Issue #380
08/22/2013
NEWS

Stay tuned...  A reflection from Bishop Gordy on the 2013 Churchwide Assembly last week, along with a summary of actions taken, is coming soon.
News to Share

Again this week our weekly enews is full of information to share.  There is a lot going on in our church, in our congregations and communities and in the world!  More and more the synod staff rely on this tool to disseminate important information.  But all too often we are reminded that many people do not know about the synod's weekly enews.  If you are reading this today, we need your help to change that.  
 
This isn't "new" news.  Our enews distribution list now has 1,409 subscribers (up from 1,392 subscribers two weeks ago thanks to those who have helped spread the word!).  Yet there are over 50,000 people  who are members of congregations in the Southeastern Synod. That's less than 3% of our membership.  The good news here is that there is plenty of room for improvement!  Here's what you can do:
 
1)  Forward this email to 5 people you know who would benefit from this information and ask them to sign-up to receive it weekly.  They can click here to sign-up.
 
2)  Ask your congregation leaders - pastors, associates in ministry, diaconal ministers, council president and members, committee chairs - if they subscribe.  Encourage them to if they don't!  This is the primary means of synod-wide communication for congregations and leaders.  
 
3)  Download this bulletin insert for your Sunday bulletins or put a similar notice in your bulletin for the next several weeks.
 
4)  Promote it in your own congregational newsletters.  You can put a link to the synod website in your enews.  There is a "Join our mailing list" button on the left side of the homepage.
 
Thank you for helping us to tell the story of the work that we are called to do together.  We'll provide an update on our enews sign-up campaign in the coming weeks.
Health Care Reform: Information from Portico Benefit Services

 
Affordable Health Care and You - A Message from Bishop Gordy ~  Much has been said about the large-scale changes set in motion by passage of the Federal Affordable Health Care Act. Major changes in how health care costs are covered will come online this fall and will affect the benefits provided by congregations and other ministries that cover their employees through Portico.  Click here to read more.
 
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, signed into law in 2010, will bring change to the ELCA health plan in 2014. Portico Benefit Services is leading the ELCA through this change to enable our health plan to continue to deliver the benefits that support our shared ministry.
 
Click here to find out what's changing and what's staying the same. While there you can also download a copy of the Health Today, Health Tomorrow booklet from Portico. Click here to test your knowledge of Health Care Reform with a quick, online quiz. 
 
A significant change is the choice of four health plan options. New pricing information will be available in late August.  Be sure to register on My Portico to help manage your own benefits.
 
Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available and check the Portico website often for updates.
"God's Work. Our Hands." Sunday

  September 8, 2013 is "God's Work. Our Hands." Sunday. Congregations throughout our synod are sharing their service projects for "God's Work. Our Hands." Sunday on our synod website! Click here to read about back-to-school kits at Zion (Guyton, GA), a neighborhood clean-up with Grace (Carollton, GA), a fix-up project with Nativity (Bethlehem, GA), making hygiene kits with Good Shepherd (Woodstock, GA), and how Trinity (Hixson, TN) and Resurrection (Ooltewah, TN) are showing God's love to low-income seniors. 

If you'd like to share your ideas with the rest of the synod, send a quick email to Abby Koning. Be sure to remember to send us photos and reflections on what "God's Work. Our Hands." Sunday meant to you and the community in which you served!
Celebrate Global Church Sunday

Plans already made for God's Work. Our Hands. Sunday?  After you've spent a Sunday thinking about ministry in your local community, pick another Sunday to focus on the work of our ELCA around the globe.  Join with other congregations and ministries around the church to pick a day to celebrate our connections and common mission in Christ's global church. For worship, educational, communication, ecumenical, global, and fellowship resources, visit the Global Church Sunday webpage  and Global Links on Facebook.
Deadline for Wellness/Sabbatical Grant Applications is September 1

