Signs of Hope, Practices of Love

Experience How Justice Is A Part of Our Faith

As Lutherans God’s call to do justice is an integral part of our faith. We believe that we are saved by God’s grace. This good news of grace frees us turn our life over to becoming a part of God’s love for the world and our neighbours. This means becoming a part of God’s work of bringing good news to the poor, proclaiming release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, and letting the oppressed go free and proclaiming the year of jubilee (Adapted from Luke 4:18-19). There are many ways that that we can explore and celebrate how justice is a part of our faith.

• Celebrate CLWR Sunday, World AIDS, Kairos Sunday and GHDA Sunday.
• Pray for Peace and Justice in the World.
• Discover What Scripture Has to Say about injustice.
• Learn how as a congregation we can practice hospitality towards the poor and marginalized in your community.
• Make justice a part of your congregation's religious education for resources.

Celebrate CLWR Sunday, World AIDS, Kairos Sunday and GHDA Sunday

The ELCIC’s Global Hunger and Development Appeal is encouraging congregations to take four Sundays a year to highlight issues of justice and need in the world along with what our church is doing to address these things. These Sundays are:

• CLWR Sunday – Thanksgiving Sunday
• World AIDS day – The Sunday closest to December 1st, which is World AIDS day
• KAIROS Sunday – The Sunday before Lent Begins
• Earth Day – Celebrate our churches commitments to the Stewardship of Creation on the closest Sunday to April 22.
• ELCIC's Global Hunger and Development Appeal (GHDA) Sunday – This is celebrated the first Sunday of May.

Further information is available by clicking on the above links or watch for the GHDA package that will be sent to your congregation each Fall.

Pray for Peace and Justice In The World

Prayer is an important way we as Christians can engage the many issues of injustice and hurt in our world. As congregations, bringing issues of justice, need and healing before God are an important act of worship. As a part of your congregations “Prayers of the People” include situations, and issues that your community and the world are facing. Not only does this remind people that concern for these situations, and love for the people involved is a part of our faith, it is also an important reminder that we bring all these things to God, in whom we have hope and faith that healing will be brought both to our lives and to the world.

As individuals simple practice is to read the newspaper each day or watch the news. Then either as you read or after you watch the news take the time to pray for what you see happening in the world. These prayers can be prayers of thanksgiving, prayers for peace, prayers for change or you can just sit in silence and listen for what God has to say about what is happening in the world. Another way you can do this is to be attentive through out the day to the various needs you see and hear about and then at the end of the day lift these up to God.

It is also important to remember that prayer is not just something we do when we are alone and quiet. Prayer can characterize our entire life. Prayer is simply our turning toward God. So through out the day, as you see injustice or hurt, turn it over to God. When you see the poor and oppressed look for God in their midst. When you turn to do something to change these situations, turn also to God, and ask God to guide you, give you strength or simply remind you of God’s presence.

Discover What Scripture Has to Say about Injustice