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Issue #410                                                              May 21, 2014
The Southeastern Synod ENews will take a break for the Synod Assembly and will resume in early June.  Please pray for your church leaders, voting members, visitors and volunteers during the Synod Assembly!
                                Still Celebrating!                                    

balloons_celebrate.jpgThe Southeastern Synod exceeded the goal of 65% and finished with 70% of eligible plan members completing the Mayo Clinic health assessment. Congregations will share a $36,000 reduction in their 2014 health premiums. Adjustments will appear on the June or July billing statements.  The synod will also receive a gift of $18,000 which will be used to continue to support wellness and sabbatical grants for rostered leaders. 

Thank you for your support!

Prayers for Bishops and Synods Across the Nation
 
Please hold in prayer our ELCA Bishops and Synods, listed on our website, as they gather for their synod assemblies.  
2014 Southeastern Synod Assembly   

Chattanooga Convention Center

One Carter Plaza
Chattanooga, TN 37402
423-756-0001

Begins Friday, May 30, 2014 
Ends Sunday, June 1, 2014


       The Guidebook App is now available!  
Visit the webpage now for all of the latest information including instructions on downloading the app and for accessing the 2014 Southeastern Synod Assembly guide on the Guidebook web's platform.

Before and After Synod Assembly Events

Hosted by Ascension Lutheran Church

720 S. Germantown Road

Chattanooga, TN 37412

 

Ascension Lutheran Church, Chattanooga, TN invites you to attend two events while you are in the Chattanooga area for Synod Assembly. 

Thursday, May 29, 7:00 p.m. - the annual Ascension Day service featuring the "Unfailing Light" setting for Holy Communion composed by Marty Haugen and   Susan Briehl.

Sunday, June 1, 3:00 p.m. - the "Spring into Summer" concert of the Chattanooga Flute Choir.                     

Listening to Noah   
 

This sermon was written by the Rev. Richard H. Graham, bishop, ELCA Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod and printed with his permission. Bishop Graham preached at a Lenten Eucharist Service on April 8, 2014. The day's readings were Genesis 7:1-10, Psalm 107:23-32, and Matthew 24:32-39.

 
You probably know this already, but Noah is very popular again just now. A new movie has brought the man with the ark and the animals back into the cultural conversation. No less an actor than Russell Crowe plays Noah in the new film. This is a big deal, until the next big deal comes along. Continue.

 
 

Wherever you are, celebrate Refugee Sunday and the 75th Anniversary of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) on Sunday, June 22, 2014.  For information and ways to plan your celebration, visit the LIRS website and/or make use of the following resources: bulletin insert; Refugee Sunday kit; Prayer for Refugees.

 

Around the Synod                                                                              
Welcome to the Southeastern Synod
The Rev. Oscar Dennis Mims

On March 1, 2014, with wife Doris at his side, The Rev. O. Dennis Mims began serving as pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Decatur, GA.  Called as a leader and a servant in the church, Pr. Mims plans to continue his mission "to magnify Christ right here on earth through his service to God's people."  
 
Pastor Dennis Mims attended California State University Fullerton and Pacific Lutheran Theological  Seminary in Northern California. Ordained in 1988, he was the first African Descent pastor to serve at First Lutheran Church in Inglewood, CA. In 1991 he went on to serve at the True Vine Lutheran Mission in College Park, GA  and in 1996 was called to St. James Lutheran church in Cleveland, OH.  St. James became the fastest growing African American Lutheran Church in the midwest.  While at St. James, Pr. Mims also served as vice-principal, athletic director and teacher at Lutheran East High School.
 
Other accomplishments include serving as the Northeastern Ohio Synod's Mission Director, forming the Cleveland Chapter of the African American Lutheran Association (AALA), holding the title of President and CEO of the National Board of Directors of AALA-ELCA, serving as Assistant to the Bishop in the Southwest California Synod, and in 2011 becoming a Mission Developer. As Mission Developer he helped to develop Rejoice Lutheran Church which became the first African descent congregation to be established in the western United States in thirty-one years. Prior to moving back to Georgia, he served as Pastor at Community Lutheran Church, Los Angeles, California. 
 
The service of installation for Pr. Mims was held on Sunday, May 4, 2014. You may welcome him via email at [email protected] or feel free to give him a call at 310-251-6797.    
Coming Soon - More Around the Synod!  
 
