Southeastern Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
God's work. Our hands. E-News Weekly |
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Issue: #324 |
June 13, 2012 | |
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Reflections on the May 2012 Meeting of the Southeastern Synod Council | |
By Michelle Angalet, Associate in Ministry
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Woodstock, GA
The Southeastern Synod Council met for the second time this year on May 31 at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel, just prior to the 2012 Southeastern Synod Assembly. Our agenda reflected the spirit of this year's Synod Assembly theme, "What in God's name are we doing here?" as it was full of discussion and presentations about topics bound together by the common theme of future mission and ministry here in our synod and throughout our ELCA. The Rev. Matt Simpkins, Campus Pastor, Lutheran Campus Ministry at Georgia Tech, shared a progress report and the vision for Lutheran Campus Ministry in the metro-Atlanta area. Currently Lutheran Campus Ministry has a growing presence at the Georgia Tech, Emory University, Agnes Scott College, and Georgia State University campuses.
Read the rest on the synod blog. |
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ELCA Domestic Hunger Grant Application Deadline--July 9, 2012
ELCA World Hunger does more than just give food to people who are hungry: it addresses the root of the problem. In addition to relief programs, ELCA domestic hunger grants fund projects in organization and development that strengthen the foundations of communities impacted by hunger and poverty. If the foundation of a community or household is not strong, food assistance will only prolong the inevitable outcome of a person or family starving, because they cannot maintain steady employment or organize their communities to fight hunger as a united body.
 An application for an ELCA Domestic Hunger Grant should be one that best describes the work and the specifics of the project. It need not be written only for the ELCA, but it should include the total operation budget of the organization, the project budget, the total sources of support being requested, and a history of this activity and its intended longevity.
Visit www.elca.org/domestichungergrants for information about ELCA Hunger Grants or contact Joe Young, ELCA Director for Community Development Services at 800-638-3522 ext. 2683.
ELCA Social Concerns Survey
A task force is currently addressing how we as a church will respond to social concerns. Voting members at the 2011 ELCA Churchwide Assembly requested this review based on the recommendations of the Living into the Future Together task force and a desire to find the best way to understand what God is calling the church to do in the world. The review will be completed and brought to the fall 2012 Church Council meeting, with a report to the 2013 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
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Disaster Preparedness Training in Guatemala | | |
June 1-3, 2012 was a landmark weekend for La Iglesia Luterana Agustina de Guatemala (ILAG). Not only was there a Congregational Disaster Preparedness retreat, but Southeastern Synod Diaconal Minister Sandra Braasch was also installed as Global Mission Associate and Disaster Ministry Development Assistant.
In Guatemala, Friday, June 1 through Sunday, June 3, 2012, Health Promoters of ILAG received training in Congregational Disaster Preparedness and Resiliency. These Promoters will assist congregations with preparedness planning and in response within their communities. The training included building congregational resiliency and an overview of disaster ministry.
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Pastor Horatio Castillo, DM Braasch, Bishop Castillo, and Pastor Amanda Castillo |
During the training weekend, on Saturday, June 2, a Skype viedo conference was used to connect the retreat memebers with the Southestern Synod Assembly in Atlanta, GA, so that the two companion synods could participate in the Commissioning and Installation of Diaconal Minister Sandra Braasch as a Global Mission Associate and Disaster Ministry Development Assistant in Guatemala. Bishops Julian Gordy and Horatio Castillo officiated and the Rev. Amanda Olson de Castillo served as interpreter.
"This is only the beginning," said Sandra Braasch. Karen Castillo, ILAG Administrative Assistant added, "We see this new program as an important part of a process that has been developed at ILAG. We look forward to improving the lives of our brothers and sisters in a safe and sustainable way. We hope that through these disaster preparedness trainings, communities will be better prepared for and respond to disasters." |
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The following youth were recently elected to the Board of the Southeastern Synod Lutheran Youth Organization (SESLYO).
