January 6, 2015


Epiphany Message from Bishop Dunlop

ELCA Epiphany2015
Bishop Dunlop's Epiphany Message2015

"Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you." Isaiah 60:1-2

Sometimes it seems like there's a lot more bad news than good news in our world. But as Bishop Dunlop notes in his Epiphany message, this simply isn't the whole story; in fact, it's part of the deceit of darkness. John's gospel speaks true and hopeful words:  "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it" (John 1:5).

Yes, the light of Christ is alive and well in this world and in our Lower Susquehanna Synod. We have much good news and many points of light to share! In 2015 we'll be highlighting places across our synod where the light of Christ is shining brightly, where the good news of Jesus is bringing light and new life to individuals and to communities, and where hope does not hide in the shadows. We are excited about sharing these stories with you, and hope that you will in turn share more stories with us.

One common thread weaving throughout these stories is a set of five practices identified and articulated by United Methodist Bishop Robert C. Schnase: radical hospitality, passionate worship, intentional faith development, risk-taking mission and service, and extravagant generosity. These five practices are not new. They were defining marks of the first century church, they have been points of light across time, and they continue to be core practices of fruitful ministries in our time. Click here to learn more about these five practices, and look for the first of our synod's "Bright Spot" videos in February.

GLOBAL NEWS & CONNECTIONS

Rwanda: Trees for Healing

ELCA missionary Kate Warn writes that the Lutheran Church of Rwanda planted two trees - "And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of nations" (Revelations 22:2) - to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the church, which was founded by refugees returning in 1994 after Rwanda's genocidal warfare. Click here to learn more. In the photo at left, Bishop Mugabo and Lutheran Church of Rwanda leaders bless the newly planted tree.




Interested in Global Missions?

Wondering how you can make a difference right here in our Lower Susquehanna Synod? Join our Global Missions Committee and help tell the stories and share the good news about the work God is doing through our hands and those of missionaries like the Zimmermans, the Rimmers, Kate Warn, and many more. E-mail Pastor Sharron Blezard or any member of the committee for more information.

Note: Do you have an idea from your congregation that you'd like to highlight? E-mail Sharron Blezard or contact any Global Missions Committee member. 


Synod Youth Launch the "Always Being Made New Campaign" 

with the Fed to Feed Challenge at Winterfest

 

Winterfest 2015 IMAGES
Winterfest 2015 IMAGES

 

Youth and young adults gathered this past weekend in Lancaster for our synod's annual Winterfest event and took up the theme of "Hungry." Alongside examining how we are fed by Christ and equipped to go out and feed others, and discussing the many ways we are fed spiritually and emotionally, the youth took on a new social media based challenge. 

 

Called the "Fed to Feed Challenge," youth challenged a peer, a parent, or congregational leader to be "fed" while blindfolded. The person offering the food describes the food using three adjectives and then feeds their blindfolded partner. In return the person offering the challenge either pledges, donates or advocates on behalf of hunger here in central Pennsylvania. Pledges and donations go right to our synod's hunger initiative through the new Always Being Made New Campaign.

 

We'll post a few of the Fed2Feed videos to our synod web page later this week, at: http://www.lss-elca.org/youth-family/events/winterfest/. Social media and web links for pledging, donating or advocating on behalf of hunger can be found by clicking here. Join our youth as we fight hunger locally and globally. You can post your own Fed2Feed videos right to Twitter at #lsswinterfest. 


Leadership Link of the Week

Our synod grows stronger because its dedicated leaders continue to learn new ways of approaching ministry and serving God's people. Check here each week for a link to a video, article, podcast, powerpoint presentation or other media that will help our leaders embrace new ideas and learn new insights into ministry. (Photo: Chris Carter, Creative Commons)

 

How Churches Can Attract Younger People

Did this happen at your congregation over Christmas: The sanctuary was filled on Christmas Eve with visitors and families, including teens and young adults. You smiled approvingly as you surveyed the pews, especially at the youthful faces that your church desperately needs and wants to reach. But deep down you felt frustration because you know most of them won't come back -- until maybe Easter.

