Southeastern Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
God's work. Our hands. E-News Weekly |
Issue: #291 |
October 19, 2011 | |
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"Keep the faith!" | |
by the Rev. Thomas Clark
Pastor--Ascension Lutheran Church, Jackson, MS In 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!"
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Guatemala Flooding | |
Due 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
Leymah 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
- 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.
The 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
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. *******************************************************
October 28-29 Talking Together as Christians Cross Culturally Trinity 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. ********************************************************
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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Sarah 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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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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Is your congregations hosting an Ecumenical Reformation service or a Thanksgiving service? We want to know! Send information (and photos) to [email protected].
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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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ELCA-Southeastern Synod
100 Edgewood Ave. NE, Suite 1600 Atlanta, GA 30303 404-589-1977
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