The Synod Assembly Upstate Update 
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Synod Assembly Registration is closed!!  You may register on-site on June 5 at the Convention Center in Rochester.  It is no longer possible to order meals as the date for the synod to submit our meal count has passed.


May 15 was the last day for the guaranteed room rate of $109 reservations for accommodations at the Radisson Riverside,           120 East Main Street, Rochester. Phone numbers at Radisson are (800) 333-3333 or (585) 546-6400. Check-In time at the Radisson is 3:00pm.  The Check-out time is 11:00pm.  Parking is at the Radisson Parking Garage and is free for hotel guests.


To get the latest information about this year's synod Assembly, we encourage attendees to sign up for the Upstate Update and visit  www.upstatenysynod.org to get all the advance information. 
Download the Guidebook App for easy access to all your assembly materials.  The Pre-Assembly book (includes agenda, resolutions, memorials and all reports), workshop and Mission Expo information, and all other assembly related materials are being distributed prior to and during the Assembly on Guidebook. The app is a free download available for android, apple and viewing via
computer. Help us care for all creation, and access your materials electronically. Materials are posted on the synod website in the "Resource" section under 'Assembly.'
 
The Guidebook app features:
  • Registration Information
  • Hotel Information and Map
  • Pre-assembly News
  • Assembly Agenda
  • Mission Expo and Vendor Information
  • Convention Center information and Maps
  • Synod Position Descriptions (for use in elections)
To get the guide, choose one of the methods below: 
Documents You Will Need at Synod Assembly (These are available either on the Guidebook App or to download from the Synod Website - Assembly Materials.) 
  • Assembly Agenda
  • Pre-Assembly Book Short Version (contains all resolutions, reports of synod officers, and financial statements) or Full Version (contains everything in Short Version plus all synod committee reports, recognitions and memorials, and organization reports)
  • Celebrations and Worship Resource Book (plenary devotions, anniversary and discipleship award information)
  • Nominations Book (for election information)
  • Workshop and Mission Expo Booklet
  • Congregational Racial Justice Resource (Toolkit)
  • Birmingham, Privilege & Possibilities
  • Privilege, Process, Transformation
Churchwide Video Production Crew at Synod Assembly
Will Nunnally and Jocelyn Fuller, staff persons from the ELCA Churchwide office will be joining us at our assembly to see first hand how our theme, In Christ One New Humanity, and our focus on racial justice are experienced by all in attendance.  They will be doing interviews, video-taping portions of the various workshops, the racial justice break-out sessions, and other assembly activities.  Portions of the video and/or interviews they tape while with us may be a part of a churchwide resource made available to others across the ELCA at a later date.
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.  
Racial Justice Break-out Session
Monday morning following the 10:00 a.m. break all assembly attendees will be convening in small groups in 20 different locations for discussion and the roll-out of the Synod Racial Justice Resource (Toolkit) developed by the Racial Justice Task Group.  Room assignments are designated by the large NUMBER in the bottom left hand corner on your name badge.  A list of the group numbers and the room for that group is in the Workshop and Mission Expo booklet, p. 9,  found in your assembly packet.  Break-out rooms are at the Radisson, 2nd floor (across the Skyway) and at the Convention Center (street level). There will be volunteers stationed in these areas to help direct you.  Be sure to download the Racial Justice Resource  along with 2 other resource documents (Privilege, Process, Transformation   and Birmingham, Privilege and Possibilities) from the synod website.  They are also available on Guidebook.
Welcome our Special Guests at Assembly
In addition to our Keynote Speaker, The Rev. Cheryl Stewart Pero, and our ELCA Churchwide Representative, Molly Beck Dean, there will be several other guests joining us at this year's assembly.  Be sure to say hello and welcome them to our synod.
       * Rev. David Lose, President of Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia will join us on Monday and share information about the new vision LTSP is sharing with Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg.  He will present a workshop in the afternoon.
       * Dr. Ryan Cummings, Program Director, Hunger Education, ELCA World Hunger will be with us to present a workshop looking at hunger, poverty and racial justice.
       * Ecumenical Partner representatives will be joining us including Bishop Prince Singh, Episcopal Diocese of Rochester and Rev. Amy Williams Fowler, Presbytery of Genesee Valley.


Support the 17th annual Hunger Appeal, God's Peace Your Piece to raise $45,000 for world hunger!  Each congregation is challenged to bring at least $450 to assembly.  Bring your contributions with you to Synod Assembly.  (Make checks payable to Upstate NY Synod.)
Knock the Socks off Hunger - our bishop is challenging everyone to wear  CRAZY SOCKS to the Tuesday morning Plenary session.  For every pair of socks, Bishop Macholz and his wife, Lin will make a donation to World Hunger.  He has also secured matching dollars for our sock challenge.  Join the fun - start looking now for your crazy socks and help us to 'knock the socks' off hunger!!   
Workshops at Assembly - Learn about the various workshops in our Workshops and Mission Expo Booklet now available on the Synod Website or the Guidebook App.

 
Tidbits
The 2016 Synod Assembly Agenda is now available on the synod website under "Resources-Assembly. 
 
Eucharist Worship, Monday at 7:00pm - All are invited to join us for Eucharist on Monday evening at 7:00pm in Empire North at the Convention Center.  Bishop Macholz will preside and the Rev. Cheryl Stewart Pero will bring us the sermon.  Our choir and assembly musicians will share with us as we lift up our voices in song and praise.
Thank you to the members of Transfiguration, Rochester and Rev. Craig Swanson for creating our Prayer Room space located in Aqueduct A and B on the street level at the convention center.  This space is available throughout our assembly for reflection, prayer or just a space for some quiet alone time. 
Calling All Musicians - Synod Assembly Music Director, Thatcher Lyman, invites vocalists and instrumentalists to be in touch with him to participate in music for this year's assembly.  In addition to Monday evening's Eucharist worship at 7:00pm there will be opportunities throughout assembly for music to enrich our time together.  Please email Thatcher at incarnatewordmusic@gmail.com with your interest, instrument of choice and/or your interest in joining the choir.  Assembly rehearsal times will be Sunday, 6:00 - 6:45pm and Monday, 3:00 - 3:45pm. 
SAVE YOUR CAN TABS!  Bring can tabs to Synod Assembly and add them to the collection in Empire North along the south wall.  Look for the sign!
 
Pre-Assembly Opportunities - Join us for one of two opportunities beginning at 4:00pm.
  • Global Mission Clean and Not-So-Clean water, Riverside Court
  • The New Jim Crow book discussion, Highland C
Early Morning Prayer - Begin your day with one of our chaplains on Monday and Tuesday morning at 7:15am in the Lilac Room at the Radisson (at the top of the escalators on the 2nd floor) for Morning Prayer.  
 


FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES - Two Fellowship opportunities are available at Synod Assembly.  
  • Sunday evening, 6/5, we will gather in the Genesee Suite on the 2nd floor at the Radisson beginning at 9:15. 
  • Monday evening, 6/6 in the Galleria beginning at 9:30pm hosted by the Women of the ELCA.
Don't miss out on any important 2016 Synod Assembly Information - sign up today for the Upstate Update.


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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