Prayer invitations bulletin PDF
PRAYER
INVITATIONS
of the
EVANGELICAL
LUTHERAN
COALITION
for
MISSION
in
APPALACHIA
(ELCMA)

Autumn 2008
God’s love is being spread throughout Appalachia in a variety of ways.
The Evangelical Lutheran Coalition for Mission in Appalachia (ELCMA)
invites you, for the next thirty days, to remember all who labor in/for the
Appalachian Region on behalf of the Kingdom.
We pray especially for:
Day 1 – New Jerusalem Lutheran Church, Erie PA and its pastor, Owen Rhodes, as
they make Christ known in the poorest part of an underserved urban population
Day 2 - WV/WMD Synod’s social ministry organization, Community Lutheran Partners
(CLP), and its director, Sarah Soltow, who work to unify the synod through their
work in disaster response, parish nursing and care for the elderly
Day 3 - Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson as he and other leaders make decisions that
will directly impact the future of small and rural congregations and communities
including most of the 1100 ELCA congregations in the Appalachian Region
Day 4 – The Rev. Karen Lundwall and members of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in
Erie, PA, a small membership congregation with limited resources, who are called
to ministry with Sudanese, Hispanic and Anglo communities in an Appalachian area
of Pennsylvania. May God guide them
in this ministry to their community, supplying their needs and growing the
needed leadership
Day 5 - Appalachian Helping Hands, a ministry outreach of St. James LC in
Greeneville, TN and their director Sharon Seneker, who are providing a hand up
to many in three counties near their church
Day 6 – Pastor Minchan Park and Messiah Korean Lutheran Church in Norcross GA as
they labor to bring the gospel to Korean immigrants settling in the greater
Atlanta area. Resources are small
and the work is large.
Day 7 – Faith Lutheran Church, Blakeslee, PA, a congregation located in the
tourist area of the Pocono Mountains and near the Pocono Raceway (Nascar) as
they minister to the residents and visitors, sharing the good news with all
Day 8 - All the underemployed, unemployed, uninsured working poor and their
families. Help each of us to be
instruments making a more just world
Day 9 – The synodically authorized worshipping community of Faith Lutheran
Chapel in Pickens, SC that is striving to grow and reach into Appalachian South
Carolina with the Gospel
Day 10 – Appalachian work camps like Southeast Testament, Inc in Blacklick Ohio
that welcome visitors to spend a week of service and learning in their
communities.
Day 11 – The Crooked Creek Cooperative Lutheran Parish in Ford City, PA a
partnership of three small congregations united in faith, in outreach to its
communities, in vision for the future and love of one another as it moves ahead
with its varied ministries including training an intern each year
Day 12 - The Jefferson Area Lutheran Social Ministry, the newest Lutheran social
ministry in Northwestern PA Synod, which is offering elderly housing to the
folks are falling through the cracks of senior housing offerings in the Region
Day 13 – The Bonding Gardens project of ELCMA which is aimed toward families
with children and seniors who are dealing with food insecurity.
We pray this effort teaches many the ways to produce their own food
Day 14 - Farmers, fishermen, factory workers, coal miners and loggers who
struggle daily with issues of employment and environmental stewardship, and the
loss of a way of life, in some cases
Day 15 - The many who work in the prisons scattered throughout the rural places
in the mountains. Remind us to be
light in the dark places and to bring hope and refreshments to our brothers and
sisters serving there and incarcerated there.
Day 16 -The countless folks in the Appalachian Region and throughout the world
who are denied access to basic human needs and opportunities for health, growth
and achievement
Day 17 - Appalachian Women’s Alliance, with Meredith Dean & Edna Gulley as they
empower women in southwestern VA.
Their innovative ideas and compassion for those in their midst are a witness to
us all.
Day 18 – The Appalachian Advocacy Agenda of
Sustainable Living, that it will be embraced by the Appalachian Region
to uplift and fortify our people, stretch our resources, protect our environment
and strengthen our voice for justice
Day 19 – Faith Lutheran Chapel, Pickens SC as they grow into size and impact in
their community sharing the Gospel in an Appalachian area of South Carolina
Day 20 – All those affected by weather extremes, especially all the flooding
throughout Appalachian southern Ohio (and those affected by other natural
calamities i.e. hurricanes and tornados, too).
Many are still struggling to put their lives back together.
We give thanks for all those who journeyed from Appalachia to lend a hand
and received so much.
Day 21 - The Regional Coordinators of Regions 6, 7, 8, and 9 who connect a
richly diverse and geographically rugged area in both ministry and outreach
Day 22 - The Bishops and staffs of the sixteen synods, many of whom are newly
elected, caring for the pastors & leaders of over 1000 congregations
(1/10th of the ELCA) called to declare the love of Jesus Christ to
the Appalachian people
Day 23 – Living Waters Lutheran Church in Cherokee NC, a Native American
congregation sharing God’s love in their community with a special emphasis on
their youth
Day 24 - The interns scattered throughout the Appalachian Region experiencing
its rich and unique culture, multiple blessings and various needs
Day 25 – First Lutheran Church in Warren, PA and the Alleluia Program (TAP)
which reaches over 70 church and neighborhood children, linking them to more
than 40 adult volunteers in worship, service, study and play.
Day 26 – Immanuel Lutheran Church and Joint Neighborhood Project in Jamestown NY
partner to reach their underserved, diverse community with love, food, clothing,
training and job assistance
Day 27 - The campus ministries that care for our children while they are away
from home for schooling. And please
move our youth to return to their home places and to make a difference for their
neighbors
Day 28 - The Rev. Louise Knotts, the sixth recipients of the Glenn Heasley
Appalachian Ministry Award as she continues to labor in God’s vineyard on behalf
of the Gospel.
Day 29 – With grateful hearts we offer thanks for the adequate resources ELCMA
enjoys that allow us to continue in Christ’s work, and we ask for the blessing
of wisdom to follow Christ’s lead and not our own egos
Day 30 - The ministry of ELCMA, the ELCMA Council, Committee
and Task Group Members, Volunteers and
Staff who work faithfully to connect people and resources, needs and solutions,
people and faith
*****
Thank you for your partnership in the Appalachian ministry of the ELCA - ELCMA.
We encourage you to copy & share this sheet.
And we welcome a note telling us that you are praying for Christ’s
ministries in Appalachia.
ELCMA
PO Box
338, Indiana, PA 15701-0338
admin@elcma.org
www.elcma.org
Phone/FAX: 724/463-8422
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