Monday, September 21, 2015
Greetings!

I have very exciting news: the new Northwestern Ohio Synod website is launching THIS FRIDAY! We've been working very hard on the new website, received some good feedback from some preview testers, and we're just about ready to share it with you. Watch your inbox Friday for the new website announcement. We hope you'll love it!

Please be sure to send any announcements for next week's eNews to [email protected] *and* [email protected]

Sincerely,
Eric Maki
Communications Consultant



Salem, Toledo, robbed 4 times since Labor Day


Michael Hanck has been the pastor at Salem Lutheran Church for three days. Being new on the job is never easy, but even more so when there's four break-ins in just a matter of days. 
 
"It's just startling. Startling to see somebody robbing a church so frequently, so boldly, but I'll continue praying for them, " said Pastor Hanck. "Today is the first day I've come in and we haven't been robbed over night and I'm grateful for that. It's been challenging in that way." 

The church, which sits on the 1100 block of Huron, has had thousand of dollars worth of items stolen since Labor Day.   

The urgent need is replenishment of health and hygiene supplies...
 
Shampoo
Tooth Paste
Body Soap and Cream
Razors and Shaving Cream
Toilet Paper
Dish Soap
Laundry Soap
 
If you can help replenish any of these items, someone is at the church 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Thursday. To be sure, call first: 419-243-2345. Please make delivery at the first house north of the church building. Thank you, in advance, for coming to Salem's aid in this time of loss for their community.

 Read and watch the full story at Toledo News Now.
 Call the church at (419) 243-2345
 
Join LIFE for Oktoberfest
4p-7p, Sunday, October 4, St. Paul Lutheran, 128 North 8th Street, Upper Sandusky


Join LIFE in Upper Sandusky for an Oktoberfest celebration on Sunday, October 4, from 4p-7p. Come and enjoy an afternoon of fun, fellowship and good food, featuring games for the kids, German music, Bingo, and more.

Food includes brats, chicken noodle soup, German potato salad, apple dumplings, German chocolate cake and ice cream.

 
A Young Adult in Global Mission wants to visit
your congregation
October 7-20


Thank you so much for the opportunity to share with you in my experience and possibly being able to recruit at your respective congregations.
 
My name is Mae Helen Jackson and I am a recently returning missionary with the Young Adults in Global Mission program. I served in South Africa for 11 months, and now my job is to travel around within the Great Lakes and Southern regions of the United States sharing my stories, and the stories of those I love in South Africa, in hopes of encouraging other young adults to apply for YAGM.
 
If you would like to set up a space and time for me to visit with your congregation or the young adult groups that you work with to recruit, please feel free to contact me. Also, if you know any other groups or ELCA churches that would be interested in having me come to speak, please pass my information along.
 
Thank you so much, I look forward to hearing from you!

Mae Helen Jackson
Global Mission Short Term Recruiter - Great Lakes and Southern Region
Young Adults in Global Mission

 
Dr. Wally Taylor's "Thank You" Tour Coming to NWOS
9a-Noon; Tuesday, October 27; St. Luke's Hospital, Maumee


Dr. Wally Taylor will be joining us on his thank you tour on Tuesday, October 27, from 9 a.m. until Noon, at St. Luke's Hospital in Maumee. He will be presenting "Paul as a Leader '"How to build the church." The cost will be $10 which includes lunch at the hospital.

Dr. Taylor's 'thank you' reflects his gratitude to the seminary, the church and alumni for the opportunity to serve at Trinity Lutheran Seminary for 34 years.

If you would like to attend, please call by Thursday, October 22 at Zion Lutheran Church, Waterville, OH at 419-878-0266 or email your reservation to [email protected]

For further questions please contact Pastor Daniel Beaudoin at [email protected] or Pastor Steve Bauerle at [email protected].


 
Join us in a Mission Video!!


Dear sisters and brothers in our Northwestern Ohio Synod-
 
How good it is for us to be part of God's work to bring healing and redemption to the world through Jesus Christ! And it is critically important that we keep reminding the church about how our support makes this work happen!
 
To that end, as part of the Synod's 4G Stewardship emphasis, Grace + Growth + Gratitude + Generosity, we are inviting congregations to join us in creating a mission video that tells the story of God's work among us at the congregational, Synodical, and ELCA Churchwide levels. The final product will be a 9 minute (6 minutes Synod/Churchwide, 3 minutes local congregation) mission video which you can show in worship, at council, for new members, youth ministry, Bible study, etc. This video will give people a wonderful overview of the work that our church does!
 
