Assembly Update for Wednesday, May 6, 2015
rrcc-assembly         God's Story, Our Voices
  
  "...you are to be a key witness to everyone 
       you meet of what you've seen and heard."
                                                          Acts 22:15
  

 

Registration for the 2015 Upstate New York Synod Assembly, God's Story, Our Voices, is open.  The registration DEADLINE IS MAY 15!  Persons registering on-site at assembly will not be able to purchase meals so please register before your come.  Synod Assembly will be held May 29 - 30, 2015 at the Joseph A. Floreano Riverside Convention Center in Rochester, NY.  The registration fee is $95.  Hotel and food costs are in addition to the registration fee and are outlined on the Synod Assembly Registration Form.  Assembly is open to all who want to attend, not just rostered leaders and congregational voting members.  Visit http://upstatenysynod.org/category/assembly/ before and during the assembly and join the conversation through our social media outlets.  You can also join us through Social Media at assembly visit the synod on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and check out Assembly photos on UNYS Smugmug.   

 

Accommodations will be at the Hyatt Regency Rochester.  The Hyatt is conveniently located in downtown Rochester and easily accessible to the adjacent Joseph Floreano Riverside Convention Center via a sky bridge.  Reservations at the Hyatt Regency may be made, modified or canceled on-line at https://resweb.passkey.com/go/SYNOD2015. Individuals are also able to make reservations by calling central Reservations at 1-888-421-1442 and referring to the Upstate New York Synod Assembly 2015.  Reservations must be made by MAY 15 TO GUARANTEE THE $109 RATE.   

 

PRE-ASSEMBLY MATERIALS ARE NOW AVAILABLE

 

Materials are on the synod website for reading and downloading prior to your arrival at Synod Assembly.  The full Pre-Assembly book can be found at Pre-Assembly Book - Full Version   A copy of the draft agenda is available at 2015 Synod Assembly Draft Agenda  You are encouraged to download materials to your laptop, I-pad or the like or print copies for use during assembly.  Only a very limited number of paper copies will be available at assembly.  OR use your mobile device at Synod Assembly and the Guidebook App.

GUIDEBOOK

 

Thanks to the continued partnership between the ELCA churchwide organization and Guidebook, a leading mobile app developer, you will be able to download assembly materials and have access to meeting materials and handouts while at synod assembly.  Watch for more information on using Guidebook in the May 20 Assembly Upstate Update.
WONDERFUL WORKSHOPS

Workshops will be offered at this year's Synod Assembly.  Topics range from the 2015 ELCA Youth Gathering, Godly Play and Cherish All Children to learning about Creating More Vibrant Congregations with Rev. David Lose, A Lutheran Welcome to New Neighbors with Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services, and a Hunger for Justice: Faith and Advocacy.  


 With 18 workshops and two workshop time frames there is sure to be a topic that is of interest to everyone.  View the whole workshop schedule under Assembly in the Document section on the synod website.  

(Bow)Tie Up Hunger! 

 

Do you own a bowtie or bow? Do you know how to tie a bowtie? If so and you have one, be sure to wear it on Saturday at the Synod Assembly. You could also wear a bow but whatever you wear it has to be worn from the neck up!

 

Bishop and Lin Macholz will make a contribution of $5 for everyone who is registered and wears a bowtie or bow to the assembly that day. The more the merrier! The 'neck up' reference is necessary in order to be able to easily and appropriately count the number of bowties and bows.  The $5 does not refer to the number of bowties or bows but people wearing bowties or bows.

 

Help us raise money for World Hunger so that we can arrive at the day when we eradicate this evil reality in our world and lives!
 
TIDBITS
20,000 Meals to Help Fight Hunger!  Join us Thursday evening, May 28 at 6:30pm in Empire South at the Convention Center as we package 20,000 Rice and Bean meals to help feed the hungry. All meals will be distributed through Rochester FoodLink Food bank and benefit local families.  To help us plan SIGN UP TODAY at http://www2.mysignup.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?datafile=unysassembly

 

Practice Discipleship Forum - Join Pastor Laurie Carson and Jonathan Ugalde at 7:00 PM on Thursday, May 28 for guided conversation about the ELCA Practice Discipleship program and how your congregation can get involved.  The Forum will be informal so you can join us for the whole time or come for just a portion of the time.  Sign up to help with 20,000 meals for a half hour and then join us in Riverside Court for discipleship discussion. 

 

Young Adult Dinner at Synod Assembly - Young Adults, ages 18 - 30, are invited to join other young adults for dinner on the Friday evening of Synod Assembly at 5:00pm for food and conversation.  Meet in the lobby of the Radisson (not the Hyatt), and your fearless leaders-Pastor Becca Ehrlich, Caitlin Donovan, and Jonathan Ugalde will show the way. When you register for Synod Assembly, please be sure to check the "Young Adult Dinner" box. You'll pay with your registration and order off the menu at Legends Restaurant. Note that the cost of the Young Adult Dinner is different from the regular dinner price. If you have questions, please contact Pastor Laurie Carson, 716.799.4017, pastorlcn@gmail.com. 

 

SAVE YOUR CAN TABS!  Bring can tabs to Synod Assembly and add them to the collection at the top of the escalators near the Assembly Registration area.  Let's see if we can beat last year's dollar total of more than $335!

 


 

CHILD CARE IS AVAILABLE AT ASSEMBLY - be sure to note on your Synod

 Assembly Registration form under the 'Special Requests' section if you will need child care at assembly.  Help us with planning by telling us the number of children and their ages in this box as well.  Child care will be provided on Friday, May 29 from 8am - 9:30pm and on Saturday, May 30 from 8am - 1pm. 

 



Take note - you could be in pictures!  We will be web-casting Synod Assembly sessions this year.  It is possible that you could appear on camera. 


STAY ACTIVE at Synod Assembly!  The Hyatt Regency has a Pool, open from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM daily and a Fitness Center open 24 hours featuring the latest in Life Fitness® Cardio equipment.  


 

 


 

Please visit our website upstatenysynod.org
 
Thank you for taking time to read this edition of the Assembly Update. If you, or someone you know, is planning on attending this year's assembly, please encourage them to sign up for our Upstate Update List. 
 
Katherine M. Neugent
Executive Assistant to the Bishop
Upstate New York Synod of the 
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 
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.