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Southeastern Synod
E-News Weekly
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Assembly 2010
June 4, 5 & 6, 2010
Chattanooga, TN | |
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Disaster Clean-Up News |
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The latest from the ELCA News Service
 Lutheran Services in Tennessee, Inc. (LST),
Nashville, has named a Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) site coordinator and established a phone number for volunteers who wish to help with flood cleanup in middle Tennessee.
Jim Wirshing has been named site coordinator for LDR in middle Tennessee, said the Rev. P. Morgan Gordy, Lebanon, Tenn., chair of the disaster task force for the Southeastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Volunteers seeking information about work possibilities and housing can call 615-630-8565, she said.
Lutheran Episcopal Services in Mississippi (LESM) has offered two camping sites along the Gulf Coast for use by trained volunteers working to help cleanup the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
"LESM is offering both its volunteer camps, Camp Victor in Ocean Springs and Mission on the Bay in Bay St. Louis, to trained personnel associated with the oil spill cleanup and wildlife rescue," said Sandra L. Braasch. Braasch, Jackson, Miss., is an ELCA diaconal minister and LESM director of disaster preparedness and response. Braasch is also president of Mississippi Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster.
Read more:http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4521
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Thank you, thank you, thank you
Pastor Gretchen Person and members of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Nashville send the following link to a YouTube viedo about the flood relief efforts. They also send heartfelt thanks to Pastor Ann Bassett and members of Peace Lutheran for their help with clean-up efforts and to Pastor Morgan Gordy for coordinating volunteers.
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 A reflection by Pastor Darrel Peterson Over lunch the other day, some of us got to talking about storytelling. We talked about how before air conditioning and television, folks just naturally would sit out on the porch or under the trees and tell stories and tell "lies". We talked about eccentric personalities and what interest and flavor they brought to our communities. We talked about regional story telling. Was it just a stereotype that Southerners told more and better stories and Northerners were more oriented to factual information?
Click here to read the rest of this reflection on the Southeastern Synod Blog.
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Lutheran Disaster Response Receives National Award | |
On May 11, Lutheran Disaster Response was recognized as the National VOAD "Member of the Year." The award was presented at the Annual VOAD Conference, taking place this week in Orlando, Florida.
National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) is the primary association of faith-based and secular disaster responders in the United States. Lutheran Disaster Response is one of the group's 50 national members. Previous recipients of the award include the American Red Cross and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.
 The Rev. Kevin Massey, Director of Lutheran Disaster Response, accepted the award for the organization. "It is a tremendous honor to be recognized in this way, and it is humbling to be selected, particularly when we consider the amazing things done by our wonderful partners," said Massey. "National VOAD is the driving force behind disaster recovery in this country, and Lutheran Disaster Response is proud to be a small part of it."
Lutheran Disaster Response was nominated for the award because of the important role that its affiliate agencies and their staff members and volunteers play in response to disasters. Lutheran Disaster Response works with more than thirty Lutheran-affiliated social service organizations that serve as disaster affiliates. Many of these organizations were represented at the conference and joined the national staff members on stage to be recognized.
"Lutheran Disaster Response is nothing without the life-givng work of our local affiliate organizations, their staff, and their volunteers," said Massey. "I am excited that many of the people who helped us earn this special honor join me here to be recognized." |
| Synod Assembly News | |
Southeastern Synod Assembly
June 4, 5 & 6, 2010
Chattanooga Convention Center, Chattanooga, TN
Our theme this year is "Into All the World" and our keynote speaker will be the Rev. John Arthur Nunes. Pastor Nunes is the President and CEO of Lutheran World Relief. All of our Assembly offerings this year will go to LWR.
On Saturday, June 5 at 7:00 AM, the Southeastern Synod Global Mission Team is sponsoring a plated breakfast for assembly attendees to hear the latest on Global Mission efforts. The cost to attend this breakfast is $15 per person. To reserve your seat, go to www.elca-ses.org/Assembly.html and click on the link for "Global Mission Breakfast." This link will be only be active until May 14, so reserve your seat today. After May 14, contact Pastor Darrel Peterson for information at dpeterson@elca-ses.org.
Bishop Terry Kee from the Lutheran Church in Singapore will be a featured guest speaker. The Lutheran Church in Singapore and Bishop Kee are requesting donations of current and academic theology books . We invite your donated books to be delivered to the Global Mission Ministry Exhibit table at the Synod Assembly. (Please note: Think in terms of quality, not quantity. Remember, shipping is expensive.) If you have question regarding donations, contact Pastor Darrel Peterson ( dpeterson@elca-ses.org) or Pastor Noel Anderson ( noeldiane@aol.com).
Pre-Assembly Materials:
Pre-Assembly materials will not be mailed to attendees--materials will be posted to the synod website ( www.elca-ses.org/Assembly.html) next week. Please DO NOT print materials to bring with you, additions and corrections may be made. A hard copy will be provided to attendees upon check-in at the registration desk. A heavy paper cover will also be provided; however, attendees may wish to bring a three-ring binder for materials.
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Arise, Shine, Your Light Has Come | | |
A wonderful week of singing, worshiping, learning, and music making awaits you at Lutheridge this summer at Music Week for Adults and Youth at Lutheridge, July 11-17.
