Southeastern Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
God's work. Our hands.
E-News Weekly |
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| Guatemala Update |
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Dear Southeastern Synod,
Greetings to you from Iglesia Luterana Agustina de Guatemala (ILAG) and blessings in the name of our Risen Lord.
It has been a month here... filled with just about everything imaginable. We thank you for your prayers and the support that you continue to give us. You are true blessings in our lives and ministry and we thank God for each of you.
Padre Horacio is healing. He had x-rays taken of his hand this week and the trauma doctor was pleased with the healing process. There had been some worry that the bones would not knit correctly, necessitating another surgery, but it looks like that will not be needed. We hope that Padre will be able to have his first cast removed in 20 days. He may even be able to travel...at the end of the month, but we have to wait until the doctor gives the green light before we get too excited.
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| The Real Presence of Christ and the Tabernacle |
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 By Pr. Michael Lippard, St. Andrew, Franklin, TN
Lutherans, along with many other Christians, teach the doctrine of the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. This has several layers of meaning. For one thing, when we speak of the real presence, we are talking about "the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine"(Small Catechism, ELW, p. 1166).
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| Lutheridge/Lutherock/Lutheranch |
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Designated Gifts for Lutheranch
Southeastern Synod congregations recently received a letter from Bishop Julian Gordy about the synod's $65,000 commitment for operating expenses at Lutheranch. The 2009 synod assembly agreed to fund this commitment from designated gifts from congregations, over and above regular mission support contributions. Congregations have been asked to consider a special offering or other means to fund a gift designated for Lutheranch. Click HERE to read the complete letter sent by Bishop Gordy.
Faith Alive at Lutheridge
Four weekends - Seven Retreats.
The unique curriculum uses experiential learning to leave lasting lessons. Lutheridge staff will provide supervision for campers, staying in cabins with them and sharing their unique and faithful witness. Campers can come alone or with a group. Adult leaders welcome and encouraged to participate, but are not required to attend. Program design and oversight by Pastors Mary and Tim Canniff-Kuhn, with involvement from others.
2010-2011 Schedule
October 1-3, 2010 - Lord's Prayer, Apostles' Creed
Nov. 12-14, 2010 - Old Testament Overview
February 4-6, 2011 - Holy Baptism, Holy Communion
April 1-3, 2011 - Ten Commandments, Martin Luther
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| Disaster Response -- Georgia floods |
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Daily God gives us opportunities to serve our neighbors: Haiti, Chile, Guatemala, the Gulf Coast, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia - the list goes on. We are led by our hearts, our faith, our love for Christ, aided by the news we receive from the media. Thousands were impacted by an historic Georgia flood in 2009. Now, nearly ten months later, many families are still hurting. Some need much, many just a little. But funds are low and we have a volunteer shortage. Cobb, Douglas, DeKalb, and Gwinnett counties have active, long-term recovery committees, but our neighbors need your heart and hands. Teams are needed to sheetrock, patch, repair and paint. So call, join, serve, love - and make a difference.
Gwinnett contact: Hal Shope, 404/680-6260
Cobb/Douglas: Mike Yoder, 404/597-2137
DeKalb: Sandy Johnson, 404/273-5566 |
| And now a word about RLPs |
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For those rostered people working on mobility papers (RLPs), please be aware that the ELCA people in Chicago are updating the form itself frequently. The computer may try to make certain compensation so it is possible that your "synods of interest" selections may be erased. When you are reminded to proof it before submitting, make sure the desired synods are marked. If NO synods are marked, ALL get it!
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| Book of Faith Brief |
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www.bookoffaith.org
Welcome to the first of a regular e-news spotlight on the ELCA Book of Faith Initiative! What is the Book of Faith Initiative? It is a five-year initiative designed to get all members of the ELCA immersed in Scripture. The best way to learn more about what that means and ways you might go about it is to go to the Book of Faith website. A link is provided above.
We are your Book of Faith Synod Advocates. Our job is to share information about this Initiative, to encourage congregations and other ministry settings to make a commitment to be a part of it, to help you find resources to use and help you figure out what being a Book of Faith congregation might look like for your particular setting. In addition, we want to help those in our Synod make connections with one another so they can share ideas and successes as well as challenges and how they faced them. The Book of Faith Initiative is not a "program" or a curriculum. It is a grass-roots effort to help each other become more fluent in the first language of our faith - Scripture! Please contact either one of us to let us know how we can assist you.