The deadline to apply for the Southeastern Synod Wellness/Sabbatical Grants is fast approaching! This grant is intended to promote self-care of leaders in our synod. Congregations can apply for assistance to allow rostered leaders to benefit from time away from their congregations  for a significant period of time or to assist rostered leaders in self-care by providing a grant to assist with costs associated with a rostered leader being gone from a congregation for vacation or continuing education. To apply, complete the application form (available on our website) and mail, fax, or e-mail it to the synod office. Completed applications are due by September 1, 2013. 
Around the Synod

Register for Leadership Convocation 
The Rev. Dr. Clayton Schmit
 
The early bird discount ends on September 3!  Register now!!
The 2013 Southeastern Synod Leadership Convocation is a gathering for the rostered leaders and church professionals of the Southeastern Synod. This year's Leadership Convocation will carry on the long-standing tradition of stimulating presentations, inspiring worship, Sabbath, and fellowship for leaders. The Rev. Dr. Clayton Schmit, Provost of the School of Theology at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, will serve as our keynote speaker and will speak on the topic of Extraordinary Worship.  The Convocation will be held September 24 to 26 at the Lutheridge Conference Center in Arden, NC. Click here to register. Visit our website for the agenda. 
Low Country Boil & Silent Auction

On August 24, come to Living Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Tucker, GA for the 2013 Low Country Boil & Silent Auction, Lutheran Campus Ministries' annual fundraising event! LCM operates solely on donations. Last year, 91 people attended this event! The Low Country Boil and Silent Auction is family-friendly, and kids are welcome! Ticket prices are: $50 for adults with beer and wine, $35 for adults with soft drinks, $15 for under 21 and age 6 and under free.

To buy tickets, you can pay by check made out to LCM and mailed to: Lutheran Campus Ministry, 182 Fifth Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30313. Please include your email address so we can email your purchase confirmation. You can also pay online at the LCM website. Hit the big "Donate Now" button to access the ticket purchase area. If you have any questions, contact David Patrick at (770) 978-2011 or email [email protected].

If you can't attend, please consider a donation or a silent auction gift. LCM thanks you for your support and prayers for this ministry that changes young lives. 
St. Stephen Feeds the Hungry

 
On Sunday, August 11, St. Stephen Lutheran Church (Decatur, GA) was tasked with making 400 sandwiches for Emmaus House, a community center serving the Peoplestown and Summerhill neighborhoods of Atlanta. St. Stephen enjoys service projects, especially those aimed at feeding the hungry, so we went into action. What we thought was a lofty goal, not because of the amount of sandwiches requested but because of the timeline in which we received the request, turned out to be a fruitful blessing! We received the request last week and had approximately four days with which to act and gather volunteers and supplies. 

With much anticipation, we made calls and sent emails requesting bread, cheese, lunch meat, peanut butter, jelly, and sandwich bags. As we gathered the items Sunday morning in the fellowship hall, it became clear very quickly just how God works in people's spirits! With the help of volunteers of all ages, we surpassed the 400 goal and made 431 sandwiches! St. Stephen showed up and showed the power of "God's Work. Our Hands."!

St. Stephen Lutheran Church is the Southeastern Synod's highlighted Partners in Celebration ministry for the third quarter of 2013. Click here to learn more about Partners in Celebration or to donate to support ongoing hunger ministry programs at St. Stephen. 
Ordination and Installation of The Rev. David Parr
The Rev. David Parr and Bishop H. Julian Gordy
On August 9, The Rev. David Parr was ordained at Reformation Lutheran Church in Greeneville, TN! Bishop H. Julian Gordy presided. Click here to view more photos from the ordination and reception.
 
   
On August 18, Rev. Parr was  installed as pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Long Beach, MS. Pastor David and his wife, Doris, were graciously welcomed, "gulf coast" style. Congratulations Pr. Parr!
Colony Collapse & Christian Community

The Rev. Paul Elbert
Lord of Life
St. Simons, GA
"It's called "colony-collapse disorder" and for more than five years it has been killing massive amounts of honeybees. Scientists have yet to discover the cause. Without a cause a remedy is not on the horizon. "Beepocalypse" threatens the pollination of crops worth $200 billion a year. 
 
