|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bright Spot on Intentional Faith Formation
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Lancaster, PA
Churches that practice intentional faith formation offer a variety of opportunities to engage, practice, and cultivate lives of faithful discipleship. These congregations keep Jesus at the center by learning and leading in community and by providing intergenerational, lifelong approaches to faith formation that adapt to changing spiritual needs.
Senior Pastor Tim Mentzer and the Holy Trinity leadership team oversee and facilitate a comprehensive faith formation program for all ages and generations. Designed to nourish and deepen faith both on Sunday mornings and throughout the week, this Lancaster landmark congregation emphasizes lifelong spiritual growth as a mark of discipleship. The Academy for Lay Ministry, for example, is taught by lay staff and parishioners and nurtures discipleship through a diverse series of opportunities including hymn writing, praying with your pen, caring for people you love, and much more. Check out their story in our latest "Bright Spots" video!
|
| | Bright Spots Holy Trinity Lancaster |
|
Every year, millions of people around the globe observe World Malaria Day on April 25. The ELCA Malaria Campaign is again turning this day into a special week, inviting all of our synod's congregations to participate.
Right now, we are at a historic moment in the life of our church and this campaign. Five years ago we set a goal, dreamed big with our Lutheran companion churches and partners, and set out to raise $15 million by 2015. The time to make this dream a reality is now.
Our Lower Susquehanna Synod Goal through the Always Being Made New Campaign is $500,000. To make this goal a reality, we need to raise only $5.50 per baptized member. We're about halfway there with $280,000 raised so far. Can you help us make a real difference and save lives? $10 is all it takes to provide a life-saving mosquito net for an entire family.
Please consider a special offering or activity this month. Click here for resources and information on our synod website. Click here for ELCA resources. Thank you for your generosity and love of neighbor!
|
|
Called to Serve: Nominees Needed for Synod Vice-President
The Lower Susquehanna Synod is still seeking nominees for the position of Synod Vice-President. This is a volunteer position filled by a layperson who is a voting member of our synod. Click here for a job description. Interested persons should contact Pastor Dana Blouch-Hanson, chair of the Gifts Discernment and Nominating Committees at pastordanabh@gmail.com.
|
 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)
Local Church Planned Giving Manual
This is your quintessential resource! Produced by our brothers and sisters in United Church of Christ, this free, online guide for congregations is designed to aid pastors and lay leaders in developing a congregational Planned Giving ministry. It includes sections devoted to establishing and promoting a Planned Giving program, congregational endowments, wills emphasis, how life-income gifts work, and more. How can you set up a Planned Giving program in your context?
Stronger Together: Exploring Ways to Cooperate and Collaborate
 Hold the date for this very special Brown Bag Leadership Lunch scheduled for Thursday, May 28. Join Pastor Richard Jorgensen and Lutherans from across our synod who are engaged in innovative and faithful collaboration. Flexible models of working together to share assets that meet the needs of various contexts and community cultures abound. Bring your questions, your ideas, and prepare to be excited about new possibilities for the future.
Discussion starts at 10:00 a.m. in the lunchroom of the Synod Office, 900 S. Arlington Ave., Harrisburg, PA 17109. We will eat lunch and begin wrapping up at about noon. The event ends at 1:00 p.m. Please call Cathy Deitrich (717-652-1852, ext. 104) to r.s.v.p. so that we'll have enough materials on hand.
(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.)
|
You are Invited...
April 19
Installation of the Rev. Dr. Holger Roggelin
Messiah Lutheran Church
901 N. Sixth St., Harrisburg, PA
3:00 p.m.
April 19
Installation of the Rev. Titus D. Clarke
St. Mark's Lutheran Church
700 E. Market St., York, PA 17403
3:00 p.m. (prelude music begins at 2:40 p.m.)
Worship will be followed by dinner. Rostered leaders are invited to vest. The color of the day is white. Letters of greeting may also be sent to the above address c/o Mrs. Cheryl Gazan, President, and will be incorporated into the service.
May 3
Installation of the Rev. Traci Benditz Glover
Zion Lutheran Church
1290 River Rd., Marietta
3:00 p.m.
A covered dish reception will follow worship. Rostered leaders are invited to vest and process. The color of the day is white.
May 14
Ascension Day Eucharist and Luncheon
for our synod's retired rostered leaders, spouses, widows, and widowers
St. Peter's Lutheran Church
Spring and Union Streets
Middletown, PA
11:00 a.m. worship followed by luncheon
R.S.V.P. to Marty Shifflett (800-692-7282 ext. 115) by May 11.
|
Our synod prayer list is updated frequently and posted on the website. To be redirected to the complete prayer list click here.
Have a prayer request to share with others in our synod? Please contact Pr. Sharron Blezard at sblezard@lss-elca.org.
|
|
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.
Rostered Leaders and Eligible Spouses: Please Take Your Health Assessment Today!
If you (and your eligible spouse if applicable) have already taken the 2015 Mayo Clinic Health  Assessment, please accept our thanks. If you have not, please do so today. As of February 28, only 61 rostered leaders/spouses had completed the assessment. We need at least an additional 115 participants to meet our 65% goal and earn an estimated $55,000 in savings for our congregations. Click here to track our progress and that of other synods, churchwide units, and seminaries. Spouses--click here for detailed instructions about how to access the assessment.
