Mums for mom & other Malaria Day observances

Many moms will proudly wear a chrysanthemum corsage on Mother’s Day at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Virginia because its purchase matched the purchase of a mosquito net. On World Malaria Sunday, April 27, 2014, orders were taken for the live floral arrangements at $10 each, raising funds for a basic malaria abatement tool. And did you know chrysanthemums are a natural insecticide? A lovely gift and reminder. Also in observance of World Malaria Sunday, the congregation showed an ELCA Malaria Campaign video while the offering was taken during worship services, and posters were displayed on bulletin boards.

Chrysanthemum corsage at Lord of Life Lutheran Church

Crafty mosquitoes at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church

Meanwhile, in Gaithersburg, Md., children listened to Little Things Make Big Differences: A Story about Malaria by the Rev. John Nunes*, written when he was president and CEO of Lutheran World Relief, at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. As the tale of Rehema, a young girl in Tanzania, was told, children made colorful mosquitoes and Dorothy Sorrell, synod coordinator of the ELCA Malaria Campaign, discussed with adults ELCA work being done in Africa. The congregation combined observance of World Malaria Sunday with the synod-wide Creation Care Sunday, heightening awareness of our relationship with the earth, one another and God. Inter-generational experiences included the blessing of the congregation’s community garden, and discussion of clean water, electricity, recycling and lawn fertilizer regulations. Besides crafting mosquitoes, hands-on activities included rock identification and worm walks.

*Book info at http://lwr.org/getinvolved/campaigns/LMI.