of the Day we prayed for ‘all those who serve in the military.’ How meaningful it would have been to our family, and other families in our church, to hear our soldier prayed for by name.”
Fortunately, there are ELCA congregations helping families of deployed soldiers: Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Wytheville, Va., provides calling cards to troops deployed in war zones.
Members of San Marcos Lutheran Church, San Marcos, Calif., have developed a “Prayer Wall,” filled with pictures of soldiers and of their families, a visual reminder to the congregation to care for the families of deployed soldiers.
In Austin, Minn., churches joined together and held a dinner for all the military families.
At St. John Lutheran Church in Mendota, Ill., the names of military personnel are listed in the bulletin every week.
At Central Lutheran Church, in Anchorage, Alaska, congregational members write letters to soldiers and befriend their families. For at least one soldier and his family, the congregation sponsored a Welcome Home party.

Within our ELCA congregations, the retired military members have special empathy. One man wrote, “It is my duty and honor to help however I can. I support Ron whose son is in Iraq — I’ve been there, I know what it’s like, and I can listen to his concerns.”

Celebrating self-expression

2013-05-24T06:00:00-06:00

By Josh Denslow

Church of the Abiding Savior, an ELCA congregation in Durham. N.C., had a problem: They wanted their message to reach younger people in the community. Even though they were situated directly across the street from North Carolina Central University, a historically black college, not many of the students were making the trip across the street.

Enter Rhonda Hatton. Rhonda had studied theater as an undergraduate and had a master’s degree in church ministry from Duke Divinity School. Abiding Savior brought her in as an outreach minister and then sat back and watched the fireworks.

To call Rhonda passionate would be an understatement. She is powered by her love of God and the arts. And she was confident she could get the younger generation to listen.

As a spoken word artist, she had connections with the college and the community. Rhonda decided to begin hosting an open mic every second Thursday at Abiding Savior where young people could come sing, rap or perform spoken word pieces.

And there were no excuses for not showing up: “We’re serving dinner. It’s free. Bring your children. We’ll even pick you up if you don’t have a ride.” There was no arguing with Rhonda.

The open mic brought in people from all walks of life and socioeconomic backgrounds. But the real work was just beginning. Now they needed to come to worship.

Some of the participants in the open-mic events began attending the 11:00 a.m. Sunday service, but, Rhonda says, “They were disappointed.” The open forum was gone. There was no room to express themselves. They felt lost in the crowd.

Thus Celebration Ministries was born. As a synodically authorized worshiping community, twice a month Rhonda leads a more contemporary worship service that includes reworked hymns and other gospel music.

Those in attendance are encouraged to clap along and dance, and self-expression is encouraged. Before Rhonda’s sermon, anyone can come up and share stories of testimony, prophetic poetry, liturgical dance or gospel rap. “God gave us our gifts to bless others and to bless God,” Rhonda shares.

Even as Celebration Ministries continues to grow, Rhonda hasn’t stopped her outreach. She has invited spiritually based spoken word artists to perform to standing-room-only audiences on campus. She has also written and directed two plays that brought together students and members of the congregation. “We developed a family through rehearsals. Sometimes it became a Bible study or worship experience.”

The key to reaching out to the community may have been finding a way to speak to the youth. But the real secret to Celebration Ministries is that it gives them a voice. And they can be heard.

Josh Denslow writes stories and plays the drums in Austin, Texas.

You might also want to read:
Off the Grid
One-to-one with a changing church
The power of art

Fun in the sun

2013-05-24T05:00:00-06:00

It’s the hazy, crazy days of summer and many rejoice just as Alice Cooper declares in his 1972 hit that “School’s out for summer!” And while this may be true, what we also know is that your congregation doesn’t go on summer vacation and is still in full session.

Summer can be a great season for your congregation, a time for outreach, faith and fun. Creative summer events can be a great experience as long as they are planned effectively. Here are some fun, family-friendly outdoor summer events your congregation might enjoy trying.

