Register now for the 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.
The deadline to register online for this year's Assembly is May 30. All registrations that are paid by 5/30 will be charged $155. Any registrants who pay at the door (including those who have registered electronically ahead of the assembly but did not pay) will be charged $180.
ASSEMBLY REGISTRATION
Each registrant must have their own unique email address. An email address cannot be used more than once for this event. There will be a separate field on the registration form for those who are volunteers assisting with exhibits, workshops, or registration and for guests attending anniversary recognitions, School of Lay Ministry graduation or worship. All voting members, non-voting visitors, guests and volunteers must submit a registration form. Online registration will close on May 30, 2015, so please plan accordingly.
HOW TO REGISTER
Please complete all required fields on the registration form (marked with an *). If you do not know the name of your conference, please check with your pastor or congregational secretary. Rostered leaders on leave from call may register as non-voters. IF PAYING BY CHECK: After submitting your registration form, you will receive an email confirmation. Please print a copy and mail it to New England Synod, P.O. Box 13, Worcester, MA 01614-0013. Please include the number of the check accompanying your registration, or ask your congregational treasurer to include that number on each form if multiple forms are mailed together.
VOTING MEMBERS selected by your congregation or rostered leaders, register below: Click here to register as a voting member
NON-VOTING VISITOR attending by your own volition or assisting with the event, register below: Click here to register as a non-voting visitor
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"I am am I"
Member at Immanuel (Attleboro, Mass.) writes book on spirituality; proceeds to go to church
Robert Sendling, a member at Immanuel Lutheran in Attleboro, Mass., has written a book on mindfulness and meditation for the Christian mind, titled "I am, am I," and has pledged to donate half of his royalties to the church's building fund.
For much of his life, Sendling lived a charmed existence. While most of the kids from the old neighborhood ended up dropping out of school or landing in jail, Sendling managed to graduate from prep school, earn a degree, and achieve tremendous success in his career. He was happily married to his soul mate, kept his body in fine athletic form, and enjoyed all the benefits of a productive, easy life.
Everything came crashing down, however, when a freak accident broke his neck, injured his spine, and stripped him of his ability to function independently in the world. A shell of his former self, crippled with pain, and addicted to painkillers, Sendling contemplated suicide to end his misery once and for all.
"I Am Am I" tells the story of Sendling's journey back from emotional darkness and physical dysfunction through the practice of Zen mindfulness and meditation. Bridging the gap between Eastern and Western thought, this book makes Zen accessible to people of other faiths, particularly Christians. Interesting, humorous, and compelling, this book offers deep wisdom and practical lessons on how to cope with life's hardships through the use of Zen's powerful concepts of mindfulness and meditation.
"This book is a sincere attempt to help others find a spiritual path to gentle compassion," Sendling said. "It is, in the most simple terms, Zen for the Western, Christian mind."
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Ordination: Amanda Nelson
Immanuel Lutheran Church
Attleboro, Mass.
The New England Synod announces the upcoming ordination of Amanda Nelson, who is to become pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in East Hartford, Conn.
Nelson received her call on April 26, and will start as Faith's new pastor on June 1. She is a 2007 graduate of Wheaton College with a bachelor's degree in International Relations and German, and a 2014 graduate of the Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, with a master of divinity.
Nelson's ordination will take place on Sunday, May 31, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 647 North Main St., Attleboro, Mass. The service will begin at 6 p.m. Pastor Sandra Demmler-D'Amico will preside, and Bishop Jim Hazelwood will preach. The color of the day is red. All are welcome.
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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. You can download a copy of the proposal as endorsed by the Synod Council here, and before we present it at Synod Assembly, 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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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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Organist/Pianist (part-time)
Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Sturbridge (Mass.)
Bethlehem Lutheran Church (ELCA) seeks a part time (8-12 hours/week) organist/pianist to lead one Sunday morning service per week. The ideal candidate will possess a varied musical repertoire, and work collaboratively with the pastor and worship leaders to engage the congregation in spirited worship. The position is available immediately and compensation will be competitive.
Click here to download the full job listing, including qualifications and responsibilities.
Interested candidates should send a resume, cover letter and references to:
Daniel J. Carlson
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
345 Main Street
Sturbridge, MA 01566
508-347-7297
Website: www.bethlehemsturbridge.org
Email: dcarlson06@hotmail.com
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Faith Relations Manager
Ascentria Care Alliance
The Faith Relations Manager will be responsible for growing and managing Ascentria Care Alliance's faith relations program. This position will cultivate new faith partners and maintain existing faith relationships with the goal of engaging volunteers and securing gifts in support of Ascentria's mission. The Manager reports to the Chief Development Officer and is a member of the Development team.
For full details, including a list of responsibilities and minimum qualifications, click here to visit Ascentria's job page. If interested in applying please forward your resume to MAjobs@ascentria.org and reference #04301501
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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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