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Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
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E-News Weekly

Issue: #291

October 19, 2011

In This Issue
"Keep the faith!"
Guatemala Flooding
From the ELCA News Service
Dream Act Sabbath
Book of Faith Brief
Upcoming
Around the Synod
Quick Links

Synod Blog 

Synod Website 

Synod Staff 

ELCA News Service 

ELCA Website

"Keep the faith!"

by the Rev. Thomas Clark

Pastor--Ascension Lutheran Church, Jackson, MS

MississippiIn case you have not noticed, there are not a lot of Lutherans living in these parts. Years ago, I got a letter from a Lutheran pastor in Wisconsin. (I am not sure why he sent it to me, other than that he probably looked up Lutheran churches in Jackson and found "Ascension" was the first one listed.) Inside the envelope, all I found was an article from his local newspaper that had one of those occasional random tid-bits of information about various subjects. This one was about areas of the country with the most and least percentage of Lutherans in the general population. I don't remember the exact numbers but in Madison, Wisconsin, Lutherans made up something like 90% of the population. (That's probably high, but whatever it was it was HIGH!) Then in the "Fewest Lutherans per 1000" cities, there was Jackson, Mississippi, with "1 Lutheran per thousand." In the margins of the newspaper article, the pastor who sent it had scribbled, "Keep the faith!"

Read the rest on the synod blog

Guatemala Flooding

 

Guatemala floodingDue to a recent tropical depression, there is flooding in many parts of Guatemala.  There are houses that have been completely destroyed by mudslides and towns that are under water.  One of the communities hardest hit by the recent rains and flooding is La Israel, a village that graciously hosted a recent Southeastern Synod mission team. 

 

Read  Bishop Horatio Castillo's recent pastoral letter here.

 

If you or your congregation would like to make a contribution to aid in Guatemalan Disaster Relief send your check, made payable to the ELCA Southeastern Synod, to the synod office at 100 Edgewood Ave. NE, Suite 1600, Atlanta GA, 30303 and note "Guatemala flood" on the memo line.

 

Thank you! 

From the ELCA News Service

Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Lutheran African peace activist 

 

LeymahLeymah Roberta Gbowee, a Lutheran Liberian peace activist, has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The announcement came Oct. 7 from Oslo, Norway. Gbowee, a member of the Lutheran Church in Liberia, is responsible for organizing a non-violent women's movement that brought an end to a 14-year civil war in Liberia.   Read more

Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) Invites Congregations to Host DREAM Act Sabbath

 

This fall, you are invited to hold a DREAM Act Sabbath, an intentional time to lift up the stories of undocumented youth who want to attend college, work and further contribute to the United States. Join LIRS, a diverse coalition of religious groups, and DREAM Act champion Senator Durbin (D-IL) in a campaign to dedicate time for education, reflection, and action.

 

Your leadership can make all the difference! Visit the LIRS DREAM Act Sabbath webpage for resources on how to plan your DREAM Sabbath! There you'll find:

 

  • sample invitation letters
  • educational resources
  • stories of DREAM Act students
  • Scripture suggestions to guide your planning

 

Stand for the welcome of these promising young people by hosting a DREAM Sabbath this fall.

Book of Faith Brief

 

More Book of Faith Resources

 

Some of you who were at the synod Leadership Convocation have asked for the name of the Bible study series that was featured in the Book of Faith presentation (the one with the amazing sand art video). It's called "The Greatest Story: Bible Introduction," and it can be found on the Augsburg Fortress web site. There is also a second series called "The Greatest Story: Jesus," which covers the gospels in more depth. Each series has a leader's pack and participant books.

  

You might also want to visit

http://www.augsburgfortress.org/eNewsSignup.jsp and sign up to receive email news about Augsburg Fortress products. You can request news about Book of Faith studies, other resources for children and adult Bible studies, worship and music, or confirmation.

 

 

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Advent Resources

 

Advent for many of us is a hectic time of trying to get things done - decking the halls, sending Christmas cards or e-cards, shopping for gifts, wrapping gifts, baking, cooking, attending special events, traveling to spend time with family and friends, and on and on - in four short weeks.
 

