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We are a church that believes God is calling us into the world - together
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An ELCA Global Church location
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Thousands of ELCA members and congregations know the joy of supporting a longer-term missionary or Young Adult in Global Mission. This month, ELCA Global Church Sponsorship is sending an invitation to the remaining congregations in our synod to consider creating a covenant relationship of prayer, mutual communication and financial support for either of the following:
- Pastor Michael Parker, who has family in Tennessee, serves as director of graduate studies at an ecumenical seminary in Egypt.
- Young Adults in Global Mission serving in Malaysia, our synod's international companion: Jenna Bergeson, Delia Bingea, Sean Bonawitz, Daniel Crofts, Sarah Derrick, Katrina Hanson, Evan Higgins, Julia Hubbard and Colleen Peterson. Check out their blog.
Please consider this invitation carefully and prayerfully as a way for your congregation to make a world of difference for God's global mission! For more information about these two sponsorship opportunities, please contact globalchurch@elca.org or 800-638-3522 ext. 2657. To read about the Global Church on the ELCA website, click here.
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New ELCA Forms and Form Tool
A long-awaited change to forms that congregations, rostered leaders, and ministry candidates use is here! Formatta Filler, which has long been the form tool used with the ELCA, will no longer be used as the application for filling out ELCA forms, especially those that we use in the Call Process. The new forms will be web-based so that they interface more seamlessly between computers, web browsers, and tablets.
If you are currently in the process of completing an RLP or updating one that is in the system, you can continue to use the Formatta form until December 6. This also applies to congregations that are in the process of completing an MSP. December 6 is the last day that an RLP or MSP can be submitted using Formatta! The transition to new web-based forms is expected to be complete by December 9. When an RLP or MSP is accessed after December 9, you will see that the data from old (Formatta) form has been automatically transferred into a new form. Rostered leaders with active RLPs should verify that the new RLP correctly populated. Congregations who are working with an MSP should also review the new MSP for accuracy.
If you have questions or experience problems in accessing the RLPs and MSPs, please contact AIM Jeanette Burgess, Southeastern Synod Administrative Liaison for Leadership, at jburgess@elca-ses.org or 404-589-1977.
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2014 Bishops' School at LTSS
 Think of one or two exceptional high school youth in your congregation - the ones who ask the hard questions, stood out in confirmation classes, and exhibit a yearning to deepen faith and explore their relationship with God in more depth. If you have a young person currently in the 11th or 12th grade, please nominate him or her for Bishops' School at LTSS in 2014.
The 2014 Bishops' School will be held the week of June 22-28 on the campus of Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, SC. Youth from all over the southeast will come together to study with seminary professors, worship in Christ Chapel and witness the way God is working in the world and in their own lives. They'll also learn what it means to think theologically!
Attached is a brochure with additional information. Please note, nominations are due by April 1st, 2014. (Feel free to nominate more than one youth from your congregation.)
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New ELCA website
On November 18, the ELCA launched a newly redesigned website at www.elca.org. We regret that due to the nature of the full-site redesign, some of our links to the ELCA website no longer function. We are working to reestablish those links as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience.
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 Mark Allan Powell, author of Giving to God: The Bible's Good News About Living a Generous Life, is the Robert and Phyllis Leatherman, Professor of New Testament at Trinity Lutheran Seminary. With permission from Dr. Powell, his thought provoking insights into what stewardship means and how to embrace stewardship as a duty and delight will be offered in this newsletter. This is the second of seven articles.
Stewardship means belonging to God, allowing God to rule one's life by putting God in charge of everything. It is being in a relationship with a God who loves, guides, guards, and blesses us. Our goal then is to find the life God wants us to have, confident such a life is the best possible. Click here to continue reading.
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God's Work. Our Hands. The perfect gift.
Tired of Black Friday? Looking for a gift for the person who  already has everything? Want to find a meaningful way to support the ministries of the ELCA? With our hands, we do God's work in our local communities but also in communities throughout the world. Give the perfect gift in honor of your loved ones through ELCA Good Gifts.
