Southeastern Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
God's work. Our hands. E-News Weekly |
Issue: #281
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July 27, 2011 | |
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| Goodbye...or See You Later | | |
 by Kyle Cristofalo
Lutheran Vounteer Corps Member
(Kyle ends his LVC year with the synod office following the "Glocal" event at Christ the King Lutheran Church, Norcross, GA, August 4, 5 & 6) The first week I lived in Israel-Palestine I went to a going away party. Though not a remarkable event on its own, this farewell party set the tone for the rest of my year--not a month went by without a new set of goodbyes. Members of my church would go back to their respective homes in Europe or the States. Volunteers at the organization I worked for would return back to their normal jobs. Visas expired and hopes of renewal were denied. When my term ended and I was thrown my own goodbye party, there were new people starting their lives in the place I'd come to love and call home. Though fitting, this did little to ease my anxiety about leaving. In short, I don't like to say goodbye... |
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Calling All Tweeters (and Other Social Media Gurus) | | |
The December issue of The Lutheran will feature the Southeastern Synod Supplement. We will highlight how social media is impacting the ways Southeastern Synod congregations communicate and spread the Good News - and we need your stories!
If your congregation uses Facebook or Twitter, blogs or posts videos on YouTube to
advance its mission and ministry, send your articles, photos and tips to us at synod.office@elca-ses.org. Don't worry--we will edit and combine information into an easy-to-read and understandable format.
Deadline for submission is Sept. 16. Please include your name, the name and city of your home congregation and the best way to reach you if we have questions. |
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Southeastern Synod Convo - October 11-13 | | |
 ATTENTION, ROSTERED LEADERS:
TIME TO REGISTER FOR CONVO
WHEN AND WHERE? October 11-13 at Lutheridge
Our Keynote Speaker: The Rev. Frank Honeycutt
Information will be posted on the synod website soon!
To register, just follow the steps below:
1. Visit www.llmi.net
2. Click on "Registration" along the top of the page
3. Create a username and password, or log in to your account
4. Click on "2011 Synod Convocation"
5. After reading the general instructions, click on "continue"
6. Select or add the Attendee Information
7. Select "SE Synod Convocation" and continue through the registration process
You will receive an email of a successfully submitted registration. If you do not see an email, check your spam folder. Roommate requests are held until three weeks prior to the start of the Convocation. At that time, the space is released and if the housing is needed, LLMI will assign a roommate to the room. Single rooms are limited and not available in Kohnjoy Inn. Questions? Call 828-684-2361 and ask for the Registration office. |
| Book of Faith Brief | | |
http://www.bookoffaith.org/
Have you heard about the latest Bible Study to come from Augsburg Fortress? Check out this 16-week study that takes participants through Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John to study Jesus. Get more information here or call 1-800-328-4648 to speak with a Customer Care Representative. |
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Synod Assembly Evaluations Are In! | | |
We really DO read your synod assembly evaluations! The staff and Synod Assembly Committee are always interested in the remarks and are thankful to those who take the time to respond.
After studying this year's evaluations, we can report that this year's attendees thought the plenary hall was always too hot or too cold, never juusstt right! People loved the hotel and people hated the hotel. Some wanted more (of whatever), others wanted less (of the same)!
All fun aside, in an attempt to answer some of your questions, we'll include a few paragraphs in the next several E-News editions to do that. Let's start with some of the worship comments.
"How can we get a copy of the Thanksgiving for Baptism prayer used at the Friday noon liturgy?"
The prayer itself is found on p. 97 of the Evangelical Lutheran Worship. The music we incorporated was "Springs of Water" by Marty Haugen, © 1993 GIA Publications, Inc. (Make sure you get the right one; GIA has more than one "Springs of Water" by Marty.)
"We should make sure we are using resources that are readily available and able to be put to use by most congregations."
Saturday's worship songs and dramas were selected by the group from Christ the Lord in Lawrenceville, GA so check with them (770-963-4499) if you want to use anything from their service. Everything in the Friday and Sunday services was taken from the ELW except the following: "Springs of Water" (see earlier reference); "Psallite Deo" (Taize Community; Psalm 98; © 1982, 1983, 1984, Les Presses de Taize, GIA Publications, Inc, found in "Songs and Prayers from Taize: Basic Edition" and reproducible with your OneLicense permission); and Sunday's call to worship (from "The Iona Abbey Worship Book," Wild Goose Publications). For those concerned that musical arrangements were beyond your musicians, know that we try to balance "accessible by all" with requests that assemblies offer special experiences smaller parishes might not get at home. If you heard a variation/arrangement you'd like, let us know and we'll get you the publication information.
