Synod Servant E-News

April 26, 2016

Joys and Cares

We pray for...

Pastor Robert Allen (retired) who is having knee replacement surgery this week.

Pastor Bill Mims, Jr. (retired) upon the death of his father Bill Mims, Sr., on April 13.

Pastor John Boyd, Jr. (retired) upon the death of his brother James T. Boyd, 84, on April 8 in La Grange, Ga.

Pastor Bernie Hess (retired) who was hospitalized last week for the replacement of a stent.

Mrs. Ruby Smith, wife of Pastor Bill Smith (retired), is hospitalized at Catawba Valley Medical Center following a stroke.

Bea Petrea, wife of Pastor Pete Petrea, (retired) and Pastor Linda Voelker (retired) who are recovering from surgeries.

Continue to keep in prayers

Pastors Hugh Mozingo, C.P. Fisher, Sam Shores, Jan Huntley, Lou Bauer, Gary Weant and Beverly Rust, wife of Pastor Ted Rust.

We give thanks for...

The birth of Naomi Virginia Parker, 12^th grandchild of Pastor Bill (retired) and Karla Trexler. Naomi was born to Devin and Rebekah (Trexler) Parker in Knoxville, TN on March 29.

The birth of James Kristian (Christian) Fisher on April 12 to Pastor Linn (Our Saviour, Southern Pines) and Jenny Joy Fisher.

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.

From Bishop Smith's office

Bishop Smith's reflections

Given that synods formed in this country over 200 years ago to help with theological education and providing clergy to congregations, an obvious and ongoing challenge of the office of bishop is the growing number of congregations who are too small to afford a pastor. Given that our church requires four years of college and four years of seminary in preparation for ordination, few are able financially to pursue this vocation only to serve in a part-time call.

Rostered Leader transitions

Carolyn Remaklus, whose appointment as a Supervisory Fellow in Pastoral Care Services at Rex Hospital, Raleigh, was reported in the April 12 E-News, has reminded us that she is not yet a pastor. She says she is, however, praying for ordination soon.

The people of Mt. Olive, Hickory, bade their pastor, David (Dave) R. Keck, his wife Nina, and children Rachel and Robert farewell on Sunday, April 10. Pastor Keck served Mt. Olive for fifteen years and recently accepted a call to St. Mark's, Mooresville.

Bouman to represent churchwide organization

Our representative from the churchwide organization to assembly will be the Rev. Dr. Stephen Bouman who currently serves as Executive Director of the Congregational and Synodical Mission unit of the ELCA. Pastor Bouman began his ministry in the churchwide organization in February, 2008. Read his full bio. He will bring greetings from Bishop Eaton and offer a report about current churchwide ministries.

Ministry Emphasis-April

Agap�+Kure Beach Ministries' Stories of Faith

Zac came to summer camp for four one-week sessions and participated in some exciting programs. His first week-beach camp at Kure Beach-Zac surfed, kayaked, lived and played on the beach. In his second week, Campfirmation, relationships with his pastor, friends from home and God were strengthened. The third week was nature camp and Zac encounted God's creation in special ways through pond study, animal tracking and some of the brightest stars he had ever seen. Week four was a blast as he and friends built model rockets and launched them each day.

At the closing worship at end of the fourth week, just after he had received a personal affirmation (blessing) from his counselor, I asked Zac, "Of all the things you have done in four weeks of camp what was your favorite?" Without hesitation he said, "This! This worship service right here. When my counselor shares with me what my gifts are and how much God loves me for who I am."

Send your young people to camp. Do it now! Together, we will fulfill the Baptismal Covenant. Visit our website to learn more or call (919) 552-9421 today!

Ministry Emphasis-May

LSC Senior Services

A Call to Serve

It is a typical Sunday at a Lutheran Services Carolinas (LSC) senior living community. Lunch has been served, and residents are spending their day relaxing. Some play a game of cards in the common area, while others read the paper or visit with family members. Soon residents will make their way down the hall to the chapel where church is getting ready to start.

Looking ahead

On October 31, 2017, the world will mark the 500^th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. With his symbolic gesture of nailing the 95 Theses to the chapel door in Wittenberg, Martin Luther sparked a blaze of reform that would change Christian worship and teaching for centuries. In Luther's same spirit of inquiry and ecumenism, the NC Synod is affirming the theme "Looking Forward, Ever-Reforming" for its two-year commemoration of the Reformation anniversary.

