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SEPANews Update / December 20, 2013
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#2013WasAGoodYear in @SEPAsynod
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Youth cleaning up at Helping Hands Day
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From Jay Gamelin's inspiring Assembly presentations and the 360+ youth who assisted people affected by Hurricane Sandy on Helping Hands Day, to the ourpouring of community service on "God's work. Our hands." Sunday in September and the new Practice Discipleship faith formation program, 2013 has been a full and productive year across SEPA Synod.
Follow our year-end highlights at https://facebook.com/sepasynod or at http://twitter.com/sepasynod with hashtag #2013WasAGoodYear. Jump in and share your favorite moments of the year!
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Learn To Practice Discipleship
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Treasurer Janet Neff informs us that the IRS approved business mileage reimbursement rate for 2014 will be 56 cents per mile.
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Congregations Collect $100K For Needy
For this year's Christmas Ingathering, about 70 congregations collected donations for vulnerable people. On Dec. 1, more than 100 volunteers (mostly from Gloria Dei Church, Huntingdon Valley) unpacked trucks, sorted donations and repacked them for delivery. The items, valued at about $100,000, will serve people locally and internationally.
The Ingathering has been a SEPA tradition for 46 years. It is managed by Liberty Lutheran through its Lutheran Congregational Services affiliate.
Thanks to everyone who participated. Mark your calendar to participate next fall!
Read more at http://ministrylink.org/article/congregations-collect-100k-for-needy/
See more photos at http://on.fb.me/J8jZrC
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Sacred Space in the Midst of Loss
The Christmas season is celebrated as a season of light, but for some people this time of year is anything but.
"There are factors in people's lives which make the holiday season difficult: loss of job, divorce, depression, loss of a loved one, and or trauma around the season," says the Rev. Andrena Ingram, pastor of St. Michael's in Germantown, where a "Blue Christmas" service has been part of the season for the last six years.
At St. Luke's in Devon, "Blue Christmas" worship is offered "because the Christmas season can often become overwhelming for people who are struggling with grief or sadness," says Pastor Matt Staniz. "We want to create sacred space where the promise of Emmanuel, God with us, is clear when we most need to experience it."
Learn more about Blue Christmas at http://ministrylink.org/article/sacred-space-in-the-midst-of-loss/
Look for local Blue Christmas Services at http://ministrylink.org/article/congregations-list-blue-christmas-services/
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Thank You for Supporting Our Network!
The "It Takes All the Saints" campaign helps support the networks, people and resources that SEPA congregations and leaders depend on. Thank you to the many people who have already responded with gifts of $1,000, $250, $50 or even $25. Your gifts will help keep our network connected.
Has your congregation called a pastor, had a transformational ministry coach, interacted with new missions like Welcome Church or been blessed by a Tanzanian partner congregation? Have members participated in youth events, our communicators network, the Malaria Campaign, or had connections with the Stewardship or Faith Formation teams? Your support will help keep these services available to our congregations and leaders. It's not too late to make a tax-deductible gift!
Read more at http://ministrylink.org/article/invest-in-your-synod-connections/ or make a secure, online gift at http://ministrylink.org/give
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 March is Tanzania Month -- During the month of March 2014, the Synod is offering opportunities to celebrate, learn about, and raise funds for the many companionships we have with Tanzania. With this month-long focus, we will raise awareness of these companionships and consolidate our efforts to support them. Lutheran Day/LAMPa 35th Anniversary - Undivided Hearts: Sustaining Hope in a Broken World is the theme of this celebration on Tuesday, May 6 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Camp Hill. An anniversary dinner will follow in the Capitol Rotunda. Lutheran Night at the Phillies, May 30 (with overflow on June 13) - Tickets are available now by contacting the Phillies Sales Office at 215.463.5000. |
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LTSP Honors Dr. Addie J. Butler
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Faith in Action
 Tony Coppola, a volunteer with Seamen's Church Institute in Philadelphia, prepares some of the hundreds of personal care bags to be distributed to seafarers making port in our region this Christmas season. Many churches of a number of traditions are involved in collecting toothpaste, soaps and other personal care items along with socks, caps and gloves to ease the life of seafarers far from home.
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What is CONNECT? A winter retreat at Bear Creek Camp where you will be able to come and CONNECT with God and with friends! We are offering 2 weekends for CONNECT this Winter. January 17-19 for grades 7-12 and March 14-16 for grades 4-8. Cost to come is $110 and includes housing, activities and food for the entire weekend. Join us for fun activities in the snow, by the fire and with others! Click the image above for more info or to register.
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Keep In Touch With SEPA
Help your congregation's leaders keep up with the latest news, equipping resources and youth information from the Synod. Please encourage all of your council members and key leaders to sign up to receive emails from the Synod in one of these ways:
Scan the QR code at right to subscribe.
Text SEPANEWS to 22828
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Holiday Hours
The Synod Office will be open in the morning on Dec. 23, closed Dec. 24 through 27 for Christmas, and closed the afternoon of Dec. 31.
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It Takes All the Saints...
...to ensure vital Lutheran witness in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Each year hundreds of individuals and congregations give extra mile gifts through our annual "It Takes All the Saints" campaign.
These gifts help us continue and expand our ministries to equip leaders ( lay and rostered) and congregations for ministry in the 21st Century.
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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.
"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."
Submit information for publication to sepanews@sepa.org 3 weeks before your desired distribution date.
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© Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, ELCA | 7241 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19119 | 267.323.3737
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