Watch Bishop Burkat’s Lenten greeting, via video from Jerusalem, by clicking the image above.

Pastor to speak to faithful from the Holy Land

Two local Lutheran leaders are marking the start of Lent in the Holy Land, and the power of the Internet will allow them to share the experience with parishioners back home.

Pastor to speak to faithful from the Holy Land phillyBurbs.com | Intelligencer

Local pastor will deliver his Ash Wednesday sermon from the Holy Land phillyBurbs.com | Intelligencer

Local pastor will deliver his Ash Wednesday sermon from the Holy Land phillyBurbs.com | Intelligencer

One faith, oceans apart

The Rev. Eric Shafer, senior pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, will be in the holiest of holy lands on Ash Wednesday: Jerusalem.

It will be there where Shafer will give a 10-minute sermon on the first day of Lent from the Mt. of Olives outside Jerusalem.

Through Internet and Google Video, that same sermon will be witnessed by members of Trinity Lutheran at the three Ash Wednesday worship services.

Shafer will be accompanied on his trip by … Bishop Claire Burkat of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod.

“I want to experience the culture and I really want to better understand the dynamics and possible solutions to the conflicts in the Middle East,” (Burkat) said. “I want to listen to the stories and witness the minority Christian population in the Holy Land.”

“It will be very poignant and spiritual for me,” Burkat said.

Read it at: TheReporterOnline.com

Religious leaders urge equity in farm bill

Thirty-two bishops and other religious leaders in Pennsylvania have signed letters to Senators Robert Casey, Jr., and Arlen Specter, urging them to work for equity in the farm bill when the Senate takes up the legislation this month. Bishops and clergy who signed the letter represent regional offices of such theologically diverse faith communions as the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Church of the Brethren, Moravian Church, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and United Church of Christ.

Hand delivered on October 3, the letters signed by Pennsylvania faith leaders are part of efforts by a national religious coalition, led by the anti-hunger organization Bread for the World, advocating for changes to the farm bill that would provide more equitable support to farmers of modest means and help make progress against hunger and poverty in the United States and around the world.

“It is an injustice to give priority to special interests rather than meet the most pressing needs in rural America or do what we can to reduce hunger,” said Larry Hollar, Bread for the World’s Regional Organizer for Pennsylvania.  “Our nation’s farm policy must help those who need it the most—farmers of modest means, struggling rural communities and hungry people who are working to lift their families out of poverty.”

Farm Bill press release

Our teacher in Tanzania

Amanda Grant is heading to Tanzania Aug. 12 to teach for a year in the special education curriculum at the soon-to-open Sebastian Kolowa University College (SEKUCo). Amanda, a member of St. John, Mayfair, recently completed her masters in social work at the University of Pennsylvania and previously was a special education teacher in Arizona. At SEKUCo, Amanda will teach classes in special education, autism, inclusive education and learning disabilities. You can follow along with her adventure on her new blog, found at http://sekucoview.wordpress.com.

Making things better, one person at a time

The Bucks County Herald of Aug. 9 has an excellent article and photo essay on our youth Servant Trip to South Dakota last month. It was written and photographed by Brenda Lange, a member of St. Paul, Doylestown. View the photo spread online (Adobe Acrobat Reader required).

Bishop Burkat preaches at Assembly

You can listen to Bishop Claire Burkat’s sermon to Tuesday’s Churchwide Assembly worship by going here and clicking on the “Listen to the Sermon” link and selecting audio for 8.7.07.

Bishop Claire S. Burkat (left) and other new bishops are acknowledged by the ELCA Churchwide Assembly meeting in Chicago.

Prayers for S.D. servants

Please keep in prayer for more than 100 youth and adults who left today for a servant trip to reservations in South Dakota.