Outdoor worship: Enjoy God’s beautiful creation, fresh air and sun while worshipping with your congregation. Set up lawn chairs, blankets and an altar to serve as the sanctuary and then bring the music and praise outside and begin making a joyful noise to the Lord. Outside worship does not have to be every service or even every week. One great idea is to create a fun summer series such as a theme about water. The Scriptures are rich with stories and imagery using water. Then plan your worship service utilizing water within the worship: maybe a nearby lake or stream, or a small pool or a large bowl. The possibilities are endless! As you prepare to worship outdoors, invite your neighborhood to come check you out.
Movie nights: Set up an outdoor movie night for your congregation and community members. Project a movie on one of the exterior walls of the church and pop fresh popcorn for viewers to enjoy. Encourage people to bring a friend.
Picnics: Everyone knows Lutherans love to have potlucks and what better way to spend a warm summer day than a picnic at the park. Invite congregational and community members to the event and plan fun activities for all ages. If the temperature begins to rise, water balloon tosses and sprinklers are a fun way to cool off.
Sports: Your congregation can never go wrong when planning a sporting event. Whether it is a sports camp for kids, a tournament for teens and adults or a benefit for a charity, sporting events are sure to be a hit with your congregation. Sports camps can be opened up to the community as well and are a great way to reach out into the community. Plan softball tournaments, 3-on-3 basketball, soccer games or bocce ball to name a few, and have participants create teams. Golf benefits are also very popular among adults and can help out a local charity that is important to your congregation.
Fundraisers: There are endless opportunities for fundraisers in the summertime. On a hot day have your children’s ministry or youth group set up a snow cone or lemonade stand, and when someone buys an item, give them an invitation to attend Sunday worship. Plan a car wash to help support a group in the congregation or a local charity. Collect items from members of your congregation and community and set up a garage sale in the parking lot. At all of these events you can sell cold drinks and food and share with your community members the mission of your congregation.

All of these fun, family-oriented summer events can be used as major outreach tools for your congregation. These events are also a great way to bring your congregation together in fellowship and worship. Publicize all events on your congregation’s website, outside the building, and through personal invitations and posters in local venues making this summer one of outreach, and enjoy your congregation’s fun in the sun summer events!

You might also want to read or watch:
An unconventional ministry
Outdoor food safety
A camp that heals hidden wounds

A little ‘TLC’

2013-05-24T05:00:00-06:00

The TLC Community Garden provides food and education.

By Megan Nuehring

Palmer, Alaska, is in south-central Alaska’s Matanuska-Susitna Valley, just a few miles south of Mount McKinley. It’s also place where many people go hungry each and every day, says Diane Krauszer, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, an ELCA congregation in Palmer.

But thanks to a partnership between Trinity, ELCA World Hunger, and some enthusiastic students, the TLC Community Garden is working to change that.

The garden was started through a partnership between Trinity Lutheran Church and The Next Step Day School, a school for young adults with disabilities between the ages of 18 and 22 and a tenant of Trinity Lutheran Church.

Rolling up their sleeves

Students and teachers from the school approached Diane with the idea of starting a garden.

“We got together and talked about what we wanted to do and what we hoped the garden might be,” Diane says.

After plans had been made, the congregation and Next Step Day School broke ground in May 2011. The garden occupies unused land across the street from the church building.

“We wanted the garden to be a place where people could work together, learn from each other and provide food for others,” says Diane.

The planting, harvesting and delivery are all done by the congregation and students of Next Step. With a focus on learning life skills, the TLC Community Garden provides the opportunity for learning how to dry and can potatoes, as well as how to cook with them.

“The TLC Garden has been a learning opportunity for all of us, staff and students. It gave our students a chance to be providers, to help themselves as well as others,” says Carmen Thomas, who works as a special education assistant at Next Step.

Getting to work

To get started with the planting of the potatoes, a local farm donated 100 pounds of seed potatoes. Those seed potatoes grew into 1,100 pounds of potatoes, all harvested by Next Step students.

