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 Welcome to the E-Communique, the official e-news magazine of the Atlantic District.
Please email Kristen Schulz with comments, suggestions and articles for the next issue.
Please forward this to a friend! |
Letter from the President
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Epiphany
provides a quick tour through Jesus' public ministry, doesn't it? From his baptism to his transfiguration, we
traverse three years in six or seven Sundays.
Healing, teaching, rescuing, resurrecting, arbitrating - Jesus is on the
go and working the works of the Father who sent him.
Meanwhile,
we're stuck in January and February, slugging it out until at the very least
the President's week break, but really right on through the end of winter. And we'd love to catch the excitement of His
life and work even in the humdrum of getting from here to there in New York State.
Click here to read full article.
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Lenten Devotions by Richard Bimler
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Popular Christian motivational writer and speaker, Rich Bimler, offers Lenten devotions sharing 47 positive "holy habits" a.k.a. "resurrection routines" for Lent-or anytime. Click here for more information and ways to order.
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Epiphany Online Appeal
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Bulletin/Newsletter Announcement:
The Atlantic District cordially invites you to visit our web site at ad-lcms.org to view a video and read a write up by President David Benke on the exciting work of the Nehemiah Project in Brooklyn. This housing project is a successful mission endeavor of the Atlantic District and we would like to share it with you. Please log on and read it today.
Please click on this link to see the Nehemiah video for yourself
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1zsk42bt1Y
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Atlantic District Deacon's Retreat
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Registration Deadline Soon! ...Atlantic District
Deacon's Retreat
The Atlantic District Deacon's Retreat is planned for Friday
evening/Saturday, March 6/7, 2009 at Stony Point Conference Center 17 Crickettown Rd. Stony
Point, NY 10980.
Stony Point Conference Center
is located 30 miles north of Manhattan in Rockland County. We will be staying at one of the
lodges at the conference center.
This retreat will focus on deacons and lay people providing
one to one Christian Care giving. Our
featured speaker is the Reverend
Steven Unger who serves as the Lutheran Chaplain at SUNY, Stony Brook on Long Island. All Commissioned Deacons, Deacons in
training, Vicars and those interested in diaconal ministry are cordially
invited to this retreat.
Cost per person, double occupancy, including overnight
lodging, three meals, Friday evening Dinner and Saturday Breakfast and Lunch is
$125.00 for each of the first 24 registrants.
Once the lodge is full, the cost per registrant goes up to $150 for
those who register late and need to stay in the Gilmore Sloane House.
Click here for Registration Form - deadline is February 15! Top of Page
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Stop, Drop & Pray
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The Atlantic District Mission Society is committed to prayer. We have a weekly prayer email that goes out listing outreach/mission prayer requests. If you would like to email a prayer request or sign up to receive the prayer email, please contact Carol Mittelstaedt at [email protected] (you can unsubscribe yourself at any time).
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Mission Report from Rev. Dr. E. Johnson Rethinasamy
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Dr. E. Johnson Rethinasamy shares Mission Happenings at our website. Mission stories highlighted in this issue include -
- South Asian Outreach with David Yusuf
- Korean Outreach with Leem, Sung Woo
- New York Hindi Ministry with Rajesh Das
- and many more!!
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Youth Ministry Leader Opportunities
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Attention Youth Leaders & Volunteers!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Join other Atlantic District leaders at Youth Specialties One-Day - a conference designed to equip and encourage those who minister to youth! What you'll get: * Tons of ideas to help your students experience Scripture * Renewed insight into the living and active Word of God. * Tools to dig deeper into the Bible in order to understand and apply it to your life * A fresh approach to using Scripture to explain the whole story of God to your students.Plus, a meal and opportunities to get to know other regional youth leaders. Cost is $45 if registered prior to February 13. After 2/13, cost is $55, or $59 at the door. Join other A.D. leaders at either of these two events:
If you register for either event, please let Jennn Partlow know ([email protected]) so that all AD youth leaders
can meet up during the event.
