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Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
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E-News Weekly

Issue: #300

December 28, 2011

In This Issue
Life is Good...Sort of
Your Gift Matched
MLK Commemoration Service
10 Tips for a Healthy New Year
ELCA Leadership/Staff Events
Around the Synod
Quick Links

Synod Blog 

Synod Website 

Synod Staff 

ELCA News Service 

ELCA Website

Life is Good...Sort of

by the Rev. Darrel Peterson

Assistant to the Bishop
ELCA Southeastern Synod

 

The Christmas letter said, "Life is Good," and I resonated with the thought. There is so much in my life that is good. There are so many people and things to be thankful for. I live in the promises of our gracious and merciful God. Certainly there are issues, but I deal with them. Life is indeed, good! Let's lift our glasses of champagne and toast the New Year! BUT...

 

There's always the "but." A big part of the goodness in life for the Christian (and others of faith and good will) is that justice and peace become realities for all of God's people. The words from Mary's Song of Praise in Luke 1 resonate out of our Advent and Christmas readings. "He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly, he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty."

 
Read the rest on the synod blog

 Now through Dec. 31, Your Gift Matched -- Dollar for Dollar

 

Dear friend of ELCA World Hunger,


You may have heard the shocking statistic: A record number of Americans -- nearly 1 in 2 -- have fallen into poverty or are scraping by on earnings considered to be low income.
You can make a difference in their lives with a gift to ELCA World Hunger. And between now and Dec. 31, all gifts to ELCA World Hunger will be matched entirely -- 100 percent -- thanks to a group of generous ELCA members.
 

Will you join these ELCA members in making one last gift this year? When you give to ELCA World Hunger, you provide families with food, water, education and heath care to help them escape poverty for good. Your gifts are put to work in almost 60 countries around the world, including the United States. And when you give today, you help our church double its impact in this work.
 

 

The need is more urgent than ever. As you know, it's not just millions of Americans who don't have enough to eat. About a billion people around the world are hungry.
Share the joy you've felt this Christmas and give hope to your neighbors in need. There are three ways to give and double your gift today:
 

Donate online by visiting www.elca.org/hungerdonate anytime before the 12:00 a.m. CST deadline on Dec. 31.
 

Donate over the phone by calling 800-638-3522 now through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. CST.
 

Donate through the mail by sending a check to ELCA World Hunger, P.O. Box 71764, Chicago, IL 60694-1764. Checks must be postmarked by Dec. 31 in order to be matched and tax deductible for 2011. Please write "Matching Challenge" in the memo line of your check.
 

God is calling us into the world -- together. Thank you for responding to that call with your generous gifts.
 

In Christ's service,

The Rev. Daniel Rift
Director, ELCA World Hunger
 

P.S. Make sure to give before the 12:00 a.m. CST deadline on Dec. 31, 2011, and all gifts -- up to $100,000 -- will be matched, dollar for dollar. Gifts received before this deadline are also tax deductible as allowed by law for 2011.

MLK Commemoration Service

Welcoming God's Many Faces with an Open Heart

 

The Southeastern Synod's commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will take place on Sunday, January 15, 2012 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 3050 Cascade Rd SW Atlanta, GA 30311. We will gather at 3:30 pm for a service of Word and Sacrament.

 

The preacher will be the Rev Ruben Duran, who serves as Director for New Congregational Development in the Congregational and Synodical Mission unit of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

 

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Annual Commemorative Service is the hallmark of the King Holiday Observance. The service endeavors to empower Lutherans to engage in volunteer service in tribute to the work and life of Dr. King.  It is a day "ON" not a day "OFF."

 

You are invited to bring rice and pots and pans to the service in preparation for our MLK Lutheran Day of Service which takes place the next day, Monday, January 16 at Clarkston Community Center at 3701 College Ave, Clarkston, GA from 9am to 1pm.

 

For more information, please contact

 

Dr Everett Flanigan, ELCA Southeastern Synod

[email protected]


Malisha Brown, Lutheran Theological Center

[email protected]

 

Pastor Beverly Shaw, Emmanuel Lutheran Church

[email protected] 

10 Tips for a Healthy New Year

Brought to you by the Southeastern Synod Heath Ministry Task Force

Connie Pearson, Chair 

 

While looking for new year's resolution materials for this article, I came across the following tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (www.aap.org). While these tips are directed toward children, they are excellent reminders of how to keep everyone in the household safe and healthy.

 

10)  Do a "childproofing" survey of your home -A "child's eye view" home survey should include a room to room inspection with removal of all "booby traps" that await the curious toddler or preschooler. When surveying, think of poisons, small objects, sharp edges, knives, firearms and places to fall. Even older children can be at risk just because they are kids.

 

9)  Practice "safety on wheels" - Make sure everyone in the car is buckled up for every ride, with children in the back seat in age-appropriate child safety seats. If you are the driver, delay making phone calls or sending text messages until you have parked the car. All bikers, skaters and skateboarders should wear helmets and other appropriate sports gear.

