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Issue #425                                      
                            October 1, 2014
            We are church.                  
Presiding Bishop Visits Atlanta, GA

We are pleased to welcome ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton to the Atlanta area in November.
Bishop Eaton begins her time in Atlanta with a 3:00 p.m. Community Forum on Saturday, November 22, held at St. Luke Lutheran Church, 3264 Northside Parkway NW, Atlanta, GA 30327.  During this two-hour session, she will talk about the work of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  Specifically, Bishop Eaton will invite us to think about what it means, as she has said, that "We are church.  We are Lutheran.  We are church together. We are church for the sake of the world."  There will also be time for those in attendance to ask questions of Bishop Eaton. Southeastern Synod Bishop H. Julian Gordy will in attendance too.  All are welcome and invited to attend!

On Sunday, November 23 Bishop Eaton will preach at the three morning services in the nave at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer.  Worship services are at 8:15 a.m (traditional), 9:45 a.m (jazz) and 11:00 a.m. (traditional). Redeemer is located at 731 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30308.  
Ebola Outbreak Response

The Situation: In the last several months, the Ebola outbreak has claimed thousands of lives. The virus has spread rapidly, and with no approved vaccine and a high fatality rate, the World Health Organization is now calling it "one of the world's most lethal diseases." Ebola has spread to multiple countries, the hardest hit being Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.  Click here to continue reading about the impact of Ebola and what we can and must do to help.
Welcome to the Southeastern Synod  

We have added a number of new faces to our roster these past few months.  
Please take a moment to meet three of our newest leaders.

Pr. Stacey Parvin

The Rev. Allison Stacey Parvin is proud to be the pastor of historic Beth-Eden Lutheran Church in Louisville, MS. Pastor Stacey is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church and is able to serve this call by honoring the "full communion" relationship between our denominations.  Pastor Stacey's faith, theology and ministry are all grounded in the Great Commandment, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your minds; and to love your neighbor as yourself."

 

Pastor Stacey taught Special Education before graduating from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in 2000.  She is married to Dr. Bob Fuller, a retired middle school principal who teaches Educational Leadership at the Mississippi University for Women.  They are blessed with three beautiful daughters: Evelyn, is in first grade, and Caroline and Clara are in Pre-K in the public schools.  Life is full of fun and excitement around their house!  

 

The family is also excited about serving God through the beloved community at Beth-Eden and invite everyone to join the efforts of Lutheran Disaster Response in Mississippi as Louisville and Tupelo continue to recover from the Spring 2014 tornadoes.

 

The service of installation for Pr. Stacey was held on Sunday, July 13, 2014. You may welcome her via email at [email protected] or feel free to give her a call at 662-694-1619.  


Left to right:  Alex, Michael, Frances and Elizabeth Saul.
Mr. Michael Saul
 
was installed as a Synodically Authorized Minister (SAM) at Sinking Springs Lutheran Church, Midvale, TN on Sunday, June 8.  Raised Roman Catholic, Mr. Saul has been a Lutheran since his marriage 32 years ago to Frances Linebarger, a cradle Lutheran.  He is a S.A.L.L.T graduate (Southern Appalachian Lay Leadership Training) and has served on church council in various capacities for 17 years. The Sauls have two adult children:  Alex, 29 and Elizabeth, 26.  

Mr. Saul earned his masters degree in Criminal Justice and Criminology from East Tennessee State University. He retired as a police captain after serving 30 years with the Greeneville Tennessee Police Department. He has also served as an adjunct faculty member at the local community college, teaching criminal law for ten years.   

Please welcome Mr. Sauls at [email protected] or 423-422-9372.


AIM Michelle Angalet, Assistant to the Bishop (left) with Pr. Shirley Redmond

The Rev. Dr. Shirley Redmond was installed as pastor of St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church in Columbus, GA on Sunday, September 21.  Click here 
to read a recently published article about Pr. Redmond and her history with St. Matthew. 

You may welcome her at [email protected] or 706-561-3406.  


Next week we will introduce you to Pr. Leslye Radius and Pr. Stan Combs 

The Rev. Dr. Ruth Hamilton to Preach on 'Day 1'

 

The Rev. Dr. Ruth Hamilton, pastor of St. Luke Lutheran Church in Atlanta, is the featured preacher October 19, 2014 on "Day 1" with host Peter Wallace, the nationally broadcast ecumenical radio program which is also accessible online at Day1.org.

 

Hamilton came to St. Luke Lutheran in 2012 after serving as assistant to the Secretary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in Chicago. In addition to her pastoral duties at St. Luke, she serves as secretary to the Southeastern Synod Council.