AdventThe book "Advent Reflections: Making All Things New Together" explores God's ongoing work of renewing all things, particularly our stories, our days, our spirits, and our ways. Use the daily reflections on your own or with a friend or family member. Discuss the Bible study questions in an existing group, or form a group with others who are reading this book. Check out the activities and choose some hands-on ways to celebrate the gift of God's work of renewal in us, through us, and in the world.
 

This book is available through Augsburg Fortress.  View a sample here:
http://store.augsburgfortress.org/media/downloads/AdventReflections1-15-11.pdf

Upcoming
Friday October 21
Hunger Huddle
Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Atlanta, GA
1:00-7:00pm

 

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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Thursday October 27
Reformation Worship Service
11:00am
Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta Chapel

 

Grantson


The Rev. Dr. Emmanual Grantson presiding--Dr. Grantson is pastor of Truth St. Michael Lutheran Church in the ELCA Metro Washington, DC Synod. A Service of Holy Communion with an Afro-centric setting featuring authentic dance and drums is planned. Following lunch, Dr. Grantson will lead a discussions on "Remaining Faithful To Our Christian Heritage Using Afro-centric Liturgies".

 

 

 

  

Thursday October 27
Reformation Worship Service
7:30pm
Living Grace Lutheran Church, Tucker, GA

 

The Lutheran Theological Center joins Lutheran congregations in Metro Atlanta in a multicultural Reformation worship & celebration.  The Rev. Dr. Emmanual Grantson will also preach at this service.

 

 

Find out more about these services here.


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October 28-29
Talking Together as Christians Cross Culturally

talkingTrinity Lutheran Church, Lilburn GA 

 

Lutherans in the ELCA Southeastern Synod engage around the topic of congregational Missional Work Plans.  Join like minded congregations who want to intentionally welcome their neightbors into relationship with their congregation.

 

Find out more here.

 


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Save the Dates

Thursday, December 1, 2011
World Aids Day Event
Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Atlanta,GA
Special Guest--the Rev. Mark Hanson, Presidng Bishop of the ELCA


Saturday December 3-4, 2011
Southeastern Synod Bible Studies

December 3: Shepherd the Hills Lutheran Church , Birmingham AL

December 4: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Woodstock, GA 

Led by Dr. Diane Jacobson, Director of the ELCA Book of Faith intiative and Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Luther Seminary 
Around the Synod 

  

Offerings from the Southeastern Synod Leadership Convo totalled $402.83.  These will be used for Disaster Response in the synod.

  

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CongratulationsSarah Rossing, daughter of Glenda and Pastor John Rossing, Christ the King, Dalton, GA, was the recipient of the J. Binnie Wolfe Endowment Scholarship of the ELCA Fund for Leaders. Sarah is a student at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.

 

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Blogging in the Synod

 

Join Pastor Dennis Fakes (St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Huntsville, AL) on his quest to understand worship in general, and Lutheran worship in particular -lutheranworship.wordpress.com.

 

None of us is prepared when death hits home - The Rev. Tiffany McClung, Interim Pastor
Peace Lutheran Church, Memphis, TN

 

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You are cordially invited to join the City of Savannah and the City of Halle, Germany for the official "Twinning Agreement Signing Ceremony" and the opening of the exhibition Heinrich Melchior Muhlenberg: Patriarch of the North American Church on Thursday, October 20th, 7 PM at The Mansion at Forsyth Park, 700 Drayton Street, Savannah, Georgia.

 

 

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 Hood installation

Installation of Jo Hood, AIM and Pr. Erik Allen at St. Andrew, Franklin, TN.

Also in the photo, Senior Pastor Michael Lippard and Bishop Gordy. 

 

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 Cornucopia

 

 

Is your congregations hosting an Ecumenical Reformation service or a Thanksgiving service?  We want to know!  Send information (and photos) to [email protected].

 

Synod Calendar Highlights

 

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

 

November 10-12

Candidacy Committee meeting, Synod Office

 

November 12

All Tennessee Youth Gathering

 

View the entire Synod Calendar

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