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ATLANTIC
DISTRICT LUTHERAN WOMEN'S MISSIONARY LEAGUE
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Mission Grants update
Mission
Grant #6 - Seminary Tuition -$5,000 - PAID
Praise the
Lord! We have collected all the funds
needed to fund this grant that will help to pay part of the tuition for a Vicar
(currently serving at St. Timothy, Hyde Park) in
the DELTO Program and thus leading to ordination as an LCMS pastor.
Mission Grant #7 - Zap! Youth Training Program -
$1,600
This program continues the initial year of Zap! to
strengthen faith, become more comfortable in sharing their faith and to engage
in real life venues to many youth from the Atlantic District. This program will have 5 scheduled training
sessions and 3 summer trips to partner with Atlantic District congregations to
provide a Vacation
Bible School. In addition, this program will include
evangelism outreach and work projects (sponsored by Parish Education and Youth
Task Force, Atlantic District). We need $430.26 in mite donations to pay grant
#7.
Mission Grant #8 - Concordia College's Fortress Grant Fund - $2,000
The Concordia Fortress Grant Fund allows the most promising
Lutheran students to receive substantial aid for their higher education as they
prepare for careers in the pastorate and church education (sponsored by Mindy
Warnken, Atlantic District Task Force 5)
Continue
to send your mite money to Virginia Wirsing, Financial Secretary, 4 Garden Lane, Yaphank,
NY 11980. We thank you for your continued support.
SAVE THE DATE...SAVE THE DATE...SAVE THE DATE...SAVE THE DATE
"Look to the Hills...God Reigns" - Portland Convention, June 25-28, 2009
LOOK! Look no further for reasons to attend the LWML convention
on June 25-28 in Portland, Oregon, where we will Look to the Hills...God Reign. We
will have opportunities to:
�
Worship God
the Maker of all things
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Trust in the
Lord who daily meets our needs
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Declare God's
peace and provision through tangible acts of mercy and grace
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Share the Good
News of Jesus in everyday situations
On Friday
evening Heidi Floyd from the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer will be
the inspirational speaker. She will be
joined by Lauren Randall, a gifted vocalist and a college student majoring in
music, who will open and close this inspirational evening with music. The 125+ member Pride of Portland Chorus, a
member of Sweet Adelines International,will
entertain Saturday evening with its repertoire of traditional "golden oldies,"
jazz, blues, patriotic music, gospel songs and Broadway show tunes. This is a can't-miss event, so we'll see you
in Portland! Find out more at www.lwml.org.
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AD Pastors Conference - May 4-6
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The Conference Committee is very excited about our upcoming
Atlantic District Spring Pastors Conference
* May 4-6 at SonRise Lutheran Ministries *
As you probably are well aware, the Fall Tri-District conferences will no longer continue. Although we will be having our Atlantic District Convention in June, we wanted to have a conference that will provide a time of refreshment for the Pastors and Deacons of the Church. The theme for the Conference is, Before the Face of God: Worship as Formation in the Lutheran Congregation. The speakers will be Dr. Paul Westermeyer from Lutheran Seminary in St. Paul Minnesota, and the Rev. Dr. Scott Bruzek from St. John's Lutheran Church in Wheaton, Illinois. Brochures will be mailed out in the next two weeks, which will provide further details. Please plan to attend and receive spiritual renewal and fellowship with your colleagues in the Ministry. Top of Page |
Conference for All Ministry Leaders - March 13-14
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Sponsored by the NJ District
Topic: What is Effective Communication?
Featuring Rev. Dr. Peter Steinke
SESSION TOPICSSession One: Understanding Family Systems(How a congregation functions) Session Two: Person-to-Person Communication (How people function) Session Three: Anchoring Good Communication (How your church structure functions) DATES & TIME Friday, March 13th from 6:00 - 9:00pm Saturday, March 14th from 8:30am - 4:00pm LOCATION Trinity Lutheran Church 131 Mountain Way, Morris Plains, NJ 07950 COST Before 3/09/09 - $ 50.00 per pastor - $ 35.00 per lay leader (includes lunch on Saturday) After 3/09/09 - $ 60.00 per pastor - $ 45.00 per lay leader (includes lunch on Saturday) Walk-in registrations on Friday and Saturday will be gladly accepted. Saturday-only participants are also welcome! HOTELIf needed. Participants must make their own arrangements for lodging. Residence Inn by Marriott - 3 Gatehall Drive, Parsippany, NJ 07054 - Call 800-551-2409 for price & availability Hanover Marriott - 1404 Rt. 10 East, Whippany, NJ 07981 - Call 973-538-8811 for price & availability For more information, click here.Top of Page |
Camp SonRise Needs You!
