The Upstate Update for Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Advent Greetings from Bishop Macholz
Bishop Madholz
In darkest night his coming shall be,
When all the world is despairing,
As morning light so quiet and free,
so warm and gentle and caring.
Then shall the mute break forth in song,
The lame shall leap in wonder,
The weak be raised above the strong,
And weapons be broken asunder.
Evangelical Lutheran Worship 242
 
Advent is a season of longing, hope and great expectation. It is a time to pray "Come, Lord Jesus" and realize what that truly means. These days offer opportunity for renewed prayer around wreaths offering increasing light as candles are lighted each week. They give us opportunity to pause and reflect on this world, what is truly essential and important and remember that Jesus is coming again one day to judge the world in righteousness.

The lessons for the Sundays in Advent are calls from the prophets, psalms, Gospels and others to focus on this Jesus whose promise is certain. The purpose of focusing on end times and Jesus' coming again is not to place the fear of God into us but rather to remind us that even in the darkest of nights and most difficult of days there is One who knows our hearts and minds and is with us now in Spirit.
 
Perhaps you, like me, in these past few months given the realities of the world, hope for that return sooner rather than later. The world seems out of control, crisis is added to crisis, anxiety grows daily and questions about where it will all end arise. Into the midst of all of this and more comes the One who redeems us and all creation.
 
This is the promise and hope of the season. It is where we place our lives and our future. In these days of darkness moving to light and despair to hope may you hear the promise given by our God in new ways and know the One who will appear again walks with you all the way.

In Anticipation and Wonder,

 



Some prayer options on line. I've used these in the past.
 
God Pause from Lutheran Seminary.
https://www.luthersem.edu/. Go to the web site and scroll down to the bottom where you can sign up.
Produced by Passport, Inc.
Pittsburg Theological Seminary

 
Bishop's Appeal for LTSP
 
LTSP Emblem 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
 
Thank you to all who have already contributed to the Bishop's Appeal for LTSP.  The Appeal will run through the end of the synod's fiscal year, January 31, 2016.  Introducing the Appeal back in September I shared with you that, "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.  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."
 
As we enter the Advent season, a time of preparedness in the church, I invite you to prayerfully consider how you can share your generosity in helping prepare future pastors and leaders of our church in their seminary education through a donation to the Bishop's Appeal for LTSP.  You can make an on-line donation on the synod website or mail your contribution to the synod office, 5811 Heritage Landing Drive, 1st Floor, E. Syracuse, NY  13057.  Please put Bishop's Appeal in the memo line.
 
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.

In Christ,




John S. Macholz, Bishop
Christmas Shopping
by Marcia Brown 
Marcia Brown
Marcia Brown
Do you have someone on your shopping list that's just impossible to buy for? Already has everything? Can one gift be given to more than one person? Would you know how to giftwrap a goat? The ELCA Good Gifts catalog answers all these questions.  Log on to ELCA.org and type "good gifts" into the searchbox, and you'll find an amazing array of gifts that will help those in need around the world. From farm animals to clean water wells, mosquito nets to meals for a refugee, from school supplies to health care for an orphan. Make this gift in honor of someone in lieu of an actual present, and you've gifted two people at once. You will receive a card to send the honoree, who may actually be very happy to not receive another tchotchke that will just gather dust. Start a tradition in your family-it certainly will start a conversation!  
 
We are church together for the sake of the world. God's Work. Our Hands.

2016 Synod Assembly Resolutions and Memorials
by Patsy Glista AIM, Assistant to the Bishop for Operations

Patsy Glista
Patsy Glista, AIM
The deadline for submission of Resolutions and Memorials to the Synod Council for consideration at the 2016 Synod Assembly, which will be held June 5 - 7, 2016 in Rochester, is January 15, 2016.  Resolutions and Memorials are formal ways we can get an assembly of people to consider new ideas or make changes.  Most of us are familiar with motions/resolutions that are made at annual congregation meetings, local government meetings, service clubs, etc. 

SB/L7.32. of the synod constitution passed at the 2015 Synod Assembly states, "All resolutions to be proposed to the Assembly shall be directed to the Synod Council.  The deadline for submitting such resolutions to the Synod Council is two weeks before its January meeting preceding the Synod Assembly. The Synod Council shall present such resolutions together with its recommendations to the Synod Assembly. All such resolutions shall be distributed to the voting members of the Synod Assembly a minimum of 15 days prior to the opening of the Assembly.

