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Check out the Spring 2015 Ekklesia!
 The Spring 2015 edition of Ekklesia is now available! A copy is being sent to each of our congregations, as well as our mission support donors, but you can also read it right here as a free, downloadable PDF.
In this edition:
- Our Saviour's in East Boston has become a hub of activity for its neighborhood, but newly ordained pastor developer Britta Meiers Carlson is hoping to make it a hub of spirituality, too, through a focus on the many cultures that surround it.
- The Synod offers several grants for ministries that need a little help achieving their goals. We take a look at a few ministries that have benefited from grant money, and how they've put it to good use.
- When the Episcopal congregation nearby was forced move its worship out of its old, drafty sanctuary, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Augusta, Maine, offered itself as a new home, and now the Lutherans and Episcopalians are learning and worshipping together, with a blend of both traditions.
- Give Bishop Hazelwood 103 minutes, and he'll give you a plan to make your congregation's stewardship better, faster and stronger. That's the pitch for the bishop's "Crazy Stewardship Consult," which has been a big hit throughout the region.
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2015 ELCA Youth Gathering Leaders Meeting
 Saturday, April 11, 2015
10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
345 Main Street
Sturbridge, MA 01566
On Saturday, April 11, Pastor Timothy Weisman and Pastor Heidi Johnston will lead a second informational meeting for rostered leaders, lay leaders, youth directors, parents, youth, and anyone else who is helping guide a group to Detroit in 2015.
You'll hear all the latest plans for the Detroit Gathering and get questions answered!
If you travel to Sturbridge, lunch will be provided. Or, if you wish, you'll be able to watch the meeting online from the comfort of your home via GoToMeeting (or a similar resource). Just check the box and we'll get you connected!
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April 30 is our deadline to save!
We need 65 percent of our eligible ELCA-Primary health plan members and spouses in to complete the confidential Mayo Clinic health assessment by April 30. Taking the assessment will help all of our synod's congregations and organizations save a collective $35,000 on ELCA health contributions this year.
And remember, by taking the assessment, you'll be taking stock of your health and earning $150 wellness dollars. Healthy leaders do enhance lives and ultimately create a healthier ELCA community. If your spouse has ELCA-Primary health benefits and completes the Mayo Clinic health assessment, too, you'll receive another $150 wellness dollars and will help us earn our synod-wide 2% discount on health contributions.
"But," you say, "I'm not on an ELCA-sponsored health plan!" That's OK, your pastor probably is, and you can help us out, too! Ask him or her if he/she has taken the assessment. If the answer is "no," remind him/her that there's real savings at stake for each of our congregations. For the cost of a small amount of time and effort, you and your pastor will help us all save big!
New this year: To take the Mayo Clinic health assessment, access Mayo Clinic Healthy Living online directly through myPortico - no separate Mayo Clinic ID and password necessary. Go to PorticoBenefits.org/HealthyLiving for details.
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Online meetings set to discuss compensation guidelines
 May 13 and 17, 7 p.m.
Registration deadline: May 12
Thank you to so many who joined the first conversations about the compensation guidelines in January and February. Revisions have been made to the proposal in light of those meetings, and further discussion with Synod Council. Before we present at Synod Assembly the proposal endorsed by Synod Council, we'd like to give some opportunity to discuss the proposed guidelines in-depth.
Please join the conversation at one of two GoTo Meetings scheduled in May: Wednesday, May 13, or Sunday, May 17, each at 7 p.m. Only 25 people can be accommodated on each GoTo meeting session at one time, so it is a good idea to assemble like-interested people who want to participate at your computer for the meeting.
To register for either session, please email the date you wish to participate to Synod Office Secretary Marianne Uva at muva@nesynod.org by noon on May 12. Please be sure to let Marianne know if we can default your registration to the alternate meeting if your first choice of date and time is already full. Please respond in a timely fashion as these meetings are expected to fill up fast.
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2020: The Next Church
 This spring, Bishop Jim Hazelwood is coming to a conference or church near you. The purpose of this tour is to engage you, your synod assembly voting members, and church council leaders around the broad theme of what the Next Church will look like. Specifically, Bishop Hazelwood's presentation will focus on the following:
- How can the church engage people in contemporary New England culture?
- How can I as bishop provide support in the area of stewardship & generosity?
- How can we as a synod make the best use of congregational and individual mission support?
- How can we move more deeply into true mission partnership rather than isolated ministry sites?
Please invite your Synod Assembly voting members to your local conference meeting, as Bishop Hazelwood will be presenting information about several items that will come before the Assembly in June. However, this is also an event for anyone, and we are encouraging you to bring church council leaders as well.
Click here to visit the Synod's 2020 page for information, including download links for the above flyer as well as conference-specific flyers to help promote your conference's meeting.
