The Upstate Update for Wednesday, April 29, 2015

WE ARE ALMOST THERE!

Health Assement Take It Now
As of April 15 we still needed 7 more Upstate New York Portico plan participants to complete the Mayo Clinic Health Assessment to help us reach the 2% goal of savings in health care contributions for all employers in the synod.  Thank you to all the ELCA - Primary health plan members and spouses / same gender partners who have already done their part.  If you haven't yet taken the Health Assessment -

DO IT TODAY, PLEASE

The deadline for savings is tomorrow, April 30. 

Go to https://myportico.porticobenefits.org/Campaign/HealthyLiving.aspx for details and to take the Health Assessment.    
World Hunger Story

Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Fairport embraced a theme of Change for Change during

Marcia Brown
Beth Walker

 Lent to benefit World Hunger.  Money donated during simple suppers on Wednesday nights, noisy offerings of coins thrown into coffee cans on Sunday mornings, and nickels, pennies, dimes and quarters collected in piggy and barn banks sent home from Sunday School moved us toward our congregational goal of 50 goats from ELCA Good Gifts at $50 a pop.  

 

Paige O'Malley

Coins as change were obvious, but it was third grader, Paige O'Malley, who showed us the ripple effect of other kinds of change.  Paige took her admonition to address World Hunger serious

ly and took her piggy bank to school.  She encouraged fellow students to contribute change to her collection and set an example by contributing her own allowance for five weeks.  Some students were concerned about the goats being eaten, so Paige and her mother sent information to school about how goats can make a family more food secure by providing milk to sell or drink, yogurt, cheese, fertilizer, and more goats to share with others.  


Paige's dad was so impressed that he matched her dollar for dollar.  When Paige brought back her banks (now she had two!) they were full and contributed $39 toward our 70thgoat!  Change can make a difference.  Change for families can promote food security.  Change, as a mission in the heart of a third grader, provides us with inspiration and hope.

 
PRAY FIRST
little-boy-praying.jpg
PRAYERS of COMFORT
  • for Pastors Nancy and Randy Milleville and family at the death of Nancy's mother, Bobbie
  • for Pastor Johanna and Michael Rehbaum and family at the death of Michael's father, Karl
PRAYERS OF HEALING
for Michael Boyd, son-in-law of Pastor Elaine Berg

PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING
  • for Pastor Hans and Linda Irmer at the birth of their granddaughter Ava Ruth Cassler on 4/4/15
  • for Pastor Imana Dodley and Eric Olear at the announcement of their engagement
WE HOLD IN PRAYER
  • pastors and congregations of the Central Crossroads Conference
  • ELCA Region 8 Synods and Bishops
  • for all those affected by the earthquake in Nepal

KING OF KINGS EFFORT RESPOND TO LOCAL FLOODING

On April 16 localized flooding along Route 48 in the town of Lysander (north of Baldwinsville) impacted some members of King of Kings, Liverpool, flooding the first floor of their homes.  The members were displaced and are staying with family while their homes are cleaned up and repaired.   


 On Saturday, April 25 twenty-five to thirty members of King of Kings and their friends showed up to help with initial clean-up!  Volunteers removed furniture, personal items, and appliances from the first level of a split-level home.  Then volunteers stripped that level of all wall board and insulation while others packed up belongings on the next level for storage. 


Members of King of Kings lived out the mission of Lutheran Disaster Response to bring God's hope, healing and renewal to people whose lives have been disrupted by disasters.   
Nepal Area Earthquake
Lutheran Disaster Response is actively networking with partners such as The Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Lutheran World Relief and the ACT Alliance who are already on the ground. LWF's office in Kathmandu escaped the worst of the impact of the quake and has already launched a large-scale emergency response.

Our church is committed to walking with the people of Nepal, India, and Bangladesh as they navigate every part of this disaster relief and recovery process - even long after the dust settles and media attention fades.

