Lyn Wasilewski, the Synod's Executive Assistant to the Bishop, has an upright piano that is available for free to any congregation seeking to bolster its musical repertoire. The piano is at least 100 years old and has a dark-tone wood color. It will require some tuning and cleaning, but is otherwise ready to be played. The piano is located in Central Massachusetts. If you are interested, please contact Lyn at lwasilewski@nesynod.org or by calling the Synod office at (508) 791-1530 to arrange transfer.

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.

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.

The New England Synod offers several grant opportunities that can be useful to ministries seeking a funding boost. 

• The I Have a Dream Fund, established by Margaret and John Payne, provides financial resources for those who long for an end to racism and an increase in understanding across cultural barriers. Click here to download an explainer on the fund and grant process.
• The Youth and Young Adult Grants support ministries to serve outreach to those particular age groups. Click here to download the application. (Applications due in December. For more information, contact the Synod office.)
• The Congregational Renewal Grants assist in efforts designed to bring renewed vitality to your congregation. Click here to download the application. (Applications due in December. For more information, contact the Synod office.)

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.

For the sixth year, Camp Calumet has put together a team of runners who will participate in the annual Reach the Beach relay, set to take place Sept. 18-19 in New Hampshire. The 200-mile relay begins in the White Mountains and finishes at Hampton Beach State Park. 

Calumet first participated with 12 runners six years ago, but the team has grown to 48 hardy souls, plus eight support drivers. They're all running for one goal: To raise money for Calumet's Annual Fund, which keeps the costs low for kids who go to Calumet's Resident Camp. Calumet expects to award some $70,000 this year in campership grants to families who need them, and that money also comes out of the Annual Fund.

To learn more about Calumet's Reach the Beach team, including a video from each runner thanking their supporters, click here. And if you'd like to donate to the team, click here to be taken to their e-payment page.