The potatoes went to many beneficiaries: the families of the Next Step students, the families of the preschoolers in the congregation, various food pantries and to local homeless teenagers from the area who are welcomed into Trinity Lutheran Church on Sundays.

Before the delivery of the potatoes, the Next Step students prepared the potatoes for distribution and eating.

“I liked cooking the garlic mashed potatoes. That was my job. I also liked digging the potatoes and finding red and pink ones in the dirt,” says Victoria, one of Next Step’s students.

Cole, another student, shares, “I liked digging, cooking and eating the garlicky potatoes!” “I liked being outside to plant the potatoes. I also liked washing them,” says Stephen.

Coming together

The goal of TLC Community Garden is to bring different communities together to learn from each other and facilitate interaction.

“This is a place where different communities who wouldn’t normally come together come together to garden and get to know one another,” Diane says.

Next summer, Diane hopes to make the garden more open to the community. The congregation has received a grant to construct raised beds. These beds will make it more accessible for people of all ages and disabilities to garden and join in the community.

Megan Nuehring is a student at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, majoring in public relations and religion with a minor in leadership.

You night also want to read:
Increasing God’s children
Feeding body and soul
A place of hope

From my bishop after the tornadoes in Oklahoma

2013-05-24T04:35:00-06:00

Originally posted May 21, 2013, at Lutheran Confessions. Republished with permission of the author.

Editor’s note: Please also visit Lutheran Disaster Response to make a donation, find prayers and resources and to learn more about the situation and the ELCA’s response. Remember that 100 percent of your donation to Lutheran Disaster Response will be used to help families whose lives and livelihoods have been impacted by this disaster.

Friends:

Late this morning, I was part of a teleconference with the Oklahoma Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters group to discuss needs and the coordination of resources for the disasters in Carney, Little Axe, Shawnee, Newcastle and Moore. They affirmed several things that I put in my letter this morning in terms of our immediate response to the disaster.

Our best immediate response is to hold everyone involved — both victims and first responders — in prayer.
Making monetary donations is best. To address immediate needs, please direct donations to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. To address long-term needs, please send donations to the ELCA Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod office. Online donations can be made through the synod’s website.
Individuals with specific training (i.e., licensed mental-health professionals) should contact the Red Cross before heading to Oklahoma City.

Some things are not needed right now:

In-kind donations. The infrastructure for receiving, storing and distributing in-kind donations is not in place yet. Also, those who have lost their homes do not have any place to store in-kind support. In-kind donations will be needed down the road. We’ll let you know what is needed and when.
Individual or group volunteers. Again, the infrastructure for coordinating work groups and individuals who want to help is simply not in place yet. At this stage, volunteers can actually get in the way and slow down the work of first responders and trained search and rescue personnel. You can start to plan for these groups and we will let you know when they are needed.

This recovery will take a long time. Groups and donations will be needed for some time to come. While we all want to help immediately, patience is required. Thank you all for your care, your compassion and your concern for the people of Oklahoma.

Peace, Bishop Mike [Girlinghouse, ELCA Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod]

Find a link to Clint Schnekloth’s blog Lutheran Confessions at Lutheran Blogs.

You might also want to read:
Can’t turn away
How Lutherans respond to international disasters
Who is to blame?

Federal chaplains minister in difficult places

2013-05-24T04:00:00-06:00

Chaplains are the visible presence of the holy in what may seem like unlikely places. ELCA federal chaplains serve in federal prisons, Veterans Administration hospitals, and the armed services of the United States. Darrell Morton, who directs the ELCA’s federal chaplaincy ministries, explains, “Chaplains live and work every day with the people they minister to.”

Although the venue may be different, federal chaplains have many of the same responsibilities as any other ELCA pastor. They preach the gospel, lead worship, administer the sacraments, perform weddings, counsel, teach and bury the dead. The work is alike but not alike, for there are many more memorial services for younger adults. Grief counseling is also proportionally more frequent for the federal chaplain.

