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SEPANews Update / August 28, 2014
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Watch for our 2014-15 Equipping Event Calendar, coming soon!
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Tell Your #ELCADayOfService Story!
 SEPA Synod wants to tell the story of how we serve together on "God's work. Our hands." Sunday, Sept. 7. Because projects are spread across the Synod at the same time, we need your help to tell the story. Please take photos and/or video and capture the story of your service project(s) by interviewing participants and the people you serve.
It's a good idea to share your observations and photos on your Facebook and Twitter feeds. On social media use the hashtag #ELCADayOfService
Please share your stories, pictures and videos as soon as is practical with Bob Fisher (rfisher@sepa.org, 267-323-3743).
Get full information at http://bit.ly/SerSun14
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A New Season for Lutheran Charities
 For the past year, a vision has emerged to expand Lutheran Charities into a robust partner for you and your congregation in ministry, mission and outreach. Lutheran Charities is a partnership of nine life-giving ministries that serve 80,000 people in our area each year. A new executive director, the Rev. Bradley R. Burke, will lead this strengthened focus on social ministry beginning in October - which is also Lutheran Charities month in our synod. Get involved by:
Learn more and download a letter outlining the Lutheran Charities vision.
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September is National Preparedness Month
 Are you or your congregation prepared if a disaster strikes within your community? Download a Congregational Disaster Preparedness Guide that will walk you through, step-by-step, to create a comprehensive plan in case of a disaster and help equip your church to respond after a disaster strikes. We celebrate that OUR local Lutheran Disaster Response - Eastern PA staff from Liberty Lutheran/Lutheran Congregational Services prepared this work on behalf of ELCA. Julia Menzo, Ruth Doty and Pastor Jennifer Ollikainen were honored to provide the content for this valuable resource. Four free downloads are available here:
LDR-Eastern PA staff are available to talk about LDR-Eastern PA in your congregation or provide contracted services to help your congregation create its own disaster preparedness plan. For more information, contact Pr. Jennifer Ollikainen, jollikainen@libertylutheran.org, or Julia Menzo, jmenzo@libertylutheran.org.
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MacPhersons Welcome Home Celebration
 Our missionaries Tom and Susan MacPherson are on their way home after three years in Tanzania. Please join St. John's, Mayfair and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod as we welcome them home. On Saturday, September 13, we'll celebrate their time in Irente with a pot luck dinner after the 5:00 pm service, at which they will preach. Come to greet them and to hear stories of their time at the Irente Chirldren's Home. Bring a dish to share so we can remind them what an American dinner looks like. For information contact Mary Jones at 215.745.0992 or email MLoewer906@aol.com.
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In Brief...
Youth Ministry In Small Churches Workshop
Did you know that the average-size youth group is 8 students? Youth Ministry in Small Churches is a two-day event for volunteers and church leaders who want to discover a community of others engaged in the joys and challenges of youth ministry in small churches. October 3-4 at Princeton Theological Seminary, sponsored by the Institute for Youth Ministry in partnership with the Presbytery of Philadelphia. For information and to register visit http://tinyurl.com/iymsmallchurch.
Making Mutual Ministry Work
In October 2014, Pastor Sue Lang, of RevWriter Resources, LLC, one of the co-authors of Pastor and People: Making Mutual Ministry Work (Augsburg Fortress, 2003), will offer a day-long workshop guiding participants through an exploration of mutual ministry and its exciting ministry possibilities for your congregation. It will be held on Saturday, October 4, 2014 9: 30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at New Hanover Lutheran Church, 2941 Lutheran Road, Gilbertsville, PA 19525. Learn more at http://ministrylink.org/article/mutual-ministry-seminar/
Global Plunge for Young Adults
Do you know a young adult (ages 18-20) ready to deepen their spirituality and experience the global church? A "team of young adults from the US and Canada will take the "Global Plunge" May 27 to June 8, 2015. They will live in community in Geneva, Switzerland with Lutherans from another country, discovering how Lutherans work together through the Lutheran World Foundation and partner with other denominations. Participants will then experience a week in the Taizé Community, an ecumenical monastic order in Taizé, Saône-et-Loire in Burgundy, France. Full details at http://ministrylink.org/article/global-plunge/
Oktoberfest for LDR
St. Paul's, Glenside will again host Oktoberfest to benefit Lutheran Disaster Response in Eastern PA on Saturday, Sept. 20, 12-6 pm. St. Paul's is located at 120 N. Easton Road, Glenside, PA 19038. The event features German food and music, children's activities, and a homebrewfest with more than 8 homebrew teams. Tickets are $25 each and include one beer, food, and a free mug for adults. Children's tickets for ages 4 and above are also $25 and include a soft drink, food, and unlimited rides. Info at: http://ministrylink.org/article/support-disaster-response-oktoberfest/
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- New Visions Seminar - Sept. 12-13
- "Facing Congregational Finances" - Sept. 16
- Making Mutual Ministry Work - Oct. 4
- Bishop's Convocation - Nov. 12-14
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Get Your Info in MinistryLink
If you have information you'd like us to consider publishing, 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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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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The Global Church Sunday 
