logo

News

Events

Find a Church

In This Issue
A Witness to Peace
"The visit of Pope Francis to Cuba and the United States was itself a witness to peace," writes Bishop Robert Rimbo. "And on Friday, September 25, it was my honor to represent the Metropolitan New York Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America at a service of solemn grace and power." Read his reflections on the multi-faith service and Pope Francis' visit to the United States.
Hudson Valley Cooperative, an initiative funded by the Sower's Grant and headed by Terra Rowe, has provided a Lutheran Study Guide to Pope Francis' letter on climate change. This is a four week study that can help to kick off discussions on climate change and on the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation in 2017. Learn more here.

We are called to respond 
Lately our vision is flooded with images of millions of migrants searching for safety throughout the Middle East and Europe. "As people of faith, we are called to respond. We need to look for ways to pray for and support our global neighbors," says Bishop Robert Rimbo. "As New Yorkers, we are called to provide the welcome these refugees need to successfully resettle in our communities and become our next door neighbors."

What you can do:
Pray: Pray for those who are affected by violence and are vulnerable, that they may be granted peace and healing.
Give: You can give directly to ELCA Disaster Response to help with immediate relief. Gifts designated for the Middle East and Europe Refugee Crisis will be used in full (100 percent) to assist those directly impacted.
Connect: Learn more about the situation from ELCA Disaster Response, Lutheran World Relief, and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. Each of these partners give resources for education, advocacy, and support programs that you and your congregation can start immediately.
Out & About

Warm welcomes 
Bishop Rimbo and the synod staff appreciate the welcome hospitality provided by our local congregations and partner organizations 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 communities: Christ's, Woodstock; Leif Erikson Day School, Brooklyn; Parish Resource Center, Long Island; St. Stephen's, Hicksville; Our Redeemer, Seaford; Incarnation, Bridgehampton; St. Michael's, Amagansett; Faith, Syosset; Trinity, Brooklyn; and Christ, Staten Island. Thank you! 
Business Matters
 
Save money on your heating costs!
We are happy to announce that we are partnered with Star Gas Partners (Petro Home Service, Meennan Energy, Burke Energy, and Love Effron Energy) to provide a fuel oil cost savings program to our congregations and ministries. Fuel oil can be provided to your location at just $.26 over petro barge pricing. They can also help with discounted service contracts. Learn more and get started now. This savings program is an initiative of our strategic plan and made possible by congregations completing a recent fuel oil survey. Click here to see the other surveys available for congregations to complete.
 
Strategic Plan Applications
The strategy area committees are each accepting applications for new members. Members are appointed to a 3 year term on the committee and work with policy and implementation of our strategic plan. If you would like to be considered for membership on one of these committees, please download and complete an application by October 25. 
Our Wider Church
 
Good Shepherd Fund
Grant money is available from the Good Shepherd Fund, established by Good Shepherd, Plainview. The fund provides grants to Christian organizations to assist with the development of fresh and innovative initiatives designed to bring the love of Jesus Christ to person who might not otherwise be reached by the Gospel. Learn more and download the application form here. Applications are due December 31.
Events

ELCA Youth Leadership Summit
The ELCA Youth Leadership Summit is an annual gathering of youth and adult leaders from across our church that focuses on leadership development, faith formation and building connections. Held at at the Carol Joy Holling Camp near Omaha, Nebraska, the summit will be November 5 to 8. If you have someone you would like to nominate to attend, please send their name, contact information, and a short paragraph explaining the nomination to Dcn. Charlie Germain by October 4. Click here for more information.
  
Story of Service
What stories get told through service experiences? In this free webinar explore biblical stories of service and practices that make room for recognizing and honoring others' stories. When service and mission experiences are thought of as more than projects and trips, service can become a lifelong spiritual practice and way of life. Learn more about the Practice Discipleship Initiative and register for this October 6 webinar.
 
The Value of Food 
The Value of Food is a multimedia art exhibition that explores food security, policy, nutrition, and the environment through a creative lens. It opens at The Cathedral of Saint John the Divine on October 6. Drawing on a mid-20th century legacy of artists incorporating food as theme and medium into their work, the exhibition fuses visual and performance art with public programs and events to challenge the food system status quo and provide visitors with a springboard to form their own conclusions on these important issues. Learn more about the exhibit
20/20 Focus

As part of the strategic plan, the Sent Committee highlights ministries and partnerships proclaiming the Gospel while responding to societal needs.  
 
NYU Lutheran Medical Center
Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn may have a new name, but they are continuing a long legacy of providing medical care in Jesus' name. Now called NYU Lutheran, this hospital continues to be an academic hospital dedicated to community health care and being a social support system. NYU Lutheran Medical Center, founded in 1883, is a full service 450-bed academic teaching and tertiary care hospital that serves as the hub of NYU Lutheran. It includes a Level I Trauma Center, a New York State designated Stroke Center, STEMI Center, and is a bariatric center of excellence. NYU Lutheran Family Health Centers is one of the largest and most comprehensive federally qualified health centers in the country. It has a 47-year history of providing high quality health care and social support services to the ethnically diverse and underserved communities of Brooklyn. It has been recognized as a Level 3 Patient Centered Medical Home by the National Committee for Quality Assurance; To receive this recognition, a provider must demonstrate that it has exceptional systems of care that help patients achieve the best health outcomes. To help provide the best possible care, NYU Lutheran actively utilizes approximately 50 different languages and 60% of their staff is bi-lingual. Learn about NYU Lutheran and its 132-year-old commitment to serving Brooklyn neighborhoods by visiting their website or finding them on social media
Job Corner

Minister of Music
New Hope, Jamaica is looking for an organist/choir director to serve as Minister of Music. They are a liturgical African descent congregation that worships in a mix of music styles looking for a musician with a sense of call to the ministry of music in a Lutheran setting who is proficient in traditional, gospel, contemporary, and liturgical music. Salary based on experience and ability. Resumes and cover letter can be emailed to [email protected] or faxed to 718-528-1919. View the full job description here.  
Transitions

Pr. Marc Herbst has been called as pastor of Our Saviour, Manhasset, effective November 30.

Mr. Tristan Shin, a candidate in our care, has been called to Bethany Lutheran Church in Palmyra, NJ starting on October 1.
Calendar
New on mnys.org
We're Praying

 

  • For the friends and family of Dorothy Alberti, wife of Pastor Paul Alberti, who died in Christ recently
  • For health and healing for Pr. Dennis O'Rourke and Elizabeth O'Rourke, as they recover from a car accident
  • For refugees, especially those from Syria, and 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 Kanika Staten, serving in Jerusalem and the West Bank
  • For ELCA missionary Linda Gawthorne, serving in Colombia 
  • For Bishop B. Kirby Unti, the staff and people of the Northwest Washington Synod
  • For the care of God's creation 
  • For the unity of this church and its mission  

 


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 Rebekah Thornhill.