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Season of Pentecost
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Oct. 2, 2013
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Stewardship Internet Town Forum
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. Immanuel has experienced a high level of giving, and Senior Pastor Dan Wilfrid (left) and Bishop James Hazelwood will examine what has worked so well for the congregation in a small, suburban Central Massachusetts town. This LIVE webinar will include a discussion of Immanuel's philosophy of approaching stewardship, as well as practical steps it takes to encourage generosity. Bishop Hazelwood will interview Pastor Wilfrid, and participants are welcome to attend either online or in person. Reservations are required for either the internet or in person attendance. Space is limited.
In the meantime, check out our interviews with Pastor Wilfrid and two of the lay leaders at Immanuel, looking at how stewardship has become such an important part of congregational life:
The event will be broadcast live from the New England Synod House in Worcester, Mass., and there are 25 satellite sites throughout the region, some of which will be able to host those who'd like to participate. One of the confirmed sites for participation is Camp Calumet. If you'd like to check out the webinar from there, get in touch with Tim Roser via email at troser@nesynod.org. To find another site near you, email receptionist@nesynod.org.
The forum will also include a chance for viewers to send in questions and participate with Pastor Wilfrid and Bishop Hazelwood.
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Christian Education Weekend
 Oct. 5-6
Bristol, Conn.
Cost: $25 for the event (includes lunch)
This weekend, Thrivent Financial, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church of Bristol, Conn., and Dr. Rich Melheim (left) will present a weekend of workshops, worship and fellowship with a focus on Christian education.
Dr. Melheim is a renowned author and Lutheran pastor who has spent 20 years investigating youth issues in the Lutheran church. He is the founder of Faith Inkubators, a Christian education system design think tank with lessons for parents, teachers and youth on how to build their relationship with Christ. Rich is a comedian, cartoonist, songwriter, playwright, author, preacher and inspirational speaker who will be sharing his wonderful message with our community throughout this fun-filled weekend in the form of workshops, entertainment and worship service.
For more information, download the flyer by clicking here, or call Thrivent's Bristol office at 860-261-7562.
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An evening of choir music
 Oct. 12, 5 p.m.
Trinity Church on the Green, New Haven, Conn.
Trinity Church on the Green and Bethesda Lutheran Church welcome to New Haven one of Denmark's leading choral groups, the Boys' and Men's Choir of Trinity Church, Esbjerg. The group is performing in New York, New Haven, and Boston on their US tour. They will sing a concert at Trinity Church on the Green, located at Temple and Chapel Streets, on Saturday, October 12, at 5 p.m. Suggested donation is $10. The group will also sing in the 9:30 a.m. service at Bethesda Lutheran Church, 450 Whitney Avenue, on Sunday, Oct. 13. All are welcome to both events. The congregations are hosting choral singers in their homes, showing the best of New England hospitality! Join us to celebrate some fabulous choral singing! For more information, email Walden Moore at Trinity Church on the Green, wmoore@trinitynewhaven.org, or Lars Gjerde at Bethesda Lutheran Church, music@bethesdanewhaven.org, or call (585) 200-8903.
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The View from Below: Bonhoeffer and Spirituality
Trinity Lutheran Church, Vernon CT.
Time: 9 a.m. gathering, 9:30 start time. Program ends by 2 p.m.
Cost: $25 for the event (includes lunch)
 The New England Lutheran Theological Forum invites you into a conversation on Bonhoeffer and spirituality as we host The Rev. Dr. Lisa Dahill (right). This day of reflection and table talk with the Rev. Dr. Dahill will attend to three themes present in the Letters and Papers:
1. World Come of Age: Without the working hypothesis of God.
2. Ecological Crisis: The View from (Way) Below
3. Out of the Box: Religionless Christianity
Click here for a brochure and the registration form.
An October 2012 survey by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life revealed that fully 20 percent of Americans note their religious preference as "none." That number jumps even higher among younger people: a full one-third of adults under 30. Bonhoeffer became convinced that the church needed new ways to speak of God that would make sense to these thoughtful, moral people. Listening deeply to those who live "without the working hypothesis of God" also frees us to recognize that the God that is thought to control all reality was an illusion all along. The Christian God isn't almighty in the magical sense and never was. Christians living with lives opened up to the world, in prison gardens and at deathbeds, in wetlands restoration and after-school arts programs and (with Bonhoeffer) organized difficult political resistance to evil.
