|
|
|
Issue #435 February 16, 2015
|
 | |
Claimed, Gathered, Sent: A Guide for Conversation
|
 As the season of Lent approaches, a time for reflection and contemplation, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has introduced a new resource that invites members to reflect on how this church makes a difference in the world. "Claimed, Gathered, Sent - A Guide for Conversation," is a five-part resource developed by ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton and the ELCA Ecclesiology of a Global Church Task Force. According to the resource introduction, the goal is to "invite reflection, conversation and discernment about what being the church means today" and "strengthen the mission and ministry of congregations and the ELCA as a whole by going back to our spiritual roots." Click the picture of "Claimed, Gathered, Sent - A Guide for Conversation" to download your free copy. Congregations are invited to share their experiences using the resource to Faith@elca.org. |
2015 Southeastern Synod Assembly
"We Are Church"
June 5 - 7, 2015
Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex
2100 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N
Birmingham, AL 35203
Hotel accommodations at the
Sheraton Birmingham
Dr. Mark Allen Powell Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, OH Bible study leader and keynote speaker
The Rev. Ronald T. Glusenkamp Director of The Campaign for the ELCA, Chicago, IL Churchwide Representative
A GLOCAL Event will be part of the Assembly. New this year...
You will have the opportunity to register to participate in Thank God I'm Fed, an Assembly community service project which will be done on-site and will benefit those served by
Online registration extends through May 1st; however, there is a cost savings for registrations made prior to April 1st.
|
|
 Lenten Worship Services and Organ Programs
Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
2922 Sandy Plains Road
Marietta, 30066
Please note time change on Wednesdays.
Noon and 7:30 p.m. worship service on Ash Wednesday, February 18.
Noon and 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays, February 25 through March 25.
Featuring guest organist at noon.
Free of charge. All are welcome!
Click here for a schedule.
|
|
 The Questions
I did not know what a creature of habit I had become until after my mother died last November. It happens when I least expect it, a sudden urge to call her and chat a minute. Then I took the time to think about when these urges came and realized there was a pattern, a pattern that started when I worked for Hinton Center and continued while I worked for the Lutheran Bishop's office. I spent most weekends on the road, consulting and preaching in churches all over the south. I usually left Hayesville early on Friday mornings and came home on Sunday afternoons. And sometime on Friday morning I would call Mama as I drove down the Interstate and inevitably she would say, "Where are you going now?" And on Sunday I would ask her, "How were things at Hatcher's Chapel this morning? How was church?" Now, every Friday morning and every Sunday afternoon I feel it before I think about it; sometimes I reach for the phone. Time to call Mama. Then I remember - she's not there. Continue.
The Rev. Dr. Delmer Chilton, pastor of the Episcopal Church of the Messiah, Murphy, NC and St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in St. Andrews, NC, served as Acting Bishop for the Southeastern Synod in 2014 during Bishop Gordy's sabbatical.
|
"There in God's Garden"
the 2015 Lenten devotional, is available for download here.
|
"Making Sense of the Cross"
a Lenten resource from Augsburg Fortress is available here.
|
|
News from NovusWay
Lutheranch Round Up
March 14, 2015 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
February is Camp Month!
NovusWay encourages congregations and individuals to share their camp experience. Click here to learn how.
|
Together WE CAN ... Share Our Story
All-Georgia 2015
For 6th-12th graders
February 27-March 1
FFA-FCCLA Camp in Covington, GA
Click here for details and registration. |
|
A Message from Rachel Alley, Assistant to the Bishop, Southeastern Synod Staff...
 "Together We Can..." is the Southeastern Synod Lutheran Youth Organization's (SESLYO) theme for the year as well as for their assembly. But, without everyone, WE CAN'T!!
Unfortunately due to low registration, we postponed the 2015 SESLYO assembly. We rescheduled the retreat for March 20-22. The camp graciously let us change the date without financial implications.
