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- Written by: Metro-NY Synod
- Category: Blog
Answering the call to take care of the stranger among us, the Metropolitan New York Synod declared itself a sanctuary synod and a welcoming synod in the ELCA´'s AMMPARO Network. The word “amparo,” in Spanish, means the protection of a living creature from suffering or damage.
The ELCA’s strategy to Accompanying Migrant Minors with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities (AMMPARO) was envisioned after witnessing the plight of children who were, and continue to be forced to flee their communities because of complex and interrelated reasons, including chronic violence, poverty, environmental displacement and lack of opportunities in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. At its March meeting, the synod council once again answered a call to care for migrant minors in our synod, by establishing our synod’s Sanctuary/AMMPARO Ministry.
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- Written by: Redeemer
- Category: Blog
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- Written by: Redeemer
- Category: Blog
In 2018, our facilities incurred water damage from ice damming. This latest incident is just one of many leaks that the middle portion of God’s House at Redeemer has experienced over the years, and despite numerous attempts to repair the roof, the leaks continue. As of this year the shingles on the impacted section of the roof have essentially reached the end of their useful life. Since the shingles need to be replaced and we continue to experience periodic leaks on this part of the roof, it was decided that, along with the shingle replacement, we needed to address the underlying issues that contribute to the water leaks and find a permanent solution.
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- Written by: Pastor Tobias
- Category: Blog
A beautiful red cardinal landed under a nearby shrub as I was hustling the kids out the door to school one morning this winter. It only registered with me a few hours later that I‘d seen this wonderful bird, red coat stark against the white snow and brown branches, a sign of life and spring around the corner.
That I noticed and remembered this special moment at all may be proof that God works miracles! After all, it can be so easy to go on autopilot and travel through life distracted and without noticing the blessings of the present moment.
And the present moment is full of potential gifts.
The season of Lent marks the time in the Church year intended to help us especially focus on renewal and restoration, spiritual growth and deepening of faith. During this season we are invited to turn away from things that distance us from God, and allow God to open our eyes and hearts and lives to see God’s gracious love in Christ poured out in forgiveness - for us. Lent is a present-tense opportunity to ponder and pray on how the resurrection of our Savior Jesus gives us new life and new birth and new eyes and ears to see the world around us.
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- Written by: Pastor Tobias
- Category: Blog
As we move through this season of Advent, this season of preparation for the Festival arrival of our Savior the Christ child, we Prepare to welcome Joy incarnate.
But what does this Preparation look like, and what does this Joy mean?
I imagine that many of us have heard and are familiar with the words from Isaiah, associated with John the Baptist: “Prepare the way of the Lord!” Yet We may be less familiar with another portion of this same passage, in which the prophet Isaiah says that this preparation is so that “all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”