God must have been really pleased when he created the bee. Beyond the aerodynamic shape that should preclude its ability to fly, the bee's social structure is amazing...."

The social structure of the Church is also amazing, and relies on communal relationships. Click here to learn what bees can teach us about community in the Church!
Holy Trinity's 5th Annual Oktoberfest 

5th Annual Oktoberfest Saturday 5 October, 10 am-7pm to help MUST Ministry

Again this year, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (2922 Sandy Plains Road, next to the Post Office) will host Oktoberfest, an event created to provide our community with a safe, inexpensive day of fun, food and fellowship. We'll have pony rides and a petting zoo adding to an already full schedule of activities for kids and adults alike.  In addition to the live Polka Band, there will be a DJ and dance music to fill the dance floor.  The Kids area, wildly popular last year with the inflatable obstacle course, still has sand art, tie dye t-shirts, a cake walk and more!  We haven't forgotten the adults: a Craft Fair, Bingo and our FREE Horseshoe Tournament has great prizes including, golf for 4 at Chateau Elan including a cart!

 

All this fun doesn't overshadow a very important reason we do Oktoberfest--MUST Ministry's Food Pantry.  We invite the public to come and get in FREE by donating 4 cans of nonperishable food for the Food Pantry.  As we celebrate over 60 years of Ministry in Cobb County, come and join us where - All are Welcome! For more details go to www.holytrinitymarietta.org  and click Oktoberfest or call 770 971 4600. Click here to download a flyer. 

Southeastern Synod Diaconal Ministers Attend National Gathering

 

Sandra Braasch, Allison Ward, and Mary Houck (pictured above, from left to right) of the Southeastern Synod's seven Diaconal Ministers attended "Cast Your Nets," a gathering of the ELCA Diaconal Ministry Community. We gathered at Bon Secours Spiritual Center outside Baltimore, MD on July 18-20 along with 36 others. We looked back as we celebrated 20 years of Diaconal Ministry in the ELCA and looked forward as we studied and made recommendations for the work of the ELCA Word and Service Task Force. The time of fellowship and spiritual renewal was certainly a blessing for us all.
Meet the New LVC Volunteers!

Four new Lutheran Volunteer Corps volunteers recently moved to the southeast to work with four different organizations in Atlanta, GA. Join us in welcoming and supporting these women in their year of service! Visit our synod blog for more about LVC and the new volunteers!
Planning Your Last Days Intelligently

Two great opportunities are coming up to help you reflect on planning for end of life decisions intelligently.  Anyone over 18 years of age is invited.

Thursday September 5th: GA Advance Directive: Have you ever filled out a GA Advance Directive? Everyone over 18 should fill out this form for themselves. Come join us for an hour and half as we walk through the GA Advance Directive form together.

Thursday October 10 - POLST: What is the POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) & does it apply to me and my loved ones? POLST is a new form with actionable medical orders for the care a person receives at the end of life. Medical personnel from many settings such as nursing homes, ambulances, and hospitals will be able to turn the wishes of your advance directives into actions. The POLST form can be completed with your doctor. We will learn about the choices you can make, who the form is for, and when it is appropriate.

Clarice Wasmuth, MSN, RN-CS, ANP, Optum Nurse Practioner, Christ the King, Norcross, GA member will lead the discussion. Wasmuth earned a BSN and an MSN from Emory. She has been a Nurse Practitioner in nursing homes in the greater Atlanta area since 1999 caring for the elderly and helping their families understand the diagnosis and care of their loved ones.