Watch for more assembly evaluation comments in the next issue of the E-News! |
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Lutherhostel at Lutheridge - October 16-21 | | |
You are invited to join the Rev. Dr. Bill Trexler as he leads a study of architectural elements that have shaped worship space over the centuries.
 Participants will consider how our theology influences decisions related to church design. There will be visits to a variety of sites to view and reflect on the surroundings as places for worship. The effect that our worship spaces have on us as we experience them over time will be explored and a visit to the famous Biltmore Estate to tour the house, gardens, and winery and enjoy lunch on the Estate is planned. (www.biltmore.com).
Study Leader: Rev. Dr. Bill Trexler ~ Former Bishop of the Florida-Bahamas Synod and a native North Carolinian, Pastor Trexler graduated from Duke University and the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. Following his ordination in 1970, he served parishes in Miami, Florida; Greenwood, South Carolina; Jacksonville, Florida; and Norfolk, Virginia. His 1991 doctoral thesis was "Church Architecture as Communicator of Incarnation Theology." In retirement, Bill and his wife Karla are year-round residents of Lutheridge.
Visit www.llmi.net/adult/Lutherhostel.aspx to find out more information about Lutheridge and LutherHostel and to register online. |
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"Glocal" Last Chance | | |
Didn't register but still want to attend the
"Glocal" Gathering August 4 - 6, 2011?
It's not too late!
Walk-ins are welcome or call Kyle Cristofalo at 404-589-1977, ext 222
and let him know that your group would like to attend.
Location:
Christ the King Lutheran Church, 5575 Peachtree Parkway, Norcross, GA 30092
Cost: Only $35 per person
August 4, 7PM:
Optional reception with our visiting Companion Synod delegation from Germany and Bishop H. Julian Gordy
August 5-6:
Glocal Mission Event
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Around the Synod | | |
Lutheran Laity Movement Member Honored
Mr. Charles Stief spent more than 30 years as part of the Lutheran Laity Movement, an organization that was a leader in stewardship ministry in the ELCA and was best known for providing professionally led capital stewardship campaigns in congregations. During the period of time from 1956-1988, Charles led fund-raising programs at more than 200 churches across the U.S. and in Canada. He helped finance building projects from Saskatoon, Alaska to Austin, Texas and New York City to Alameda, California.
On Sunday, July 24 (one day shy of his 96th birthday), Charles was honored for his faithful service to the church by his fellow members at Christ Lutheran in Prattville, AL. The church prepared a media presentation that featured some of the congregations with whom Charles worked. The congregation then presented Charles with a copy of William Avery's book, "Empowered Laity: The Story of the Lutheran Laity Movement," a map marked with each of the churches Charles served, and a scrapbook filled with photos, newspaper articles, "Thank You" letters, and other memorabilia provided by many of those congregations.
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Pastor Rick Mason an Mr. Stief view scrapbook. |
The Rev. Darrel Peterson, Assistant to the Bishop in the Southeastern Synod, took part in the festivities and spoke about the importance of the work of the LLM. In addition, Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson sent a personal letter of thanks on behalf of the ELCA and its predecessor bodies.
Charles Stief touched many lives through his work. He planted many seeds that are still producing fruit more than 50 years later!
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Birmingham congregations partnering in relief work
 Members of three ELCA Birmingham congregations (Shepherd of the Hills, Shades Valley and Faith) have partnered together in relief work on Saturday mornings this spring and summer. Following the devastating tornadoes that ripped through the region earlier this year, they are working to assist the people of Pratt City, Alabama.
Relief work has included debris removal, chainsaw work, and packing up the belongings of a family whose home was destroyed. John Boettner, one of the synod's Volunteer Disaster Response Coordinators and member of Shepherd of the Hills, said, "Many of us at the three churches have worked together since Katrina and have built several Habitat houses together. The relationships and frame work were already established, it was easy to jump right in and help in our own backyard."
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Free to a good home
Three pews: Lengths 14', 16 1/2' and 17'
In good shape, dark wood with brown seat upholstry
Call the office at Christ Our Shepherd, Peachtree City, GA to arrange to come by and pick them up.
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Notes of Grace Via de Cristo
September 29-October 2
Lake Benson Camp and Retreat Center
Bon Aqua, TN (near Nashville)
$150 - contact Judy Mowery 615-791-9133
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| Synod Calendar Highlights | | |
August 4-6
Candidacy Committee Meeting, Synod office
August 4-6
ELCA Glocal Mission Gathering, Christ the King, Norcross, GA
August 15-19
ELCA Churchwide Assembly, Orlando, FL
View the entire Synod Calendar |
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ELCA-Southeastern Synod
100 Edgewood Ave. NE, Suite 1600
Atlanta, GA 30303
404-589-1977
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