Upstate Update: Wednesday, August 24, 2016

The Upstate Update for Wednesday, August 24, 2016

God's Work. Our Hands.

In Our Congregations


	Rev. Jordan Miller-Stubbendick and Council President Jane Schroeder

St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Niagara Falls is doing their God's Work, Our Hands project this year by collecting paper products to be donated to the Niagara Falls Community Mission, as part of Stephen Rhodenizer's Eagle Scout project. Stephen Rhodenizer is the son of Pastor Craig Rhodenizer, of St. John's and Trinity Lutheran Churches in Lyndonville and Wolcottsville.

Members are enthusiastically participating in this project, and are excited to be part of doing God's work with their hands!

God's Work Our Hands Sunday is on September 11, 2016. Our congregations will again have the opportunity to participate and celebrate who we are as the ELCA - one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor. Visit Day of Service for the 2016 tool kit and more.

Send your stories to Kathy Neugent so we can share them with other congregations through the Upstate Update.

2017 Health Care Changes Announced by Portico


	Mrs. Patsy Glista, AIM

It's time for your organization to consider which ELCA-Primary health benefit option to provide in 2017. You'll be required to enter your selection on EmployerLink in October. Then, following the employer selection period, your plan members will choose whether to enroll in your selected option, buy up to a higher-priced option, or waive ELCA health benefits if they qualify. If you haven't yet seen the information shared by Portico about 2017 benefits, information can be found in this August 7, 2016 release.

Some of the change hi-lights include:

Contribution Rate Changes - While employer retirement, basic group life insurance, and retiree support contribution rates will remain the same, contribution rates for health and disability benefits will change in 2017.
- ELCA-Primary and ELCA Medicare-Primary baseline health contribution rates for sponsored members will increase by 5% for 2017, the lowest increase in 4 years.
- In addition, your organization's health contributions will also increase by about 2% each year as current sponsored members grow one year older, as well as due to any increases in the member's defined compensation.
- Your organization's 2017 health contributions may also differ from 2016 depending on the health benefit option you select, the number of plan members you sponsor, and each plan member's health coverage level, age, and defined compensation.
- Disability Plan Contributions - In 2017, the disability contribution rate will decrease, to 3.0% of defined compensation, down 0.5% from the 2016 rate. This contribution rate is based on the number of plan members receiving disability benefits, their expected benefit costs, and the duration of their claims.

Wellness Program Changes - ELCA-Primary health benefits will continue to support healthy lifestyles with an annual health assessment, wellness activities, and opportunities to earn wellness dollars. For employers, Portico will eliminate the 1% health contribution discount in 2017, following two successful years of every eligible employer earning the discount. Instead of rewarding employers for member health assessment participation, Portico will build the value of this incentive directly into the 2017 health contribution rates.

PORTICO WEBINAR

"A Closer Look at 2017 Health Benefits and Rates" will be broadcast on Thursday, September 8, 12:00 - 12:30pm EDT. Plan members and organization decision-makers interested in learning more about Portico's new approach to health care are invited to attend this short webinar hosted by Stacy Kruse, Portico's Chief Operating and Financial Officer. It will take a closer look at what's changing for 2017, why Portico believes their new approach will limit the growth of health care cost increases, and what plan members can expect. Attendees will be able to ask questions during the webinar. A recording will be available for replay afterwards. Sign-up today!

Portico Health Forums 2016 - September 19, 20, 21, Rev. Cathy Schibler, our Regional Portico Representative will facilitate an informational forum in 3 locations on the synod territory. Come learn the latest information on Portico benefits. Bring your questions and be better prepared to make decisions during the annual fall health insurance selection process. Pre-registration requested - email Patsy Glista, pglista@upstatenysynod.org by September 15.

Monday, September 19, 2016, 7:00 - 9:00pm in eastern NY at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 510 Albany Shaker Rd., Loudonville, NY 12211 [518-458-1562].
Tuesday, September 20, 2016, 7:00 - 9:00pm in central NY at Luther Memorial Church, 435 S. Main Street, North Syracuse, NY 13212. Please come on Route 11 and park in the parking area in the front of the church and enter into the sanctuary. If parking is full then you can park in the rear, come in the rear entrance and up the stairway located near the entrance to the sanctuary. There will be signs directing you. [315-458-1481]
Wednesday, September 21, 2017, 7:00 - 9:00pm in western NY at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 1925 Borden Road, Depew, NY 14043-4221. [716-668-8000].

Gulf Coast Flooding

"Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, until the destroying storms pass by." - Psalm 57:1

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

Historic floodwaters have required tens of thousands of people to be

rescued and even more have been evacuated as rain sweeps across southern Louisiana. Floodwaters have affected communication, overwhelmed streets and highways, and damaged or destroyed more than 40,000 homes. This flood comes on the heels of several other floods that have hit the Gulf Coast region, starting earlier this spring.

