Southeastern Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
God's work. Our hands.
E-News Weekly |
Issue: # 236
| August 26, 2010 | |
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| An Urgent Plea from Lutheran World Relief |
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Dear Friends,
 The situation in Pakistan is critical, and getting worse. Monsoon flooding that began in late July has destroyed thousands of acres of farmland. Nearly six million people are homeless. They need shelter. They need food. They need clean water. And they need it now.
Right now, Lutheran World Relief is working with partners on the ground, delivering food, water, temporary shelter and basic hygiene items to devastated flood victims.
We've reached thousands of people so far, but there are many more families to reach.
LWR needs to raise $200,000 by September 15.
Your gift will deliver tents to the homeless, and food to families who saw their farms and livelihoods washed away. It will provide hygiene items like soap and washcloths-simple items that can help save lives after a flood. Please keep the people of Pakistan in your prayers. And please help Lutheran World Relief respond quickly as this devastating crisis unfolds.
Your gift will be used to respond to the "Pakistan Floods" crisis until needs there are met. After that, further gifts will be used to help LWR respond where the need is greatest. Thank you for your gift.
In Christ,
John A. Nunes
President and CEO
Lutheran World Relief
Photo: Flood victims, seen from a helicopter, take refuge under a date tree in Pakistan's Rajanpur district in Punjab province. REUTERS/ Adrees Latif, courtesy www.alertnet.org |
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Marked with the Cross of Christ | |
by the Rev. Nancy Christensen, Southeastern Synod Director for Evangelical Mission
Several weeks ago, while in Minneapolis for a conference, I visited a Somali Market and encountered a group of women who were preparing to go to a wedding that same day. They had come to have their bodies decorated with henna, and they had gathered at the market as a group, to share the experience with one another.
 Worn like jewelry, henna adorns hands, arms, feet, legs, even necks and faces for special celebrations and events. It was fascinating to watch, as true artists freehanded the application of the dye in incredible shapes and patterns; and those of us who had gathered around them found ourselves drawn in - inspired, and fully welcomed into this community of beautiful women of all ages.
Read the rest of this meditation on the synod blog. |
| Synod Council Report Deadline Extended to August 30 |
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The deadline for receipt of reports for next month's meeting of the Southeastern Synod Council has been extended to Monday, August 30. Chairpersons of conferences, committees, and task forces are encouraged to submit reports about their recent activities. Updates from agencies supported by the synod are also helpful. All reports should be e-mailed to sgustavson@elca-ses.org. |
| ELCA News and Resources |
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ELCA Presiding Bishop Addresses Discernment, Repentance, Reconciliation
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), addressed a number of topics in an Aug. 24 pastoral letter to the church, including differing
views on human sexuality, reconciliation, not bearing false witness against one another and ongoing dialogue about faith and life.
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ELCA Town Hall Forum
If you could ask Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson a question about the ELCA, what would it be?
You are invited to submit questions at the next ELCA Town Hall Forum with Bishop Hanson on Sunday, September 19, 2010, at 5 p.m. EDT.
- Log in to post questions online
- Post comments using Facebook Connect
- Tweet about the event using the hashtags #ELCA and #BishopHanson
- View open captioning
Whether or not you have a question to ask, you'll be part of a nationwide conversation with other ELCA members about issues that matter to all of us. What a remarkable opportunity!
Save the date and join us. Here's your chance to make your voice heard.
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New HIV-AIDS Video Resource
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Southeastern Synod Professional Leadership Convocation
"Being Lutheran in the South" |
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Registration open
A yearly gathering for the rostered leaders and church professionals of the Southeastern Synod, this year's Leadership Convocation will carry on the long-standing tradition of stimulating presentations, inspiring worship, Sabbath, and fellowship.
 October 12-14, 2010
Lutheridge Camp and Conference Center
Arden, NC
For more information about the Convocation, visit http://www.elca-ses.org/Southeastern-Synod-Leadership-Convocation.html.
Reminder: All Spiritual Directors and persons interested in spiritual direction in the Southeastern Synod are invited to attend a workshop starting on October 11-12 (prior to the Convocation) to explore how Spiritual Direction and Spiritual Directors might best serve the Southeastern Synod. This workshop will include time for group prayer and worship and much wonderful discussion. To find out more about the content of the workshop, contact Pastor Craig Storlie at craigstorlie@bellsouth.net or 678-595-1933.