 

The fact is, though churches are eager to attract a new generation, they often go about it the wrong way, says this commentator, who has suggestions for how to do it right. The article makes broad suggestions without detailing specific programs. The challenge for us as Central Pennsylvania Lutherans is to transform how we do church to align with how younger people think and view the world. Check out the article --- AND the interesting commentary that its generated.

 

Upcoming Brown Bag Leadership Lunch: 

January 8 - Year Round Stewardship

Does your congregation need a financial boost? Plan on coming to the Brown Bag Leadership Lunch on Thursday, Jan. 8, when the topic will be "Year-Round Stewardship." We will explore strategies and resources to help make stewardship a 12-month effort that emphasizes how we use not only our financial gifts, but the cornucopia of abundance that God gives us. Assistant to the Bishop Rob Blezard will lead discussion and give all participants a DVD copy of the ELCA stewardship resource "Make It Simple" and other handouts. We gather at 10 a.m., work for a couple hours and then eat at about noon as we finish up our discussion. All congregational leaders are welcome. Registration is not required but it would be great if you could let Cathy Deitrich of the synod office ([email protected]) know if you're attending so we can make sure to have enough materials. 

 

(To get to the lunchroom from the lobby of the Synod Office's main entrance, follow the corridor that goes off to the left. Just before the end, take the stairway at the left. On the ground floor, the lunchroom will be on your left.)

        Film Sheds Light on Modern Day Slavery and Human Trafficking


In Plain Sight: Stories of Hope and Freedom tells the compelling story of six modern-day abolitionists as they fight sex trafficking across America. This new film, executive produced and narrated by singer Natalie Grant journeys to six U.S. cities in an effort to open viewers' eyes to what's happening down the street from our homes and congregations "in plain sight."

Compelling interviews with victims of sex trafficking shed light on the force, coercion, and deception of children and women who could be your neighbors or individuals you pass on a city street. In the midst of the darkness, stories of hope and freedom emerge as each survivor shares how she was impacted through the work of a sex trafficking aftercare home.

Join PUREhope Coffeehouse and the Lower Susquehanna Synod Global Mission Committee  at St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church (290 N. Union St. Middletown, PA 17057) on Sunday, January 18, 2015, from 4:00 -6:00 p.m. (Snow Date: January 25) for a screening of In Plain Sight in support of National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. A brief time of discussion will follow, and donations will be accepted to support the work of featured restoration home The Samaritan Women in Baltimore, MD.

In Plain Sight is produced in cooperation with Hope for Justice. For more information, please visit: www.inplainsightfilm.com,www.thesamaritanwomen.org, and www.hopeforjustice.org, or email [email protected]. Click here to download a poster. 

Thanks to Global Missions Committee and Synod Council member Stephanie Strauss for organizing this screening. Stephanie is the founder of Pure Hope Coffee House, an annual event featuring music, coffee, tea, gifts, and fellowship designed to make a difference.


You're Invited
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Installation of the Rev. Robert Moore
St. Paul Lutheran Church, 201 W. Louther St., Carlisle
3:00 p.m.
The Rev. Paul Blom, Bishop-Emeritus of the Texas Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod will preach. A reception will follow worship. Clergy are invited to vest and process. The color of the day is green.

prayers
Prayers and Updates 
  
Our synod prayer list is updated frequently and posted on the website. To be redirected to the complete prayer list click here.

...We pray for the family of the Rev. Donald B. Warner (retired), who died January 2, 2015, at the age of 90. Click here to be redirected to the obituary.

...We pray for the family of Salud Neiting, wife of the late Rev. Dr. Lorenz Nieting, former  New Testament professor at Gettysburg Seminary and a former member of the Lower Susquehanna Synod Council, died Sunday December 38, 2014. Click here to be redirected to the obituary.

...We pray for the family of the Rev. Russell O. Siler (retired former director of Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania), who died December 26, 2014, at the age of 72. Click here to be redirected to the obituary.

