Southeastern Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
God's work. Our hands. E-News Weekly |
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For All In High Places | |
Preface: Bishop Julian Gordy, ELCA-Southeastern Synod
Now that both American political parties have a "presumptive candidate," the debate rhetoric is heating up. If the past is any indication, we are set to hear months of bragging, condemnation and overblown rhetoric that would make Pharaoh blush. It's the one part of the democratic process this self-confessed political junkie can't abide. As something of an antidote to what's coming, let me share with you this article by Pr. Frank Honeycutt from the newsletter of St. John's Lutheran Church in Walhalla, SC.
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FOR ALL IN HIGH PLACES
"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions..." 1 Timothy 2:1-2a
In six months it will be time to vote for a president in the United States of America. Have you made up your mind yet? Made a decision between Barack and Mitt? This is about the time we enter into all the name-calling, mud-slinging, military service reviewing rhetoric regurgitated out of the various political camps. Accusation followed by denial. Counter-accusation followed by counter-denial. And on and on, ad nauseam.
Read the rest on the synod blog. |
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Rachel Alley, synod Director for Young Adult and Youth Ministries reminds everyone, "It's been a busy spring for everyone, but don't forget to sign up for Affirm 2012. Youth (grades 6-12), college freshman and sophomores are eligible to attend."
 Affirm is a 6-day leadership and discipleship camp. Youth live in a Christian community on the campus of Berry College where their faith is transformed as they learn more about Jesus, worship daily, and experience God's grace and love through peers and adult volunteer leaders.
There is still lots of space available in all the units. Registration numbers are really down this year. The Affirm administrative team thinks this is due to the slow economy and the Youth Gathering in July. This also has affected the amount of scholarship money available; the number of youth requesting scholarship assistance is higher than in years past.
If you'd like to help young people experience Affirm, please send a donation to:
ELCA Southeastern Synod
Affirm Scholars Fund
100 Edgewood Ave., NE, Suite 1600
Atlanta, GA 30303 |
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Have you seen the Youth News for May 2012? Check it out at http://www.elca-ses.org/Youth-Ministry-News.html!
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Synod Assembly On-Line Registration Now Closed | | |
 The Southeastern Synod will meet in
Assembly June 1-3, 2012 at Marriott's Renaissance Waverly Hotel, Atlanta GA.
If you have pre-registered and not yet made payment, please send your check to the ELCA Southeastern Synod, Assembly Registration, 100 Edgewood Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA, 30303 no later than May 15. Please DO NOT mail checks after May 15; bring your check or credit card to the Registration Desk at the assembly.
The Registration Desk at assembly will be open the following times for check-in of pre-registered attendees, as well as those who need to register on-site:
Thursday, May 31 6pm-8pm
Friday, June 1 9am-3:45pm
Saturday, June 2 8am-noon
On-site registration:
Voting members.......................................$135
Retired rostered persons and visitors......$85
Visit www.elca-ses.org/Assembly.html for more information. |
Telling Our Story: Cutting Edge Communications for the 21st Century | |
A Workshop Being Offered in the Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee
 May 4-5, 2012
Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd
5337 Jacksboro Pike
Knoxville, TN 37928
At a time when many Americans turn away from the hard edges of cut and dry Christianity, and when a number reject Christianity outright because they mistakenly believe that all Christians are the enemies of evolution, we have a story to tell. But how do we tell THAT story, our story? Our culture has placed before us electronic tools of immense sophistication. Those are the tools we need to tell our story of Jesus and a Christian faith worth having, to adopt these tools for our own use in our own communities.
There is no charge for the workshop itself, but participants should bring $10 each for event hospitality, which includes snacks Friday evening and lunch on Saturday.
Find out more at http://www.etdiocese.net/ |
Lutheran Via de Cristo Schedules | |
The Via de Cristo weekend is a three-day experience of living in a Christian community in a retreat setting. It begins with a send-off early Thursday evening and ends with a closing late Sunday afternoon. The major focus of the weekend is a series of 14 talks, given by pastors and lay persons. Each of these talks is followed by small group discussion. The pastors' talks are aimed at a better understanding of the breadth and depth of God's grace, while the lay talks deal with different aspects of our response to that grace. The weekend also includes morning and evening worship services each day, communion, music, laughter, prayer, and good food.
