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 SEPANews Update / July 15, 2015 |
Synod office summer hours July 6-September 4: Monday-Thursday 8 am-5:30 pm. Closed Fridays.
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Prayers...
 - For the 20,000 young people and adult leaders meeting in Detroit July 15-19 at the ELCA Youth Gathering, including nearly 500 from 38 SEPA congregations.
- For the people of Zion Lutheran Church, Flourtown, who have voted to close. Their final service is Aug. 30.
- Thanksgiving for the successful visit to Tanzania and safe return of Bishop Burkat and Joanne Carlson.
- The congregations and rostered leaders in the transition/discernment/call process.
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Highlights From Tanzania Jubilee
Bishop Burkat travelled to Tanzania in July for the celebration of the 125th anniversary of our companion North Eastern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania. While there she participated in a jubilee anniversary service (below left), attended by President Jakaya Kikwete (second from left). She preached at a celebration at Kana Church, Tanga, (above) and dedicated a nursery school at Mikanjuni Parish (below right). She also visited the Head Office of the Diocese and toured its new radio station. Ms. Joanne Carlson, assistant to the bishop for global vision (below, second from right), also represented our synod.
   
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Webinar Explains New Background Check Requirements
The Center for Children's Justice is sponsoring webinars to give you practical guidance and real time answers to questions about PA's new child protection laws and their effect on volunteers. Webinars are Thursday, July 23 from 1 to 2:30 pm and Thursday, July 30 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Webinars are led by C4CJ founder Cathleen Palm, who presented on this topic at Synod Assembly. Cost is $15 per person. For information and registration visit http://www.c4cj.org/files/CPSLwebinarjuly2015.pdf
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Focus on Faith Formation
Faith Formation Across the Ages Sept. 26
 You're invited to a morning of Christian education and faith formation conversations and workshops for everyone involved in facilitating teaching the faith in congregations. The Rev. Dr. Stephen Bouman, executive director of the ELCA Congregational and Synodical Mission unit will keynote "Faith Formation Across the Ages" on Saturday, Sept. 26, 8:30 am to 12:30 pm at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1000 W. Main St. Lansdale, PA 19446. Sponsored by the SEPA Diakonia(TM) Program. Learn more at http://ministrylink.org/faith-formation-across-the-ages/
In the Northwest U.S., known as the land of "the Nones" (people with no religious affiliation), Pastor Paul Hoffman successfully used a process of faith formation and renewal called "The Way" for more than 10 years at Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church. He will visit Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Coatesville on Saturday, Aug. 29 to tell the story of "The Way" from 9 am to noon. Cost is $25 for the first person from a congregation, and $5 for each additional person. Download more info at http://ministrylink.org/resources/resource-library/item/the-way-faith-formation-event-registration/
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Equipping
Seeking Understanding: Women and Justice
 As part of the development of a social statement, the ELCA Women and Justice: One in Christ task force has produced a study utilizing Book of Faith initiative materials to encourage discussions on the topic of women and the Bible. There is a leader's guide and handout for each of the three sessions along with a background paper written by Erik Heen, professor at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. The study can be used with a variety of classes or groups. It is available for download at http://ministrylink.org/?p=3830 Congregations are encouraged to contact the task force at womenandjustice@elca.org with thoughts and reflections after utilizing the study.
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Communicating
Tell Your Story Through Images
 We live in a visual culture, so you're missing a big opportunity if you don't use images to tell your church's story.
People respond to images. Facebook posts, web pages, e-mails and even print pieces draw more attention and shares when there is a compelling image. Recent research shows that the average person has an attention span of a bit over 8 seconds - slightly shorter than that of a goldfish. An engaging picture grabs a reader's interest faster than a block of text on the screen.
Learn more at http://ministrylink.org/story-through-images/
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Innovating
Turning Point Begins 5th Year
 Congratulations to Rhawnhurst Turning Point, which opened its 5th year of programming July 7 with its Summer Program of Art Classes, Drop-In Times and Weekend Events! RTP is a drop-in center for youth launched as a partnership of Redemption Lutheran Church, Rhawnhurst Presbyterian, the synod and the ELCA,
You can help this ministry with donations of drinks for the Center. Items such as cans of diet and regular soda, fruit juice boxes, and especially bottled water are much appreciated to help get our students through the hot summer months. They are also be collecting school supplies for a summer service project benefiting Feast of Justice. Donations of basic school supplies (backpacks, pens, pencils, glue sticks, one subject spiral notebooks, markers, colored pencils, etc.) can be dropped off during normal Center hours.
If you are interested with helping with these needs, you can drop off donations during normal center hours, or contact us at RhawnhurstTurningPoint@yahoo.com or 267.601.5147 to arrange another drop-off time.
