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Synod Assembly guests
Choosing eco-palms
Leaders Retreat this Saturday
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Improving and expanding our public relations

As an integral part of our strategic plan, our synod has retained for a specific period of time one of the region's most respected communication firms, Rubenstein Associates. We have done so to strengthen the means by which we communicate with our own communities and those we seek to reach with our message of "God's work. Our hands." Now we invite each congregation to attend a series of communication seminars chaired by Rubenstein for the purpose of improving and expanding our own public relations skills consistent with the strategic plan. This effort recognizes that, in the 21st century Information Age, we have an obligation to more effectively present the tenets of our faith.

     The free seminars will take place:

  • March 13 at Good Shepherd, Plainview, 7:30-9pm 
  • March 17 at St. Luke's, Manhattan, 6:30-8pm
  • March 29 at Christ, Newburgh, 10-11:30am 

These workshops are ideal for pastors, bulletin and newsletter editors, and anyone who works on parish communications. Please RSVP to Sarah Gioe. 

     Rubenstein executives believe that we have an enormously powerful story to tell and look forward to sharing the lessons of communication professionals with each synod congregation.

 

40 Days of Prayer to End Malaria 

Your support of the ELCA Malaria Campaign has helped to provide malaria resources and education in 13 African countries. Currently the Metro New York Synod has raised $175,179.33. That's over 84% of the goal we set at our 2012 Synod Assembly! Wouldn't it be remarkable if we could meet and exceed our goal by our 2014 Synod Assembly? Make a secure donation towards our goal.

     The MNYS Malaria Committee created resources to help raise funds and awareness in your community. Through the Malaria Committee's webpage, you can download "40 Days of Prayer to End Malaria," a prayer book for Lent that turns our focus to daily struggles with malaria. You can also find worship and fundraising ideas.

Synod Assembly News

Assembly guests: Carlos Pea and Lisa Dahill

We are pleased to have a number of guests joining us at our 2014 Synod Assembly. Mr. Carlos Pe�a, vice president of the ELCA, will be with us as our churchwide representative. After becoming vice president in 2003, Mr. Pe�a said,"No matter where I travel on behalf of the ELCA, I am amazed at the core of faithful members throughout the country, all willing to work for the good of the church. I know that, no matter where I travel, even if there is discord, I will still find the tie that binds."

      The Rev. Dr. Lisa E. Dahill is Associate Professor of Worship and Christian Spirituality at Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio. Prof. Dahill will be our keynote speaker, helping us to go deeper into our theme of Come, Holy Spirit with two presentations on basic doctrine and how this is expressed in our daily lives.

Business Matters

Tappan Zee completes parochial reports

Congratulations to the Tappan Zee Conference for being the first conference to get all of their parochial reports in! The synod office sent a surprise treat to thank them for their partnership. We are still welcoming 2013 annual congregational reports. Will your conference be next?

Our Wider Church

Eco-palms Ordering eco-palms

Americans purchase as much as $4.5 million worth of palms each year--most for church celebrations. Profits from those sales could do great things for the poor communities in Latin America where the palms are harvested. But via traditional trade channels, very little of that money reaches the palm harvesters and their communities. Instead, forests are depleted and palm-selling communities lose this important source of income. Make social and environmental justice part of your congregation's Palm Sunday celebration by using eco-palms from Lutheran World Relief. Order palms by March 21 to ensure on-time delivery.

Events

 

Leaders Retreat for Brooklyn & Queens

All Quadrant 3 congregation members are invited to attend the

Leaders Retreat on March 8 at Our Saviour's, Brooklyn. 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.

 

hands in prayer We do not know how to pray as we ought...

"We do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit helps us in our weakness and intercedes with sighs too deep for words." (Romans 8:26) Many want to deepen their lives of prayer, but sometimes don't know how to start. 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. Join us for prayer services and a number of workshops on prayer; breakfast, lunch, and a T-shirt are included in the $15 price. Download the flyer and register by March 7.

 

Save the date: Wrestling with Tradition

From the beginning, Christians have struggled to understand the nature of our faith and identity in light of God's ongoing covenant with the Jewish people. The Scriptures of the New Testament record this struggle. In recent years, particular questions have surfaced about descriptions of Judaism and "the Jews" in the Gospels and Acts. Save the date of April 7 for the Consultation on Common Texts (CCT) forum "Wrestling with Tradition," taking place at The Interchurch Center. This event brings together Jewish and Christian leaders to discuss particular issues raised in the readings of the Revised Common Lectionary.

Job Corner

 

Organist needed

Third Evangelical Lutheran Church in Rhinebeck is seeking a part-time organist to play for our weekly 9:45am Sunday service and accompany the choir for rehearsal and worship. Please see the job description for more information.

 

Director of Media and Communications

Saint Peter's Lutheran Church, Manhattan seeks a Director of Media and Communications with expertise in brand management, strategic planning, marketing, graphic design, print publications, website development and content management, social media, and more. Download the full job description here.

Transitions
  • Pr. Stephen Beyer was called as pastor of Lord of Life, Sun City West (Grand Canyon Synod). He began March 1.
  • Pr. Jeffrey Laustsen was called as pastor of Zion, Stratford (Ontario, Canada) on February 2. He begins May 1.
  • Pr. Daniel Ruth was called by the Minneapolis Area Synod to Lutheran World Relief as Interactive Marketing Manager, effective August 2013.
Calendar

View the complete synod calendar.  

New on www.mnys.org

 

We're Praying

  • For the friends and family of Pastor Kathleen Gahagen, daughter of Pastor Robert Gahagen, who died in Christ on February 28
  • For health and healing for Patricia Berg, wife of Pastor Lloyd Berg
  • For health and healing for Ira Nebrasky, husband of Pastor ElizaBeth Nebrasky, who is undergoing treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma
  • For the friends and family of Pastor Peter Perella, Director for Worship of the ELCA, who died in Christ on February 24
  • For the friends and family of Almore Mathsen, father of Pastor Eric Mathsen, who died in Christ on February 18
  • With thanksgiving for the marriage of Pastor Michael Thomas and Tia Glass-Thomas on February 15
  • For Pastor Rebecca Pollicino, who is recovering from surgery
  • 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 is undergoing cancer treatment
  • For ELCA Young Adult in Global Mission Colleen Peterson, serving in Malaysia
  • For ELCA missionary Pastor Robin Mattison, serving in Hong Kong
  • For Bishop Jon Anderson, the staff and people of the Southwestern Minnesota 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.