Around the Synod

Two Ordinations Set for Dec. 10

Two new pastors will be ordained Saturday, Dec. 10, at 2 p.m. St. John Lutheran Church, Sudbury, Mass. Rostered leaders are invited to vest and process. The color of the day is red. A reception will follow.

Andrew C. Heisen has accepted a call to serve as pastor at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church, Shrewsbury, Mass. Heisen is originally from South Salem, New York. A lifelong Lutheran, he was baptized at St. Andrew, Ridgefield, Conn. He graduated from Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., in 2001, majoring in music and computer science. From 2002-2006, he worked as a computer research analyst at Johnson & Johnson in New Jersey. Upon moving to Massachusetts, he began studying for the ministry. In May 2011, he received a Master of Divinity degree with honors from Andover Newton Theological School, Newton Centre, Mass., complemented by classes at Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. He completed his field education at Lutheran Church of the Newtons and served his internship at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, Arlington, Mass. He was a member of University Lutheran Church, Cambridge, Mass.

Kari Jo Verhulst has accepted a call to serve as campus pastor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, Mass. A member of Grace Lutheran Church, Needham, Mass., Verhulst received her Master of Divinity degree in 2003 from Weston Jesuit School of Theology, Cambridge, which is now a part of the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry. She did an additional year of Lutheran studies at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and completed her internship at Grace, Needham. She works as a part-time chaplain/spiritual care coordinator for Hospice of the Good Shepherd, Newton, Mass. During her studies at Weston Jesuit, Verhulst served as vicar for students at University Lutheran Church, Cambridge. Between college and graduate school, she spent more than eight years working for "Sojourners" magazine in Washington, D.C. She lives with her husband Ernesto Valiente and their daughter Hannah in Watertown, Mass.

Synod Office to close Nov. 24-25 for Thanksgiving

The Office of the Bishop at the Synod House in Worcester, Mass., will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday Nov. 24-25.

Parish Nurse, Health Minister Retreat Dec. 4-6 in Vermont

A parish nurse and health minister retreat, "Benedectine Spirituality: Reflections on The Rule and Applying it in our Daily Lives," will be held Dec. 4-6 at Blue Gentian Lodge, Londonderry, Vt., sponsored by Koinonia of Vermont. For more information, contact Anne Ancona at 508-869-6748 or anne@anconafamily.com.

'Citizens with the Saints':

2012 ELCA Youth Gathering

Registrations are coming in and momentum is building as congregations all over New England begin to prepare physically and spiritually for the 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering. The event will be held July 18-22, 2012, in New Orleans, and -- to date -- 34 synod congregations are being represented by 347 registrants. Taking its theme from Ephesians 2:14-20, the goal is to gather as "citizens with the saints," learning to love like Jesus by practicing discipleship through peacemaking that works for justice. The theme also blends the rich faith history, diverse cultures and arts of New Orleans with the communion of saints that is present whenever and wherever God's people gather. Questions? Contact Pr. Tim Roser, gathering coordinator for the New England Synod.  

December Issue of 'The Lutheran' Features Two Synod Congregations 

Mykala Bazzell, Good Shepherd, Laconia, N.H.

MERRY CHRISTMAS from "The Lutheran," the monthly magazine of the ELCA.The December issue, a resource for your celebration of this most holy season, includes contributions from two of our congregations in New Hampshire: Meet the two teen girls, who eagerly volunteered to lead the annual Christmas pageant at Good Shepherd, Laconia, N.H. (Youngchurch), and learn about the gift to remember that Carol Brudnicki from Community, Enfield, N.H., gave her children one Christmas ("Sign in, please ..."). Also, discover how to start a Christmas Store where children learn to give, find ways for families to hit "pause" during Advent, travel to Florida, where a congregation gives "joy" this season, and think about getting Christmas right by reading "Save the date." A free study guide for subscribers is available for many of these articles.

Doing What Matters to God:

A Reflection by Pr. Ross Goodman

God's Purpose for the New England Synod -- 

to go where love leads

to serve where love calls

God calls us to go where love leads and serve where love calls. Love is the main word in our mission and frankly, I like it. At first, a few people scratched their heads but that often happens when God reveals something new. Love is at the center of our mission to go and serve. That God is love has come to mean more and more to me over the years. I find that this equation offers us a helpful way to talk about God not just to ourselves but to a skeptical world.  I think it is what the world most needs to hear about God. More than a word, though, we need to know how love is at work in our lives and how to put it to work for the sake of God and our neighbors. 

The ultimate issue for all of us is whether we ever learn to love our God-neighbor. Worshiping God is where we begin. We come to places such as this to open our minds and spirits to the One who made us and loves us. But that alone is only a start. It shows us the things that count - compassion, forgiveness, active love. And it opens us to receive Christ's Spirit so that we can go and serve. Church is not only a place of worship. It's also a place where we can learn and practice the skills and art of loving - a "school," if you will. And this synod's mission is meant to gather us in the worship of God, and then to propel us out in service to our God-neighbor.

The Rev. Ross Goodman is the pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Arlington, Mass., and a member of the Doing What Matters Faciliteam. This excerpt was taken from a presentation he made at the Nov. 5 "Doing What Matters" event at St. Paul's. Learn more about the synod's focus on "Doing What Matters."