Schoepf to Be Ordained Aug. 29 in Maine

Ellen Schoepf, who has been called as part-time associate pastor of St. Ansgar Lutheran Church, Portland, Maine, will be ordained Wednesday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m. at St. Ansgar Lutheran Church. Rostered leaders are invited to process; the color of the day is red.

Schoepf sensed a call to ministry while still in high school. However, her life took a very different course as she majored in organ performance, minored in piano performance and raised three young sons. A life­-long Lutheran, she grew up in West Michigan. Over the years, she served as organist, youth choir director and music director at Presbyterian and Lutheran congregations in West Michigan, where she grew up. She also served as both education director and principal keyboard player for the West Michigan Symphony. She also chaired the worship committee for the North/West Lower Michigan Synod, as well as serving on the synod council as as a member of the synod's anti-racism team. A year after moving to Maine, Schoepf finally decided to follow the call that had been pursuing her for most of her life. She received her Master of Divinity degree in 2011 from Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio. She and her husband Ken now live in Gorham, Maine.

Two Ordained as Pastors Aug. 11

Two women were ordained Saturday, Aug. 11 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Chelmsford, Mass., to serve as pastors in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Pr. Manke, Bp.Payne, Pr. Read

The Rev. Rachel Manke has accepted the call to serve as pastor of First Lutheran Church, Malden, Mass. In May, Pr. Manke received her Master of Divinity degree from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, where she was senior class president. She interned at First Lutheran Church, Waltham, Mass. Prior to seminary, she worked in marketing for the WNBA's Connecticut Sun basketball team and briefly in television for NBC in New York. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication with a minor in theatre at the University of Rhode Island, Kingston, in 2001. A Connecticut native, she was baptized and confirmed at Christ Lutheran Church (LCMS), Niantic, Conn., and entered seminary as a member of St. Mark Lutheran Church, Norwich, Conn.

The Rev. M. Kathleen Read has accepted the call as associate pastor of Emanuel Lutheran Church, Manchester, Conn. Born in New Orleans, La., and raised in Old Greenwich, Conn., Pr. Read received a Master of Divinity degree in 2011 from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. She graduated from Fairfield (Conn.) University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and spent most of her professional life prior to seminary as a freelance writer and marketing consultant. For the past few years, she has contributed to "NES News,"the weekly online newsletter of the New England Synod. In 2000, she joined First Lutheran Church, West Barnstable, Mass. She formerly served on the Synod Council.

Register by Sept. 7 for Bishop Payne's Retirement Party Sept. 15 

Register by Sept. 7 to join the many honoring Bishop Margaret G. Payne for 12 years of faithful service. Her retirement party will be held Saturday, Sept, 15, beginning at noon at the Pleasant Valley Country Club, Sutton, Mass. Lunch will be served at 1 p.m. Bishop Payne retires Aug. 31. Registration for the celebration is only online. Seating is limited. Each person must register separately, using a unique email address. Questions? Email Lyn Morin at lmorin@nesynod.org.

Retirement Gift for Bishop Payne 

As a retirement gift for Bishop Margaret G. Payne, monetary donations are being accepted in 10 dollar increments from $10 up to $200 to benefit the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) Libraries Project: Opening a World of Possibilities, which provides books and cataloging software for the ELCJHL Library. You can make a contribution online when you register for her retirement celebration Sept. 15 or you may send a check payable to "New England Synod" (with the notation "Bishop Retirement Gift" on the memo line) to: New England Synod, PO Box 13, Worcester, MA  01614-0013. Questions? Contact Lyn Morin.

Parishioners Take Money from Offering Basket!

Usually people put money in the offering plate at church. However, what if the reverse happened, and people took money from the offering plate? Members of Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Norwood, Mass., did just that earlier this year with a "Reverse Collection," based on an article in The Lutheran. Fifty-one individuals and families each took $50 from the offering basket and went into the world to do good deeds. "For many Lutherans, talking about our faith is hard," said Pr. Ed Saling. "Sometimes we're better at sharing our faith non-verbally by being generous with our time and gifts. The Reverse Collection was a great way for members of Emmanuel to share the Good News of God's love!" Learn what happened.

What's your story? How are you Doing What Matters? Tell us and we'll post it to the synod website as one of our mission stories.

Synod World Hunger Event Set for Sept. 22, 23 

At the Synod Assembly in June, we confirmed our commitment to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal and the Malaria Campaign through Resolutions 12-01 and 12-02. Find out how your congregation may participate in new ways. Come to a Synod World Hunger Event Saturday, Sept. 22, at Emanuel Lutheran Church, Manchester, Conn., or Sunday, Sept. 23, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Chelmsford, Mass. The program director of ELCA World Hunger, Mikka McCracken, will be keynote speaker. Workshops will include learning about the ELCA Malaria Campaign; Alternative Giving Fairs, ELCA Good Gifts and Other Best Practices; Telling Hunger Stories and Sharing Skills to Work Well with Others. Click here for the Event Webpage which includes a downloadable flyer, a link to the resolutions and registration information..

Deaconess Community Offers Tuition-Free Course on Servant Ministry 

Explore the role of servant ministry Jan. 14-18, 2013, with the Deaconess Community of the ELCA at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn. This free course introduces the theological and social contexts of diaconal ministry throughout history, provides an opportunity to discuss vocation and diaconal calling, and awards three hours of academic credit. Books, lodging and transporation are the responsibility of each student.  Brochure available. Contact Sister Sylvia Countess at deaconess.dove@elca.org.