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Southeastern Synod pastor honored
 The Rev. Dr. Rusty Edwards, senior pastor, Christ Lutheran, Marietta, GA was named the 2013 " Heroes of Hope, Healing and Strength" recipient at the Defoor Center in Atlanta. A biographical video was shared during the award service which is hosted annually by Lutheran Services of Georgia.
As mentioned in the video, Pastor Edwards is an accomplished songwriter. He recently collaborated with Susanne Bagenfelt (Sweden) to write a song for the October visit of His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama. Entitled "Hymn of Compassion", the song was heard by an audience of 12,000 at the Gwinnett Center, Duluth, GA as the Dalai Lama was welcomed to the stage. "Hymn of Compassion" has been published in Pastor Edwards' new book, "UNCOMMON MERCY: Songs from a Dozen Lands" (Selahpub.com).
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Candidacy - Your Synod at Work
 In the September 19, 2013 issue of this newsletter, we introduced the ministry of Candidacy to our readership. We also committed to continue lifting up this ministry by posting highlights after each Candidacy Committee meeting. Click here to learn more about Candidacy.
November 2013 Candidacy Committee
Meeting Highlights
Approved for ordained ministry:
John Billa, Telugu Mission/Cross & Crown, Chamblee, GA
Antoinette Robinson, Peace, Memphis TN
Endorsed for ordained ministry:
Zachary Baer, Epiphany, Collierville, TN
Everett Flanigan, Christ Our Hope, Riverdale, GA
Keith Lankford, Holy Cross, Athens, GA
Entranced for ordained ministry:
Karen Boda, Resurrection, Marietta, GA
Emilie Casey, Tyson House/St. John's, Knoxville, TN
Debra Jimenez, Prince of Peace, Alpharetta, GA
Andrew Lewis, Messiah, Decatur, GA
Louis Tillman, Christ the Lord, Lawrenceville, GA
Will Wing, St. John's, Knoxville, TN
2014 Candidacy Committee meetings:
April 3-5 (paperwork deadline is February 15)
August 7-9 (paperwork deadline is June 15)
November 6-8 (paperwork deadline is September 15)
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German Advent Services
St. Timothy Lutheran Church, Hendersonville, TN is pleased to  announce two German Language Advent Services being held December 7 and 8, 2013. The entire Advent service will be in German while the bulletin will be printed in German and English so that non-German-speakers may also follow along. Click here to learn more about these services which have been attended by hundreds over the past seven years. |
Meet the Green Team
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The Green Team (left to right): Carolyn Karl, Christ, Fairfield Glade, TN; Jacqueline Dost, Grace, Carrolton, GA; Mary McCoy, Good Shepherd, Woodstock, GA; Randy Moser, Barbara Moser, Faith, Cleveland, GA; the Rev. Edward Wolff, and Frankie Wolff, Grace, Jonesboro, TN. Not pictured: DM Sandra Braasch, Trinity, Tullahoma, TN and Craig Pittman, Zion, Guyton, GA
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The Southeastern Synod Green Team, established by a 2013 synod resolution, had its first meeting on Saturday, November 16, 2013. The initial objectives of the team are to:
1) Increase awareness and sensitivity toward partnering with God in God's creation;
2) Host a creation-environment retreat for 25-35 participants to empower them to assist their congregations and individual members in being proactive in their approach to the environment. The retreat is scheduled for March 6 - 8, 2014. Location and registration details will be published in the near future. |
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Resources, Retreats, & Learning Opportunities
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Connie Pearson, Chairperson,
Health Ministries Task Force
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Let's go on a pilgrimage
 "It's time to wrestle with the questions that still beckon us more deeply into the question, "Christian, what do you believe?" It's time to see the beauty of the land and taste the cultures that continue to carry the memory of the faith." This is an except from an invitation to a pilgrimage from the Rev. Paul Elbert, pastor, Lord of Life Lutheran Church, St. Simons Island, GA. Click here to read it in its entirety. Visit this site to " find the itinerary for a journey to a land far away and a time long ago-and still a journey into our contemporary faith." |
Worship items available
 Immanuel Lutheran Church, Cairo, IL will be closing on December 31, 2013. Several items are available such as the altar, pulpit, lectern, pews, ELWs, vintage grand piano, spinet piano, vintage theater organ, tracker pipe organ, stained glass windows, office furniture and many other items. Please call Charles Althoff at 618-734-2077 if you are interested in any of these items. Please keep all those affected by this closing in your prayers.
