The Upstate Update for Wednesday, September 9, 2015
 
Bishop's Appeal
Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia
Bishop Macholz
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
 
37-38 "Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults-unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don't condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you'll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back-given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity." Luke 6:37-38  The Message
 
In these verses Luke talks about how to live together as children of God, advice we've all heard I'm sure but sometimes find difficult to follow.
 
As you might imagine where I really want to draw your attention is to the verse beginning "Give away your life.....Generosity begets generosity." Dictionary.Com defines generosity as follows:  readiness or liberality in giving and freedom from meanness or smallness of mind or character.  I think the writers of those definitions must have had Luke in mind when they defined the word!
 
Generosity exists when we treat others as we'd like to be treated and are able to look past what we perceive to be their shortcomings. As a child I heard people say 'when you're pointing a finger at someone three more are pointing back at you." Too soon I found that to be true.
 
Yet generosity also exists in the readiness or liberality of giving, going above and beyond where we think we can go.  Growing up in a pastor's house I watched as my parents gave to the church and beyond and at one point, I don't remember when, I asked them how they could give away so much money (that's a relative term). My dad said then and would say through the rest of his life, "you can't out give God." It was a valuable lesson I witnessed and learned early on and one with which I try to live to this day.
 
I know that God supplies all that I need to support this body and life (as evidenced in the meaning of the First Article of the Apostles' Creed) and I trust that God will continue with those provisions. I also know that to whom much is given much is expected and so I am invited, out of my abundance, to give freely beyond even what I think I am capable of giving knowing that God will continue to supply. For me it is the basis of my life of stewardship and giving and I have to say, I find joy in giving away what has first been given to me. It is a privilege whatever and whenever the size of the gift.
 
I invite you into that same space, a place I'm guessing familiar to many of you. For the past number of years we have held Bishop's Appeals to raise additional income for the mission proposal. Going forward this annual appeal will go toward a specific area in special need, this year it's our seminary in Philadelphia. A number of years ago we reduced our gift to LTSP from $30,000 to $5,000. Since then the seminary, along with all of our seminaries in the ELCA have been undergoing redesign and renewal even in the face of decreasing income. The work that the seminaries do in conjunction with synods in raising up leaders is critical to our mission as the church.

I asked Dr. David Lose, President of the seminary, to send me a letter that would help to clarify the financial realities of the seminary's income and expenses so that I would have a better understanding of those realities. That letter is enclosed for your reading pleasure.
 
In light of that I invite you to prayerfully consider a gift to this appeal, large or small. Don't think about numbers, think about thankfulness for all that God has done for you. Remember pastors and leaders over the past years who have made a difference in your life and given you hope and direction.  Recall the proclamation of the Gospel and sharing of the Sacraments and, giving thanks, offer a gift so that we might continue to find ways to raise up leaders in our midst and state through our giving that we are the church together.

Each and every dollar given will go to the Seminary in Philadelphia. I invite you to be a part of that giving at whatever level speaks to you of generosity. Together we are the church and together we are able to raise up leaders for our future and the work of the kingdom of God.
 
Please join Lin and I in being a part of this appeal, we invite your partnership in the Gospel and in raising up leaders for this church.  

You may support the Bishop's Appeal for LTSP by making your donation on line or by mailing a check to the Upstate New York Synod - ELCA, 5811 Heritage Landing Drive, 1st Floor, E. Syracuse, NY  13057.  Please put "Bishop's Appeal" in the memo section.
Share this letter at Bishop's Appeal Letter 2015
 
In Christ's Hope,

 




John S. Macholz, Bishop 
The Bishop's Inaugural Golf Tournament is Coming September 19th!
Bishop John Macholz invites all golfers, the best and the rest, to have fun, build new relationships with other Upstate NY Synod Lutherans, and help fund the Bishop's Discretionary Fund, which helps to support rostered leaders in times of need.  
The Inaugural Golf Outing will be held at Shadow Pines Golf Course, Penfield, NY, September 19, 2015, and begin with a shotgun start at 1:15pm. 
 