Here's what you do:
 
+First, view the "shell" of the video, which is already done. It is on a DVD, which is being mailed to you now, and should arrive very soon. This "shell" has about 6 minutes of content, from around the Synod and across the country.
 
+Enlist others to help you dream about what your 3 minutes of content will be. You can get video of youth and/or seniors serving, community connections, pastoral care, etc. Simply, you can tell the story of your congregation's mission however you wish. Please note: we would like your footage by October 30, so please pick your opportunities to get video accordingly.
 
+Please use someone's own video camera, phone, etc. to get your footage. Please note: We ask you to send 3-5 minutes of footage, 7 minutes at the max (We simply cannot edit too much material).
 
+When you have the footage, please send it to the Synod Office, 621 Bright Road, Findlay, OH, 45840, and write on the package, Attention: NWOS video. You can send either:
+An SD card with the footage; or
+"Burn" the footage onto a DVD,  and send the DVD
 
+We will edit the footage for you, then send back to you the final DVD, with your mission video integrated into the full DVD. We hope to get it back to you within a month of your sending it to the Synod Office.
 
If you have any questions about this process, please let us know.
 
May these videos help us all to know the joy and excitement of the new things God is doing among us!


 
Lutheran Men in Mission 2015 Fall Assembly
 830a-2p, October 17; Luther Home of Mercy, Williston; $10 at the door


Don't miss the Lutheran Men in Mission 2015 Fall Assembly being held from 830a-2p, Saturday, October 17, at Luther Home of Mercy in Williston. Join LMM for fun, food, fellowship, a service project, awards, and more. Lunch will be provided. All are welcome.

 Call Richard Noll at 419-864-1471 to RSVP
 
Congregation Remittance Form Reminder

Just a quick reminder that when submitting a check from the congregation to the Synod Office it must be accompanied by a Congregational Remittance Form. The checks are picked up from a PO Box and the bank deposits them immediately. When you send in a check without the Remittance Form, the bank returns the checks to us, so it is imperative to always include the Remittance Form.

Checks and forms should be sent to NWOS-ELCA, PO Box 981, Findlay, OH 45839. Please do NOT send checks to the office at 621 Bright Road. 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Sherri Wagner in the Synod Office.
 
2016 Compensation Guidelines

We're about two weeks away from the official launch of the new synod website. Until then, there are a few items congregations have been asking for that are on the new website but may not be on the old. The 2016 Compensation Guidelines are one of these items. Below you will find the 2016 Compensation Guidelines. Once the new website launches, you will find them in their permanent home under "Resources > Congregations."
 
Sawmill 2016: Sent With The Spirit... Expecting to be Surprised
 January 19-21; Sawmill Retreat Center, Huron


We are delighted to announce that ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton and ELCA Director of Worship, the Rev. Kevin Strickland, will be presenters for an all-Ohio Rostered Leaders Retreat at Sawmill Retreat Center, January 19-21.  

The Retreat will focus on the ELCA Worship Document , The Use of the Means of Grace , and conversation related to pastoral practice around Holy Baptism and the Eucharist -particularly timely in light of our discussion of resolutions at the Synod Assembly in May.  It should be a wonderful gathering.  If finances really are the reason why you cannot attend, please contact Sherri Wagner at the synod office.  

EXCITING NEW NEWS: There will be a pre-conference gathering Tuesday, January 19, from 10a-Noon. NWOS Director for Evangelical Mission Marc Miller will lead a discussion on "Congregations Finding Hope Sharing Ministry From The Grassroots." Rostered leaders from NWOS, NEOS, and SOS, are all welcome to attend.

 

2015 Fall Conferences: Expect to be Surprised: Our Call to Leadership
 530p-830p; Multiple Dates and Locations Listed Below

The Northwestern Ohio Synod invites and encourages you to attend the Bishop's Fall Conference Meeting which will be coming up in September, October and November. This year our Gospel Response theme is "Expect to Be Surprised:  Our Call to Leadership".  Our Gospel Response theme, "Expect to be Surprised" states, "Because our God is the God of surprises, who brings life out of death and hope out of despair in Jesus' resurrection, we will anticipate with joy the new things that God is doing among us and through us as signs of and participants in the in-breaking reign of God in Christ Jesus.  (Isaiah 43:18-19; Matthew 28:1-10; Revelation 21:5).  We invite you to meditate and reflect on this theme, as well as on your own call to leadership, in preparation for this meeting. 

