Throughout the summer, Bishop James Hazelwood will ride on his motorcycle to locations throughout the region as part of his World Hunger Ride, a tour of New England to advocate for the ELCA's World Hunger Appeal.

 

If you ride a motorcycle, if you ride a bike, or if you ride anything of the sort, this is a chance to help emphasize the ELCA's World Hunger Appeal, through stops at places in New England that address the goal of ending hunger worldwide. There are locations in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, and the bishop will visit them all to learn more about what those congregations do, and how the World Hunger Appeal plays a role in their ministry. 

  

The ride, which officially kicked off at Synod Assembly, made its first stop at Redeemer in Woburn, Mass., on June 16, and continues on to the locations listed below. All are welcome.

• July 7 - Redeemer Lutheran, Bangor, ME - 7 p.m.
• July 13 - Holy Trinity Lutheran, North Easton, MA - 9:30 a.m.
• Aug. 20 -St. Matthew, Avon, CT - 7:30 p.m.
• Aug. 22 - Good Shepherd, Rutland, VT - 9 a.m.
• Aug. 22 - Ascension Lutheran, Burlington, VT - 7 p.m.
• Aug. 24 - Community Lutheran, Enfield, NH - 9:30 a.m.
• Aug. 24 -Trinity Lutheran, Chelmsford, MA - 5:30 p.m.

Download the poster here to see the full schedule of this summer's ride. You can learn more at the Bishop on a Bike Blog.

Church at night. Church at dinner. Church as an experiment. Church anywhere and everywhere.

 

Some 490 voters and 70 visitors and guests descended on Springfield's MassMutual Center June 5-7 for the New England Synod's 2014 Assembly.

 

The three days in Springfield were filled with talks, workshops and votes centered on the future of the church at large, and the future of what we do here in New England. From ELCA Representative Pastor Ruben Duran's opening remarks ("Like I tell my daughter 'we are now 25 years old, it is time to get out of the house'") to Claudio Carvalhaes' ("Today people are longing for meeting [God and one another] more than meaning") and Scott Thumma's ("What people are looking for is new expressions of being faithful") keynotes, to Bishop James Hazelwood's three-part report, the 2014 Assembly took a good, hard look at where we are and where we're going.

 

To read a recap of the 2014 assembly, and find downloadable copies of the resolutions, election results, plus the slides from Bishop Hazelwood's report to the assembly, click here. Also, check back at our Facebook page, as we'll be adding photos from the weekend in Springfield.

 

UPDATE: You can also watch Day 3, including the Bishop's Report, by clicking here! The bishop's report starts at about the 11-minute mark.

LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES and NE-WELCA In Service Together!

On behalf of all those we serve, Lutheran Social Services and NE-WELCA send their heartfelt expression of thanks to all the congregations and individuals who supported us with donations of toiletries, gift cards, and bedding items for LSS clients, and sneakers, towels, and socks for the children in the Footprints program. The abundance was amazing and reflects many loving and generous hearts throughout New England.

 

We will be sending formal thank you letters in the next few weeks, but it is always energizing and meaningful to say thank you in as many ways as possible.  Our staff continues to sort and arrange your gifts as they get ready for distribution to our clients from the New Americans program (refugee resettlement), asylum seekers, and survivors of human trafficking. Our WELCA partners have transported the socks, shoes and towels to the Footprints program in Maine to be bundled for future mission trips in the USA, Ecuador and beyond.  

 

Thank you for your stewardship of love and service! Grace and peace to you, now and always,

 

Sister Carol Weaver, LSS Faith Relations, cweaver@lssne.org

www.lssne.org - www.hopeandgrace.com

August 14-15, 2014

Bishop James Hazelwood has secured a discounted rate for synod members to attend the Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit on August 14-15, 2014. This is an exciting continuing education event focused on leadership development. This year's speakers include Bill Hybels, as well as leadership thinkers Tyler Perry, Jeffrey Immelt, and Susan Cain.

 

The regular rate is $249, but if you use the code GLS14DAS and register by June 24, you will be able to attend at a New England site for only $129. (This is a one-time only discount rate). Bishop Hazelwood will be attending the Rehoboth, Mass., site. Check the registration page for other sites in your area and other resources. 

 

Too late for the super discount? After June 24, the code will enable you to register for $159.

Hammonasset, the Synod's annual youth group gathering, is set for Sept. 5-7, and registration is now open!

Click here to register for this year's gathering.

Hammonasset is an annual gathering of youth groups from all over New England for three days of camping, music, fellowship and fun at Hammonasset Beach State Park in Connecticut.

"Held" is the theme for this year's Hammonasset gathering, which will feature music from Red Letter Reign and speakers Rev. Mark Huber (Sanctuary - Marshfield, Mass.), Rev. Tiffany Chaney (The Intersection - Dorchester, Mass.) and Bishop Jim Hazelwood.

We are pleased that the single-person registration price is discounted to just $35, due to contributions from an endowment established to support the event! To register, and to get more information on this year's gathering, go to www.hammoconnect.com. You can also like Hammo on Facebook, and follow the Twitter feed. You can also download the poster to help spread the word!