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Time After Pentecost
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August 5, 2015
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Synod Office Summer Hours
From July 6 until Sept. 4, the New England Synod Office will observe summer hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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The Spy Who Came to Church
If you attended or watched any of this year's Synod Assembly, you know that we produced a few videos on different experiments taking place among our congregations and ministries. (You can watch a series of them here). Due to time constraints, we omitted one video, but you can watch it now! The experiment, which took place at St. Stephen in Marlborough, Mass., was the brainchild of Pastor Scott Howard, who asked Tom Houston, a member at Bethlehem in Sturbridge, Mass., to come and be an "undercover worshipper" at St. Stephen.
The idea was that Tom would come to St. Stephen, acting as a total stranger to the church, and report back on how he found the overall experience, from walking through the doors to meeting the congregation's members. A little espionage? Perhaps, but all in the spirit of strengthening ministry through a fresh look at what the church does well and what it could work on.
Click the video to see the raw footage of an interview with Tom and Pastor Scott. Apologies for the audio, you may need to turn up your volume.
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Confronting Racism: An ELCA webcast
Aug. 6, 9 p.m.
On Thursday night, Aug. 6, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton will join ELCA Church Council member William B. Horne II for a live webcast conversation titled "Confronting Racism." Bishop Eaton and Mr. Horne will discuss the complex implications of racism and the ELCA's ongoing work on racial justice.
Relaying the ELCA's email:
If your congregation and members of the wider community plan to view the webcast together, consider having a conversation afterward about what you have heard. Here are some questions to help you get started:
- What seems to be the role of racism in our faith life and/or our life together?
- What did you learn from the webcast conversation?
- What is the value of sharing and hearing one another's stories of faith and cultural background? Can differences cause tension or division? How might they bring joy?
- What next steps could we take?
In partnering with you to deepen your involvement in and commitment to this important work to which we are called, please visit our website for a list of ELCA resources to guide your congregation's effort. A guide for leading conversations on race, ethnicity and culture is available there.
If you would like to submit a question to be considered during the webcast, please send it to livinglutheran@elca.org and provide your name and your congregation's name, city and state. Also, you may post your question during the webcast on the ELCA's Facebook page and Twitter using the hashtag #ELCAConfrontRacism
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Register now for the School of Lay Ministry
The New England Synod School of Lay Ministry is currently accepting registration for the Class of 2017. The deadline to register is Aug. 15.
To apply: Click here to download the application, or visit the school's website at nesynodslm.com and click on "Apply." After you complete the application, New England Synod, PO Box 13, Worcester, MA 01614-0013 with a check for $100, payable to "New England Synod."
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With One Voice hymnals available
The Synod has a collection of "With One Voice" hymnals available to any person or congregation who may need them. If you are interested, please contact the office at office@nesynod.org. The hymnals will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis. |
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Stewardship Coaching
Aug. 29 and Sept. 23, 2015
Our Savior - Newington, Conn., and Christ the King - Holliston, Mass.
The New England Synod Stewardship Team, a.k.a. the Macedonia Team, is offering a training event for people who are interested in serving as a stewardship coaches in their congregations. These events will provide an excellent refresher course in stewardship ministry in your congregation.
Two training dates have been set:
- Saturday, Aug. 29, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Newington, Conn.
- Wednesday, Sept. 23, 6:30 to 9:00 pm. at Christ the King Lutheran Church, Holliston, Mass.
There is no fee for this training. If are interested, or just have a question, contact Rip Hoffman via phone at (203) 454-2842, or via email at kantonen@aol.com.
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Synod Grants
The New England Synod offers several grant opportunities that can be useful to ministries seeking a funding boost.
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The 2015 ELCA Youth Gathering
The 2015 ELCA Youth Gathering concluded on Sunday after a week of prayer, fellowship, music, and learning in Detroit. Thousands of high school-aged men and women were in attendance, including a sizable delegation of teens from New England.
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| | The youth group from St. Matthew (Avon, Conn.) makes a pit stop in Akron, Ohio, on its way back from the 2015 ELCA Youth Gathering in Detroit. (Photo courtesy Rev. Dan Hille) |
Did you or someone you know go to Detroit for this year's Youth Gathering? We want to hear from you! We're looking for storytellers and photos from this year's event to include in an upcoming edition of the Synod's magazine, Ekklesia. If you or someone you know would be interested, please contact Communications Director Andy Merritt for more details.
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Ordinations: Jeffrey Johnson and Douglas Barclay
The New England Synod is pleased to announce the upcoming ordinations of two new Pastors who have been called to ministry in the region.
