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Southeastern Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
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E-News Weekly
Issue: # 244October 28, 2010
In This Issue
Staying Connected
Butterflies
Last Minute Reminders
Book of Faith Brief
Free Training Event
Lutheran Summer Music
Here I Am, Send Me?
Around the Synod
Synod Calendar
Quick Links
ELCA Funds Water Purification Equipment for Guatemala Families
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- At least 245 families in Guatemala will have clean water supplies thanks to a gift from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

ELCA International Disaster Response gave $9,750 to the Lutheran World Federation Department for World Service Guatemala Program to fund the purchase and delivery of water purification filters in an area hit by heavy rains and flooding this year.  Families in four communities will benefit from the water purification filters, said Stephen Deal, ELCA regional representative for Central America: Santa Elena, Santo Domingo, Roto Nuevo and Caribe R�o Salinas. 
 
Butterflies
by Rachel Alley, Southeastern Synod Director for Youth Ministries

butterflyButterflies have always fascinated me.  Many of you know I keep on talking about getting a tattoo of a butterfly on my big toe. (which is the ugliest of all my toes) After the Alassippi Youth Gathering this summer, the youth and adults from Ascension Lutheran in Mississippi asked me to go get henna tattoos with them in Gulf Shores. Or course I said yes! And at first I was going to just watch but guess what? I got a butterfly henna tattoo right on my big toe! 

Read the rest of this meditation on the synod blog. 
Last Minute Reminders

Seats still available 

 

LUTHERAN WOMEN IN THEOLOGICALAND RELIGIOUS STUDIES

Listening Closely; Defining the Conversation

 

at the Lutheran Theological Center in Atlanta, GA

700 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Atlanta, GA 30310

 

Oct. 29, 2010

8:30AM - 5:30PM

 

The cost of the conference is only $20.  (A catered dinner is available for an additional $20.)

 

For those for whom registration costs are prohibitive, grants are available.  Please contact Mary Streufert at [email protected] or 800.638.3522, ext. 2281.

 

 

Click here for a registration form.

  

 

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ReminderMinstry Funding Requests:  Deadline November 1


The deadline for submitting funding requests to be considered for the 2012-13 Ministry Funding Plan (budget) to the synod's Budget and Finance Committee is November 1. 

Synod committees and task forces, which operate on a different budgeting cycle from other groups, should now be requesting funding for the 2011-12 fiscal year.

The deadline for ALL funding requests is November 1. Forms are available online HERE.

 

Questions may be addressed to Pastor John Rossing, who chairs the synod's Budget and Finance Committee.
 
Book of Faith Brief
Book of Faith

http://www.bookoffaith.org/


Check out more new Book of Faith Bible Studies from Augsburg Fortress!  Last week two new resources were released to help the word of Christ dwell in us richly!  "James" is a 4-session Books of Faith study that examines the gifts of the book of James through the lens of wisdom.  You can read more about this course at this link - http://www.augsburgfortress.org/store/item.jsp?clsid=241403&productgroupid=0&isbn=ED014968.
 
Heaven on Earth: Studies in Matthew is part of the Together in Faith Bible Study Series.  This 6-session study delves deeper into what it means for heaven to come to earth, studying Jesus' words, his way of life, and the manner in which he loved.  Consider this study for Advent or for sometime early in 2011 as we live in the new liturgical year, hearing the voice of Matthew.  Also available for this study are preaching and liturgy support materials which can be downloaded for $5.  Learn more by clicking on this link -  http://www.augsburgfortress.org/store/item.jsp?clsid=241515&productgroupid=0&isbn=ED015772.
 
If you have not already done so, join us in the ongoing conversation about studying Scripture together by becoming part of the Southeastern Synod's group on the Book of Faith Social network site.  You can join using this link - http://bookoffaith.ning.com/group/southeasternsynodgatnalms.  This is a great way for us to connect with one another across the many miles of our synod!

 

Blessings,
Your Book of Faith advocates
 
Pastor John Rossing                         
Christ the King, Dalton, GA           
[email protected]              
706-278-3979                          
 
Michelle Angalet, Associate in Ministry
Good Shepherd, Woodstock, GA
[email protected]

770-924-7286


P. S.   Check this out! 

 

Luther Seminary is looking for congregational learning partners who are committed to biblical fluency and engagement.  Does this describe your congregation or one you know?  If so, visit this link to learn more and to complete the nomination process.  Hurry - the deadline is November 8!  

http://www.luthersem.edu/vcp/nominate_biblical_fluency.aspx?m=3709

 

For those congregations selected, this will provide access to some great learning opportunities!  

Free Training Event: ELCA World Hunger 'Ethics of Eating'

Region 9 Leadership Training, Ft. Myers, FL

ELCA World Hunger is sponsoring a free and exciting Leadership Training on the 'Ethics of Eating' January 27-30, 2011 in Ft. Myers, FL. 

