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This Week
March 17
March 18-19
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"What in the World is God up to in the New England Synod?"
More than 80 clergy and lay members from the southeast corner of New England wrestled with that question in Warwick, Rhode Island this past Saturday, in the largest "Doing What Matters" event to date. Sitting at tables in the sunny fellowship hall of Emanuel Lutheran Church, the participants worked in small groups to come up with such revealing answers as:
"God is telling us to leave our comfort zones as he guides us with love, hope and faith to make changes in the world."
"God is asking us to take more risks."
"God is transforming the world by drawing us out of ourselves and into relationships with each other, all people, and creation."
"God is calling, reconciling, sending, and stirring us up in order to bring us to his peaceable kingdom."
"God promises to lead and guide us as we make new beginnings, discovering and using the gifts he has given us to be ambassadors of Christ."
What is God calling YOU to do? Come and see at a "Doing What Matters" event!
Coming Saturday, March 26th...
"Doing What Matters"
"Northeast Gathering"
Holy Trinity Lutheran, Newington, NH
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Be who you are...see what you have...do what matters to God!
Click Here for the Mission Area Assemblies Information Schedules & Registration Forms
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A Day with Martin Marty
March 17th
Trinity Lutheran Church, 20 Meadowlark Rd., Vernon, CT. 9:30-3:00
http://nelutherantheoforum.wordpress.com/
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Stephen Ministry workshop set for March 26 in Connecticut
St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, Ridgefield, Conn., will host a Stephen Ministry workshop Saturday, March 26, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. This workshop is an opportunity for church leaders and other members to learn about the Stephen Series, a ministry system that equips and mobilizes laypeople for effective caring ministry. Cost is $15 per person or $50 for a group of four or more from the same congregation. For more information or to register for the workshop, call Stephen Ministries at 314-428-2600 or register online at www.stephenministry.org/workshop
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Lazarus Sunday scheduled for April 10
The Rev. Christine M. Nessell of Woodbury, Conn., has written the worship resources for Lazarus Sunday set for April 10. Join the movement to witness a modern-day resurrection in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa. Show your group or congregation how this work against AIDS is successful because of the action of people like you who support saving millions of lives in Africa. Click here to sign-up today to join our national conference call, download our resource kits, and help us spread the word about Lazarus Sunday.AIDS is preventable and treatable, yet it has killed more than 20 million people in Africa, said Nessell. "Each day, anti-retroviral medications (ARVs) help people living with HIV/AIDS to stay alive."
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"Living Liturgy Event" Takes Place May 5-7, 2011...
Register by March 22nd to Receive a $25 Discount!
Worship lies at the very heart of Christian community. Yet, many Lutherans and others still wonder whether their experience of worship is truly welcoming, passionate and relevant. Living Liturgy seeks to recover, renew and enliven the worship of the church, while strengthening the connections between the life of the worshipping community and our life of faith in the world. The three-day event - featuring Marty Haugen, Susan Briehl, Ben Stewart, Mary Preus and Tom Witt - will take place at Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Warwick, RI, from May 5-7. It is designed for all those who are involved in leading worship, from pastors and assisting ministers to church musicians and choir members. At the very least, your church should consider sending your organist/choir director. The cost for Living Liturgy is $125, which includes lunch on both Friday and Saturday. An "early bird" discount is being offered to those who register before March 22, 2011. For more information, or to download the registration form, go to Pilgrim Lutheran's website at www.pilgrimlutheran.org
You may also call the church office: (401) 739-2937.
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Conference to focus on mental health and spiritually May 11
A "Conference on Mental Health and Spirituality" is scheduled for Wednesday, May 11, from 2-4 p.m. at The Plymouth Church in Framingham, 87 Edgell Rd., Framingham, Mass. The conference will focus on how can we better understand how the riches of faith can bring restoration and wholeness to those who struggle with mental illness. Keynote speaker will be Nancy Kehoe, clinical instructor in psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at the Cambridge Health Alliance and author of "Wrestling with Angels: Faith, Mental Illness, and the Journey to Wholeness." For information contact Susan Lindberg Haley at haleysl@verizon.net.
