Southeastern Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
God's work. Our hands. E-News Weekly |
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Issue: #341 |
October 17, 2012 | |
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by Rachel Alley
Assistant to the Bishop for Young Adult and Youth Ministries
 So... how about you? What's God calling you to? To be a leader on a church council, to teach Sunday School, to be a mentor for confirmation, to be a youth leader, to be an assisting minister, to serve on the property or evangelism team, to set up communion, to work the sound board, to be a greeter, how about a pastor or diaconical minister, choir member, or an associate in ministry? There isn't a small calling in God's eyes. They all are big to him and he needs us all to build up the body of Christ. Week after week our congregations call people to serve, to live out their faith. Youth and young adults, and even those who are not so young, want to know that what they do with their life matters. They want to make a difference in this world. My hope is that our congregations are places where young people can serve, can share their ideas, can learn about church, and find out there is much joy when serving. We need our congregations to be affirming and invite our young people to take leadership roles. We care that our congregations are giving them a community where they can be equipped because they are leaders for the church and world now and for generations to come.
Read the synod blog. |
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2013 Election for Synod Secretary | |
An election for Synod Secretary will take place at the 2013 Southeastern Synod Assembly. This office is open to both clergy and lay members of the synod. The term of office is four years in length, beginning September 1, 2013 and ending August 31, 2017.
 The office of Secretary is a volunteer position which requires attendance at the Synod Assembly, approximately three Synod Council and Executive Committee meetings per year, and two or three meetings of the Southeastern Lutheran Holding Corporation Board of Directors. The Secretary works with synod staff to prepare minutes for all of these meetings. In addition, the Secretary regularly reviews the synod's constitution, bylaws, and continuing resolutions to identify areas in need of change and to suggest specific language for amendments.
An ad hoc nominating committee of the Synod Council has been appointed to consider potential nominees. The committee will recommend at least one individual to the Synod Council for official nomination. Note that all persons nominated by the Synod Council must undergo a criminal background check prior to the Synod Assembly.
Persons interested in being considered for possible nomination for Synod Secretary must complete the ONLINE BIOGRAPHICAL FORM by DECEMBER 1, 2012.
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Georgia Justice Commission Hearings | |
Date: Saturday October 27, 2012
Time: 12:00 PM-5:00 PM
Location: The auditorium in the Atlanta-Fulton Central Public Library, One Margaret Mitchell Square, Atlanta, GA 30303
The Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference (progressive African American faith leaders and their congregations in the United States) in partnership with the United Methodist Church is sponsoring both state specific and national public justice hearings. These hearings are designed to document the critical issues from the faith community that will be integral to public policy recommendations on the criminal justice system. Hearings will be held in various cities across the nation-visit www.sdpconference.info to find out more. |
Reformation Day at Emory 2012 | |
 The twenty-fifth Reformation Day at Emory will be held on Thursday, October 25, and takes as its theme "The Kessler Collection after Twenty-Five Years." This year's program celebrates the first twenty-five years of the Kessler Collection by noting its value for scholars, students and the church.
Special guest speaker Bishop Mark S. Hanson, Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, will present "A Living, Daring Confidence" at 1:45 PM in the Sanctuary of the Cannon Chapel.
Learn more. |
Funding Request Deadline Extended to November 1 | | |
 The Southeastern Synod's Budget and Finance Committee has extended the deadline for submitting proposals for funding in the 2014-15 Ministry Funding Plan. The new deadline is November 1. Agencies, institutions and other groups who wish to request synodical funding should submit their requests online, using the following link: 2014-15 Funding Request.
