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SEPANews Update / August 5, 2013
 
 
S.D. Mission Transforms Youth

 

For the fourth time in nine years, SEPA youth, young adults and adult chaperones set out from the known element of Philadelphia and suburbs to the strange, new world of South Dakota...from Rapid City through the Black Hills, across the plains to the Rosebud Reservation, home of the Lakota...where they would live and work together for 12 days.

 

The experience was many things for each of them: fulfilling and transformative, certainly, but also grueling as they ate foods somewhat different from what they were used to; slept on the floor of a church for several nights; and then, on the reservation, some slept in tipis, others in group housing...but these servants accepted it all willingly as they were there to "Walk Humbly With God" -- the theme for the week - to work with the Lakota Indians and to learn about a culture and tradition so different from their own.

 

 

More than 110 participants represented 19 churches in the Synod and came in all sizes, shapes, ages and ethnicities, but they all were united in their love of God and belief that their hands were doing His work on the plains among the Lakota. - Brenda Lange

 

Watch ministrylink.org for more coverage!


Tips for Successful Day of Service

On September 8 your congregation can join Lutherans around the US in an ELCA Day of Service.

 

If you're still planning your congregation's activities, consider these ideas:

Start small. If your congregation doesn't have existing projects or relationships with community organizations, take initial steps to build them.

Think local. Contact the existing service agencies in your neighborhood, such as food pantries, nursing homes and hospitals, senior centers, meals on wheels, fire departments, even your local municipal government and find out what help they need.

Work together. Network with your neighboring congregations to develop projects together. Do existing groups, such as Scout troops, senior groups, or your nursery school have projects to offer or additional volunteers?

 

Visit our website for ideas of what other SEPA congregations are up to.

 

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry In Pennsylvania (LAMPa) is sponsoring God's work. Our voices. Monday on Sept. 9 to help congregations use the Sunday experience of service to create lasting change. LAMPa suggests that congregations consider adding an advocacy component to your September 8 plans, to enhance and deepen your service. Contact the LAMPa office for advocacy ideas related to your area of service at 717.545.3500 or [email protected]Learn more at: http://www.lutheranadvocacypa.org/2013/07/18/gods-work-our-voices-monday-september-9-2013.

 

Don't forget to check with our social ministry agencies  for possible volunteer activities.

 

Mission Mingle September 7

 

Want to see what God is up to in your backyard?  On Saturday, Sept. 7th, congregations in the Southeastern PA Synod are going to meet to mingle their missions.  We call it "MissionMingle."  We are planning a "field trip" where our beloved suburban congregations will mingle with our beloved urban congregations.  The plan is for every congregation to visit and mingle with 2 or 3 other congregations on the same day.  Please contact Vicar Marissa Harris Krey from God's Love Lutheran Church in Newtown, PA at (215) 968-4335 or [email protected].  Save the Date: Saturday, Sept. 7th. 

 

Convocation 2013: The Art and Awe of Sharing the Gospel 

 

Attention rostered leaders! 

 

Re-ignite your passion for the Gospel and explore ways to light a fire in your congregation at the 2013 Bishop's Convocation. The Rev. Dr. Alyce McKenzie will help preachers cultivate the imagination to notice God at work in the world and proclaim that good news to skeptics by "making a scene" in the pulpit. The Rev. Jay Gamelin will build on his popular Assembly keynotes by showing how the vocabulary of the emerging church can be put into practice in preaching, worship and evangelism. 

 

Learn more at www.ministrylink.org/convocation

 

Save the Date for Christmas Ingathering -- Sunday, Dec. 1

 

The 46th annual Southeastern PA Synod Christmas Ingathering collects donations for vulnerable people in our area and around the world. Each congregation will receive their SEPA Christmas Ingathering Kit just after Labor Day in the church office. Watch for these materials to plan your collection.

Donations include:

  • kits and quilts for Lutheran World Relief,
  • personal care kits for local institutions,
  • Christmas gifts and backpacks for children in care of Lutheran Children and Family Service,
  • men's socks and travel-sized toiletries for Philadelphia Lutheran Ministries,
  • new adult/children's underwear, travel-sized toiletries and adult/children's winter gloves/mittens for Lutheran Settlement House,
  • socks and work gloves for the Seaman's Church Institute, and
  • non-perishable food items for local food pantries.

Note: We are not collecting baby items this year. Contact The Rev. Dr. Jennifer Ollikainen (610.425.2981 or [email protected]) or Darliese Scott (215.456.5700 or [email protected]) with questions or for more information.


Practice Discipleship Traning
  

This fall our synod is kicking off a training series called "Practice Discipleship".  Practice Discipleship is a nationwide initiative with this year's focus being on Faith Formation in a Missional Age.

 

The training sessions are an opportunity for ALL congregational leaders to learn and share ideas about how to be engaged in intentional ministry that matters in the 21st Century. Download the flyer for more information.  The registration link will be in the SEPA Youth Ministry Website  in August!

Bear Creek Camp Sees Growth

Bear Creek Camp celebrates its 39th summer camp season with a new executive director, new board of directors and an increase in camper registrations. The camp, steeped in Lutheran outdoor ministry tradition spanning back to 1927, spent the past two years refining its mission and brand, focusing on developing programs to help campers of all ages "Explore, Celebrate and Grow in God's Creation." The transformation was continued with the hiring of executive director Dan Scharnhorst. 

 

"We are thrilled to open this summer season to so many new campers," said Scharnhorst. "Excitement about Bear Creek Camp is growing, thanks to the efforts of many supporters:  dedicated staff members, counselors, alumni and congregations from the Northeastern and Southeastern Pennsylvania Synods of the ELCA.


Call for Fall Equipping Events
 
Does your congregation, agency or group plan to offer workshops or programs this fall to help equip congregational leaders for ministry? We want to help spread the word in a special email newsletter recapping fall learning events. 

Please send information about your event to Bob Fisher no later than Aug. 15 to be included in this email.
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Last Call!
Lutherans Restoring Creation is offering a training event Aug. 8-10 at Gettysburg Seminary. For info contact 

Phoebe Morad, Synodical Training Coordinator

617.599.2722 or via email.


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THANK YOU 
for taking the time to read this edition of MinistryLink. We hope you find this electronic newsletter a valuable resource in our shared ministry. If you know of anyone who could benefit from the information in this newsletter, please forward it to them using the link below and encourage them to sign up to receive MinistryLink directly.
 
Bob Fisher
Assistant to the Bishop,
Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod ELCA
[email protected]
267.323.3743 
 
Cynta Outterbridge
Communications Assistant
[email protected]
267.323.3742
 
 
"Activated by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we equip the saints and congregations for the work of ministry, for building up the Body of Christ."

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