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Through the
Winter there will be lots of work to do on the
two (2) houses at Camp SonRise
to get them closer to completion so that the Pastor and Executive Director of
SonRise (and their families) can move in. People of many different talents
(and ages) are needed.
Please log onto www.sonriseministries.com and
click on "Building SonRise" for more details and to see pictures of what's been
done so far.
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| Deacon Commissioning Invitation |
The Leaders and Members of Atonement Lutheran Church
71 Central Highway
Stony Point, New York 10980
Cordially invite you to the
Service of Commissioning of
Francisco Gonzalez, Jr.
as Deacon on
Sunday, February 22, 2009
at 4:00 P.M.
LCMS Clergy are invited to vest.
The color of the day is red.
Reception to follow in the Fellowship Hall
Kindly R.S.V.P. to:
Laura D'Angelo at (845) 356-9204 or at [email protected]
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"Jesus in the Galilee 2009" Holy Land Tour - Hosted by Concordia College
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Join Concordia College, New York for 10 Days of Biblical Discovery, departing December 1, 2009. Find detailed information here.
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Martin Luther High School Upcoming Events
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Friday,
February 27 - Join us for our Winter Wine Tasting in the
cafeteria: Queens Wines and Liquors will again be bringing a selection of wine,
and their wine expert, Richie, will share all sorts of information, from how
the wine was made to the foods that will be enhanced by the flavor. Tickets are
$20 each, with proceeds supporting the 2009 Celebrate Kids Auction.
Friday,
March 27 - Join us for our Spring Beer Tasting in the
Cafeteria: Brooklyn Brewery will bring a selection of their microbrews for our
tasting pleasure! More information about tickets to these events will be
available soon! Tickets are $20 each, with proceeds supporting
the 2009 Celebrate Kids Auction.
To receive a PDF of the
reservation form for the tastings, please send
an e-mail to [email protected].
We
hope to see you soon!
Kelli
Westfal, Director of Communications
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LCMS Servant Events Offers Record Number of Events
for 2009
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Over 100 Servant Events
are planned for 2009! All kinds of events are available, from construction,
human care, and outreach events to crisis, multicultural, and environmental
events. There are also events especially for families, and for the first time
in 2009, there will be an event just for young adults.
LCMS Servant Events give
young people across the country the experience of learning that serving others
can make a difference because of Jesus Christ. Since 1981, LCMS youth and
adults have participated in more than 1,000 Servant Events and have made a
difference in the lives of thousands of others by contributing to the
development of resources and facilities of Synodical camps, congregations, and
other service agencies.
Servant Events taking
place in the Atlantic District include "Adirondack Acts of Service," hosted by
SonRise Lutheran Ministries in Pottersville,
NY, June 21-27 and August 2-8.
Visit LCMS Servant Events online at www.lcms.org/youth for a
complete listing of events and to search by type, date, and region of the
country. For a free DVD about LCMS Servant Events, contact the LCMS Youth
Ministry Office at [email protected] or
1.800.248.1930 x1155. Top of Page |
Miss America 2009
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If you watched Miss America Saturday evening, Jan 24, you saw Miss
Katie Stam, representing Indiana,
crowned as Miss America 2009. Katie is from Seymour, Indiana
and is a life long LCMS Lutheran. Her
sister, Heather, attended our own Concordia
College in Bronxville!