For further information, call Christ the King Lutheran Church at 770-449-1211. The church is located at 5575 Peachtree Parkway, Norcross, GA Peachtree Corners.
The Sarcastic Lutheran in Atlanta

ELCA Pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber, also known by her blog name as "The Sarcastic Lutheran", will be at Sandy Springs Christian Church for their "Real People, Real Faith" event on September 13 and 14. Pr. Bolz-Weber is the founding pastor of House for All Sinners and Saints, an ELCA mission church in Denver, CO, and a leading voice in the emerging church movement. Her writing can be found in The Christian Century and Jim Wallis' God's Politics blog. Click here for more details on this event.
Synod Mission Support - An Update from Bishop Gordy
 
Dear Friends in the Southeastern Synod, 
 
Here at the half-way point in our current fiscal year, the Southeastern Synod has received $1,085,194 in undesignated mission support contributions from our congregations. That's about $16,200, or 1� percent less than at this same time a year ago. While the giving this year is close to what it was last year, you may remember that this year's ministry funding plan (approved by the 2012 Synod Assembly) is based on a projected 2 �  increase in mission support gifts. 
 
Clearly, our current rate of spending cannot be maintained if mission support contributions continue to lag planned levels. Most of our expenses, such as support for the seminaries, campus and outdoor ministries; staff salaries and benefits; and staff travel expenses are being incurred at the initially planned levels. And each month we faithfully remit 50 percent of all undesignated contributions to the ELCA churchwide ministries, 0.455% to Region 9, and 3.23% to our synod's Planting New Congregations Fund.
 
Many thanks to all those congregations that continue to give faithfully and regularly to the wider mission of the church through mission support. If your congregation has fallen behind in recent months, I hope you will make an extra effort to catch up this Fall so that we may continue to do the ministry we have been called to do.
 
Blessing and peace,  
 

H. Julian Gordy
Bishop
Standing on the Promise: A Campaign Update from NovusWay

The Standing on the Promise Campaign has raised over $1.7 million toward the $4.9 million goal! The Standing on the Promise Campaign will enable the construction of an Adult Retreat Center at Lutheranch that will consist of 60 beds. A total of $4.9 million needs to be raised in order to launch the new Retreat Center. With over $1.7 million raised, the new road into the building site and the building pads has already been installed. Click here to see pledges from different congregations or here for more information about how your congregation can get involved in Standing on the Promise.

Lutheranch Open House - Be sure to mark your calendars now for a day at Lutheranch on Saturday, March 15, 2014. More details to come in the weeks ahead!
Christian Education Teachers Needed

St. Luke Lutheran Church, Atlanta, GA is looking for people to teach in its Christian Education program. Classes for elementary and junior high students are held from 10:00 - 11:00 each Sunday. These are paid positions, and orientation and curriculum will be provided. Experienced and novice teachers welcome. Please contact Pastor Ruth Hamilton if you are interested. 
Funding Requests Now Being Accepted
Deadline: September 30

The Southeastern Synod's Budget and Finance Committee is now accepting proposals for funding in the 2015-16 Ministry Funding Plan. Agencies, institutions, and other groups who wish to request synodical funding are invited to submit their requests online using the following link: 2015-16 Funding Request.

Funding for committees and task forces is approved on a different cycle and requires a different form. The most recent Synod Assembly approved lump sum funding for committees and task forces during the 2014-15 fiscal year. The Synod Council will allocate the approved total among the different groups, based on recommendations from the Budget and Finance Committee. Committee and Task Force chairpersons should submit their funding request from the 2014-15 fiscal year, using the online form located at: Committee/TF Funding for 2014-15.

The deadline for submission of funding requests is Monday, September 30, 2013. Anyone unable to submit a funding request electronically may obtain a paper copy of the necessary forms by contacting the Synod Office (404-589-1977). 
Resources, Retreats, & Learning Opportunities

Fast Action for Immigration Reform

Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) invites you and your congregations to sign up and participate in an interfaith 40 Days of Fasting, Prayer and Action for immigration reform. This national initiative is part of our interfaith coalition effort to keep the pressure on the U.S. Congress after the August recess to pass compassionate immigration reform legislation. Please join us and other faith communities across the country as we pray, fast, and advocate to change our broken immigration system. The 40 Days Fast Action for Immigration Reform starts the Sunday after Labor Day and lasts from September 8 to October 18. You can find more information and register for the action here. Information in Spanish is available here.
September is Hunger Action Month

This September, 200 Feeding America food banks across the country will partner with concerned neighbors everywhere to mark Hunger Action Month. The Atlanta Community Food Bank has put together a list of several ways you and your congregation can take action against hunger. On September 10 and September 22, ACFB will also host two public screenings of the documentary "A Place at the Table", a powerful film that tells the stories of three American families who face hunger in a nation with more than enough food. Click here to learn more!

