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Issue #419 August 6, 2014
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ELCA, LDR Respond to Ebola Outbreak
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LDR at work in South Sudan.
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The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will provide $10,000 in humanitarian assistance in response to the Ebola virus outbreak in Liberia. The funds are being disbursed through Lutheran Disaster Response-International to Global Health Ministries at the request of the Lutheran Church in Liberia. Global Health Ministries provides medical supplies and funding for health care programs in Lutheran churches in 20 countries. Read more. Click here to learn more about LDR and how you can give to support their ongoing relief and response work.
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Faith in Action - How People of Faith Can Respond to Influx of Unaccompanied Children in the United States
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Photo from Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS)
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The humanitarian crisis created by the influx of children and families from Central America into the United States is a crisis to which people of faith can respond. Here in the Southeastern Synod, Lutheran Services of Georgia (LSG) is already involved in fingerprinting potential sponsors for children and in providing case management for unaccompanied children in the care of sponsors. In the coming weeks, LSG will begin providing short-term foster care for unaccompanied children and families. Foster parents will be recruited, as well as volunteers (individuals and congregations) needed to assist in providing resources to meet the needs of unaccompanied children and families. An excellent resource list for learning more about this humanitarian crisis and how the church can respond is located on the LSG Blog here. To volunteer, contact Melanie Johnson. To learn more about becoming a foster parent/family, contact Taylor Brand.
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From the Acting Bishop Delmer Chilton
Recently I glanced in my rear-view mirror and saw a silver car with black trim and black writing on the hood. "Oh oh," I thought, "it's the Highway Patrol." First thing I did was check my speed. Okay, not speeding. Then I proceeded to drive very carefully, maintained my lane, used appropriate turn signals to change lanes, etc. And the car stayed right behind me, six car lengths back. This went on for ten or fifteen minutes as I grew progressively anxious. "Why are they following me?" "Have I done anything wrong?" Is my License Plate expired?" "What!?" ( Continue.)
The Rev. Dr. Delmer L. Chilton, pastor, Episcopal Church Of The Messiah, Murphy, NC and former ELCA Southeastern Synod Assistant to the Bishop is serving as the Acting Bishop while Bishop H. Julian Gordy is on sabbatical.
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2014 Leadership Convocation
 The 2014 Leadership Convocation will be held from October 14 -16, 2014, at the Lutheridge Conference Center in Arden, NC. The Convocation, a yearly gathering for the rostered leaders and church professionals of the Southeastern Synod, offers stimulating presentations, inspiring worship, sabbath and fellowship. This year's keynote speaker is Dr. Anna Madsen, an ordained Lutheran pastor with a Ph.D. in systematic theology from the University of Regensburg, Germany. She serves as the director of OMG: Center for Theological Conversation. To learn more about Dr. Madsen, click here. To register, click here.
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Funding Requests Now Being Accepted
The Southeastern Synod's Budget and Finance Committee is now accepting proposals for funding in the 2016-17 Ministry Funding Plan. Agencies, institutions and other groups are invited to submit their requests between now and the
October 20th deadline, using the online request form available HERE.
Funding for committees and task forces is approved on a different cycle and requires a different form. Please use the online form located HERE to request support for a committee or task force during the next fiscal year (2015-16). The deadline for submitting committee/task force requests is October 20.
Anyone unable to submit an electronic funding request may obtain a paper copy of the necessary form by contacting the Synod Office 404-589-1977.
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"God's Love is a Feast --
What the Bible Says about Abundance and Generosity"
 Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (GSLC) invites you, your family, and friends to join their special guest speaker, Dr. Rolf Jacobson, on Saturday, August 16 at 7:00 p.m. in the GSLC Fellowship Hall. Dr. Jacobson is first and foremost a disciple of Jesus Christ and a lifelong student of the Bible. He serves as Associate Professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN. Click here for details of this free event.
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Chair of Green Team Speaks at the EPA Hearing in Atlanta
 | Pr. Wolff (right) speaking at the
EPA hearing. |
At the request of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Advocacy Office, the Rev. Edward Wolff, retired, represented the ELCA at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hearing on carbon emissions. The hearing was held at the Omni Hotel in Atlanta, GA on July 29, 2014.