...We pray for hope and healing for our Synod Vice President, Lucinda Bringman (recovering from surgery).

It's time to plan for the 2015 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (January 18-25). The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is a longstanding expression of the ecumenical movement -- a worldwide movement to heal divisions within the Church, to promote dialogue among churches and Christian communities, and to encourage Christians everywhere to better understand and reflect the implications of "one Lord, one faith, one baptism." Visit the Week of Prayer website by clicking here. You may also wish to visit our ELCA Ecumenical and Inter-Religious website here.

Have a prayer request to share with others in our synod? Please contact Pr. Sharron Blezard at [email protected]. 

Give + Receive + Share = News to Use from our Synod Office


Click to Give: It's Easier Than Ever to Make a Difference with your Mission Support!

It's easier than ever to make a gift to support the mission of our Lower Susquehanna Synod. All you have to do is visit our website (www.lss-elca.org) and click the "Donate Now" button on the bottom right side. It will take you to our secure donation site (the same one that hosts Thrivent's Simply Giving) so that you can easily support our work together. Make a one-time gift or set up a regular giving schedule. 

 

WEATHER-RELATED CLOSINGS OF OUR SYNOD OFFICES

A message will be posted on our Facebook Page and on our phone system voice mail if our offices are closed due to bad weather. The United Church Center Building follows the Central Dauphin School District closure policy.

 

NOTE:  2015 IRS MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT RATE

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2015, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car, van, pickup or panel truck will be:

  • 57.5 cents per mile for business miles driven, up from 56 cents in 2014
  • 23 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes, down half a cent from 2014  
  • 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations

The standard mileage rate for business is based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile, including depreciation, insurance, repairs, tires, maintenance, gas and oil. The rate for medical and moving purposes is based on the variable costs, such as gas and oil. The charitable rate is set by law.

 

CALENDAR NOTES: Our Synod Offices will observe the following closing:

January 19 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)

 

HOLD THE DATE! Mark your calendars now for September 13, 2015 (first Sunday after Labor Day) and the third annual "God's Work. Our Hands." Sunday. Look for more information, but start planning now how your congregation can use your hands to do God's work in your community and beyond.

WHERE'S MY PHOTO DIRECTORY? Due to a production glitch, our synod's new photo directory is delayed. We hope to have it out soon, so watch future editions of Carings & Sharings for more information.

Check the Synod Calendar on our website for a complete listing of meetings and gatherings. Inclement weather closings of our office are announced on the answering machine (ext. 100) and our Facebook page.

books
Opportunities for Education... 
Visit our synod website for specific details and registration information about each event! 
Click here to be redirected!

January 12
Stephen Minister Training (Continues through March)
Grace Lutheran Church, 1610 Carlisle Rd., Harrisburg

January 14
Sneak Peek for VBS 2015
Synod Resource Cafe, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

January 17
Stephen Minister Training (10 consecutive Saturdays)
Luther Ridge Retirement Community, Chambersburg

January 29
Law and Gospel Seminar with Prof. Sarah Hinlicky Wilson
Zion's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Jonestown

 

January 31 - February 1, 2015

Grace in Wellness Women's Retreat

The Hotel Hershey, Hershey, PA

March 1-3, 2015
34th Annual Rural Ministry Conference: Practicing Care in Rural Congregations & Communities
Wartburg Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa

Boundary Training for Rostered Leaders & Professional Ministry Workers

ALL LEADERS should complete an approved boundary workshop every three years and are expected to attend one of these workshops or provide verification of comparable training received elsewhere.  To register, call Cathy Deitrich at 717-652-1852, ext. 104 or e-mail her at [email protected]. There is no charge for the training. A free-will offering will be collected to defray lunch costs.

Thursday, January 15 

(Deadline to register: January 12 ) Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 3700 Rutherford St., Harrisburg

9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 14 

(Deadline to register: March 11) Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 750 Greenfield Rd., Lancaster

9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Tuesday, May 5

(Deadline to register: April 30) St. Paul Lutheran Church, 20 Franklin St., Biglerville

9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.


