Southeastern Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
God's work. Our hands. E-News Weekly |
| Issue: # 255 | January 13, 2011 | |
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| ELCA News | | |
ELCA Continues Long-Term Relief Effort in Haiti
 The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) continues to be actively engaged in Haiti, concentrating its efforts on a multiyear rebuilding effort there one year after a devastating earthquake struck. The church's efforts include meeting human needs by providing food, water, temporary shelter and medical supplies while focusing on longer-term efforts such as responding to housing needs, and providing educational and income-generating opportunities.
Read more... |
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Congregational Report Time | |
Deadline: February 15
Now is the time to complete and submit Annual Congregational Reports. It is crucially important for ALL congregations to complete and submit their reports, as the number of Churchwide Voting Members allotted to our synod is determined by this report.
Paper forms were recently mailed to congregations. Reports can also easily be submitted electronically.
Click here to retrieve the Web version of your congregation's Annual Congregational Report Forms A and C, or Form B, the Congregational Leadership Directory:
- Enter the five-digit congregation identification number (including all zeros), and
- In the Password box enter the eight-digit password.
- You will find both the congregation's ID number and the matching password printed in the upper right corner of the paper version of Form A, which congregations received in the mail.
- If you did not receive a form in the mail or you cannot locate it, please contact the ELCA Office of the Secretary.
- If you cannot locate your congregation's password, contact the synod office at 404-589-1977.
The Synod staff came up with a few additional fun reasons for congregations to submit their Annual Congregational Reports:
- With more voting members at the next Churchwide Assembly, we could petition to get grits ON the menu and Lutefisk OFF.
- Completing the annual reports would automatically enter a congregation in the coveted "Muhlenburg plastic lawn ornament" giveaway!
- It would give us a larger number to draw from for a Southeastern Synod Assembly potluck.
- We could push the percentage of Lutherans in our 4 states above the .05 percent mark. Yay!
- We might FINALLY know how many ELCA Lutherans there really are in the Southeastern Synod.
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| Attention Rostered Persons | |
Rostered Leader Reports
 The 2011 Rostered Leader Reports to the Synod Bishop are now available. Click here to download the appropriate form from the ELCA website. (Note: You will need to use Formatta Filler for these forms. If you do not have Formatta Filler installed on your computer, a download is available on the ELCA page link above.)
Wallet Cards
New clergy wallet cards for 2011 and 2012 will be mailed from the synod office within the next couple of weeks. If you do not receive yours, please email Jeanette Burgess at jburgess@elca-ses.org. |
| Book of Faith Brief | |
Bible study material abounds in ELCA Churchwide Unit resources! Women of the ELCA and Lutheran Men in Mission, the women's and men's ministry organizations of the ELCA, both feature Bible study as central to who they are and what they do. The Women of the ELCA magazine, Lutheran Woman Today, features a year-long Bible study each year which can be used in different settings and formats. This year's study is called "The People of God: Unity in the Midst of Diversity." You can read more about it here. A one-year subscription to the magazine is only $12.
One of the priorities of Lutheran Men in Mission is distribution of the Master Builders Bible. The LMM website reads, "Started in 1981, the Master Builders Bible program was seen as a tool to engage men in Bible study. That "I'm no Bible scholar" intimidation factor is reduced with a common Bible and study questions designed to facilitate discussion at various levels." For more information on this Bible and how to get one for yourself or to equip your men's ministry, visit http://lutheranmeninmission.org/ministries/bibles.html. The Master Builders Bible can be purchased for $20 plus shipping at www.elca.org/resources or by calling 800-638-3522, ext. 2580. |
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Nominations Sought for 2011 Assembly Elections | | |
Bio Forms Due March 15
The Southeastern Synod Nominating Committee is currently seeking potential nominees for several positions to be elected at the 2011 Synod Assembly. Positions for which nominees are needed include:
 Consultation Committee
3 Clergy (6-year terms), male or female
2 Lay Males (6-year terms)
Discipline Committee
2 Clergy (6-year terms), male or female
1 Lay Female (6-year term)
1 Lay Male (6-year term)
1 Lay Male (4-year unexpired term)
Synod Council
1 Youth Member (2-year term), male or female, must be at least in the 10th grade and able to complete the two-year term prior to high school graduation
1 At-Large Clergy (2-year term), male or female
1 At-Large Lay Person (2-year term), gender and possible designation as a multicultural position depend on the outcome of Conference representative elections
Click HERE for more information about these positions.
