Southeastern Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
God's work. Our hands.
E-News Weekly |
Issue: # 231
| July 22, 2010 | |
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| Lutheran World Federation Meets In 'Confident Hope,' Says President |
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 STUTTGART, Germany (ELCA) -- Lutherans are meeting in Stuttgart, Germany, for their international assembly at a time when "the world is in pain," said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, according to a July 21 news release from Lutheran World Information (LWI). Hanson made the comment in his address to the LWF Eleventh Assembly.
The LWF Assembly is the organization's highest legislative body. It is meeting in Stuttgart July 20-27. The LWF is 140 member churches in 79 countries, representing more than 70 million Christians worldwide.
"Wars rage, the creation groans under the weight of our consumption, refugees wander in search of shelter, illness and death come to those who lack access to clean water and health care," said Hanson.
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| Are you a Jonah? |
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by the Rev Dr Beverly Wallace
 In reading the book of Isaiah, while the Jews were in exile, they were instructed by the spirit to move to a new arrangement. They were to move from oppression to liberation (see Isaiah 66). They were told, "Don't go back to conducting yourself in the way you were used to because it has not served you well."
There was a need to move to a different place, a different way of being and doing, worshipping and living; something that would serve the people, especially those who were disenfranchised in the existing arrangements. They were to move for a particular purpose, to again become the people God had destined them to be.
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| Opening for Lay Person on Budget & Finance Committee |
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The Southeastern Synod's Budget and Finance Committee has an immediate opening for a lay person interested in serving as a committee member. This committee monitors the synod's financial condition throughout the year and makes recommendations as needed. It is also the group that formulates the annual ministry funding proposal considered by the synod assembly. Budget and Finance Committee members meet by conference call three or four times a year. There is also an in-person meeting at the synod office, usually in December. The initial term of service is through June 2012, with two additional terms of service possible. If you know of lay persons who might be interested in being appointed to the Budget and Finance Committee, please encourage them to complete the synod's committee member volunteer form. Or if they would like to discuss this potential service before completing the form, please encourage them to contact either the committee chairperson (Pastor John Rossing, jrossing@windstream.net; phone: 706-278-3979) or the synod's Fiscal Advisor (Dr. Sandra Gustavson, sgustavson@elca-ses.org, phone: 404-589-1977, ext. 224). |
| News from The Lutheran |
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Readership surveyReaders of The Lutheran and users of www.thelutheran.org are being asked to share their impressions of the magazine. This survey is part of a larger effort to assess readers' opinions about The Lutheran. All data collected will be aggregated and presented to the staff and the magazine's advisory committee in October 2010. The staff will use the data to reshape the magazine to better serve its targeted populations. To take the survey, go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QZ5K3Q7.
 Resources for you! Look to The Lutheran's August issue for ideas and resources for your congregation. Find out how to turn trash into treasure from a liturgical arts committee that knows how to enhance its worship space on a budget. In "Two months out," learn how your congregation can celebrate its Lutheran and German heritage in October and how to honor volunteers. And your study group can discuss the issue of elder abuse by asking "How can the church help?" Download study guides-more than 300 can be found on The Lutheran's website at www.thelutheran.org (free to print subscribers and supporting Web members-click on "study guides").
Trinity Lutheran Church, Lilburn, GA will be featured in the August issue of The Lutheran magazine. Check out the "Two months out" section on page 13 when you get your issue. |
| Book of Faith Brief |
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www.bookoffaith.org
Maybe you'd like to get your congregation involved in the Book of Faith initiative but don't know how to get started. Or maybe you've found that some people won't join a Bible study class or group for the first time because they feel intimidated by the subject. Remember, the Southeastern Synod now has a group on the Book of Faith social network site, The Book of Faith website also includes a "Getting Started" checklist with some good ideas.
If you're looking for some good start-up study material, "Opening the Book of Faith" (available from Augsburg Fortress) might be right for you. It introduces some basic insights about the Bible and how Lutherans understand its meaning and authority, and then teaches four different approaches to studying the Bible. Finally, it offers sample Bible studies using each of the approaches.