Katie's talent for the
Pageant was a bold Christian witness -- her beautiful vocal rendition of
"Via Dolorosa," or "Way of Suffering." Here are the
lyrics:
Down the Via Dolorosa in
Jerusalem that day
The soldiers tried to clear the narrow street
But the crowd pressed in to see
A Man condemned to die on Calvary
He was bleeding from a beating, there were stripes upon His back
And He wore a crown of thorns upon His head
And He bore with every step
The scorn of those who cried out for His death
Down the Via Dolorosa called the way of suffering
Like a lamb came the Messiah, Christ the King,
But He chose to walk that road out of
His love for you and me.
Down the Via Dolorosa, all the way to Calvary.
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Seminary Visitation Event - March 12-14
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SEMINARY VISITATION EVENT
FOR PROSPECTIVE PASTORS AND DEACONESSES
ST. LOUIS-Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, is pleased
to invite prospective students and their guests to attend "Contemplate," to be
held March 12-14 on the Seminary campus. Designed for those who are college age
or older, the structured visitation event provides an effective means of
learning more about life in the Concordia Seminary community and the
preparation that leads to service as a pastor, missionary, chaplain or
deaconess in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
Check-in and campus tours take place on Thursday afternoon. Those who
arrive earlier are invited to observe a class in session or visit the
bookstore. A welcome reception and dinner provide a unique opportunity to meet
Seminary faculty in an informal setting. After dinner, participants will choose
two ministry break-out sessions and attend a chapel service.
Paired with a current student, participants will attend chapel and
break-out sessions, and observe classes on Friday. Break-out sessions will
focus on the spiritual and personal aspects of the decision-making process, as
well as provide opportunities for presentations on the academic program,
resident field education, vicarage and internship years, financial assistance
and housing.
An occasion for further dialogue with current students occurs during
the student panel discussion Friday evening. Married and single student housing
tours and individual appointments with admissions counselors and the Life
Transitions Office are made available to participants on Saturday morning. The
visitation event concludes with a farewell brunch.
There is no charge to attend "Contemplate," and all meals and lodging
are provided free of charge. Round-trip transportation to Concordia Seminary
from the airport is provided.
For more information, contact the Admissions Office at
1-800-822-9545 or [email protected].
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Lutheran Social Services - Fostering Children
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 DO YOU HAVE ROOM IN YOUR HEART
AND HOME FOR A CHILD IN NEED?Lutheran Social Services of New York has been caring for New York City children for 123 years. Many of the children we serve are in foster care and need temporary, safe, loving homes until they can be reunited with their parents or another, permanent solution can be achieved for them.
We are looking for people who have room in their hearts and homes to provide reassurance, guidance and support for a child at such a traumatic, pivotal time.
If you are interesting in making a difference to a child in need, please call Diana Solomon-Glover at (212) 870-1138, email [email protected] or visit www.lssny.org to find out how you can become a foster parent.
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Lutheran Social Services Press Release
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A Celebration of Freedom
Lutheran Social Services of New York is pleased to present the premiere performances of the Latvian Dance Ensemble Gatvein the United States. The ensemble has performed in a number of European countries and most recently in the world acclaimed Latvian Song and Dance Festival 2008 in Riga, Latvia.
Fifteen members of Gatve will "Tell the Latvian Story" through traditional Latvian music and folk dance in colorful and authentic costumes. The dancers are members of the Lutheran Church in Latvia and will also share stories of their faith. The Latvian Story is one that speaks of Latvia's forty six years of oppression under Communism....a story of the power of faith and the will to overcome....a story of the CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM.
Performances will be:
- Friday, February 6, 2009 at 7:30pm at Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church, Valentine Lane & Leighton Ave., Yonkers, NY 10705;
- Sunday, February 8, 2009 at 4:00pm at The Wartburg Adult Care Community, Wartburg Place, Mt. Vernon, NY 10552;
- Monday, February 9, 2009 at 7:00pm at Saint Luke's Lutheran Church, 46th Street between 8th & 9th Aves., New York, NY 10036.
- In addition, the dancers will spend the day Friday at Long Island Lutheran High School participating in the schools cultural arts program with the students.