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| | Jeffrey Johnson, left, and Douglas Barclay are set to be ordained in August, and have been called to ministry in New England. |
Jeffrey Craig Johnson has been called to serve First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brockton, Mass. A native of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., Johnson holds a bachelor's degree from Florida State University, a master's degree from Westminster Choir College, and his master of divinity from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary. Johnson will be ordained on Thursday, Aug. 20, at 7 p.m., at Messiah Lutheran Church in Panama City, Fla. The Rev. Robert Schaefer, Bishop of the Florida-Bahamas Synod, will preside.
Douglas David Barclay is a native of Williamsport, Pa., who has been called to serve Concordia Lutheran Church in Manchester, Conn. Barclay holds a bachelor's in music from Lycoming College, a graduate certificate in liturgy from Washington Theological Union, and a master of divinity from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. He will be ordained on Friday, Aug. 28, at 7 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church in Baltimore, Md. Bishop James Hazelwood and the Rev. Susan Tjornehoj will preside, and the Rev. Dr. John Sabatelli will preach.
The color of the day for both ordinations is red, and all are welcome at each ceremony.
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Synod Companion Trip to Jordan and the Holy Land
Dec. 29-Jan. 14
Registration Deadline: Sept. 1
 Later this year, the New England Synod will reaffirm its partnership with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land with a two-week companion trip to the Middle East.
The trip is planned for Dec. 29, 2015-Jan. 14, 2016. The all-inclusive cost is $3,700.
How is the trip planning going?
Pastor Tim Keyl is consulting with ELCA colleagues and Palestinian contacts to map out an itinerary. We will have a guide for most of our trip and a chartered bus. We will stay in Lutheran or Christian Guesthouses, based on double occupancy (you can pick a roommate or Pastor Keyl can pick one for you). If you request a single, the cost will be slightly higher.
What does the $3,700 cost cover?
The costs covers lodging with breakfast, and the total cost includes round-trip airfare from Newark Airport, dinners, room, tips, and all other fees. Any additional costs will be for lunch, and flight from a different originating airport. Once we book the flights, Pastor Keyl will provide information about travel insurance, which will incur additional cost. For previous trips, Pastor Keyl made arrangements for most in the group to travel by van or train from his church, Bethesda - New Haven, Conn., and will be glad to do that this time.
The only documentation you will need to bring on the trip is a current passport. Please provide Pastor Keyl with the name that is on your passport, the passport number, your mailing address, and phone number(s).
An initial $500 down payment (check payable to the New England Synod, memo "2015/16 Companion Synod Trip") is due by Sept. 1. Two additional payments of $1,700 are due Oct. 1 and Dec. 1 to the same address with the same memo. Send to New England Synod, P.O. Box 13, Worcester, MA 01614-0013
To learn more about our Holy Land partnerships, see www.elca.org/peacenotwalls and www.elcjhl.org.
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An Evening of Conversation and Music
Aug. 16, 7:30-9 p.m.
BTS Center, Portland, Maine
"If I do this, then God will do that."
Sound familiar? Often we approach our relationship with God assuming that we have to act and speak a certain way for God to work in our lives. Yet throughout the Bible, we see God showing us that God is constantly present. We don't need to summon God or say certain prayers to draw God near.
In his new book, "Flipped: The Provocative Truth That Changes Everything We Know About God," author Doug Pagitt asks: How would your life change if you changed the way you understood God's nearness?
The BTS Center (formally Bangor Theological Seminary) cordially invites you to an evening of conversation with Doug on August 16th. Award-winning singer-songwriter Heatherlyn (www.heatherlynmusic.com) will provide the gathering's musical soundtrack. Attendance is free at HopeGateWay's Forest Avenue Campus (508 Forest Ave., Portland, ME).
While RSVPs are not necessary - feel free to join us at the last minute - they will help us plan refreshments.
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New Dollars/New Partners for Your Sacred Place
Are you wondering how to make better use of your building?
The New England Synod has arranged for Partners for Sacred Spaces to present a one day program introducing their New Dollars/New Partners for Your Sacred Place. It will be held on Saturday, Nov 7 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Hartford, Conn.
New Dollars/New Partners is an innovative training program offered by Partners, available to congregations with older or historic buildings. This training combines the best of the resources, techniques, and knowledge developed by Partners since 1989, and is the only one of its kind. Partners has developed a strong expertise on fundraising for older religious properties since its founding in 1989. For example, Partners' Complete Guide to Capital Campaigns for Historic Churches and Synagogues, is considered the definitive book on the subject. Partners' staff are joined during the year-long training program, of four day long workshops, by consultants with in-depth experience in specialized topics.
