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Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
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E-News Weekly

Issue: #287 

September 14, 2011

In This Issue
The Tie That Binds Us
Upcoming Youth Events
Book of Faith Brief
2011 Convo
Faith Alive
LTCA
For Your Information
Around the Synod
Quick Links

Synod Blog 

Synod Website 

Synod Staff 

ELCA News Service 

ELCA Website

The Tie that Binds Us

by the Rev. Dr. Joy Harrell Blaylock

St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Mobile, AL

In the last month I have had the privilege of sharing a meal with several pastors and religious leaders in the Mobile area. Though we come from varying backgrounds and even different faiths, there seems to be a common denominator in our society that we are all lamenting:  the loss of authentic community.  Now, lest you rare up and think this column is another good whine about the golden age of religious devotion and church attendance, well, it is not that.  Instead, it is more of a consideration of how the finer tuned edges of society, what we once called community, are slipping away from us.
 
Read the rest on the synod blog.

Upcoming Youth Events

 footprints

Jonathan Rundman Concert  

Messiah Lutheran Church, Knoxville, TN

September 16, 2011 -  7:00 pm 

 

Lutheran Afternoon at the Atlanta Braves

Turner Field, Atlanta, GA 

September 17, 2011  -  4:10 pm

 

Citizens with the Saints Concert Tour

Christ the King, Norcross, GA

October 1, 2011

Facebook page

 

All-Tennessee 2011 Youth Gathering

Clyde York 4-H Center- Crossville, TN

November 12-13, 2011

 

2012 SESLYO Assembly

February 24-26, 2012 (Location TBA)

"BE the FOOTPRINTS"

 

"Let no one despise your youth, but be an

example to the believers in word, in conduct,

in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity." (I Timothy 4:12)

 

 

Find out more about these events by checking out the September Issue of "Southeastern Synod Youth Ministry News" at http://www.elca-ses.org/Youth-Ministry-News.html.

 

Book of Faith Brief 

  

Book of Faith

www.bookoffaith.org

 

 

The stated purpose of the Book of Faith Initiative is "to increase biblical literacy and fluency for the sake of the world."

 

What does that really mean?

 

In an article called "Stewardship in the Age of Digital Pluralism," in Word and World: Rethinking Stewardship (a special issue of the journal published by Luther Seminary), David Lose highlighted what's at stake.

 

"In recent years," he wrote, "the presence and influence of the Christian story in contemporary culture has shrunk considerably.... As a consequence, our people do not know the biblical story anymore, and this is problematic for a crucial reason: we make sense of pretty much everything in light of a larger story.... Apart from their larger narrative context,... key words and concepts of the Christian faith like justification, vocation, stewardship-just to name a few-have little or no meaning because there is no larger pattern of reference in which to understand them."

 

Professor Lose goes on to tell about a seminary class project in which students ask members of their home congregations which biblical stories help them in their struggles at home or at work. Out of over two hundred church members interviewed, only one has been able to answer that question easily.

 

Clearly, our proclamation, ministry, and identity as a church are weakened by our lack of familiarity with the Bible story as a whole. Please accept the Book of Faith challenge to help your congregation become more fluent in the language of Scripture.

 

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

 
2011 Southeastern Synod Leadership Convocation 

OddThe Truth Shall Make You Odd:
Speaking with Pastoral Integrity in Awkward Situations

 

October 11-13, 2011 

Lutheridge Camp and Conference Center

Arden, NC

 

A yearly gathering for the rostered leaders and church professionals of the Southeastern Synod, this year's Leadership Convocation will carry on the longstanding tradition of stimulating presentations, inspiring worship, Sabbath, and fellowship. In addition, the 2011 gathering will provide opportunities for leaders to engage in discussion with Bishop Gordy, and with one another. Conversations in conference and cluster groups will provide the occasion for sharing thoughts and ideas with old and new friends alike.

 

Agenda

Monday, Oct. 10
Gatherings begin at 1:00 PM for

Deans (information, contact Elaine Schwartz)
First Call Theological Education (information, contact Pastor Delmer Chilton)
Interim Pastors Symposium (information, contact Pastor Norma Johnson or click here)

Tuesday, Oct. 11
1:00 pm Opening Worship
2:30 pm Around the Synod Announcements/Guest Introductions (Faith Center)
3:15 pm Presentation - Barbara Keller, Part 1
4:15 pm BREAK
4:30 pm Presentation by Bishop Julian Gordy (Faith Center)
6:00 pm Reception provided by LLMI, Campaign Presentation
6:30-8:30 pm Dinner followed by round table discussion, led by bishop

 

