New England Synod
NES News 
Season of Pentecost

Sept. 4, 2013 

In This Issue
Letter from Bishop Hanson to President Obama
Upcoming Events
News & Notes
Employment Opportunities
A letter from Bishop Hanson to President Obama
On Wednesday, ELCA Presiding Bishop The Rev. Mark Hanson on Wednesday sent an open letter to President Barack Obama in response to the President's announcement that he will ask the U.S. Congress to approve military action against Syria, following reports that the Syrian military has used chemical weapons on its own citizens.
 
"There is no doubt that the many uses of chemical weapons in Syria have each been heinous and inexcusable," Bishop Hanson writes. "The attack on August 21 and similar actions are reprehensible and indeed in violation of international standards and law. These atrocities are an assault on human dignity. The people of Syria, who along with many others in the Middle East are living through this time of profound instability, deserve our concern, compassion and accompaniment. We weep for the victims of the most recent incident and for all who have suffered, died, or have been displaced during Syria's civil war. I am nevertheless convinced that any U.S. military intervention within Syria will potentially release even greater suffering, on an even wider scale."
 
Upcoming Events
Stewardship Webinar
Oct. 9, 6:30 p.m.

On Oct. 9, the New England Synod and Immanuel Lutheran Church in Holden, Mass. will present a webinar on stewardship, using Immanuel's example to show strategies for success. Immanuel has experienced a high level of giving, and Senior Pastor Dan Wilfrid and Bishop James Hazelwood will examine what has worked so well for the congregation in a small, suburban Central Massachusetts town.
 
The meeting will be hosted on the GoToMeeting platform, and will be made available to a few dozen congregations throughout the region. The forum will also include a chance for viewers to send in questions and participate with Pastor Wilfrid and Bishop Hazelwood, and a discussion guide will be made available following the forum for further thought. 

More information to come, stay tuned!
Bishop's Convocation
Oct. 28-30
Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center
West Hartford, Conn.
 
Hard to believe, but the fall Bishop's Convocation is right around the corner. The Bishop's Convocation is the annual continuing theological education gathering of the New England Synod, ELCA. It is an opportunity for rostered leaders to gather in fellowship and as a learning community. The event is coordinated by the CTET (Continuing Theological Education Team) and the Synod Worship Team.

Convocation will be held at Holy Family Retreat Center, which has two large meeting rooms, two classrooms, two dining rooms, 164 single bedrooms and four suites. Situated on 48 acres in Connecticut, the facility serves some 19,000 people each year, with a wide variety of services and retreats. For more information on the retreat center, click here.
 
The theme of this year's Bishop's Convocation is "Missional Transformation." Just what is missional transformation and what does it mean for those of us doing ministry on the ground of the New England Synod? Keynote presenter Alan Roxburgh, one of the leading voices and authors on the missional church movement, argues that the "missional church conversation challenges some of the most basic assumptions we have about the nature and purpose of the church." His most recent book is " Missional: Joining God in the Neighborhood."  
 
Come and enter the conversation as we look at those assumptions and what transformation means for us.  
 

 

To download the full informational brochure, click here.
Save the Date!

Nov. 9 - Concert at Christ, Natick (7 p.m.)

Organist Gregory Peterson (Luther College, Decorah, Iowa), formerly the organist at Old South Church, will perform. There will be a free will offering, and the concert will be a benefit for Empowering Learners, a charity that provides computers and other educational supplies for schools affiliated with the Lutheran Church in Namibia.

 

Nov. 16 - Liturgical Arts Day at Christ, Natick
Keynote presentation by Lil Copan, arts contributor to The Christian Century, plus several workshops, lunch, and a closing worship at which Pr. Jon Niketh will be preacher.

Jan. 25, 2014 - CommFest 2014
After a successful communications seminar earlier this year, the Synod once again invites you to join us for a day spent discussing strategies and tips to help congregations better communicate - with their members and with the outside world. Speakers at CommFest 2014 include Pastor Keith Anderson (Dublin Lutheran Church, Ambler, Pa.) and Elizabeth Drescher, co-authors of Click 2 Save: The Digital Ministry Bible. 
News & Notes
2014 Synod Assembly - Change of Date

The dates for the 2014 Synod Assembly have changed. Synod Assembly 2014 now will be held from Thursday, June 5, through Saturday, June 7.

 

The reason for the change is that Sunday, June 8, is Pentecost, a day when many pastors and laypersons will want to be in their home congregations to celebrate this major festival of the church year.

 

Please mark the new dates of June 5-7, 2014, on your calendars. The location will remain as planned, MassMutual Center, Springfield, Mass. 

Sanctuary Furniture for Sale

St. Andrew's (Ridgefield, Conn.) has an altar, lectern, paschal candle stand, silver communion set, advent wreath and more used sanctuary furniture for sale. St. Andrew's has also ordered new pews, so 46 solid oak, 5-foot, bench-style, movable pews are also available. Email pastormeier@standrewselca.com for more information or call 203-438-0606.

NE Synod Assembly 2013 Highlights
NE Synod Assembly 2013 Highlights
Assembly DVD
DVDs of the 2013 Synod Assembly are now available for purchase. The DVDs include Bishop Hazelwood's report and Sunday sermon, as well as the discussion with the "nones." To purchase a DVD, send a check for $12, payable to the New England Synod, to the address below.

Andrew Merritt
New England Synod
20 Upland Street
Worcester, MA 01607

For more information, contact Communications Director Andy Merritt at amerritt@nesynod.org or 508-333-1761.
Employment Opportunities

Update on job listings policy

Due to the (welcomed) increase in employment opportunities sent in for synod-wide communication, we have updated our policy for NES News listings. Job postings will run for two weeks in the synod's weekly NES News and/or Bishop's E-News, and then will be removed to make space for new listings. The listings will also be edited, so we urge you to submit them as 2-3 sentence listings with a contact if job seekers seek further information. Readers are encouraged to retain weekly emails if they wish to reference the job listings past their two-week publication period.

Choir Director - Immanuel Lutheran Church (Amherst, Mass.) 
Part-time position available for Fall 2013. Duties include directing the adult choir, participating on the worship committee, planning worship in cooperation with the pastor and organist, recruiting choir members and other musicians, maintaining the music library, and supporting other musical activities of the congregation. Contact immanuelamherststaff@gmail.com with a cover letter and resume or with further inquiries.