 
Every year the SE Synod Women of the ELCA coordinate Ingathering sites for Lutheran World Relief Quilt &  Kit donations.  This year there are 7 drop-off sites located throughout the SE Synod.  There  will be trucks at each of these locations on Friday & Saturday, August 23 and 24, 2013. The times vary and are set by each site coordinator.  Please click here for a full list of locations and times in the Southeastern Synod or here for a list of locations and times around the country. 
 

There is also a form we like each church to have filled out detailing the number of quilts or kits in each box and the weight of the box.  These forms will be available at each drop-off location.  Before you arrive to drop off your donations please have each box labeled with your church's name, city and state,  cluster name/number,  type of items in the box with the number of quilts or kits, and the weight of the box (NOT OVER 40 lbs).  Click here to access the form. If you have any questions regarding drop off times or packing your items please call Janice Hawkins,  SE Synod LWR Quilt & Kit Coordinator, at 770-712-6090.

 
There is still time to assemble Personal Care Kits, Baby Kits, and School Kits.  Please refer to the Lutheran World Relief website for specific instructions on what to include in these kits and how to assemble.  For families who have lost everything due to a natural disaster or violence, small items of comfort--a quilt, a towel with personal hygiene items, school supplies, baby clothes--let them know that someone cares.  Every year, Lutheran groups and individuals put their hearts and hands into sewing quilts and assembling kits, which LWR is able to distribute to those in need. 
ELCA Diaconal Ministry Formation Event Coming in January

2013 Diaconal Ministry Event Participants
 
This year's ELCA Diaconal Ministry Formation Event will be held January 5-16, 2014. Information and applications are available online here.  This will be the 20th formation event, and the diaconal ministry roster continues to grow. Beyond being a requirement for consecration as an ELCA diaconal minister, this event has been an important part of the discernment journey for many people, whether or not they have ended up on the diaconal ministry roster. 

Questions?  Contact Margy Schmitt-Ajer, Diaconal Minister

ELCA Congregational & Synodical Mission at 

[email protected] or (303)-777-6700.

Upcoming Ignatius House Retreats

Opened in 1960, the Ignatius House Jesuit Retreat Center in Sandy Springs, GA offers group and individually directed retreats, spiritual direction, companionship, and spiritual counseling. All retreats at the Ignatius House Retreat Center are based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. A combination of meditations, prayers, and contemplative practices, these exercises are the foundation of Ignatian spirituality. All retreats are silent, unless otherwise noted. They are directed by a certified spiritual director who provides a series of presentation designed to assist you with your meditation, reflection, and spiritual journey. Click here to learn about upcoming retreats.
Fall Via de Cristo Weekend Retreats

The Via de Cristo weekend is a three-day experience in living in a Christian community in a retreat setting. It begins with a Sendoff early Thursday evening and ends with a Closing late Sunday afternoon. The major focus of the weekend is a series of 14 talks, five given by Lutheran pastors and nine by lay persons. Each of these talks is followed by small group discussion.The pastor's talks are aimed at a better understanding of the breadth and depth of God's grace, while the lay talks deal with different aspects of our response to that grace. The weekend also includes morning and evening worship services each day, communion, music, laughter, prayer, and good food.

The Atlanta Lutheran Via de Cristo will hold weekend retreats for Men only on August, 22-25, 2013, and Women only on September, 19-22, 2013.

The Tennessee Via de Cristo has a "Mixed" weekend for both men and women on October 17-20, 2013.