News

New development team member

Ellen Watts recently joined the development team of Lutheran Services Carolinas (LSC) as its donor relations specialist. In her new role, she will work closely with Kristen Kitchen, LSC's director of donor relations, in the areas of church relations, special events, development communications, and volunteer management. She is a graduate of UNC-Wilmington. Prior to joining LSC, Watts was employed by the Children's Museum of Winston-Salem as the visitor experiences associate and the marketing and development coordinator.

--Katie Scarvey, Communications Specialist, Lutheran Services Carolinas

Book commemorates LRU anniversary

If Lenoir-Rhyne University is in your heart, then A Fair Star Rises belongs on your shelf. The book, published in commemoration of the 125th Anniversary of LRU, features a unique combination of the work of authors, from the present and past, which captures the essence and celebrates the evolution of Lenoir-Rhyne.

Day Camps--ages 10 to 90!

Did you know Lutheridge's ministry extends beyond its grounds? Every week of summer camp, two to three teams of summer staff travel to different churches and facilities across the southeast to host day camps for elementary-aged children. Last year, "Lutheroad" extended not only to a different location but also using a new concept-an intergenerational day camp in a retirement home. This program was unheard of until Lutheridge and LSC joined forces at Trinity Village in Hickory!

Residents of Trinity Village participated in activities like songs, skits, and camp games, with 17 elementary-aged campers. Residents and campers worked together to create a banner with handprints and footprints of campers and residents! It was a wonderful reminder of how all God's children, young and old, come together as one body, one church, one community in Christ. Ethan, age 11, said, "I liked the entire week, but I especially enjoyed the songs and skits!" Lewis White, resident of Trinity Village, said he was already looking forward to having the campers back next summer.

If you are interested in having Lutheridge staff organize a day camp at your church or any other location in summer 2016, please contact Lori Bode at (828) 209-6304.

ELCA news stories

Current news stories of interest include one about new strategies to address theological education, and another about an initiative to address voting rights.

Events

Blossoms of Hope

May 7

Lutheran Services Carolinas (LSC) wants to remind congregations that "Blossoms of Hope" is coming up on Saturday, May 7. Please consider bringing fresh flowers or plants--either purchased or homegrown--to a local LSC senior living community or supported living residence between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. This is a great opportunity for youth groups or Sunday School classes to share God's love and the beauty of spring with those served by LSC. There are also landscaping projects for those interested in volunteering at an LSC program. Learn more or contact Ellen Watts at 704-603-1696.

Colloquy for Mid-Career Clergy

Accepting applications through May 15

August 15-17, 2016, and January 23-25, 2017, are the dates for the second Colloquy for Mid-Career Clergy, part of the Pastoral Excellence Program of the Center for Lifelong Learning at Columbia Theological Seminary. The colloquy is designed for mid-career clergy (ten to twenty years into full time ministry) who are seeking to participate in a professional formative conversation or to reflect on their vocational experience, and assess their ability to meet the leadership demands/needs of their organization. This event is by application only. For additional information, including the link to the application, visit this site.

Camp Agap�

May 6-7

Plan for a different sort of Mother's Day. Sign up for our Mother Daughter Retreat today! Craft, zip the zip-line, canoe, explore nature, shoot an arrow, and make one-of-a-kind memories that will set this Mother's Day apart from all the rest! Click here to register, or contact Melissa for more information.

May 14

A fun-filled day of camp activities--canoeing, archery, rockets, zip-line, etc. plus a GaGa ball tournament, and a pie competition--AGAP�-GANZA! is for the whole family, church group or youth group! Click here to register your teams and /or click here to register your pies now! Contact Melissa for more information.

Prepare/Enrich

June 13

Please see this flyer for information regarding the Prepare/Enrich training on June 13 in Raleigh. New material is available on a Parenting version of the on line assessment. This is a great tool to use in working with couples whose concerns are around raising their children. Please join us. Call Carl Terry with questions at 919-559-2696.

"Race Matters: What the Emanuel 9 Massacre Teaches"

June 15

Click here for information about this important event sponsored by the Academy of Faith and Leadership of Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in conjunction with The Honorable Reverend Clementa Pinckney Foundation.

