Southeastern Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
God's work. Our hands. E-News Weekly |
Issue: #282
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August 4, 2011 | |
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| "Ear Pictures" | | |
by the Rev. Dr. Delmer Chilton
Assistant to the Bishop, Southeastern Synod
 I'm getting ready, "fixin' to," as we say in North Carolina, go to the beach for a few days of vacation. Well, actually, I'm fixin' to go to the shore; I leave actual sitting on the beach to those who are younger and better looking in swimwear. I stay inside looking out the big picture window at the waves while sitting in a big soft chair reading classic detective novels. (Miss Marple, Nero Wolfe, Lord Peter Wimsey, etc.)
Every time I go to the beach I think of a very memorable trip to the Outer Banks with my family when I was a teenager. For years Mama had taken pictures with an old Brownie which one held waist high while looking down into the viewfinder on top. Her new camera was a small Kodak that you held to the eye and then clicked away.
Read the rest on the synod blog. |
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| Funding Requests Now Being Accepted | | |
Deadline: September 30
 The Southeastern Synod's Budget and Finance Committee is now accepting proposals for funding in the 2013-14 Ministry Funding Plan. Agencies, institutions and other groups who wish to request synodical funding are invited to submit their requests online, using the following link: 2013-14 Funding Request.
Funding for committees and task forces is approved on a different cycle and requires a different form. The most recent Synod Assembly approved lump sum funding for committees and task forces during the 2012-13 fiscal year. The Synod Council will allocate the approved total among the different groups, based on recommendations from the Budget and Finance Committee. Committee and Task Force chairpersons should submit their funding requests for the 2012-13 fiscal year, using the online form located at: Committee/TF Funding for 2012-13.
The deadline for submission of funding requests is Friday, September 30, 2011. Anyone unable to submit a funding request electronically may obtain a paper copy of the necessary forms by contacting the Synod Office (404-589-1977). |
| The August Issue of Youth Ministry E-News is Ready to View! | | |
Want to know the latest Youth and Young Adult Ministry news in the Southeastern Synod? Check out the Youth Ministry E-News.
You'll find out about:
Happenings #30 August 26-28, 2011 for High School Students
Lutheran Night at the Atlanta Braves
All-Tennessee 2011 Youth Gathering
2012 SESLYO Assembly
and much, much more. Check it out today! |
| News for Rostered Leaders | | |
On Leave From Call
Remember that you must request (via email or hard copy) on leave from call or continuation of on leave status. The Synod Council will consider your status at the first meeting after you initially go on leave and prior to its expiration each year. Brief letters of request may be sent to Bishop Gordy or Jeanette Burgess at the Synod Office.
Pulpit Supply
A current listing of people who have made their names available to the synod for pulpit supply is now available on the synod website. Just go to www.elca-ses.org and click menu for Resources. Once there, visit the page for "Pastors and Leaders" to find the link to the directory. To have your name added to or removed from this list, email synod.office@elca-ses.org. |
| Book of Faith Brief | | |
http://www.bookoffaith.org/
As summer winds down and your congregation prepares for new fall classes and programs, remember that the Book of Faith Initiative can help you enrich your Bible study experience.
Visit the Book of Faith website (http://www.bookoffaith.org) to see what's available. You'll find ideas for starting new Bible studies, tools for assessing your congregation's need and readiness for Bible study, downloadable studies, and lots of links to other online resources. You'll also find links to Augsburg Fortress Publishers' full line of Book of Faith studies. AFP has study series of various lengths from four to sixteen weeks, that include studies of people in the Bible, books of the Bible, and biblical themes, as well as a Bible overview course and a Gospels overview course. The Book of Faith material also includes some good books about Bible study methods.
If you have any questions about using BFI material in your congregation this fall, or would like any ideas for using Book of Faith-related materials, please get in touch with one of us!
