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Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
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E-News Weekly

Issue: #347

November 28, 2012

In This Issue
Synod E-News Changes
God Moments
Nominations for Synod Secretary
MLK Day Service and Celebration
8% to Go at Lutheranch
Eating with Justice
At God's Table
Prayer for Unity
Around the Globe
Around the Synod
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Synod Staff 

ELCA News Service 

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Notice: Synod E-News Changes



Would you like a story or announcement included in an issue of the Synod E-News Weekly? Send all future submissions, suggestions, and questions to our newest staff member,  Associate in Ministry Michelle Angalet, at [email protected]. Thank you!




God Moments 
By Ms. Rachel Alley
Assistant to the Bishop for Young Adult and Youth Ministries
 
  
 
So where have you seen God lately? That was the first question asked by our chaplains at the Youth and Family Retreat at Lutheridge this week. Pastor Ham and Pastor Vickie from St. John's Lutheran in Jacksonville, FL,always know how to ask the questions to get things stirred up. The room in Upper Kohnjoy stuffed with youth workers fell silent. No one said anything. You could tell everyone was racking
their brain thinking about where they'd seen God. Dead silence. And I was wondering, am I crazy? I work with youth and adults, and I can't think about when I saw God last.

"So Where Have You Seen God Lately? ... ponder it," says Pastor Ham.

As I began to ponder, I began to think about the drive that morning from Jacksonville to Lutheridge. How beautiful the sun rising over the marsh was. A God moment. I began to think about the time spent in Atlanta with my family over Thanksgiving and the engagement party of my nephew last Saturday. God moments. At All-Tennessee this month, I watched one of our young adults lead worship and mentor youth, just like he'd been mentored too, 5 or 6 years ago. A God moment. A couple of weeks ago in my church, I watched AJ, a little boy who has sat with his parents in front of us for 5 years drawing airplanes and rockets on his Sunday bulletin and squirming during the service, serve as the crucifer. AJ held the Cross high as he entered the nave and in his quiet voice said "go in peace" as he took our cups at the communion table. A God moment. Since diagnosed with Alzheimer's, my dad's personality hasn't been quite the same as when I was growing up. He's much more affectionate with my mom, even holds her hand and kisses her in my presence (which never happened when I was younger). He tells me how much he loves me and can't wait for me to come again to visit. Precious. Precious, God moments....
 
Read the rest on the synod blog
 
Nominations for Synod Secretary: Due December 1

Persons interested in being considered for possible nomination for Synod Secretary must complete the ONLINE BIOGRAPHICAL FORM by DECEMBER 1, 2012. The election for this officer position will take place at the 2013 Southeastern Synod Assembly in Chattanooga.

The position of secretary 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. It 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.

Questions may be addressed to members of the ad hoc nominating committee: Pastor Terri Stagner-CollierMr. Gary Pederson, and  Ms. Mercedes Jackson.

Lutheran MLK Day of Service 

The Southeastern Synod, Lutheran Services of Georgia, and the Lutheran Theological Center in Atlanta (LTCA) invite your congregation to host a congregational Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on or near January 21, 2013. Consider organizing one or more service projects for those in need in the neighborhood around your church and/or send a team of volunteers to participate in the Lutheran Day of Service in Clarkston, GA. The Lutheran Day of Service in Clarkston will benefit refugees resettled by Lutheran Services of Georgia and will be hosted at the Clarkston Community Center. 

 

Is your congregation interested in hosting an MLK Day of Service project in your community? Or, would you like to make MLK Day a special day of service for your family? Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Atlanta, GA has graciously shared planning and resources from its previous Day of Service projects. Home and congregational resources are now available on the synod website

Along with the MLK Day of Service, there will be an MLK Celebration worship service on Sunday, January 20, 2013. This service will be held at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 3099 Chapel Hill Rd, Douglasville, GA, 30135. Worship will begin at 3:00 in the afternoon. 

8% to Go at Lutheranch!

On a beautiful Sunday afternoon in November, 365 people converged on Lutheranch to celebrate all that has been accomplished thus far and learn of plans for a new 40-room multiple-use retreat center which will be built when the Standing on the Promise campaign is completed. For many, it was their first visit to Lutheranch; over 100 enjoyed a tour of the site in a tractor-pulled open wagon.
 
 
Guests entered the site on the new entrance road
 just a few minutes off I-20 and drove directly to the future building site of the retreat center, picturesquely situated on a ridge above Stender Lake. The featured speaker was John Schuerholz, president of the Atlanta Braves and honorary chair of the Standing on the Promise campaign. Bishop H. Julian Gordy, unable to attend because of a death in the family, was represented by the Rev. Darrel Peterson who had this to say about the campaign goal: "God's grace has enabled 90% of the project, we've contributed 2%, and we have just 8% to go!"
 
