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Time After Pentecost
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September 23, 2015
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Ask, Thank, Tell - Now!
Inspired by the book by Charles Lane, and serving as an extension of the Crazy Stewardship Consults, Bishop Hazelwood has started a new Facebook group which will be a place to exchange ideas on how to implement a year-round stewardship emphasis, creating a culture of thanksgiving and generosity in your faith community.
The group will have updates, ideas and news with practical ideas on how to engage in meaningful, year-round stewardship, all based on "Ask, Thank, Tell," by Charles Lane - the book Bishop Hazelwood calls "the single best book on stewardship ever published."
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An Introduction to the Christian Faith
"Just to be clear, this is not the answer. This is the question."
In a series of six brand-new videos, Bishop Jim Hazelwood explores our Christian Faith, but not through the lens of the regular churchgoer. Rather, the video series is aimed at helping those who are not a part of a faith tradition understand just what it is we Christians do, specifically within the bounds of the Lutheran Church.
The "Understanding the Faith" videos are available for free on YouTube, at the links below. However, if you would like to have a DVD copy to keep and use within your own group, you can contact the New England Synod to order a copy for $15.
Sessions
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Walk in the Steps of Martin Luther
 On October 31, 1517, when Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the Castle Church door in Wittenberg with the stroke of his hammer, he set the Reformation in motion and changed the world.
Pastor Joe McGarry and Pastor Rick Olson invite you to celebrate the 500th Anniversary of this great event by following in Luther's footsteps throughout Germany. Watch as the Reformation comes to life as you discover the history and spirit of the Great Reformer and the places and people important to our Lutheran heritage:
- Visit Castle Church in Wittenberg where Luther nailed his 95 Theses.
- Visit Eisenach and see the Reformation Room in Wartberg Castle
- See Luther's birthplace in Eiselben.
- Erfurt, where Luther was struck by lightening and entered the Augustinian Cloister.
- Explore Leipzig where he debated Johann Eck
- Visit Augsburg where Melanchthon presented the "Augsburg Confession" in 1530
We will be traveling for 11 days visiting 13 sites. The dates are May 11-21, 2016.
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Come and hear Bishop Eaton preach!
 Oct. 18, 10:15 a.m.
University Lutheran, Cambridge, MA
Oct. 19, 7 p.m.
Emanuel Lutheran, Hartford, CT
Elizabeth Eaton, the presiding bishop of the ELCA, will make two stops at New England congregations in October, in conjunction with her visit to this year's Bishop's Convocation.
Bishop Eaton is scheduled to preach at University Lutheran Church in Cambridge, Mass., on Sunday morning, Oct. 18, at UniLu's 10:15 a.m. worship service. University Lutheran is located at 66 Winthrop St., Cambridge, Mass. Bishop Eaton's visit to University Lutheran is also a return to her old stomping grounds, as she earned her Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School. On Oct. 19, Bishop Eaton will preach at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Hartford, Conn., at 7 p.m. Emanuel is located at 311 Capitol Ave. in Hartford.
Bishop Eaton will also be joining rostered leaders Tuesday morning for an informal conversation as part of our annual Bishop's Convocation.
In addition to Bishop Eaton, we will also be joined by "Community Change," a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote racial justice and equality by challenging systemic racism and acting as a catalyst for anti-racist learning and action. Community Change will be leading a workshop for all attendees of the convocation on Tuesday afternoon.
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Ordination: Eric Worringer
 October 17, 4 p.m.
St. Paul - Arlington, Mass.
Eric Worringer has been called to serve as pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lawrence, Mass. He will be ordained on Oct. 17 at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Arlington, Mass., at 4 p.m. Bishop James Hazelwood will preside and preach, the color of the day is red, and clergy are invited to vest and process. All are welcome.
Eric Randall Worringer holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the Ohio State University, and a Master of Divinity with a concentration in Theological Studies from Luther Seminary, where he is also a candidate for the degree of Master of Theology in Pastoral Theology.
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Worship and research materials available
Prince of Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church (Claremont, N.H.), which is joining forces with nearby St. Paul Episcopal, has some materials available to congregations and individuals who might be interested in having them. Those materials include:
- Two enlarged-print editions of the ELW (in binders)
- One LBW minister's edition (missal)
- Three congregational leader series, "Our Context; Exploring Our Congregation and Community
- One "Renewing Worship; Congregational Song-Proposals for Renewal"
- One "Renewing Worship; Principles for Worship"
- One "Indexes for Worship Planning-Revised Common Lectionary-LBW & WOV"
- One "Psalm Antiphons for the Church Year-Musical Settings for the Antiphons from the LBW, Series A, B, C" - by Roger T. Petrich
To inquire about these items, email pop64739@gmail.com, or send mail to:
Prince of Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church
P.O. Box 1334
Claremont, NH 03743
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Parish-Based Music Schools
 One-day workshop for church musicians, clergy, and lay leadership on the campus of Yale University
Saturday, Oct. 24, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Fee: $20 for lunch and materials
As music education programs in public schools face funding challenges across the U.S., many congregations are working to fill the void in their communities by creating innovative programs that provide individual or group music lessons for local children. Such initiatives expand vital outreach, use existing church resources (both facilities and personnel) more fully, and can provide an additional revenue stream for the church.
The workshop aims to equip church musicians, clergy, and lay leadership with practical tools for creating and sustaining a thriving music instruction program in their parish setting. Artistic and administrative leaders of successful programs in three states will share their first-hand experiences, addressing topics such as:
- Assessing needs/opportunities for music education in the community
- Establishing the program's mission/purpose/values
- Organizational structure & relationship with church administration/leadership
- Hiring teachers, other personnel
- Setting rates/payment deadlines, other policies
- Facilities & instruments
- Program administration & staffing
- Beyond private lessons: group classes for pre-K through adult, instrumental ensembles, etc.
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 Green Team Message of the Month
The next few months are critical times for the churches to promote care for God's creation. The synod Green Team urges each church to:
- Preach on climate change and care for God's creation
- Plan a sermon on creation care and climate change one time this fall (see "A New Awakening" and resources at www.climatewitness.org, where we urge you to pledge to preach).
- Several vigils around the Pope's visit to New York on the afternoon of 9/24 are planned. Materials to support these distributed vigils will be available on www.OurVoices.net, along with sample social media posts and publicity materials.
- Lift up the Pope's encyclical at Sunday worship services prior to or after his visit; you may plan sermons that address his encyclical and add prayers for creation to worship services
- Send letters to the editor of local newspapers to highlight your church's concern to care for God's creation and support of the Pope's encyclical
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SPARK learner resources available
 Free for the taking!
Trinity Lutheran Church in Chelmsford, Mass., has switched curriculums and has unopened SPARK learner resources available to whoever can use them. Available are 13 packets for Grades 3-4, Year Green/Winter and 12 packets for Grades 1-2, Year Green/Winter. If you are interested, please contact Beth at secretary@trinity-chelmsford.org or call 978-256-6300 to arrange for obtaining the material.
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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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