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Assembly 2010 |
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| Presiding Bishop Hanson's Easter Message |
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The last enemy to be destroyed is death. --1 Corinthians 15:26
For a brief time, while the crucified Jesus lay in a borrowed tomb, it seemed as if death had triumphed once again. Threatened by a messenger of God's expansive, steadfast love, yet another human mob succumbed to death's seduction. They chose its brutal, silencing power and trusted its empty finality. Death's murderous rebellion against the Creator of life seemed unstoppable.
Until that Sunday morning dawned. Mary, Joanna, Mary and the other women arrived at Jesus' tomb prepared for a body emptied of life. Instead they discovered the grave emptied of its power and death itself buried in resurrection life. Jesus Christ, the first fruits from the dead, lives! (1 Corinthians 15:20)
Now Jesus Christ, the embodiment of God's compassionate love, is preparing your body for a resurrection life. In that life death can no longer imprison you in a grave nor hold you captive to its violent imagination and destructive power. Joined to Christ by baptism, your body is being brought into his resurrected life, into Christ's new creation, and into the ministry of reconciliation and peace. In this new day your resurrected service of God's steadfast love endures forever.
This is the Lord's doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it. --Psalm 118:23-24
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America |
Maundy Thursday meditation
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 A meditation on Maundy Thursday by Pr. Michael Lippard, St. Andrew, Franklin, Tennessee, is available on the synod blog.
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| Thank you |
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 For the past six years I have had the privilege of working for the Southeastern Synod. It has been a time that I will always cherish. After receiving the news on March 15 that my position will be eliminated on April 1 it has given me time to reflect on everything God has given me. I have been blessed to have been able to work with so many caring and giving people. I am not just speaking about the people in the office but the people of this church - you the synod. The relationships that were formed will always be in my heart. My future is uncertain so the one thing I will ask for are prayers. I come away from this job as being grateful and blessed. Thank you to everyone who has walked the path with me over the last six years.
Mobley Hope |
REMINDER: Nomination Forms due TODAY (April 1)
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 Today is the deadline to submit nomination forms to be considered by the synod's Nominating Committee as it formulates its nominations for the elections that will take place at the synod assembly in Chattanooga. Click here to go to the online form to be used for this purpose. Positions to be elected include: synod vice president, young adult (ages 18-30) synod council member, voting members of the 2011 churchwide assembly, and potential nominees for at-large synod council positions. Additional details about these positions are posted on the assembly website at http://www.elca-ses.org/Assembly.html. |
| Hunger Walk : Preliminary Results |
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 Preliminary results have been received from the Hunger Walk and Lutheran Services of Georgia raised $52,572.03. Congratulations!
Robert Jackson, Associate Director of Resource Development at LSG says, "Thank you so much for your efforts and may God continue to bless you in your ministry efforts." |
| News from Lutheridge+Lutherock Ministries |
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In times when financial struggles are in the forefront of life at home, getting away to be immersed in Christian community is more important than ever.
Again this year, we will give special attention to any child whose parent or guardian has lost their job due to job reductions or layoff through the Faith Formation Stimulus. It is hoped that the family and home congregation can assist with camp fees, but it is not required.
Simply visit our website ( www.llmi.net) and click on "Forms" found along the top of the page. Download and fill out the scholarship form, have it signed by your pastor, and return it to the LLMI Registration Office. The form can be mailed to LLMI; 2049 Upper Laurel Drive; Arden, NC 28704.
If you would like to make a gift to help support this outreach, please visit our website ( www.llmi.net) and click on the "Gifts and Giving" link along the top of the page; or you may mail in your donation.
We hope to see you this summer at Lutheridge or Lutherock!  Suzanne Delap Lutheridge+Lutherock Ministries
828/684-2361 x309
www.llmi.net
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| The Water Crisis in Ethiopia... |
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and What Our Synod Is Doing in Response
Millions of Ethiopians, many of them Lutherans, are currently going without clean drinkable water. They are instead using unsanitary water from ditches or puddles or simply going without, as situation that often causes childhood malnutrition and disease and contributes to a life expectancy of only 47 years old on average. (Check out a short PBS documentary to see the magnitude of this problem.) Last year, worldwide, 1.8 million children died of causes related to bad water, more than died in all wars and natural disasters combined.
Women collecting drinking water in Bishikiltu (Oromia), Ethiopia
 | We in the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA are responding through our West Bethel Synod, Mekane Yesus Church companion synod team. This team, has a second mission trip scheduled for May 17. They will install one or more industrial sized well water pumps where they are needed in Ethiopia. Each pump costs about $1500, and each one the team can purchase and install provides up to 1000 people with fresh life-sustaing water while our team builds strong, sustainable friendships with the members of our companion synod. This may seem like a small thing, but it makes a big difference in people's lives every day.
For information or to get involved in a small or big way, e-mail Charlie Hairston at Charsto1@Bellsouth.net. You can make a big difference in someone's life.
Stay informed.
Be inspired.
Get involved.
Get regular updates from around the world!
Subscribe to Global Links, the monthly ELCA Global Mission
e-newsletter, at www.elca.org/global-links.
(photo courtesy water1st.org) |
| St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Botsford, GA:
200 years of history |
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| At a properly called and historic meeting on March 21, 2010 the congregation of St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, Plains, Georgia voted overwhelmingly to "contribute" the church building of St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Botsford, GA to a privately owned "antique/historic development" in Webster County Georgia.
The 1800's historic site is owned and developed by Mr. Ernie Culpepper and is located about 7 and one half miles from the current Botsford location at the corner of GA Highway 45 and Thomas Mill Road. The congregation and building of St. Mark's Lutheran Church dates back to 1870 when Lutherans from South Carolina settled in the Botsford community. During the 1960's the congregation of St. Mark's Lutheran Church merged with St. Andrew's Lutheran Church. The church cemetery and site of the church at Botsford will continue to be maintained by St. Andrew's congregation. In addition, plans will be undertaken to provide a permanent historical marker at the site of the original St. Mark's congregation.
A Service of Celebration for the ministry of St. Mark's is scheduled for Sunday, April 11, 2010 at 2 PM at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Botsford. Former members, family of former members, friends and neighbors are cordially invited to attend the service or to send greetings.
When the church building has been relocated to the new site it will be available for use for religious services and events. The congregation of St. Andrew's is grateful to Mr. Culpepper for his interest in the building and willingness to restore and maintain it for the future.
(photo obtained at flickr.com/photos/steverob50pics/2769905986/) |
| Fellowship Awarded |
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Candler School of Theology student Susan Evans, member at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Decatur, has been awarded a Summer Fellowship by The Beatitudes Society. Susan will be serving at Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in Washington, DC. Her research topic will be "The Effect of Climate Change on the Food Crisis in Low-income Communities Around the World".
The Beatitudes Society develops and sustains emerging Christian leaders at seminaries and divinity schools who will: Advocate for justice, compassion and peace; Reclaim a Christianity that welcomes all people, especially those at the margins; and Articulate a Christianity that dares to speak and act for our fragile planet and our most vulnerable citizens.
Congratulations, Susan!
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| Upcoming Events |
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April
14-16 Project Connect Annual Gathering
20 Formula of Agreement Luncheon
22-24 Candidacy Meeting
May
2 Social Ministry Sunday
4 Conference 5 Meeting
6 National Day of Prayer
For more information on these and other events visit our synod calendar.
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