What is the mission of the Bureau for Federal Chaplaincy Ministries?

“To support the chaplaincies of the church in federal agencies, institutions and armed forces, and to provide for the pastoral care of those called to these ministries” (excerpt from ELCA Bureau for Federal Chaplaincy Ministries mission statement).

Resources for becoming a chaplain

Military chaplaincy is a specialized ministry. It demands physical fitness as well as mental and spiritual fitness. Chaplains must also complete a six-week officers’ training program. The chaplain is then commissioned as a First Lieutenant with a three-year special call.

Unlike other ministry programs, there is an age factor in qualifying for military chaplaincy. Although the average age of a civilian pastor today is approximately 44, the upper age limit for clergy entering the military is 42. Training usually occurs very early in a pastor’s career. Obviously, this requirement holds back many second-career pastors.

An applicant for chaplaincy must have earned a Master’s of Divinity degree and have completed an additional two years of professional service. Chaplains are the only military personnel who do not carry firearms and are not required to qualify in their use.

Those interested in military chaplaincy are encouraged to visit the chaplaincy websites for the three different branches of the U.S. armed forces: Air Force, Army and Navy (which includes the Marine Corps and Coast Guard).

ELCA clergy also serve and minister in the Bureau of Prisons and the Veterans Administration system. To serve as a chaplain in one of these specialized ministries requires a special call or endorsement from this church.

How can we support chaplains and those in the military overseas?

Above all else, keep the ELCA chaplains in your prayers and in the prayers of your congregation. If you are interested in praying for ELCA chaplains by name on a rotating basis, call the ELCA Bureau for Federal Chaplaincy Ministries at 202-417-3692.

Orchestrated drives to collect and send gifts to our military are discouraged. The most helpful thing a congregation can do is to write letters to those deployed. Donating purchased calling cards, which enables military personnel to call home, is most appreciated.

Members can also give generously to the ELCA, which supports the work of the Bureau for Federal Chaplaincy Ministries. The Bureau also gratefully receives gifts designated for specific ministries. From these gifts come kits for military field worship, education opportunities for chaplains and other ministry enhancements.

A moral voice

2013-05-24T04:00:00-06:00

Members of Spirit of Truth at a protest in Stillwater, Minn.

By Mary Kettl

Pete Marincel and Grant Stevensen, the founders of an ELCA developing mission congregation in St. Paul, Minn., first met while Pete was working as a community organizer in a quest to help big-box store janitors get better working conditions.

At the time, Grant was president of a faith-based community organizing coalition in Minnesota. In that work, Grant says, “I met so many people who were hopeful and passionate — and almost all unattached from any church because, in this society, they don’t see church as a meaningful place for change.”

Their congregation, Spirit of Truth, which is supported in part by gifts to ELCA churchwide ministries from congregational offerings, meets on Sundays in the basement of St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church for prayer, singing and small group discussions, and while Sunday gatherings are small, 50-150 people will often show up for “actions,” like the “Justice for Retail Cleaners Campaign” that Pete began.

In May 2012, a delegation of 30 people, including members of Spirit of Truth, collected and presented over $100,000 in receipts to officials at Cub Foods in Stillwater, Minn., to demonstrate their buying power.

Because they typically work at night and because stores outsource this labor, cleaners are unseen and unheard, Grant says. “We need to raise more attention and more of a moral voice” in how they are treated.

When Cub Foods did not show interest in negotiating a code of conduct for treatment of workers, Grant was moved to join some of the retail cleaners in a hunger strike. It was, he said, a humbling experience. “I felt a sense of solidarity and shared humanity. Those of us who are more insulated from economic deprivation don’t always understand what it means to have trouble putting food on the table.”

The hunger strike, while short, did get attention and resulted in a 50 cent an hour raise for workers. “It’s not much, but it means something to these people,” Grant says. “If Jesus didn’t invite us to be with invisible people, then I don’t know where else he would want us to be.”