A $20 donation is requested, children 12 and under are free. Tickets are available through Lutheran Social Services of New York website: www.lssny.org. For more information contact Ausma Mursch, Director, New LIFE International Adoption at 941-492-6536 or [email protected].
All funds raised will be used to help support Lutheran Social Services of New York's New LIFE Adoption Program and the group's efforts to "Tell the Latvian Story."
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Lutheran Social Services Press Release
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Informational Meetings on International Adoption
Lutheran Social Services of New York's New LIFE Adoption Program will be hosting a series of informational meetings for prospective adoptive parents to learn more about the adoption process.
The Ammerman House for Community Ministry
256 Willis Avenue
Mineola, NY 11501
Thursday, January 22 6:00-7:30pm
Thursday, February 26 6:00-7:30pm
Thursday, March 26 6:00-7:30pm
Refreshments will be provided.
Lutheran Social Services of New York
465 Riverside Drive, Suite 1244
New York, NY 10115
Thursday, April 23 12:00-1:00pm
Thursday, May 21 12:00-1:00pm
Thursday, June 25 12:00-1:00pm
Feel free to bring a lunch.
Building on the tradition of caring for children, Lutheran Social Services of New York received a two-year Temporary Hague Accreditation by the Council on Accreditation (COA) in 2008. The Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption is an international treaty that provides guidelines for the international adoption process and protection for the children being adopted across borders. In addition, LSSNY has also established a partnership with the Ministry of Children and Families Services of Latvia. Lutheran Social Services of New York's New LIFE Adoption Program can now assist parents in adopting a child from Latvia or from around the world through partnerships with other licensed agencies.
Lutheran Social Services of New York's history is rooted in caring for children, founded in 1886 when 11 Lutheran congregations established the Bethlehem Orphan and Half-Orphan Asylum in response to an influenza epidemic that left many orphans in the German communities of New York. This legacy continues with the agency's work with foster care, preventive and after care, domestic and international adoptions.
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Lutheran Hour Ministries Sunday
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Lutheran Hour Ministries Sunday, officially scheduled for Feb. 22, 2009, is an opportunity for your church to learn about everything Lutheran Hour Ministries has to offer. From the new Men's NetWork to help bring men back to the church, to resources like Equipping to Share evangelism-training workshops, the JCPlayZone Web site for children, and Daily Devotions in Spanish and English, Lutheran Hour Ministries can help your church share Christ with a diverse audience. Look for the following materials online to help you hold this special Sunday celebration: instruction sheet, video, giving envelopes, order of service, and promotional materials. After Feb. 1, an optional sermon and children's sermon will also be available. Visit www.lhm.org/lhmsunday for more information and to view these downloadable resources. Top of Page |
International Student Ministry, Inc. Conference - May 28-31
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The 2009 ISM Enabling Conference is designed to bring together experienced ISM workers/volunteers and "interested and new" people to learn together and encourage one another in this ministry among international students. The conference will be on the campus of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, with lodging at nearby Fontbonne University. This event, offered only every two years, involves worship, Bible study, workshops, and interaction with some very knowledgeable and Christ-centered leaders in this specialized ministry. Click here for detailed information.
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| Save the Date |
- Deacon Commissioning at Atonement, Stony Point.....Feb. 22
- Wine Tasting @ MLK High School...............................Feb. 27
- Deacon Retreat.........................................................Mar. 6-7
- Seminary Visitation Event........................................Mar. 12-14
- Ministry Leaders Conference......................................Mar. 13-14
- 'One Day' Youth Leaders Conference, NYC...................Mar. 21
- Beer Tasting @ MLK High School................................Mar. 27
- 'One Day' Youth Leaders Conference, Albany..............April 26
- A.D. Pastors Conference............................................May 4-6
Check out the Atlantic District Web Site for More Details : www.ad-lcms.org
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This is an e-mail from the Atlantic District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.
If you would like to submit an article for publication in the E-Communique, please send it via email to Kristen Schulz @
Thank you and God's Blessings!
Atlantic District LCMS
171 White Plains Road
Bronxville, NY 10708
www.ad-lcms.org
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