 

"Whose Coin Is It?"- her sermon for October 19 - focuses on the Pharisees' plot to entrap Jesus by asking if is lawful for the Jews to pay taxes to the emperor. "Jesus acknowledges that God's law allows what is imprinted with the emperor's image to be given back to him," she says, "but he insists that it be done in the ultimately more important context of giving what is imprinted with God's image back to God."

 

The program includes interviews with Hamilton conducted by Wallace, who is also executive producer.

 

"Day 1" has been broadcast every week for 69 years, formerly as "The Protestant Hour." Featuring outstanding preachers from the mainline denominations, "Day 1" is currently distributed to more than 200 radio stations across America and overseas. The program is produced by the Alliance for Christian Media, based in Atlanta, Ga. For more information, call 888-411-Day-1 or check the program's website.

 

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.

 

Bluegrass Mass Coming to Griffin GA on October 16

 

The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass originated as a commission by the highly-regarded Minneapolis-based choral ensemble VocalEssence, directed by Phillip Brunelle.  (Brunelle and this ensemble are frequently heard on A Prairie Home Companion.)

 

Monroe Crossing, a Twin-Cities-based group, was the bluegrass band commissioned to premiere the work. Since the 2007 premiere, this bluegrass mass has been performed widely across the country, including three times at Carnegie Hall (twice with Monroe Crossing).

 

Monroe Crossing will be joining Griffin Choral Arts in concert on Thursday, October 16, at the First United Methodist Church in Griffin.  Monroe Crossing and Griffin Choral Arts will each perform a section of works by themselves, but will join forces for the bluegrass mass following the intermission.  The concert begins at 7:30 PM.  Tickets are available at the Griffin Choral Arts website (http://www.griffinchoralarts.org) and at the door.  Also available at the website are program notes on the concert, as well as other information about Griffin Choral Arts and about Monroe Crossing.

                                 We are Lutheran.                                   

Go! Together, WE CAN...


 
Ms. Rachel Alley, Assistant to the Bishop for Young Adult and Youth Ministries, brings us up to date on what's happening in the synod.

 

"Go!" was chosen by the 2013-14 Southeastern Synod Lutheran Youth Organization (SESLYO) board as the overarching theme and vision for the synod youth and young adult activities.  During the year, this theme came to life throughout our programs.  Continue.

 

God's Work. Our Hands. Sunday

 

Zion Lutheran Church, Guyton, GA

 

On Sunday, September 7, 2014, thousands of members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America around the nation express love through service to their communities. This dedicated day of service was an effort to build upon work done day to day. Click here to enjoy pictures and stories of activities in the Southeastern Synod.  If you have a picture or two to share, please send them to Carolyn Davis. To read more about "God's Work. Our Hands. Sunday"  click here

Confirmation Research

 

This week congregations in the Southeastern Synod, who have confirmed any students in the past two years, will be invited to participate in an electronic survey as part of a five-denomination study on confirmation and confirmation practices.  The Confirmation Research Project is funded by the Lilly Foundation, Inc.  Your efforts to complete the survey will be greatly appreciated.  
To learn about the Confirmation Research Project, click here and scroll down to an article published in the August 6, 2014 edition of ENews.

Portico - 2015 Open Enrollment

Act Now to Benefit the ELCA Fund for Leaders

 

Sponsoring employers and plan members have been receiving information from Portico about 2015 Open Enrollment.  Every sponsoring organization and sponsored plan member are asked to make online benefit selections for the coming year.  This includes members who are on leave from call, receiving disability benefits, or retired health plan members under age 65.  The timeline is as follows:

  • Sept. 15 - Oct. 17: Sponsoring employers will select one of four ELCA-Primary health benefit options to provide in 2015. The Southeastern Synod has selected the Gold+ option.
  • Oct. 27 - Nov. 21: Sponsored plan members will enroll in their employer-provided option or waive ELCA health benefits. They'll also make decisions about tax-advantaged accounts, life insurance, pretax retirement contributions, and beneficiaries.
New this year is a challenge for plan members to make selections early to help smooth out the enrollment process. If at least 60% of members enroll Oct. 27 - Nov. 11, Jeff Thiemann, President and CEO, Portico Benefit Services and his wife have pledged to give $5,000 to the ELCA Fund for Leaders. Please act early! Portico's website is rich with information and tools to help organizations and members make their decisions. In particular, there's a new video that recalls why participation in church-sponsored benefits matters to ministry. This can serve as a powerful conversation starter in council meetings and among colleagues. Please take four minutes to watch this video, so you can lift it up to others.

Synod Treasurer to be Elected in 2015

Nomination Deadline: December 1, 2014

 

An election for Synod Treasurer will take place at the 2015 Southeastern Synod Assembly. This office is open to both clergy and lay persons. The term of office is four years in length, beginning September 1, 2015 and ending August 31, 2019. The office of Treasurer is a volunteer position which requires attendance at the Synod Assembly, approximately three Synod Council and Executive Committee meetings per year, meetings of the Budget and Finance Committee, and occasional meetings of board of directors of the Southeastern Lutheran Holding Corporation.

