Joint call to Prayer, Fasting, & Advocacy
Yesterday, the presiding bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Episcopal Church issued a joint invitation to a season of prayer, fasting and advocacy. The Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, presiding bishop of the ELCA and The Most Reverend Michael Curry, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, extended this call out of concern for proposed deep cuts to programs that are vital to hungry people struggling with poverty. They summon our churches to practices of spiritual devotion that undergird a discipline of public witness on behalf of the neighbor.You can read the letter they issued below. You can also watch this video for Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton's invitation to this work.Join thousands of ELCA members — sign up for ELCA Advocacy News and Alerts now. If you do, you'll see how ELCA Advocacy will support this call by sending monthly resources to support your prayer and fasting, along with background materials to inform and equip you to act to prevent elected leaders from cutting programs that work to eliminate hunger and poverty across the country and around the world or adopting policies that would harm our most vulnerable brothers and sisters. The resources will also focus on racial justice, immigration and environmental implications in the federal budget. If you sign up to receive these, on the 21st of each month, an advocacy alert will invite you to speak your faith by sending a message to your members of Congress.Here is how to join us as we pray, fast and act together in this important time:Join the ELCA Advocacy network and invite your friends and family. Visit ELCA.org and look out for the upcoming “Pray. Fast. Act.” page for resources. Read Bread for the World’s Fasting Guide in English and Guía de Ayuno in Spanish.Speak your faith on social media using the hashtag #ForSuchATime.The first fast day, Sunday, May 21, is also the Global Day of Prayer to End Famine, recognizing that more people face famine today than at any time in modern history. This call from the World Council of Churches and the All Africa Conference of Churches seeks to mobilize Christians to respond to the more than 20 million people who are at the brink of starvation, and the millions more suffering shortages of water and food. Use this prayer resources link. 