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In This Issue
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Theological Continuing Education at Koinonia
Lenten Bible study coming in January
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The synod office will be closed December 24-January 2 for the holidays. There will be no e-letter on December 23 or December 30. Merry Christmas!

 

Public space made sacred

"We call it the Blessing of the Vegetables, but we bless anything, really: bread, cheese, pickles, scooters, dogs, and people." Messiah Lutheran Church in Greenpoint, Brooklyn makes its desire to be present in the community known in an obvious way, offering blessings of produce at the local farmers' market and more. Read more about how the blessings create a space for conversation in the most recent News story.

 

Good Christian friends, rejoice!

"Christmas can carry so much emotional freight. We must be merry and filled with good cheer. We are driven to get everything perfect by the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve. We are filled with wistful longing. But what are we longing for?" Download Presiding Bishop Eaton's Christmas message here.

 

Lifting up our voices with strength

Last week, 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.

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, Franklin Square; St. James-St. Matthew's, South Ozone Park; Sion/Saint Peter's, Manhattan; Good Shepherd, Roosevelt; Our Savior's Atonement, Manhattan; Christ, Wantagh; St. John's, Manhattan; Salam Arabic, Brooklyn; and Gustavus Adolphus, Manhattan. Thank you!

Business Matters

 

NYC property tax exemption renewal forms   

Online renewal forms for NYC property tax exemption renewal must be completed and submitted no later than January 5, 2015. Earlier completion is strongly suggested in the event the Department of Finance has any questions regarding your submission. Download a list of FAQs as well as the Online Renewal User Guide here.

 

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.

Our Wider Church

 

Praying together as a sign of unity
The Week of Prayer for Christian unity is a longstanding expression of the ecumenical movement--a worldwide effort among Christians to heal divisions within the church. It promotes dialogue among churches and encourages Christians to pray together as a sign of unity. Join Northern Hemisphere churches, January 18-25, in considering the theme "Jesus said to her, 'Give me a drink,'" taken from the encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman.
Learn more here and download resources from the World Council of Churches.

For Rostered Leaders

 

Theological Continuing Education at Koinonia

Pastors need continual intellectual and spiritual growth. From April 27-30, spend four days with Paul Hoffman, author of Faith Forming Faith and Faith Shaping Ministry as he shares the nuts and bolts of the catechumenate, and how it can help a congregation become a place that forms faith. Learn old and new ways of reading the Bible for faith with the Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Palmer, as she shows us how Lutheran readings of Scripture help us encounter the hidden God who speaks. For more information, please visit www.tcek.org. This event is funded in part by our synod's Leadership Development Grants. 

 

Register now: Preaching the Lectionary

Preachers, do you need new inspiration? Join us on January 13 at Mercer School 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. The cost is $50; lunch is included. Download the flyer and register here.

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.

Events

    

Coming in 2015: Quadrant Visits

Due to the overwhelmingly positive response to last year's quadrant visits, Bishop Rimbo and the synod staff will once again be spending a weekend visiting every quadrant for individual appointments with pastors, a clergy appreciation dinner, a Saturday event for leaders, Sunday congregation visits, and mutual conversation and consolation. The Saturday workshop will provide your congregational leaders with the process and resources needed to develop your congregation's plans for sharing the gospel in its unique community, an important aspect of our strategic plan. Begin making plans and prayers for your congregation to be a part of this exciting process. We begin in Quadrant 4 in January.

From Our Committees

 

Attention: Pastors and Bible study leaders

As part of the Growing Deeply in Faith initiative, the Claimed Strategy Committee has developed a Bible Study for the season of Lent based on this year's theme of Mutual Conversation and Consolation. We know many congregations and conferences plan special services and opportunities to come together during Lent and this could be used as a resource to help plan these occasions and can also be used as a special series for your normal Bible Study sessions. Be on the lookout for this resource as it will be available for download in early January. Find more information on the Growing Deeply in Faith initiative and Mutual Conversation and Consolation here.

Job Corner

 

Retreat center director

Dominican Sisters of Hope in Ossining, NY is seeking a full-time director of their Mariandale Conference & Retreat Center. To apply or learn more, visit www.mariandale.org. The deadline is January 2.

Transitions
  • Emily Trubey-Weller was called as pastor of St. Stephen's, Hicksville on December 14. She begins in early January.
  • Chryll Crews was called as pastor of St. Stephen's, Brooklyn on December 14. She begins January 1.
  • 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 health and healing for Helen Baumgartner, mother of Pastor Mary Lou Baumgartner, who is recovering from a car accident
  • For the friends and family of Pastor Luther Kriefall, who died in Christ on December 10
  • 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 Ira Nebrasky, husband of Pastor ElizaBeth Nebrasky, who is undergoing treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma
  • For ELCA Young Adult in Global Mission Sarah Brock, serving in Rwanda
  • For ELCA missionary Shannon McMullen, serving in Slovakia
  • For Bishop William Gafkjen, the staff and people of the Indiana-Kentucky 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.