Southeastern Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
God's work. Our hands. E-News Weekly |
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Issue: #289 |
September 28, 2011 | |
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| A blog from the Southeastern Synod Council | | |
by the Rev. Michael Huntley
 In order to be this church's chief catalysts for mission and outreach, synods need to be organized and supported. For the sake of congregations, synods should be centers of encouragement and facilitators of planning and partnership. For the sake of the larger church, synods should be the constant reminders that our common life is larger than the local congregation.Excerpt from the LIFT Task Force Report, 2011 How can we help congregations to network with one another for shared ministry in our conferences and synod? What are some ways that we can encourage grass roots-based ministry initiatives across a large geography to strengthen local and shared ministry in our synod? What can we do to help congregations to join together and pool resources to strengthen the vitality of congregations and faithful Christians seeking to live and share the Good News of Jesus Christ in our local communities and beyond? These are the types of questions we wrestled with at the Synod Council meeting on September 9-10 at Cross of Life Lutheran Church in Roswell, GA. Read the rest on the synod blog. |
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| 2011 Southeastern Synod Leadership Convocation | | |
The Truth Shall Make You Odd:
Speaking with Pastoral Integrity in Awkward Situations
October 11-13, 2011
Lutheridge Camp and Conference Center
Arden, NC
Prior to the Convocation on October 10, there are events at Lutheridge for Deans, First Call Rostered Persons and Interim Pastors. Regarding the Interim Pastors Gathering, Pastor Delmer Chilton says, "The Interim Pastors Gathering at Lutheridge is not a required training event of the Synod like the one we held in January of 2011. It is a voluntary attendance meeting called together by Pastor Norma Johnson, with the knowledge and approval of the Office of the Bishop."
Pastor Johnson is an experienced Interim Pastor who has served in our synod, most recently at Trinity, Tullahoma, TN. As a part of her continued training with the Intentional Interim Ministry Network, she is doing a project concerning the diverse ways retired and other non-parish clergy can serve the congregations of the synod. It is a project which will benefit the Interim clergy, the Office of the Bishop and the congregations.
 When the Interim Pastors gather, Pastor Johnson will lead in a process of Asset-Mapping, assessing the various skill sets of the gathered clergy, then she will compile a "catalog" of ministries and those who can provide them. This catalog will then be placed on the synod website. For example, if a congregation in East Tennessee wishes to have a retreat on evangelism, the leaders can look in the catalog and find the people who have noted their willingness to share their expertise in congregational evangelism. The primary benefit to non-parish clergy will be that ways will be opened to them for being of service to the congregations beyond Sunday supply and the occasional interim position.
For more information about Convocation or for a registration form, go to:
http://www.elca-ses.org/Southeastern-Synod-Leadership-Convocation.html |
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2012-13 Internship Site Needed | | |
The contextual education office at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary is looking for a 2012 - 13 internship site that would be a nine-month experience. The rising-intern is on the seminary's Military Track and will be assigned to a military site for the remainder of her internship. Please e-mail the seminary's director for internships to obtain additional information (jcarroll@ltss.edu). |
| ELCA Board of Pensions News | | |
Act by September 30 to Earn $450
ELCA-primary health plan members and covered spouses, don't miss your chance to earn up to $450 in personal wellness credits. They offset eligible out-of-pocket health care costs.
Take the 2011 Mayo Clinic Health Assessment on the Mayo Clinic EmbodyHealth web portal before it closes September 30. You'll earn a $150 personal wellness account credit.
After taking the assessment (a requirement in order to earn wellness credits), do follow-up activities by November 30 and earn your remaining $300 credit.
Don't expect to incur health care costs in 2011? No problem. These credits roll over year to year. Learn more and access the assessment here.
You're invited
Attend the Contribution Rates Webinar: Understanding Your Benefit Costs
Tuesday, October 4, 7 p.m. (Central) 8 p.m. (Eastern)
ELCA benefits contribution rates for 2012 were announced last month. Do you know what drives the cost? Get to the bottom of what contribution dollars are paying for, and why, at the Board of Pensions' first-ever Contribution Rates Webinar. Board of Pensions' Director of Products & Services, Brad Joern, will explain what factors into the cost of ELCA benefits, dispel some common myths and answer employers' questions.
