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In her March column for The Lutheran, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton reflects on a subtle shift to works righteousness. This Lent she reminds us that Jesus didn't die to change  behaviors, political systems or institutions. He "died to end the fundamental brokenness and estrangement from God ...." Click here to read the entire article on The Lutheran website or here to download the page as a PDF.
Did you know that our synod has a quarterly insert in The Lutheran, featuring stories from around our synod, profiles of servant leaders, and a message from Bishop Dunlop? This month you'll learn about new and emerging ministries and meet one of our mission redevelopers, Pastor Titus Clark. If you're not subscribing to The Lutheran you are missing a lot! A year's subscription will cost you about what it takes to buy lunch or a couple of drinks at Starbucks. Your congregation can purchase the magazine in bulk and save even more! Isn't it worth it to keep up with news from across our Lower Susquehanna Synod and the ELCA?
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Lenten Lutherans in the News & Pews
From Ashes to Go to Lenten lectures and studies, Lower Susquehanna Synod Lutherans are  taking Lent from the church into the world, deepening discipleship and strengthening faith, and returning to God in worship and prayer.
Pastors and members of the Lebanon Lutheran Cooperative took ashes to the street again this year in spite of the bitterly cold weather. Click here for photos published in the Lebanon Daily News. The Cooperative is sharing mid-week Lenten suppers and conversation, including a conversation with the Rev. Dr. David Lose, president of Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia on the topic of "Naming Blessings In and Against a Culture of Scarcity." Click here for a short video featuring Lose discussing blessings, abundance, and the Twenty-third psalm. Click here for a detailed list of Lenten offerings.
In Gettysburg, pastors and members of Christ Lutheran and St. James Lutheran churches combined efforts and ministry by setting up ash stations in various places around town. Click here for photos and here for an article published in the Hanover Evening Sun.
Rostered leaders in the Chambersburg Conference combined efforts to offer ashes in various locations in the conference. St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church is offering a Lenten Retreat, Crucified Love: Life Rooted in the Paschal Mysteries, on Saturday, March 21. Click here for more information.
 Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Lancaster, will host Professor Eric D. Barreto of Luther Seminary (St. Paul, MN), on Sunday, March 15. He will preach at both services, and at 3:00 p.m. he will speak on the topic, "Eating, Healing, Salvation: The Good News According to Luke Today." On Monday, Professor Barreto will speak at Lancaster Seminary at 11:00 a.m. on "A People for God's Name: Race, Theology, and the Bible Today." For more information, contact the church office at 717-397-2734.
Many congregations across our synod are sharing midweek soup suppers, devotions, conversation, and/or worship. St. Michael Lutheran, Harrisburg is practicing a spiritual discipline in Lent of reading through Mark's gospel and discussing their encounter with the living Word of God. Messiah Lutheran, Harrisburg is using clips from Tales from the Madhouse, a BBC film that features characters from the Easter story as part of their Lenten journey.
What is your congregation doing during Lent to worship, learn, serve, and share? Please email Pastor Sharron Blezard at sblezard@lss-elca.org. Help us tell your story because together as the 237 congregations of our Lower Susquehanna Synod we have a lot of good news and great ideas to share.
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 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)
Go Green! Getting Started in Your Church
Earth Day is April 22. Why not celebrate by kicking off an environmental stewardship program in your congregation? "Greening" your church provides a wonderful opportunity to make qualitative shifts in your church life. You can adopt practices that save money; explore new perspectives on faith, worship and spirituality that will renew and energize your members; engage Christian education students of all ages; and involve new people in your ministry! Check out this article from Eco-Justice Ministries.
Brown Bag Leadership Lunch: Biblical Storytelling & Mark's Gospel, March 12
An Epic Telling is a powerful experience of a book of the Bible or a series of stories told by a team of tellers in one sitting. It's a completely different experience from hearing Scripture read in  church, or from reading it in silence to oneself. The text comes to life and pulls us in.
Want to learn more about Epic Telling of biblical stories? Interested in being part of an Epic Telling of the Gospel of Mark? Did you know the early church originally experienced the Gospel in this way? The flash backs, foreshadowing, the humor, the stormy relationship between Jesus and the duh-sciples, the stunning ending? The Gospel of Mark runs about 2 hrs 20 minutes, including a 10-minute intermission. It's like an evening of going to the movies, but it's live!
We'd like to gather of team of tellers to plan, practice and perform an Epic Telling of Mark's Gospel on our synod territory. Join us for the next brown bag lunch March 12, from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. in the lunch room of the Synod Office. We will organize and select director(s), producer(s) and tellers-- and plunge into our first rehearsal. Even if you're not ready to be part of a performance, all are welcome to learn more about this style of sharing the gospel. For more information contact Tim Seitz-Brown at timothy.seitzbrown@gmail.com or Sharron Blezard at sblezard@lss-elca.org. Contact Cathy Dietrich at cdeitrich@lss-elca.org if you plan to attend so we'll know better how to plan.
(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.)
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Building Faith and Community with the Arts (no artistic skills required)
Join us March 24, 2015, in our Lower Susquehanna Synod Offices, 900 S. Arlington Avenue,  Harrisburg, for one of two workshops led by Michelle Shirk, Director of Youth and Family Ministries at Trinity Lutheran Church, Mount Joy.
In this workshop, Shirk will share creative ways to engage in faith formation through the arts. Experience "Storytelling through the Arts" as she leads playful artistic engagement and outside-the-box thinking for your congregation and community.
There are two Workshop Options: 1:30-3:30 p.m. or 6:30-8:30 p.m. This event is sponsored by our Synod's Center for Faith Formation. Click here for more information and to reserve your space.
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Our synod prayer list is updated frequently and posted on the website. To be redirected to the complete prayer list click here.
