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Service Projects Being Finalized for 2011 Synod Assembly
Final preparations are underway for Saturday, June 4, the Day of Service at synod assembly. All voting members will receive an email or phone call advising them of their project assignments, along with information related to their crews. With assembly less than two weeks away, the service team is looking for ladders for those who will be cleaning gutters and painting. If you are a person or a church with a ladder to loan, please contact Pastor Jim Hazelwood at jim@standrewri.org. Voting members are also encouraged to bring digital cameras to their work sites in order to take photos of their crews and projects. In addition, all workers are asked to dress appropriately for the day of service. They should come to the worship service on Saturday wearing comfortable clothes and ready to go, as they will be sent out directly from the assembly.
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Memorial Garden Will Honor the Homeless
One of the more than 60 service projects that will take place at synod assembly will be the creation of a memorial garden at Friends of the Homeless in Springfield. This urban oasis will include a tree, flowers and plantings along with a bench and memorial plaque. The purpose of the memorial garden is to provide hope, healing and a sense of community for a population that is often neglected or forgotten. According to Kathy Tobin, Director of Development at Friends of the Homeless, the memorial garden will be "a place where we can conduct memorial services for our clients, when one of their fellow homeless friends has died."
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Just a reminder...
To help minimize waste, cut down on costs, and encourage us be good stewards of the environment, there will be no books or binders at assembly this year. However, there WILL be wireless internet access in the hall. Everything you need is available on our website, nesynod.org. Please feel free to print out materials from the site, including resolutions, and bring them with you to Springfield.
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"Youth Matters"
Final Deadline to register for either the Friday-Saturday or the Saturday only event. Sunday, May 29, 6 pm.
Register your Youth Group now!
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Calumet offers resources for Calumet Sunday
Lutheran churches all around New England are celebrating and giving thanks for Calumet's ministry on a Sunday of their choice between now and Father's Day. Is your church one of them? If not, there's still time. Check with your pastor.
1. A bulletin insert is attached. The two sides are meant to go back to back. Just click on this link: Bulletin Insert
2. Include this prayer in your Prayers of Intercession: Pray for Calumet
3. Show the video produced by St. John, Sudbury Puppet Ministry. Link is to the left and on the website.
4. Share your Calumet story.
5. If you would like a sample Temple Talk, contact Paula Kent: Email Paula
6. Visit our website for other information:www.calumet.org
http://www.calumet.org/sharing/calumet-sundays
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Bishop Hanson encourages leaders, congregations to reach out to ecumenical partners for 10th anniversary of Sept. 11
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the ELCA, is encouraging leaders and congregations in the ELCA to reach out to ecumenical partners, including Muslim and Jewish partners, in their communities to plan 9/11 commemorations. This September will be the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001. "I invite you to focus on increased awareness, healing of relationships and our future.," wrote Hanson in a letter, which provides specific resources to promote healing and solidarity. Read the full text of Hanson's letter here.
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Opportunities and Resources
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Lutherans gather to network on creation care
Congregation leaders from four states came together Saturday, May 21, for "Celebrating and Sharing our Abundance," an opportunity to network on integrating care of creation into Lutheran worship inside and outside of the church. "We Lutherans have a unique theological foundation for restoring creation," said Phoebe Morad, House of Prayer Lutheran Church, Hingham, Mass., and Nancy Urban, Grace Lutheran Church, Hartford, Conn., who organized and led the gathering at Trinity Lutheran Church, Worcester, Mass. The women are among the six people from the New England Synod, who have been trained in the ELCA's "Lutherans Restoring Creation" initiative to help congregations "go green" and save our fragile earth. Read more here.
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Women plan retreat offering food for the spirit Oct. 1 in Worcester
"The Third Course" of Feed the Woman, a day of food for the spirit, will be held Saturday, Oct. 1, from 8:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Worcester, Mass., sponsored by the New England Women of the ELCA. Cost is $25. For more information or to register, contact Stephanie Sherry at sisherry@snet.net or 203-932-9663, or Kristin Fredrickson at Kris_sie45@hotmail.com or 604-252.7921.
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