St. John (Barner's) is using their annual Apple Butter Boil to raise awareness of malaria.  There's a Lutheran World Relief Fair Trade Fair in Schaefferstown.  Zion, Landisville, is celebrating God's gifts of music and arts.  Pumpkins are everywhere at the Family Fun Fest at Canadochly Church.  Music is in the air in concerts and recitals at congregations from York to Hummelstown to New Holland and beyond.  All of these stories (and more) are shared on the Congregation Connections page of the synod website.  See what other congregations are up to! 

Want an easy way to connect and share ideas?  Post your links, photos, events and thoughts on the synod Facebook page!  Visit our Facebook page here.

Mission and Money

2013 Compensation Guidelines Available

The 2013 Rostered Leader's Compensation and Benefits Guidelines are now available on our synod website.  If you have any questions regarding the guidelines, please contact Pastor Virginia Cover, Assistant to the Bishop, at vcover@lss-elca.org.

Congregational Treasurer Seminar

Thursday, November 8

6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Synod Resource Center

An opportunity for conversation and networking with our synod Treasurer's Office staff and other congregational treasurers.

Discussion topics:

• Synod finances
• Congregation audits
• Best practices
• Fidelity bonds
• Sales tax
• Q&A

Our Wider Church

Two Kingdoms

With the elections coming up in November, The Lutheran gives readers something to think about in its October issue. In "Lutherans & politics," an ELCA theologian spells out Martin Luther's idea of "two kingdoms" and putting the needs of others first. To help your discussion, you'll find a study guide for this article in the print issue and online (www.thelutheran.org - click on "study guides" on the left side; it's free for print and Web subscribers).

Tanzania Travel Updates

Events

Children, Youth and Family

Faith Formation Conference

November 16-17, 2012

Zion Lutheran Church

York, PA

Is your congregation looking to strengthen faith formation with children and their families? This two-day conference, designed for staff and volunteers including Sunday school teaching teams, will feature practical and theologically strong tools for creating ministries that invite and equip families to be partners in the faith formative process with their own children. Plus, it's affordable! Two-days of continuing edutcation featuring the teaching team from Vibrant Faith Ministries, lunch both days, and a networking reception on Friday afernoon...all for $25/person!  Visit the Vibrant Faith website.

Registration deadline is October 24. 

Read more, download a brochure, and register online.

Project Connect and the Metro DC Synod

invite Young Adults (ages 18-30) to participate in

Free to Be - Free to Do

A Service Learning Vocational Discernment Retreat 

Washington, DC -- January 3-7, 2013

This Discernment Retreat will help young adults think deeply about their God-given gifts, and the interests that are of passionate concern to them.  Young adults from our synod can attend for free AND apply for a scholarship for assistance with travel expenses.  Click here for an event schedule and registration form. 

Registration deadline:  November 1, 2012.

An Important Event for Church Leaders

Faithful Response to Burning Issues in the Church

An event to help the Church better prepare for, and respond to, the presence of sexual offenders in the congregation as well as address pornography use by clergy.

Monday, November 12

9:00 AM - 3:45 PM

Camp Hill United Methodist Church

417 S. 22nd Street

Camp Hill, PA

Read more and download a registration brochure. 

Lutheran-Anglican-Roman Catholic Day of Dialogue

Make Malaria History

Resource Exchange

St. James (Brogue) has the following resources available, free of charge:

• 110 Lutheran Book of Worship hymnals
• A set of white paraments

For more information, contact the church office at 717.927.9497 or stjamesbrogue@aol.com. 

Job Corner

Employment listings are provided to synod congregations and related agencies free of charge. This service is made possible by your Mission Support of Lower Susquehanna Synod and ELCA. Please provide a brief position description and contact information (as below) and a link to a complete position description on your web site (if desired). Send information to Pam Drenner at pdrenner@lss-elca.org. Positions are posted for 60 days unless extended.

Congregation: St. Luke, Schaefferstown

Position: Adult Choir Director/Accompanist

Posted: 8/21/12

St. Luke Lutheran Church, Schaefferstown, is seeking an Adult Choir Accompanist/Director. This is a nine-month position, September through May. The Accompanist/Director will be responsible for preparing, accompanying and leading the choir to sing for the 10:15 AM Sunday worship, one to three Sundays per month, including some festival services. For more information about this position, call Carol at 717.450.4363 or the Church Office at 717.949.3375. To apply for this position, send resume and cover letter to: St. Luke Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 278, Schaefferstown, PA 17088 or stlukelutheran@verizon.net.   

Congregation: Ascension, Willow Street

Position: Secretary/Office Manager

Posted: 10/9/12

Ascension Lutheran Church, Willow Street, is seeking a secretary/office manager. Position includes data entry for membership and financial data, and some website management. Good computer skills are required, including proficiency with Microsoft Office/Word, Excel, and Church Windows. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM. For more information, contact the church office at 717.464.5683.

Carings and Sharings is the e-newsletter of the Lower Susquehanna Synod. Its purpose is the sharing of news and events which raise up the mission and ministry of the synod and ELCA in our congregations, our synod, and the broader church. It is not intended to be an endorsement of every activity. Comments about this newsletter may be sent to Pam Drenner, editor, pdrenner@lss-elca.org.