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In This Issue
A Declaration on the Way
Declaration on the Way: Church, Ministry and Eucharist is a unique ecumenical text that draws on 50 years of Lutheran-Catholic dialogue in preparation for the 500th Reformation anniversary coming in 2017. At it's heart, this is a declaration of the consensus achieved by Lutherans and Catholics on the topics of church, ministry and Eucharist as the result of ecumenical dialogue between the two communions since 1965. It is a consensus "on the way", because dialogue has not yet resolved all the church-dividing differences on these topics. Learn more and download a copy of this document.

An extra opportunity to give thanks
Right before the Thanksgiving holiday, 28 congregations received word that they had been awarded a Capital Improvement Challenge Grant through our synod's strategic plan. A review team of 12 deliberated closely over the completed applications before making recommendations to the Synod Council. "They did their due diligence. They came prepared," noted Pr. Gary Schultz, chair of the review team.
Their final recommendation was that every application that had been received in full should receive funding, utilizing unused funding from strategic plan grant initiatives to double the total awarded last year. "We want to be able to support congregations where they need it most," said Mr. Frank Suttell, MNYS Treasurer and review team member. "Helping our congregations to become safe and welcoming for two years in a row is a fantastic sign of our strategic plan at work." See the listing of all 28 grant recipients here
In the News...
 
Learn about Redeemer, New Paltz' upcoming concert to benefit the Family of Woodstock, Inc. in The New Paltz Times and MyInforms.
Read about at Trinity, Manhattan's World AIDS Day events in amNY and New York Q News.
 
Out and 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: Holy Trinity, Brooklyn; St. Peter's, Port Jervis; Lutheran Counseling Center, Mineola; St. Michael's, Amagansett; Parish Resource Center, Valley Stream; Holy Redeemer, Brooklyn; Seafarers International House, Manhattan; Two or Three Project, Manhattan; Our Saviour, Manhasset; St. Peter's, Springfield Gardens; and Leif Erikson Day School, Brooklyn; Thank you!
Business Matters
  

NYC property tax exemption renewal forms due January 5 

Online renewal forms for NYC property tax exemption renewal must be completed and submitted annually. The deadline to submit is January 5, 2016. Earlier completion is strongly suggested in the event the Department of Finance has any questions regarding your submission. User IDs and passwords were mailed in October and can be used on their submission website. Find more information here. Email [email protected] or call 311 with any questions.

Committee applications
We heard that some are having trouble completing and submitting committee applications, particularly for the Strategic Plan Strategy Area Committees and for the Anti-Racism Task Force. If you have not received communication regarding your application, please be in touch with Branden Dicks ([email protected] or 212-870-2384) to ensure it has been received. 
Events

MLK, Jr. Services
Is your congregation hosting a service to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday in January? We would like to compile a list of worship services, educational activities, or other events throughout our synod. Please send details of the event to Rebekah Thornhill for posting.  

"We Cannot Live a Lie" 
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, with the theme "We Cannot Live a Lie". All are welcome to join us on January 10 at St. Stephen's, Brooklyn at 4pm.  Dinner will follow the service. Learn more and download the flyer here.
 
Praxis: Lifelong Education for Faith and Practice
Praxis is fully online course from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary and taught by well-known faculty and practitioners in a variety of fields. Its main premise is that ministry professionals and lay persons are life-long learners who need to maximize the time they have for education. The spring term begins January 18 and includes the following two courses: Responding to God's Call: Racism, Injustice, and the Church with Professor Jeremy Rehwaldt and The Good News According to Luke Today with Professor Eric Barreto. Click here for more information and to register.
20/20 Vision

As part of the strategic plan, the Sent Committee highlights ministries and partnerships proclaiming the Gospel while responding to societal needs.  
 
Seafarers and International House
When one considers that one out of every seven human beings on this planet is now a displaced migrant, it isn't too hard to imagine what Jesus would say in this situation: we care called to visit those who are in prison and welcome the stranger. You may guess that Seafarers International House (SIH) is a ministry that welcomes the stranger in the form of merchant mariners and you would be right.  But you may not know that SIH also visits those in prison-especially those in prison-like detention centers.  SIH is indeed an intentional outreach to vulnerable immigrants, carrying on a tradition of welcoming the immigrant stranger since it's founding in 1873 when it began as an immigrant house for arriving Lutheran Swedes.  Fast-forward to 2015 and SIH both organizes visits to detention centers once a month and provides housing for recently released detention center detainees at their Union Square guesthouse.  This past year over 20 immigrants found their first U.S. home at SIH as they prepare to venture out on their own.  Along with a social work intern from Hunter School of Social work, SIH works hand in hand with immigration partners to provide advocacy, housing, and one-on-one visits with those who languish in detention centers.  You, too, can participate in this ministry by contacting SIH's social work intern, Makda Kelib, to find out when the next visit will take place. It just takes a Saturday morning to make the world of difference to one of the many displaced migrants that are simply looking for someone to listen and for someone to bring hope.
Job Corner

Teacher needed!  KEMPS student
Our American teachers in Bukoba, Tanzania will be finishing their 2-year term this summer and we're starting the search for two creative, experienced teachers with a love for children. The ideal candidate would have some teaching experience, be open to a new environment and willing to assume leadership. Travel to Tanzania, health insurance, housing and a small stipend are included. For more information, email Lois Rimbo
Transitions

Pr. Marc Herbst was installed as pastor of Our Saviour, Manhasset on December 6.

Pr. Scott Paradise resigned as pastor of Dobbs Ferry, Dobbs Ferry, effective December 31.

Pr. Harriet Wieber was called as pastor of Holy Trinity, Brooklyn, effective January 1.

Mr. Jonathan Pryer was called as Associate Pastor of St Paul's, East Northport. He will be ordained in January.

Ms. Carol Schnieder was called as chaplain at Winthrop University Hospital. She will be ordained in January.

Calendar
New on mnys.org

Financial Information: Current mission support reports           
Congregational Events: Ascension, Deer Park is hosting a Family Advent Festival Brunch, Holy Trinity, Bellerose in partnership with Thrivent Communities is hosting a Packing Day and a Distribution Day with their annual Midnight Run Event
We're Praying
  • For refugees and those who come to their aid
  • For our Anti-Racism Task Force, who met for the first time this past week
  • 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 Michael Boyd, husband of Pastor Jennifer Boyd, who is awaiting a lung transplant 
  • 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 Nicholas Sutherland, serving in Madagascar
  • For ELCA missionary Hannah Kaitschuk, serving in Madagascar
  • For Bishop Wolfgang Herz-Lane, the staff and people of the Delaware-Maryland 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 Rebekah Thornhill.