KidzCamp provides fun and music for children under age seven while their parents have sessions. Campers experience various musical groups including choir. Friday concert includes KidzCamp, First Campers and Youht. Adult Choir and Handbells will be featured at the closing worship. Information and registration available at http://www.llmi.net/youth/MusicWeek.aspx. Don't forget about Family Camp at Lutheridge and Family Adventure at Lutherock. Visit our website for more information and pricing: http://www.llmi.net/adult/summer-gateway.aspx. Do you work 15 hours or more a week at church? Ask how you and your family can receive a 50% discount to one of the programs listed above through the Health and Wellness program that provides the discount for church workers and their families. Lutheridge also offers scholarships for families that need time away but are struggling financially due to layoffs or hard times.
For information, contact Suzanne Delap at 828/684-2361 x309 or sdelap@llmi.org. |
Southeastern Synod Women of the ELCA | |
Convention Information and New Website
 Women of all ages from the Southeastern Synod are encouraged to attend the Twenty-Third Annual Convention of the Southeastern Synod Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to be held at the Hilton Marietta Conference Center in Marietta, GA, September 10-12, 2010. There will be a Bible study, two worship services, workshops, a reception on Friday evening, and a special surprise on Sunday morning. Come be a part of this exciting weekend.
Each congregation, intercongregational, or special unit of the Southeastern Synod Women of the ELCA is entitled to one delegate. It is important that all congregations be represented as we conduct the business of our organization.
The love offering taken at the Convention will be in support of Southeastern Synod Disaster Readiness and Response.
To find out more about the Convention or to register, visit the NEW website for the Southeastern Synod Women of the ELCA at http://sites.google.com/site/seswelca/ or simply go the the synod website www.elca-ses.org and click on the link under "Ministries" for Women of the ELCA. |
Continuing Education Opportunities | |
Rethinking Stewardship: Our Culture, Our Theology, Our Practice
July 19-21, 2010 Eden Prairie, MN
ELCA World Hunger Leadership Gathering
Sept 16-19, 2010 Detroit, MI
ELCA Global Mission "Glocal Gathering"
Sept 10-11, 2010 Lexington, KY
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Installation of the Rev. Willie Roy Rogers |
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 by Linda Few
Even amid the tornadoes, torrential rains and flooding, the installation of the Rev. Will Rogers as pastor of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Tupelo, Mississippi on May 2, 2010 went on as planned. Guests from San Francisco to Atlanta joined with officiate and preacher, the Rev. Nancy Christensen, Director for Evangelical Mission for the ELCA in the Southeastern Synod, to witness the installation of Pastor Rogers.
Pastor Rogers' installation had a truly ecumenical flair, including participants from the pastor's varied theological background. Calling himself a "Bametholutheran," Pastor Rogers honored his Baptist, Methodist and now Lutheran background, greeting the District Superintendent of the Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church and guests from the Tupelo community Baptist church - colleagues Pastor Rogers has made in just the two months he has been in his new Tupelo call.
 The moving service included a musical presentation from Pastor Roger's daughter, Aimee Rogers, an opera singer from San Francisco and a liturgical dance offered by Ebony Matthews from his home congregation, St. Mark Lutheran Church in East Point, GA. The installation program also included essays written by Morehouse College graduates who Pastor Rogers himself had mentored while a chaplain at the Atlanta college, including Pastor Torrey O. Johnson from St. Mark Lutheran Church and Dr. Echol Nix, Jr., Professor of Theology at Furman University in Greenville, SC. As everyone gathered for fellowship after the installation service, the rains stopped and a beautiful rainbow appeared across the sky, seeming to seal the covenant that Christ the King Lutheran Church and Pastor Will Rogers had made that day. |
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Can you guess which Southeastern Synod pastor and spouse were recently spotted zipping around LaGrange on a motorcycle? It was none other than retired Pastor Jerry Troutman and his wife, Marihope!
In a recent article for "The Candlelighter," the newsletter for Advent, LaGrange, where Pastor Troutman is the transition pastor, he explains.
"Since becoming your transition pastor, I have had some fine experiences. All of them are now in my memory. One that will remain with me forever is riding on a motorcycle. Recently, member Ralph Gilley took both Marihope and me, at separate times, for a ride on his beautiful motorcycle."  "It was a glorious experience and very exciting. The fact is, I asked Ralph to 'give it some more gas,' and down the road we went. As we were traveling at a nice rate of speed, I thought of composer Johann Sebastian Bach who would write at the end of his musical works: 'In the name of Jesus and to the glory of God alone.' " "I also thought that all of life should be lived as composer Bach pinned: 'In the name of Jesus and to the Glory of God alone!' What a difference it would make for me and others if we lived as 'Children of the Heavenly Father' in this world. So thanks, Ralph, for this experience. It was wonderful and I would like to do it again but do not believe I will ride one (by myself) with my driving."
Give it some more gas, Pastor Troutman!
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Upcoming events on the Synod Calendar |
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17 Dean's meeting
18-19 Pre-Retirement Seminar
20 Budget & Finance Conference Call
31 Memorial Day (Synod Office Closed)
June
3 Synod Council Meeting
Click here for the entire Synod Calendar |
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