For our worship and conversation we are using a model called "Dinner Church".  We invite all rostered leaders along with their congregational leaders and council members to join us for this meal, patterned after those shared by Christians in the first few centuries! In addition, we are requesting that each congregation intentionally bring two teens (ages 13-18) and two young adults (ages 19-29). The input of our young people is essential as we engage in a prayerful consideration of leadership. 
 
Because our conversation will include matters related to the leadership needs of the synod, particularly in anticipation of the election of a bishop at our May 19-21 Synod Assembly, we  encourage those who may be selected as the congregation's Voting Members to be in attendance in addition to other congregational leadership.



SCHEDULE
1p-5p - Individual Meetings with Rostered Leaders
5:30p-7p - Worship, Dinner and Leadership Discussion
7:17p-8:30p - Dessert, Bishop Election Presentation and Discussion



CONFERENCE MEETING DATES

September 29Southwest ConferenceZion, Lima, 1300 Edgewood Dr.
October 8Toledo Area ConferenceZoar, Perrysburg, 314 Indiana Ave.
October 29North Central ConferenceSt. John, Rocky Ridge, 450 Rocky Ridge Rd.
November 5Southeast ConferenceSt. Paul's, Waldo, 135 W. Main St.
November 10Central ConferenceFirst, Findlay, 109 E. Lincoln St.
November 12Maumee Valley ConferenceEmanuel, Napoleon, 810 Scott St.
November 17Eastern ConferenceGrace, Castalia, 203 S. Washington St.


 RSVP by calling Jenn at 419-423-3664.


ALT Year Toledo Update


ALT Toledo has some updated needs, as we get ready to welcome six young adults to Toledo in early September. 

ALT Toledo Leadership Team asks your assistance by sharing this information at your home congregation and with anyone interested in the ALT program.

We are asking you if you have any of these items which are gently used, would be willing to donate one of these items and/or can ask friends, family, church family, etc. if they may be able to help out.

The items needed are:

2 microwaves (preferably small as the kitchen space is limited)
vacuum cleaner
iron
bikes
bike helmets

If you are able to help with any of these items or can announce at your church, have people contact Pattye Nicolls via email at [email protected]

We are creating a list of available drivers for local trips for the ALTers.  If you have time throughout your week that you could help drive a few people, please contact Pattye at the email above. It would also be great if you could share this with your church family.




 
2015 NWOS Youth Campout
 5p, October 30, until Noon November 1; Lutheran Memorial Camp, Fulton

Who: High School Youth (9-12th grade) and their leaders 
What: Fall Campout 
When: October 30, 5 p.m. - November 1, Noon.  
Where: Lutheran Memorial Camp 
Why: To gather all high school youth in the Northwest Ohio Synod and their leaders for a weekend of spiritual renewal, fellowship, fun, service, and nature!  
Cost: $50 per person 
Registration Deadline: October 16, 2015. 



 

Jobs for the NWOS Job Board will be posted for two weeks in the NWOS eNews newsletter. If you have jobs for the job board, please email them to [email protected] *and* [email protected].
 
Glenwood, Toledo, seeks The Giving Store Community Liaison

The Giving Store, a mission of Glenwood Lutheran Church, is continuing to grow.  A paid part time Community Liaison is needed.  The Community Liaison will appeal to the business community and organizations for needed items; promote the store before various groups; recruit volunteers; provide operational support for the store.  Applicants should be warm and outgoing; empathetic toward and willing to serve a disadvantaged population; able to give presentations before groups; able to use computer technology; able to work flexible hours.  Resume and references should be submitted to The Giving Store at Glenwood Lutheran Church, 2545 Monroe Street, Toledo, Ohio 43620 by October 15, 2015. To receive a complete job description email [email protected].



 

ELCA Malaria Campaign News

Exciting news!  The ELCA Malaria Campaign is $100,000 away from reaching its $15 million goal! 
How exciting! Also to date the Northwestern Ohio Synod has contributed $112,452.30!  This exceeds the goal by $12,452.30 or 12.45%!  Thank you to all the congregations in the Synod for the outstanding support of the ELCA Malaria Campaign. Please share this news with all and in every way possible. 