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What They Didn't Teach in Seminary
 Oct. 21, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Hartford Seminary - 77 Sherman St., Hartford, Conn.
You're invited to join us for a clergy workshop on Monday, Oct. 21, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The topic is "What They Didn't Teach in Seminary about Managing Properties," and the instructor is none other than the Rev. Donna Schaper, senior minister of Judson Memorial Church in New York City.
This workshop will address how to create opportunities from the real estate assets that most congregations have. A theology and appreciation of place will join practical suggestions about tenants, parking lots, multiple uses, whether and how to go green, and whether and when to sell buildings on behalf of long-term ministries.
The day starts with bagels and coffee, and lunch is provided as well. The cost is $30.
Click here to register.
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 Bishop's Convocation
Oct. 28-30
Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center
West Hartford, Conn.
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 (right), 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."
This year's Bishop's 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.
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Child Safety Webinar
 Nov. 2, 10 a.m.
Trinity (Worcester, Mass.)
On Saturday, November 2, at 10 a.m., the New England Synod will offer training on child safety. It will be offered at Trinity in Worcester, and online. This training will cover all of the child safety recommendations required by most church insurance companies, but more importantly, it is part of our ongoing efforts to ensure that all children in our synod are safe in their churches, church schools, and other church-related activities. The training will be offered by Dr. Bill Barter (right), a licensed psychologist specializing in child abuse. Bill is also an ELCA pastor who understands the special needs of congregations. Medical and mental health professionals will receive 2 hours of continuing education hours for attending.
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Visual Liturgy: Making Art
in the Worshipping Community
Nov. 16, 2013
Christ Lutheran (Natick, Mass.)
Join artists, worship committees, altar guilds, clergy and other creative folks in a day of workshops, resource sharing and worship that will generate creative ideas to take home to your gathered communities. Keynote speaker Lil Copan is an artist and regular contributor to the Faith and Art page of The Christian Century. Jonathan Niketh, who will preach the closing Eucharist, is the pastor of First Lutheran in Lynn, Mass., is the chair of the Synod's worship committee and a contributor to Sundays and Seasons, the ELCA worship planning guide.
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Portico Pre-Retirement Seminars
In 2013, Portico introduced a new Pre-Retirement Seminar in collaboration with Ernst & Young Employee Financial Services. The seminars are hosted by a certified Ernst & Young planner, who answers your questions about retirement planning, such as:
- How much money will I really need in retirement?
- How can I avoid common retirement traps?
- How can I protect my assets to ensure the money is there when I need it?
- How can I create lifetime income?
- What steps can I take to ensure a smooth transition into retirement?
The seminar is most relevant to people age 50-plus or who are within 15 years of retirement. It's designed to show retirement in a whole new light. All seminars are day-long events that run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cost: $35 per person, which includes breakfast, lunch, and snacks.
For more information and to register, click here.
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CommFest - Save the Date!
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.
The 2014 CommFest will again be held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Worcester, Mass. We will have a satellite site in New Hampshire for people from the northern part of the region, and we are seeking a site in Southern Connecticut. If your church is equipped with a high-speed Internet connection and is willing to host, please get in touch with Communications Director Andrew Merritt.
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Register for the 2014 N.E. Synod Mission Trip
 Group Youth Workcamp
Guilderland Center, NY
July 6-12, 2014
For: Ages 14+
Cost: $459 + Transportation
Deposit by Nov. 1, 2013: $50
Hidden away in this good-looking town are pockets of lower-income areas that are often overlooked. The elderly struggle to keep up their homes that they have lived in for a generation. And in recent years, Guilderland was one of the towns ravaged by flooding. Spend the week in Guilderland, as your group helps those who truly are not able to help themselves. Along with painting, siding, and other carpentry projects, your group will probably be upgrading the weatherization of homes as well, which will hold down heating costs and provide greater comfort for years to come.
Click here for more information, and to register.
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Scholarship Opportunity - Valparaiso University
 The Lutheran Leader Scholarship and Intern Program at Valparaiso University is offering a scholarship for high school seniors who will graduate in the spring of 2014.
Valparaiso selects two Lutheran students from among the best high school leaders in the country to enter a program that is unique in Lutheran higher education. The two recipients receive a full-tuition scholarship for at least $129,600 over four years of undergraduate education at Valparaiso. Benefits also include leadership training and education, opportunities for service and learning internships, and participation in the Lutheran leader community.
To nominate a senior, contact Lyn Wasilewski at lwasilewski@nesynod.org.
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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.
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