Dinner with awards, auction, and a closing word from Bishop John, will immediately follow play.  Invite 3 others to join you, or register yourself - $450/foursome, or $112.50/single. For individuals who only wish to play golf and avoid the dinner, the cost is $75. Dinner only guests are also encouraged for the price of $32.50.  Registrations can be made Online or by calling the synod office (315-299-4955).  So, come on out and play golf. You could stay home and putter around, but golf would be more fun.  Questions? Be in touch with Bishop Macholz, bishopmacholz@upstatenysynod.org or call (315) 299-4955.  
CONFRONTING RACISM
 
Marcia Brown The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) teaches that there is one God and one humanity created by God, as expressed in Scripture. Our oneness in Christ, the one who breaks down dividing walls, connects all people. The whole church looks forward to God's future when
people will come from everywhere to eat together in the reign of God (Luke 13:29). This church names racism as sin and affirms that the diversity of cultures throughout history is a God-given gift and a glimpse of the future. Plurality of culture (the attitudes and patterns of life) is a blessing to be appreciated. The ELCA opposes discrimination, supports legislation that guarantees equal rights, and promotes international respect for human rights. The ELCA will support legislation that guarantees to all individuals equally: civil rights; access to quality education, health care, and nutrition; opportunity for employment with fair compensation; opportunity for business ownership; access to legal, banking, and insurance services; the right to purchase housing in any place; and access to public transportation. The ELCA will advocate for just immigration policies. "Freed in Christ: Race, Ethnicity, and Culture" expresses the ELCA's calling to regard seriously culture and ethnicity, confront racism, to engage in public leadership, witness and deliberation, and to advocate for justice and fairness for all people. The statement is grounded in the conviction that the church has been gathered together in the joyful freedom of the reign of God announced by and embodied in Jesus. That reign has not come in its fullness, but the message of God's "yes" to the world breaks down all dividing walls as we live into that promise.

How do we talk about race, systemic racism and becoming a more inclusive church? Watch the webcast of the Aug. 6 conversation as ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton and William B. Horne II, a member of the ELCA Church Council, discuss the complexity and implications of racism. This page includes many resources to support this important conversation in your congregation. You can also go to YouTube, and enter "confronting racism, bishop eaton" in the searchbox. Communications such as this are made possible through your mission support. Thank you!
 
We are church together for the sake of the world. God's work. Our Hands.

PORTICO WEBINAR "Why Are Our Health Care Costs Going Up?" NOW AVAILABLE on-line
A recording of the webinar is now available online. We invite you to watch it at your convenience, and share it with others in your ministry setting. To access the recording, plan members please visit http://myPortico.PorticoBenefits.org, and sponsoring employers visit http://EmployerLink.PorticoBenefits.org.
 
Additional helpful information is also available for review in both locations as you begin making your 2016 health plan decisions. Look for 
"2016 Annual Enrollment". 

LDR Helps with Long Term Recovery 
following Chautauqua County July Floods.  
(By Rev. John Klatt, LDR Leadership Team member)

On July 14 portions of the Northern corridor of Chautauqua County New York
Rev. John Klatt
suffered a flood event that affected residents in the towns of Portland, Fredonia, Brocton, Sheridan, Silver Creek and Westfield.  Initial requests for assistance totaled over 260 homes.  At the time that this is being written, over 70 homes still have unmet needs with 4 homes rendered uninhabitable due to damage sustained in the flood.  In addition to extreme damage some of the unmet needs include foundation restoration for mobile homes and furnace replacement for some residents.
 