The Notes of Grace Via de Cristo serving Nashville and central Western Tennessee and Northern Alabama has their Fall Weekend for both men and women on Sept 26 - 29, 2013.

If you have any questions, please visit one of our web sites by clicking the links below
Raise Your Voice - Opportunities for Advocacy


 
To learn more about the ELCA's approach to advocacy and important issues for 2013, visit the ELCA website.  

Comprehensive Immigration Reform Mythbuster: Last week, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) released its Comprehensive Immigration Reform Mythbuster, a new and powerful infographic resource for Lutherans and the general public to use in their advocacy for immigration reform. The resource comes at a very timely and pivotal moment in our nation's efforts to fix our broken immigration system. Click to view this mythbuster and the accompanying press release.

LIRS August Recess Toolkit for Action: The August recess, which stretches from August 5 - September 6, is a critical month for immigration reform. During this time, communities of faith must remind House Members of God's love for the sojourner. LIRS has developed this toolkit with a menu of actions to help amplify your voices at this critical moment. Click here to view the toolkit. Contact Folabi Olagbaju for more suggestions on ways to get involved. 
 
Take Action Against Human Trafficking: The wisdom of Proverbs 31 urges us to "speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves...." Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services is asking individuals and congregations to take a stand against human trafficking. Click here to watch a video and to learn more how about you can join the fight against human trafficking in our communities and beyond.
 
E-Advocacy-Take Action Now!: Become a part of the ELCA advocacy effort by signing up for the e-Advocacy network. 
In This Issue
News to Share
Health Care Reform
God's Work Our Hands Sunday
Global Church Sunday
Leadership Convocation
LCM Fundraiser
The Sarcastic Lutheran
Mission Support
Standing on the Promise
Christian Ed
Funding Requests
LWR Quilt Collection
Diaconal Ministry Event
Ignatius House Retreats
Via de Cristo Retreats
Raise Your Voice
Ordinations & Installations

 Quick Links  

























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Did You Know?

The ELCA has a YouTube page to which it posts all kinds of videos about the work this church is engaged in?  Click here
to visit The ELCA's Youtube page.  While you are there, watch this video.  It features Shepherd of the Lake, a new congregation in our own Southeastern Synod in Loudon, TN.
CWA13 profile: New start, young at heart
CWA13 profile: New start, young at heart
 
This video was featured at the 2013 Churchwide Assembly.  
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Share Your Story
 
Is God doing exciting work in your congregation or ministry that you would like to share with the rest of the synod? Are you looking to spread the word about an upcoming event or opportunity for ministry? The E-News Weekly is open for congregations to share news, stories, photos, announcements and more. Send your stories to Michelle Angalet. Michelle can also be reached at (404) 589-1977, ext. 235. Submissions are due Mondays by 5 pm. The Synod E-News Weekly (usually) goes out on Wednesdays.  

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Ordinations & Installations
 
August 25:  Pastor Sung Bae Hahn will be ordained in the ELCA at 4:00 pm.  The ordination will take place at the worship location of the Dong Han worshipping community at 4317 Abbotts Bridge Rd #1, Duluth, GA 30097. 
 
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LSG Spotlight
  
Heroes of Hope, Healing, and Strength
 
    
Please join Lutheran Services of Georgia for its annual Heroes of Hope, Healing, and Strength gala on Thursday, August 29, 2013 to honor the heroes in our community. This year, LSG will be recognizing two important members of the community: The Rev. Dr. Rusty Edwards, pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Marietta, GA; and For the Kid in All of Us, a nonprofit organization that has supported LSG's programs through its fundraising events, the Toy Party and Backpack in the Park. 
 
For more information on LSG's work, like the LSG Facebook page or visit the website.
 
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Living   Lutheran   Spotlight  
 
Young Adult
Ministry 101



What is the purpose of young adult ministry? Is it to connect young adults with each other? Is it to make sure the traditions and history of a church community are passed down? In "Young Adult Ministry 101", Rozella White, the program director for Young Adult Ministry for the ELCA, addresses these and other important questions. Click here to learn more about how to begin engaging young adults through ministry. 
 
