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Southeastern Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
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E-News Weekly
Issue: # 247November 23, 2010
In This Issue
News from the ELCA
An Attitude of Gratitude
Bishop's School 2011
Hunger, Poverty and Justice Task Force
Have You Changed?
What a Difference a Chaplain Can Make
On the Web
A Note from New WELCA President
Quick Links
ELCA News
ELCA Presiding Bishop Responds to Members in Third 'Town Hall' of 2010
In his third online "Town Hall Forum" with members
this year, the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) addressed a variety of ELCA topics and concerns, such as outdoor and campus ministry, immigration reform, contemporary worship, the place of people who are gay and lesbian in the church and interfaith
relationships.  Read more...
 
ELCA Council Adopts Message on 'People Living with Disabilities'
The Church Council of the ELCA adopted an 18-page message, "People Living with Disabilities," and asked the 2011 ELCA Churchwide Assembly to "lift up and acknowledge" the message.   Read more...
An Attitude of Gratitude

A reflection by the Rev. Nancy Christensen
Southeastern Synod Director of Evangelical Mission

I remember about ten years ago or so, there were books and journals and all kinds of attention on talk shows about gratitude, and it felt to me like the latest-and-greatest self-help Thanksgivingcraze.  I confess that I didn't pay much attention.  While I didn't object to the sentiment of being grateful at all, I didn't buy the books, or jump in to the daily list-making that people around me were doing with such gusto.

So, as tends to be my pattern - ten years later, when no one is talking about it anymore, I'm just now getting around to thinking about what it really means to be grateful. 

 

(Click here to read the rest on the synod blog.)

Bishop's School 2011

Take a moment...think of that one special youth in your congregation.  You know the one... he or she is always asking you the hard questions, excelled in Confirmation class, and just seems to have a yearning to deepen his or her faith.  If that youth is a current 11th or 12th grader, please nominate him or her for the 2011 Bishop's School.

The 2011 Bishop's School will be held the week of June 19-25 on the
campus of Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, SC.  Youth from all over the southeast will come together to study with seminary professors, worship in Christ Chapel and witness the way God is working in the world and in their own lives.  They'll learn what it means to think theologically!

Attached is a brochure with additional information.  Please note, nominations are due by March 1, 2011.  (Feel free to nominate more than one youth from your congregation.)

If you have any questions, please contact the Coordinator for Bishop's School, Ms. Sandra Holland, AIM at [email protected] or call Ms. Tiffany Pieters in the Region 9 office at 803-461-3263 or email [email protected].

Hunger, Poverty, and Justice Task Force
Launches in the Southeastern Synod

Interested in working in the fight to end both global and domestic hunger? Want to work with your congregation to organize events, Bible studies, and/or Temple Talks? Please consider joining  the newly created Hunger, Poverty, and Justice Issues Task Force. The Southeastern Synod has been without an organized hunger and poverty network for quite some time but this is all changing. The Task Force will be in charge of providing resources and education for the synod and all congregations around the issues of poverty and hunger related issues.

 

We are hoping to develop many programs that can be used throughout the Synod as a way to get more connected to the work of ELCA World Hunger. While many churches are very active in soup kitchens and food pantries, amongst other ministries, the Task Force hopes to get members involved with more advocacy and educational related programs. One such program we are hoping to bring to the Southeastern Synod is"A Month of Potlucks."

 

Launched by two Lutheran Pastors, this initiative seeks to raise awareness and advocacy about issues of hunger and poverty by bringing together people over a potluck dinner. With congregations given the creativity to plan the potluck however they see fit, the ultimate goal is to learn more about they can become involved in the important work of ending hunger. The program has been a success throughout various synods, but has yet to take place in our synod. If you are interested in learning more, please view their website at http://www.amonthofpotlucks.org/.

 

hotdish

 

If you are interested in hosting a potluck at your church or joining the Task Force, please contact Kyle Cristofalo, Coordinator of Hunger, Poverty, and Justice Issues Programs and Lutheran Volunteer Corps Staffer at [email protected]

Have You Changed?

A note to Rostered Persons in the Southeastern Synod:

 

Have you recently moved, changed your phone number or email address?  Please remember to update your information with the synod office.  It's quick and easy!  Just use our online form!  