Register at https://www.elcabop.org/rates-webinar.aspx. |
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Hunger Huddle 2011 | | |
Are you interested in how hunger is impacting our society today?
Do you feel called to do something to help stop the hunger problem in our world?
The ELCA Southeastern Synod Hunger, Poverty and Justice Task force, with ELCA World Hunger, is proud to host the 2011 Hunger Huddle with Potlucks to End World Hunger.
This year's conference will be looking at the systemic causes of hunger in today's world, what is being done to combat those issues and how we can all contribute to not only end hunger, but to end the causes of hunger in society.
The conference will be at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Midtown Atlanta on the 21st of October from 1 to 7pm and will include dinner.
Following the conference, there will be a concert at Redeemer to promote ELCA World Hunger's Malaria Initiative. Register for the conference at http://hungerhuddle2011.eventbrite.com/
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| Funding Request Deadline Extended to November 1 | | |
 The Southeastern Synod's Budget and Finance Committee has extended the deadline for submitting proposals for funding in the 2013-14 Ministry Funding Plan. The new deadline is November 1. Agencies, institutions and other groups who wish to request synodical funding should submit their requests online, using the following link: 2013-14 Funding Request.
The deadline for committees and task forces to submit their requests has also been extended to November 1. 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. |
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14 Reasons Why I Get A Flu Shot Each Year! |
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by Connie Pearson
Chair-Southeastern Synod Health Ministries Task Force
14. Getting the flu shot each year is part of my staying healthy plan.
 13. I didn't get the flu shot about eleven years ago, had the flu and wished that I were dead before I recovered!
12. I don't relish lying around in bed for five days and then feeling wrung out afterwards while I could be working or not wishing that I were dead!
11. I don't want to have to take sick leave (use up my sick leave or lose pay) for something that I could have prevented.
10. Getting the flu shot is far less toxic to my body than the flu, cough syrup, antibiotics and Tylenol or ending up in the hospital with IV medication in my arm.
9. Getting the flu shot is far less toxic than having to sit in the doctor's office with a bunch of sick people and be exposed to other germs that might be in the waiting room.
8. Being sick for any reason is too time consuming and costly!
7. I have better things to spend my money on than cough syrup, antibiotics, doctor's visits or hospitalization.
6. I don't want to risk damaging my lungs from all the coughing that I will do if I have the flu.
5. I don't want to have to ask other people to take care of me when I could have possibly prevented the illness in the first place. (Of course we know that there is no guarantee that the shot will cover all strains of the flu, but I will have done my part to at least cover the ones that are covered.)
4. I would feel very guilty if I gave the flu to someone else.
3. I lived through the polio epidemic when there was no polio vaccine! I saw people that I knew get polio! I was very scared, as were my parents and my friends, and I was also very lucky! I really do not like the thought of getting a disease that I could have prevented if I had just gotten one little shot.
2. Would I not give my dog rabies shots just because there is a good chance that he will never come in contact with a rabid animal?
And the number one reason I get a flu shot each year? Because I love my family and friends!
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Survivors of Suicide Conference |
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Saturday, November 19, 2011 10AM-3:00PM
Location: Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, 4814 Paper Mill Road, Marietta,
GA 30067
- A faith-based conference, engaging issues of faith and spirituality
- Featured presenter: Branko Radulovacki, MD, MBA, Founder of FaithWorks www.faithworksga.com
- Introducing an educational DVD: "Telling Secrets: A Path to Abundant Living"
- Lunch and refreshments provided
Conference begins at 10:00 AM. Lunch provided at Noon.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) survivor of suicide telecast at 1:00 PM, followed by open discussion.
Conference ends at 3:00 PM. Attend all or part of the conference to
meet your needs.
Donation: A $10.00 donation is suggested to cover lunch and refreshments.
Contact: Jerry Weyrauch, jerryweyrauch@comcast.net or 770-992-0482. |
| El Aņo del Baņo | | |
Mission Trip to Guatemala
I felt honored and treasured.
The relationships, the ministry, the culture ... so much to share.
The Rev. Dr. Tony Prinsen
First United Church
 In September, eight people from the Southeastern Synod returned from a ten-day mission trip to Guatemala. The mission team was made up of members of First United Church, Kennesaw, Georgia, and the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, Marietta, Georgia.
