LiftUp offers community connection with worship, healing, and belonging. We're seeking experienced church musicians to help lead that experience through music. If you're passionate about playing for a community-led worship service, we'd love to hear from you. We have a keyboard and a microphone, but if you have your own guitar you are welcome to bring that as well!

Meet Rosalina—our recently named and beautifully painted laundry trailer, now hitting the streets with a fresh new look! Did you catch that Mario princess theme? Women are powerful! We are so grateful for our partners at Growing Hope and LEAF who helped make this programming dream a reality for our community members this season. We've got weekly laundry sites in Ypsilanti and a monthly site with our Episcopal partners in Detroit!

Rosie's vibrant artwork was created by local artist Asha Jordan, whose incredible talent and heart for the community shine through every detail. Rosie's bold colors and joyful design reflect the dignity and care we strive to bring to every load of laundry. Keep an eye out—she’s hard to miss and even harder not to love!

Peach got a makeover!! Shoutout to local artist and Black art historian Asha Jordan for the gorgeous artwork! Follow her on IG and hire her for your next art project!

IG @jordan.nik.art

We have three new interns joining our team this semester! You'll be seeing a lot of these faces, so please help us give a warm welcome to Court, Elizabeth, and Hannah!

Court Cruz (she/her) is a student at the University of Michigan—Flint, pursuing her Bachelor of Social Work degree in generalist practice. She is passionate about advancing equity through community-based solutions. Her areas of interest in social work include mental health, anti-poverty initiatives, building justice-oriented communities, and exploring the intersection of Indigenous cultural wisdom and Christian ministry work for the modern era. 

A lifelong Ypsilanti local, Court is passionate about the issues residents face in the community she seeks to serve. She is a joyful mom of four and values weaving family, learning, and care into all she does. Outside of studies and advocacy work, she enjoys crochet, gardening, poetry, and spending time outdoors with her children.

My name is Elizabeth (she/her) and I am an MSW student at the University of Michigan! I am in the Program Evaluation & Applied Research pathway with hopes of helping organizations to achieve their goals by evaluating how their actions are aligned with their values and mission! I am excited to work with FedUp to further develop my macro social work skills. I am from the metro-Detroit area and love watching movies, listening to music, and hanging out with my cat!

Hi! I’m Hannah (she/her), a student at the University of Michigan getting my MPH (Health Behavior & Health Equity) and MSW (Community Change). I am passionate about health equity and increasing access to resources and information for all, with hopes of working in public health and macro social work. I’m from Metro-Detroit and enjoy cider mills and donuts, music, and spending time with friends and family. Excited to be working at FedUp!

Love was in the air (and on the plate) at Rev. Hannah and Dr. Rachel's Wedding. Are you planning a wedding or special event? Let us bring the flavor—book us to cater your big day!

FedUp team members were busy during the month of September! Pastor Anna, Monique, and the synod’s antiracism team (BRRICK) went on a Civil Rights Pilgrimage beginning in Memphis, traveling to Birmingham, Selma, Montgomery, and finally ending in Atlanta. We plan to offer the trip to anyone in our community next summer, so if this is something you've always wanted to do please stay tuned for more information.

Our incredible team laced up their running shoes and took on the Ragnar to support our synod's camp, Living Water Ministries at Stony Lake. Collectively, the runners and drivers raised $130k in support of camp operations. Covering miles together through grit and heart, our runners ran not just for the challenge, but for the greatest cause - to give kids a place to be seen, known, and loved by our most amazing God! We’re so proud of their dedication and are grateful to everyone who cheered us on and helped us raise so much money!

We were honored to participate in the ELCA's World Hunger Gathering in Columbus, OH, joining advocates and organizations from around the globe to advance food justice and equity through the lens of our Lutheran faith. Through powerful conversations and shared strategies, we're more committed than ever to building a future where everyone can access nourishing, sustainable food. Pictured above is the FedUp table and Pastor Anna addressing the room during one of the group's activities. Shout out to Miah for leading workshops alongside Pastor Anna and holding down the fort at our table, introducing so many Lutherans from all around to the work we do!

Pastor Anna was blessed to attend a special training for Mission Developer Pastors at our Churchwide offices in Chicago. It is such a joy to share and be in community with pastors, deacons, and church leaders who work in similar contexts across the country. 

Love is as strong as death,
passion as fierce as the grave.
Even its sparks are a raging fire,
a devouring flame.
Great seas cannot extinguish love,
no river can sweep it away.

- Song of Solomon 8:6-7

"Love is contraband in hell, cause love is an acid that eats away bars. But you, me, and tomorrow hold hands and make vows that struggle will multiply." -Assata Shakur, 7/16/1947-9/25/2025

May she rest in power and peace. May we all continue the fight for freedom.