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Assembly Roundup
Got salt? Well, you ARE salt -- the salt of the earth, says Jesus, and essential to God's work. "When Jesus calls us the salt of the earth," the Rev. Stephen Marsh told the annual assembly of the New England Synod, "he is saying that what we have to offer is so important, so vital, so necessary that without it, the world would be like food that had no seasoning, no taste, no nutrition, no warmth, and would spoil through and through." Read more. This roundup is being provided at the request of congregations for use in newsletters, websites, etc. |
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Ordinations Set for July 9
Two pastors, Nathaniel Anderson and the Rev. Ramon Santos-Mendez, will be ordained Saturday, July 9, at 2 p.m. at Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Warwick, R.I.
Anderson has been called to serve as pastor of Christ the King Lutheran Church, Wilbraham, Mass. He grew up at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, North Easton, Mass. and majored in philosophy and minored in classics and religion at Luther College, Decorah, Iowa. He received his Master of Divinity degree in May at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia, S.C. Anderson is married to Carolyn Starz, a biology teacher originally from Atwater, Minn. Anderson's sister, Carrie, is married to the Rev. Mark Thomas Peterson, who was installed in May as pastor at First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Brockton, Mass.
Santos-Mendez has been called by the Synod Council as pastor developer for La Iglesia Evangelica Luterana in Providence, R.I., a worshipping community that is an off-shoot of the ministry of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Providence. He was born in the Dominican Republic, where he served as a pastor and evangelist for more than 20 years. In 1993, he and his family moved to the United States, where he was called by the Baptist Church to serve as a pastor in Newport, R.I. During a time of deep self-reflection, he met Pr. B. Santiago Rodriguez, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, and began candidacy in the ELCA through the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia.
Color of the day is red. Rostered leaders are invited to vest and process. |
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Pray for Delegates to Women's Triennial Convention in Spokane, Wash.
Your prayers are requested this Sunday, July 10, for the eight members of the New England Women of the ELCA who will serve as delegates July 12-14 in Spokane, Wash., to the Eighth Triennial Convention of the Women of the ELCA, the national women's organization of the ELCA. Here is a suggested prayer:
Almighty God, in Jesus Christ you called disciples, and by the Holy Spirit made them one church to serve you. Be with members of the Eighth Triennial Convention of Women of the ELCA. Help them to welcome new things you are doing in the world and to respect long-established things you keep and use. In their deliberation, bring about what is best for us and for all people. Let your Holy Spirit guide them so that the whole church may be joined in love and service to Jesus Christ. Amen.
Delegates include:
Liz Burgess, Prince of Peace, Augusta, Maine
Alice Carlson, Advent, Bridgewater, Mass.
Noreen Noll, Holy Trinity, Trumbull, Conn.
Sarah Okerlund, Trinity, Worcester, Mass.
Ursula Paradis, Good Shepherd, Monroe, Conn.
O'B Rock, Immanuel, Attleboro, Mass.
Marci Sharp, Prince of Peace, Brookfield, Conn., president of New England Women of the ELCA
Nancy Stone, Redeemer, Bangor, Maine
They will bejoined by 14 others for the Women of the ELCA's Triennial Gathering July 14-17 in Spokane. Theme is "Renew, Respond, Rejoice. The proceedings will be streamed live online. |
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Local Entries in ELCA Video Contest
Four congregations in the New England Synod have entered videos in the ELCA video contest on the theme "What Does It Mean to Live Lutheran?" Winners will be announced at the Churchwide Assembly in August and displayed on the ELCA website. Please consider registering at Living Lutheran so you can vote by July 15. Two of the videos are accompanied by original music. Entries include:
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"Faith Stories"
Part of Susan Lindberg Haley's joy of serving at a shelter for the victims of the June 1 tornado in Springfield, Mass., was "meeting so many people who are different from me (and I from them!) in many ways, and yet we are the same. The creation story in Genesis tells us that 'God created humankind in his image ...male and female he created them.' That's what I saw at the shelter -- people created in God's image. It was a wonderful experience to serve them.
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Middle East Network Action Alert
Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson of the ELCA joined 43 other Christian leaders in a June 27 letter to President Obama, calling for the United States to work with the international community in an urgent effort for Middle East peace. Add your voice by endorsing the letter to let the President know that as a Christian and an American you feel that it is NOW time to halt the demolitions and the evictions. |
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LSS finds homes for all refugees after June 1 tornadoes
thanks to generous donors, diligent staff
Thanks to generous donors and diligent staff, Lutheran Social Services has found housing for all 40 of its refugee families left homeless June 1 when three devastating tornadoes hit Springfield, Mass. More than 450 people have donated nearly $64,000 to aid the displaced families. "With your help," said Heather L. Feltman, president and CEO of LSS, "we have kept our promise to find safe lodging for each and every individual in our care so that they can resume their pursuit of the American dream of independence and self-sufficiency." LSS also has filled another and unforeseen need connected to the tornadoes. As FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) has assisted all the residents in Central Massachusetts who were left homeless by the tornado, it has continually called upon LSS for expert help in translating for non-English speaking clients. New appliances are needed to help the refugee families settle in their new homes. Contact LSS Volunteer Manager Lori D'Amico. |
Program Offers Peer Support for Pastors, Lay Ministers
A program for pastors and lay ministers, "Living in Ministry: Peer Coaching for Pastoral Leaders," will be held September 2011 through May 2012, co-sponsored by the Kairos Spiritual Life Center, a ministry of All Saints Church, Worcester, Mass., and the Boundless Way Zen, Worcester. This ecumenical program is designed to support pastors and professional lay ministers in their personal, professional and spiritual lives through three day-long retreats, two morning sessions, and the formation of intentional life-coaching relationships with peers in the group. Space is limited. Some scholarship aid is available. Call 508-752-3766 x19 or kairoscenter@allsaintsw.org by July 27. |
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Shaner Named Assistant Professor of New Testament at Seminary
The Rev. Katherine A. Shaner has been appointed as assistant professor of New Testament at The General Theological Seminary, New York, N.Y. Ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Prof. Shaner is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Theology degree at Harvard Divinity School, Cambridge, Mass., specializing in the field of New Testament and Early Christian History. Her doctoral dissertation, entitled Religious and Civic Lives of the Enslaved: A Case Study of Roman Ephesos, was a finalist in the Charlotte Newcombe Dissertation Fellowship of the Woodrow Wilson Foundation. She has won numerous awards for her scholarly work including a Regional Scholar Award from the Society of Biblical Literature and a Fulbright Fellowship. Prof. Shaner will replace recently retired professor of New Testament, the Rev. Dr. John Koenig. |
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