 

An ad hoc nominating committee will consider all potential nominees and will recommend at least one person to be nominated by the Synod Council for election at the Assembly in June. All persons nominated by the Synod Council must undergo a criminal background and credit check prior to the 2015 Assembly.

 

Additional details about the position of Synod Treasurer, including a job description, have been mailed to all synod congregations and are available upon request from the synod office. An online biographical form, available here, must be submitted by all potential nominees. Nominations received by December 1, 2014 will receive full consideration. 

 

Youth Ministry Training at Lutheranch   


 
We are only a month away from the FREE Youth Ministry Training at Lutheranch on October 10-11 sponsored by your Southeastern Synod Youth and Young Adult Ministry. We will begin on Friday night with snacks and networking, best practices, and an update on ELCA and Synod youth and young adult events. On Saturday, after breakfast, we will begin with 6 different workshops led by our Practice Discipleship Team -  Framing Christian Community, Framing Failure with Forgiveness, Framing Life Biblically, Framing the Path, Framing the Vision, and Framing Youth.  You can register online at www.sesyouth.org .

This week the series of Identification of Gifts continues with a focus on Children, Youth and Families. A sub-title for this article might be, "Children learn that stewardship is fun!"  Begin reading.

                             We are church together.                       

Flu Season - It is Time to get Vaccinated!

                                                                                                                                                  

Written by Connie Pearson, Chairperson, Health Ministries Task Force.   

   

Each year at this time I am compelled to write about the upcoming flu season and the ever prevailing need to get a yearly flu shot.  This year is no exception because you and I know by now that every flu season is different and there is never any way to predict whether it is going to be a mild season or one that sends many individuals scurrying to the doctor for treatment of flu symptoms.  The best protection from the flu is to get vaccinated and to do it soon!  Continue.

  Funding Requests Now Being Accepted

Deadline: October 20

See the Synod Calendar below for important dates and links.

Contact the Synod Office at 404-589-1977 for help with questions.
Glocal Gathering at the Lutheran Theological Center in Atlanta 

The Southeastern Synod Women of the ELCA will host a Glocal Mission Gathering (GMG) October 17 and 18 at the Lutheran Theological Center in Atlanta, 700 Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr., Suite 204, Atlanta, GA 30314.  The GMG gathers congregational leaders for a day and a half of worship, workshops and sharing around global and local mission. Click here for registration information.

Hosted by Trinity Lutheran, Liburn, GA, this 12th annual Oktoberfest scheduled for October 4, features live music, dancing, food, art and crafts and more. Click here for details.
 
Ocktoberfest at Holy Trinity, Marietta
Hosted by Holy Trinity, Marietta, GA, this 6th year event is a 
safe and inexpensive day of fun and fellowship to encourage community support of the MUST Ministries Food Pantry. Participants are asked to donate nonperishable food in lieu of the $4.00 admission. Click here for information about the October 4th event. To learn about MUST Ministries, click here. Thank you for your support!

The Rev. Karen Castillo, 

to Visit

The Lutheran Church of the Resurrection 

4814 Paper Mill Road SE
Marietta, GA 30067-4046

 

The Lutheran Church of the Resurrection is very excited that the Rev. Karen Castillo, President, ILAG, will be visiting October 11, 2015 beginning at 6:00 p.m.  The event will include a southern pig roast with all the fixings to which you are cordially invited to attend.  The cost for the pig roast will be $5.00 per person.  Please make a reservation by sending an email no later than October 4th to [email protected].  Resurrection wants to be certain enough food is available for all!

 2015 ELCA Youth Gathering

 

 

The 2015 ELCA Youth Gathering, which will be held in Detroit, MI, July 15 - 19, 2015, is for high school students who will enter the 9th grade or higher in the fall of 2015. This includes 2015 high school graduates.  If you are not in this age group and would like to participate, you can, as many young adult/adult volunteers are needed. Please visit the gathering website for more information

about volunteering.

 

Registration for the 2015 ELCA Youth Gathering opens on October 15, 2014.  Two 

things to remember about registration are:

 

          1.    You can go on the website and start entering your             information now.  

When registration opens on October 15, you will be able to quickly complete the process.

 

2. If you plan to travel with another congregation, it will be logistically easier if you REGISTER TOGETHER AS ONE CONGREGATION.  This will place you in the same hotel.  Same location lodging will not be guaranteed if you register separately.

 

There are a number of resources for the 2015 ELCA Youth Gathering.  The best are: 
 

            www.elca.org/gathering  (there are great videos to share with yourcongregation/youth)

 

            www.facebook.com/youthgathering (Best place to go!)