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NovusWay Ministries Spotlight 
 
Wild Women Weekends 
at Lutheridge - 
Space Still Available!



February 7-9
February 14-16
March 7-9
March 14-16
March 21-23
 
Adult women of all ages and life situations have five opportunities to gain vision and strength for the new year. Bring a group to deepen fellowship with women you know - or come alone to find kindred spirits in Wild Women from across the southeast. This year we'll explore storytelling as we hear the old, old story told in fresh new ways and become reacquainted with Jesus the storyteller. Come to discover the power story has to touch our hearts and shape our lives. Rates include lodging for two nights, Saturday breakfast through Sunday breafkast, and all program costs. Limited space! Registration will open at 3:30 PM on August 17. Click here for more.
 
Rate: $205 per person (Valentine's Weekend Special - $20 discount + Surprise!)
 
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The    Lutheran  
 
The Future of Lutheranism in Central Asia
 
 
The world's geographically largest Lutheran church is the 4,000-member Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Urals, Siberia and the Far East (ELCUSFE). For more than half a century, Russian-German laywomen have kept this church alive, serving in ministerial roles, worshiping and teaching according to German prayer and hymn-based piety of 100 years ago. The bishop, German national Otto Schaude, said the church is working to increase the numbers of ordained clergy to help lead and grow congregations. Click here to read more about the future of the Lutheran church in Central Asia. 
 
Excerpts from
The Lutheran
are available on their website. To read the issue in its entirety, consider purchasing a one-year online subscription for only $11.95. 
 
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Malaria Campaign Spotlight 
 
  A Very 
Happy Hour 

 
ELCA congregations in Connecticut like to work together. When Pastor Lydia Wittman-Grebe of St. Mark Lutheran Church discovered her congregation's interest in getting involved with the ELCA Malaria Campaign, she thought it might be another opportunity for Lutherans from around the area to work together. Along with other Lutheran leaders, she organized a "Lutheran Happy Hour". Lutherans gathered in downtown Hartford for an evening of African-inspired appetizers, mixed drinks made with quinine - once a popular method of malaria prevention - and activities designed to get people thinking about the important work ELCA members engage in through the ELCA Malaria Campaign. Click here to read more about this very happy hour.
 
 
If you'd like to learn more about the Southeastern Synod's role in ending malaria, contact Jonathan Trapp, Chair of the synod's Poverty, Hunger, and Justice, task force, via email. 
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The Update 
 
 
 
A complicated debate and legislative process lies ahead for comprehensive immigration reform. Here to decipher the headlines for you every Monday is The Update, a weekly blog series whose panel of experts will analyze how recent events affect the prospects for real reform. This week's panelists answer the question, "Given the most recent developments, are we getting any closer to immigration reform?" Click to read their answers in Spanish or in English
 
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Who to Contact 
 
Do you have a question or a comment for a member of the synod staff, but aren't sure who to contact? Check out our regularly updated contact page on the synod website.
 
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Synod Calendar

 

August 21-25

ILAG Consultation in Guatemala City

 

August 22-24

Candidacy

 

September 1

Sabbatical/Wellness Grant Applications Due

 

September 3

Early Registration Discount Ends for Convocation

 

August 27-29

Anti-Racism Training

Synod Office Closed

 

September 6-7

Synod Council Meeting

 

September 8

God's Work Our Hands Sunday

 

September 13-14

Missional Hospitality

Savannah

 

September 20-22

Southeastern Synod Women of the ELCA Convention

Natchez, MS

 

September 24-26

Southeastern Synod Leadership Convocation at Lutheridge

Synod Office Closed

 

View the entire synod calendar
here

 
Share this E-news with a friend!
 
Please send this email to those you know who would benefit from this information.  
 
ELCA Southeastern Synod
100 Edgewood Ave. NE, Suite 1600
Atlanta, GA 30303
404-589-1977