The Atlanta Lutheran Via de Cristo will hold weekend retreats on the following dates:
Co-ed -- May, 17-20, 2012
Men only -- August, 23-26, 2012
Women only -- September, 20-23, 2012
The Tennessee Via de Cristo has a co-ed weekend for both men and women, October 18-21, 2012.
"Notes of Grace," the Via de Cristo group serving Nashville and central Tennessee, has its Fall Weekend (#14) Sept 27 - 30, 2012.
If you have any questions, please visit one of our web sites:
Atlanta and Georgia http://www.atl-vdc.hostgenie.net
Knoxville and Eastern Tennessee http://www.tnvdc.org/
Nashville and Central Tennessee http://notesofgrace.org/index.html |
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Around the Synod | | |
Preparing for Disaster in Southeast Georgia
At a Thrivent meeting Sunday, April 22, over thirty Lutherans in Effingham County, Georgia heard about the potential impact of disasters can have in their communities and homes The Rev. David Hendrix, Synod Volunteer Disaster Response Coordinator for that area, shared information to help them prepare for and respond to disasters that can be expected in that part of the state. Such disasters include fires, tornadoes, flooding, and hurricanes. Also discussed were ways that the congregations themselves can actively help their members be ready for potential disasters. Pastor Hendrix soon will be meeting with leaders of individual congregations to help them in their disaster planning.
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St. Timothy-Hendersonville, TN team walks to help cure Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
St. Timothy's "Smile Every Chance You Get" team recently participated in the National MS Society's "Walk MS" in Gallatin, TN. The group included walkers of all ages and even a few four-legged ones! Thanks to support from the congregation (which has four members with MS) plus family and friends across many states, the Smile team has raised more than $6,200 so far for vital MS research and programs. Although donations continue to come in through May 31, it is already this event's second highest fundraising team. Former St. Timothy pastor Palmer Clemmer, who has MS, is the top individual fundraiser. The team's progress can be tracked online at its Walk MS page. You can participate and/or donate to a local Walk MS near you and help fight this disabling disease!
Article submitted by Cindi Clemmer
Photo credit: Amy Groce
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May 6 Celebration at Epiphany in Suwanee, GA
All Are Invited!
Epiphany Lutheran Church in Suwanee, GA will hold a Service of Dedication and Rededication on Sunday, May 6 at 9:45 a.m. The congregation will gather between 8:30 and 11:00 worship to give thanks and bless newly constructed and remodeled space. The facility expansion will better enable Epiphany to carry out the mission the congregation believes that God has placed before it - to reach out, raise up, and change the world through the light of the living Christ!
 The new space includes an expanded chancel area, allowing for greater incorporation of the arts into worship. The focal point of the space is a stained glass window that illustrates God's promises through the Empty Tomb, Baptism, and Holy Communion. Living in the light of the empty tomb is central to how Epiphany gathers and serves as the body of Christ.
Fulfilling a longtime promise, Epiphany added two dedicated rooms for middle and high school youth; these formation and gathering spaces include state-of-the-art AV equipment and furnishings selected by the youth. To better serve parents and young children, the nursery is in a new space adjacent to the worship center and a "cry room" is now at the rear of the worship center.
 Epiphany's gathering space has expanded to include a Coffee Café. On the back wall is a colorful mural, painted by Haitian artist Walnes Cangas, and depicting the source of Epiphany's coffee - an impoverished mountain village in Haiti. The coffee sold in the café provides an economic engine for those in Haiti and helps fund Epiphany's annual youth trip to serve the poor there.
The expansion project was made possible by the congregation's "We Will Make a Difference" capital appeal launched in Fall 2010, with specific goals of better equipping the congregation for outreach and formation.
article submitted by Cynthia Donaldson |
| View the entire Synod Calendar | | |
May 5
LifeTogether Conference (#6)
Messiah Lutheran Church
6900 Kingston Pike
Knoxville, TN 37919
9:30 AM
May 27
Day of Pentecost
May 28
Memorial Day
Synod Office Closed
May 30-June 3
Synod Council Meeting and
Synod Assembly
Renaissance Waverly Hotel
2450 Galleria Parkway
Atlanta, GA 30339
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ELCA-Southeastern Synod
100 Edgewood Ave. NE, Suite 1600
Atlanta, GA 30303
404-589-1977
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