The twenty-sixth annual assembly is scheduled for June 6-8, 2013 at Messiah College, Grantham, PA.  Two conference assemblies will occur in 2013; the first assembly will gather between January 1 and February 15; the second between March 1 and April 15.  Click here for an UPDATED print-friendly Conference Assembly schedule.  The first conference assembly will engage in coversation around:

• The synod profile for election of a bishop.
• The bishop's profile.
• The Visioning for Mission document.

The second conference assembly will:

• Engage in preparation for the annual Synod Assembly.
• Raise up potential nominees' names for the office of bishop.

Winter Youth Retreat at Kirchenwald

January 4-6, 2013

Enjoy Kirchenwald in the winter!  Play broom hockey and other games on the frozen pond.  Have fun sledding, playing snow soccer and other winter games.  Creative Bible studies and worship experiences led by our summer camp counselors are an important part of this retreat.  Meet new friends and catch up with your summer camp friends.  For youth in grades 3 through 9.  Registration fee is $130 per person.  Read more and register...

Winterfest

January 4-6, 2013

Lancaster County Convention Center and Marriott Hotel

Winterfest is the annual synod senior-high and young adult event, for youth in grades 9-12, and young adults up to age 24.  "Grounded in The Way" is  the 2013 event theme and will focus on the seven faith practices:

• invitation
• worship
• prayer
• encouragement
• giving
• study
• service

Along with the traditional small group conversations led by trained small group leaders, combined with large group singing and learning opportunities, youth and adults will be able to choose from a variety of workshops offered by ministry partner organizations and individuals focused around these seven faith practices. Visit the website for more information, downloadable resources and online registration.  Registration deadline is midnight, December 10!

Lost and Found  in concert

Lost and Found at St. Matthew, York...  Felix Hell, concert organist, at St. Mark in Hanover...Cookie Walks in York to benefit mission ministry in Tanzania...and Advent worship opportunities around this synod...and MORE on the Congregation Connections page of the synod Website.

Have an event, activity or idea to share?  Post your links, photos, events and thoughts on the synod Facebook page and spread the word about your congregation's ministries and outreach to the community!  Visit our Facebook page here.

Everyone loves the festive look of poinsettias at Advent and Christmas and the opportunity to dedicate the plants to a loved one, but no one really likes remembering to water them.  So last year, the worship team at Peace Lutheran Church in Charlotte, Michigan, decided that instead of poinsettias, they would invite people to contribute toward the gift of a cow from the ELCA Good Gifts catalog.   For $10, the cost of a poinsettia, people could hang a card with a picture of a poinsettia on a tree in honor of their loved ones.  A member printed and hand-lettered the cards as the  donations came in.  Tied to the tree in bright red ribbon, the cards made a pleasant Christmas display.  Peace Lutheran Church raised $870, enough to represent a cow, an alpaca, a goat, a sheep AND a duck.  And no one had to water any poinsettias!

 O Christmas Tree

This weekend our family picked out and brought home a Christmas tree (I know it's only Advent, but bear with me here). We took along our 19 month old daughter, who loved walking around the tree lot. When my husband stood up a tree for us to consider, her eyes grew large and she whispered, "Whoa!" We settled on a tree. The boy scouts diligently cut off unwieldy bottom branches, and pulled it through a netting contraption. We strapped it to the roof of our car, and drove gingerly home. We wrangled it inside, drilled in anchors from the stand, gave it some water, and there it stood in our living room alcove.  Read more...

LutheranHANDS Service Opportunities

Got News? 

Due to holiday schedules, the final deadline for December Carings and Sharings news items is Wednesday, December 12. Share your story!  Send information to pdrenner@lss-elca.org by 4:00 p.m.

Conflict in Your Congregation?

Transforming Difficult Conversations in Congregations

a workshop for pastors, interim pastors, lay leaders and others committed to healthy change

January 15-17, 2013

Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd

King of Prussia, PA

Presenter

Susan Nienaber

Alban Institute Senior Consultant

Read more and register...

Job Corner

Employment listings are provided to synod congregations and related agencies free of charge. This service is made possible by your Mission Support of Lower Susquehanna Synod and ELCA. Please provide a brief position description and contact information (as below) and a link to a complete position description on your web site (if desired). Send information to Pam Drenner at pdrenner@lss-elca.org. Click here for a complete list of employment opportunities. Positions are posted for 60 days unless extended.

Agency: Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania

Position: Associate Director

Posted: 11/19/12

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania (LAMPa) seeks an Associate Director. This position is responsible for development, coordination and communication of the Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania's (LAMPa) statewide e-advocacy action network (ACTIONET).The primary objective is to educate and resource the Lutheran community in Pennsylvania to be a public church. The position will connect the advocacy and social justice work of synods, local congregational leaders and ministries to one another and to the LAMPa agenda with the General Assembly and the Administration. This is of particular importance given the large size of Pennsylvania's full-time state government (253 state legislators). Find a complete description and how to apply at the ELCA Jobs Board. 

Agency: Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries

Position: Director, Family Life Services/Church and Community Programs Ministry

Posted: 12/4/12

Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries is seeking a director for its Diakon Family Life Services/Church & Community Programs Ministry. The successful candidate will be a member of an ELCA or full-communion partner congregation, and may or may not be rostered; will have a Master's Degree in Education, Social Work, Counseling, or Theology; will develop and implement programs for congregations, church professionals, and community groups; and will promote this ministry to the various expressions of the church and community. The person will have experience working in an environment of committed church leaders and will be comfortable interacting with members of a variety of denominations. This office is currently located in Topton, Pa. Applicants may apply on line at www.diakon.org/employment/    Please contact the Rev. John Richter by email at richterj@diakon.org with questions.

Carings and Sharings is the e-newsletter of the Lower Susquehanna Synod. Its purpose is the sharing of news and events which raise up the mission and ministry of the synod and ELCA in our congregations, our synod, and the broader church. It is not intended to be an endorsement of every activity. Comments about this newsletter may be sent to Pam Drenner, editor, pdrenner@lss-elca.org.