 

8) Ask your neighbors - Ask your neighbor if they have a gun before sending your kids over to play. If the answer is NO, that's one less thing you have to worry about. If the answer is YES, you have to determine if your child's safety is at risk. Guns should be kept in a gun safe with the ammunition locked separately or they pose a real risk to your child.

 

7) Develop an emergency plan - Check smoke detectors once a month to ensure that they are working properly. Involve all family members in developing fire and tornado emergency plans. Hold practice fire and tornado drills several times a year so that everyone in the family knows what to do in case of an emergency. Teach young children the primary phone number for reaching a parent or trusted adult and how to dial the phone in case of an emergency.

 

6) Pay attention to nutrition - Nutrition makes a big difference in how kids grow, develop and learn. Good nutrition is a matter of balance. Provide foods from several food groups at each meal. Emphasize foods that are less processed, such as whole grain breads and cereals and fresh fruits and vegetables. For more nutrition ideas, go to www.ChooseMyPlate.gov.

 

5) Make sure immunizations are up to date - Review your child's immunization record with your pediatrician. Make sure your child and you are current on recommended immunizations. Immunization recommendations for all ages can be found at www.cdc.gov. The Affordable Care Act of 2010 insures that many more individuals have access to a variety of preventive services, including immunization, at no cost. An immunized parent can make a big difference in a child's life.  

 

4) Monitor you children's "media" - Monitor what your children see and hear on television, in movies, and in music. Children are affected by what they see and hear, particularly violent images. Talk to your children about "content." If you feel that a movie or TV program is inappropriate, redirect your child to more suitable programming.

 

3) Help kids understand tobacco, alcohol and the media - Help your child understand the difference between the misleading messages in advertising and the truth about the dangers of using alcohol and tobacco products. Talk with your child about ads. Direct your child toward TV shows and movies that do not glamorize the use of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs.

 

2) Read to your child everyday - Reading to children shows them the importance of communication and motivates them to become readers. It also provides a context to discuss issues and learn what is on your child's mind.

 

1) Make your children feel loved and important - Kids develop a sense of self-worth early in life. Listen to what your children have to say. Assure them that they are loved and safe. Celebrate their individuality, and tell them what makes them special and what you admire about them.

 

Add your own tips to this list and have a safe and healthy 2012!

ELCA Leadership/Staff Events

 

The Center for Faith and Learning at Augsburg College and the ELCA Congregational

and Synodical Mission unit are pleased to offer these events for

 

  • pastors called to lead a ministry staff
  • ministry staff (pastors and lay staff specializing in education, worship, music, youth, parish nursing, volunteer coordination, administration, etc.)
  • those in transition

 

 

LOCATION
The seminars are held at the Duncan Conference and Retreat Center, 15820 S. Military Trail, Delray Beach, FL, 33484

 

Registration for each of the events begins at 11 a.m. in the main conference room.

 

MINISTRY STAFF SEMINAR
January 28-31, 2012
The Ministry Seminar begins with lunch at 12 noon on Saturday, and ends after breakfast and morning sessions on Tuesday. 

 

TRANSITION SEMINAR
January 31-February 1, 2012
The Transition Seminar begins Tuesday with lunch at 12 noon and ends on Wednesday in the evening.

 

HEAD OF STAFF SEMINAR
February 2-5, 2012
The Head of Staff Seminar begins with lunch at 12 noon on Thursday and ends Sunday after breakfast and worship.

 

Click here for a pdf brochure for information and to register.  Registration ends January 16, 2012.   

Around the Synod 

Holy Trinity, Mariette in the news

  

Click here for an article from the Thursday, December 15 Marietta Daily Journal newspaper about a Fair Trade Market held at Holy Trinity, Marietta, GA.

  

  

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Installation of Pastor Laurie Williams at St. James Lutheran Church, Brunswick, GA

December 18, 2011

 

 

 

 

Members of the St. James call committee - front row: Barbara Brunjes, Nisi Zell, Pastor Laurie, Pastor Darrel Peterson; back row: Jim Duerk & Mark Rueber

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St. James incoming council President David Brunjes, Pastor Laurie, Pastor Peterson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Mark your 2012 Calendar Now

View the entire Synod Calendar

 

January 2

Synod office closed, New Year holiday

 

January 7

Campus Ministry Board Development and Fundraising Workshop

St Luke Lutheran Church

3264 Northside Parkway NW
Atlanta, GA 30327-2245

Click here for pdf brochure

 

January 13 & 14

Synod Council Meeting, Messiah, Montgomery, AL

 

January 15

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration, Emmanual, Atlanta, GA

 

January 16

Synod office closed, MLK observance

 

 

Coming in 2012

 

February 3 & 4 

Talking Together as Christians Cross Culturally, Nashville, TN

 

May 1 & 2

Southeastern Synod Pre-Retirement Seminar, Location TBA

 

June 1, 2 & 3

Southeastern Synod Assembly, Renaissance Waverly Hotel, Atlanta, GA

 

June 17-22

Affirm, Berry College, Rome, GA

 

September 24-27

2012 Southeastern Synod Leadership Convo, Lutheridge, Arden, NC

 

 

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