 Joys and Cares |
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Do you have a submission for Joys, Cares and Celebrations? If so, please submit it via e-mail to Diane Ryan.
Note...
You can subscribe to the ELCA's Prayer Ventures monthly calendars of prayers here.
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We pray for...
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The family of The Rev. Peter J. L. Perella, 35, director for worship formation and liturgical resources at the ELCA churchwide organization, who died on Feb. 24 of sinus cancer. The funeral will be held March 2 at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Lancaster, Pa. Kristan Seaford, wife of Brook (seminarian), and her family as she continues to recover from recent surgeries. Brittany Durocher Brownfield, daughter of Rob (AIM, St John's/Salisbury) & Leslie Durocher, who is home in Tulsa, OK recovering from surgery. Spencer Craig & Camden Michael Herring, born Feb. 24 to Katie & Daniel Herring (members, St. James/Rockwell). Proud grandparents are Pastor Craig and Susan Sigmon, (Reformation/Taylorsville). The newborn twins had to be hospitalized for breathing health precautions. Pastor David Martin (retired) as he undergoes medical testing. Pastor Graham Nahouse (retired) recovering from surgery on February 17. Pastor Clarence Sifford (retired) recovering from out-patient surgery on February 13. Pastor Mary Louise Sitton (St. Luke/Mt. Ulla) recovering from surgery on February 12. Arlene Bostian, 93, mother of Phil Bostian, NCLMM interim director, who is recovering from a fall and broken bones.
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We give thanks for...
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The birth of Kate Amaya Sakamoto on Feb. 9 in Jacksonville, FL, to Kristin and Robert Sakamoto. Kristin served several years as Music and Arts Director at Community in Christ/Cornelius. Kate is the first grandchild of Pastor Richard and Shirley Graf (interim, Kimball/Kannapolis).
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From Bishop Bolick's office
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Lenten Message
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Fellow Lenten pilgrims,
Rita and I plan to see the movie "Noah," but we already know how it will end. Noah and his family will ride the waters in an ark (nave) and live!
Continue reading...
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Don't leave money on the table
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$48,000. That's how much money we'll leave on the table if 65% of our leaders (and their spouses) with ELCA-primary benefits do not take the confidential Mayo Clinic Health Assessment. In January, 61 eligible people completed it; we need 116 more to take the survey before April 30 to reach our 65%. Please take it now!
Watch this video to be further inspired!
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Rostered leader transitions
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Pastor Tom Cogan will be installed as chaplain of LSC's Trinity Ridge (Hickory) on Saturday, March 22, at 3:00 p.m. and as chaplain of Trinity Village (Hickory) on Sunday, March 30, at 2:00 p.m.
Deborah Johnson will be consecrated as a Diaconal Minister on Sunday, March 30, at 10:30 a.m., at St. Luke's, Conover. She will serve as the Executive Director of the Children's Advocacy & Protection Center, Hickory.
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Ministry Emphasis - March
LSC Child & Family Services
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| Breaking Down Barriers |
 John* wanted what a lot of adults want - a place to call his own. But for John, who suffers from a severe and persistent mental illness, this was a challenging goal to accomplish. Helping John and others who are diagnosed with a mental illness work toward their goals is just one of the initiatives of ACTT, a program of Lutheran Services Carolinas. ACTT stands for Assertive Community Treatment Team, and it is an innovative approach that reaches out to severe and persistent mentally-ill adults who have not had success with traditional treatment programs.
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| Krier newest LSC board member | 
Paige Krier of Raleigh is the newest member of the Lutheran Services Carolinas board, serving as the bishop's representative for the North Carolina Synod.
Continue reading...
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| News |
| Synod Facebook posts on the rise |
Please check out our synod Facebook page, NC Synod, ELCA, and "Like" and "Follow" our page. We're increasing our posts in an effort to tell the synod's story to more people. Once you've found us there, please invite your friends, colleagues, and parishioners to "Like" it as well. And, don't just "Like" it, but comment, share, post and engage with your fellow NC Synod folks. This is a great way to communicate our shared ministry from Manteo to Murphy. We look forward to seeing you there! |
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Connelly reflects on Joint Ministry Celebration
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The Rev. Ron Rinn, The Rev. Rachel Connelly, The Rev. David Guthrie (Moravian Church Southern Province), Ms. Sandy Collette, Water of Life Lutheran Church President and Mr. Charles Baldwin ,Vice-Chair of Covenant Moravian Church
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We had a wonderful, Spirit-led day with our Joint Ministry Worship Celebration and my installation as Pastor to Covenant Moravian Church on Sunday, Feb. 16 at 5 p.m. The sanctuary was filled to overflowing with 187 in attendance, including an eighteen-piece brass band from Raleigh Moravian Church.
