Southeastern Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
God's work. Our hands. E-News Weekly |
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What's So Good About Sabbaticals Anyway, Especially for Congregations? | |
By The Rev Mark Beatty
Southeastern Synod Compensation Guidelines Team Member
 Our synod recommends them for all rostered leaders (pastors, associates in ministry, deaconesses and diaconal ministers under call). Various rostered leaders have taken them. But what's so good about sabbaticals? Isn't a sabbatical just extended time off? Don't rostered leaders already get vacation?
Actually, though a sabbatical involves extended time off, the process and goals of a sabbatical make it so much more than just time away. While vacations are also tremendously important, and many studies support the value of paid time off, sabbaticals are distinctly different.
Read the rest on the synod blog. |
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 Congratulations Southeastern Synod!
We just received a confirmation from Portico. We did it!
Sixty-seven percent of our Portico members completed the health assessment which means our synod's congregations will receive a 2% discount on premiums. In addition, our synod will receive a lump sum to use for wellness for our leaders. Good job!!!
Click here to check out the final results |
Breaking News from Affirm 2012 | | |
The deadline to sign up for Affirm, the Synod's summer discipleship and leadership camp, has been extended until May 31! Sign up online at www.sesyouth.org. Most units still have some room but Journeys is full. Don't wait any longer!
Affirm will be held June 17-22 at Berry College in Rome, Ga. The registration fee is $375.
 Agape (also known as David Sherer), a Christian Hip Hop Musician, will give a concert on Monday at Affirm. David was at the All-Georgia Youth Gathering a couple of years ago and has toured with Lost and Found. He'll perform at the main stage this summer at the Gathering! Check his website at http://www.hiphopoutreach.com/. He's married with a new baby boy and when not touring, he's attending seminary, hoping one day to be an ELCA mission developer! |
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Synod Assembly Just Two Weeks Away | | |
 The Southeastern Synod will meet in
Assembly June 1-3, 2012 at the Marriott's Renaissance Waverly Hotel, Atlanta GA.
Materials, including a preliminary agenda, biographical data on nominees, the 2013 Ministry Funding proposal and proposed amendments to our constiitution and bylaws, are now available on the Assembly webpage at www.elca-ses.org/Assembly.html.
All are invited to the Global Mission Gathering
Saturday, June 2 at 7:00AM in the Ascot Room. Please feel free to purchase breakfast in the
Garden Court and join the Gathering. No reservation required. |
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The next meeting of RECAPS (Retired Rostered Persons and Spouses in the Southeastern Synod) will be Tuesday, Oct. 23, at 11:30 a.m.
Location: 562 Lakeshore Dr., Berkeley Lake, GA 30096
Need directions or information? Contact Pastor Dee Donnelly at 770-416-9056. |
Improving the Health of Women! | |
Connie Pearson, Team Leader
Health Ministries Team
As I sat down to write a newsletter article for May, I consulted the National Health Observances published annually by the US Department of Health and Human Services. The list of observances for May is long, 35 to be exact, but none drew my attention like National Women's Health Week, May 13 - 19. Positioned in the middle of the week was National Women's Check-up Day, May 14. As I researched data for a potential article on the current health of women in the United States I realized that it is not coincidental that women's health should be highlighted during the month of May. This special week following Mother's Day each year serves as a beacon of hope for excellent health for all girls and women.
A review of facts on women's health across the nation is eye opening. Data show that heart disease, cancer and stroke are the leading causes of death in women. Interesting facts from the National Health Survey 2010 show that close to fourteen percent of women eighteen years and over are only in fair or poor health, seventeen percent of women eighteen years and over currently smoke, thirty-six percent of women twenty years and over are obese, thirty-three percent of women twenty years and over have hypertension while less than one half of women eighteen years and over meet daily aerobic activity guidelines. Multiple reasons for a poor outcome in women's health frequently beginning at birth include but certainly are not limited to income, language barriers, education, employment, transportation, medical insurance, housing, and access to health care.
The theme for National Women's Health Week, "It's Your Time," was chosen to empower women to make health a top priority. This message encourages women to improve their physical and mental health and lower their risk of disease by participating in preventive screening (visiting a health care professional), getting active, eating healthy, paying attention to mental health and avoiding unhealthy behaviors. Because women often serve as caregivers, putting the needs of the family first, their health and well-being becomes secondary. As women, we have a responsibility to ourselves to pay attention to our own health, and to do what we can to help other women and girls take steps for longer, healthier, more productive and happier lives.
