Honoring Pastor Holle Plaehn
We give thanks to God for Pastor Plaehn and his service as pastor of Peace for 32 years. Read more about his ministry in this article from The News Tribune.
Housing Justice
The Fall 2022 edition of LifeLines (ELCA World Hunger’s magazine) features a story about Peace Lutheran Church. Check out the article here or see the whole magazine here and find the article on pp. 14-15.
Affordable Housing – ELCA Mission Investment Fund
We found a supportive church-lending partner for our affordable housing ministry in The ELCA Mission Investment fund. Learn more in this video.
Racial Justice Resources
Anti-Racism Toolkit
We are working on ways to be intentionally inclusive and equitable within our church community and beyond. The Anti-Racism Work Group has developed this anti-racism toolkit to allow all of us to explore concrete ways to weave anti-racist practices into our church life.
Native American Justice Resources
Rev. Irvin Porter, Associate for Native American Intercultural Congregational Support for the Presbyterian Church USA, provided these Native American Heritage Month resources.
The Native American Justice Workshop Series was presented by Pastor Irvin Porter of Church of the Indian Fellowship and sponsored by the Conversation Around Race Group of Faith Communities (of which Peace is part). View workshop recordings and resources and materials at this link (click on “workshops and trainings”).
Pastor John recommends these books he read for continuing education:
Anxious to Talk about It: Helping White People Talk Faithfully about Racism, by Carolyn B. Helsel
The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism, by Jemar Tisby
The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America, by Richard Rothstein
How to Fight Racism: Courageous Christianity and the Journey Toward Racial Justice, by Jemar Tisby
So You Want to Talk about Race, by Ijeoma Oluo
The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together, by Heather McGhee
Opportunities to Engage in Anti-Racist Work
This is a time for deep reflection and action for justice. Check out these resources provided by Julia Kagochi from Peace to help you discern how God is calling you to respond personally.
“The Cross and the Lynching Tree: A Requiem for Ahmaud Arbery,” by Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III, a powerful sermon about America’s Original Sin of racism — how we might repent of it and be healed from it.
The Peace Writing Group meets 4th Tuesday of the month, from 6-8 pm. Please join us and share your wonderful talents, which could involve writing, art, photos, crafts, cards, and much more, for our godly given talents take many forms.