Continue reading...
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Duke Student Preacher, February 23
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Duke University Chapel selected Lutheran senior Hannah Ward to give this year's student sermon at Duke Chapel on February 23. Hannah, 21, is a religion major from Asheville. Her home congregation is Nativity, Arden. Each year Duke Chapel selects a student to preach. Hannah is the first Lutheran student to be chosen for this honor. Her sermon "Everybody's Perfect" was based on the Leviticus and Matthew texts in the lectionary for the 7th Sunday after Epiphany. Hannah's sermon can be read online.
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Campus Ministries awarded Lilly grants
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 UNC-CH Lutheran Campus Ministry (2012) and
Cooperative Christian Ministry-Charlotte (2013) are the ministries which received grants.
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Augsburg Fortress news
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Augsburg Fortress executive Beth Lewis has announced that AF is in the process of moving their warehousing function from Grove City, Ohio, to PBD in Bolingbrook, IL. Read Lewis' blog about this transition.
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Congregations
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| St. Matthew's Lenten opportunities |
"Singing A Holy Lent," a hymn fest and concert, on Friday, March 7, 7pm at St. Matthew's, 612 S. College Rd, Wilmington, featuring Andrew Scanlon, organ professor at East Carolina University and organist/choirmaster at St. Paul's Episcopal in Greenville. The St. Matthew's Choir will provide anthems and hymn descants. The evening concludes with sung Prayer at the Close of Day. Lenten Prayer Retreat at St. Matthew's, Wilmington, on Saturday, March 8, 8:30-4pm, with guest teacher, the Rev. Dr. James Bennett, retired ELCA bishop of Southwestern Texas Synod. Dr. Bennett's Bible study topic is "The Church: Who and What She Is," three sessions on Paul's letter to the Ephesians. We begin with sung Morning Prayer and conclude with sung Evening Prayer. Retired Bishop Bennett will also be the guest preacher for the three weekend Eucharists. Cost is $10 and includes lunch. Please register on or before March 7 by emailing chorn@stmatthewsch.org. |
Upcoming Events
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Reminder: Global Mission Consultation
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Registration deadline was March 3 - call to see if you can still register. The 2014 Region 9 Global Mission Consultation will be held in Columbia, SC, on March 22-23 at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. To register, download the registration form and submit it to Tiffany Pieters in the Region 9 office by email or by fax (803-461-3380) no later than Monday, March 3. Call Tiffany to see if you may still register.
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| LRU Speaker Guy Nave | |
The Lenoir-Rhyne University Institute for Faith and Learning will welcome Dr. Guy Nave to campus on Thursday, March 13. Dr. Nave will be speaking in the Belk Centrum at 7:00 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.
Dr. Nave's presentation is titled: "'Jesus loves hates me this I know, for the Bible tells me so': Scripture, Christianity, and the Construction of Meaning." It will examine how scriptural "meanings" are socially constructed. While there is often much debate among Christians regarding which socially-constructed meanings are "right" and "wrong," this talk will examine how the socially-constructed meanings we embrace say far more about our beliefs and us than they say about either God or the Bible.
Dr. Nave is a professor of New Testament at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. An ordained elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, his interests range from the Gospel of Luke to race, politics and social change.
For more information on the Institute for Faith and Learning Series, contact Dr. David Ratke at 828-328-7183 or Dr. Jonathan Schwiebert at 828-328-7184.
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| Bread for the World Conference |
Saturday, April 5
The Bread for the World Conference: Ending Hunger: Compassion Igniting Justice will be held at Christ United Methodist Church, 410 N. Holden Rd, Greensboro, from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, April 5. The conference features the Rev. Dr. J. Herb Nelson, Presbyterian Social Justice Office; Gene Nichol, UNC Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity; the Rev. Dr. Chuck Campbell, Duke Divinity School; and Frank Stasio, The State of Things, WUNC. Shannon Axtell Martin, Regional Consultant for Partners in Health and Wholeness, will also present.
Tickets are $25. Click here for more information. Advertise in your congregation with this poster
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LRU Spring Concerts
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The Lenoir-Rhyne University A Cappella Choir and College Singers, directed by Paul D. Weber and the Lenoir-Rhyne University Brass Ensemble, Christopher Nigrelli, Conductor, will perform in North Carolina and throughout Florida this spring. Accompanying the choir will be Jeana Neal Borman, Lenoir-Rhyne University collaborative artist.