Another good resource for introducing people to thinking about the Bible is "Making Sense of Scripture," also from Augsburg Fortress and the Book of Faith initiative. This book deals in question-and-answer format with questions about the truth, authority, and meaning of the Bible.
Special resources for learners and leaders are available for both "Opening the Book of Faith" and "Making Sense of Scripture." Blessings, Your Book of Faith advocates
Pastor John Rossing
Christ the King, Dalton, GA 706-278-3979 Michelle Angalet, Associate in Ministry Good Shepherd, Woodstock, GA |
| LCMS Convention Requests 'Thorough Response' to ELCA Social Statement |
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In the final hours of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) convention in Houston, delegates requested "a thorough response" to the 2009 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) social statement, Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust.
With little debate delegates voted 934-18 to adopt the resolution July 17.
The resolution stated that the social statement "suggests a concept of 'bound conscience' as a 'distinctly Lutheran' principle of theology." It also said the concept "was central to the rationale" of the ELCA assembly's actions which made it possible for people in publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships to serve as clergy and other professional workers.
 The resolution asked that the LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR), in consultation with LCMS seminary faculties, "develop a thorough, biblical, confessional analysis of a response to Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust, with particular attention to the concept of 'bound conscience.'"
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| Fall and Winter Programs at Lutheridge and Lutherock |
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Online registration for fall adult and family programs at Lutheridge and Lutherock is now up and running! Registration for winter and spring programs is scheduled to open on August 15, including Wild Women and Handbell Weekends.
Also upcoming:
SKI RETREATS at Lutheridge and Lutherock in January, February and early March. Enjoy a weekend of fellowship, faith-building, and SKIING! LLMI says, "Let us do all the work of coordinating ski rentals and lift tickets and enjoy our group rate discount! We'll also supply group building games, an evening campfire, and youth-friendly worship."
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| AROUND THE SYNOD |
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Did you read the front page article by Pastor Beth Birkholz in the most recent Mayo Clinic "EMBODY HEALTH" flyer that came to the homes of Board of Pensions members? Beth is Associate Pastor at Holy Trinity, Marietta, GA. To read more, go to https://www.elcabop.org/Home/LiveWell/Wellness_voices.aspx.
 The choir of Trinity Lutheran Church, Lilburn, GA, will perform "America the Beautiful" during the seventh-inning stretch at Lutheran Night at the Braves on August 4. Please come prepared to stand up and sing, as only Lutherans know how. Learn about Lutheran Night at the Braves at http://www.lutheransnightatthebraves.org/.
 St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Franklin, TN is looking for a home for movable pews (140 seats). The pews are a chair style that are sectioned in two, three, and four seats with red upholstered seats and backs. They are considered to be a unity style and they are flexible for configuration. The pews have wood backs and legs with book racks, pencil, and card holders. and are in great shape. A larger picture can be found on the St. Andrew website at www.saintandrewchurch.com under the About Us tab. Contact Jolene at office@saintandrewchurch.com or at 615-794-1624 for more information or up-close photos.
All Saints' Lutheran Church in Lilburn, GA is seeking a Part-time Director of Music. The required hours are: Sunday worship services: 9:00 am to 12:00 noon; Wednesday: Worship service and Chancel Choir/Celebration Band rehearsal: 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm. Other hours negotiable. Contact office@aslc.org or call 770-923-7283. |
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Synod Calendar |
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July 29-Aug 1 Alassippi Youth Gathering
August 2 Ventures Stewardship Event
August 4 Lutheran Night at the Braves
August 6-8 SESYALL Service Retreat
August 18 Budget & Finance Conference Call
August 19-21 Candidacy Committee meeting
August 25 Global Mission Committee Meeting
August 27-29 SESLYO Board
August 30 Compensation Guidelines Committee meeting
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ELCA-Southeastern Synod 100 Edgewood Ave. NE, Suite 1600
Atlanta, GA 30303
404-589-1977
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