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Register for Synod Assembly
Invitation to Reformation, Brooklyn's final worship
Preaching event with Gordon Lathrop
Archives Advisory Committee
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hands in prayer Lord, teach us to pray

Many want to deepen their lives of prayer, but sometimes don't know how to start. Others may desire help in leading others in prayer. Still others may wish to widen their horizons of understandings of prayer. Everyone is welcome at "Lord, Teach Us to Pray" on March 22: a day to pray and learn more about prayer. Our day will begin and end with prayer services. Synodical leaders will offer reflections on their understanding of prayer and how they pray. There will be a number of workshops on prayer, especially ones that help expand our understandings of prayer. Download the flyer and register here. The cost is $15, which includes breakfast, lunch, and a T-shirt.

Synod Assembly News

 

Synod Assembly 2014 Come, Holy Spirit

Registration for the 2014 Synod Assembly is open for all participants. Register before April 15 to receive a $50 discount on the registration fees. Start your registration here. On our assembly webpage, you can find links to make hotel accommodations, submit nominations, and learn more about the ways you can prepare for assembly.

Business Matters

 

silver-keyboard2.jpg It's the time of year...

...to fill out the annual parochial report. Your participation provides us with the accurate congregational information we need to effectively oversee ministry in our synod. Please complete this report by February 15. Access Forms A and C electronically here. You will need your congregation's 5-digit ELCA code number and your 8-digit password. (Please contact Rebekah Thornhill at 212-870-2383 if you need your code.)  

Our Wider Church

LTSP logo Philadelphia Seminary Visit Weekend

This spring, you will be able to "visit" The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (LTSP) right here in the Metro New York Synod. We hope that this will make it easier for you to get information that will be helpful to you as you discern how God is calling you at this point in your life. You are invited, at no cost to you, and with no strings attached, to join us for a catered dinner beginning at 6pm on March 1 at Advent, Manhattan. If you have ever thought about the idea that you might be called to be a pastor, this event is for you. It's also an event for you if you have ever thought about serving as one of the church's leaders with youth, or as a church musician, or providing leadership for a social service organization, advocacy group or overseas mission group, or any number of other charitable or service-oriented professions. Learn more about the visit weekend here.  

Events

 

Invitation to Reformation's final worship

With thanksgiving to God for 116 years of ministry, the congregation of Reformation, Brooklyn (105 Barbey Street) announces that it will be closing in the next couple weeks. You are invited to the closing worship, held on Sunday, February 23 at 3pm, which will also be a memorial service for the life and ministry of Pr. John Huneke. Bishop Rimbo will preside and preach; a reception will follow the service.

 

Meal Packing Extravaganza!

Nearly one in five children in America can't count on having enough to eat. They lack the energy to learn, grow and thrive. On Saturday, March 8, join us at St. Luke's, New Rochelle as we pack and prepare to distribute 20,000 meals to food pantries throughout our synod. All ages and abilities of volunteers are welcome--there is room for everyone at this Synod-wide Service Day! Financial donations are also invited. During the packing event, there will also be learning labs. The event will be followed by worship and a communal meal. If you have questions, contact Pr. Danielle Miller or sign up to volunteer here. Together, let us use our God-given gifts to make a difference in the world! 

 

Leaders Retreat for Tappan Zee, Delaware Hudson, and Hudson conferences

All Quadrant 1 congregation members are invited to attend the Leaders Retreat on February 8 at St. John's, Middletown. Discover how the words claimed, gathered, and sent are rooted in scripture and our Lutheran baptismal theology. Discover how your personal leadership, your ministry, and your congregation can be a part of our synod's strategic plan to bring the love of God to people through the Lutheran tradition in relevant ways. The event is free; breakfast and lunch will be provided.

For Rostered Leaders

 

A rare opportunity with a liturgical scholar

Please join us in welcoming premier liturgical theologian Gordon Lathrop at Preaching the Lectionary: The Paschal Mystery from Ashes to Fire on February 11 at Mercer School of Theology. This event is intended to refresh preachers and offer insights on the lectionary. In the morning, we will be looking at the texts and the liturgies of Lent, following the Revised Common Lectionary for Year A. The afternoon will do the same with key texts for Holy Week and the Three Days. Register here.

 

Annual Report to the Bishop
We serve an interdependent church and our interdependence is realized, in part, through regular communications and reporting to one another. That's why the annual report to the bishop is so important. Access the annual report forms here by clicking the "Synods" tab. Your confidential report is due February 15. Please send it to [email protected] with your full name in the subject line.  

From Our Committees

 

Archives Advisory Committee seeks new members

The Archives Advisory Committee is seeking new members to help oversee the Sutter Memorial Archives. The Sutter Memorial Archives are the archives of the Metropolitan New York Synod and its predecessor bodies. The archives contains records dating to the founding of the New York Ministerium by Johann Kunze (the son-in law of Henry Melchior Muhlenberg) in 1786, and pre-synodical materials from the early days of the Lutheran church in New York. The committee discusses the work of the archives and helps formulate plans going forward to encourage the presence of Lutherans in Metro New York. Requirements for a committee member are to attend meetings on Mondays twice a year (usually in Manhattan). Learn more about the archives at www.sutterarchives.org. If you are interested, please contact John Daggan.

 

New computers for KEMPS

Named in memory of his beloved mother, the Tilchen Computer Lab (TCL) was generously donated in 2006 by Mr. Henry Timnick to KEMPS, our Lutheran primary school in Tanzania. Recently Mr. Timnick issued a challenge grant saying that he would donate $20,000 if others could raise an additional $12,000 toward the upgrade. MNYS churches were asked to raise offerings for this purpose as part of 2013 Udugu Sunday celebrations. The Tanzania Companionship Committee is pleased to announce that the challenge has been successfully met and that the Tilchen Computer Lab will soon be completely upgraded with new computers. There is also a plan to raise additional funds to maintain the lab for the future.

Job Corner

Part-time preschool director needed

Christ, New Hyde Park is looking to hire a part-time director for Little Sprouts Preschool. Call the church office (516-746-4889) for more information and please share with your networks.


Administrator needed

Grace Lutheran Church in Scarsdale seeks a part-time administrator to work with the church and the school, Creative Playtime. Download the job description here. Interested parties should contact Pastor Stephanie Kershner.

Transitions

 

Pr. Kimberli Lile was called as interim pastor at Christ, Floral Park on January 23.

Calendar

View the complete synod calendar.  

New on www.mnys.org
We're Praying

  • For the friends and family of Michael Henk, brother of Pastor Marvin Henk, who died in Christ on January 25
  • For the friends and family of Marvin Henk, Sr., father of Pastor Marvin Henk, who died in Christ on January 21
  • For the friends and family of Harvey Hoover, brother of Pastor Michael Thomas, who died in Christ on January 26
  • For health and healing for Pastor Ivan Gunderman, who was recently hospitalized
  • For comfort for those affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan, and strength for those who come to their aid
  • For health and healing for Walter Straub, husband of Deacon Carol Straub, who was diagnosed with cancer and will be undergoing treatment
  • For ELCA Young Adult in Global Mission Sarah Derrick, serving in Malaysia
  • For ELCA missionaries Pastor Lancelot Themba and Kwena Mkhabela, serving in Ghana
  • For Bishop Brian Maas, the staff and people of the Nebraska Synod
  • For the care of God's creation
  • For the unity of this church and its mission 

Download the synod prayer calendar here.


This e-letter is intended to convey information from synod staff, committees or auxiliaries, and we reserve the right to edit all submissions. All items must be received by the Friday before publication. Items normally run for two weeks. Send submissions to Sarah Gioe.