Volunteers at Silver Creek
In the early stages of this event, Lutheran Disaster Response was activated.   Lake Chautauqua Lutheran Center was put on stand as a site for housing out of town disaster volunteers.  Pastor Ivy Gauvin, who serves St. Timothy in Bemus Point and St. Mark in Mayville along with Sylvia Lipsey, a member of St. Timothy, are both serving on the Chautauqua County Long Term Response Group.  Anyone who is interested in volunteering for the recovery effort is welcome to call the St. Timothy church office at 716-386-7280.  Case management will be activated to discern the nature of repairs that volunteers may be called on to accomplish but the job will certainly include replacing sheet rock and other light construction work.  Financial donations to support LDR efforts for this event may be directed to Lutheran Homes Foundation, 108 -110 Utica Road, Clinton, NY  13323.  Please note (Chautauqua Floods) in the memo on your check.  Questions can be directed to Patsy Glista at the Synod Office (315.299.4955) or pglista@upstatenysynod.org or to Gary Roller at ldrunyteam@gmail.com.    
 
September is National Preparedness Month and is a great time to consider how your congregation is prepared should a disaster or other emergency occur in your community.  It is also a great time to consider how your congregation members can get involved in disaster response and long term recovery activities locally as a part of the Lutheran Disaster Response work in Upstate New York.  
 
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zambia Welcomes
 Newly Elected Senior Pastor

Bishop Eliphas Lugowo
It is with joy and love that we greet you all in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

In reference to the above captioned subject and on behalf of Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zambia (ELCZa). We would like to notify the Lutheran member churches and partners that Reverend Eliphas Lugowo is the newly elected Senior Pastor of Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zambia (ELCZa) and he has since been consecrated and installed as a Leader of the Church in Zambia.

We therefore, officially present Reverend Eliphas Lugowo as our Senior Pastor to you our beloved brothers and sisters in Christ and we request for your prayers as we continue to build strong companionship, love and togetherness for the sake of salvation and a better world built on values of Jesus Christ.

ELCZa appreciates the good gesture, humility and support it has continued to receive from Lutheran sister churches and partners.

IN OUR PRAYERS

of Continued Healing for all remembering and suffering from the impact of the September 11, 2001 attacks

of Thanksgiving for the 100th anniversary of Emanuel, Corning as they celebrate on October 11, 2015

of Thanksgiving as newly elected ELCZa Senior Pastor Eliphas Lugowo takes office. May we continue to build strong companionship, love and togetherness for the sake of salvation and a better world built on values of Jesus Christ.

of Thanksgiving for Pastor Laurie Carson as she is installed at St. Luke's, Ithaca
TIDBITS
 
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.     

 
THRIVENT - Thrivent member "action team" grants of $250 are available.  If you are a Thrivent member, please check out the website, https://www.thrivent.com/making-a-difference/living-generously/thrivent-action-teams/ 

The Upstate New York Synod is currently enrolled in the
Amazon Smile Foundation program.  This program donates 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to our organization.  Details on this program can be found at  http://smile.amazon.com/ch/16-1308144.  When you do your shopping on Amazon, they automatically donate.  It's that easy!!  This is a donation from Amazon, and costs the purchaser nothing.  All grants received from Amazon will help fund communications projects within our Synod.

"Digital Pluralism and the Death and Resurrection of the Church." 
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?  Join us (at LTSP) for Resource Day on Thursday, September 17, as we investigate the challenges and opportunities of leading a life of faith as individuals and congregations in the age of digital pluralism.  LTSP President, the Rev. Dr. David Lose will address the topic with two lectures during the day.  See more at  

ELCA Advocacy Update
View the September 2015 ELCA Advocacy Update on their website here.

Lutheran Disaster Response ''Train the Trainer" event Saturday, October 24, 2015, 10am - 2pm at Trinity Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Rochester. 
Learn about the services of Lutheran Disaster Response-what we are and are not; what levels of help we provide; how we work together with others partnering in response and recovery; and ways you can become involved.  Register here.

Karen Brundige
TREXLER GRANTS  
Deadline for 2016 grants is Oct. 1st.  Application available at www.upstatenysynod.org.  This grant is for ordained clergy to offset the cost of travel.  Perhaps you could use some help traveling to continuing ed?  Questions - call Karen Brundige at the Synod office, (315) 299-4955.

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.   
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