Please donate now Every gift designated to the "Nepal Area Earthquake" through Lutheran Disaster Response will be used entirely - 100 percent - to help those impacted by the quake rebuild their lives and livelihoods. You can help provide comfort, healing and hope in the midst of destruction.
 
Thank You for Feed the Roots

We wanted to take this opportunity to thank the Upstate New York Synod of the ELCA for the generous Feed the Roots unrestricted donation we received last week. 


 The timing of this gift was impeccable. Though we have only served as the Executive Directors for seven months, we have come to realize that Vanderkamp operates on a very narrow fiscal margin. It is not uncommon for expenditures for fuel alone to exceed our rental income during the winter months. Typically revenues earned the rest of the year carry us through. We would have squeaked by this year had it not been for that record-breaking frigid February. Despite our best efforts to conserve energy we just could not make it and were forced to dip into funds not allocated to cover day-to-day operating expenses. 

 

Beginning 2015 in such a "rob Peter to pay Paul" financial position would leave us hard pressed to bank sufficient funds before repeating the cycle next winter. The generosity of the Feed the Roots donation did much to set us right again and at a time that it was most needed. 


 We are repeatedly in awe of His Grace enacted through our Brothers and Sisters in Christ, which arrives so unexpectedly and always in ways that are most needed at the time. Some people tell us that, "Vanderkamp has survived these 50 years only by the Grace of God"... to which we now simply respond, "Thank God for that. Amen."  


Peace & Love, Bill & Penny James
TIDBITS

Malaria Day 

Millions of people around the globe observed World Malaria Day on April 25. While World Malaria Day is past the ELCA Malaria Campaign continues.  Right now, we are at a historic moment in the life of our church and this campaign. Five years ago we set a goal, dreamed big with our Lutheran companion churches and partners, and set out to raise $15 million by 2015. We have already raised over 90% of our goal.  The time to make this dream a reality is now.  Let's join together for a final push to reach the $15 million mark. The time is now. Together, we can make a lasting impact.  See more at: http://www.elca.org/Our-Work/Relief-and-Development/ELCA-Malaria-Campaign/World-Malaria-Day


20,000 Meals to Help Fight Hunger!   

Thursday evening, May 28, 6:30 - 8:00pm join us to assemble 20,000 beans and rice meals in Empire South at the Joseph Floreano Riverside Convention Center.   All are welcome - you don't have to be attending Synod Assembly to help with this effort to address local hunger needs.   All meals will be distributed through Rochester FoodLink Food bank and benefit local families.  To help us plan SIGN UP TODAY at http://www.mysignup.com/UNYSAssembly 


Special Courses at LTSP this June and July to equip and rejuvenate your ministries! 

This summer, three one-week intensive class opportunities to equip and rejuvenate your ministries in three critical areas - urban ministry, building use, and worship. These can be taken for course credit for MDiv, MAR, DMin students, for CEUs, or for personal enrichment. All are being taught by leading voices in their respective fields.

Antje Jackelén, Archbishop of the Church of Sweden, to preach at LSTC's 155th commencement

On Sunday, May 17, the Rev. Dr. Antje Jackelén, Archbishop of the Church of Sweden, will preach at the Eucharist and Commencement Service for the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC). The service will be held at at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 5472 South Kimbark Avenue, Chicago. Fifty-seven students will graduate from LSTC's six degree programs. 

Learn more about LTSC 



 

Please visit our website upstatenysynod.org
 
Thank you for spending some time reading this edition of the Upstate Update. We hope, and pray, that you found it useful. If you know someone who could benefit from the Upstate Update, please forward it to them and ask them to sign up directly.
 
Kathy Neugent
Executive Assistant to the Bishop
Upstate New York Synod of the 
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 
kneugent@upstatenysynod.org
Phone: 315-299-4955 Fax: 315-299-4981 
 
 Resurrection people who pray first, walk together and change lives.   
© Copyright 2015 Upstate New York Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. All Rights Reserved.