Pastor Wolff, chairperson of the Southeastern Synod Green Team, was one of over 400 advocates who provided testimony during the two day hearing. This is the first time the EPA is considering national regulations involving carbon emissions. Click here to read Pr. Wolff's comments presented at the hearing. Read Living Earth Reflection to learn how, as Lutherans, we are called to take action in support of positive steps toward cleaner air for all of God's children.
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St. Stephen, Decatur, GA Celebrates 58 Years of Ministry
 St. Stephen Evangelical Lutheran Church, Decatur, GA celebrates its 58th anniversary of ministry with a month of activities. They begin with a "God's Work. Our Hands." day of service at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, September 7 and end with an anniversary worship service at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 28. St. Stephen's second annual Motown Night on the lawn, also a part of the celebration, will be held on Saturday, September 12. Details of the events may be found here.
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 Lutheran Services of Georgia
(LSG) will host its Heroes of Hope, Healing & Strength Gala on Thursday, September 25, 2014 at the Defoor Centre in Atlanta, GA. Among this year's honorees, the Rev. Darrel and Mary Peterson are being recognized as Lutheran Leaders. Pr. Peterson, recently retired, served on the Southeastern Synod Staff as an Assistant to Bishop and as an LSG Board member. Mary Peterson is a Wealth Advisor for Thrivent Financial and active in the Atlanta area Lutheran community. They are members of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Marrietta, GA. Mr. Erroll B. Davis, Community Leader, and R.N.C. Industries, Business Leader, will also be honored this year. Click here for tickets and information.
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St. Olaf Choir Reschedules at Emory's Schwartz Center
The St. Olaf Choir was scheduled to perform in Atlanta in February of this year. However, hazardous weather caused the cancellation of their concert. They have rescheduled their visit to Atlanta and tickets are now on sale. Details are provided below. Don't miss this opportunity to hear them in concert!
January 25, 2015 at 3:00 p.m.
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What is Bishop Eaton Doing on September 7th?
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"God's Work. Our Hands." Sunday.
The 4 million members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are being called to put their faith into action and engage in service activities across the country Sept. 7 as part of "God's Work. Our Hands."Sunday. Continue.
Visit the ELCA website to order personalized T-shirts, bulletin inserts, and other resources to help promote the day. Remember to take pictures of your congregation in action and share them with us at cdavis@elca-ses.org.
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Mission Support Letter Sent to Synod Rostered Leaders
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We Are Church Together...
in 90 seconds
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A letter, co-signed by Acting Southeastern Synod Bishop Delmer Chilton and Synod Vice President, Doris Underwood, was sent to rostered leaders last week addressing lagging mission support income through June 2014. You can read the letter here. All congregations are urged to be sure that their mission support contributions are up-to-date and encouraged, when possible, to consider giving beyond their pledged amounts. Mission support is the financial support that congregations give to synods and synods give to the churchwide organization to support the work that we are called to do together. Click here to read more about mission support. Click the above video link to see how your generosity is at work today!
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Wellness/Sabbatical Grant Applications Now Being Accepted
Applications for the Southeastern Synod Wellness/Sabbatical Grants are now being accepted. 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 at the bottom of the page) and mail, fax, or e-mail it to the synod office. Completed applications are due by September 15, 2014.
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Financial Stewardship
A way of life allowing us to become grateful, generous, loving, hopeful people
 Sadly, for many stewardship means raising money for the church. In the Bible a steward is the manager of another person's property. This definition can make stewardship sound like a job where we are employed by the owner. But it's really a fundamental aspect of Christian discipleship, involving holistically how we live and how we give. Read on.
This article is part of a series in The Lutheran intended to be a public conversation among teaching theologians of the ELCA on various themes of our faith and the challenging issues of our day.
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Building Comes from God 
Tom Ehrich, a New York based Episcopal priest, church consultant and writer, offers eight things the church needs to say. Click here to read his article in the online edition of The Lutheran.
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Grant Money Available for Stewardship Education
Deadline: September 15
 The Stewardship of Life Institute (SOLI) is accepting grant proposals from ELCA seminaries, synods, congregations and other ministries for projects, workshops or events that encourage stewardship growth. Proposals of primary interest will be those which assist in seminarian education or first call theological education. Proposals that assist in stewardship leadership education among laity and clergy will also be considered, and those that involve collaboration between groups of congregations or ministries within the ELCA will be viewed favorably. Grant funds may not be used for administrative costs. Click here for information.
