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Season of Pentecost
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Oct. 16, 2013
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School of Lay Ministry Graduate Event
 Oct. 26, 2013
Sanctuary - 185 Plain St., Marshfield, Mass.
Time: 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Cost: $30 - covers coffee, lunch and supplies. Please bring a check payable to the New England Synod.
The New England Synod's School of Lay Ministry will hold its Fall 2013 graduate event on Saturday, Oct. 26 at Sanctuary in Marshfield, Mass. The event will include worship and a series of workshops, as well as lunch and fellowship. The full schedule is below:
- 9:30-10 a.m.: Registration with coffee/and
- 10-10:15 a.m.: Opening worship
- 10:15-11:15 a.m.: Session 1: Culture, Church, and Context - Bishop James Hazelwood: How history, tradition, innovation and an ever-changing world help us to be the Church today. Time for questions is included.
- 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.: Session 2: The Gifts Jesus Gives the Church - Pastor Mark Huber: Ephesians 4 as a primer on how we are wired to serve God. Discerning how our particular gifts are specifically needed by the Church.
- 12:15-1 p.m.: Lunch
- 1-1:15 p.m.: School of Lay Ministry update
- 1:15-2:30 p.m.: Session 3: Ancient Gifts, Contemporary Calling - Pastor Mark Huber: Now what? Seeing how we are gifted and how the Church is re-forming for a new age. How do our gifts fit in?
- 2:30 p.m.: Closing worship
Registration deadline: October 21, 2013. Attendance is limited to 100 people, so please register early. You may e-mail Sandy Talbot or phone (203-729-4953) to let us know that you will attend. When you respond, please tell us about any food allergies or other dietary restrictions (e.g. gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, low-carb) you may have. Unfortunately, Sanctuary is an old building and is not handicapped accessible.
Before you come ...
Please take the online survey. It won't take long to complete and it will help you to prepare for the event. When you finish the survey, please print or write down your results and bring them with you on Oct. 26.
Unable to make it to Marshfield?
There will be live streaming of the event at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Newington, N.H. Email Sandy Talbot for more information. If you need information on available lodging in the Marshfield area, please e-mail Pastor Mark Huber.
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Bethesda Music Series
 Bethesda Lutheran Church
450 Whitney Ave., New Haven, Conn.
Sunday, Oct. 27, 4 p.m.
The Bethesda Music Series is pleased to once again present its popular Reformation Sunday Concert, featuring J.S. Bach's Cantata 4, Christ lag in Todesbanden, and a rich program of choral and instrumental music related to the theme of resurrection.
The hour-long program will take place at Bethesda Lutheran Church on Sunday, Oct. 27 at 4 p.m. The Bethesda Choir will be joined by the choir of Spring Glen Church, as well as by soloists and orchestra, under the direction of Terese Gemme and Lars Gjerde. The program includes works by Quantz, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Britten, and Scott Perkins. The event is free and open to the public.
A free-will offering will be collected with all proceeds going to Lutherans in Mission, an organization dedicated to social outreach in New Haven. Donations will be partially matched by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. A reception will follow the concert.
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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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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 (left), 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. The Rev. 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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 Eric Pike (Worcester, Mass.)
named to ELCA youth team
Eric Pike, a member at Trinity in Worcester, Mass., has been named to the ELCA's nationwide Lutheran Youth Core Leadership Team.
Eric, 17, will travel to Omaha, Neb., on Nov. 1 for a three-day gathering of the team members to focus on group building, leadership development, faith formation and spiritual practices.
Eric was one of the Synod's delegates to the 2013 Churchwide Assembly in Pittsburgh, Pa., which is where he met ELCA Director of Youth Operations Paul Amlin.
Click here to read more!
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We want your words and photos!
 Ekklesia, the synod's new quarterly magazine, is nearly ready for its next publication, but before we go to print, we want to hear from you! We're looking for more and varied voices from throughout the Synod to contribute to the newsletter. Young, old, rostered leader, layperson, musician, tone-deaf - we're hoping to make Ekklesia into a broad portrait of the many personalities and viewpoints to be found in New England.
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Bishop Hazelwood takes a "field trip"
with N.H. Episcopal Diocese
 Bishop James Hazelwood recently met with Bishop Rob Hirschfeld and the New Hampshire Episcopal Diocesan Council during its recent "field trip" to Laconia, N.H., to witness the new ministry model at St. James Episcopal Church in that town. Earlier this year, St. James sold its building to the Boys and Girls' Club of the Lakes Region, and have "moved in" with Good Shepherd Lutheran - with whom they shared their space back when the Lutheran congregation was forming years ago. St. James has been allotted office space in the building, they use the worship space for a Saturday service, both congregations are exploring the possibility of joint services for the holidays and how to minister to their community together.
Pictured: Bishop Hazelwood is joined by, from left, The Rt. Rev. Rob Hirschfeld, The Rev. David Dalzell (Pastor, Good Shepherd - Laconia, N.H.), and The Rev. Tobias Nyatsambo (Rector, St. James Episcopal Church, Laconia, N.H.).
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VIDEO: Bishop Eaton on Chicago TV
Newly elected Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton recently stopped by ABC7 Chicago's "Windy City Live," and spoke with the hosts about her historic election, the mission of the ELCA and the church's future. Check out the video by clicking below!
 | | The Windy City meets Bishop Elizabeth Eaton |
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Register now for Honduras Mission Trips!
The New England Synod is planning two mission trips to Honduras next year - February 12-19 and April 22-29. Below are brief descriptions of the projects - for more in-depth information, and to begin the registration process, click here.
 February 12 - 19, 2014 Omoa, Honduras
Leaders: Ed & Nancy Martin
Estimated Costs: $995 plus airfare (approx $850.00) from Boston to San Pedro Sula
This weeklong trip includes service projects in the communities of Omoa and Chachagualla, which are about 1½ hours from the airport along the North coast of Honduras. Accommodations are in a motel with shared rooms with private baths - similar to a Motel 6 in the US. (Hotel costs are the reason for the higher charge) Breakfast is served at the hotel and typically lunch and dinner are served at the host church. You will be working alongside Hondurans to improve their Health infrastructure.
April 22 - 29, 2014 Yuscaran, Honduras
Leader: Pastor Dave Rinas
Estimated Costs: $795 plus airfare (approx. $850.00) from Boston to Tegucigalpa
After flying in to the Capital we will take a one-hour bus ride to our living quarters which are located on the mountains overlooking the town of Yuscaran. The work in Yuscaran has centered on three projects, and each person finds their own place in one or more of these projects:
1) Construction on the church building through cement and rebar work. We have nearly completed this project. Other projects will be presented
2) Spontaneous after school children's VBS - crafts, games & singing in the town square.
3) Women's sewing clinic. We have brought sewing machines and provided an opportunity for women (though a few men come) to sew. We leave the machines and they are used in a nearby church as a resource to the community.
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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 (Upper 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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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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