Congregations that typically participate in and benefit from the training have a sacred place older than 50 years, have capital needs beyond the current financial capability of the congregation, and also possess a desire to deepen their community connections and use their buildings more effectively. Each training course includes four leaders (senior clergy and lay leaders with responsibility for property, outreach, and finance/fundraising) from 8 to 12 congregations that want to find new ways to fund and support their older or historic buildings.
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Foundations of Christian Leadership
 The Leadership Education Department at Duke University is offering a program designed to help Christian leaders grow their ministry and their own abilities.
"Through Foundations of Christian Leadership, we aim to help Christian leaders explore their gifts and cultivate the practices that are essential for spurring transformation within Christian organizations," reads the program's description. "The program is best suited to those who have been in a leadership position for fewer than five years. Join up to 30 participants from nonprofit organizations, congregations, mission agencies, seminaries and denominations for two residential sessions and two online sessions over the course of four months. Each Foundations participant will have the opportunity to apply for a $5,000 grant to support innovative approaches within his or her institution."
The fall 2015 session of the program will be held in Greensboro, N.C., at The Summit conference center. The two-part session will be held Sept. 14-17 and Dec. 7-10.
For those who'd like to stay close to home, the Foundations of Christian Leadership program is coming to New England in 2016. The sessions will be held in April and September at St. Methodios Faith & Heritage Center in Contoocook, N.H.
For further information, including pricing and registration links, click here.
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Save the Date: Leading Small Groups
 Churches know that small groups are key to spiritual formation and vitality in their congregations. Yet many are floundering for lack of small group leaders, especially when it comes to leading Bible studies. Exploring the Bible: The Dickinson Series is a proven Bible study system that even those who know little about the Bible can learn to lead. But the workshops go beyond just introducing you to the material.
In this six-hour workshop, you will:
- Learn the basics of leading any small group.
- Build confidence in leading a Bible study.
- Understand the difference between teaching and facilitating
- Discuss ways to overcome the challenges of difficult personalities and group conflict.
The workshops will happen at the dates and locations listed below. Registration will be announced via the Exploring the Bible website or through the contacts for each location.
Warren United Church of Christ
Sept. 19, 2015
339 Main Street | Warren, Vt.
Brunswick United Methodist Church
September 26, 2015
For more information on registration contact Rev. Karen Munson at
New Hampshire Conference, UCC
October 17, 2015
140 Sheep Davis Road | Pembroke, N.H.
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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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Synod seeking candidates for new position
 The New England Synod is now seeking candidates for the newly created position of Associate to the Bishop for Generosity.
The position was created as part of the synod's participation in a three-year pilot experiment in the areas of mission development and mission support. The new position was created in tandem with the position of Associate to the Bishop for Mission, to which Ms. Kim Bergstrand was appointed in July and began working Aug. 1.
The Associate to the Bishop for Generosity will have primary responsibilities for cultivating thanksgiving and generosity in our synod by assisting congregations in their stewardship practices, working with the Macedonia Generosity Team, leading efforts in a newly-designed Mission Support partnership, and working in the area of development. A complete position description is available at this link (click here). This position is now open, and we are accepting applications. The deadline to apply is August 15, 2015, or until the position is filled, and is open to either rostered leaders or lay persons.
The position is part-time (25-30 hours per week), and comes with a full benefit package. The design is similar to the approach taken by other synods, who have divided the responsibilities in these two areas of mission and stewardship. This is a restructuring of what has been known as the D.E.M. or Director for Evangelical Mission.
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Research Consultant
Cooperative Christian Ministry at the University of Vermont
The Cooperative Christian Ministry (CCM) at UVM is a 501(c)3 whose mission as an ecumenical, inclusive, and progressive ministry is to provide a safe and engaging space for all students. The ministry is sponsored by six mainline Protestant denominations: American Baptist, ELCA, Episcopal, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ, and United Methodist. CCM is seeking a research consultant to conduct research on potential users of CCM services, student needs for programs and services, critical organizational and community partners, and potential sources for additional funding. The position is part-time and temporary (September 15, 2015 -June 1, 2016) with an estimated average 10-15 hours/week, and an hourly rate dependent on skills and experience. The successful candidate has excellent oral and written communication skills, is self-directed and well-organized with good administrative skills, has experience with research methods used in market and customer research, and has experience conducting interviews and leading focus groups.
Send cover letter and resume by August 15, 2015 to:
CCM at UVM, c/o Lindsey M. Huddle, Esq.
PO Box 5360
Burlington VT 05402-5360
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