We encourage all congregations to sign-up to be a Book of Faith congregation. You can do that by clicking on the "Join the Conversation" tab on the website or by using this link - http://www.bookoffaith.org/Lists/BOFInitiative/ReallyNewSignUpInitiative_df.aspx?source=%2fbof_new%2fthankyou_eupdates.htm. Doing so means that your congregation has made a commitment to digging deeper into Scripture as a means of growing in faith. Signing up also helps the ELCA track the success of the Initiative and it helps us as Synod Advocates know who is participating. If you are not sure if your congregation is signed up, send one of us an email and we can let you know.
To begin to make connections, we have created a Southeastern Synod group on the Book of Faith social network site. To join the group, click on this link - http://bookoffaith.ning.com/group/southeasternsynod. We will use this site to have "conversations" and to keep you informed. You can also use this site to talk with others around the ELCA and see what they are doing with the Book of Faith in their faith communities!
Please forward and share this information as much as you can! Be on the lookout for regular Book of Faith postings in the synod e-news. And let us know how we can serve and assist you and the congregations in your care!
Blessings,
Pastor John Rossing
Christ the King, Dalton, GA 706-278-3979 Michelle Angalet, Associate in Ministry Good Shepherd, Woodstock, GA |
| Southeastern Synod Youth and Young Adults |
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 AFFIRM
Did you miss AFFIRM 2010? Were you there and want to re-live some moments from Berry College? Take a look at this video produced by the Rome News-Tribune about AFFIRM!
Dates for AFFIRM 2011 will be announced in August.
Upcoming Events
Alassippi Youth Gathering
July 30-August 1, 2010
Gulf Shores Christian Beach Retreat in Gulf Shores, AL
Theme: Clothed in Christ!
SESYALL Service Retreat
Southeastern Synod Young Adult Lutheran Leaders (SESYALL) is planning a service retreat in Nashville on August 6-8, 2010. Interested in attending or learning more about SESYALL? Contact Rachel Alley at ralley@elca-ses.org. |
| It's not too late... |
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to attend:
the Fund for Theological Education VoCARE event Monday, July 12, 2010 in Atlanta, GA.
"An Introduction to VoCARE: Hearing One Another into Vocation as a Leadership Training & Art."
to submit:
Nearly two years ago, the ELCA Justice for Women program initiated a form of truth-telling as part of its efforts to name sexism and patriarchy. Now the Justice for Women program is interested in experiences of sexism and patriarchy as they intersect with other systems of oppression. From this pool of submissions, they will select and publish a collection of narratives that represent a wide range of experiences, all for the purpose of assisting this church to see and hear what the problems in church and society are.
You are invited to send your written experience to Mary Streufert, Director for the Justice for Women program, who will receive them in confidence. For the printed, public version, you may choose either to remain anonymous or to include your identity.
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 Lutheran Night at the...
Barons: Birmingham, AL, Friday, July 30, Regions Field, contact Shades Valley Lutheran Church, 205-871-3512
Astros: Greeneville, TN, Saturday, July 31, Pioneer Park, contact St. James Lutheran Church, Greeneville, TN, 423-638-1588.
Bethel Lutheran Church, Biloxi, Ms. has about 100 or so LBW's that were replaced by the ELW worship books. Is there a congregation who could use the LBW's? Contact Pastor Marcia Schultz.
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"In the garage"
...a sermon by Pastor Ron Bonner (Atonement, Atlanta) delivered at the "Setting the Table" African Descent Strategy event held at Christ the King Lutheran Church, Norcross, GA, June 18-19, 2010, is now available on the synod website, www.elca-ses.org under Resources, Sermons and Writings.
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 Published:
The Rev. Rusty Edwards (Christ-Marietta) will publish PRAISE THE ONE WHO BREAKS THE DARKNESS in the HYMNS ANCIENT AND MODERN SING PRAISE hymnal, to be used by the Church of England. It is the 12th major hymnal to include this hymn. Other publications in 2010 will include CELEBRATING GRACE HYMNAL FOR BAPTIST WORSHIP, 9 hymns in SELAH SONGS OF REJOICING, and several, including "Bidden, Unbidden" in the new United Methodist hymnal supplement.
Pastor Edwards hymns will now be in 72 books used by 37 denominations in Australia, Canada, China, England, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, and the USA. Five of his hymns are in EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN WORSHIP.
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Synod Calendar |
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July 30-31 Alassippi Youth Gathering
August 2 Ventures Stewardship Event
August 6-8 SESYALL Service Retreat
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ELCA-Southeastern Synod 100 Edgewood Ave. NE, Suite 1600
Atlanta, GA 30303
404-589-1977
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