Women, if you are not already doing so, the month of May is "your time" to positively impact your own health. If you are not sure how to get started or where to go for help, talk with a friend or your pastor about the resources available in your community that serve to make a difference in the health of women. Men, don't forget to support the females in your family and to encourage them to take care of their health by recognizing that it is their time to make health a top priority. For all, during the week of May 13 - 19 become a beacon of hope for women and girls beyond the doors of your Lutheran church by volunteering. You might want to use your skills by cooking breakfast at a women's shelter, working at a food pantry, researching the needs of your community and sharing an idea or teaching a woman how to read. The needs are multiple; "your time" as a volunteer in providing a needed service for another woman or girl is invaluable. Give hope to all mothers and future mothers in your community!
Resources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, Women's Health, FastStats, www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/womens_health.htm
The Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation, Putting Women's Health Care Disparities on the Map, June, 2009, www.statehealthfacts.org
US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Women's Health, www.womenshealth.gov, www.girlshealth.gov. |
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Around the Synod | | |
Nativity Lutheran Church, Bethlehem, GA, is bearing fruit for the Kingdom as evidenced by the grapes hanging from the branches and grapevine. Pastor Patti Axel borrowed from an idea from SundaysandSeasons.com to help represent the way we are the branches that bear fruit, nourished on the vine that is Christ and pruned by God the Divine Gardener.
Bearing fruit in the Holy Land - Bethlehem, GA. Shalom Y'all!
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A Lutheran Revival!
Friday, Saturday & Sunday, May 18-20
Under the tent at St. Paul Lutheran Church
4826 Sweetwater/Vonore Road in Vonore, TN
St. Paul Lutheran Church in Vonore and Faith Lutheran Church in Tellico Village are hosting an old-fashioned Lutheran Heritage Celebration complete with food, hymn singing, and worship services. We even have the bluegrass mass band from Faith Lutheran in Lebanon, TN, joining us in worship. Bishop Gordy will preach Friday evening, with Pastor Chilton taking the pulpit Saturday evening and Sunday morning. There will be a campout for teens Friday night with blueberry pancakes for breakfast the next morning!
St. Paul Lutheran Church was established 1820 and many people in the Vonore area have long and strong ancestral ties to St. Paul. It is one of the oldest churches in Monroe County and is among the oldest congregations in the synod. German settlers arrived in the area in 1817 and pastors preached and conducted early services in German. Today St. Paul serves the growing residential community around Vonore and along Hwy 72 as well as families old and new in Monroe County and beyond. St. Paul Church has witnessed to God's amazing grace for almost 200 years.
Faith Lutheran Church Lake Campus is the new kid on the block, arriving in Tellico Village in September of 2007 to conduct worship services in a storefront. The congregation has since grown and now serves the community from their location at Chota Center. The unique Tellico Village Lake Campus is a second campus ministry of Faith Lutheran Church in Farragut, founded in 1977. Faith just celebrated their first service in their new 700 seat sanctuary on Jamestowne Boulevard, having outgrown their original facility. Faith Lutheran is truly one congregation worshipping in two locations and offers a variety of worship styles.
The Revival promises to be an amazing and unusual celebration as our congregations join to welcome the community for a weekend filled with reverence, memories, joy, and an old-fashioned good time for all.
All are welcome to join us! Call St. Paul Church at (423) 920-2635 or email Pastor William McDonald at mcdonald@twcnet.edu for more information.
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Iglesia Luterana de Cristo Mission Celebrates Thirteen Years
The Iglesia Luterana de Cristo Mission in Oakwood, GA is pleased to invite you to join in celebrating thirteen years of Hispanic ministry at Christ Lutheran Church and the fifth anniversary of Iglesia Luterana de Cristo.
Sunday May 20, 2012
1:00 PM
3612 Old Oakwood Road
Oakwood GA 30566
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 Rock of Ages Jazz Vespers
Rock of Ages Lutheran Church Music Ministry in Stone Mountain, GA invites all to celebrate Spring and Swing with a Jazz Vespers service on May 20, 5:30 pm at Rock of Ages Lutheran Church . There will be a reception following the service.
Rock of Ages Lutheran Church
5135 Memorial Drive
Stone Mountain, GA 30083
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Photo of the week
Easter Sunday -- Pastor Sandy Niiler at Christ, Cullman, AL with the bent processional cross, a relic of the tornado.
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| View the entire Synod Calendar | | |
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
June 3-9
Southeastern Synod week at Lutheridge
June 4-6
Synod Office Closed
June 15-16
Affirm Staff Training
June 17-22
Affirm
Berry College, Rome, GA
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ELCA-Southeastern Synod
100 Edgewood Ave. NE, Suite 1600
Atlanta, GA 30303
404-589-1977
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