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Car maintenance class to benefit Good News Garage
The Social Ministry Committee at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Attleboro, Mass., is sponsoring a basic car care maintenance class Saturday, May 21, from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at the church to benefit Good News Garage, a program of Lutheran Social Services which creates economic opportunity by providing affordable and reliable transportation options for people in need. Participants will learn simple repairs and how a car works. This class is geared to young people just learning to drive, as well as those who have felt uncomfortable attempting car repairs and oil changes on their own. The cost of the class, which includes a workbook, is $35 per person. Deadline to register is April 15. For more information, contact Sandy Mann at 508-695-8603 skipsand1@verizon.net or Immanuel's church office at 508-222-2898.
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Care for creation networking event set for May 21 in Worcester
Lutherans Restoring Creation will offer a networking event Saturday, May 21, from 10-4 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Worcester, Mass.. All are welcome to share successes and goals to integrate creation care in their communities, congregations and lifestyles. Coffee and lunch will be provided. A $5 donation is suggested. To register or for more information, contact Phoebe Morad at pheebscongo@yahoo.com or 617-599-2722.
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How chicks can save lives at Easter
What better time than Easter to bless a family in need with the gifts of chicks or ducks that can help fight hunger. A chick, starting a just $1, can bring a family with an abundance of protein-rich eggs to eat and sell on the market. At $20, a duck is the best pesticide around - eating all of the insects that harm a farmer's crops, while fertilizing the fields at the same time. Here's how your congregation can help. Learn more about ELCA Good Gifts that fight hunger at http://community.elca.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=469 .
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Opportunities and Resources
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Augsburg Fortress seeks feedback on new bible study concept
Augsburg Fortress is exploring concepts for a new adult study resource for ELCA congregations. It is looking for feedback from bible study/small group leaders to a concept. To take the survey visit: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/YFGB8DR.
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DVD focuses on stewardship of our life on earth
A six-part series, "Earthbound: Created and Called to Care for Creation," is available from Select Learning. This two-DVD set, which includes an extensive study guide, uses Scripture and religious tradition to help congregations and individuals rethink our relationship to the fragile earth. Among those interviewed are Walter Brueggemann, Larry Rasmussen, Barbara Rossing, Terry Fretheim and Cynthia Moe-Lobeda. Learn more at http://www.selectlearning.org/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=74&products_id=555.
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Institute of preaching for new pastors set for July
The ninth Joe R. Engle Institute of Preaching is scheduled for July 24-29 at Princeton (N.J.) Theological Seminary. It is designed for preachers in their first two to eight years of ministry who wish to further and strength their preaching vocation in the company of colleagues. Cost, which includes meals and lodging, is $125. Applications are now being accepted. For more information, visit http://www3.ptsem.edu/offices/coned/engle/.
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Wheat Ridge offers sabbatical grants for pastors
Wheat Ridge Ministries recently awarded five grants totaling $37,275 to support sabbatical experiences for pastors and their congregations through the Ministry Sabbatical Grant Program. Wheat Ridge believes that a sabbatical leave of at least three months for rest and renewal is a significant way to renew ministry development in congregations and improve the health and wellness of pastors. For more information about Wheat Ridge's sabbatical resources, visit www.wheatridge.org/sabbaticals or email grants@wheatridge.org. Wheat Ridge Ministries is a nonprofit organization that helps health and human care initiatives get off the ground by providing the initial funding and support they need to thrive.
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"Spring Fling" program for youth returns to Calumet May 20-22
Calumet Lutheran Ministries is pleased to announce the return of one of its most popular youth programs, "Spring Fling," May 20-22 at Calumet Lutheran Camp and Conference Center, Freedom, N.H. This event is open to high-school youth groups and is one of the most dynamic and uplifting experiences available to the synod's youth. Theme is "RenewAnew," with guest speaker, Pr. Ralph Supper from Hammoasset 2010. For more information contact Betsy at betsy@calumet.org or 603-539-3223 x 219 or visit www.calumet.org. |
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