Why should youth come to the SESLYO Assembly in 2015? Because they will meet great people from all across the four states of our synod who have similar interests! Because they want to see the larger church in action and how together we make a difference in the world! Because they want to serve God as leaders in THEIR church, in THEIR conference, and in THEIR synod! Because we want to hear the voices of youth! Because they want to grow in their faith! Because nine years ago the 2005 Southeastern Synod Assembly, in response to a resolution from the 2005 SESLYO Assembly, voted to recommend that all congregations send two youth to the SESLYO Assembly!
Your youth can register online at www.sesyouth.org and bring the paperwork with them but they must register by March 1, so T-shirts can be ordered.
If you have any questions, please email Rachel at ralley@elca-ses.org.
|
|
2015 Global Mission Partnership Visit of German Lutherans
On May 25, 2015, twenty-five Germans from the Lutheran Church in Bavaria, (one of our companion synods), will arrive in our synod for a two week visit as part of the partnership agreement signed in July 2013. During their visit, they will be in discussion with members of our synod about issues that face the church in our time. They will also visit Savannah, GA, spend several days in a retreat setting at Lutheranch and some will attend the Southeastern Synod Assembly in Birmingham, AL.
The German visitors will be hosted by families and churches around the synod and we want to show them true southern hospitality. You and your congregation can become part of this global event in several ways:
- Pray for both the hosts and visitors as they grow in community, faith, and Christian love;
- Contact one of the persons below about hosting visitors, an event, or a meal in your church;
- Send donations to the synod office, designated to the German Companion Synod Fund, to assist with expenses for transportation, the retreat center, and touring.
Your prayers and support are greatly appreciated.
Trip Coordinators:
Bill Alderfer bill.alderfer@comcast.net
Joe and Debbie Lundell debrallundell@comcast.net
Joe and Katherine Tillman tillie0410@comcast.net
Rachel Alley ralley@elca-ses.org (synod staff)
|
|
Lutheran Outdoor Ministries - Vacation Bible School
Lutheran Outdoor Ministries, a non-profit organization that supports the outdoor ministries of the ELCA, has a Vacation Bible School Curriculum for use by congregations. Click here for information about "A Love that never ends."
|
|
News from LTSS...
Lecture by Scott Bader-Saye
"Guns, Violence, and Fear: A Theological Response to the Idolatry of Security"
Thursday, March 26, 1:00 - 2:00 pm
Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary,
Columbia, SC
Dr. Bader-Saye is a professor of Christian ethics and moral theology at Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, TX. His publications include Following Jesus in a Culture of Fear and Church and Israel After Christendom, and his professional interests include politics, economics, sex, culture, and interfaith dialogue.
This lecture is free and open to the public; however, seating is limited. Please register in advance by clicking here in order to receive a guaranteed seat. If any seats remain available on the day of the event guests may register at the door.
|
|
ELCA Poverty and Justice Network
 |
Pictured in the middle row, the Southeastern Synod representatives are: the
Rev. Dr. John Swyers, St. Paul, Nashville (dark sweater and name tag) , DM Rebecca Kolowe, Assistant to the Bishop (to the right of the woman in the pink hoodie); and Vicar Monica Weber, St. Timothy, Hendersonville, TN (to the left of the woman in the purple turtle-neck sweater.)
|
The ELCA Poverty and Justice Network is a network of pastors, deacons, and lay people whose mission it is to end poverty, hunger, and homelessness for the sake of the gospel. The people in this photo represent a variety of justice ministries from across the ELCA. Most of them live and serve among people on the margins of society who are experiencing poverty or homelessness. Vicar Monica Weber works with a hunger ministry which is a partnership between the two congregations she serves as intern - St. Paul, Nashville, TN and St. Timothy, Hendersonville, TN. For more information on the ministry, contact Monica Weber.
|
|
Lutheran Suicide Prevention Ministry
Available now with a click on your computer.
|
|
Southeastern Synod
We Are Church Together Appeal
Thank you for your generosity!
|
|
January 2015,Year-End Mission Support
Mission support results are now in for January 2015, which marks the end of the 2014-15 fiscal year. Pending the final close of the current year, and aided by mission support contributions from the We Are Church Together Appeal, the Southeastern Synod finished the year with mission support contributions of $2,154,796. This is $18,238 (1%) more than last year, but $18,825 (1%) less than two years ago. Our total received for 2014-15 is about $62,500 (2.8%) under the Level 1 budget for the year.
|
|
"God's Work. Our Hands." Sunday
We continue to share the amazing stories from 2014 of how congregations in the Southeastern Synod celebrated "who we are as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America - one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor." Mark you calendars and begin planning for 2015 - Sunday, September 13. Click here for more information.
 | |
The Revs. Dale Sillik and Jill Henning, Trinity Lutheran, Lilburn, GA
|
At Trinity Lutheran Church in Lilburn, GA participation in "God's Work, Our Hands." Sunday began with projects before the Saturday evening service and concluded with more projects after services on Sunday.
