Welcome to the May edition of
Cross-Cultural Ministry eNews

Greetings from the Cross-Cultural Ministry desk!

As I compile this eNews, we are in the midst of a rather unedifying election campaign and probably that sausage on 21 May can’t come soon enough.

It brings to mind Winston Churchill’s dry comment in 1947:

No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.

Craig Heidenreich
Cross-Cultural Ministry Facilitator

I suspect (like me) you are prayerfully weighing up where to direct your vote and hoping for a government that stands for the values you think are important.

One thing that is in the mix is how we treat the most vulnerable members of society – people like refugees.

The LCA sits on the Australian Churches Refugee taskforce, which arranged a Zoom meet last week with Alex Hawke and Kristina Keneally about immigration and refugee policies.

This time around, there is a distinct choice between the policies of the major parties, so if this issue is important to you, click the button below to read a summary of the policies.

Pray for the people of Ukraine

As many of our LCA congregations have direct links to Europe serving the Estonian, Latvian, Finnish, and German diaspora, spare a thought for these Lutheran folk as they relive some painful history and worry about developments so close to their homelands.

A night of prayer during Ramadan

When a prayer group run by Pastor Nathan Hedt from New and Renewing Churches discovered that their scheduled prayer meeting fell on the same night that Muslims have Laylet al Qdar, they were moved to take it in turns to pray through the night as well.

Maryam – a woman of peace

Have you been to a Middle Eastern supermarket and wandered through the aisles full of exotic spices, nuts and sweets labelled in Arabic, Persian or Hindi? As you take in the aromas, it feels like you have been transported to another place entirely.

LET ME TAKE YOU THERE FOR A MINUTE!

Minor grants

The Cross-Cultural Ministry department offers Minor grants (up to $1000) to support congregations to engage new arrivals. Applications can be made throughout the year, and guidelines can be found on the Cross-Cultural Ministry webpage.

Before you go ...

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