Resolutions received by Synod Council after the January deadline, may be addressed by the Synod Council and/or be directly referred to the Reference and Counsel Committee at Synod Assembly." 

Submissions are due by January 16, 2016 and Synod Council will meet on January 23, 2016.  Please send submissions to the attention of Synod Council Vice President, Thomas Madden at the synod office, in care of Kathy Neugent, kneugent@upstatenysynod.org. 
 
Lutheran Summer Gathering at Silver Bay
The fun and relaxing weeklong vacation
For spiritual and physical renewal on beautiful Lake George

This season of Thanksgiving gives us the opportunity to recall all the blessings that God has bestowed upon us in the year past.  We know they are many.  One is a wonderful gathering of Lutherans at Silver Bay on the shores of Lake George each summer - a time for fun and relaxation as well as spiritual and physical renewal.
 
In 2015 we give thanks for
-          Steve Harris (Good Shepherd, Fayetteville) and his eight years of service as our Dean.
-          A 22% increase in attendance in 2015 and pre-registrations for 2016 up 25% over last year.
-          The Planning Committee already hard at work on next year's program including bringing back Tom Henry and Eric Olsen (for youth) and inviting Becca Ehrlich to serve as Chaplain as well as others yet to be named.
-          Creative dreams we have for some new additions to our program next year
-          Ending the season in the black and for financial planning that is underway to secure our future.
-          For the Metropolitan and Upstate New York Synods, our sponsors.  
 
Look at the photo of Silver Bay above.  Take a deep breath.  Add your own thanksgivings to those listed here.  Offer them to God as a prayer.
 
Rev. Marie Jerge
I give thanks for you and for the opportunity to serve God's people as the new Dean/ Director of Ministry.  The dates of the next Gathering are July 16-22, 2016 and already 194 people have pre-registered. You can begin that process by contacting Mouse Hoffman at 203-454-2842 or khhoffman1@aol.com.   I hope to see you there!
 
With a thankful heart,
Marie Jerge, Dean/ Director of Ministry

Racial Justice Task Force
by Rev. John Saraka, Atonement, Syracuse
During the summer of 2015 a work team gathered at the invitation of Bishop Macholz to think about how to address the racial justice resolution passed at the 2015 Synod Assembly. This Racial Justice Task Force identified some assumptions that guided our work.
  • Taken from the 1993 Social Statement on Racial and Social Justice, "Racism- a mix of power, privilege, and prejudice---is sin, a violation of God's intention for humanity. The resulting racial, ethnic, or cultural barriers deny the truth that all people are God's creatures and, therefore, persons of dignity. Racism fractures and fragments both church and society."
  • Conversations on racial justice and white privilege must become a priority for us as a synod as this is a Gospel problem.
  • These conversations must permeate all levels of the Synod.
  • These are not one time conversations but discussions that will evolve over months and years.
  • Inaction and silence are no longer an option.
As part of the suggestions from the Racial Justice Task Force that the Synod Council adopted we were given the opportunity of identifying an all-Synod book read that addresses some aspect of this topic. The book we are recommending to the Synod is The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander. At the heart of the book it argues that "we have not ended racial caste in America, we have merely redesigned it." We hope that as many individuals, congregations, conferences across the Synod will begin reading this book.  In the months ahead there will be opportunities for book group discussions using a bible study, and the Study Guide and Call to Action that accompanies this book.
As part of carrying on the work of Christ in tearing down the barriers that separate us as people of God, and removing the hostility that is between us, through the cross of Christ and the love poured out there, we hope you will join us in this important work of living into the kingdom of God.  
 
Preparation Can Make A Difference!
Church Mutual has a wonderful booklet on steps to protecting your church property from weather impacts.  Whether it is severe winter storms, lightning, wind, tornadoes or floods, the safety of your organization depends on the steps you've taken beforehand. That is why Church Mutual has prepared a booklet as a guide to minimizing the loss of both physical property and human life when harsh weather occurs. The booklet includes handy checklists to use as you tour your facility and identify what additional work might be needed.  Winter is here - is your congregation ready?  Read more
 
This information is shared by your synod Lutheran Disaster Response Leadership Team.  LDR is a ministry of the ELCA that brings God's hope, healing and renewal to people whose lives have been disrupted by disasters in the United States and around the world. When the dust settles and the headlines change, LDR stays to provide ongoing assistance to those in need.  To learn more about how you can be involved in this ministry in upstate New York contact our Team at ldrunyteam@gmail.com.  
IN OUR PRAYERS