St. Andrews Lutheran Church, Plains, GA has a supply of the LBWs (Lutheran Book of Worship) and Bibles for those who would like them. In addition, there are a number of With One Voice hymnals stored at St. Patrick's in Albany, GA. If you are interested please contact Tom Borst at 229-883-1135.
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E-Advocacy-Take Action Now! Become a part of the ELCA advocacy effort by signing up for the
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Click here to view descriptions and application instructions for the following open positions:
Assistant Director of Development and Director of Alumni Relations:
Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, SC
Full-Time Coordinator of Youth and Family Ministries: St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church in Memphis, TN
Full-Time Director of Youth and Family Ministries:
St. John's Lutheran Church in Springfield, IL
If you'd like to see your employment opportunity listed on our website, please submit your position title, description, contact information, application instructions, and other relevant information to Carolyn Davis. |
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Quick Links
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Send us your news
Weekly enews deadline is Thursday at 5:00 pm. We publish the enews (usually) on Tuesdays. We will make every effort to include submissions received by the deadline in the following week's enews.
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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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Care for the Troops
For a resource on ways to provide help, compassion, or advice to our military community, visit the CarefortheTroops website.
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Help your congregation grow
You are invited to attend three webinars designed to help your congregation grow in the coming months and years.
Click here to review the descriptions.
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Installations & Ordinations
January 12, 2014
The Rev. Nancy Christensen
will be installed as pastor at
St. John's Lutheran Church,
Atlanta, GA 30307, at 3:00 pm.
Rostered leaders ae invited to vest and process. The color of the day is white.
January 18, 2014
The Rev. Harry Tedrow
will be installed as pastor at Celebration of Grace Lutheran Church, 411 Scott Mill Road, Canton, GA 30114, at 4:00 pm. Rostered leaders are invited to vest and process. The color of the day is white.
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Save the dates
~ 2014 ~
January 18
Beyond Tolerance
A Southeastern Synod
MLK Event
at Emmanuel Lutheran Church
3050 Cascade Rd, SW
Atlanta, GA 30311
January 19
Commemoration of
Martin Luther King Jr.
Worship Service
at Christ Our Hope Lutheran Church
2165 Hwy 138 SW Riverdale, GA 30296
January 20
The MLK Lutheran Day of Service at Rock of Ages Lutheran Church
Stone Mountain, GA
February 3 - 5
Two Bubbas and a Bible
- Lent 2014
Hinton Rural Life Center
Hayesville, NC
Click here for information.
March 9
Atlanta Community Food Bank's Annual Hunger Walk
May 30 - June 1
Synod Assembly
Chattanooga, TN
Details will be provided in upcoming issues.
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Synod calendar
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December 7, 2013
Synod Budget & Finance Meeting
December 24 - 26, 2013
Christmas Holidays
Synod Office closed
January 1, 2014
New Year's Day
Synod Office closed
January 8, 2014
Outreach and Renewal Committe Meeting
January 17 - 18, 2014
Synod Council Meeting
January 18 - 20. 2014
MLK Celebrations
January 31 - February 3, 2014
ELCA Youthworkers Extravaganza
February 13 - 15, 2014
LTCA Anniversary
February 21 - 23,2014
SESLYO Assembly
View the entire synod calendar
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Synod volunteer opportunities
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Volunteers are crucial to the mission of the Southeastern Synod. Click here to find ways you can serve. Thank you for your generosity!
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