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This Week
March 5th
Doing What Matters
East Central Mission Area Assembly
Redeemer, Woburn, MA
Southern Gathering, Salem, Bridgeport, CT
Concordia, Manchester Ct.
Board Meeting
New England Synod
Women of the ELCA
Synod House, Worcester, MA
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Sunday Morning Alternatives Will "Free Up" Pastors to Attend Assembly
As always, pastors and congregational delegates are being encouraged to stay for the full Synod Assembly, which meets from June 3-5 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. However, since the assembly will be held on a weekend this year, the logical question is, "what will we do about worship on Sunday mornings?" Soon, you will receive some information from Bishop Payne which will address this issue. In the meantime, we ask that you please work together as leaders of the congregation to make the best choices for your church. It's not too early to start planning. Use this opportunity to explore something new and different for that Sunday morning. Harness your congregation's gifts for ministry, be bold and creative...and you may just find yourself "doing what matters" to God!
Click here for Synod Assembly On-Line Registration
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Doing What Matters Mission Assembly Events Attract "Spirited" Crowds.
How would you like to build your own "Merry-Go-Round of Church"...or perhaps a "Helicopter to Heaven"? When it comes to Spirit-inspired creativity, the sky's the limit at a "Doing What Matters" event! That's what more than 60 attendees discovered when they gathered at Concordia Lutheran Church in Manchester, CT last weekend. "We couldn't have asked for a better crowd," said Kim Bergstrand, a member of the Faciliteam that helped organize the event. "Everyone was so enthusiastic. They came ready to talk, eager to share, and looking to find resources they could bring back to their congregations."
In addition to the dynamic presentation, human talent and computer technology were much on display at the various tables. Some of the participants wrote their own jingles and "tweets," while others used their Facebook pages to ask such questions as, "why does God need a church?" Thanks to Concordia's wireless connection, responses came back quickly, and made for lively discussions.
Up in Brattleboro, VT, it was a similar story, with people coming to the Northwest Gathering to find out what God was up to in that corner of New England...and what they could do to help. For dates and locations of Mission Area Assemblies near you, please click on the link below.
Click Here for the Mission Area Assemblies Information schedule & Registration Forms
Coming this Saturday, March 5th, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm:
"Southern" Gathering, Salem Lutheran, Bridgeport, CT
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East Central Mission Area Assembly
Redeemer Lutheran, Woburn, MA
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 Get Ready for the 2012 ELCA National Youth GatheringFind out the latest information for the 2012 gathering on Saturday, April 2nd, 1-4 PM. at the Synod House. Dave Dalzell and Tim Roser will have just returned from the Gathering Orientation meeting ready to share all the resources you need for planning and registering for next years event. Participate in person or through the webcast. For more information go to the " Getting Ready for the 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering Page" |
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New Cross at Good Shepherd, Kingston, R.I.
When Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Kingston, R.I., built its new addition in 2009, stringent new state fire regulations required that the fire alarm system use a laser beam which travels from a device in the rear of the sanctuary, high above the organ, to the front of the expansive worship space and is then reflected back. An interruption in the beam would indicate smoke. The reflector by itself above the altar would have been unsightly, so the congregation's architect, Herman Hassinger, decided to "hide it in plain sight," as he described it, by incorporating it into this colorful cross which hangs above the altar. The reflector is the square shiny object in the middle of the cross, with a small cross in its center. It was Pastor Juliet Bongfeldts's idea to use the four colors of the ELCA logo.
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 The Rev. Steven Wilco ordained at Immanual Lutheran, Amherst, Mass.
The Rev. Steven Wilco, who has accepted a call to serve as pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Amherst, Mass., was ordained Saturday, Feb. 5, at Grace Lutheran Church, West Springfield, Mass. The preacher was Pr. Alice Kerr Laird, associate to the bishop of the New England Synod. The day commemorated Paul Miki and 25 others known as the Martyrs of Nagasaki, Japan, who died for their Christian faith in 1596.Click on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QRDzGcSbnk to view the ordination service. Pr. Wilco, who grew up in Northern Virginia, graduated from Valparaiso University in 2006 with a degree in classical language. He earned his Master of Divinity degree in 2010 from Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, which is supported by the New England Synod.
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Sinnott on sabbatical March-May; now in Jerusalem
Pastor Paul Sinnott, ministry specialist for the New England Synod, will be on sabbatical during the months of March, April and May. He will spend the first part of his sabbatical in Jerusalem, working with the Lutheran World Federation and the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in the Old City section of Jerusalem, one of the six congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, a companion relationship of the New England Synod. Upon his return, he will do an independent directed study on the liturgy, watching the grass grow and catching up on reading. His duties and responsibilities in his ministry area will be assumed by colleagues during his time apart.
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Lutheran World Relief collection set for April and May
Gatherings to collect quilts and kits (baby care, fabric, health and personal) for Lutheran World Relief are scheduled in April in all six states in the New England Synod. For a location in your area click on 2011 LWR Collection Sites. Please call the church prior to dropping off your items. For specific instructions on how to pack quilts and kits, visit http://www.lwr.org/beinvolved/index.asp. It is important that you mark your boxes "Lutheran World Relief."
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New England Synod's Companion Synod Mission Trip to The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL)
November 1-15, 2011
Click here for more Information
New England Synod Scholarships support three college students in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land.
Young people from our companion synod are preparing for a successful life, thanks in part to NESynod's financial support.
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LSS Adoption sponsors family day at water resort March 12
Bring the entire family to New England's largest indoor water park, CoCo Key Indoor Water Resort, Fitchburg, Mass., Saturday, March 12, for a wet and wild fundraiser to benefit the Intensive Foster Care and Adoption programs of Lutheran Social Services (LSS). Once the doors open at 10 a.m. for the "LSS Big Splash Bash" you can stay and play all day. Tickets are $25 until March 4; $30 after. For more information visit http://www.lssne.org/Big-Splash-Bash.aspx or contact Grace Young at gyoung@lssne.org or 508.580.6716. LSS community-based programs serve children, youth and families through foster care, adoption, family support, teen parent services, and group care. Since 1872, when Lutherans opened the doors of the Martin Luther Orphans Home to homeless and orphaned children, LSS has served children, youth and families in need.
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Gettysburg seminary posts "Making the Most of Lent" video online
Gettysburg Seminary Video productions has posted an introductory Lenten resource on "youtube" this month entitled "Making the Most Out of Lent" suitable for use in personal spiritual enrichment and educational use for Christian study groups. Check it out at www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKcWuJVfY30 or see www.Youtube.com/LTSGvideo .
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Wheat Ridge offers health ministry grant
Wheat Ridge Ministries encourages Lutheran congregations to submit proposals for its Congregation Health Ministry (CHM) Grant Program. The CHM Grant Program enables ministry leaders to move inspired whole person health and wellness ideas into action within congregations through $2,000 matching grants. These one-year grants for new and innovative health ministry programs are open to Lutheran congregations and organizations they partner with to become centers of health and hope in their community. Grant proposals are due April 15. Download application materials at www.wheatridge.org. Wheat Ridge Ministries is a nonprofit organization that helps a variety of health and human care initiatives get off the ground by providing the initial funding and support they need to thrive.
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Book sale at Fortress Press through March 31
Now through March 31, Fortress Press books are on sale for 40 percent off when purchased through our FP webstore. www.fortresspress.com
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