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Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
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E-News Weekly
Issue: # 249December 2, 2010
In This Issue
News from the ELCA
Working While We Wait
Book of Faith Brief
The Lutheran
End the Violence
Transition Pastors Event
A Season of Prayer
Around the Synod
Quick Links
ELCA News
2010 Christmas Message from ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson
 
angel"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation!"  Isaiah 52:7

When Jesus was born, angelic messengers broke the still calm of a Galilean night to sing joyously and proclaim, "This very day in David's city a Savior is born for you -- God's Promised One, your Lord." Glad tidings of great joy! Common shepherds were the first and heartiest heralds of the promised Savior's arrival then, and today the joy in Jesus' birth fills every corner of this season.

ELCA Council Acts on Structure, Governance Proposals, Other Topics

 

The Church Council of the ELCA recommended constitutional amendments to the 2011 ELCA Churchwide Assembly regarding a 3-year cycle for churchwide assemblies, council membership, eliminating program committees and strengthening interrelationships.

 

Read more...

Working While We Wait

by Mr. Kyle Cristofalo

Synod Lutheran Volunteer Corps Staffer and
Coordinator of Programs for Hunger, Poverty and Justice Issues
haircut
I have never been particularly good at waiting. When I was younger I would dread having to get my hair cut because the prospect of sitting patiently still for 20 minutes was too much for me to imagine. How could I sit and be calm when there were so many other things to do? What was the point of getting my hair cut if it would just start growing back the next day anyway?   

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

Book of Faith Brief
Book of Faith
 
                                                   http://www.bookoffaith.org/

Advent 1Advent Greetings!  As Scripture guides us through this season of wonder and anticipation, the readings we have in Advent help us to see so clearly the way in which the Bible shows forth Jesus.  It is one of the times in the year when many long to hear the familiar words of Scripture - specifically, those that tell the Christmas story - even if they don't long for Scripture and its transformational power throughout the rest of the year! 

 

Thanks to everyone throughout the Southeastern Synod who engages in God's Word and who shares it with those they encounter, in whatever capacity you serve!  Thanks to all of you who have become Book of Faith congregations and who have committed to making engagement with Scripture a priority!  There are many of you out there! 

 

Featured in the Southeastern Supplement of the December issue of The Lutheran magazine is a look at what several congregations throughout our synod are doing as Book of Faith congregations.  A link to the article can be found on the synod website or you can access it here.  We hope you will take a few minutes to read this Supplement.  Bishop Gordy's article grounds us in Scripture as we begin this season of Advent.  The Book of Faith article will help you to know what your brothers and sisters throughout the Synod are doing to share their love of our Book of Faith! 


Blessings,
Your Book of Faith advocates
 
Pastor John Rossing                         
Christ the King, Dalton, GA
706-278-3979
[email protected]              
                         
Michelle Angalet, Associate in Ministry
Good Shepherd, Woodstock, GA
770-924-7286
[email protected]

In This Month's Issue of The Lutheran

LutheranHere's a look at the December 2010 issue of The Lutheran. This issue is currently online at www.thelutheran.org.

 

The Lutheran's December issue gets you ready to celebrate the season:

  • ELCA pastor and author Walter Wangerin, Jr. makes the case for "Jesus. Him."
  • In "Telling the Old, Old Story," find out how congregations bring Luke 2 to life.
  • "Wait for It" delves into Advent lessons (a study guide for this article is available at www.thelutheran.org by clicking on "study guides."  (This is free to print subscribers and supporting web members.)
  • "Celebrating Advent" shows how traditions move communities toward Christmas.
  • Learn what's so "Innocent" about Christmas.
  • And don't forget about the magazine's regular columns: the "Editor" sends you a Christmas letter; "Youngchurch" highlights a pageant director who is in the 10th grade; "Pass the Faith" asks, "Lift Up or Downplay Santa?";  "Light Side" gives you a holiday laugh; and the ELCA presiding bishop says "Advent readings focus us."

End the Violence

As many know, domestic violence is an escalating problem in our county. One in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime and it is the leading cause of injury to women, even more than auto accidents.  There are 16,800 homicides due to domestic violence in the US annually.

 

You are invited to attend an End the Violence Forum.