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Nadia Bolz-Weber at UMass
 Saturday, June 13, 2015
1-2:30 p.m.
The New England Synod is co-sponsoring an appearance by Nadia Bolz-Weber, acclaimed author and Lutheran pastor, at the 2015 Annual Meeting of the United Church of Christ.
Bolz-Weber is the keynote speaker at the UCC's 216th annual meeting, which takes place at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst's Fine Arts Center. She is the founding pastor of House for All Sinners and Saints in Denver, Colo., and the author of the New York Times bestselling theological memoir "Pastrix: The Cranky Beautiful Faith of a Sinner & Saint."
Bolz-Weber's keynote is open to the public, and tickets cost $10 or 3 for $20. They must be purchased in advance by going to www.macucc.org/nadia. |
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Meet the School of Lay Ministry ambassador team!
Are you or someone you know interested in the New England Synod's School of Lay Ministry? The school has a team of ambassadors who are available to visit congregations. The team will share stories and knowledge about the SLM, biblical enrichment, spiritual growth and lifelong learning experienced by the graduates, including its first class of Spanish-speaking students, who will graduate at this year's Synod Assembly.
Please contact Ade Monareh at ade234@msn.com to schedule a visit. The school is also accepting applications for the upcoming session, which will start with a Fall Retreat on Sept. 18-20 at Camp Calumet.
Click here to go to the SLM website and learn more!
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2015 New England Synod Assembly
The 2015 New England Synod Assembly is scheduled for June 5-6, 2015, at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass.
RESOLUTIONS AND MEMORIALS
What is a resolution?
A resolution is a written motion offered either to enhance or forward the mission of the Church. Resolutions are directed to voting members, the synod, an entity of the synod, a particular churchwide unit, or to a specific concern related to churchwide ministries, programs or units. Resolutions follow a more direct route than memorials in terms of response. Resolutions can be received and transmitted almost immediately by the Synod Council's Executive Committee. A final response to a resolution may be by Synod Council alone.
What is a memorial?
A memorial is a written motion directed by the synod to the Churchwide Assembly. Memorials adopted by a synod assembly are submitted to the ELCA Secretary for transmittal to the Churchwide Assembly with a recommendation for action prepared by the Memorials Committee of the Churchwide Assembly. A memorial encourages a broader discussion by incorporating consideration by voting members from throughout this church at the Churchwide Assembly.
Who may submit a resolution or memorial?
Congregations, pastors, assembly voting members or synodical units, and the Reference & Counsel Committee may submit a resolution.
How can I submit a resolution or memorial?
The deadline for submission is April 21. To submit, include:
- Resolution Title
- Name(s) of the individual(s) submitting the resolution (including typed names and e-mail or phone numbers);
- Name of the congregation from which the resolution originated
- Date the resolution was submitted
Send your resolution or memorial to one of the following:
Email: office@nesynod.org
Fax: (508) 797-9295
Mail: Reference & Counsel Team
New England Synod ELCA
20 Upland St.
Worcester, MA 01607-1624
CLERGY SHIRT/VESTMENTS DROP-OFF
Any leaders who have spare clergy shirts or vestments are encouraged to bring them to the Assembly, where we will be collecting them for donation to clergy in need in Zimbabwe. Ransom Gambiza, a member of Faith (Andover, Mass.), will have a donation box available for the shirts.
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Church office staff retreat
 Camp Calumet
Freedom, N.H.
May 3-5
Bulletins, newsletters, communications ... oh my! So much work goes on behind the scenes, helping churches to function and carry out their mission, that it really shouldn't be called "adminstration," it should be called "ad-ministry!" This retreat is dedicated to all the support staff that help keep congregations throughout the Synod informed, enlightened, and on schedule.
Examples of retreat sessions have included copyright information, digital photography, church safety, CPR, stress relief techniques, and more.
The time away will include opportunity to think, to read, to reflect, to sing, to enjoy delicious food, to check out the beautiful grounds of Camp Calumet, and to have tons of fun.
For more, click here.
Registration for this event will be handled directly by Calumet. Contact Betsy for more information or to make your reservation, by calling (603) 539-3223, or emailing Betsy@calumet.org.
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Women in Ministry Retreat
"Mama Mia" - A retreat for female leaders on the ELCA roster
in New England and their Ecumenical counterparts
Dates: May 4-6, starting at 3 p.m., ending at noon (before lunch)
Cost: $245, covers two nights' lodging, 5 meals, and program
In addition to providing rest, spiritual renewal, and quality time getting to know other women in ministry in New England, the retreat will provide participants a chance to explore their roles in ministry through the lens of what they learned from their mothers about being a "woman in charge." Program leader Jan Gregory-Charpentier will invite us to enter the story of our relationship with our mother(s) from several angles and identify insights and applications for our lives and ministry today.