 

            www.gatheringleaks.com (un-official website, with GREAT info!)

 

AIM Noel Reagan is serving as the gathering coordinator for the Southeastern Synod.  Her role is to share important event information with congregations.  Below find a link to a survey, with her request that it be completed for your congregation.

 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1pthGzujjzS0LrZ9GOdIoPjS7ijOx10pTsZbAIShpGVo/viewform

 

Please contact Noel with your questions or requests for her to come and speak with your congregation. Due to limited resources, when possible, combining several congregations in a group meeting would be greatly appreciated.  Noel has requested contact via email at [email protected] to facilitate the quickest response. 

 

RECAP Meets at Christ the King, Peachtree Corners

RECAP, a group of retired leaders, spouses, and significant others, invites you to a catered luncheon ($7.00) on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2014, at 11:30 am, at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 5575 Peachtree Parkway, Room 156, Peachtree Corners (formerly Norcross), GA 30092.  For reservations, please contact Pastor Dee Donnelly at 770-416-9056 or [email protected].
 
Click the flyer to register.
    North Fulton County Symposium

Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST)

and Cyber Safety

 

Thursday, October 23, 2014

7:00 PM - 9:00 p.m.

 

Hosted by Prince of Peace Lutheran Church

10250 Haynes Bridge Road

Johns Creek, GA 30022

 

Presented free of charge and open to the public. Click here for additional information.
                We are church for the sake of the world.         
Careers and Connections
: A Refugee Career Mentoring Program   

Lutheran Services of Georgia (LSG) was recently selected to pilot Careers and Connections, a refugee career mentoring program with Higher, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service's national employment initiative. Careers and Connections aims to accomplish two goals: to support long-term career advancement for refugees and to deepen social  connections between refugees and their communities. LSG is recruiting 30 mentors to match with 30 refugees. The mentor will act as a job coach, equipping the refugee to develop skills, identify long-term career goals, and create a plan to reach those goals.      

Please spread the word in your congregation:  If you are a professional who would like to mentor a refugee exploring a career path in your field of expertise or if you are a refugee who would like a mentor to assist in developing a career plan,  LSG is recruiting Mentors and Mentees now.  For more information, contact Melanie Johnson at [email protected].

   

 

The October edition of ELCA Global Links is available here.

Plan Now for Global Church Sunday   

This fall, ELCA congregations and ministries are invited to celebrate God's global church by hosting a Global Church Sunday. For ideas on when and how, visit www.ELCA.org/News-and-Events/blogs/HandInHand/436
For a poster and bulletin insert, visit www.ELCA.org/resources/globalchurch.  Watch for a toolkit to be posted there soon.  Sign up for the Global Church Sunday "event" or find a Facebook cover photo to use at www.Facebook.com/GlobalLinks
                                    Synod Calendar                 
Coming Up!

 

October 4:  Oktoberfest - Holy Trinity, Marietta, GA and Trinity, Lilburn, GA

October 5: World Communion Sunday/Global Church Sunday

October 10 - 11:  Youth Ministry Training, Lutheranch, Tallapoosa, GA

October 11: The Rev Karen Castillo, Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, Marietta, GA

October 14 - 16: Leadership Convocation, Lutheridge, Arden, NC

October 16 -17: Interim Pastor's Gathering, Lutheridge, Arden, NC

October 18 - 19: Glocal Mission Gathering, Lutheran Theological Center in Atlanta, 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

October 23:  North Fulton County Syposium: Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking and Cyber Safety, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Johns Creek, GA

November 22:  Presiding Bishop Eaton, St. Luke, Atlanta, GA

November 23:  Presiding Bishop Eaton, Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Atlanta, GA


 

 View the entire synod calendar here.

Save the Dates 

                      March 14, 2015:  Lutheranch Round-Up, Tallapoosa, GA 
                      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

September 18 - 20, 2015: Southeastern Synod Women of the ELCA annual convention, St. Simons Island, GA

July 13 - 17, 2017:  Tenth Triennial for Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Minneapolis, MN

Pre-register now through December 31, 2014, for the reduced price of $280.

 

                        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                        
Descriptions and application instructions for the following open positions and others are listed on our website:  

Full-Time Faculty Position in Ethic

Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary/Church Divinity School of the Pacific,

Berkeley, CA


Full-Time Assistant Program Director/Hospitality Coordinator
Lutheridge, Arden, NC (Previously listed as Nevada in error.)

Part-Time Organist/Choir Accompanist (New)
Christ Lutheran Church, Fairfield Glade, TN

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

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ELCA Southeastern Synod
100 Edgewood Ave. NE, Suite 1600
Atlanta, GA 30303
404-589-1977