REGISTRATION:
Online registration is available at www.llmi.net. Click on the "Registration" link at the top of the page. If you have never registered online for an event at Lutheridge or Lutherock, you will need to create an account. Registration for the Southeastern Synod Leadership Convocation can be found under "2010/2011 Lutheridge Special Events." We regret that on-line registration is not available for the Spiritual Directors Workshop. To register for this workshop, visit the Convocation webpage at http://www.elca-ses.org/Southeastern-Synod-Leadership-Convocation.html and download a paper registration form. Questions about registration? Call Lutheridge at 828-684-2361. |
| Book of Faith Brief |
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www.bookoffaith.org
Do you ever wish you could find a good online Bible study resource? Check out Luther Seminary's "Enter the Bible." ( http://www.enterthebible.org) This web reference site has extensive historical, theological, and literary analyses of every book in the Bible, along with supporting information about ancient Near Eastern history and culture. It includes passage-by-passage comments on biblical texts, many of which also offer links to video presentations by biblical scholars. It has maps, glossaries, identifications of biblical people and places, and art images.
If you create a free account and log in, you can save links, take notes, and follow ready-made study paths.
770-924-7286 |
| AROUND THE SYNOD |
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 Following their installation as co-pastors of Advent Lutheran Church in LaGrange, GA on August 22, Pastor MinChan Park and Pastor Gerald Bultman demonstrated their working partnership by cutting the celebration cake together. The two ministers were installed Sunday by the Rev. Darrel Peterson, Assistant to the Bishop of the Southeastern Synod. A reception followed in the church's Fellowship Hall. Pastor Peterson, in celebrating "the next chapter in the ministry of Advent," said he listens to the fishing reports each evening on the Atlanta news and it reminds him of St. Peter, who was a commercial fisherman before he "heeded the call" to ministry. Peterson noted that Park and Bultman have also received God's call and will follow "the template for discipleship provided by Peter and become fishers of people in this vital community of LaGrange, Georgia." -------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christ Lutheran Church in Nashville, TN has come up with a wonderful idea - Feed the Call Committee! The Call Committee at Christ Lutheran Church in Nashville meets every Tuesday night. Some of the members come directly from work before going home. Early on, a non-committee parishioner decided to feed them. Then she organized other church members to take a turn. So it is that the Call Team meets at 6:00 and has a meal with the "caterer" of the week, enjoying food and fellowship and no talk of the call process. About 6:30 they move across the hall for the meeting while the dishes are being cleared in the other room.  Assistant to the Bishop, Pastor Delmer Chilton said, "At first I was intrigued by the practicality of this plan (No grabbing fast food on the way to the hotel for me tonight!), but as I sat around the table with the folks talking and laughing and sharing prayer concerns I realized how important this pre-meeting time was to the actual work of the committee."
Pastor Chilton continues, "Sacred work flows out of Christian Community and Christian Community flows out of sacred work. Being together for that meal every week has helped that Call Team do good work because it has let them get to know each other at a deeper, more personal level and has led to a level of trust and intimacy necessary for their work."
Thanks for a good idea, Christ Lutheran in Nashville.....and Pastor Chilton says thanks for the wonderful shredded chicken and pasta!
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This past Saturday, Agust 21, Pastor James Nelson of Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Savannah, GA, who is president of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance (IMA) in Savannah, assisted with the distribution of 3200 filled backpacks and school uniforms at IMA's Second Annual Ready-Set Go Back to School Expo. The Rev. Dr. Gary Danielsen, President of Lutheran Services of Georgia, offered the opening prayer at the Expo. Follow this link for more info on this event.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Atlanta Lutheran Vio de Cristo Movement Weekends
Women's event Sept 9-12, 2010
Co-Ed event March 31-April 3, 2011
Saturday, September 24th, 2010 The 6th annual Taste of Habitat fundraising event returns to Atlanta on September 24th at The Metropolitan Club in Alpharetta. The money raised at this event will all go to build more Habitat homes in our local community. To date, the Lutheran Coalition for Habitat has worked together to build 18 homes! For more information, visit www.lutheranhabitat.org.
 Saturday, October 9, 2010International Food & Music Festival
"Dia de la Raza"
11am to 7pm
Christ the King Lutheran Church
Norcross GA
Come and celebrate the diversity of peoples in our church.
International Food Festival | Ethnic Folklore Dances | Ethnic Music | Raffles | Silent Auction | Multilingual Singing Time
Oct. 7-9, 2010
Awaken Young Lives to God's Call---Register now for The Fund for Theological Education's Calling Congregations Conference, to be held October 7-9, 2010 at The Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center, Atlanta, GA.
Barbara Brown Taylor is the featured speaker. Connect with a network of pastors, youth ministers, college and lay leaders who want to find the next generation of leaders for the church. Learn practices that revitalize a commitment to Christian vocation and the call to ministry.
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Synod Calendar |
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August 27-29 SESLYO Board
August 30 Compensation Guidelines Committee meeting
Sept 6 Labor Day (Synod Office closed)
Sept 10-11 Synod Council
Sept 10-12 WELCA Convention
Sept 17-18 Diversity Work Plan Conversation II
Sept 17-18 Affirm Admin Meeting
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ELCA-Southeastern Synod
100 Edgewood Ave. NE, Suite 1600
Atlanta, GA 30303
404-589-1977
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