|
|
|
SEPANews Update / October 6, 2014
|
Introducing MinistryLink PDFs
Did you know that you, through our Synod, support a creative and growing center for youth in Northeast Philadelphia? Read about Rhawnhurst Turning Point in the latest PDF edition of MinistryLink. This new publication can be viewed online and/or shared by email, website, or in print in your church bulletins. This issue also includes a "best practices" report about congregations collaborating to fight food insecurity and updates from our Faith Formation and Reformation at 500 teams.
|
Turning Point Makes Connections
 Rhawnhurst Turning Point, a venture launched by Redemption Lutheran and a local Presbyterian church, is helping local youth with homework help, arts classes and service opportunities. The 4-year-old non-profit is really about relationships.
"God is making connections, growing self-confidence in kids, and helping them to find trusted mentors in the volunteers," says Director Cheryl Lafferty. Turning Point free offers outlets beyond sports to help youth figure out how God wants them to use their gifts. "We want them to grow in every aspect of their lives: academically, socially, relationally, spiritually," Lafferty says. Learn more at http://ministrylink.org/rtp14
|
|
Ebola Prayer Service Oct. 19
As the Ebola outbreak continues, all SEPA congregations are encouraged to gather for a service of prayer and support for our Liberian brothers and sisters here and in West Africa. Bishop Burkat will preach at the prayer service on Sunday, Oct. 19 at 4 pm at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 400 Lynbrooke Road, Springfield, PA 19094. Food and sanitary supplies and an offering to cover shipping to Liberia will be collected. Get full information at
http://ministrylink.org/ebola1019
Download a flyer at: http://bit.ly/ebola1019
|
MEN CAN Rally Oct. 18
Lutheran Settlement House (LSH) will hold the MEN CAN Rally to Stop Family Violence at LOVE Park, on Saturday, October 18, 2014 at 10 AM. The MEN CAN campaign recognizes that men play a vital and complex role in domestic violence prevention and is capped by the MEN CAN Rally. LSH will be joined by musical performers, nonprofit, community, and civic leaders, LSH supporters, Councilman Bill Greenlee, and other area politicians. MEN CAN encourages males in Philadelphia to speak out against abuse and lets males know that they have a voice and the power to alter the domestic violence landscape and eradicate abuse. For more information on the MEN CAN campaign and rally, please contact Brandon Wright, Communications and Events Manager, at 215.426.8610 ext 1223 or BWright@lutheransettlement.org.
|
It's Lutheran Charities Month!
 October is Lutheran Charities Month. You and your congregation can be a part of this celebration of our Lutheran Social Ministries right here in SEPA! Pastor Brad Burke, who has worked with service, outreach and youth ministries, is the new executive director of Lutheran Charities, and a new website, http://www.lutherancharities.org, has been launched to show the work of local Lutheran charity organizations. Click here to read a message from Pastor Burke.
-- Download bulletin inserts for Lutheran Charities Month
|
Let Your Light Shine for Christmas Ingathering
 For 46 years, SEPA congregations have banded together with an "Ingathering" of gifts serving people in need, locally and globally, with a variety of holiday gift donations. Working together, we have the capacity to serve more people in need than we can alone. Every year during the holiday season, the SEPA Synod Ingathering provides over $100,000 worth of donations to organizations that work with children and the poor in our local region and overseas, as well as to others who have unique needs.
This year's ingathering is Sunday, Dec. 7, and donations benefit Lutheran Children and Family Service, Seamen's Church Institute, Lutheran World Relief, local Lutheran food pantries, Lutheran Settlement House, Philadelphia Lutheran Ministries, and other local institutions of care. Thanks to Christıs, Oreland; Christ, Upper Darby; Little Zion, Telford; St. John, Mayfair; and Zion, Spring City for serving as collection points. Donations must be delivered between 1 and 2:30 pm on December 7.
Get full information and instructions at http://www.lutherancongregationalservices.org/volunteer-and-serve/ingathering/
|
In Brief...
ELCA Health Benefits Helps Strengthen Ministry
 It's open enrollment time. Before making 2015 benefit decisions, pause and give thanks that, as a community we pool our contributions to care for the leaders of the ELCA. Click the image to view Together, We Heal, a five-minute video that tells how our ELCA community helps church leaders get the care they need.
Alzheimer benefit concert
A Benefit Concert, featuring the music of Billy Joel and Elton John, will be held Sunday, Oct. 26 at 7 pm, Upper Dublin Lutheran Church, Butler Pike and Susquehanna Road, Ambler. Musicians Andrew McMaster and Perry Wolfe will be performing. All donations from the concert will benefit the Walk to End Alzheimer's, which will be held at Citizens Bank Park, 1 Citizens Bank Way, Philadelphia on Sunday, November 9, 2014.
From Social Justice to Creation Justice
Larry L. Rasmussen, ThD, Reinhold Niebuhr Professor Emeritus of Social Ethics at Union Theological Seminary, New York City, will present the William Lazareth Lecture in Theology and Ethics on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014 at The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (LTSP) . A renowned theologian and advocate for the poor and for environmental issues, Rasmussen's lecture is entitled "In the Midst of New Dimensions: From Social Justice to Creation Justice." The Lazareth Lecture begins at 11:30 am in Benbow Hall, The Brossman Center on the seminary campus. Learn more at http://ltsp.edu/october-7-dr-larry-rasmussen-presenting-lazareth-lecture/
|
|
- Parish Secretaries Seminary - Oct. 7-8
- Bishop's Convocation - Nov. 12-14
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
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
rfisher@sepa.org
267.323.3743
|  | |
Cynta Outterbridge
| |
"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
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