Entire neighborhoods and communities still remain under water, and the full extent of the damage has yet to be realized. We know that it will be a long road to recovery, and Lutheran Disaster Response will be there to assist through every phase of this disaster recovery process.

Your gifts are needed to help respond to the Gulf Coast flooding. Your gifts through Lutheran Disaster Response will bring God's hope, healing and refuge to those who are affected by these devastating floods. Lutheran Disaster Response coordinators are actively present, collaborating with local community leaders and officials to begin planning the proper responses, particularly the long-term recovery efforts. We will respond and walk with survivors in the days, weeks, months and years ahead, for as long as we are needed.

Gifts designated for "Gulf Coast Flooding" will be used (100 percent) until the response is complete to help disaster survivors recover and rebuild their lives. Your generous offerings of prayer and financial support will help address the many needs, especially the long-term recovery efforts of those affected.

Join me in prayer and partnership, and use this bulletin insert in your congregation to help spread the word and support those who need rest.

In service,

The Rev. Daniel Rift

Director, ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Ways to Give

Checks or money orders should be sent to:

Lutheran Disaster Response

P.O. Box 1809

Merrifield, VA 22116-8009

Write "Gulf Coast Flooding" on your check memo line.

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Give by phone at 800-638-3522 or online.

From the Lutheran Disaster Team

For a number of years, September has been designated as National Preparedness Month. Is your congregation prepared to deal with a disaster within your own congregation or assist another congregation or community group with a disaster? Find out what you need to do to be ready for a disaster by clicking on the link to the Synod Congregational Disaster Preparedness Guide. A more comprehensive ELCA LDR Congregational Disaster Preparedness Guidebook is also available. You can learn about the 2016 National Preparedness Month at Ready to Go including each week's theme. Preparing through Service is the theme for September 11 - 17 which coincides nicely with God's Work. Our Hands day activities. September 11, 2016 also marks the 15th anniversary of 9/11.

It does not take a lot of time to be ready, but it takes more time if you are not! For further assistance, contact Gary Roller, LDR Leadership Team Chair and Volunteer Coordinator, at ldrunyteam@gmail.com.

Where Does Your Churchwide Offering Go?

As members of the ELCA, our faith in a loving, caring God frees us to be bold and courageous, open to the Holy Spirit's invitation to be active in the world. The sharing of our time, talents and financial resources are meaningful ways that we show Christ's love in our communities, our country and the world. Mission Support is the portion of offerings that congregations share with synods and the Churchwide organization for God's mission beyond the congregations. Watch this video and see how you do God's work.

IN OUR PRAYERS

We hold in prayer:

Widows of Rostered Leaders
Candidates for Rostered Ministry
ELCA Region 5 Synods and Bishops

Prayers of Comfort

for Pastor Jim Dugan and Family at the death of his father, Leo

Prayers of Healing

for Pastor Waugaman
for Pastor John Klatt
for Pastor Ernie Varga
for Pastor Hannah Benedict

Prayers of Thanksgiving

for Emily Ebert as she is ordained by Bishop Macholz on Saturday, August 27th in Pinkerton, Ohio
for Pastor John Saraka as he transfers to the Metropolitan Synod
for Bishop John and Lin Macholz as they celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary

TIDBITS

Annual Synod Ministerium


Rev. David Lose

September 12-14, 2016

The Rev. Dr. David Lose "Preaching Jesus Today"

Brochure

Remember registrations are being accepted on a first come/first serve basis due to facility spacing requirements. Registration close on September 5, 2016. Please register now.

Bishop's Appeal 2016

Please remember to make your donation. It will help create a fund to offer assistance with educational debt to those in need who become rostered in our synod. Donate on-line

Money, Mission, and Media:

Insights and Strategies for 21st Century Ministry

Tuesday, September 27, 2016 | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm

Benbow Hall, The Brossman Center on the LTSP Campus, 7301 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19119. Free and open to the public (with online registration)

The Together by Grace Study Guide is now available as a free digital download! Reading and discussing Together by Grace as a group provides an opportunity to look at Lutheranism from its roots in the Reformation to its realities 500 years later. Each of the six sessions offers a variety of exercises and questions from which to choose.

Together by Grace: Introducing the Lutherans

Who are the Lutherans? Engage the Reformation today with a colorful new study for adults about Lutheran faith and mission. Shop or Download now.

Vanderkamp has advised us that folks have had trouble getting in touch with them recently. They've had issues with their phones due to recent storm damage that unfortunately may take some time to restore. They have also had what they believe to be isolated incidents with individuals not receiving their emails and/or vice-versa. They're hoping to switch their email platform this fall, which should resolve some issues and increase their functionality. In an attempt to resolve any confusion, they are sharing all of their current contact information: Phone: 315-675-3651, Fax: 315-675-8802. Emails: Bill & Penny (Executive Directors): vkcenter@vk.org; Kate Martin (Business Manager): kate@vk.org; Katrina Relyea (Farm, Landscaping & Environmental Education Coordinator):katrina@vk.org.

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.