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Issue #431
November 26, 2014
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 Immigration: A Call to Discipleship The Rev. Justin Ask Chairperson, Southeastern Synod Immigration Task Force
"You shall not wrong or oppress an alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt"
Last week, President Obama reminded us all of God's command in Exodus that we are to welcome refugees and immigrants. As the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Conference of Bishops has eloquently stated in their statement of support, the Church should welcome the changes in enforcement of immigration law as it takes steps towards welcome and away from oppression. The bishops remind us that as we listen to, or find ways to tune out, the many talking heads on the television screen and politicos on the radio we cannot forget that our faith has a lot to say on this issue. Immigration is not merely a political matter, but is directly related to faithful discipleship and our call to care for our neighbor. After all, scripture reminds us of our duty to care for the least of these over and over again. Continue. |
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Presiding Bishop Eaton Leads Community Forum in Atlanta
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 | Left to right: Bp. Elizabeth Eaton, Bp. H. Julian Gordy and
Pr. Ruth Hamilton, St. Luke, Atlanta, GA |
With clarity and humor, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton shared her four initiatives - "We are church", "We are Lutheran", "We are church together"' and "We are church for the sake of the world' - during a community forum held at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Atlanta, GA. An audience of approximately seventy-five gathered to hear her message on the focus of the church, to engage in a period of question and answer, and then to continue the discussion during a reception. Photos of the event, courtesy of Bishop H. Julian Gordy, can be found on the home page of the Southeastern Synod website.
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Ordinations & Installations
December 14, 2014, 5:00 p.m. 
Ms. Karen Schwindler will be ordained to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament in the Southeastern Synod. The ceremony will be held at Christ Lutheran Church, 3612 Old Oakwood Road, Oakwood, GA. Rostered leaders are invited to vest and process. The color of the day is red. A reception will immediately follow.
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Gift Card Evangelism: Making Your Church Remarkable
The Rev. Dr. Norbert F. Hahn, pastor
Holy Cross, Athens, GA
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 During a vacation, my wife and I attended a congregation near our home, belonging to a different denomination. The experience was okay. We felt we had worshiped and a couple of people talked to us. No coffee hour after worship, though.
On Thursday, a letter arrived from the pastor. It looked an awful lot like a form letter. (At least we received a letter. We have been to other churches where no one followed up with us.) At the bottom of the letter there was a hand-written note by the pastor stating how glad he was that he had had a chance to meet and greet us on Sunday. Only one problem: that did not happen. The meet-and-greet line had been so long and moved so slowly that we slipped out the side door.
That experience got me thinking about the follow-up letters that were going out under my name. There was room for improvement. Continue.
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ELCA presiding bishop and ecumenical leaders
provide Advent devotions
The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and leaders from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, the Anglican Church of Canada, and The Episcopal Church have written a series of weekly Advent devotions for members of the four denominations. Click here to read more about the authors. Click here to read/download the Advent devotions.
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Holiday Jazz Vespers Rock of Ages Lutheran Church 5135 Memorial Drive Stone Mountain, GA Sunday, December 7, 2014 5:30 p.m. |
Reception immediately following.
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8th Annual German Language Advent Service
St. Timothy Lutheran Church, Hendersonville, TN
St. Timothy Lutheran Church, 650 E. Main Street, Hendersonville, TN is pleased to announce its 8th Annual German Language Advent Service. While
the entire service is spoken in German, the bulletin
is printed in German and English. The service begins with the lighting of the traditional Advent wreath, and features readings from the Luther Bible which dates back to 1545. Many beloved German Advent and Christmas hymns are included in the service.
The music is offered by the St. Timothy Adult and Bell Choirs, accompanied by pipe organ and accordion. All are welcome
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The Best Christmas Gift for a Child
Do you have a child or teen on your Christmas gift list this year? Consider a gift that will introduce that child to the principles of sound investing-and help grow the church at the same time. Consider opening or adding to an existing MIF4KIDZ account offered by the Mission Investment Fund.
