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Ash Wednesday
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February 13, 2013
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Mission Support Response Forms Due
Now that annual meetings have confirmed congregational budgets, it is important that you file your mission support response form immediately. This information is needed to prepare the New England Synod 2013 budget.
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"Welcome One Another" Fellowship Retreat
When: Friday, May 3 at 7 p.m. to Sunday, May 5, 2013 at Noon.
Where: The Walker Center - Auburndale, Massachusetts. http://walkerctr.org/
Registration: Fee is $220. All registrations made online. Checks made payable to "New England Synod."
Register by clicking here
Host: New England Synod Team for LGBT Inclusion
The Synod Team for LGBT Inclusion extends an open invitation to the 6th Annual "Welcome One Another" Fellowship Retreat for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and heterosexual persons of the New England Synod and their families and friends. The retreat is offered as an opportunity for LGBT and heterosexual persons to be in fellowship through worship, large and small group sessions, and meals. The retreat begins on Friday evening with Evening Prayer, introductions, and fellowship. Large group plenary and small group discussion sessions on Saturday during the day will explore LGBT inclusion from a heterosexual perspective led by Pastor Cliff Gerber. Participants travel into Boston for dinner and fellowship at Club Cafe Restaurant on Saturday evening. The retreat concludes on Sunday morning with Eucharist. Registration fee covers all meals on Saturday (including dinner in Boston), breakfast on Sunday, and two nights lodging at the Walker Center.
To register for this event, click here.
The Rev. Cliff Gerber will be this year's featured speaker. Pastor Gerber has long been an outspoken heterosexual advocate for the full inclusion of LGBT persons and their families in the life of the New England Synod and the ELCA. Pastor Gerber currently serves as the Transitional Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church, Worcester, Mass. He has previously served as the Chair of the New England Synod Task Force for Gay and Lesbian Understanding and as the pastor of Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church, Shrewsbury, Mass., one of the first Reconciling-in-Christ (RIC) congregations in the New England Synod. He lives with his wife, Merrie, in Shrewsbury.
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"Super Wednesdays In Lent" at Good Shepherd
Good Shepherd in Westborough, Mass., will host a series of talks each Wednesday in Lent, beginning Feb. 20. Each talk runs from 6:30-7:30 p.m., and will be led by Dr. Jochen Salfeld, divisional vice president of biologics research, Dr. Brad McRae, associate director of pharmacology, and other leading medical researchers at Abbott Laboratories. The main focus for each Wednesday will be a different part of "When Science Meets Religion," by Ian G. Barbour. Each talk will include an introductory presentation followed by good discussion. Everybody will be able to make an important contribution to the discussion without having read the book, but reading would certainly be helpful for those who want to explore the topic more deeply.
WEEK 1 (Feb. 20) - Science and Religion: Past and Present: Advent of scientific thought in Western Europe; Challenge to biblical literalism; The limits of Science and Religion
WEEK 2 (Feb. 27) - Creation of the Cosmos: The Big Bang - the universe as a random event; The Big Bang - the beginning of God's creation; What we can learn about the beginning of the universe
WEEK 3 (March 6) - Continuing the Creation Story: Evolution: Insights from Charles Darwin; What we can learn from population genetics; Implications of evolution for religion
WEEK 4 (March 13) - Evolution and Mankind: The fossil record; Evolutionary Design; What we can learn from Genesis
WEEK 5 (March 20) - God and Neuroscience: Are we just a product of genetics?; Body and Soul Human Nature
Super Wednesdays @ GSLC
5:30-7 p.m.: Supper
6-6:30: Song - Midweek Singers
6:30-7:30: Study - Adult Class, Grades 5&6 Old Testament 6:30-8; Grades 7&8 Confirmation 6:30-8
7:30-8: Service of Worship
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is located at 183 W. Main Street, Westborough, MA 01581.
Registration strongly encouraged: Call 508-366-7095 or email office@gs-lc.org.
Although the books are not required for the class, if you would like one we can order them through Amazon and if we order 3 or more it is free shipping. Books are $11.55 and can be ordered when you sign-up on the Sign-up/Line Up Bulletin Board.
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 "Ev'ry Voice In Concert Ring!" - A Community Hymn Festival The Bethesda Music Series is pleased to present its second annual community hymn festival at Bethesda Lutheran Church, 450 Whitney Avenue, New Haven, Conn., on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 7:30 p.m.
Singers from First and Summerfield United Methodist Church and St. John's Episcopal Church of New Haven, and from Spring Glen Church of Hamden will join the Bethesda Choir.
Led by Encore Music Creations (Lars Gjerde, organ/piano; Brett Judson, organ/piano; Scott Perkins, voice/saxophone/tin whistle/percussion/arranger), the joint choir will support the audience in singing inspiring arrangements of hymns from all over the world. All who love singing with others will take something away from this musical and spiritual community fellowship! The festival is free and open to the public.
A free-will offering will be collected with all proceeds going to Habitat for Humanity of New Haven. Donations will be partially matched by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. All are invited to a reception following the program.
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Bringing ashes to the masses
Two Lutheran pastors were highlighted by local media Wednesday for "bringing ashes to the masses" - administering ashes out in public in observance of Ash Wednesday.
The Rev. Ryan Mills, pastor at Trinity in New Haven, Conn., was featured by WTNH news for his efforts to connect with the public on this most unusual Ash Wednesday. While services at Trinity (and in many other parts of blizzard-stricken New England) were canceled, Rev. Mills was undaunted in reaching out to help Christians observe Ash Wednesday, standing outside his church and offering to administer ashes to any who asked. You can read the station's report here, and be sure to watch the video!
Similarly, the Rev. Andrew C. Heiser of Mt. Olivet in Shrewsbury, Mass., was featured in a Worcester Telegram & Gazette story after he and the Rev. Erin Kirby, pastor of Trinity Episcopal Church in Shrewsbury, met morning commuters at Worcester's Union Station, placing ashes on their foreheads before they jumped on the train to head off to work. That story, which was featured on the T&G's homepage for much of the day, can be found here.
As Rev. Heiser said in the T&G story, "This is just a way of bringing God into the lives of very busy people."
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A Note from Bishop James Hazelwood |
More thoughts on Newtown, LCMS, and a video worth watching
As a follow up to last week's email regarding the reprimand by Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod President Matthew Harrison of the Newtown, Conn., pastor, I would like to call to your attention this video by President Harrison: Click here to watch the video.
This was posted on Monday morning. I watched this video apology, and my reaction is one of believing this is a sincere statement of regret. While there may be differences in how we view various theological and church practices, it strikes me that when someone admits a wrong, we have an opportunity to respond. My response is to err on the side of grace and forgiveness.
Throughout these events, I have been in contact with President Timothy Yeadon of the New England District of the Missouri Synod. He and I both agree that these are difficult times for the church, and we should seek ways to heal the divide. I hope you will join me in prayer for a new day.
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