Issue #429
November 12, 2014

We are church.

Reformation Day in Tennessee

October 31, 2014

Left to right: The Rev Stan Combs, Trinity Lutheran Church, Hixson, TN, Bishop H. Julian Gordy, ELCA - Southeastern Synod and Cardinal Rigali

Four Evangelical Lutheran Church in America congregations in the Chattanooga area joined together in a Service of the Word With Baptismal Affirmation in honor of Reformation Day, on Friday, October 31, 2014. Following is the sermon given by Justin Francis Cardinal Rigali, the Roman Catholic Archbishop emeritus of Philadelphia, PA.

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).

I am very grateful to you for this invitation to be together this evening. It is a joy to be able to participate in this Service of the Word with Baptismal Renewal, and it is very meaningful to anticipate with you, in this present context of God's word, the commemoration of the Reformation planned for 2017.

We are here to pray together and to reflect on all that binds us together in unity as Christians. But first, let me express the tremendous joy of what immediately emerge as our common treasures. Continue.

All sermons previously published in this E-News can be found here on our website at www.elca-ses.org.

Southeastern Synod Welcomes Bishop Eaton to Atlanta

We are pleased to welcome ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton to the Atlanta area on November 22 and 23. Click here for details.

We are Lutheran.

Luther Seminary: 2014 Advent Devotional

This year's Advent devotional, "Your People Long to Greet You," is now available for download. All devotions were written by Shelley Cunningham, '98. If you are a current God Pause subscribers your daily devotions will match those in the advent devotional.

Clergy in the Legal Domain

Clergy and interested lay people of all denominations are invited to a half-day workshop that will explore practical legal issues that have a direct impact on parish life. Read more about the workshop leader and program on the event flyer.

WHEN: Tuesday, November 18, 9 a.m. - Noon
WHERE: Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, SC.
REGISTRATION: $30/person. Register online here or print and mail this form with a check.
Contact Emily Silvola with any questions at emily.silvola@lr.edu or 803-461-3217.

Affirm 2015 - Mark your calendars, note the change

Affirm 2015 will return to Berry College, Mt. Berry, GA , but a week earlier than usual. Traditionally Affirm has started on Father's Day, but next year it will be held from June 14-19. Please check the sesyouth.org website for details.

Good News from Portico

Our community met the Early Bird Challenge issued by Portico President and CEO Jeff Thiemann and his wife Pam. Thanks to those who acted early and completed their annual enrollment, the Thiemanns will donate $5000.00 to Portico's scholarship endowment in the ELCA Fund for Leaders. If you have not completed your benefit enrollment, please act soon. The enrollment deadline is November 21.

Reminders!

Follow links for details or an archived E-News issue containing an event article.

November 16: Lutheran Ministries of AL - Fall Fundraising, Birmingham, AL

November 21: Portico Open Enrollment - last day. Register now!

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

November 23: Presiding Bishop Eaton, Redeemer, Atlanta, GA

December 1: Synod Treasurer nomination deadline.

We are church together.

Journal of Lutheran Ethics

The November issue of Journal of Lutheran Ethics is available online. Focusing on poverty, this month's issue features an article - "Poor People" as Other: Changing the Subject to "our" Challenges of and Living with Poverty - written by our own Dr. Andrea Green, member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Green is an assistant professor of religious studies in the School of Liberal Arts at Georgia Gwinnett College, and a teacher in the lay theological academy of the Lutheran Theological Center in Atlanta. Click here to read her article.

Become a Hero of Hope on Georgia Gives Day!

Each year, Lutheran Services of Georgia honors community heroes at the Heroes of Hope, Healing, and Strength Gala. However, we also recognize that our churches and communities are full of heroes bringing hope, healing, and strength to people in need every single day. On November 13, continue being a Hero of Hope by giving to LSG. Click the logo for details.

"God's Work. Our Hands." Sunday.

In celebration of "God's Work. Our Hands", sixteen members from Living Word met at Peace Lutheran Church in Memphis to participate in a community service project for the benefit of Trinity Ministries. Newly formed, Trinity Ministries is housed at Peace and is under the leadership of the Rev. Antoinette Robinson. This ministry will assist families experiencing difficulties with daily living, including meals and housing. Continue.

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.

$$$$ and T-shirts from the GREEN TEAM

Did you know you can form a local Green Team in your own congregation? All one needs to do is find two or three people who also have a passion for creation care. Each team will work at its own speed and towards its own goals while keeping the congregation's leadership informed.

The synod Green Team will support local teams by providing up to five Green Team T-shirts. In addition, they will provide $100.00 as seed money to the first five teams. They are even willing to visit and help you get started. Simply call Pr. Ed Wolff, 423-833-8932, or email him at pastorwolff@aol.com.

We are church for the sake of the world.

Mission of the Month: Training global church leaders in Hong Kong

Church leaders are now serving throughout Southeast Asia, in China and even in Europe thanks to training they received from teachers at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Hong Kong, including ELCA missionary teachers such as the Zimmermans. Share this inspiring story with your congregation. For a colorful Word document to display on a bulletin board or use in a newsletter or PowerPoint presentation, visit www.ELCA.org/resources/globalchurch.