| Chair | Taryn Connelly | Trinity - Lilburn, GA | | Vice Chair | Mackenzie Heck | Epiphany - Suwanee, GA | | Communications | Noah Eggleston | Christ the Lord - Lawrenceville, GA | | Secretary | Derek Luciani | Trinity - Lilburn, GA | | Chaplain | Matthew Johnson | Redeemer - Atlanta, GA | | Synod Rep | Stephanie Gaines | St. Andrews - Franklin, TN | | Multicultural | Jordan Mitchell | Redeemer - Atlanta, GA | | Definitely Abled | Sarah Henning | Community of Grace - Grayson, GA | | Conference 1 | Jordan Becker | Jerusalem - Rincon, Ga | | Conference 2 | | | | Conference 3 | Solveig Olson-Strom | St. John's - Atlanta, GA | | Conference 4 | John Baumgart | Christ the Lord - Lawrenceville, GA | | Conference 5 | | | | Conference 6 | Andrew Chitwood | Faith, Bristol, TN | | Conference 7 | | | | Conference 8 | Josh Shepherd | St.Timothy - Hendersonville, TN | | Conference 9 | | |
Many thanks to our adult advisors: Rozella Poston, Redeemer - Atlanta, GA; Doug Doblar, Trinity - Lilburn, GA; Heather Martin, Celebration - Nashville, TN; Pastor Michael Jannett, Advent - Murfreesboro, TN; Catalina Ontiveros, St. Mark's - Huntsville, AL; Rachel Alley, ELCA Southeastern Synod. |
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Mark Your Calendar | | |
Deadline to complete Synod Assembly Evaluation: Sunday, June 17
 Assembly attendees: If you have not already done so, please use the link below to share your thoughts and opinions about this year's Assembly, including what went well and what could be improved. The survey should take you about 5 minutes to complete. Note that online responses will be accepted only through June 17. After that date, the evaluation will be closed so that the responses may be analyzed. Thank you!
Click here to begin the survey.
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Low Country Boil, Micro-Brew Tasting and Silent Auction to Benefit Lutheran Campus Ministry in Atlanta
August 25 4pm - 7pm
@ St. John's Lutheran, Atlanta, GA
$50 for Hungry and Thirsty
(includes Micro-brew tasting and all beverages with meal)
$35 for Hungry only
(includes soft-drinks, tea only with meal)
GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY!
RSVP: revrn8208@yahoo.com
Learn more at www.gracepeople.org. |
Coming Up at Lutheridge (Asheville, NC) | |
Family Camp
Family Servant Adventure - July 15-21 with Vibrant Faith Ministries!
Enjoy the fun of summer camp as a family! Make new friends and memories that will last a lifetime! Great for extended family gatherings!
 Vibrant Faith Ministries will lead morning sessions with parents and grandparents (while kids are with counselors) to provide concrete, tested tools for passing on faith within the family. Afternoons and evenings will be camp activities (pool, crafts, swimming, canoes, etc.), plus an intergenerational servant project and an outing into Pisgah Forest. Those 8 years and older have the option of whitewater rafting or horseback riding. Read more about Vibrant Faith Ministries online at www.youthandfamilyinstitute.org. This week will enrich your family forever! Fee includes 6 nights lodging, all meals, and program costs. Additional cost for rafting/horseback riding (optional). Program Leader: Jim LaDoux, Vibrant Faith Ministries.
Find out more at www.llmi.net or call 828-684-2361
Bikers, Bibles and Blue-ridge Byways
There will be a Men's Retreat at Lutheridge over the Labor Day weekend called "Bikers, Bibles and Blue-ridge Byways" and it is being led by two ELCA pastors, William "Ham" Hamilton and Charles Miller. The retreat is going to be a great tool for gathering men for faith, fellowship and spiritual growth centered around riding motorcycles. Men can register at www.LLMI.org or print and mail the form on the attached brochure.