The economic justice focus of the group has been timely in light of the current situation in the country. “We want to be clear about what our values say about community,” Pete shares. “For example, things like taxes and banking were traditionally a civic question — the church didn’t comment much on that. We’re making it our question. This is a moral question. We need to be able to express that this is not a neutral question.”

Mary Kettl is a recovering 7th-grade English teacher from Wyoming who lives and writes in Rochester, Minn.

You might also want to read:
Advocacy in Hong Kong
Following the drinking gourd to God
Words of the prophets

Pastors need to re-create

2013-05-24T03:00:00-06:00

With studies such as the Duke Divinity School’s “Clergy Health Initiative” and The New York Times article “Taking a break from the Lord’s work” it is apparent that clergy burnout is on the rise.

Pastors are often expected to be available 24/7. In addition to preparing weekly sermons and leading worship, they perform a myriad of duties that chip away at their time and personal lives.

Something is lost in the daily grind and needs to be replenished. People need to be re-created periodically, replenished, built back up after a time of hard work.

Some suggestions

Here are ways to help you re-create:

Participate in physical activity and recreation. Activity can also foster social opportunities and contribute to mental health by reducing stress, combating depression and building emotional well-being.
Keep a regular schedule. Go to bed on time and get up on time to start the day rested and unrushed.
Relax. Bodies aren’t made to go non-stop. We need sleep to regenerate, but we also need to consciously stop and sometimes just sit. Calm your mind.
Say “No” occasionally. This is especially important for projects that really won’t fit into your schedule or that will compromise your mental or physical health.
Delegate tasks to capable others.
Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don’t lump the hard things all together.
Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can’t do anything about a situation forget it
Having problems? Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don’t wait to worry about issues until it’s time to go to bed.
Remember that less can be more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
Allow extra time to do things and go places.
Laugh and laugh some more.
Take your work seriously but yourself not at all.
Give thanks. Every night before going to bed, think of one thing you’re grateful for that you’ve never been grateful for in the past.
Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.

‘That pastor who hangs out here’

2013-05-24T03:00:00-06:00

Margaret Kelly “hangs out” at Shobi’s Table in St. Paul, Minn.

As a social worker working among those experiencing homelessness and poverty, Margaret Kelly knew she was doing important work, but she couldn’t help feel as if her clients still had unmet needs.

“I didn’t feel like I could bring hope to people,” she says.

Margaret could arrange for people to sign up to receive social services or to be put on a housing list. And “while those are important things” that “do give hope, they don’t provide a bright future; there’s no promise of new life,” she says.

So when Margaret graduated in 2012 from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., one of eight ELCA seminaries, and took a position as the mission developer and pastor at Shobi’s Table, an ELCA synodically authorized worshiping community in St. Paul, she saw it as an opportunity to help people on a deeper level.

“Shobi’s Table comes out of a wellness center that First Lutheran Church in St. Paul operates,” Margaret explains. “The wellness center began with just giving space to community and initially providing some basic health and wellness services.”

Shobi’s Table provides a needed spiritual component to the wellness center’s offerings. As pastor, Margaret leads services on Thursday nights. She also holds “pastor office hours” at a homeless shelter in downtown St. Paul, where she sits and talks with those in need of a prayer or a blessing.

“People are very willing to praise God for the things that are going well in their lives,” she says. They’ll also talk “about relationships with family and friends and how that works and what this looks like and how they can be mended and supported.”

Margaret remembers a recent trip to the shelter, someone who didn’t have a scheduled visit approached her saying, “You’re a pastor right? Can you do a blessing for me? Right here?” Margaret laid her hands on the man. “We just prayed in the middle of the doorway. He had just started a new job, and we were praying for transportation for him.”

“What’s pretty astounding is that I’ve done it enough times where people are starting to recognize me,” Margaret continues. “People are saying, ‘Hey, that’s that pastor who hangs out here.’”