DEADLINE for submission of biographical forms to be considered by the Nominating Committee: March 15, 2011. |
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A Project Connect Invitation | | |
To Young People Ages 18-30
It's time to register for the Annual Gathering of Pre-Seminary Students. This year it is February 11-13 at The Lutheran Seminary at Gettysburg. There is NO fee and reasonable travel expenses can be reimbursed if requested. This event is open to 40 young adults ages 18-30 who live or go to school in Regions 7, 8, or 9. (The Southeastern Synod is in Region 9.)
Is God calling you to be a leader in our church? It may be time to explore that call.
More information and a registration form are available on the www.projectconnect.org website or by calling the office at 603-539-7257. Hope to see you in Gettysburg!
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Calling all Episcopalians, Lutherans and United Methodists | | |
 Episcopalians, Lutherans, and United Methodists are invited to an "ELM" gathering, celebrating the fact that these three denominations are each in some stage of full communion with one another. The date is Tuesday, February 22, 2011, at Tennessee Wesleyan College in Athens, Tennessee. The Rev. Dr. Samuel Wells, Dean of the Chapel at Duke University, will be the speaker for the day. Wells is a priest and theologian of the Church of England and faculty member at Duke's historically United Methodist divinity school.
 The day's activities begin with a morning "get acquainted" session from 9:00-10:30, followed by Dr. Well's address to a convocation of faculty and students at 11:00. The ELM group will reassemble for lunch and a second presentation by Dr. Wells, who will facilitate dialog and help participants think of ways to deepen fellowship in mutual ministry. The afternoon session will conclude by 3:00 PM. Cost for the event is the $7.00 cost of lunch in Tennessee Wesleyan's cafeteria.
 Clergy and laity are invited to attend this first ELM gathering at Tennessee Wesleyan. If interest is sufficient, a steering committee to plan future gatherings and activities may be organized.
To register for the event, or for further information, please contact Rev. William McDonald, College Chaplain and Associate Professor of Religion at Tennessee Wesleyan, at mcdonald@twcnet.edu or 423-746-5283. |
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Upcoming Events | | |
JANUARY 16, 2011
God's Justice Everywhere
 The Southeastern Synod's commemoration of Martin Luther King, Jr. will take place on Sunday, January 16, 2011, at 3:30 p.m. at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, 731 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA, 30308. There are two parts to this year's event. At 3:30 p.m., we will gather for a service of Word and Song, "God's Justice Everywhere," with keynote speaker Dr. Earl Lewis, Provost at Emory University. Following the service, we will be blessed by the presence of Representative John Lewis, Georgia 5th District to the United States Congress, who will address the gathering and welcome ELCA mission directors from around the country. For more information, please contact Beverly Shaw, bbshaw1@comcast.net, or Bradley Schmeling, pastorbrad@stjohnsatlanta.org.
Also on January 16, The Georgia Christian Council and Bethel CME Church invite you to attend an ecumenical service at the Bethel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church at 1668 Pin Nono Avenue in Macon, GA. The theme is "Connections: Building Bridges of Hope and Discipleship Together." Call 478-743-2085 for more details.
JANUARY 17, 2011
Lutheran Day of Service 2011
Celebrate the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday by participating in this full day of events. Held at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts Center in DeKalb County, projects include assembling 50 pound bags of rice to be used by refugee families, and outdoor projects at Wonderland Gardens & Lyon Farm.
To register, contact Kyle Cristofalo, Synod Coordinator of Programs for Hunger, Poverty and Justice Issues and Lutheran Volunteer Corps Staffer at kcristofalo@elca-ses.org or 404-589-1977 ext 222.