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Networking
Volunteer Opportunity
Holy Communion Lutheran Church in Center City Philadelphia is having a volunteer day on August 9 to do much needed painting, cleaning and light maintenance tasks on our sanctuary and community center. Volunteers are needed as are donations of supplies. Among other things the church hosts food distribution programs, the Welcome church and a weekly Shared Blessings Lunch for the community. Please contact Rand McGee at Holy Communion at info@lc-hc.org for details.
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ELCA
Bishop Eaton: Talking About Money
 We don't like to talk about it. In her July 2015 column for The Lutheran, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton talks about money-an unglamorous but vital part of the church. She says we are conflicted about money, but our relationship with it is really "a profoundly spiritual issue." Read her column at http://www.thelutheran.org/article/article.cfm?article_id=12672
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Did you know that about 500 youth and adults from our SEPA Synod representing 39 congregations will be among 30,000 Lutherans at the ELCA Youth Gathering in Detroit July 15-19? A group of about 20 will also attend the Minority Youth Leadership Event prior to the Gathering.
Please keep these young people, their adult leaders, and all involved in the Gathering in your congregation's prayers.
Can You Help Sponsor Gathering T-Shirts?
 Due to the logistics of this large event, our Synod group will be separated for some of the time. To help SEPA people find each other, we have purchased high-visibility T-Shirts so they will stand out among the crowd.
We've purchased and paid for the shirts, but the expense was not planned for. And not all participants can pay an additional $10 for a shirt. So we're asking you and other supporters of the Synod to sponsor shirts for youth.
Consider a Gathering "Watch Party"
The ELCA is providing a live video stream from the "Rise Up Together" Youth Gathering in Detroit July 15-19. Programming will feature a daily morning show hosted by youth, and evening praise, worship and speakers from Ford Field. "Getting Ready" materials can also be resources for adult education, inter-generational events or youth group. You'll find links for the stream and resource materials at http://elca.org/youthgathering.
Click here for more ideas to share the Gathering in your congregation
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Learning to Lead by Doing
"What is the best way to educate leaders for the future church? Answer: invite them into leadership opportunities early and often so that they can gain essential real-world experience and develop the tools to reflect theologically and critically on their experiences," President David Lose wrote to the Lutheran Theological Seminary Community last month.
Noting the possibilities of several student-initiated ministries that could link the seminary and the local community, Lose notes that "you don't teach someone to be a public leader only by reading about public leadership in a textbook. Instead, you teach someone to lead by inviting him or her into leadership roles. That's what we're about at LTSP these days. It can be a scary proposition at times, as emerging leaders will inevitably make mistakes. But guess what? Mistakes can be your best friend when learning a complex skill in a changed and changing context."
Read more at http://ltsp.edu/from-the-president-what-is-the-best-way-to-educate-leaders-for-the-future-church/
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September 13 -- God's work. Our hands. Sunday day of service.
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In Brief
Livestream from Worship Gathering
Run/Walk to Support LSH Domestic Violence Programs
Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church has chosen Lutheran Settlement House to receive proceeds from their annual Fit for Eternity Run/Walk to be held July 5. Visit http://fit4eternity.enontab.org/ to sign up and run/walk against domestic violence.
ELCA Malaria Campaign nears $15 million goal
CHICAGO (ELCA) - In their commitment to help end malaria-related deaths in Africa, members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) have contributed $14.5 million to the ELCA Malaria Campaign, $500,000 shy of the campaign goal of $15 million by the end of 2015. Through the campaign, ELCA members and others have joined with companion Lutheran churches and partners in 13 African countries to prevent and treat malaria and educate communities about the disease.
"The greatest difference made by the ELCA Malaria Campaign has been in saving the lives of children and preventing a disease that robs families of their livelihood," said the Rev. Daniel Rift, director for ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal. "We have long known that by reducing the number of times that a child contracts malaria, it is possible to change the trajectory of their future for the rest of their lives."
Augsburg Fortress Receives Top Workplaces Recognition
Augsburg Fortress, the publishing ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), has been named one of the Top Workplaces in Minnesota by the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The recogni6on was published June 14 in a special sec6on of the newspaper.
New Director at Creation Justice Ministries
Shantha Alonso has been appointed the permanent executive director at Creation Justice Ministries. CJM educates, equips and mobilizes Christian communions, congregations and individuals to protect, restore, and rightly share God's Creation. It brings together 17 denominations including the ELCA, national partners such as the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, and faith-based environmental organizations to work for eco-justice. Learn more at http://www.creationjustice.org
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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 "Join Our Mailing List" link below and encourage them to sign up to receive MinistryLink directly.
 Bob Fisher
Assistant to the Bishop, Mission Interpretation and Communication
267.323.3743
sepanews@sepa.org
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