“As a social worker, I didn’t feel like I could bring hope to people,” she continues. “Now I feel like I can give true hope, because I have the sacraments with me.”

You might also want to read:
When Jesus shows up unexpectedly
A holiday for sinners and saints
A welcoming home

Jumping for joy

2013-05-24T02:00:00-06:00

Don’t forget to keep the safety of your congregation in mind when planning the entertainment at your next outdoor gathering.

Inflatable amusements, such as bounce houses, are becoming an increasingly popular entertainment option that, without proper planning and safe operation, can pose a serious safety risk.

There is a possibility of the inflatable flipping over, flying away, collapsing and injuring adults and children alike.

For example, in Arizona two children were injured when the wind lifted a bouncy castle into the air and across three lanes of traffic.

And in another incident in Oceanside, N.Y., 13 adults and children were injured when strong winds lifted three bounce houses — with children playing inside — into the air and dragged them along the ground.

Here are safety tips to follow if you plan to set up an inflatable fun house for a congregational event:

In addition to the space required for the equipment itself, there should be an additional 10 feet between each inflatable.
Limit the number of users in the device.
Securely anchor the inflatable to the ground with stakes. While stakes work well on grass, there is cause for concern if the inflatable is set up on asphalt, cement or indoors. In these cases use water bags or sandbags.
Place the blower near an electrical outlet so that it can’t accidentally be unplugged allowing the inflatable to collapse.
Make sure you follow the age recommendation provided by the manufacturer. Some items are recommended for ages 13 and younger.
Have responsible adults, well-versed in the operating and safety instructions, set up, operate and supervise all attractions.
Safety signs specific to each inflatable should be clearly posted, detailing the rules for users.
When the unit is inflated, check for rips or holes.
Make sure all children are grouped according to size.
Turn the unit off during inclement weather or high winds.
Check for a current state decal on the equipment, meaning it’s been inspected and approved.

The lifesaving power of goats

2013-05-24T02:00:00-06:00

The lives of Sentongo Abdul and his brother and sister have improved due to goats donated by ELCA World Hunger.

In the Kasagamaa Sub County of Uganda, it’s not unusual for children to serve as the heads of households. Of all of the countries on the African continent, Uganda has one of the highest percentages of people living with and dying from HIV and AIDS, leaving many children orphaned and to fend for themselves.

Sentongo Abdul’s parents died of AIDS in 2006, leaving Sentongo in charge of looking after his younger sister and brother. Without the help of their parents, the Abdul children were often hungry. Although there is a free primary school in their community, the children did not have the required school supplies to attend.

“Well-wishers gave us food once in a while, but no one ever offered us money to cater for some of household essentials and scholastic materials,” Sentongo says. “It hurt me so much to watch my friends attend school on a daily basis, yet I could not afford basic materials which everyone took for granted.”

But thanks to a partnership between ELCA World Hunger and the Rural Action Community Based Organization, a local community service organization in Uganda, the Abduls’ lives are changing.

In 2011, the children were given a new house, a water tank, household utensils and two pregnant goats as a part of a larger initiative that distributed 280 goats to 90 households. For people in Uganda, a goat is as good as money in the bank. Goats can provide nutritious milk and meat, but more importantly, they can be sold when a family finds itself in need.

In the next phase of the project, the program will also provide gardening and food preparation training to children who lead households and people living with HIV and AIDS with the hope of increasing food security in the region.

In Sentongo’s case, the Rural Action Community Based Organization taught him how to properly care for his goats including how to build a pen, how to feed them properly with locally available foods and how to keep them from falling ill.

His goats each had two kids, and when the organization saw how well Sentongo was caring for his animals, they gave him two more. He was then able to sell four of the goats to procure books, pens, pencils and school bags for his siblings. Now Sentongo spends his days taking his goats to graze on the fresh grass in the hills where he lives, while his brother and sister get an education.

“I had given up all hope for life after our parents’ death. My siblings’ dreams of becoming teachers can now be realized because of the goat project. My future and that of my siblings is surely brighter.”