Keith Johnson, Executive Director of Lutheridge + Lutherock Ministries, Inc, thanked those who had already given to The Challenge campaign for Lutheranch and unveiled a 'tree of life' which listed all major donors and congregations and featured a site-map. Johnson pronounced, "We are standing on Holy Ground. This place is set apart to do ministry in Christ's name....I can now envision the day when the new center will be serving youth, adults, and families. $4.9 million is a very ambitious campaign goal, but it is a goal we can reach if each of us and each congregation does their part." 

Congregational campaigns will begin after the first of the year. If you would like additional information on how your congregation can participate, contact Libby Bedenbaugh via email or at 803-940-6523. 

 
Eating with Justice, Eating with Faith
By Abby Koning
Community Outreach Coordinator of the ELCA Southeastern Synod

Earlier this November, the Atlanta Local Food Initiative (ALFI) organized the Food System 2012 Summit to bring people from around the city together. Despite their diverse backgrounds, attendees united over one common purpose: creating a just, healthy, and fair local food system. On behalf of the Southeastern Synod, I networked with and learned from those working towards feeding the hungry throughout Atlanta. 

Food justice advocate and community organizer LaDonna Redmond kicked off the summit with stories from the west side of her native Chicago. As a mother searching for the best food for her children, Redmond had decided to perform an experiment: she would try to buy all her food within ten minutes of her home. Redmond quickly discovered what residents of many Atlanta neighborhoods know all too well. While she could buy every variety of fried chicken, potato chip, hamburger, fast food, and cigarette in her community, she could not buy the healthy food she needed for her family. "[Within ten minutes of my home,]" she told attendees, "I could get cocaine, I could get heroin, but I couldn't get a cup of yogurt." Reliable access to healthy food in her neighborhood simply did not exist. Redmond then took us on a journey through the history of exploitation, inequity, and injustice in our food system and concluded that, "We've never had a fair, just, and healthy food system in the United States." 

In the afternoon, I participated in a breakout session entitled "Bringing Good Food to Your Community: Grassroots Community Building through Local Food." Carolyn Aidman (Emory Urban Health Initiative) and Brandi Whitney (DeKalb Board of Health) led us in conversation about the barriers to local food in our communities, along with the role of partnerships in creating a just, healthy, fair food system. As I spoke with others during the workshop, I was struck by the myriad experiences and stories of those who had gathered for one reason: their passion to see communities throughout Atlanta become strong, healthy, and well-fed.  
   
The 2012 Summit was an excellent opportunity for
people throughout Atlanta to break bread together, build relationships, and discover fresh ways to engage with a local food system. However, there was something missing from the day's conversations: stories of faith in action. My connection with the Southeastern Synod was met with surprise and, occasionally, delight, yet I did not encounter any other representative of an explicitly faith-based organization. Faith and food are inextricably connected, and eating in a way that nourishes God's people and God's creation can be a deeply spiritual practice. As Cathleen Hockman-Wert, Mennonite and co-author of the Simply in Season cookbook writes, "Grocery shopping is becoming a spiritual discipline for me. When I visit a farmer's market, when I drink a cup of fairly traded coffee, I'm praying for - and directly investing in - a better world."
 
Are you interested in learning ways that members of your congregation can explore food justice or eat more locally? If you are located in the Atlanta area, consider visiting the ALFI website or consulting "A Plan for Atlanta's Sustainable Food Future". Both are great resources to get started on the journey towards more healthy, sustainable, and just eating. You can also visit the ELCA's Food, Farms, and Faith webpage for information on ELCA initiatives to support healthy food systems, flourishing farms, and vibrant communities throughout the world. Do you have suggestions of other ways that the Southeastern Synod can support your congregation or a story to share from your own food and hunger outreach? I invite you to contact me, the Community Outreach Coordinator, with your questions, comments, suggestions, and stories. Until then, eat well! 
 
At God's Table: Food Justice for a Healthy World

Ecumenical Advocacy Days is a high-impact weekend sponsored by the ecumenical Christian community. This weekend is grounded in biblical witness and our shared traditions of justice, peace and integrity of creation. Our goal is to strengthen our Christian voice and mobilize for advocacy on specific U.S. domestic and international policies. 

On April 5 through 8, 2013, come to the 11th annual EAD entitled "At God's Table: Food Justice for a Healthy World." In a world that produces enough food for everyone, EAD will explore the injustices in global food systems that leave one billion people hungry, create food price shocks that destabilize communities everywhere, and undermine God's creation. At God's table, all are invited and fed, and the poorest in our midst are given a special place. Together we will seek the abundance and equality that we find reflected in the biblical image of God's great banquet table (Exodus 16:16-18 & Luke 14:12-24 ). Inspiring speakers will offer a faith-based vision for fair and humane food policies and practices, along with grassroots advocacy training, all culminating with Monday's Lobby Day on Capitol Hill. 


Click here to read more about this year's EAD or to register. 
 
