February Meeting

Thursday, February 6, 2014—12:00 noon

Click here to RSVP for Luncheon
or send E-mail to luncheon@LutheranLayFellowship.org

Saint Luke Lutheran Church
9100 Colesville Road at Dale Drive
Silver Spring, MD 20910

Bob Francis Director of Advocacy and Policy Lutheran Services in America (LSA)

“The Best Kept Secret in the Lutheran World”

Bob Francis serves as the Director of Advocacy and Policy for Lutheran Services in America (LSA), a national organization that links over 300 Lutheran health and human service organizations across the U.S. and the Caribbean. Lutheran Services in America (LSA), founded in 1997, exists to champion Lutheran social ministry by building valuable connections, amplifying our voices and empowering our members in their mission to answer God's call to love and serve our neighbor. LSA envisions a network of connected, strong and thriving Lutheran social ministries that transform the lives of people and communities.

Bob will be sharing about Lutheran Services in America’s work in advocacy and public policy, including LSA’s unique practice-based approach to advocacy. Bob will examine how LSA’s work in advocacy similar to and different from other faith-based groups, such as the ELCA and Bread for the World. Bob will also look back at the year in policy from 2013 and look ahead at what 2014 might bring. Bob will give special attention to health care and the Affordable Care Act, which has significantly changed the landscape for many LSA member organizations.

Before joining LSA, Bob worked on advocacy and policy for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and Sojourners. He came to Washington, DC from Chicago, where he worked in many roles, including high school teacher, case manager and server of Chicago-style pizza. He holds a B.A. in Sociology and Theological Studies from Wheaton College (IL) and an M.A. in Social Science from the University of Chicago. Bob is a compulsive list maker, a proud resident of Steeler Nation, and an (occasionally) avid runner. Originally from Pennsylvania, Bob now lives with his wife – Rev. Yvette Schock of Faith Lutheran – in Arlington, Virginia. They are expecting their first child in early January!

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We invite all Lutherans and their friends to join us for this luncheon meeting of Lutheran Lay Fellowship, scheduled for the first Thursday of each month from 12:00 noon till 2:00 p.m. at Saint Luke Lutheran Church, 9100 Colesville Road at Dale Drive in Silver Spring, one mile south of the Capitol Beltway at Exit 30. Ample off-street parking is available. Interested persons can make reservations for a delicious lunch by sending their RSVP to luncheon@lutheranlayfellowship.org by contacting Vicki Porter at 301-229-9884 or no later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 4. The cost of the meal is $9.00, payable at the door.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

March 6 - Pastor David Berg leading a discussion on "Killing Jesus" best-seller book by Bill O'Reilly
April 3 - Dr. Mike Maxey, President of Roanoke College
May 1 - Pastor Amy Sevimli from the Metro DC Synod, ELCA

Click here to read January's meeting minutes

What is the Lutheran Lay Fellowship?

LLF is an organization for women and men, both lay and clergy, active in the Nation's Capital area. “As early as 1936, feeling there was a definite need for closer cooperation between Lutheran laity and clergy, a group of laymen in the Washington, DC. Metropolitan area, organized to hold meetings that would bring pastors and laity closer together. Due to jurisdictional differences as well as ministerial difficulties, very little success was achieved until the fall of 1941. Then the group met and decided to hold a luncheon once a month, invite their friends and bring visitors. The first luncheon was a success, and within three months every Lutheran judicatory was represented…” [From a Lutheran Directory of Metropolitan Washington, DC, published in 1999.]

Today, more than 70 years later, the Lutheran Lay Fellowship of Metropolitan Washington takes pride in knowing that every night, 365 nights each year, more than 700 low income seniors and disabled persons live in safety and friendship in four high rises owned and managed by Fellowship Square Foundation, Inc. By means of annual scholarships and grants, LLF also supports various college and seminary students; it also provides ushering services for major inter-Lutheran events. But most of all, LLF is known far and wide as a place to hear stimulating speakers on timely topics and to make friends from other Lutheran congregations—friendships that last for decades!

Won’t you join us?

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Effective August 2011, the previous month's Meeting Minutes will be posted in the ARCHIVE section of our website, www.LutheranLayFellowship.org and the only hardcopy available will be at the next month's meeting. Meeting Announcements will continue to be mailed to dues-paying members who do not have an E-mail address.

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