Pastor Hamilton is the pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church in Jacksonville, FL. He is heavily involved in community ministry, as well as being active in the synod. Pastor Charles Miller is a former LLMI Board Member and currently serves on the planning and review board for LLMI. He is the pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church near Indianapolis. They are both motorcycle enthusiasts. |
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Around the Synod | | |
Lutherans Gain Closure and Reconciliation at Slaves' Burial Sites
An article in the Savannah Herald, Wednesday, June 6, 2012
By the Rev. Dr. Debora Y. Fonteneau Together, they sang in sonorous, lilting voices as if they had always done so, each reverently bowing before the chancel cross held by a senior crucifier, before taking their places. Lutherans were singing to one God, not as Black nor white, but as Americans, and Christians. They went against the old saying that "the eleven o'clock hour in church is the most segregated hour in America". The combined choirs of historic Jerusalem Lutheran Church of New Ebenezer and Holy Spirit Lutheran Church of Savannah symbolically brought together three continents and more than 270 years of difficult southern history. Jerusalem Church, the oldest Lutheran church in the United States, and Holy Spirit, the only predominantly African American Lutheran Church in Savannah, embodied the freedom and reconciliation which eluded their ancestors as they met to re-consecrate slave burial grounds bordering New Ebenezer Church's main cemetery, on Memorial Day weekend, May 26, 2012. Read the rest.
  *************************************************************************** Christ Lutheran Church of Marietta, Georgia, celebrated Pentecost Sunday, "The birthday of the church" in style, complete with the singing of "Happy Birthday to You," special cake, complete with plates and napkins designed by Laura Coyle. 
**************************************************************************  In May St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Mobile, Alabama hosted what was called a "Trialogue"--a three way prayer service and potluck dinner with Catholics and Baptists. Yes, you read that right: Lutherans, Catholics, and Baptists, in the deep South, coming together to worship God, to get to know one another, and to celebrate similarities instead of highlighting differences. Read the reflection written by Pastor Joy Blaylock.
************************************************************************** Getting His Feet Wet
Our resident synod pastor/swimmer is at it again. Pastor Mark Beatty, a dad on family leave from call in Roswell, GA, recently competed in the 2012 U.S. Masters National Championships in Greensboro, NC. He returned with all top ten finishes in his 40-44 age group including gold, silver, and bronze medals, and is national champion in the 100-yard butterfly. The swim meet, which took place April 26-29, was the largest swim meet in the history of the Carolinas with over 1,800 swimmers competing.
Masters world rankings for 2011 were also just announced, and Mark now has a total of 4 top 10 world rankings in the 40-44 age group including three of the four swim strokes. He was recently named U.S. Masters All-American for the 2011 year (#1 ranking in the U.S. for freestyle, butterfly and breaststroke), and looks well on track for All-American in 2012.
In addition to swimming, Pastor Mark started Fast Lane Coaching, Inc in which he coaches adult swimmers, swimmers-to-be, and tri-athletes in the pool and serves occasionally as a life coach. Pastor Mark believes we all have an "inner fish" within us, an ability to swim....not just in water, but in life. We find our inner fish, he believes, when we honor and pursue our deepest dreams and yearnings. In the process we perhaps discover an intersection with what we perceive as our own dreams and with God who creates us, forms us, and gives us our unique gifts and talents. In April, Pastor Mark led a life coaching workshop at Lutheridge for the "Create in Me" weekend retreat entitled (of course!) "Finding Your Inner Fish."
Mark serves on the synod's Health Ministry task force. He and his wife, Dena, have 2 children, Lauren who is 6, and Brandon 5.
Congrats to Mark and to all of us who step out to the edge of our comfort zones, take leaps of faith, and plunge in to pursue dreams. *********************************************************************** Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) will make a stop at St. John's Lutheran Church in Druid Hills this Saturday, June 16, to talk about his book "Across That Bridge: Life Lessons and a Vision for Change," which reflects on his experience as a leader of the Civil Rights Movement. He plans to sign copies of the book after the question and answer portion of the event. Attendees are asked to purchase the new book prior to or at the event to have it signed. Lewis represents District 5, which includes most of Metro Atlanta. |
| View the entire Synod Calendar | | |
June 15-16
Affirm Staff Training
June 17-22
Affirm
Berry College, Rome, GA
July 4
Independance Day
Synod Office closed
July 8
Installation of the Rev. Susan Montgomery
Christus Victor, Ocean Springs, MS
July 14
Ordination of Laura Stancher
St. John's Knoxville, TN
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ELCA-Southeastern Synod
100 Edgewood Ave. NE, Suite 1600
Atlanta, GA 30303
404-589-1977
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