Wednesday, Oct. 12
7:45 am Morning Prayer
8:30 am Breakfast (dining hall)
9:15 am Around the Synod Announcements/Guest Presentations (Faith Center)
9:30 am Keynote Presentation - Dr. Frank Honeycutt, Part 1
11:15 am Presentation - Barbara Keller, Part 2
12:30 pm Lunch (dining hall)
FREE TIME
6:00 pm Dinner (dining hall)
7:15 pm Around the Synod Announcements (Faith Center)
7:45 pm Keynote Presentation - Dr. Frank Honeycutt, Part 2
9:30 pm Evening Prayer

 

Thursday, Oct. 13
8:30 am Breakfast (dining hall)
9:15 am Around the Synod Announcements (Faith Center)
9:30 am Book of Faith Presentation
10:00 am Keynote Presentation - Dr. Frank Honeycutt, Part 3
11:15 am Closing Worship (chapel)
12:30 pm Sack lunch and depart (dining hall)

 

To register or for more information, go to:

http://www.elca-ses.org/Southeastern-Synod-Leadership-Convocation.html 

Faith Alive at Lutheridge

Faith Alive

 

"Be careful, you might explode with awesomeness!"

~Faith Alive! Camper

 

  

Campers

 

FOUR weekends - SEVEN Retreats

 

The POWERFUL WITNESS of caring college age counselors + A unit of the small catechism covered in a single weekend! + Meet youth from other churches! + Reinforce congregational teaching + Try out summer camp ... or plan a camp reunion! + Strengthen relationships among youth groups & make new friends +

 

Visit www.llmi.net/about/faith-alive.aspx to download a registration form or flyer, learn more about each retreat, or to register online. 

Lutheran Theological Center in Atlanta

  

Saturday, September 24, 2011

10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Imagining A New Future for the LTCA

 

The Center gathers Lutherans from across the Southeastern Synod to explore its work, especially in light of the ELCA's Living Into the Future Together (LIFT) study; together we will begin to envision the new work of the Center.

 

For information, contact Dr. Everett Flanigan

For Your Information

Church Staff Leadership Event
November 14-17, 2011


An event presented by a partnership of the ELCA Congregational & Synodical Mission Unit and The Center for Faith & Learning of Augsburg College and Spirit in the Desert. Click here to download the flyer.


This is a TWO YEAR curriculum which begins with a retreat at Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center in Carefree, AZ.  Worship, workshops, support and talk-back sessions, plus delicious meals, cozy lodging, and free time for renewal start your 2-year journey!

 

 *******************************************************

 

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Jan 18-25, 2012

 

Click here for information and resources. 

 

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New Eb bells

Photo by Sandi Van Orden

New Ebenezer Handbell Festivals

 

Advanced Handbell Festival

Friday-Saturday, February 17-18, 2012

New Ebenezer Retreat Center, Rincon

Clinician - Christine Anderson

 

Intermediate Handbell Festival

Friday-Saturday, February 24-25, 2012

New Ebenezer Retreat Center, Rincon

Clinician - Susan Berry

 

 

Information on the New Ebenezer webpage or contact Connie Bazemore at [email protected] or call 912-754-9242.

 

Around the Synod 

 

"I am so deeply touched by your gift of $1,000 to the Peace [Lutheran] Joplin Fund, knowing the devastation that also hit your church building and community about a month earlier than the tornado in Joplin. I give thanks to God for your gift and for our partnership in the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

 

Niiler

Pastor Sandy Niiler

Thus began a recent letter to the members of Christ Lutheran Church in Cullman, AL, from Gerald Mansholt, Bishop of the Central States Synod.

 

How did a congregation that lost everything, including its building, in a devastating tornado on April 27, 2011, make such a generous gift to another congregation? "We understand, more than most, what they are experiencing," said the Rev. Sandy Niiler, Interim Pastor at Christ.

 

Members, Christ Cullman

Christ, Cullman fellowship meeting

Church members discussed contributing funds to Peace-Joplin during a July fellowship meeting in their temporary worship space, the Sacred Heart Monastery of the Benedictine Sisters in Cullman. Donations were collected each Sunday that month. The only receptacle available was, fittingly, a child's Easter basket.

 

By the end of July, the congregation had collected $1000 and sent it to the Central States Synod.  In his acknowledgment of the gift, Bishop Mansholt wrote, "To now receive a gift from you, who also have endured suffering and felt the love and generosity of others, will touch them deeply and strengthen their resolve to stay centered in the Gospel and reach out to others with the love they have received. God's very present help comes through generous and loving hearts like yours."

Synod Calendar Highlights

September 15-18

Southeastern Synod Women of the ELCA Convention

 

September 17

Lutheran Night at the Braves (start time 4:10 PM)

 

September 23 

AFFIRM Administrative Meeting

 

September 24

Conference 9 meeting, Martin Luther, Mobile, AL, 10AM

 

September 30

Synod Budget Request Forms Due

 

View the entire Synod Calendar

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