We have received a number of photos, videos and news articles sharing how we do ministry and how we celebrate our service to Christ.  The time you have taken to share is greatly appreciated.  To do justice to these submissions, we will post them to the Southeastern Synod webpage with a link to the enews.  We hope you will visit the site often and continue to let us know what you are doing.
4th Annual Arts & Crafts Festival
Amazing Grace Lutheran Church 
3305 Lawrenceville Highway
Lawrenceville, GA 30044
Saturday, June 14, 2014 
9 am - 3 pm.  

Held on the front lawn of the church, the proceeds from this festival will benefit
a ministry for women recovering from addiction to drugs and alcohol. There will be unique artisan vendors, great food, music, and lots of fun for everyone!  All proceeds benefit ClearRoads Recovery, a support residence program for women transitioning from prison to independent living. Call 770-381-1293 for more details.
2nd Annual Goliath Mud Challenge  
 
Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church, Peachtree City, GA will be hosting its 2nd Annual Goliath Mud Challenge at their Palmetto Road Property on Saturday, May 31st. This 5K, 18 obstacle challenge is a great way to welcome our community to our land, and simultaneously raise money for children's ministries in Fayette County.  Last year's race hosted over 500 participants and there are hopes to increase that number this year.  For more information on the mud run, go to www.goliathmudchallenge.com.
Stewardship                                                                              
 
Ecumenical Stewardship Center    
A Network for Growing Stewards
 


The May issue of ELCA Global Links is available online.

The weekly series of articles, prepared by people who will be presenters at Rethinking Stewardship: Exploring Year-Round Stewardship, July 28-30 at Luther Seminary, continues. Click here for information.


Resources, Retreats, Learning Opportunities                              

Southern Seminary is excited to host clergy and church leaders for SHIFT, a continuing education event on campus at the seminary July 15-17. Exploring how to lead your congregation through the shift from a membership culture to discipleship culture, consumer church to covenant church, and attractional church to missional church may be the most valuable continuing education you can get this summer.  The early-bird registration deadline (May 15) is just around the corner!  Get all of the program and registration details here                                     

News From NovusWay
Registration opens on May 15 for two Lutherock offerings:  Couples Backpacking and Family Fall Adventure Weekend.  Click the titles for information.
Joan Chittister's Keynote at TENS Conference: 
Spirituality of Philanthropy

The Spirituality of Philanthropy: Ministry of Money, will be the topic of Sister Joan Chittister's Keynote Address at the 2014 Conference of The Episcopal Network for Stewardship (TENS) on June 6 and 7 at Emory University in Atlanta.  Follow the links for information and to register for the conference or the webcast.

 

 
Learn about great planning and training tools offered by Augsburg Fortress Publishers to support your worship and music ministries. Click here for information on these webinars.
The National Church Leadership Institute 
 Every summer entrepreneurial leaders gather to create new expressions of church that passionately meet the world's greatest needs. This August 7th-10th in Atlanta, the brightest practitioners and creative re-inventors of church for today's age are available all in one place. Register by May 15th for priority access and a $100 registration discount.  Click the logo to register.

Synod Calendar                                                                              
Coming Up!

 

May 30 - June 1:  Synod Assembly, Chattanooga, TN

June 13 - 20:  AFFIRM 2014, Berry College, Rome, GA

June 22:  Refugee Sunday

July 18 - 20:  Lutheran Men in Mission, "Guys, Guts and God's Glory", Nashville, TN

July 21 - 28:  Young Adults Go to Guatemala

July 21 - 23:  WELCA Ninth Triennial Convention

July 24 - 27:  WELCA Ninth Triennial Gathering 2014

 

View the entire synod calendar here.
Save the Dates

 

 

September 7:  "God's Work. Our Hands. Sunday 2014"

            Details will be provided as received.

October 14 - 16:  Leadership Convocation, Lutheridge

July 15 - 19, 2015: ELCA Youth Gathering, Detroit, MI

Synod Volunteer Opportunities                                                             
Volunteers are crucial to the mission of the Southeastern Synod. Click here to find ways you can serve.  Thank you for your generosity!
Employment Opportunities                                                             
Click here to view descriptions and application instructions for the following open positions and others listed on our website:   

Full-Time Director of Music
Episcopal Church of St. Peter & Paul, Marietta, GA 

Part-Time Director of Children's Ministries

Episcopal Church of St. Peter & St. Paul, Marietta, GA
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ELCA Southeastern Synod
100 Edgewood Ave. NE, Suite 1600
Atlanta, GA 30303
404-589-1977