 

To find the form on the Synod website, go to the "Resources" tab, choose "Pastors and Leaders," then click the link for Update Form

 

What a Difference a Chaplain Can Make

 

Christmas at Sea

 

When we think of Christmas, we usually think of time spent with family and friends, going to Christmas Eve services, singing carols, gathering in a warm home, eating a feast, and of course, sharing gifts.

 

There is some irony that the Christmas gifts we will share with family and friends in the warmth of our homes will most likely have arrived from overseas, aboard merchant ships whose seafarers will spend Christmas in the middle of some ocean, far away from their own family and friends.

 

seafarersLutheran Advocates for Maritime Mission (LAMM)--an independent Lutheran organization--provides us the opportunity to return the favor to those seafarers and unselfishly share the spirit of Christmas. There are local Seafarers' Ministries with Lutheran chaplains at the ports of the oceans and lakes around the United States and the Caribbean.  LAMM chaplains meet with the seafarers when they come to their ports and provide an ear to listen and a smile to encourage. Each port has a program to provide gifts to the seafarers who come to their ports during the Christmas season.

 

Visit the LAMM website to find a Port Ministry you can support. You can help bring some joy to those who will be separated from family and friends during this Christmas season. 

 

 

LTSS Military Chaplain Discernment Course

 

Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, South Carolina is offering a two-week, three credit course to assist seminary students, prospective seminary students, and current pastors of all denominations to examine the ministry of military chaplains and the possibility of call to serve as a chaplain.

 

The course will:  

  • Examine the theology and ethics of serving as a pastor in a military environment
  • Explore the history of military chaplaincy
  • Tour of Ft Jackson Chaplain School and Museum
  • Participate in a variety of worship services at Ft Jackson to experience the scope and diversity of "free exercise of religion" in a military setting
  • Examine worship services and ceremonies in combat zones and military installations
  • Meet with active duty and retired chaplains
  • Explore family issues including discussions with spouses of military chaplains
  • Examine the challenges and rewards of a call to military chaplaincy for both pastors and families
  • Discuss the unique challenges and opportunities of Reserve and National Guard chaplains      

To learn more, or to register click here for a flyer and information.

On the Web

 

Lectionary Lab  - www.lectionarylab.blogspot.com

 

mouseSnippets, thoughts, illustrations and the occasional sermon in service to the texts of Scripture as arranged for the church year in the Revised Common Lectionary. Brought to you by the Revs. Dr. John Fairless and Dr. Delmer Chilton.

 

Lutheran Music.com

Sheet music, concordances, lyrics files (text, PowerPoint), sound files (midi, MP3), flash videos, audio CDs and video DVDs as supplements to the commonly-used Lutheran hymnals available for download, at a fee.

Note from New WELCA President, Kathryn Fugate

As women in Christ, we walk together to uphold each other in Christ's love. The work that we do, as a community of women is so important: not only to our Christian community, but to people all over our world.  Just think of the gifts that God has given us: the ability to touch people all over the world. Just think of how God is working in us and through us.  Just think of how many children, men and women we have helped.

 

Our work is not done, it is just starting. We who have so much in our lives can give so much of ourselves, our time, and our prayers to those in need.

 

GutersvilleThis is our 24th year as Women of the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA.  Plans are underway for the 2011 WELCA Convention.  It is going to be at Lake Guntersville State Park in Gutersville, AL, on September 15-18, 2011. We hope that you are planning to be with us there. The lodge is beautiful! With this spiritual setting, we hope to renew your hearts!  This will be a chance for you to walk and talk to God in this gorgeous natural setting.

 

Let's work to bring all women into our circle of love. For that is what we are: a circle of love. Out of love, we work to manifest God's love to this world.

 

God so loves us that He has blessed us with gifts of every description so that we may share them with others.  1 Cor.12-4-11

 

Let the light of God shine through you for all to see.

Matthew 5:14 -16

  

Yours in Christ,

 

Kathryn Fugate

Synod Calendar
Note:  The Synod office will be closed Nov 25 and 26.

Nov 28   First Sunday of Advent
Nov 29   Synod Assembly Conference Call
Dec 4    Budget & Finance Committee meets
Dec 14  Nominations/Elections Task Force meets

View the entire Synod Calendar

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