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Resources

First observed in 1908, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is an expression of unity and reconciliation in the vein of the ecumenical movement. The week is intended to promote dialogue between and within Christian communities and churches. Each year from January 18-25, Christians are encouraged to pray with one another as a sign of their unity in Christ. To learn more about how your church or community can observe the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, visit the Week of Prayer website

Each year, the Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute provides resources for observance of the Week of Prayer. Materials include resources for personal and group prayer, worship planning, bulletin covers, and other ecumenical news sources. Click here to peruse available resources and consider ordering copies for your congregation. 

 
Around the Globe

Meet Jency: Story from ELCA World Hunger

 

 

In Quibdo, Colombia, Jenny has a bright future thanks to her mother's hard work and your generosity to ELCA World Hunger. 

 

It wasn't so long ago that Jency's mother, Aida, and her friends Jenny and Vianney were driven from their villages by guerrilla raids and made their way to the city.

 

Through your gifts, the three women learned how to run a small business - and now the customers of their spa, Tesoro de la Selva (Treasure of the Forest), enjoy the natural products the women make, as well as the flowers they grow.

CIA World Factbook

 

"Women have to work and care for our families, even with the stigmatism of being displaced," says Jenny. Aida is pleased with the organizing and business training she and her friends received, saying, "This is a huge success. We were helped with personal growth, how to run a business and made aware of our rights as women."

 

Vianney sums it up: "Our quality of life and the lives of our families improve," she says. "Without this business and income, life would be very difficult."

 

The women are constantly improving their products and services. They are also looking forward to certifying their products for sale in mainline supermarkets and stores. Thanks to your gifts to ELCA World Hunger, Jency and children like her can look forward to a more secure future.

 

Click here to view this and other ELCA World Hunger stories. 

 

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16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence (Nov 25-Dec 10)

 

The 16 Days Campaign of Activism Against Gender Violence is a global campaign dedicated to ending gender-based violence around the world. The 2012 16 Days Campaign continues the global theme: From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Let's Challenge Militarism and End Violence Against Women!  2012 marks the third year of advocacy surrounding the intersections of gender-based violence and militarism. The Center for Women's Global Leadership acts as the global coordinator of the Campaign. Click here for resources and to learn how ELCA members are denouncing domestic and global violence while building greater awareness through the ELCA Social Policy Resolution "Violence Against Women"

 

 

Around the Synod

St. Timothy Offers 6th Annual German Advent Service

 

St. Timothy Lutheran Church in Hendersonville, TN is pleased to announce a very special German Language Advent Service at 9:00 am on December 2, 2012, the first Sunday of Advent. This is the sixth time the church is holding this service; altogether over the last five years more than 1,500 have attended.

The entire Advent service will be in German. The program will be printed in German and English so that non-German speakers may also follow along. The service will begin with the lighting of the traditional Advent wreath and will feature readings from the Luther Bible dating back to 1545. A brief devotion will be offered on the importance of Advent as a preparation for the coming Christmas. Many beloved German Advent and Christmas hymns are included in the service. The music will be performed and accompanied by organ, accordion and the St. Timothy's Children's Choir (Tim's Kids), Adult Choir and Bell Choir.

St. Timothy is located at 650 East Main Street, Hendersonville, TN 37075. Download the flyer for this event in English and German and pass it along. 

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Jazz Vespers at Rock of Ages

On December 9, Rock of Ages Lutheran Church in Stone Mountain, GA will hold its last Community Jazz Vespers service for the year. The upcoming service will feature Rock of Ages' own internationally renowned jazz pianist Gary Motley and vocalist Veronica Motley, along with other invited world-class jazz artists. Join Rock of Ages at 5:30 pm, December 9 for this special worship experience and musical treat. To learn about the vespers service, read musician biographies, or order a Jazz Vespers compilation CD, visit the Rock of Ages website.

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Live Like Christmas with Peder Eide

The Knox County Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans invites you to get into the Christmas spirit as singer/songwriter Peder Eide invites us to imagine what it would be like if we lived everyday like it was Christmas. Eide's concert will include favorite Christmas songs mixed with original arrangements and compositions from his critically acclaimed CD featured by USA Today as a holiday favorite. With all the warmth and love of sitting around the piano at Grandma's house, but without the crazy relatives singing off-key, this evening is sure to remind you of what Christmas is really about, giving the best gifts we can imagine to those around us.

There will be a collection of gifts for Toys for Tots, so bring a new unwrapped toy. Come early to go ice skating and have dinner at one of several restaurants on Market Square. The concert will begin on Thursday, December 6, at 7:00 PM EST at the The Square Room in Knoxville, TN. Doors open at 6:00 PM. For more information or to purchase tickets, click here.

View the entire Synod Calendar

 

Dec 1

Budget and Finance Committee Meeting

 

Dec 24-26

Southeastern Synod Office Closed for Christmas

 

Dec 28

Synod Council Reports Due

 

Jan 1

Synod Office Closed for New Year's Day

 

Jan 11-12

Talking Together as Christians Cross-Culturally 

Nashville, TN

 

Jan 14-16

First Call Theological Education

 

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