 |
|
"Confession, Repentance and Commitment to
End Racism Sunday"
|
 Dear sisters and brothers, The bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal Church have issued a statement and call to action to recognize Sunday, Sept. 6, as "Confession, Repentance and Commitment to End Racism Sunday." The African Methodist Episcopal Church is a longtime ELCA dialogue and ecumenical coalition partner. I responded to them pledging our support and stating that I would invite our bishops, pastors and leaders to participate in this effort, especially by preaching on racism and racial justice in church and society. This is a way to accompany our sisters and brothers in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church and Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and to continue in our own church the conversation about racism.
I believe we are experiencing a kairotic moment. Something is happening in our church and in our country. Many of us are hearing and seeing in ways we haven't before, and we are motivated to take action. Participating in "Confession, Repentance and Commitment to End Racism Sunday" is a start. This link connects you to ELCA worship resources under the litergy tab for Sunday, September 6. You can also find more information and resources from the African Methodist Episcopal Church here. I encourage you to reach out to a nearby African Methodist Episcopal congregation to build relationships together. ELCA members, congregations and groups are also warmly invited to participate in the events in Washington, D.C., Sept. 1-2 that will launch the "Liberty and Justice for All" movement. For more information, please click here. The link to RSVP is here. The road to ending racism is long and hard, but we are not alone. Jesus walks with us. Let's take this step together.
Thank you for your ministry.
The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
|
|
Still Time to Register for the August 28th Portico Webinar
|
Join Portico Benefit Services in a 30 minute webinar, Friday, Aug. 28, 10:30 - 11a.m. (Central Time);
11:30am - 12:30pm Eastern Time. "
Why Are Our Health Care Costs Going Up?" will look at what drives ELCA health contribution rates, such as market trends and our faith community's use of care. This live, 30-minute webinar will include an opportunity to ask questions. Organizational decision-makers are invited to attend, such as congregation presidents, treasurers, senior pastors, or others who help shape their ministry's budget. Registration required - Sign - up at Portico Webinar Registration
|
 (This Upstate Update feature will appear regularly to share God stories received from congregations around our synod. We invite your congregation to consider how they are serving as voices of God's story in the world and to share that with us in 2 - 3 paragraphs (350 words or less). Submissions may be sent to Mitch Woite, mwoite@upstatenysynod.org and we will use them as received and space allows. You may also share 1 or 2 pictures to accompany your story.)
A month's worth of diapers costs about $100. Therefore, a single mother working full-time at minimum wage will spend 6 percent of her gross annual income on diapers alone.
The two main programs that assist low-income families, however, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Women, Infants and Children (WIC), do not cover diapers or wipes.
Statistics such as those from the periodical Pediatrics put Donna Barto, 73, of Horseheads, and her church council at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Horseheads into action, resulting in a collection of 4,000 donated items, including baby diapers, adult depends and wipes. Read more.
|
| |
Synod Welcomes Mitchell Woite as Communications Associate
|
My name is Mitch Woite and I am the new Communications Associate for the Upstate New York Synod. Currently I am a Junior at Syracuse University pursuing a degree in Information Management and Technology with a focus on Social Media. My home church is St. Paul's Williamsville where I taught Sunday School for many years and also helped update their website. I look forward to helping and getting to know everyone.
|
 IN OUR PRAYERSof Healing for the people of the Schoharie Valley as they gather in ecumenical worship and for a meal Sunday, Aug 30th to remember the floods from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee in 2011 and to celebrate the recovery and rebuilding work they have accomplished.
of Thanksgiving for Pastor Brian McCaffrey's 8 years of ministry at LutheranCare as he retires.
of Thanksgiving as we welcome Mitch Woite to our Synod staff.
|
Synod Ministerium, A Visit with The Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, Presiding Bishop - September 21 - 23 at Notre Dame Retreat House, 5151 Foster Rd., Canandaigua, NY 14424. Still time to register at Ministerium Registration
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. Some congregations have chosen to identify a different September Sunday to do their community involvement. Plan to let the synod know what your congregation did to participate by sending us a short summary and your pictures. We will be doing a follow-up story in the Upstate Update on September 23. Send your stories to Mitch Woite, Communications Associate at mwoite@upstatenysynod.org.  500th anniversary Grace Gathering - Oct. 31, 2017, will mark the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther posting his 95 Theses on the church door in Wittenberg, Germany - an act that sparked the Lutheran Reformation. A little more than a year before the anniversary, on Aug. 10-13, 2016, we will be hosting the Grace Gathering in conjunction with the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in New Orleans. Please save these dates now and make plans to attend the Grace Gathering. Diakonia Fall 2015 Event for all Interested People. Presenting Rev. John Scarafia (The Basics of Proclaiming God's Word!), Rev. Tim Madsen (Lutherans in America Part 2) and Rev. Dan Hoffman (Are These Things Lutheran?) Visit Diakonia information and registration
SAMUEL TREXLER FELLOWSHIP FUND GRANT APPLICATION PERIOD OPEN FOR 2016
Samuel Trexler Fellowship Fund grants awarded in January, 2016, will be decided on at the November 2015 Synod Council meeting. Applications will be accepted through October 31, 2015. This fund was established "to enable Lutheran pastors and seminary student scholarships for specialized programs of study in the United States or abroad in any field pertaining to the life and thought of the church." You may download the brochure with more information on this grant and an application by clicking Trexler Application and Brochure. Any questions, please contact Karen Brundige at the Synod office.
 Niagara Frontier Conference Hosts Pastor Grecious Moyo of Zimbabwe
Pastor Grecious (pronounced Gracious) is visiting the Niagara Frontier conference in August as part of his Curriculum Practical Training from Luther Seminary. Below are some of the opportunities available to welcome him, hear him preach or teach, and learn about his life and ministry as a Pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe (ELCZ.) The ELCZ is a companion synod of the Upstate NY Synod. We hope you will take advantage of his short time with us.
All venues listed are open to the public.
- Thursday, August 27 - 7:30-8:30pm: Making Music Zimbabwe style, Crossroads Lutheran Church, Burroughs Dr. & Main St, Snyder, NY. Informal and all are welcome.
- Sunday, August 30 - 10am: Preaching at Lord of Life, Cheektowaga
- Sunday, August 30 - 4:30pm: Lord of Life, Cheektowaga - Niagara Frontier Conference Farewell Pot-luck and sending. All are welcome.
Sign up will be available at individual NF congregations. If you don't see a sign-up sheet, ask your pastor! For more information please contact the Global Mission Chair: Beth Walker at rbowsend@rochester.rr.com.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