The team spent several days with the members of Iglesia Luterana Agustina Jesus del Milagro, in the village of La Israel, approximately ten miles south of the Mexican border.
During their stay with the warm, hospitable members of the Mayan congregation Milagro, time was spent in worship, fellowship and the construction of a concrete block base for a dry-compost latrine. Most importantly, however - even in spite of language and cultural barriers - meaningful relationships and memories were created in Christ between the team members and their fellow Lutherans in Guatemala.
Relationships are what it's all about.
John Didicher
Lutheran Church of the Resurrection
They don't need our help; they need our encouragement.
Mike Mynhier
Lutheran Church of the Resurrection
More opportunities to travel to Guatemala are being planned and will be noted in the e-news. |
| Around the Synod | | |
Disaster Preparedness Event Hosted by
Resurrection Lutheran Church, Ooltewah, TN
by Diaconal Minister Sandra Braasch
Southeastern Synod Coordinator for Disaster Support and Development
On September 9, 2011, Resurrection Lutheran Church in Ooltewah, TN hosted a disaster preparedness event for their community as part of National Preparedness Month.
 Eighteen members of Resurrection Lutheran Church, Jon Biggs of Lutheran Services of Tennessee/LDR, other faith-based groups and individuals and families within the community received congregational as well as individual, family, and pet preparedness information. A CD was handed out to all participants that included information from the National Preparedness Month Coalition website.
Resurrection Lutheran Church member, Jeff Crim, and Roland Witt (both members of the Chattanooga Radio Club) demonstrated basic emergency communication, and use of emergency generators and battery-operated portable and hand-held radios. Hot dogs, chips, and drinks were provided for all participants.
Karen Witt, member of Resurrection Lutheran Church and Synod Volunteer Disaster Response Coordinator, will host another disaster preparedness event for parish nurses on October 13, 2011 at Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga.
The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society held a dedication and blessing of their Good Samaritan Society-Fairfield Glade campus Tuesday September 20, 2011.
The Fairfield Glade Campus is the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society's first C.C.R.C. (Continuing Care Retirement Community) in the state of TN. The service began with words of welcome by Anne Harrington, Campus Administrator of the Fairfield Glade campus and David Horazdovsky, C.E.O. and President of the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society.
 The service was presided over by the founding churches' clergy, including the Rev. Jenny Barnes of Christ Lutheran Church, Fairfield Glade, TN. The Rev. James Thomason, Director of Operations of the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society, provided a very moving sermon that touched the lives of those in attendance.
The Ecumenical Blessing service followed by a reception and open house was attended by more than 2000 people.
Free to a good home:
 Old, reliable, black and white, Ricoh and Xerox copy machines that Willis Mechanical would like to donate to a congregation. Interested party would need to pick up and load machines from the office on Peachtree Corners Circle in Norcross, GA. Interested? Call Wanda Gonzalez at 678-966-0094.
Conference 5 meeting
Mission Conference (5)
Fall Meeting Tuesday, October 4 7:00-9:00 PM
Christ the King Lutheran Church, Cumming
Agenda
1. Fellowship
2. Devotions
3. Election of Conference Chair
4. Presentation by Synodical Mission Interpreter, Mike Krekling
RSVP by October 2 with your name and the name of your congregation to
Pastor Paul Baumgartner at pr.paul-gslc@comcast.net.
Photo of the week:
Chaplain Torrey Johnson, USAF
Our deepest sympathies
to the family and friends of Mr. John Lawhorn. Mr. Lawhorn, one of the founders of the well-known Atonement Lutheran Men's Chorus, recently died. A public memorial will be held at Atonement on October 15, 2011.
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| Synod Calendar Highlights | | |
October 2
World Communion Sunday
October 11-13
Leadership Convo
October 13
Conference 3 meeting, St. John's, Atlanta, GA, 7PM
October 27
Reformation Day at Emory
Reformation Day Service at Living Grace, Tucker, GA
October 28-29
Talking Together Cross Culturally, Trinity, Lilburn GA
November 1---DEADLINE EXTENDED!!
Synod Budget Request Forms 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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