“Take justice and mercy to heart” is one of this congregation’s key priorities.
What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8b (NRSV)
Our strategic plan includes this direction:
Grounded in the gospel command to “do justice,” create a more inclusive, equitable community. Take action inside our church and out in the world by prioritizing our abundant people and financial resources to make an impact.
What could that look like?
Our strategic plan includes this direction:
Grounded in the gospel command to “do justice,” create a more inclusive, equitable community. Take action inside our church and out in the world by prioritizing our abundant people and financial resources to make an impact.
What could that look like?
- Enough Mercy to work for Basic Needs: Housing, Hunger, Health (people and planet)
- Enough Justice to fight for Human Dignity: Equity - BIPoC Justice (Racial Justice and Indigenous Rights), Inclusion, Education
- Enough Humility to walk with a Gracious Spirit.
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Does your faith influence your vote? Many people of faith are drawn to Jesus’s compassion, humility, and servant heart. This informs how we live and engage politically. We believe that the values of our faith should not just be confined to a Sunday morning experience, we also want our neighborhoods, cities, and country to reflect this Christlike love for all. So it can be confusing to hear Jesus’ name used in the midst of battle cries, cruelty toward immigrants, and other discriminatory policies. It’s difficult to know just how to differentiate Jesus' message of love from some of the rhetoric we hear in the political arena that is antithetical to this love. In the weeks ahead this will be in our ears every time we open the newspaper.
Here’s an opportunity to join in a conversation on what our response might be.
Breaking Point Webinar Series
Pastor Angela Denker, Lake Nokomis Lutheran’s Pastor for Visitation and Public Theology, will be one of the panelists for this webinar series on August 1 and 8. Join Broadleaf Books and Fortress Press for an eye-opening two-part webinar series that explores the history and rise of white Christian nationalism and its profound impact today. For those of us who are troubled by the terrifying appeal of white Christian nationalism and what it means for America’s future (politically and beyond), this webinar series will both help us understand how we got here and offer strategies to counter extremist movements. Register now to be part of a transformative dialogue that can shape our collective future.
Here’s an opportunity to join in a conversation on what our response might be.
Breaking Point Webinar Series
Pastor Angela Denker, Lake Nokomis Lutheran’s Pastor for Visitation and Public Theology, will be one of the panelists for this webinar series on August 1 and 8. Join Broadleaf Books and Fortress Press for an eye-opening two-part webinar series that explores the history and rise of white Christian nationalism and its profound impact today. For those of us who are troubled by the terrifying appeal of white Christian nationalism and what it means for America’s future (politically and beyond), this webinar series will both help us understand how we got here and offer strategies to counter extremist movements. Register now to be part of a transformative dialogue that can shape our collective future.
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MEALS ON WHEELS
More volunteers are needed for our next distribution August 5-9. You can drive during our assigned weeks, or volunteer as a community driver and be “on call” for other churches, too. This opportunity is flexible — always subject to your schedule/availability. If you are available, please contact Robbie Becker or Linda Ojeda.
More volunteers are needed for our next distribution August 5-9. You can drive during our assigned weeks, or volunteer as a community driver and be “on call” for other churches, too. This opportunity is flexible — always subject to your schedule/availability. If you are available, please contact Robbie Becker or Linda Ojeda.
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MINNEHAHA FOOD SHELF is looking for donations of bars of soap throughout the month of July. You can leave any donations at the foot of the tree in The Commons. You can always sign up to volunteer or give monetary donations to the food shelf by going to minnehaha.org/foodshelf.
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PEACE RIBBONS
We are thankful for the mindfulness of all people at New Branches towards social justice and peace around the world. The Spirit Catholic Community has placed Peace Ribbons around the main entrance to the sanctuary in remembrance of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, August 6-August 9, 1945, and a call to abolish nuclear weapons, end wars, and preserve the environment. You can read more about the Ribbon Project and even participate yourself. The contents of these pages are outdated but the act and impact are still the same. Additionally, there are events around Minneapolis and St. Paul that commemorate these events. You can read more about these events HERE! THIS is a write-up from Karen Levad from Spirit. Here is a LINK to a project Spirit did with Pax Christi in Washington DC.
We are thankful for the mindfulness of all people at New Branches towards social justice and peace around the world. The Spirit Catholic Community has placed Peace Ribbons around the main entrance to the sanctuary in remembrance of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, August 6-August 9, 1945, and a call to abolish nuclear weapons, end wars, and preserve the environment. You can read more about the Ribbon Project and even participate yourself. The contents of these pages are outdated but the act and impact are still the same. Additionally, there are events around Minneapolis and St. Paul that commemorate these events. You can read more about these events HERE! THIS is a write-up from Karen Levad from Spirit. Here is a LINK to a project Spirit did with Pax Christi in Washington DC.
Racial Justice Statement
We … renew our baptismal covenant to strive for justice for all of God’s children. We confess that our cultural bias blocks us from recognizing racial injustice, and that our fear slows our work towards racial equity. We believe that we must identify the inequalities that are embedded in our judicial, educational, economic, and political systems. We also must be resolved to change them, even if it means losing unearned privileges.
We accept God’s call to affirm and celebrate the diversity found in God’s children. We pray that the Holy Spirit will lead us in our continuing work as we listen and engage in conversation challenging the deep roots of racism. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we will be respectful and keep people engaged so that each of our stories may be heard and lead us to a true change of heart.
Read the full racial justice statement.
We accept God’s call to affirm and celebrate the diversity found in God’s children. We pray that the Holy Spirit will lead us in our continuing work as we listen and engage in conversation challenging the deep roots of racism. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we will be respectful and keep people engaged so that each of our stories may be heard and lead us to a true change of heart.
Read the full racial justice statement.
Recommended Justice & Mercy partners for 2024
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South Minneapolis Meals on Wheels Serving South Minneapolis residents who cannot shop for groceries and have difficulty putting together a healthy meal for themselves. Opportunities for volunteering, leadership
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Minnehaha Food Shelf Fighting food insecurity in our Minneapolis neighborhood
Opportunities for volunteering, item collections, leadership
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Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative A collaborative of congregations united in action to create homes and advance equitable housing. Opportunities for advocacy, training, item collections
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Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light Working in partnership with faith and spiritual communities to build transformative power and bring the lights of people’s unique gifts to addressing the climate crisis.
Opportunities for advocacy, training
Important resources for the work and well-being of our congregation
Opportunities to explore for occasional or future engagement
Encourage individual engagement within the congregation.
- Mental Health Connect
- Reconciling Works
- Cherish All Children
- Lake Wapogasset Lutheran Bible Camp (WAPO)
Opportunities to explore for occasional or future engagement
- Kubi District of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria
- Liberia
- Nokomis East Neighborhood Association (NENA)
- Keewaydin Elementary School
- Lutheran Social Services (LSS)
Encourage individual engagement within the congregation.