God's Work, Our Hands Sunday

is an opportunity to celebrate who we are as the Evangelical Lutheran  Church in America - one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor.  The date for the 2015 dedicated day of service is Sunday, September 13, 2015.  Mark your congregation's calendar today! In speaking about his congregation's 2014 experience, a 10-year-old member from St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Whittier, Calif., puts it best: "It feels good to give."  Congregations can learn more and find resources athttp://www.elca.org/dayofservice/.

Synod Ministerium

September 21 - 23 at Notre Dame Retreat House, 5151 Foster Rd., Canandaigua, 

NY  14424.  Register at Ministerium Registration

Stay Informed About Annual Open Enrollment 

Portico knows the church wants to care for its leaders. We hear it often: "We just want to do right by our leaders." But we also know the cost of benefits can be difficult for many congregations to manage. While specifics about 2016 rates and plan details won't be available until early August, you can prepare for the conversation about next year's health benefit options now by thinking through how you're using this year's health benefits. Have you gotten preventive checkups or screenings? Met your deductible? Are most of your out-of-pocket medical costs prescription drug copayments?  Portico will be preparing organizations for this conversation. Over the next few months, Portico will send EmployerLink registered users a series of important emails. If you're registered on EmployerLink, watch for them. If you're not registered, ask your organization's EmployerLink user to share them with you.  More information will make it easier to speak confidently with your organization's decision-makers about the value these benefits provide, and to advocate for what's best for you and for the church.

FEMA Resources for houses of worship available

Rev. David L. Myers, Director, Center for Faith-based & Neighborhood Partnerships, U.S. Department of Homeland Security invites faith leaders to prepare their house of worship for disasters and emergencies, and to implement practices that will mitigate damage, including in active shooter events.   Visit http://www.fema.gov/protecting-houses-worship for helpful information and to access the "Guide for Developing High Quality Emergency Operations Plans for Houses of Worship."  September is National Preparedness month - a great time to take this first step.

God's Story, Our Voices

We continue to invite congregations to share their God stories - ways that you are serving as voices of God's story in the world.  Please share them with us in 2 - 3 paragraphs (350 words or less).  Submissions may be sent to Kathy Neugent, kneugent@upstatenysynod.org and we will feature them in the Upstate Update as received and space allows.  You may also share 1 or 2 pictures to accompany your story.

Faith Week of Action

As part of Social Security's 80th anniversary celebration, faith and community leaders from across the country are invited to participate in Social Security Faith Week of 

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/thirdparty/faithaction/.

This special week will highlight America's most successful social program and encourage individuals to take charge of their financial future by creating a secure my Social Security account at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.