Gathering for Conversation

Quick Links

MNYS website

ELCA website

Racial Justice

ELCA Advocacy

In Case You Missed It

Be Prepared

#congregationalshoutout

Courageous Conversations

Gathering for conversation

In the busyness of it all, it can be hard to carve out time for deep grace-filled conversation. Thus, a task force of conference deans have worked to plan a Ministerium Event for our pastors to engage and be engaged in conversation. There will be occasion to ask questions of Bishop Rimbo and for him to ask our pastors about their lives in ministry. In addition, pastors will eat lunch together and share in the liturgy of Holy Communion. This event is offered with no cost to attend. Learn more and register here.

Invited into God's work

This past fall a presenter at the Bishop's Retreat reminded pastors that "forgiveness is God's work, we are invited to participate in it." We invite you to learn more about this particular means of grace and engage it within your faith practice. Find resources on our Growing in Faith webpage, including a new Lenten Bible Study from the Claimed Strategy Committee.

As we continue to engage this year's synodical theme of Confession, Forgiveness and Reconciliation, we would love to hear from you, leaders in local ministry settings, about your creative best practices in worship and ministry in daily life. Learn more and share ideas here.

In the News

Salam Arabic, Brooklyn joins with the community to host a march and community event on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle.

View all of the recent mentions in the Media Room.

Business Matters

2015 mission support

The mission support of our congregations makes it possible for us to walk together with others in the mission and ministry of the Metropolitan New York Synod and to support ministries of the ELCA. All mission support for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2016 should be received in the synod office by February 10. Thank you!

Helping individuals report their 2015 health coverage to the IRS

New this tax season, individuals must report to the Internal Revenue Service whether they had minimum health coverage throughout 2015 or potentially pay a financial penalty (unless we had Medicare as our primary coverage). Later this month, Portico will mail notice (Form 1095-B) to all plan members and file with the IRS. Plan members should keep this for their records and simply check a box on their 2015 individual income tax return to report they had minimum essential coverage. Because Portico is mailing Form 1095-B, congregations do not need to provide this form to leaders or their dependents with ELCA-Primary health benefits.

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 2016, including Berlin, Wittenberg, Leipzig, Dresden, and more. Download the complete itinerary here. For further information, contact Pastor Fryer.

For Rostered Leaders

Leadership Development Grants deadline
Our Leadership Development grant program offers up to $50,000 a year in grants to individuals and groups of rostered leaders to further their lifelong learning and formation for leadership in mission. The next quarterly application deadline for leadership development grants is January 31. Learn more and download the application here.

Events

Together we can do more: Youth edition

Sponsored by the Sent and Multicultural Committees, this day-long event is an opportunity for youth and young adults between 12 and 35 to gather together for community, worship and to engage the topic of racial justice with keynote speaker Rev. Dr. Alphonso Wyatt. Congregations are invited to bring groups. The event is free and meals will be provided. Learn more here and contact Pr. Perucy Butiku to RSVP.

Gotta save 'em all

This is a retreat led by the Lutheran Youth Organization of the Metropolitan New York Synod for high school youth. Teens will explore the theme verse and the idea of praise through large and small group sessions. The cost is $120/person, which includes room, board, programming and T-shirt. Learn more and download the flyer here.

Concordia, Moorhead Choir

Hear one of the nation's finest college choirs perform Tuesday, February 23 at 7:30 pm in St. Bartholomew's Church. René Clausen conducts the 72-voice a cappella choir in several spirituals and hymns plus some new dramatic new Clausen arrangements. Tickets are available online or by calling 212-378-0248. Learn more here.

Transitions

Pr. Bob Kasting (Upstate New York Synod) was called as pastor of Faith, Syosset. He will begin on February 21.

Calendar

January 29: MNYS Intern Cluster Meeting
January 30: Deacon's Course Part 1
February 2: Strategic Plan Steering Committee
February 2: Executive Committee
February 3: MNYS Intern Cluster Meeting
February 3: Stewardship and Mission Support Table Meeting
February 5: Strategic Plan Visioning Session
February 6: Strategic Plan meeting
February 9: Multicultural Ministry Committee

View the complete synod calendar here.

New on www.mnys.org

Congregational Events: Payne's Grey Sky Concert at Christ's, Woodstock
Partner Organization Events: Suicide Prevention with Lutheran Counseling Center on February 27 and March 5
Reusable Equipment: Cordless phone

We're Praying

For health and healing for Pr. John Heller who is recovering from cellulitus and a broken ankle
For refugees and those who come to their aid
For our Anti-Racism Task Force, as they are begin to meet and plan for our synod's involvement
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 Savanna Sullivan, serving in Rwanda
For ELCA missionary Rev. Philip and Lou Marie Knutson, serving in South Africa
For Bishop Ralph Jones, the staff and people of the Northwestern Pennsylvania 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.