You might also want to read:
‘Hey! That’s my church!’
Life with dignity
Bringing life to a dying world

Practical help in a fluid economy

2013-05-24T01:00:00-06:00

What effect will a tumultuous U.S. economy have on ministry?

The answer to this question is far from clear, but one thing, however, is clear: God’s mission for the church has not changed.

Even so, the shape that the ministry takes is open for creative and faithful amendment.

As budgets are being prepared and financial stewardship programs take shape, be bold, nimble and purposeful in your planning.

For ELCA pastors and congregational leaders who are seeking benchmarks in responding to our challenges, consider the following 10 items:

DON’T OVERREACT: The struggles of developing a responsible spending plan for the congregation will be more difficult and anxious than at any time in previous years. Fear will choke off generosity, and difficult choices will be presented. If salaries are frozen (or reduced), or if your priority program is underfunded, do not act precipitately or take those decisions personally. Percentage giving is always a means to strengthen and witness our faith in God. Model a 10-10-80 lifestyle by sharing 10 percent, saving 10 percent and keeping 80 percent of your income.
PRAY: Add 15 minutes to the time that the congregation council spends in prayer, study and worship at their regular meetings. Initiate a new mission-focused Bible study or add a prayer group to the church calendar. Seek God’s voice in a time of economic challenge through prayer, Scripture study and faith conversation.
CALL EARLY: If a declining markets and an economic downturn have shortened the congregation’s horizon for institutional survival, call for help sooner rather than later. Call either the assistant to the bishop who relates to your congregation or contact the director of evangelical mission or the stewardship specialist in your synod. The longer congregations wait to face critical circumstances, the fewer the options to be proactive.
CRUNCH THE NUMBERS: Be diligent both in tracking donations and other sources of income and in tracking spending. Plan not to overspend your congregational budget. Review each budget line, and make faithful and significant changes to bring your spending into line with God’s purpose for the church.
CARE FOR CREATION: Take steps to control energy use and other environmental costs in your church. Install 24/7 programmable clock thermostats on all heating and cooling zones. Seal drafty windows and doors. Heat and cool only the areas of the church that are needed. Critically review the church calendar, and schedule multiple groups and events in the building at the same time. Move meetings, worship and gatherings into smaller rooms and homes.
CONDUCT FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMS: The members of the congregation will find it difficult to make year-long pledges because of the rapid changes in a changing economy. They will appreciate it if the stewardship committee understands that struggle. Ask members to make financial pledges three times in the coming year: February, June and October. While a 12-month pledge will be difficult, asking members to project ahead 120 days is a better choice.
CLOSE THREE AND START TWO: Scrutinize the present array of ministry programs that are on the agenda of the congregation. Identify three programs or activities that have historically been part of your ministry that have not gained traction in recent times. Determine not to do those things in the coming year. Take them off the agenda. Add (only) two new ventures to your ministry plan in the coming year. Reducing by three, while adding two, will likely control some spending.
ENGAGE IN ASSET MAPPING: Rely on the creativity and innovation of your members to put excitement in your planning. Conduct an asset-mapping exercise, and knit the gifts and interests of your members into new ministry programs without increasing financial costs. Affirm the giftedness and generosityof members in new ways with this asset map.
REALLOCATE YOUR TIME: Pastors, look critically at your weekly schedule. Identify areas where you can equip others to pick up some of the work that you do. Redirect your new-found time specifically to work in the areas of evangelism, witness and stewardship. Work with the congregation council in designing goals and benchmarks for this endeavor.
ENJOY THE MOMENT: The joy of ministry is in serving Jesus Christ. We find purpose in mission and relationships. Do not let the worries of the world pull you down. Enjoy the moment, living in the grace of God. It is possible to keep sanity in our stewardship even in a dynamic economy. Continue to preach and teach about stewardship. Everyone will be talking about money, values and priorities. Make sure God’s voice is heard in the midst of that conversation.