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| Dates to Remember if Considering Candidacy in the ELCA | | |
Upcoming meetings of the Southeastern Synod Candidacy Committee:
2011 - November 10-12 (deadline for materials is October 1)
2012 - April 12-14 (March 1), August 16-18 (July 1), November 8-10 (October 1)
 Unless there are unusual circumstances, the Candidacy Committee now requires a candidate contact the synod office at least 1 year prior to an Entrance decision. The first interview with the committee is only a "Meet and Greet," at which no Entrance decision is made. Seminaries may grant only provisional admission without an Entrance decision.
Questions? Contact AIM Jeanette Burgess at 404/589-1977, ext. 232. |
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More Synod Assembly Evaluation Questions | | |
"Staying at the hotel is expensive. Why can't more lodging options be advertised?"
Persons who stayed at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel seemed satisfied with the accommodations, although a large number of comments were received noting that there were less expensive hotels nearby.
When our Assembly is in a hotel, we negotiate a rate for a block of hotel rooms and receive the meeting space free or at a reduced fee if we meet that block. If we don't make the room block, we are obligated to pay attrition charges, so we don't offer other hotel choices until the hotel we have blocked is sold out or close to being sold out.
"The plenary hall was freezing. Did it really need to be that cold?"
 Conference space is notorius for being too hot or too cold. Because it was hot in the Garden Court, just outside the ballroom, the air conditioning was lowered in the plenary hall as well. Changing the thermostat in a room that is over 10,000 square feet is a tricky business. Adjustments take a long time to be effective and a few degrees can change the room from icebox to oven, so staff tend to err on the side of cooler. Our best advice for next year: Emulate the Boy Scouts and be prepared with a jacket or sweater.
Watch for more assembly evaluation comments in the next issue of the E-News!
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Newberry Singers Reunion | | |
OCTOBER 22: NEWBERRY COLLEGE SINGERS REUNION AND CONCERT
This reunion will be part of Newberry's homecoming festivities. If you ever participated in the Newberry College Singers and would like to be part of the event, please have your name added to the roster of singers. Several regional rehearsals are planned in September, as well as one at the College. Please email Jim Ingram at jwingram@gmail.com or call (803) 359-6352 with your contact information and the part you will be singing. |
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Continuing Education - A Preaching Workshop/Retreat | | |
Brought to you by the guys from the Lectionary Lab
Two Bubbas and a Bible!*
* aka The Revs. Dr. John Fairless and Dr. Delmer Chilton
When:
October 24-26, 2011
Where:
Hinton Retreat Center
Hinton Center Road
P.O. Box 27
Hayesville, NC 28904
What we're up to:
- We'll cover texts for 6 Sundays - Nov. 27, Dec. 4, 11, 18, 25, and Jan. 1
- Special days will include Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve) and Jan. 6 (Epiphany)
- Advent devotions for Nov. 30, Dec. 7, 14, 21
- Morning and Evening prayer
- Service of the Word (Christ the King) on Monday evening
- Closing Eucharist (Christmas Eve) Wednesday noon
- Free afternoon on Tuesday for hiking, golf, shopping, sleeping, or whatever floats your boat!
- Plenty of time for sittin' on the porch
What it'll cost you:
- $150 for your private room, tuition and 5 meals
- $75 for meals and tuition (commuter option)
15 contact hours can provide 1.5 CEU's for those who would like to have them
To register: Contact Jennifer Bennett (jennifer@hintoncenter.org) or call 828.389.8336
Registration limited to 20 participants. Click here for a flyer. |
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Synod Pictorial Directory is Now Available | | |
 A pictorial directory of rostered leaders in the synod is now available on the synod website. Just go to www.elca-ses.org and click the menu for Resources. Once there, visit the page for "Pastors and Leaders" to find the link to the directory.
The photos that are currently displayed were taken at the recent Synod Assembly or sent in to the synod office. To submit or change a photo, contact synod.office@elca-ses.org. The date the directory was last updated is noted on the cover page. |
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Volunteer Opportunities | | |
Upcoming Synod Volunteer Disaster Response Coordinator Training Event
The Synod Disaster Response Task Force announces upcoming training for new synod disaster response coordinators throughout the synod! Synod Volunteer Disaster Response Coordinator Training Event September 30 - October 2, 2011 Mercy House, Nashville, TN 4908 Kentucky Ave. Nashville, TN 37209 If you are aware of someone in your area who would like to serve as a volunteer disaster response coordinator, please have them contact the synod Coordinator for
Disaster Support and Development, Diaconal Minister Sandra Braasch to register.
