February 2013
Ministry Resources
A listing of events, learning opportunities and resources to help equip your congregation's lay and rostered leaders for ministry.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod provides this announcement as a courtesy to our Lutheran and ecumenical partners as part of our mission to "equip the saints for the work of ministry". These resources and events are not sponsored by the Synod. For more information, contact the sponsor of the event or resource.

 

Did you know? You can forward this email to friends and congregation members by using the Forward This Email link at the bottom center of this message.

 

 

Phillies Lutheran Night at Phillies May 31

  

Tickets are now available for Lutheran Night at the Phillies on Friday, May 31 when the Phils' take on the Milwaukee Brewers at 7:05 pm. Net proceeds of tickets sold through this offer will benefit Synod Youth Programs.

 

To order tickets contact Scott McDade in the Phillies Sales Office at 215-463-5000, ext. 5434. Or order online at http://www.Phillies.com/Lutheran.

 

Orders must be placed by April 16. Tickets subject to availability.

 

Download Lutheran Night flyer.

 

Council Officers Gathering March 9

 

Save the date: Saturday, March 9 is the annual Council Officers' Gathering with Bishop Burkat. Elected council officers are invited for a time of conversation with the bishop and with each other to enhance our partnership as the Synod. Breakfast and fellowship from 8:30 to 9 am, program 9 am to noon. Location to be announced. Online registration will be available soon.

 

Closing Worship for Holy Spirit, Northeast Philadelphia

 

Your prayers and presence are requested at the closing service of Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, as we celebrate over 73 years of mission and ministry.  Sunday, February 24, 2013, 2:30 p.m.; 1268 Robbins Avenue (at Loretto), Philadelphia, PA 19111. Call 215.680.3972 for more information.

 

What Forces Drive Church Growth or Loss?

 

The U.S. Congregations Survey, a long-term study of trends in American churches, shows that congregations are small (less than 100 attenders is average), fewer than half of active church people have children at home, and church-goers are more highly educated than the population as a whole. Cynthia Woolever, lead researcher of the survey, says in an interview with ReadTheSpirit.com that the educational level of churchgoers is changing the dynamics in congregants, with many churchgoers now expecting they can question clergy. She also says the study shows that clergy turnover has a negative impact on congregations, and that mastery of the Internet and social media is "part of the required skillset for pastors." 

 

Read more  

 

 "We Are All Theologians"

 

"As the ELCA we are in our 25th year and we have work to do - theological work," Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson writes in his column in the February issue of The Lutheran.  "You are a theologian. It may not be how you describe yourself, but you are. You are a theologian as you listen to God, talk about God, wonder about God."

 

Faith Formation

Rest, Refreshment, and Renewal, April 13

 



"Women at the Wheel" is the theme for LTSP's annual 
Rest, Refreshment, and Renewal Women's Day 2013.
 Registration including refreshments and lunch is 
$40 per person or $275 for a table of 8. 

 

Tammy Devine

Wellness Manager, ELCA Portico Benefit Services

Register now and join us for the seventh annual event on Saturday, April 13, 2013. This day will use the Wholeness Wheel as its basis, inviting women to renew, reconnect, and refresh physically, emotionally, and spiritually in a day of fellowship and gathering. Invite your friends, colleagues and fellow church women to share this day.


Tammy Devine, Wellness Manager with the ELCA Portico Benefit Services, will lead opening worship. Pastor Penny Stechmann of the ELCA's New Jersey Synod, will preside over closing worship with Eucharist. A gifted panel of women clergy and professionals will coordinate our workshops. And neighbor- hood vendors will be on hand with a delightful selection of books and personal care products to enhance our well-being. You won't want to miss this extraordinary day. Come and bring a friend!

 

Registration deadline: Monday, April 8, 2013 (Registration includesContinental Breakfast and Lunch)

Register today!

 

 

Lutheran Marriage Encounter Opportunities

 

Only a couple of openings remain for the March 15-17 Weekend in State College; however, we do still have openings for the April 26-28 Weekend at the motel-style retreat center at the Lutheran Camp Sequanota. NOW is the time to register for a Weekend to rekindle the romance and realize the full potential of your marriage with all the joy and beauty God intended.  

 

Sessions run from Friday night at 8 PM and end Sunday around 5 PM. There is a $45 per couple registration fee, plus toward the end of the weekend, you will be given an opportunity to make a confidential contribution of whatever amount you wish toward continuation of the program. Two nights lodging and 5 meals for each of you are included.

 

Registrations are also currently being taken for the fall Weekends:

  • September 13-15, 2013 at Olmsted Mansion and Retreat Center in Ludlow
  • October 11-13, 2013 at Mountain Laurel Resort in the Poconos.

To sign up for a Weekend, simply go to the website: www.GodLovesMarriage.org  and register using your credit card, or for questions, or if you would like a brochure with registration form mailed to you, contact Pennsylvania Directors of Lutheran Marriage Encounter, Fred & Julie Schamber, at 724-325-3166 or email: [email protected]

 

Via de Cristo Builds Up Individuals and Congregations  

Come take a Journey in Faith to renew and build-up your life as a follower of Christ. At the Via de Cristo weekend we will pray, worship, discuss, sing, and have lots of food and fun; while the Holy Spirit immerses us in grace and teaches us how to live the balanced Christian life we are called to in baptism.

 

It's the Holy Spirit, aided by the structure of the Via de Cristo weekend that many have seen to be more effective in building up individuals and congregations than years of bible study or worship attendance.