Congregations

Grace, Hendersonville, hosts "Do Tell Storyfest"

As part of a region-wide storytelling festival, Grace, Hendersonville, will host the "Do Tell Storyfest" from 3 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 1 in Stull Hall. This storytelling for the 21st Century family-friendly program is suitable for ages 10 to 110, and proceeds will go to Homes for Youth in Henderson County. Tickets are $12 per person and will be available at the door on the day of the event, 30 minutes before the show. The public is invited for an exceptional opportunity to enjoy transformative, imaginative and engaging storytelling at its best.

Learn more...

Resources

May issue of Living Lutheran

The following articles will appear in the NC Synod insert in the May issue of Living Lutheran (formerly The Lutheran):

An overview of what to expect at the 2016 NC Synod Assembly, June 3-4
A Lutheran Services Carolinas article, "Code Angel: Rituals in long-term care communities comfort families, staff"
An NC Synod Fall Convocation article, "Why we need it" by Pr. Jennifer Shimota Krushas
"Reformation 500 in N.C. - Looking Forward, Ever-Reforming," by Pr. Eric Childers

Look for our next synod insert in the September issue of Living Lutheran.

Region 9 archives newsletter

Read the full Spring 2016 issue of the Archival Survey, newsletter of the James R Crumley Archives. Learn more about the heritage of the Lutheran church in the Southeast and how we preserve it.

Top 10 church faux pas that turn off millennials

The reality in the church world is that many pastors are in a different generation than the millennials they are trying to reach.

From the ELCA's Executive for Worship

Christ is risen. Christ is risen, indeed. Alleluia!
Let the sound flow into our ears and the truth stream into our hearts.
And do not be afraid to cry.
If you are a new creature in Christ you will be happy in your tears.
- Gerard S. Sloyan

This quote from Gerard Sloyan was true for me during the Easter Vigil that I attended this year. I felt my eyes swell with tears, not only at the beauty of the service and of the night itself, but the baptism of an adult. Those of us already baptized renewed our baptismal vows and deepened our commitment to our baptismal callings.

Global Mission

Zambia: Constructing new churches

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zambia is growing faster than the space available. The church has 6,000 members and 40 worshiping communities. Most of these communities lack durable buildings to worship in. Through a new initiative, ELCA members are aiming to raise $500,000 to build 15 permanent church buildings in Zambia. Give now.

Calling all Thrivent Choice members!

We are thrilled to share that ELCA Global Church Sponsorship has recently been added as an organization that is available to receive funds through the Thrivent Choice program. If you are a Thrivent member, consider supporting ELCA Global Church Sponsorship with your Thrivent Choice dollars.

Global Mission Careers

Our career page is online. From long-term global mission personnel to volunteer opportunities, the career page has a list of the positions that are currently available. We invite you to consider the ways in which you may be called to one of the openings. Share this page with others you think may be interested in any of these positions.

On social media?

Do you have a Twitter, Facebook or Instagram account? So do we! Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and join us on our new Instagram page to stay even more up to date on the stories from the global church.

Positions

Part-time youth coordinator

Youth Activity Coordinator needed for approximately 16 hours per month to plan, coordinate and facilitate youth activities for 6th - 12th grade youth at Living Saviour, Charlotte. High School diploma required, BA preferred. Prior experience in coordinating youth activities preferred. Sound judgment in supervising youth; strong written and verbal communications skills; must be energetic, motivated and demonstrate initiative and drive; must have Christian/Protestant background with working knowledge of theology and practices. Compensation: $12 - $15 per hour.

Send resume and cover letter to search committee. For further information contact, Bruce Melosh.

Quick Links

Congregations in the Call Process

Career Opportunities

Did You Know...

The ELCA's first comprehensive campaign, Always Being Made New: The Campaign for the ELCA, is celebrating the completion of its second year with $80 million in cash gifts and gift commitments, representing 40 percent of the five-year, $198 million goal by Jan. 31, 2019. In addition, the ELCA has received another $17 million in planned gifts commitments to the priorities of the campaign. "This is exciting news about the campaign. At a time when people are concerned about contracting resources, we see the generosity of our members expanding," said the Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, ELCA presiding bishop. "At a time when some wonder if the church has the capacity to be engaged in the world, we are actually extending our work. Truly, together we can do more."

Contact Information:

Bob Shoffner, Editor

Rick Godby, Technical Support