Doing What Matters 

God's Purpose for the New England Synod

 to go where love leads

 to serve where love calls 

"Doing What Matters" Devotions

Session 7: Be Who You Are -- Igniting Passion

Bible Passage 

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.   (1 John 4:7-12)

Guided Imagery 

Let's Pray -- Lectio Divina 

• Sit in silence and stillness.  Turn all your thoughts and desires over to God.
• Lectio - Read this passage slowly, silently or out loud.  Listen for a word, phrase, or image that speaks to you and grabs your attention.  Wait for this word, phrase, or image to come to you.
• Meditatio - Read the passage again.  Take this word, phrase, or image that speaks to you and ponder it in your heart.  Ruminate over it.  Repeat it to yourself several times.  Let it speak to your life.
• Oratio -- Read the passage again.  Let your soul enter deeply into prayer with God.  Be open and honest with God.  Consider how this word, phrase, or image connects with your life today and how God is present through it.
• Contemplatio -- Rest silently in the presence of God, without words, phrases, or images.  Be free in this silent space.

Closing Prayer

Loving God, you are alive and present to us through your Word.  As we sit in the silence of your presence  and contemplate your Word, we know we are loved.  May we live in that love.  We pray in the strong name of Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

At a recent community event, Pr. Keith Anderson, Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Woburn, Mass., joked about being a "Twitter chaplain." But when a police officer was shot in his town, the frantic manhunt that ensued called him to minister to a community that was trying to make sense of the violence and tragedy. With the city of Woburn in lock-down, Anderson kept people informed and comforted in a way that would not have been possible without social media. "I am grateful that Twitter is a part of my ministry," he says. "It has drawn me deeper into my community, allowing me to offer some kind of grace in a terrible situation."  Anderson recognized many of the people who were tweeting, and was able to provide critical information. Residents were urged to stay inside, with their doors locked, as suspects were still on the loose. Local and state police, SWAT teams, and helicopters were all on the scene. "I realized that my role, not only as a resident of Woburn, but as a minster in this community, was to try to offer some measure of solace and support," said Anderson, "and to point to God's presence in a horrific and confusing situation. So, I began to tweet prayers. Thanks be to God that Officer (Robert) DeNapoli is in good condition today."  Click here to read Anderson's blog.

Bishop Margaret G. Payne has resumed blogging. Click here to read her Sept. 12 reflection on a weekend in September. Her blog also is available under "Quick Links" below.

Are you a rostered leader who meets the requirements for a sabbatical? Click here to learn all about sabbaticals and read stories by "those who have gone before," including Pr. Dan Wilfrid, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Holden, Mass. Wilfrid spent one month of his three-month sabbatical in 2005 fullfilling his dream to build a boat.

Melvin "the Sower" and his assistant, Ms. Babben, challenged 34 children to "grow in faith, have fun and change the world" during the "green" vacation bible camp the first week in August at Community Lutheran Church, Enfield, N.H. The camp was based on RENEW, a product of Augsburg Fortress, the publishing ministry of the ELCA. Click here to learn more, as well as read other stories about the greening of the New England Synod. We post a new story each month. RENEW is available to preview from the synod's Janssen Resource Center.

Clean Office, Other Ways to Serve

Pr. Britt C. Vickstrom, Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Plattsburgh, N.Y., has a clean office thanks to tropical storm Irene, which did a lot of damage in the Adirondacks and North Country Aug. 28.  Irene downed a few trees and caused minor flooding in the church basement, where the pastor's study is located. The study, which hadn't been cleaned in a while, got a good scrubbing as part of the cleanup to get the water out of the basement. The church garden, which supports the local food shelf, survived, thankfully.

Physically unable to wield a shovel or mop, "or ride in on an ATV," the Rev. Ann Larson of Essex, Vt., found other tangible ways to help after Hurricane Irene slammed New England Aug. 28. She donated clothes, and when the call for volunteers finally came to staff the 211 information center, she was in a FEMA trailer less than two hours after she responded. Larson also has been touched by expressions of concern and support from friends and family around the world after the storm. "I am moved by the self-less giving of so many in my adopted state and glad when there's something I CAN do, even if just to share information."

Click here to read other stories.

Was your congregation among those impacted by Hurricane Irene? If so, we would love to hear your story, and perhaps even publish it on our website. Click here. 

LSS Kicks Off Year-Long Celebration

of Ministry

Lutheran Social Services is one of New England's oldest and largest social service organizations. Between this fall and next fall 2012, LSS will celebrate this fact throughout the regon. The anniversary theme is "Celebrating the LSS Family," honoring all LSS clients and their families. Events already are underway and will continue throughout the year ahead. Regular LSS communications -- such as LSS Today, e-newsletters and the website -- will offer regular updates as events are scheduled.  Click here to see latest anniversary events. Anyone reading this announcement is invited to attend!

A vocational discernment retreat for young adults ages 18-30, "Shining In; Shining Out: Exploring Life's Sacred Places," will be held Jan. 4-8 in the heart of Manhattan in New York City, sponsored by Project Connect. Download brochure. Project Connect, an initiative of the Eastern Cluster of Lutheran Seminaries, seeks to involve young adults in programs, projects, retreats and discussions about how God is calling them to build a life of service to others. Questions? Email or call 603-539-7257 in Freedom, N.H.

The Guild for Spiritual Guidance is hosting two gatherings in October in the Boston area to provide information on its program in spiritual formation and spiritual guidance certification. Gatherings are Oct. 13 at Andover-Newton Theological School, Newton Centre, and Oct. 15 at Boston University School of Theology. For more information, contact the Rev. Dianne Disston, apprentice program coordinator.