Don't Take Our Word For It, Take Theirs!

Need motivation to take the 2011 ELCA Board of Pensions health assessment? Read what fellow plan members have to say about how the assessment has benefited them.

Take the assessment by April 30 to help us reach the 65% participation necessary to earn the 2% health contribution discount for 2011. Find the assessment on the Mayo Clinic EmbodyHealth web portal at: https://www.elcaforwellness.org 

Several important elections will occur during the 2011 Synod Assembly. Among these will be elections for service on the Synod's Consultation and Discipline Committees. The Consultation Committee acts in an advisory role to assist the bishop in investigating situations that are potentially matters for formal discipline. The Synod Discipline Committee is a pool of individuals available for potential participation in disciplinary hearings, according to ELCA procedures.

The Synod Nominating Committee is currently seeking both lay and clergy candidates for both of these committees. If you know of persons you believe would be good candidates for these committees, please urge them to consider making themselves available for nomination. Additional information about the positions is available HERE. Persons who are interested in service must complete the 2011 Biographical Form and submit it no later than March 15.  

Can you help identify youth who would be interested in serving a two-year term on the Synod Council? This at-large position will be elected during the 2011 Synod Assembly. Students currently in the 10^th grade are eligible for consideration. Additional information is available HERE. Youth who are interested in service must submit the 2011 Biographical Form by March 15.      

The following list is provided by Beth Lewis, President and CEO of Augsburg Fortress.

5)  Augsburg Fortress (AF) focuses on publishing for two primary communities--Congregations & Higher Education.

4)  For congregations, AF focuses on two area of excellence--faith formation and worship resources.

3)  AF leads denominational publishers in use of new technologies to proclaim the Gospel, with approximately 1500 Fortress Press titles in eBook formats, and multiple web-based subscription resources for fatih formation and worship.

2)  AF serves Lutheran and full communion partner congregations through web presences at www.augsburgfortress.org www.wearesparkhouse.org, www.thehardestquestion.org, and www.clayfirecurator.org,   AF also hosts free instructional webinars and videos to assist ministry leaders at www.youtube.com/user/augsburgfortress and www.youtube.com/user/wearesparkhouse

1)  And don't forget!   AF offers lectionary dates for your calender in free downloadable formats--check it out at www.augsburgfortress.org/redbook 

AROUND THE SYNOD

Good Shepherd in Woodstock, GA, has been selected as one of 10 congregations (out of 110 nominees) to partner with Luther Seminary to commit to a process of experimental learning designed to transform congregational cultures so that engagement with God's Word is broad and deep.  This learning is centered in an Action Reflection Team (ART) co-chaired by Pastor Justin Ask and Associate in Ministry Michelle Angalet.  Together, the teams work to build congregational capacity for equipping lay people to engage with the Scriptures.  The learning is supported by three consultations at Luther Seminary, wherein team co-chairs gather to compare notes and deepen their understanding of the discernment process in consultation with Luther Seminary faculty and staff.  Over the next 18 months Good Shepherd will partner with Luther and the other participating congregations to form a learning community dedicated to articulating and enhancing the concrete linkages between Biblical fluency and congregational vitality.  Members of the Good Shepherd ART are Lori Adams, Susan Epling, Chuck McCoy, Tammy Olsen, and Ed Roberts. 

Luther Seminary covers all costs involved, including all travel expenses for the action reflection team co-chairs to travel to Luther over the course of the project.  Good Shepherd looks forward to sharing this experience with other congregations around the Synod in the months ahead!  Curious to find out more?  Contact Associate in Ministry Michelle Angalet at Good Shepherd.

Unhaling: On God, Grace and a Perfectly Imperfect Life
By Elise Seyfried
A Book Event for Women held at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Atlanta, GA: Saturday, March 12, 2011

Elise Cunningham Seyfried, currently Director of Spiritual Formation at Christ's Lutheran Church in the Philadelphia suburbs and author of Unhaling: On God, Grace and a Perfectly Imperfect Life, her first book, a collection of essays that celebrate the spiritual in the most unlikely everyday moments, will be in Atlanta for a special appearance at Redeemer Saturday, March 12th. She'll share snapshots of her funny, chaotic life as church worker and mom of five. There will be refreshments at a "meet the author" reception at 10 AM, and then Elise will be sharing stories at 10:30 AM. She will also sign copies of her book.  Join Elise as she reads from her humorous, insightful book and discusses the joys and challenges of life! Please RSVP to Karen Medford at kmedford@redeemer.org.

Snapshot of the Week

Taken Feb 13, at the 100th anniversary celebration of St. Luke Lutheran Church at Mt. Zion-St. Luke in Ogelthorpe, GA.  From left:  Pastors Harry Tedrow, John Sims and Assistant to the Bishop Darrel Peterson.

March 3         Health Ministry Task Force Conference Call

March 3         Anti-Racism Task Force Conference Call

March 5         Leadership Program for Musicians

March 8         Nominations/Elections Task Force Conference Call

March 9         Ash Wednesday

March 11-13   All GA Youth Gathering

March 13        Atlanta Hunger Walk

March 15        Deadline to submit bios for 2011 Elections 

   
View the entire Synod Calendar