You told us what you feel God is calling us to act on together as public church in 2015, and our bishops and policy council spent a morning of discussion and prayerful discernment to set our agenda for 2015. Improving access to healthy food and to better learning outcomes for Pennsylvania students top the list. See the entire agenda here.

Send us a note to tell us how your plans for the coming year might be opened to include advocacy on the issues Lutherans are addressing in service and prayer.

LAMPA SENDS GOV. WOLF RECOMMENDATIONS ON HUNGER

LAMPa joined advocates from around the Commonwealth in submitting recommendations to Gov.-Elect Tom Wolf for alleviating hunger in Pennsylvania. Read the policy paper here and join us in pressing for these initiatives -- so that all may be fed.

CALL TO ACTION JANUARY 21 FOR FAIR EDUCATION FUNDING

January 21 is the first day that our new governor and state lawmakers will be seated. LAMPa and others in the Coalition for Fair Education Funding want to kick off this legislative session right and make sure the phones in the Capitol are ringing with calls from voters throughout the Commonwealth!

Mark your calendar to set aside 5-10 minutes on that day to send a message that Harrisburg's top priority this year must be enacting a fair and adequate education funding formula for public schools that provides all children with an opportunity to learn. Look for a reminder and call information next week!

URGE LAWMAKERS TO SIGN ON TO HOUSING TRUST FUND BILL

Temperatures have been dipping into the single digits, and thousands of Pennsylvanians lack safe, warm homes. An estimated 270,000 Pennsylvanians, including 20,000 children, were homeless last year. As the new legislative session begins, encourage your lawmakers to co-sponsor legislation to expand the state housing trust fund to serve the entire commonwealth. Read more about the success of the trust fund in the counties where Marcellus shale drilling is occurring.

LOWER SUSQUEHANNA YOUTH LINK ADVOCACY AND SERVICE

Approximately 430 high school youth and their leaders had a chance to serve, pray and speak together for justice at Winterfest, the Lower Susquehanna Synod's youth gathering, on Jan. 3. Based on the theme "Hungry," and centered on Matthew's story of the Feeding of Five Thousand, the gathering was a collaboration of the synod youth ministry, hunger leaders, LAMPa and others -- a beautiful example of being church together. Read more.

Contact LAMPa about linking service and advocacy with your youth!

IF YOU WOULD CHANGE THE WORLD, PICK UP YOUR PEN

If your New Year's resolutions included more advocacy, be inspired by this letter to the editor written by the Rev. Dennis Ritter, LAMPa policy council member, about the potential effects of an ill-considered bill to abolish property taxes.

For some helpful hints about writing and publishing your own letters, see LAMPa's website.

RUSSELL SILER, FORMER LAMPa DIRECTOR, DIES

Siler was director of the Lutheran office for governmental affairs in Washington, D.C., from 1997 to 2003 and director of LAMPa from 1993 to 1997. His passion for justice built and defined the advocacy ministries of the church. Russ and his wife, Ann, attended LAMPa's 35th Anniversary celebration last year. See more at the ELCA News Blog.

LUTHERAN DAY REGISTRATION OPENING END OF JANUARY

Mark your calendar and plan to join us in Harrisburg Monday, April 27, for a day of worship, learning and advocacy.This day will be the start of Spring Academy Week at Lutheran Seminary at Gettysburg, giving our leaders-in-the-making the opportunity to practice being public church together.