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Resources, Retreats, Learning Opportunities
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Confirmation Research Project
 Princeton Theological Seminary is the recipient of grant money from Lilly Endowment, Inc. to fund a confirmation research project. There are five denominations involved in the project: African Methodist Episcopal, Episcopal, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Presbyterian (USA) and United Methodist.
Peter Bauck is a Ph.D. student at Luther Seminary and part of the ELCA research team for this project. He says, "Terri Elton, Luther Seminary professor, and I are getting the word out to various parts of the ELCA network (colleges, seminaries, LCM sites, synods, and the churchwide office) to raise awareness of the project and so you can follow the research."
Bauck continues, "The project includes a survey as well as site visits to congregations and camps. I have included the link to the project page (www.theconfirmationproject.com) so you can get updates on the research and other postings. You are a crucial component of the ELCA's work in faith formation."
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 Bikers, Bibles & Blueridge Byways
at Lutheridge, Arden, NC
August 29 - September 1, 2014
(Labor Day weekend: Friday - Monday)
The last hurrah of the summer is best experienced from the saddle of your motorcycle. Join in men's fellowship, worship, food (including a BBQ), and lots of riding in the 3rd Annual Bikers, Bibles & Blueridge Byways! Imagine riding the SE roads with other Christian men and having the opportunity to tell your stories, laugh, and experience genuine camaraderie. Bible study and worship leader for the weekend will be Pastor Chuck Miller. Rate: $195 per person. Go to NovusWay.com to get more information and to register. |
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St. James, Norcross Offers Free Choir Music
 St. James Lutheran Church, Norcross, GA, is disbanding and will close its doors at the end of August. The church has many pieces of choir music which they would like to donate to other choirs. If you are interested, please call the church to make an appointment to look at the music. St. James is located at 4845 Jimmy Carter Boulevard, Norcross, GA 30093. The phone number is 770-448-5370. The office is open Monday through Friday from noon to 4 p.m. To schedule an appointment at another time, please call the Rev. Julie Crosby at 404-933-2115 or Ms. Barbara Litke at 404-285-4346. Please pray for Pr. Crosby and the St. James congregation during this transition. |
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Roanoke College will Host
Lutheran Student Visit Day on Sept. 6th
 Is your student beginning to think about life after high school? Roanoke College, the second oldest Lutheran affiliated college in America, is hosting its annual Lutheran Student Visit Day on September 6th. Roanoke would like to invite high school juniors and seniors to attend a day designed to assist students with the college search process. The program begins at 10:30 a.m. and all Lutheran high school students are encouraged to attend. For details, click here.
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Coming Up!
August 23: Low Country Boil, Living Grace, Tucker, GA
September 12: Motown Night, St Stephen, Decatur, GA
September 19 - 21: Southeastern Synod WELCA Convention, Chattanooga, TN
September 28: St. Stephen's 58th Anniversary, Decatur, GA
October 5: World Communion Sunday/Global Church Sunday
October 14 - 16: Leadership Convocation, Lutheridge, Arden, NC
October 18 - 19: Glocal Mission Gathering, Atlanta, GA
October 20: DEADLINE for submitting proposals to Synod Budget and Finance for 2016 - 2017 funding or for Committees/Task Forces only fiscal year 2015 - 2016.
October 21: RECAP luncheon, Christ the King Lutheran Church, Peachtree Corners, GA
View the entire synod calendar here.
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Save the Dates
June 5 - 7, 2015: 2015 Southeastern Synod Assembly,
Birmingham, AL
July 15 - 19, 2015: ELCA Youth Gathering, Detroit, MI
July 30 - August 2, 2015: Association of Liberian Lutherans in America (ALLIA) and African Descent Lutheran Association (ADLA) Joint Conference, Baltimore, MD
July 13 - 17, 2017: Tenth Trienienel for Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Minneapolis, MN
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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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Descriptions and application instructions for the following open positions and others are listed on our website:
Full-Time Assistant Director for Advocacy
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), Washington, DC
Part-Time Director of Communications
Christ the King Lutheran Church, Norcross, GA
Part-Time Director of Music Ministry
Community of Grace Lutheran Church, Grayson, GA
Part-Time Faith Formation Director
First United Lutheran Church, Kennesaw, GA
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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
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