Check out the many education offerings at Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, VA. Events and conferences are sponsored by the Leadership Institute. Click here to visit their website for a complete listing.

 

  




Visit the Congregation Connections page on our synod's website to keep up with the specific details of the many good things happening in the worshiping communities of our synod. We have so many wonderful events and activities taking place that we can't list all the details in this e-newsletter format! 

Please keep us posted about what's happening in your congregation and community. We are able to post photos, pdf documents and flyers, and contact information on our Congregation Connections page. E-mail event information to [email protected].

January 11

Rejoicing Spirits Worship (a disABILITIES Ministry)

St. Stephen Lutheran Church, 30 W. Main St., New Kingstown

 

January 18

Ugandan Children's Choir in Concert

Trinity Lutheran Church, 2000 Chestnut St., Camp Hill

 

January 21

Conversations with Bishop Dunlop

Christ Lutheran Church, 30 Chambersburg St., Gettysburg

 

January 24

Colorful Parenting Seminar

Trinity Lutheran Church, 2000 Chestnut St., Camp Hill

 

January 25

LARC (Lutheran-Anglican-Roman Catholic) Vespers

St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 125 S. Spruce St., Annville

Conversations with Bishop Dunlop

Zion Lutheran Church, 1905 Broad St., East Petersburg

 

January 27

One Synod - One Book Discussions on Finding God in a Bag of Groceries

St. Stephen Lutheran Church, 30 W. Main St., New Kingstown

 

January 31

Fifth Annual Community Free Clothing Give-Away and Community Meal

Trinity Lutheran Church, 47 W. Main St., Mt. Joy

 

February 8

Second Chance at Life Celebration and Health Fair

Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 3700 Rutherford St., Paxtang (Harrisburg)

Eaken Piano Trio in Concert

First Lutheran Church, 21 S. Bedford St., Carlisle


To Share: 

St. Peter's Lutheran Church, 10 Delp Road, Lancaster, PA has about 70 copies of the HYMNAL SUPPLEMENT 1991, published by GIA, that they would LOVE to offer to any interested church body.  Please contact Sandy Shattuck or Gary Williams at the church to respond to questions or to indicate your desire to "adopt" the books.  Church phone - 717-569-9211 or [email protected].  

 

Christ Lutheran Church, Filey's has nine 8' tables available for anyone interested.   They are in fair shape but are very heavy.  They are free to anyone who would like them.  We could transport them if necessary.

Zion Lutheran Church, Hummelstown recently converted the lighting in the sanctuary to LED. Subsequently, they have 29 GE Incandescent Lamp bulbs with a Mogul screw base, 300 watts, 130 volts, 5200 lumens, 1000 hours. Please contact Zion's church office 717.566.2589 if you are interested. 


 

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, contact information, and a link to a complete position description on your web site (if desired).  Send information to Sharron Blezard at [email protected]. Positions are posted for 60 days unless extended.

  

Visit the Employment Opportunities page on our website for a complete list of current job openings with more details.

Congregation: St. David's Lutheran Church, Hanover
Position: Communications Coordinator (Posted 1/6/15)

Congregation: Zion Lutheran Church, Hummelstown
Position: Director of Youth Ministry (Posted 1/6/15)

Organization: Myers-Buhrig Funeral Home & Crematory, Mechanicsburg
Position: Facilities Caretaker (Posted 12/4/14)

Congregation: Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, York Springs
Position: Part-Time Organist and Sr. Choir Director (Posted 11/25/14)

Organization: Claremont Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
Position: Part-time Chaplain and Director of Pastoral Care (Posted 11/25/14)

 

Congregation: Trinity Lutheran Church, Arendtsville
Position: Organist (reposted 12/10/14)

 

Congregation: First Lutheran Church, New Oxford
Position: 
Organist/Choir Director
(reposted 10/20/14)

Congregation: St. Stephen Lutheran Church, New Kingstown
Position: Youth and Family Ministry Director (reposted 10/2/14)

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 Sharron Blezard, editor,  [email protected].

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