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 SEPANews Update / September 9, 2015 |
Equipping
Explore Future Church at Ministry Resource Day Sept. 17
Everyone knows the culture has changed - perhaps faster in recent years than at any time in centuries. But what, exactly, has changed? And why does the Church so often feel left behind? And, perhaps most importantly, what can we do about it? Explore these questions at Ministry Resource Day on Thursday, Sept. 17, featuring presentations by Dr. David Lose, president of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. This free event runs 9 am to 3 pm on the seminary campus.
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Looking for opportunities to sharpen your skills and enhance your congregation's ministries? Visit http://ministrylink.org/events to browse are always updated listing of equipping and learning events.
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Thinking Outside the Walls: Bishop's Convocation 2015
Ever since Martin Luther engaged students in theological discussion over beer, supper and informal conversion, church leaders have tried various ways to invite both believers and seekers to explore faith and life conversations outside the Sunday worship experience. Explore these surprising spaces to be church during the 2015 Bishop's Convocation, Nov. 18-20. Pub theologian Bryan Berghoef and theologian and homiletician Barbara K. Lundblad will present.
More Equipping Opportunities:
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Curious about our Synod's Forward Together in Faith initiative? Download this PDF newsletter with all the details on the campaign launch at Assembly 2015.
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Communicating
Digital Storytelling Webinars
Communication (and preaching and evangelism, for that matter) starts with telling your story. Whether you are young or old, technically savvy or a digital novice, consider taking a free online webinar with an experienced StoryCenter facilitator for an overview of digital storytelling.
Click here to learn more or to register.
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Innovation
Bishop Eaton: If God is Enough
Is God enough? In her September column for The Lutheran, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton says if God is enough, we have everything we need. If God is enough, we can be free from attachments to our plans, self-will and success.
Food for Thought: Pastor Megan Rohrer
"Yes, we must balance our budgets, endow our futures and be good stewards of God's creation. But whatever happens with our assets in the future, God never declares us bankrupt. ... Instead of fearing the future of the church, now is the time to trust the generations whom we baptized and formed in faith."
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Networking
Help Respond to Europe Refugee Crisis
Lutheran Disaster Response is working with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hungary and the Slovak Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Augsburg Confession in Serbia and The Lutheran World Federation to provide food, diapers, blankets, water, health kits, hygiene kits and psychosocial services to assist those who have fled their homes in the Middle East. What can you do? Pray. Give. Learn more
Speak Up for Hungry Children Sept. 13
In the US, 15.8 million children live in households that struggle with hunger. This year on God's Work. Our Hands. Sunday, consider adding advocacy as a complement to your service. This year, you can help start a letter writing campaign to Congress. Get more info and resources from Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania.
Checklist for 2017
What are you planning for your congregation's celebration of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation in 2017? Our Synod's Reformation at 500 team has posted a planning checklist and other resources on its webpage at http://ministrylink.org/2017. Our Synod has formed the Reformation at 500 Committee to assist all of us - leaders, congregations, institutions - to find the resources, engage in the discussions, create the events and experiences - that will bring Luther and the Reformation alive and relevant for our time.
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In Brief
Choral Work Tells Bonhoeffer Story
The Crossing professional chamber choir will reprise Thomas Lloyd's "Bonhoeffer," which probes the life and death of the German theologian, on Sunday, Sept. 23 with two performances, 2 and 5 pm, at Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral. Click here for more info.
Thrivent Sponsors Shredding Event Thrivent Financial's Philadelphia Chapter will sponsor a shredding event on the LTSP campus on Sept. 26 from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. Cost: Bring canned or perishable food items to help the seminary food bank. Click here for more info.
Free: Youth and Children's Choir Robes Advent Lutheran Church, West Chester, has available 22 youth and children's choir robes. Like new condition, 6 years old but only used 1 year. A variety of sizes. Free. Contact pastorchrisfranz@gmail.com for information and a picture!
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Click these images for the latest resources and job openings!
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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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