Members of Trinity participated in projects before and after the Saturday evening service. They led the way for the rest by making Brown Bag Ministry lunches, and stuffing and sewing special pillows for use by breast cancer patients recovering from surgery. (Continue.)
|
"What Motivates Lay Leaders?" The writer encourages looking at resources which will aid movement in a new direction. Click here.
|
|
Partners in Celebration
 The Southeastern Synod's Partners in Celebration Program provides an intentional way for interested individuals and congregations to support new church starts and redevelopment efforts through "targeted" financial contributions. It is a very realistic goal for 100 Partners in Celebration to each contribute $100+ three or four times each year to a featured ministry. We have the potential for these gifts to easily generate additional, unbudgeted income of $10,000 or more which would be an enormous blessing for any size ministry. Our highlighted ministry for the first quarter of 2015 is Trinity Ministries located in Memphis, TN. Trinity Ministries is a local outreach initiative that partners with other churches in the community. Those who benefit from the social services of Trinity Ministries meet each Saturday for a celebration of word and sacrament. Click here to view our letter to congregations and individuals explaining how Trinity Ministries provides support to the community and detailing ways to give.
|
|
It's That Time of Year Again!
| |
Portico Health Assessment: Not only does this program remind us of the need to be good stewards of our health for the sake of our ministries, but ELCA employers (congregations, seminaries, other organizations) earn a 2% discount on their health contribution payments if 65% (112 for the Southeastern Synod) or more of the ELCA-primary plan members and eligible spouses take the online Mayo Clinic Health Assessment between January 1 and April 30, 2015.
The first month's status report is in. As of January 31st, 28 members (16.67%) have completed their assessments. We need 84 more to meet our goal of 65%.
If you have already completed your assessment, THANK YOU! If not, it only takes 10-20 minutes. Remember, you will receive $150 in wellness dollars just for taking the assessment! Plus, if you complete the follow-up activities, you can earn an additional $350 more in wellness dollars! Click here to begin.
|
|
|
WE ARE CHURCH FOR THE SAKE OF THE WORLD
|
|
 | |
ELCA World Hunger's Walk for Water
|
|
 Hunger Walk/Run 2015
Turner Field, Atlanta, GA
March 15, 2015
|
|
Go Global this Lent!
Journey with Lutheran World Relief
|
February 27 - March 1: All-Georgia, FFA-FCCLA Camp, Covington, GA
March 4, 2015: Concordia Choir, Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Atlanta, GA
March 14, 2015: Lutheranch Round-Up, Tallapoosa, GA
June 14 - 19, 2015: AFFIRM, Berry College, Mt. Berry, GA
July 19 - 23, 2015: Called to be a Living Voice, Worship Jubilee of the ELCA & the Biennial Conference of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, Atlanta, GA
July 30 - August 2, 2015: Association of Liberian Lutherans in America (ALLIA) and African Descent Lutheran Association (ADLA) Joint Conference, Baltimore, MD
September 13: "God's Work. Our Hands." Sunday
September 15 - 17, 2015: Southeastern Synod Leadership Convocation, Lutheridge, Arden, NC
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
|
|
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!
| |
Descriptions and application instructions for the following open positions and others are listed on our website:
Full-Time Minister of Community Formation
Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Lexington, SC
Full-Time Development Director
NovusWay Ministries, Arden NC
Part-Time Music Director/Accompanist
Nativity Lutheran Church, Bethlehem, GA
Part-Time Social Media/Publications Specialist
NovusWay Ministries, Arden, NC
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share this E-news with a friend!
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
|
|
|