...prayers for hope, healing, and peace for Pastor Jay Eickoff (Christ, New Bloomfield), Pastor Brenda Kiser (Memorial, Shippensburg), and Pastor Newell Embley (Zion, Leola)
Have a prayer request to share with others in our synod? Please contact Pr. Sharron Blezard at sblezard@lss-elca.org.
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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.
 March/April News & Views Available Now on our Synod Website!
Included in the March/April News & Views, the newsletter of the women of the ELCA, Lower Susquehanna, Synodical Women's Organization, is the registration form for the Day of Renewal, to be held, Saturday, May 16, 2015, at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Penbrook. Both the registration form and driving instructions are found on pages 3 and 4 of the newsletter. Norma Good has included some up-to-date information on Lutheran World Relief, and the work being done worldwide by the organization. Other articles include prayer ministry, a ready-made program for units to lead in their church on Human Trafficking, as well as other pertinent information. Click here to be redirected to the newsletter.
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.
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Opportunities for Education...
Visit our synod website for specific details and registration information about each event!
to be redirected to our website for detailed information about upcoming events.
March 11
Fresh Expressions Vision Day Mechanicsburg Brethren in Christ Church, Mechanicsburg.
March 21
Crucified Love: Life Rooted in the Paschal Mysteries (A Lenten Retreat) St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2695 Luther Dr., Chambersburg
March 24
Building Faith and Community with the Arts, Lower Susquehanna Synod Offices, Harrisburg
March 24-26
Staying Fresh in a Long Small Church Pastorate Leadership Institute at Union Presbyterian Seminary, Richmond, VA
April 12-13
Rostered Leaders' Retreat: Centered in Christ, Camp Kirchenwald, Lebanon. Click here to register or for more details.
April 13-16
Called to be Stewards: Embracing our Leadership Roles Leadership Institute at Union Presbyterian Seminary, Richmond, VA
April 18
An Evening with Rachel Held Evans, Highland Presbyterian Church, Lancaster
April 23
Ministry with Persons with Mental Illness and their Families: Understanding Depression and Anxiety Disorders Lutheran Retirement Village at Utz Terrace, Hanover.
April 24-26
Faith Forming Faith Weekend Immersion Training St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, 175 E. Main St., New Freedom. Click here to register and for more information. Seminarian scholarships available.
Bible Study Series at The Wittel Farm (Wednesdays during Lent)
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 cdeitrich@lss-elca.org. There is no charge for the training. A free-will offering will be collected to defray lunch costs.
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.
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Visit the Congregation Connections page on our synod's website to keep up with the specific details (including event times, contact information, publications, and registration information) of the many good things happening in the worshiping communities of our synod. (Click the blue hotlink at the beginning of this paragraph to be redirected.)
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 sblezard@lss-elca.org.
March 8
Rejoicing Spirits Worship (a disABILITIES Ministry) St. Stephen Lutheran Church, 30 W. Main St., New Kingstown
March 12
Grief Share Workshops, Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church, Dover
Conversations with the Bishop Christ Lutheran Church, 30 Chambersburg St., Gettysburg
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
March 15
Music from the Cathedrals, Trinity Lutheran Church 2000 Chestnut St., Camp Hill
March 21
Group's Everest VBS FunShop, Zion Lutheran Church, York
March 22
"Seeding the Future" Dinner and Silent Auction -- A Camp Nawakwa Benefit, Trinity Lutheran Church, 2000 Chestnut St., Camp Hill
March 28
Youth Group-Sponsored Coffeehouse Benefit, Tree of Life Lutheran Church, 1492 Lingelstown Rd.
April 19
St. Barnabas Center Benefit Luncheon & Fashion Show, Radisson, Camp Hill
May 1-3
"Beginning Experience" Weekend (for those dealing with the pain of divorce, loss, and grief), Doubling Gap Center, Newville
May 3
Healing Service and Open House, SpiriTrust Lutheran LIFE Center, Enola
September 13
"God's Work. Our Hands." Sunday (and LAMPa's "God's Work. Our Hands. Our Voices" Sunday)
To Share:
Needed: A well-preserved box of metal clip letters and numbers (2 1/2" x 1 1/2" with black background and white block letters) no longer needed by your church. Messiah Lutheran Church in Halifax will gladly give them a good home and put them to use. Contact Pastor Mike at 717-649-3532.
Need hymnals, tables, a video camera, or light bulbs? Check the Congregation Connections page of our Synod's website for a list of offerings by congregations who are willing to share what they no longer need. Have something to share with others? Let us know!
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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 sblezard@lss-elca.org. 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 (including jobs that have been extended).
Organization: Thrivent Financial for Christians
Position: Thrivent Financial Representative (posted 3/5/15)
Congregation: St. Mark Lutheran Church, Mechanicsburg
Position: Part-time Christian Education and Youth Director (posted 2/25/15)
Organization: Frey Village, Middletown
Position: Organist, part-time (posted 2/18/15)
Congregation: St. Peter's Lutheran Church (Neffsville), Lancaster
Position: Director of Music, part-time (Posted 2/4/15)
Congregation: St. Mark's Lutheran Church, York
Position: Administrative Assistant/Secretary (Part-time) (Posted 2/4/15)
Congregation: Zion Lutheran Church, York
Position: Traditional Music Opening/Organist (Posted 1/22/15)
Organization: Lutheran Camping Corporation
Positions: Various Summer staff positions (Posted 1/14/15)
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| 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, sblezard@lss-elca.org. |
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ELCA Malaria Campaign VBS Curriculum Available
(ELCA) will initiate and participate in activities that serve the ELCA's evangelical vocation-that is, both its mission and its identity-in all its relationships." This purpose statement sets the tone for our church's observance of this important event in history and in the life of our faith. 