The concert schedule includes appearances in North Carolina on February 27, 5:15 pm at Duke University Chapel in Durham; March 27, 7:00 pm at St. Mark's/Asheville; March 30, 7:30 pm at St. Andrew's /Hickory; and April 5, 7:00 pm at Grace/Boone.
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50 Forward: Inspired for Life
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| Highlights of Italy |
October 31 - November 10 A "Highlights of Italy" tour will be hosted by Pastor Charlie Zimmerman, October 31 - November 10. This 11-day tour departs from Charlotte and includes in its itinerary Venice, Florence, Sorrento and Rome. It is a trip of a lifetime at a bargain price. Contact Pastor Zimmerman for more information. |
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Called to be a Living Voice
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July 19-23, 2015, Atlanta Hold the dates! Called to be a Living Voice: Vocation - Reformation - Mission, the Worship Jubilee of the ELCA and the Biennial Conference of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians will be held in Atlanta in 2015.
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| Make or Break for Lent |
 During the six weeks of Lent, you and your congregation are invited to focus on your habits around food. With Make or Break for Lent, a wellness activity from Portico, you'll encourage one another to make a healthy eating habit or break an unhealthy one. By taking an intentional step toward better health, you'll help each other reflect God's many gifts to you and live as whole and holy people of God. Participants will choose one eating habit to change during Lent, identify potential barriers using the Lazarus scripture, commit to change using a finger labyrinth, and practice the habit for six weeks. Portico developed this special Lenten version for anyone. Consider practicing with friends, ministry teams--or even as a whole community of faith! Visit this site for more information. |
| Starting Smart Workshop |
March 28
Is your congregation considering a new ministry project? Starting Smart: How to Start and Sustain a New Ministry Project is a one-day workshop from Wheat Ridge Ministries that aims to serve as a catalyst for congregation leaders to start and sustain new ministries. It will be held atChrist Lutheran Church, 4519 Providence Rd., Charlotte, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on March 28. The day will be a learning experience through which inspired leaders will be enabled to analyze and experience the essential steps for long-term ministry success. Presentations will focus on key aspects necessary to start and sustain human care ministries. Specifically, the day will address considering readiness, ministry planning, funding, resources and grants available for assistance.
Cost: $15 per person or $30 per congregation team of 2 or more (includes a light breakfast and lunch). For questions, please call Wheat Ridge Ministries at 800.762.6748.
Learn more and register here.
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| "Conscious Aging" article |
For pastoral psychotherapist Catherine Carstarphen's article "Conscious Aging" and other resources on aging see Presbyterian Psychological Services' February 2014 newsletter. |
| Creation Justice Ministries newsletter |
Four times a year, Creation Justice Ministries puts out Capsule which includes upcoming events, resources, and opportunities for you to get involved in efforts related to creation care all across the country. |
| Always Being Made New |
Introducing Always Being Made New: The Campaign for the ELCA which offers an opportunity for all of us in this church to deepen and expand the mission and ministries to which we are committed, including those of ELCA Global Church Sponsorship: Missionaries and Young Adults in Global Mission, International Leaders and Global Ministries. Please watch this video and prayerfully consider how you can help do God's work in the world through the Campaign for the ELCA. |
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Act 2Day 4Tomorrow
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Act 2Day 4Tomorrow is an overnight youth lock-in from ELCA World Hunger. This program helps youth learn how to help eradicate hunger and poverty in the world. During the spiritual practice of fasting, they will engage in activities and times of reflection centered on seven faith practices. Materials for the program have everything you need, including an activities booklet, schedules, a promotional poster and more!
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| Notes from The Lutheran |
It's tough out there: The March issue of The Lutheran takes a look at maneuvering in today's "rocky vocational road." Find out how Lutherans, strengthened by their faith and understanding of vocation, cope with the challenges in today's job market. To help your discussion of this article, visit The Lutheran online for a study guide (click on "study guides" on the left-hand side). Our synod congregation, Advent/Charlotte, is featured in a story on page24.
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| ELCA urges support for refugees |
"The most vulnerable Syrian refugees should be resettled in the United States" and U.S. diplomatic efforts should be increased to bring about peace in Syria, said an ELCA statement submitted to a U.S. Senate subcommittee. See here. |
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New Malaria Campaign resources
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Look for new resources this year including a World Malaria Day action kit and a Vacation Bible School curriculum to help you learn more about the impact Lutheran malaria programs are making in Africa and to help you tell the story to your friends, congregation and synod. See here.
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Next Issue
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Next E-news will be published March 18. Submissions should be sent to editor, Bob Shoffner by March 12. |
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