 

Our next weekend is:  April 25 - 28, 2013  and  registration closes April 2nd

 

Click for more information or visit www.JourneyinFaithVdC.org   

 

Contacts:   

Mark Hammond, [email protected]  or 717.283.5754

Rev. Greg Stoddard, [email protected]   

Rev. Diane LaFauci, [email protected]  

 

We are available to speak for temple talks, bible studies or other groups.

 

"It was like getting washed with a fire hose of Grace." 

 Rev. Greg Stoddard, Retired Director of Chaplaincy & CPE, Reading Hospital

Visit Germany and Prague

 

Sign up for a trip to Germany and Prague with SEPA pastor and Reformation historian Martin Lohrmann. The trip combines history, spirituality, education and fun. It includes visits to modern historical sites like the Berlin Wall and Buchenwald Concentration Camp, as well as visits to the hometowns of Jan Hus, Martin & Katie Luther and J.S. Bach. One sure highlight will be attending the great Renaissance/Reformation festival of "Luther's Wedding" while in Wittenberg. Contact Pastor Lohrmann for more information. The trip begins on June 4 and first deposits will be made in March, so sign up now!

Faith in Action

Lutheran Disaster Response Volunteer Opportunity

 

  

LDR LOGOFifteen volunteers are needed for tree cleanup at Boy Scout Camp Ockanickon, Pipersville, PA 18947 in Bucks County on Saturday, March 2, from 8:00 a.m. - sunset. Volunteers will be working with Team Rubicon and Southern Baptist Disaster Response removing branches, carry logs, and possibly split or stack wood. Dress warmly  and wear sturdy footwear. Also have Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) of gloves, eyes and hard hats. Please also bring lunch  and any snacks or water.

 

Pre-registration is required. Register by completing the registration form and emailing it to Julia Menzo at [email protected]

 

For more information and to register download the flyer and registration form. 

 

Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity

 

 

The Upper Montgomery Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans in 2013 will be building a duplex in Hatfield through the Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity.  Funding for this project includes: $60,000 grant from Thrivent Financial, $48,000 grant from Habitat for Humanity and $12,000 to be raised locally and share by participating service teams.

 

To help facilitate this local building / servant project, the Upper Montgomery Chapter Board of Thrivent is recruiting Congregational Champions (representatives) from across the region to help spread the word in their congregations and build support.  An information dinner meeting is planned for Copperfield's Lakeside Inn in Limerick, PA for March 22 at 7PM. Reservations are required.  If you have specific questions about this local servant project or wish to attend the information dinner please contact David Enlow at 610.539. 5148 or [email protected] 

 

Read More. 

 

Connecting/Communicating

Ashes to Go

 

 

The Welcome Church and a liturgy class from LTSP joined forces to share "Ashes to go" in Center City on Ash Wednesday. Here Seminarian Linda Manson who serves at Welcome Church gives ashes in 30th Street Station.
Producing Faith Stories for a Digital World
Odyssey Networks presents its third annual "town hall" to highlight the role of media in communicating faith stories. The free event is Tuesday, March 5 from 2 to 4 pm and you can attend online. Learn more at http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=km7fhscab&oeidk=a07e6zjfj3y7b331fd4&oseq=a031hqbgxnw5cna
     
Equipping for ministry

Save 2% on Health Costs

  

The free, confidential  Mayo Clinic Health Assessment is now open for pastors, lay employees and covered spouses through Portico Benefit Services. Every covered member who takes the assessment by April 30 receives a $150 wellness credit to offset out-of-pocket medical expenses. And if 65% of the covered members across the Synod complete the assessment, every congregation will receive a 2% discount on 2013 health insurance premiums. Take the assessment at http://www.elcaforwellness.org 

 

 

Healthy ministry grant proposals due
   

Wheat Ridge Ministries invites and encourages Lutheran congregations to submit proposals for Congregation Health Ministry (CHM) Grant Program.

 

The CHM Grant Program enables ministry leaders to move inspired whole person health and wellness ideas into action within congregations and their communities through $2,000 matching grants.  These one-year grants for new and innovative health ministry programs are open to Lutheran congregations and organizations they partner with to become centers of health and hope in their community.

 

Quality proposals focusing on anti-violence themes will receive preference in the 2013 Congregational Health Ministry grant cycle.  This preference will not exclude other quality proposals from consideration.

 

Grant proposals are due by April 16, 2013 with funds to be distributed by June 15, 2013. Application materials are available for download on the Wheat Ridge website.  For questions about the Congregation Health Ministry Grant Program, contact Wheat Ridge Ministries by email at [email protected] or by phone at 800.762.6748.

 

 

Webinar - "Starting a Nonprofit at Your Church"

 

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Central Time

Cost: $39

 

Many congregations form separate 501(c)3 nonprofits to draw new funding, new people and new partners into ministry work. Incorporating your day care, school, or youth center (for example) as a separate nonprofit may be a model to consider as you look at ways to move your ministry vision forward. Get tips from Joy Skjegstad, author of Starting A Nonprofit At Your Church (Alban Institute, 2002) and a veteran leader of church-based nonprofits.

This webinar is ideal for pastors, staff, Board members and volunteers from congregations considering establishing a separate nonprofit or "re-starting" an existing one.

In this webinar you will:

  •  Assess the advantages and risks of establishing church-based nonprofits
  • Determine whether your church is ready to start a nonprofit--or not
  • Review ways the church can retain control or offer autonomy to the nonprofit
  • Gain an understanding of possible board-governance models

 Register Now  

 

 

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