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SEPANews Update / May 15, 2014
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Thanks to You, We Reached the Goal
For the first time, our Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod has earned a 2% discount on Portico health premiums for every participating congregation. Thanks to the 150 rostered personnel, church employees and spouses who completed the assessment to take us over the top.
Not only did we exceed the goal, we went far above, eclipsing the 62% total we reached last year. Great work! Our savings are expected to total nearly $60,000!
Portico estimates that employers will save $37,000 in premium costs across our Synod. And for the 150 people who completed the assessment and each earned a $150 wellness credit, that is a total savings of more than $22,000 in out-of-pocket costs.
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Lutheran Charities Being Made New
 In the hope and excitement of the Easter season, Lutheran Charities is being made new. Lutheran Charities is the face for the important work of our region's social ministry organizations that touch more than 50,000 people each year. For more than a year representatives of the Lutheran Charities organizations and the Synod have met to discern, plan and execute a renewed vision. Lutheran Charities is taking steps to become a stand-alone nonprofit organization and is in the process of hiring its first full-time executive director. The new initiative will launch this fall with Lutheran Charities month in October, with lots of ways for you and your congregation to raise awareness and support for our Lutheran social service agencies.
Read more at http://ministrylink.org/article/lutheran-charities-made-new/
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Communicating Effectively in a
Digital Age
 Attention communicators: There is still room in our SEPAComm Network gathering this Saturday, May 17 at the Brossman Center at LTSP. We will have plenary sessions on Copyright Does and Don'ts and Best Practices for E-mail Marketing, plus breakout sessions on Facebook and How Congregations Use Email. There will also be time for networking and asking your communications questions. Share this with people responsible for newsletters, email, websites and social media, and visit http://ministrylink.org/comm for all the details and registration information.
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Corrections in Assembly Report
The name of Donald Gleiter, elected to Synod Council, was misspelled.
In the report on our missionaries in Tanzania, the location of the Skype call was incorrectly named; the MacPhersons' and their students connected via Skype from Irente Childrens' Home. Also, a truck was provided by the ELCA, not via the Synod.
We regret the errors.
A print version of the report will be available for download next week.
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In Brief...
Lutherans for Shared Prosperity Gathering
The Lutheran Settlement House, Liberty Lutheran Services and Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania invite Philadelphia-area ELCA ministries involved with or interested in fighting poverty to the first gathering of Lutherans for Shared Prosperity on Wednesday, June 18, 2014 from 2 to 4 pm at the Lutheran Settlement House. Learn more and find registration links at http://ministrylink.org/article/lutherans-shared-prosperity/
Lose Elected LTSP President
The Rev. Dr. David J. Lose, Marbury Anderson Associate Professor of Biblical Preaching at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, has been elected president of The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (LTSP). Lose assumes his duties at the start of the 2014 academic year, succeeding the Rev. Dr. Philip D.W. Krey. Read more at the LTSP website, http://www.ltsp.edu.
Lankenau School 125th Reunion
Do you know a Lankenau School Graduate? The Lankenau School for Girls later known as the Lankenau School will celebrate their 125th Reunion, Saturday, May 31, 2014 on their former campus on School House Lane, now occupied by Philadelphia University. Reunion festivities begin at 11 a.m. with a picnic lunch and tour of the school's original buildings and grounds. Mementos and photos gleaned from the school's archives, stored and maintained at the Lutheran Seminary, will be on display for the afternoon and evening of fellowship. and reminiscing. A 6 p.m. celebratory reception will be followed by a buffet dinner with speakers. For further information, or to register, please email the Committee at Lankenaureunion@verizon.net.
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- Director of Education at St. Paul's, Doylestown
- Church Nursery Caregiver at Advent, Harleysville
- Director of Choir at Christ, Kulpsville
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Getting Your Info in MinistryLink
If you have information you would like published in MinistryLink, please send it to sepanews@sepa.org at least 4 weeks in advance of when you would like it to appear.
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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.
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Bob Fisher
Assistant to the Bishop,
Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod ELCA
rfisher@sepa.org
267.323.3743
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Cynta Outterbridge
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"Activated by the Holy Spirit, we equip the saints and congregations for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ."
- Synod Purpose Statement
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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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