March 9, 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

St. Matthew-Trinity Lutheran Church

Pawtucket, R.I.

On March 9, we will hold our third Regional Gathering at St. Matthew-Trinity Lutheran Church in Pawtucket, R.I. This regional event is ideally located for people in the Boston area, Cape Cod and Rhode Island. Bishop James Hazelwood will be speaking on the subject "Where in God's Name are We?" a presentation designed to describe the state of our church and culture. Doing What Matters events are aimed at discovering new ways of doing ministry and serving in your community. Join us for a day of workshops, conversation, networking, and fellowship. We'll explore how to grow in faith, develop and nurture leaders, and address poverty issues.

The day's workshops will include Biblical Storytelling, Gathering Together as The Body Of Christ: Disability Awareness Ministry, School of Lay Ministry: Experience a Class!, Feeding 5000-At Home and in the Streets, Youth Ministry: Making Connections/Forming Community, Lutheran Social Services of New England, ELCA Malaria Campaign, and Faith in Action/Work Camps: Organizing a Day of Community Service

Previous Doing What Matters events have drawn rave reviews from attendees in Connecticut and New Hampshire.

"This really helped me understand what's happening in our church," said one attendee. Said another, "I felt hope again."

March 10, 4 p.m.

Bethesda Lutheran Church

450 Whitney Avenue, New Haven, Conn.

The Bethesda Music Series presents a recital featuring soprano Margaret Astrup and pianist Eric Trudel at Bethesda Lutheran Church, 450 Whitney Avenue, New Haven, on Sunday, March 10 at 4:00pm. The program will feature Schubert's Der Hirt auf dem Felsen ("Shepherd on the Rock") for soprano, piano, and clarinet, and Grieg's Haugtussa. Mr. Trudel will play Beethoven's Variations On an Original Theme, Op. 34, and Mozart's Fantasy in C Minor, K. 475. The concert is free and open to the public.  A free will offering will benefit Resurrection Connection Day Camp, a joint urban ministry of Resurrection Lutheran Church in the Hill section of New Haven and Camp Calumet. Proceeds will be partially matched by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. A reception will follow the program.

March 12, 7 p.m.

Bethesda Lutheran Church 

450 Whitney Ave., New Haven, Conn.

Author and peace activist Miko Peled will come to Bethesda Lutheran Church to speak about his book, "The General's Son: Journey of an Israeli in Palestine." Peled's grandfather, Dr. Avraham Katsnelson, was a Zionist leader and signer of the Israeli Declaration of Independence. His father, Matti Peled, was a young officer in the war of 1948 and a general in the war of 1967 when Israel conquered and occupied the West Bank, Gaza, Golan Heights and Sinai. In 1997, a tragedy struck Peled's family: His beloved niece was killed by a suicide bomber in Jerusalem. That tragedy propelled Peled onto a journey of discovery.

In "The General's Son," Miko tells us about growing up in Jerusalem in the heart of the group that ruled the young country, Israel. He takes us through his service in the Israeli military and his subsequent global travels - and then, after his niece's killing, back into the heart of the Israel/Palestine conflict. The book, with a foreword by Alice Walker, provides a compelling and intimate window into the fears that haunt both peoples - but also the courage of those who, like Miko, have been pursuing a steadfast grassroots struggle for peace, justice and equality for all the residents of the Holy Land.

Adult Youth Leader Summit @ Camp Calumet, 
April 5-7, 2013

Registration Deadline, March 25, 2013

A retreat at Camp Calumet for all adults who work with youth in the New England Synod. This year's topics will include:

• Social Media & Youth
• Youth Ministry Resources
• Inside the teenage mind

Join us for a time of learning, community building and networking.