Caring for the animals

2013-05-24T01:00:00-06:00

From left to right, Ethan Perkowski, Roland Zanger, Diane Donahue (with dog), Virginia Barrett and Patt Kauffman.

By Brandi Maczik

It all started when Diane Donahue, a member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, an ELCA congregation in Port Jervis, N.Y., noticed that a dog in her neighborhood looked rather hungry.

As an animal rights activist, she decided she had to help. After a restless night and an urge to do something more, she devised a plan. When looking back on this night, Diane says, “God planted a seed in me.”

She immediately presented her plan to her pastor, Patt Kauffman, in hopes that she would like the idea. The idea was to form a pet food pantry that would provide food for pets throughout the community.

“Our local animal shelter was and is over flowing with adoptable pets, and I wanted a way to help.” And with the help of her community, her husband, Shamus, and a confirmation class, she was able to do just that. This pet food pantry is saving the lives of over 100 pets by keeping them out of the animal shelters.

On the pantry’s opening day, Diane had no idea how many people to expect, but she felt the warmth and support from those around her. And that support wasn’t only coming from within the community.

The local newspaper featured an article about the opening of the pantry and in turn caught the attention of a family in upstate New York. This family sent a $125 donation to help aid in startup costs!

And not only were people reading about the pet pantry, but they were volunteering to help. Diane said that there were over 21 families who signed up to assist.

Already the project is making a big impact on the community. Diane recalls two younger boys who had wandered into the church on a day that the pantry was not distributing food.

Patt led the boys to Diane where they told her that they needed food for their cat. They asked for help.

Diane bagged up some cat food and cat treats for the boys. She says the look of relief on their faces was “priceless.”

The impact that the pet pantry is making on this community is big. There are continual phone calls throughout the week from people who are interested or willing to help.

“Of course I have to admit I worry a bit before each pantry if I’m going to have enough food to give away,” Diane shares, “but God is good; one of his angels always shows up!”

Brandi Maczik is a student at Hope College in Holland, Mich., majoring in English and communications.

You might also want to read:
Blessing of the animals
Increasing God’s children
Hunger isn’t a game

15 ways to observe Memorial Day

2013-05-23T05:00:00-06:00

A man visits the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Memorial Day.

As the “unofficial” beginning to summer, Memorial Day has lost some of its meaning as a day to give thanks for those men and women of the armed forces — both past and present. We remember those whose sacrifices served the cause of peace and pray for those who are today working in harm’s way.

Here are 15 ideas you may be interested in using as you observe this national holiday.

1. Lift up all veterans and their families in your prayers.

2. Remember those in your community who have lost loved ones as a result of war. Visit a widow/widower or child of someone who has died while in the service.

3. Pay a visit to a nursing home where many World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War veterans are now living. Take the time to sit and talk and listen.

4. Ask for a list of military personnel from your congregation who are on active duty and include them on your prayer list.

5. Participate in the “National Moment of Remembrance” at 3 p.m. — “to pause for one minute to remember and reflect on the sacrifices made by so many to provide freedom for all” (White House Memorandum May 2, 2000).

6. Lay a wreath at your local or congregational cemetery in memory of veterans of all wars.

7. Assemble military care packages sent to U.S. troops serving around the world. Items you may want to include are: tooth paste and brushes, lip balm, deodorant, gum, baby wipes.

8. Visit memorials in your community. Many cities, towns and villages have erected monuments for those citizens who served in the armed forces.

9. Fly the POW/MIA flag.

10. Make a donation for disabled veterans.

11. Visit patients at your local veterans hospital.

12. Walk through the section for soldiers at your local cemetery and decorate the graves that have no flowers with a simple carnation or rose.

13. Volunteer at a USO in your community.

14. Write a thank-you note to an ELCA federal chaplain.

15. Attend a Memorial Day prayer service.

You might also want to read:
Remembering our veterans, past and present
A new future for Renton Lutheran Church
Giving back to God