The deadline for committees and task forces to submit their requests has also been extended to November 1. Committee and Task Force chairpersons should submit their funding requests for the 2013-14 fiscal year, using the online form located at: Committee/TF Funding for 2013-14. |
Church Mutual Invites You to a Webinar | | |
One-hour, no-cost webinar on November 1
Title: Key Liability Risks for Religious Organizations
Speaker: Richard Hammar, senior editor of the Church Law & Tax Report newsletter
Date: Thursday, November 1, 2012
Time:11:00 AM - 12:00 PM CDT
Space is limited. Reserve your webinar seat now at:
https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/912143623. |
Synod Volunteer Disaster Response Coordinator Training Event | | |
November 1-3, 2012
Benedictine Sisters Retreat Center
Cullman, AL
If you are aware of someone in your area who would like to serve as a volunteer disaster response coordinator or, for more information,
please contact Pastor Morgan Gordy at pmgordy@gmail.com. |
Lutheran Volunteer Corps Highlight | |
Lutheran Volunteer Corps (LVC) unites full-time stipended Volunteers with financial supporters, non-profit organizations and ministries to work for peace with justice across the nation. In addition to working for justice, LVC Volunteers live together in intentional household communities of 4-7 people to encourage simple, sustainable living. Learn more at www.lutheranvolunteercorps.org.
Meet Peggy McKay
Placement: Midtown Assistance Center
Hometown: Boone, North Carolina
College: Davidson College
Major: Biology
Peggy McKay arrived in Atlanta in August with nine other LVC volunteers throughout the U.S. Her placement is Midtown Assistance Center (MAC), which provides emergency assistance to the working poor of Midtown and Downtown Atlanta. Peggy works directly with clients, either interviewing them over the phone or in person. She also organizes the men's clothing closet, clothing drives, and the MARTA assistance program. Later this year, she will facilitate volunteer groups during their service projects at MAC and lead educational activities concerning hunger, homelessness, and poverty.
A year of simplicity and sustainability
"Living simply has been both fulfilling and challenging. Probably transportation has been the biggest adjustment so far. When our sustainable, affordable options are walking, biking or taking public transit, it takes a long time to get to places. I am very glad that I have a bike, and I am so glad Atlanta has the MARTA train system. Most of the time, the walks and train rides are a great time for reflection, enjoying the view, or for striking up a conversation with another volunteer or friendly stranger. Living simply has also allowed all of us to be creative in how we look for and define fun.
Living in intentional community
"The community part is going well also. We figured out we all need individual time each day and each week but that we can have a lot of fun together too. We have challenged each other to communicate with clarity and respect even when we think about things really differently. A former LV told me that "living in community causes people to rub up against each other's rough edges." But the quality of discussions, the supportiveness of the environment, the insights and fun we have had together have greatly outweighed the negativity of any tensions in the group.
Goals and dreams
"My ideal job would be a mixture of middle-school science classroom teaching and research on science teaching and learning best practices with an emphasis on understanding the behavioral and cognitive processes that help children learn science. More simply put, I want to be an educational psychologist and a classroom science teacher at the same time. That being said, I am approaching this year as a year of discernment: I am open to responding to whatever I am called to do." |
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Peace Lutheran Church in Spring Hill, TN hosted "Eat the Meat to Meet the Need" on Saturday October 13. This BBQ and food contest was a fund raiser for Lutheran Disaster Response; city officials served as judges. Aprons were awarded to the winner of each category. In addition, to all the delicious food there was great entertainment by
 | | Punky |
folks from both Peace and Faith Lutheran Church in Lebanon, TN. Lutheran Services of Tennessee sponsored the Kid's Zone, where those participating in the fun made disaster preparedness boxes, painted reminder rocks and constructed prayer cubes.
A new feature this year was Punky's Disaster Dump. Punky, a miniature horse, was in a temporary corral with a numbered grid in the grass. For $5 a square participants could guess on which square Punky would...well, poop. Half of the winnings were to go to LDR and the other half to whoever guessed the numbered square. Wouldn't you know it? Punky pooped on the line between squares, making Ann Smith from Faith Lutheran Church and Judy Walstrom from Memorial Lutheran Church both winners. The real winner was Lutheran Disaster Response to which both Ann and Judy donated their winnings.
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| View the entire Synod Calendar | | |
October 19-20
Youth Ministry Training at Lutheranch
October 25
Reformation Day at Emory
October 28
Ecumenical Reformation Service
Resurrection, Newnan, GA
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Festival Eucharist Service for All Saints
First, Nashville, TN
November 1
Synod Funding Requests due
November 8-10
Candidacy Committee meets
Synod Office
Nov 10-11
All-TN Youth Gathering
Trinity, Tullahoma, TN
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ELCA-Southeastern Synod
100 Edgewood Ave. NE, Suite 1600
Atlanta, GA 30303
404-589-1977
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