MIF4KIDZ accounts can be opened until a child's 16th birthday and mature on the child's 18th birthday-just in time to help pay for college tuition or other big-ticket items like a car or travel.
To give an MIF4KIDZ gift this Christmas, visit mif.elca.org/youthministry for more information and to download an MIF4KIDZ account application. For information on all MIF investments and ministry loans, contact MIF Customer Service at 877-886-3522 or your MIF Regional Manager Jerry Johnson, AIM, at 904-645-9829 or jerry.johnson@elca.org
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Southeastern Synod
We Are Church Together Appeal
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"God's Work. Our Hands." Sunday
September 7, 2014
 On "God's Work. Our Hands." Sunday, St. Luke, Cordova, TN, began the day with devotions at 9:00 a.m., followed by service activities. Afterwards, all workers were invited back to the church to enjoy an afternoon of food, fellowship and games for all ages. At this gathering, the members of St. Luke took the opportunity to dedicate their new electronic sign - part of a Capital Campaign to also remodel the sanctuary and build an outdoor recreation-picnic pavilion.The entire project will be completed by Easter of 2015.
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We are church for the sake of the world.
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Use of the word "Allah" banned in Malaysia
"Greetings from Chicago in the name of our Creator and Sustainer, God the Father. It is such a freeing expression to be able to use our Lord's name in the way and language of our choice, something that I am constantly reminded that our brothers and sisters in Malaysia are not able to do."
Ms. Dana Dutcher, Manager for Relationships - Asia and the Pacific, Madagascar, West/Central Africa - ELCA Global Mission Unit, recently wrote these words in an email addressed to leaders of ELCA synods who are in companion relationships with two Lutheran churches in Malaysia. The Lutheran Church Malaysia is one of the Southeastern Synod's global companion churches. Ms. Dutcher's words refer to the recent court ruling in Malaysia which outlaws the use of the Malay word, "Allah" by non-Muslims.
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Click here to read a recent New York Times article about the impact the legal ruling has had on Christian churches in Malaysia. Go here to learn more about our companion church in Malaysia. As we remember those things for which we are thankful for this week, may we continue to remember our brothers and sisters in Malaysia in prayer.
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Discover the Full Blessings of God
After the first of the year, we will be starting up two new Ventures in Growing Stewards cohorts, one in the Nashville/Franklin Tennessee area and one in the northeast Atlanta area. We still have room for 4-5 more congregations to participate. What is Ventures in Growing Stewards? Continue.
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In a couple of days we will gather in worship and then around tables of plenty as we celebrate Thanksgiving. The message in this newsletter captures the focus of the day and of the coming season. |
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23rd Annual Festival of Homiletics
Preaching from the Mountain: Heralds of Good Tidings
May 11 - 16, 2015
Denver, CO
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Register by February 16 for an early bird discount.
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January 18, 2015: The ELCA - Southeastern Synod service of commemoration for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, John's Creek, GA
March 14, 2015: Lutheranch Round-Up, Tallapoosa, GA
March 15, 2015: 2015 Hunger Walk/Run, Atlanta, GA
June 14 - 19, 2015: AFFIRM, Berry College, Mt. Berry, GA
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 for the Triennial now through December 31, 2014, for the reduced price of $280.
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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!
Special Thanks!
Bishop Gordy and the staff of the Southeastern Synod extend heartfelt appreciation to those who have served as synod office volunteers this year:
Ms. Paulette Alderfer, Good Shepherd, Woodstock, GA
Ms. Bernice Bland, Living Grace, Tucker, GA
Ms. Beverly Clark, Messiah, Decatur GA
Ms. Margery Kellar, Living Grace, GA
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Descriptions and application instructions for the following open positions and others are listed on our website:
Part-Time Social Media/Publications Specialist
NovusWay Ministries, Arden, NC
Part-Time Music Director/Organist
Epiphany Lutheran Church, Conyers, GA
Full-Time Faculty Position in Ethic
Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary/Church Divinity School of the Pacific,
Berkeley, CA
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ELCA Southeastern Synod
100 Edgewood Ave. NE, Suite 1600
Atlanta, GA 30303
404-589-1977
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