 
Lutheran Disaster Response News

Ohio
Ohio experienced 20 consecutive days of rain and 3 major storms that produced flash flooding during those 20 days this spring and early summer. On May 29, heavy rainstorms hit Ohio that caused flooding in 6 counties. On June 14, another series of storms swept across Ohio, causing flood damage in 3 different counties. 17 homes were left totally inaccessible due to damage of private bridges. In total, 365 homes were destroyed or suffered major damage, and 1,598 homes experienced minor damage.

Local long-term recovery groups have been meeting to make plans for recovery efforts, and our affiliate in the area, Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio, has been a part of these meetings. Working with our affiliate, Lutheran Disaster Response is providing for three case managers to help families who were affected by the severe weather navigate their way through the recovery process. There are many components to managing one's recovery from disaster, and processes can be overwhelming and confusing. Case managers help people with some of these processes, such as filing insurance claims and helping arrange for unmet needs.

The three case managers that will be working with our affiliate will provide assistance to approximately 365-400 families over the course of 6-12 months.

When disasters occur in the U.S., Lutheran Disaster Response works with a network of social ministry organization affiliates that are located around the country. Because Lutheran Disaster Response believes that every disaster is local and every response should be rooted in the community, our affiliates help Lutheran Disaster Response to respond on a local level as they are based in communities around the U.S. where our disaster responses occur.

We will continue to work with our trusted affiliate in the area and will keep you updated on new response developments. Please hold the people in Ohio who were affected by the severe weather in your prayers as they navigate their way through recovery to post-disaster renewal.

Please support the disaster response work in Ohio by visiting the Lutheran Disaster Response giving page.


As you probably know, there are wildfires raging through California that have in recent weeks destroyed hundreds of homes and displaced thousands. Most have not been able to enter the places where the fires have burned to know if their home is still there or not. And there are many who live in anxiety that their home may be destroyed. All this combined with the fact that many people could not afford fire insurance, many folks are experiencing feelings of despair and hopelessness.

First of all I ask you to please keep in prayer all those affected by these fires.

Second, I ask that you would share this email with your friends and family so they can join us in prayer.

Third, please share that Lutheran Disaster Response is monitoring the situation and communicating with those impacted by the fires.

And lastly, please know and share that through Lutheran Disaster Response, we stand ready as the ELCA to provide assistance in the long-term recovery efforts once the fires subside. As always our focus is on those who are more vulnerable and those who face more challenges accessing resources.



 
LSTC to Hold Lecture on "From Conflict to Communion" 
 4p Central, October 13; Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

The Synod Reformation Committee and Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago invite you to attend the 2015 Scherer Lecture at 4p Central, October 13, at LSTC. 

Lutheran World Federation Secretary General, the Rev. Martin Junge, will host the lecture on the document "From Conflict to Communion," which focuses on unity between Lutherans and Roman Catholics. He will be joined by the Rev. Thomas Baimm, Vice Rector and Dean of St. Marys Seminary and University Mundelein, of the Roman Catholic Church. The lecture is free.

LSTC is located at 1100 East 55th Street, Chicago, Illinois.
 

Executive Skills for Pastors Retreat
 January 11-15, 2016; Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center, Carefree, AZ

Leadership and Management - is there a difference? 

The answer is YES! Pastors and their staff at times manage and at other times lead. 
  • How do you get the best from every member of your staff, your congregation and yourself for ministry? 
  • How do you manage the complexities of change while building capacity for fulfilling your congregational mission and vision? 
This week will offer contemporary management insights into your organization. Those insights will emerge as we discuss and reflect on meeting today's challenges for pastors and their congregations. We'll explore these topics: Finance/Stewardship, Leadership, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Information Technology, Strategic Planning & Direction. 

The week will focus on the challenge of change, developing strategic initiatives, marketing, the dynamic power of information technology and creating a culture of innovation and creativity. The week will further provide the opportunity for reflection, renewal, networking and just some good old fellowship. 

This workshop is led by faculty from the School of Management at California Lutheran University and will be held January 11-15, 2016, at the Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center.


 
We are Christ's church.
There is a place for you here. We are the church that shares a living, daring confidence in God's grace. Liberated by our faith, we embrace you as a whole person - questions, complexities and all. Join us as we do God's work in Christ's name for the life of the world.


 
Northwestern Ohio Synod, ELCA
621 Bright Road
Findlay OH 45840
419-423-3664