 

The event will gather about 20 ELCA congregational and campus leaders from all around Region 9 (Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Southeastern, Florida-Bahamas and Caribbean Synods.)

 

Campus and congregational leaders will gather to discuss ways to respond to the justice and lifestyle issues that arise from the interconnections between what we eat and the food distribution and production system in this country.

 

Applications are now being accepted and will be approved on a rolling basis starting on December 1, 2010 until all openings for the event are filled. 

 

For information, visit www.elca.org/hunger/ethicsofeating or contact event coordinator, Mary Delasin[ [email protected]; 727-479-2914] 

What in the World is God Up To?


questionsA Men's Retreat at Lutheranch
February 18-20, 2011


The Southeastern Synod's own Pastor Dave Helfrich from Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Marietta, GA will use the parables of Jesus to explore how God's kingdom is intersecting, challenging and transforming our way of life.  Limited to 16 men to stay on site.  Optional service project for Saturday afternoon along with a tour of Lutheranch.  Pastor Helfrich is a graduate of Gettysburg Seminary and previously served congregations in Maryland and Virginia.  He loves cars, golden retrievers and the Green Bay Packers!
 
Cost per person: $165.00 for on-site housing, $125.00 for off-site housing.  

 

To register contact Suzanne Delap at 828-684-2361 ext 309 or [email protected].

A Note from the Synod Council 


The Southeastern Synod constitution was updated at a recent meeting of the Synod Council.  The updated version can be found on the synod website.  If you have questions regarding the recent updates, please contact the synod secretary, Pastor Terri Stagner-Collier at (770) 475-9159. 

AROUND THE SYNOD

The Congregation of Trinity Lutheran Church

invites you to attend and participate in the

 

Closing Celebration Service

 

Sunday, November 14, 2010

2:00 PM

6401 Highway 18 West

Jackson, Mississippi 39209

 

A reception will be held immediately following the service.

We request your prayers and support as we begin our

new journeys as members of the Evangelical Lutheran

Church of America, Southeastern Synod.

 

RSVP to Ellen Noble by November 12th

[email protected] or (601) 924-4669

  

  

  

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Oktoberfest Update
story and photo by the Rev. Robert Wolfert

 

This was the 32nd year of the week-long Oktoberfest Celebration held at Christ Lutheran Church in Cullman, AL. This is true family celebration with special events and meals every day and night. There were numerous special events, among which were a  including dog and car shows, as well as a best Drindle and Lederhosen contest and, of course, the yodeling contest.

 

The nearly 250 meals served on Friday included the following Schweinefleisch (pork roast), Kartoffel Salat (potato salad-German of course),  Grune Bohnen (green beans), Sauerkraut, Brot and a choice of desserts

 

Profits went to the Christ Lutheran Church building fund.

           Christ Cullman 

 

Photo:  Chef Peter Voltz (members Peter, Gerdie & Adrian provided the reciepes), Pastor Bob Wolfert, congregation members and the Oktoberfest Burgermeister

 

 

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TullahomaPictured here are a couple of the women who hosted a beautiful reception to the glory of God and in celebration of Pastor Alex Hoffner's installation at Trinity Lutheran in Tullahoma, TN on October 24.  Vickie Shelton, chair of the call committee says, "We were devastated when our former pastor took another call, however we are so fabulously blessed to have Pastor Hoffner." 

 

Every April through October Trinity hosts their version of a Wednesday community farmers' market.  Vickie reports that one of the first things Pastor Hoffner did was bring his grill and some side dishes to feed all those who came to the market.  

 

 

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Amy-Jill Levine, popular Vanderbilt New Testament professor will be presenting "How to hear a parable" as part of St. Timothy's (Hendersonville, TN) Education and the Arts series.  November 7th she will discuss the parable of the Prodigal Son and on November 14, the parable of the Good Samaritan.  Both presentations begin at 4:00 p.m.  Come and hear the parable with First-century ears and to recover their profundity, provcation, and punch.

 

Above two stories submitted by synod volunteer reported, Pastor Ann Bassett.

Upcoming Synod Calendar Events

Martin Luther King Memorial Service

January 16, 2011

  

Plans are being made for an Atlanta-area MLK service on Sunday, January 16, 2011.   Anyone interested in assisting with these plans should contact Elaine Schwartz in the synod office at 404-589-1977, ext 235, by Friday, November 12, 2010.

 

 

Coming up! 

Oct 31     Reformation Day

Nov 1       All Saints Day
Nov 6       Conference 6 meeting
Nov 6       Leadership Program for Musicians

Nov 11     Veterans Day

Nov 11-13 Synod Candidacy Meeting

Nov 20-21 All Tennessee Youth Gathering
Nov 25      Thanksgiving

Nov 25-26  Synod Office Closed

 


View the entire Synod Calendar

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