Program Leader: The Rev. Dr. Jan Gregory-Charpentier, D.Min, an ordained United Church of Christ minister, is a pastor and teacher, retreat leader, ministry supervisor and a daughter.
Space is limited. Please register by April 27, 2015, by clicking here.
Contact: The Rev. Lydia Wittman, 860-633-1188; prlydia@gmail.com
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Ecofeminism and faith:
A weekend with Dr. Rosemary Radford Ruether
April 10-12
St. Ansgar Lutheran Church
515 Woodford St., Portland, Maine
What is ecofeminism? Find out April 10-12 when St. Ansgar Lutheran Church in Portland welcomes Dr. Rosemary Radford Ruether, world-renowned activist, feminist theologian, and international lecturer. A prolific author, she is also currently teaching at Claremont School of Theology in Claremont, Calif.
Schedule: Friday, April 10 at 7 p.m. - Disruption: Film screening, followed by a discussion facilitated by Anne D. Burt, Consultant for Maine Council of Churches' Environmental Justice Program; Saturday, April 11 at 10 a.m.-2 p.m. - Presentation by (and Q&A with) Dr. Rosemary Radford Ruether, followed by complimentary lunch, then panel discussion. (Dr. Ruether will be signing books after the event.); Sunday, April 12 at 10 a.m. - Worship with Dr. Rosemary Radford Ruether, guest preacher
Where: St. Ansgar Lutheran Church, 515 Woodford Street, Portland (corner of Woodford Street and Brighton Avenue)
All events, including lunch, are free of charge. For a complete schedule or list of speakers, call 774-8740, ext. 4, email rrr@saintansgar.org, or go to www.saintansgar.org. RSVP to rrr@saintansgar.org or 774-8740, ext, 4. (RSVP appreciated but not required.)
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"Welcome One Another" Fellowship Retreat 2015
 May 1-3, 2015
The Walker Center, 144 Hancock St., Auburndale, Mass.
The Synod Team for LGBT Inclusion extends an open invitation to all members and friends of the Synod to the 2015 "Welcome One Another Retreat." The retreat will include worship, fellowship, meals, small group reflection, and large group plenary as participants learn more about the "B" in LGBT: bisexuality. For more information, please contact Pastor Nathan Pipho at 617-328-8348 or by email at PastorPipho@aol.com
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Job listings policy
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.
Additionally, job listings are now hosted on the Synod website's new job board.
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Minister of Music
St. Mark Lutheran Church - Norwich, Conn.
St. Mark Lutheran Church of Norwich, Conn. is currently seeking a new part-time Music Minister. The position begins June 1, 2015. There is one Sunday worship service at 9:30 a.m. year-round. An adult choir sings from early September to early June. We are seeking to create a worship environment that is rooted in liturgical tradition but welcoming to a 21st century assembly of God's people.
Applicants are expected to:
- have both piano and organ playing skills (guitar or other supplemental instrumental skills would be welcome),
- have an understanding of liturgical worship and an interest in diverse hymnody,
- be accomplished at leading congregational song,
- be capable of leading and encouraging a small choir as well as instrumentalists,
- work collegially with the staff and Worship Team in worship planning and education,
- select and play prelude, postlude, and choral anthems appropriate for the liturgical day, festival or season.
Application letters and resumes can be sent to the Church by mail at the address below, or by email by May 1, 2015. Inquiries and questions can be directed to the Rev. Les Swenson, Transitional Pastor, by calling the church at (860) 887-6826.
St. Mark Lutheran Church
248 Broadway, Norwich, CT 06037
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Minister of Music
Concordia Lutheran Church, Manchester, Conn.
Duties have included playing the organ (and piano) for services, directing the choirs, and working with the pastor and the worship and music committee to plan liturgies.
Concordia has a two-manual Austin pipe organ that is in good repair, a two-manual harpsichord, and a Kawai grand piano. Any interested candidates should inquire by sending a resumé and cover letter to the attention of Carol Stoneman, President of the Concordia Church Council, by emailing office@concordiamanchester.org, or calling (860) 649-5311. The position is open on June 22, 2015.
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Parish Administrator
Grace Lutheran Church, Hartford, Conn.
Grace Lutheran Church is seeking a part-time (20 hr./wk) parish administrator who will support the ministry of the church through administrative and infrastructure functions within the congregation. The parish administrator answers phones, prepares materials for meetings, processes correspondence and purchase orders, and more. The successful candidate demonstrates excellent people skills, has a gift for hospitality, maintains strict confidentiality, and communicates professionally in person, in writing, and by telephone. S/he is proficient in the use of Microsoft Word, Excel and Publisher, as well as other software.
Interested parties can contact Pastor Rick Kremer at rickkremer@aol.com, by calling (508) 728-7030, or writing to him at:
Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
46 Woodland Street
Hartford, CT 06105
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St. John's Lutheran Church