Prayers of Healing 
Dorothy Carlson, AIM

Prayers of Thanksgiving
for the birth of Everett Sayre to Maggie and Michael Sayre on November 21st. Greg and Laurie May and Maggie's mother are first-time grandparents

Prayers of Comfort
for Karen Cordes, family and friends of Pastor Stephen Cordes at his death

for Faith Lutheran Church, Troy, NY at the death of their beloved pastor, Stephen Cordes

for Ann Kohler, AIM, family and friends at the death of her husband, Tom

for Pastor Jeff and Linda Silvernail at the death of Linda's father, Edgar A. Achzet
 
TIDBITS
Save the Date
Live webcast January 14, 2016 at 8 p.m. (CDT)
As racism remains an enduring crisis in the United States, the Rev. Elizabeth A.
Bishop Eaton
Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), is continuing her call to the 3.7 million member church to address the complexity and implications of the issue in "Confronting Racism: A Holy Yearning" - a live webcast January 14 at 8:00 p.m. (CDT). Information about the webcast is available at www.ELCA.org/webcast, where a link to the live webcast will be embedded. A live stream also will be available atwww.Facebook.com/Lutherans. Twitter handle is #ELCAConfrontRacism. ELCA members are invited to submit a question to be considered during the live webcast at livinglutheran@elca.org.

Follow ELCA Advocacy and partners in Paris Our very own Interim Director, Mary Minette, arrives in Paris on December 5 to participate in the summit on behalf of ACT Alliance. Make sure to visit our ELCA Advocacy blog to keep up to date on what she is up to! Mary will be joined by a number of partners from ACT Alliance, World Council of Churches, Lutheran World Federation, as well as ecumenical partner church leaders. Follow ELCA Advocacy on Facebookand Twitter for highlights of their activities as well! Read Mary's recent Living Earth Reflection to hear more about ELCA Advocacy and our faith community's goals for COP21 and the international climate agreement. You will also learn how you can take action in support of those traveling to Paris for the summit by sending a message to national leaders or pledging to reduce your own carbon footprint. 

New! ELCA Good Gifts
The new ELCA Good Gifts catalog is now available. With more than 50 giving options, find something for everyone on your list. The catalog features new gifts, such as the long-drop latrine, and can be a great resource for your congregation. Use the ELCA Good Gifts Fair Planning Guide to help get you started. You can also find special cards to announce to your loved ones the ELCA Good Gift that you have made in their honor.

Support and Protect Syrian Refugees
Join us as we stand with our U.S. partner, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), and take action to support and protect Syrian refugees who are forced to flee violence in their communities. Please take a moment to read an urgent message from Brittney Nystrom, LIRS Director for Advocacy, and learn how you can make a difference today.  For more information on LIRS efforts to support Syrian refugees, visit lirs.org/Syria. Read the ELCA Action Alert.

Dear Friends, States and governments have a responsibility to protect their citizens. At the same time, protecting and upholding human dignity and freedom for those fleeing terror, persecution, and economic deprivation is the common responsibility of both our nation and our communities of faith. Read more

LTSP offers a January Term
full of learning opportunities!
Why not take advantage of these outstanding course offerings to build and sharpen your skills? Here are one week offerings for continuing education and personal enrichment by auditing a class - senior citizen discounts available! For more information visit LTSP January 2016 Courses. Then visit LTSP Newsletter for a lot more information about the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia.

 Let's Keep a Good Thing Going
Happy Holidays! The snow is gently falling outside the office window and the pacehas finally slowed here at kamp... now that the Annual Fall Volunteer Work Weekend and Appreciation Luncheon are successfully behind us. As our thoughts turn to Thanksgiving, we reflect upon the blessings of family and friends (old and new)... here at Vanderkamp... nearby... or those far away... Read more

LCLC Senior High Winter Retreat
January 8-10, 2016
LCLC
Fun in the snow at LCLC. Get re-acquainted with your camp friends from  summer and make new friends for next year. Come and see what LCLC is all about. Visit
 LCLC for more information.

LCLC 4th-8th Grade Winter Retreat
March 4-6, 2016
A taste of summer in the middle of winter. Bible studies, sledding, campfires, games, singing, great food, and great friends. Don't miss out on this great time. Visit LCLC for more information.


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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