JANUARY 31 - FEBRUARY 1
Transition Pastors Gathering
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.
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.
FEBRUARY 8-9, 2011
First Call Retreat at Lutheranch
First Call rostered persons are invited to join Bishop Julian Gordy as he leads the Bible study, "Wandering through the Lenten Texts," in a retreat setting at Lutheranch. Pastor Kevin Strickland, synod Worship Team chairperson, will lead worship during the retreat. The cost is $50 per person and includes food. The registration deadline is January 14th. Please contact Pastor Kevin Strickland at pastorkevinstrickland@gmail.com or office number 865-982-4285 with questions or to register.
FEBRUARY 8-9, 2011
Mission Developers/Redevelopers and Spouses Retreat
Calling All Mission Developers and Redevelopers -- You're invited to a retreat just for you and your spouses! Let your hair down with other crazy, wonderful, creative people like yourself.
Solve all the problems of the world. Praise God in the process.
When: Noon-Noon, Tuesday-Wednesday, February 8th-9th
Where: Blessed Trinity Shrine Retreat Center, 107 Holy Trinity Rd., Fort Mitchell, AL 36856
(334) 855-4474. Directions & more information at: http://www.msbt.org/mis_btsr.htm
Cost: A mere $30/person will get you a single room (linens provided), 3 meals (beginning the with evening meal Tuesday) and all the snacks you can eat!
To register or for questions: Call, email or write Mike Erikson - 228-238-6279; mike39565@mac.com; 10513 Maple St., Vancleave, MS 39565
Deadline to register: Tuesday, February 1st
FEBRUARY 18-20, 2011
Lutheranch Men's Retreat
The theme of the retreat is "What in the World is God Up To?" The leader is Pastor Dave Helfrich, Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, Marietta, GA. He will use the parables of Jesus to explore how God's kingdom is intersecting, challenging and transforming our way of life. Pastor Dave will also be our worship leader.
On-site housing at Lutheranch is limited to 16 people in the Holy Trinity House. There is also space in the program for 10 to stay in area motels, so encourage any friends to register soon. The cost for the program is $165 for on-site housing and $125 for off-site housing.
Visit www.lutheranch.com for a registration form, schedule, or more information.
 FEBRUARY 25 & 26, 2011
Catch the Spirit
Lutheran Church of the Redeemer
731 Peachtree Street NE
Atlanta, GA 30308-1281
Keynote Speaker: John Arthur Nunes, President and CEO of Lutheran World Relief
"God's Work. Our Hands."
Turning dreams into action!
Learn more at www.catchthespiritlutheran.org.
MARCH 4-6, 2011
Career Crossroads
Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary
Are you at a point in your life journey when you are wondering what God might be inviting you to do in your career? Often people are unhappy in their work and aren't sure which steps to take to find something that fits their gifts and enables them to pursue and express a meaningful life purpose. Career Crossroads is a spiritual retreat that can help with such difficult decisions.
Please see the attached brochure for additional information. For questions, please contact the Region 9 office at 803-461-3263 or email tpieters@ltss.edu. The deadline for registrations is February 4th, 2011.
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| AROUND THE SYNOD | | |
Seen in the News: Emmanual Lutheran Church, Atlanta, Ga and Beverly Shaw, Synodically Authorized Minister, featured in local paper, Cascade Patch.
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Correction: Last week's "Snapshot of the week" incorrectly stated that the Service of Ordination for the Rev. Matthew Steinhauer took place at St. Andrew in Franklin, TN. The service was at St. Timothy Lutheran Church in Hendersonville, TN. We apologize for the error. |
| Synod Calendar | | |
Jan 15 Synod Council Conference Call
Jan 16 Martin Luther King, Jr Service at Redeemer, Atlanta, GA
Jan 17 Martin Luther King, Jr Day of Service (Synod Office Closed)
Jan 22 Global Mission Committee Meeting at Synod Office
Jan 31-Feb 1 Transition Pastors Gathering
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ELCA-Southeastern Synod
100 Edgewood Ave. NE, Suite 1600
Atlanta, GA 30303
404-589-1977
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