 

When:    December 11, 2010

Where:  The Lutheran Church of the Atonement

              1875 Joseph E. Boone, Atlanta, GA 30314

Time:     12:30 pm.

  

This event is open to both women and men.

 

For more information, contact Pastor Ronald S. Bonner, Lutheran Church of the Atonement, 404-794-7970.

Transition/Interim Pastors Event

Current and potential Transition Pastors are invited to a Gathering with Bishop Julian Gordy, Pastor Delmer Chilton and Pastor Darrel Peterson for a conversation about the nature of Transition Ministry in our Southeastern Synod.

 

snowWHEN:
January 31 - February 1, 2011
We will begin at 1 pm on Monday, breaking at 6 pm for the evening and we will end at 11:30 am on Tuesday.  Coffee and snacks will be provided.

 

WHERE:
Living Grace Lutheran Church, 1812 Cooledge Road, Tucker, GA, 30084, (678) 406-9229.

 

WHAT:
It is our expectation that all pastors currently involved or wishing to be involved in transition ministry in the Southeastern Synod will attend this Gathering. We will discuss opportunities and challenges, expectations and procedures relating to transition ministry.  We will review (in the process of being revised) transition manuals and materials.

 

COST:
Cost is $15 per person.  Click here to register on-line.

 

If you have questions, please contact Pastor Darrel Peterson in the synod office at 404-589-1977, ext 226.

A Season of Prayer with the People of Sudan

An Invitation from the ELCA e-Advocacy Network

 

Prayer is always in order for the people of Sudan. Prayers are particularly in order as January 2011 draws near.

 

Why?
SudanA referendum on self-determination for the people of south Sudan is scheduled for January 9. On that same day, a referendum is also scheduled for the Abyei region, where the people will vote on the question of whether to retain Abyei's special administrative status in the north or become part of Southern Sudan.

 

What Can You Do?
Our sisters and brothers in Sudan are in prayer now and will continue in prayer until, through, and after the referendum. We have a number of opportunities to join them. One is through the Season of Prayer with the People of Sudan. In this initiative, a number of faith communities will come together in prayer in Sudan and in the United States in the month before the election.

 

Specifically, we are invited to pray for thirty minutes on:


Friday, December 3
Friday, December 10
Friday, December 17
Friday, December 24
Friday, December 31
Friday, January 7
Saturday, January 8
Sunday, January 9
Monday, January 10

 

Our sisters and brothers in Sudan will pray at 6:00 p.m. in their country. In the United States, we would join them by praying at Noon (EST); 11:00 a.m. (CST); 10:00 a.m. (MST); 9:00 a.m. (PST). Many in Sudan plan to engage in the spiritual discipline of fasting on January 7 through 9. If this is a spiritual discipline that speaks to you, consider joining them.

This season of prayer is open to all people. Pray wherever you are; pray individually or gather with your community or an ecumenical community or an interfaith community; pray in a manner you feel comfortable praying.
 

Please feel free to share this invitation widely.

AROUND THE SYNOD

 

Diana RevelleSongwriters Night Memorial Lutheran Church in Nashville, TN has hosted a series of Songwriters nights.  A variety of local artists share their original music followed by refreshments-a great night of music and fellowship.  The next Songwriters night will be December 19. 

 

Thanksgiving Hunger FightBoth St. Timothy Lutheran Church in Hendersonville and St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Franklin hosted Thanksgiving Night in the Thanksgiving Fight events.  This grand time included a traditional thanksgiving meal, a silent auction and a live auction.  All the proceeds benefited Trinity/HOPE which provides meals for school children in Haiti.  Including matching funds from Thrivent, around $20,000 was raised. 

 (photos and stories by Pastor Ann Bassett)
Kroninger intallation  
 
Snapshot:
Bishop Gordy and Dean Jerry Weeks install Pastor James Kroninger at Our Savior, Gatlinburg, TN on November 21, 2010.


Synod Calendar
Dec 4    Budget & Finance Committee meets
Dec 5    Second Sunday of Advent
Dec 7    Nominating Committee Conference Call
Dec 12  Third Sunday of Advent
Dec 14  Nominations/Elections Task Force meets
Dec 15  Ecumenical Formula of Agreement Luncheon

View the entire Synod Calendar
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