Vacancies on Synod Committees & Task Forces
Four synod committees/task forces have immediate openings for additional members. Groups actively seeking new people include:
Social Ministry Organizations Allocations Committee. This group makes recommendations to the Synod Council about synod grants to social ministry organizations. There are two current vacancies for terms through June 2013. One is for someone living in Tennessee; the other is for someone who lives in Alabama.
Mission Outreach & Renewal Committee. This committee has oversight responsibility for developing and redeveloping congregations within the Southeastern Synod. The committee currently has an opening for a lay person, with a term through June 2013.
Care for the Troops Task Force. This task force is implementing a program to help congregations address the psychological and spiritual needs of military veterans, civilian contractors, and their extended families. The task force is authorized through December 2012.
African Descent Task Force. This task force is developing an African Descent Strategy to be implemented within the synod. The strategy will incorporate elements of the ELCA's strategy in this area. The task force is authorized through January 2012.
If you would like to be considered for possible appointment to one of these committees or task forces, please fill out the synod's online Volunteer Form. You will be contacted to confirm your interest and availability prior to any official appointment.
Office Greeters in the Synod Office
We are looking for smiling faces to be volunteer greeters at the Synod Offices. Greeters answer and route phone calls and welcome visitors to the synod office. Lay persons, clergy, and retired clergy have all been volunteer greeters in the past. Greeters may also perform additional office-related tasks, depending on their interests and skills.
The Synod office is located at 100 Edgewood Ave. NE, in downtown Atlanta, near Georgia State University. Parking is available in a covered garage next to the office building; parking expenses for volunteers are paid by the synod.
Click HERE to fill out the online form to volunteer to be an office greeter. |
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Around the Synod | | |
Sandra Braasch represents ELCA Diaconal Ministry Community at the 12th Conference of DIAKONIA of the Americas and Caribbean (DOTAC)
Southeastern Synod Diaconal Minister Sandra Braasch represented the ELCA Diaconal Ministry Community at the ecumenical and international conference of diaconal workers, communities and associations from North, Central, South America and the Caribbean in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in July. The theme was Chairs-at the Feet of God. Braasch had the opportunity to see the outdoor memorial at the site of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal building. It consists of a field of 168 chairs--each chair bearing the name of one of the lives lost.
The 139 diaconal workers gathered together to share the chairs that God had written their name on--chairs that represent different parts of their lives. Braasch said, "We gathered to fill the new chairs that God presented to us in worship, Bible study, workshops, presentations and small group times."
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On July 30, Tim Morgan was ordained to the Office of Word and Sacrament at Lord of Life, St. Simon's Island. He will serve Faith, Cleveland, GA. Pictured are Pr. Paul Elbert, pastor of Lord of Life, Pr. Tim Morgan, and Bishop Gordy.
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Christ, Nashville, recently held a Vacation Bible School with a multicultural twist. The congregation, which has a number of African national members, has an outreach to Swahili speakers in the area and shares its facilities with San Matias, a Latino Anglican congregation and Nashville Korean Evangelical Church, a Korean language congregation. All these congregations and their pastors were involved in the week of Christian education. In addition, the Bible School was visited by Bishop Michael Grabow of our synod's companion church, the Diocese of Augsburg of the Lutheran Church in Bavaria.
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Snapshots of the week
This summer, members of Peace Lutheran Church in Knoxville have been talking about a renewed Vision for Peace Lutheran. On Sunday July 24th they had "Hats and Shades" Sunday because of a "shining" renewed vision of the work of God at Peace.
Bishop Gordy with his "Hat and Shades"
Cakes for the day provided by Reilly Kirkpatrick
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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
August 20
Reports for Sept Synod Council Meeting due
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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