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Make payroll easier
Preaching the Lectionary with Deirdre Good
Reformation Tour to Germany and Prague
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Lifting up our voices with strength

Yesterday, Bishop Rimbo issued a pastoral letter regarding racism following the Eric Garner decision: "No matter whether we all agree on the question of justice in these cases, I think it is time for us to stand up, breathe deeply together, and stop simply talking about the racism that is profoundly present in our lives, our cities, our world, our church. It is time for us to lift up our voice with strength, as Isaiah says, but to do more than just talk about it. It is time to do more than simply cry." Read the complete letter here. The first action step will be a Service for Justice on January 17. Please save the date and plan to attend; details will be forthcoming.

 

In the news...soon

Ascension, Deer Park will be featured on the Good Day Street Talk segment on Fox 5 on Saturday, December 13 at 6am to promote the #tenbuckchallenge. Every participant in worship on November 16 was given $10 and challenged to find the best use of the money to make a difference in the world. Participants are then asked to report back on social media and forward the challenge to three more people. Watch to see how it's going!

 

Striving for justice and peace

Last week, Presiding Bishop Eaton released a video message about how the church can respond to issues surrounding racial justice. Watch the video here. Our ELCA social statement "The Church and Criminal Justice: Hearing the Cries" affirms the principles of the U.S. criminal justice system, but also reveals the desperate cries that reflect the system's serious deficiencies. Visit the ELCA's Racial Justice Ministries to learn more about our call to confront barriers that manifest themselves in unjust treatment, inequalities, exclusion, and violence.

Out & About

 

Warm welcomes

Bishop Rimbo and the synod staff appreciate the welcome hospitality provided by our local congregations as we visit and help proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and share the mission of our ministries each week. In the past week, our staff was warmly received by the following congregations: Ascension, Deer Park; Leif Ericson Day School, Brooklyn; St. Luke's, Woodhaven; Our Saviour, Port Washington; Our Savior's, Glen Head; Saint Peter's, Manhattan; New Hope, Jamaica; Emanuel, Pleasantville; Holy Redeemer, Brooklyn; and Dobbs Ferry. Thank you!

Business Matters

 

Make payroll easier

End-of-the-year accounting chores for congregations, such as preparing IRS W2s and 1099s, can be made easier and more accurate through a payroll processing service. Through the Congregational Savings Plan of our strategic plan, your church can see savings on services from Paychex including payroll processing, direct deposit, online reports, 401(k) reports, and more. Download the application here. Contact Pastor Marc Herbst, Assistant to the Bishop for Strategic Plan Implementation, with questions.

For Rostered Leaders

 

Deirdre Good at Preaching the Lectionary

Preachers, do you need new inspiration? Save the date of January 13 as Professor Deirdre Good offers exegetical highlights for preaching on the texts and the liturgies of Lent, Holy Week, and Easter at the next "Preaching the Lectionary" seminar. Professor Good teaches New Testament at The General Theological Seminary, specializing in the Synoptic Gospels, Christian origins, and non-canonical writings. Registration will be open soon.

 

Professor Wengert Save the date!

The Hudson Conference invites all clergy to join with Dr. Timothy Wengert at St. John's, Poughkeepsie on Saturday, April 11 for "Living Like Abraham and Sarah: Luther's Insights into Mutual Conversation and Consolation for the Parish." Luther combined his good early experience of monastic living with his growing appreciation of life in the household and the congregation as a reflection on the nature of Christ's presence in the church--"where two or three are gathered"--and thus provided helpful insights on how we may live in Christ as church. Exploring how this may function in today's congregations is a great first step in preparing to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Stay tuned for details.

Going Global

 

Reformation tour

In celebration of Wartburg's 150th anniversary, Pastor Carol Fryer and Wartburg are leading a Reformation tour to Germany and Prague in May 2015, including Berlin, Wittenberg, Leipzig, Wartburg, and more. Download the complete itinerary here. For further information, contact Pastor Fryer.

 

Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

Pastor Bob Fritch of Our Saviour, Jamaica invites clergy and lay people on a October 2015 pilgrimage to the Holy Land, including Tel Aviv, Nazareth, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem. See the complete itinerary here. For further information, contact Pastor Fritch.

Events

    

"Hope for Tomorrow"

As part of their ongoing focus on shared ministry, the Western Nassau Conference gathers for "Hope for Tomorrow," an Advent service at 7pm on December 10 at Ascension, Franklin Square. Pastor Lamont Wells, Director for Evangelical Mission, will give the keynote address on evangelism. All are welcome.

 

"The Challenge of a New Age"

You are invited to join the African Descent Lutheran Association in the continued celebration of the legacy and life of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We will share his insights on "The Challenge of a New Age. Where Do We Go?"--a topic that is as relevant for us today as it was in 1957. Community care, excellence and good will are topics to be explored. All are welcome to join us on January 11 at Good Shepherd, Roosevelt at 4pm.  Light refreshments will follow the service. Download the flyer here.

20/20 Focus

    

As part of the strategic plan, the Sent Committee highlights ministries and partnerships proclaiming the Gospel while responding to societal needs. 

 

The Lutheran Care Network

The Lutheran Care Network (TLCN) is a ministry of healing, hospitality and community through partnerships in caring. Its goal is to provide quality senior care in a faith-based tradition. With residences and programs located in the Capitol Region, Mid-Hudson and Metropolitan areas of New York, we provide independent, assisted, and skilled nursing care to over 1,200 individuals. The network has programs for adult day care and offer low-income senior housing. As an outreach to Lutheran congregations, TLCN offers Linking Care in Congregations, a program of education and support for trained volunteers who visit the home-bound members of their congregation.

Transitions
  • Justin Kosec was called as pastor of St. Andrew's, Smithtown on December 7. He begins December 21.
  • Pr. William Heisley is retiring as pastor of Holy Trinity, Manhattan, effective January 31.
Calendar

View the complete synod calendar here.  

New on www.mnys.org
We're Praying

 

  • For God's leading and guiding in revitalizing our congregations and early learning centers, especially for Faith Lutheran Church and School in Syosset
  • For comfort for those affected by the Ebola virus, and strength for those who come to their aid
  • For our partners in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land as they live amidst the continued Israeli-Palestinian conflict
  • For health and healing for Steve Strunck, husband of former synod staff member Joanne Strunck, as he recovers from a serious medical incident
  • For health and healing for Ira Nebrasky, husband of Pastor ElizaBeth Nebrasky, who is undergoing treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma
  • For ELCA Young Adult in Global Mission Ryan Bose, serving in Rwanda
  • For ELCA missionary Emily Langenberg, serving in Slovakia
  • For Bishop Marcus Lohrmann, the staff and people of the Northwestern Ohio 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.