The April 30 deadline will be here quickly, and it takes only a few minutes to work through the questions. This year it's even easier because you can access the assessment from the main Portico Benefits page by clicking here. Not only will you earn $150 in wellness dollars to offset deductibles and eligible medical expenses, you'll also help all participating congregations in our synod save money on premiums AND help us earn this year's rebate to help fund next year's wellness retreat. It's good stewardship of your health and resources. Thank you!
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.
|
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.
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.
April 25
"World Ecumenism," sponsored by the Dr. Eric Gritsch Memorial Fund, George Peabody Library, 17 Mount Vernon Place, Baltimore, MD.
April 26
The Open Table: From Poverty to Community, Trinity Lutheran Church, 9000 Chestnut St., Camp Hill
April 27
LAMPa Lutheran Day at the Capitol, Trinity Lutheran Church, Camp Hill, and the Pennsylvania State Capitol, Harrisburg
April 27 - May 2
Home and Away: Ministry with Those Coming Home and Ministry as the Global Church, Gettysburg Spring Academy, Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary
September 10
Bishop's Convocation: Participatory Proclamation & Faith Formation with David Lose
St. Matthew Lutheran Church, York
All are invited--rostered leaders, lay leaders, those interested in faith formation and proclamation--to this day of worship, education, and fellowship. Our presenter is the Rev. Dr. David J. Lose, President of The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. He will focus on participatory proclamation and faith formation for our time and contexts. The day includes worship, time with Bishop Dunlop, two interactive sessions with Rev. Lose, light breakfast, and lunch. Click here for more information, a flyer, and to register.
Coming up at Wittel Farm...
"Mark-ing" Scripture Together at the Wittel Farm in Elizabethtown, PA
This fall, Bishop Dunlop and Pastor Rob Myallis invite rostered leaders, worship planners, and faith formation leaders to gain insights, share ideas as we explore Mark's gospel together. All three sessions will be offered at the Wittel Farm from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
September 15 -"Mark-ing the end of Pentecost" Led by Bishop Dunlop
October 19 - "Mark-ing the Festivals" Led by Pastor Rob Myallis
November 16 - "Mark-ing Advent" Led by Pastor Rob Myallis.
Registration details coming soon.
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 this year's 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.
Tuesday, May 5
REGISTRATION CLOSED. EVENT CAPACITY REACHED
St. Paul Lutheran Church, 20 Franklin St., Biglerville
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Note: Due to high demand and need to keep worship-size optimal, our synod will be offering additional sessions of boundary training in the fall.
|
|
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.
April 19
St. Barnabas Center Benefit Luncheon & Fashion Show, Radisson, Camp Hill
END MALARIA African Dinner, Tree of Life Lutheran Church, 1492 Linglestown Rd., Harrisburg
April 25
Pancake Breakfast, Calvary Lutheran Church, 9 N. Main St., Dover
May 1-3
"Beginning Experience" Weekend (for those dealing with the pain of divorce, loss, and grief), Doubling Gap Center, Newville
May 3
Rejoicing Spirits Worship (a disABILITIES Ministry), St. Luke Lutheran Church, 2695 Luther Dr., Chambersburg
May 4
2015 Commonwealth Interfaith Prayer Service: Prayers for Justice and Peace, Pine Street Presbyterian Church, 310 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
Church Medical & Safety Training, St. Peter's Lutheran Church, 947 N. George St., York
May 9
Underground Skate Park at Trinity Lutheran Church, 132 E. Main St., Mechanicsburg
May 10
Rejoicing Spirits Worship (a disABILITIES ministry), St. Stephen Lutheran Church, 30 W. Main St., New Kingstown
May 16
7th Annual Highmark "Walk for a Healthy Community" (You or your team can benefit St.
Barnabas Children's Ministry) HACC Harrisburg
June 14- 19
"Heroes of the BIble" Day Camp, St. Peter Lutheran Church, 130 Nittany Dr., Mechanicsburg
July 26-31
Everest VBS, Calvary Lutheran Church, 9 N. Main St., Dover
September 13
"God's Work. Our Hands." Sunday (and LAMPa's "God's Work. Our Hands. Our Voices" Sunday)
To Share:
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!
|
|
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).
Congregation: St. Mark's Lutheran Church, York
Position: Part-time (20 hrs./week) Secretarial Position (Posted 4/16/15)
Congregation: St. Peter's Lutheran Church, York
Position: Organist - Choir Director (Posted 4/16/15)
Congregation: St. John Lutheran Church, New Freedom
Position: Minister of Music, Choir Director, Instrumentalist (Posted 4/16/15)
Congregation: Memorial Lutheran Church, Shippensburg
Position: Director of Vocal Music (Posted 4/16/15)
Congregation: St. John's Lutheran Church, Abbottstown
Position: Administrative Assistant (Posted 4/8/15)
Congregation: Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Harrisburg
Position: Administrative Assistant (posted 3/25/15)
Congregation: Zion Lutheran Church, Etters
Position: Part-time Administrative Assistant (posted 3/25/15)
Organization: Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Position: Director for Congregational Support (posted 3/18/15)
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)
|
|
| 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. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Susquehanna Center for Faith Formation!
and the necessary support to implement customized, asset-based approaches to faith practices within their congregations. A networked approach to faith formation provides sacred space to re-think and re-form current practices. As a Synod, we are modeling a networked, holistic approach to growing disciples, and we want to equip congregational leaders to do the same. 
Men's Retreat at Camp Kirchenwald May 1-2
