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God's work. Our hands. Our voices.
Yes, that's right! "God's work. Our hands." Sunday is just around the corner on September 13. If you still don't have a plan for how to engage your congregation in serving the world outside your congregation's walls, there is still plenty of time to do so. You can click here to find a variety of resources on the ELCA website, including information on how to order those bright yellow shirts customized with your congregation's name.
But that's not all...
 In addition to your hands, you can also use your voices. However God is calling you, let Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pa. (LAMPa) help your congregation speak up for the sake of the world God loves.
From hunger to housing, education to stewardship of creation, we can help you broaden the impact of your ministry. Call 717-545-3500 or contact email LAMPa@lutheranadvocacypa.org.
"Adding our Voices to the ELCA's "God's Work. Our Hands." day of service challenged us to take seriously our role as advocates for justice within and beyond our community," said the Rev. Stephen Herr, pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, ELCA Church Council member, and former dean of the Gettysburg conference. Click here to see what some congregations did last year.
"With our hands we helped those in need in the Gettysburg area," Herr said. "With our voices of advocacy we extended that service to a wider world in need of God's Good News and justice."
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 You are Cordially Invited . . .
Friday, August 28, 2015
7:00 p.m.
Trinity Lutheran Church, 47 W. Main St., Mount Joy, PA
Ordination of Andrew Geib and Commissioning of Micki (Marilyn) Kautz.
Andrew is called to serve as Associate Pastor of St. James Lutheran Church (Gettysburg). Micki will serve St. Michael's (Rossville) and St. John's (Franklintown) Lutheran Churches as an Associate in Ministry under the pastoral leadership of the Rev. Roy Stetler, Faith United Lutheran Parish.
The color of the day is red. All rostered leaders are invited to vest and process. A reception will follow worship.
Saturday, August 29, 2015
4:00 p.m.
Installation of the Rev. Aaron Erdley as Lead Pastor of Trindle Spring Lutheran Church, 14 State Rd., Mechanicsburg. The color of the day is green. All rostered leaders are invited to vest and process. A dinner reception will follow in the fellowship hall.
Sunday, September 27, 2015
4:00 p.m.
Installation of the Rev. Martha Sue Boyd as pastor of St. John Lutheran Church, 158 S. Hoernerstown Rd., Hummelstown. The color of the day is green. More information coming soon!
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The Weekend offers Time and Space for Vocational Discernment
Need some time in the 'busy-ness' of fall to think about what's next?
 The Weekend is a discernment retreat for anyone 18 and older; a chance to spend intentional time wondering how God can use you to serve the church and world. The Weekend will include worship- both ancient and new- GETT Talks from our faculty, small group conversations, and more. Click here for more information and to register.
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 Rise Up Together Concert Tour to Stop in York
The Office for Children, Youth & Family is partnering with St. Matthew, York, to bring the Rise Up Together Concert Tour to our synod on Sunday, October 4, 2015, beginning at 3:00 p.m.
Featuring the music of Agape, Rachel Kurtz, and spoken word artist Joe Davis, this tour provides participants a powerful evening of music, storytelling, and worship. Whether or not you attended the ELCA National Youth Gathering, come out and catch these talented artists as they make their only stop in central PA. This is an all-age show with a suggested entry fee of $10, and pre-registration is encouraged. Contact our synod office for a flyer to post (we'll email it!) and here for a registration sign-up form.
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 Golf Scramble to Support the Ministry of LT Camp
The 2nd Annual Golf Tournament to support our annual synod Leadership Training Camp, is scheduled for Saturday, October 3, 2015, at Deer Valley Golf Course. LT Camp continues to be made available to first-year participants at NO COST, thanks to the generous contributions of alumni and supporters and the proceeds from this tournament. Please consider helping us promote this event by using one of the convenient bulletin inserts attached, or by visiting our synod website: http://www.lss-elca.org/youth-family/events/leadership-training-camp/, for more details on the tournament, or to learn more about the ministry of LT Camp. Click here for an easy registration form on a bulletin insert or here for a full-color registration brochure. If you don't have a foursome, we'll pair you with fellow golfers.
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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)
Are You Fed Up With Church? 30 Million Say, "Yes!"OK, so over the last few years there has been a slow trickle of folks away from your congregation and you have no idea what happened or why they are leaving. Here is an insightful article by Patrick Vaughan, a Presbyterian pastor who explores the culture of the "dones" and the "almost dones" who might be eying the exit during your sermon. Share this with your council or colleague group. What points seem to ring true to your congregation's experience? What can you do about it?
Fall Stewardship TED Talk, Sept. 3
Our synod's monthly Brown Bag Leadership Lunch program has been rebranded "TED Talks," which in our case stands for Theology, Evangelism and Discipleship. We'll offer monthly conversations about topics of interest to congregational leaders.
Far too many of our congregations lack a strategy to invite its members to participate more deeply in the life of the congregation through thoughtful, prayerful financial giving. And year after year, many of these congregations suffer from a shortage of resources that could help their ministries thrive. If your congregation still has no plans for a fall stewardship campaign, it's no too late. Come to our TED Talk on Sept. 3 and we'll review a number of ideas, strategies, as well as several resources that can get your congregation going. The leader is the Rev. Rob Blezard, assistant to the bishop. The TED Talk takes place from 10 a.m. - Noon on Sept. 3 in the boardroom of the United Church Center (where our synod office is located), 900 S. Arlington Ave., Harrisburg, Pa. Bring a lunch and we can share a fellowship meal and talk afterwards. In order that we have enough resources to go around, please RSVP to Cathy Deitrich at the synod offices, cdeitrich@lss-elca.org.
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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.
Don't forget to remember students, teachers, administrators, school support staff, and bus drivers, and crossing guards in your prayers this week! You may find prayer petitions for schools and teachers on page 78 of the ELW and page 44 of the LBW. Here's one option:
God of wisdom and might, we praise you for the wonder of our being, for mind, body and spirit. Be with our children as they begin a new school year. Bless them, their teachers and staff, and all who work to provide a safe, clean, and healthy environment for learning. Give them strength and grace as their bodies grow; wisdom and knowledge to their minds as they search for understanding; and peace and zeal to their hearts. Guide our congregation to support our schools, parents, teachers, and all who work in the field of education. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Check out ELCA Prayer Ventures by clicking here and download daily prayer petitions each month.
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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 It's time once again for the annual Lutheran World Relief Ingathering. You can access a congregational packet by clicking here. You can also visit the Lower Susquehanna Synod Website Ingathering page by clicking here. There's a way for every congregation to participate--from quilts to kits to soap and/or donations of money for shipping--no congregation is too small to make a difference. Please help LWR provide basic necessities for our neighbors around the world. Have any questions? Contact Norma R. Good, Lower Susquehanna Synod Volunteer Coordinator for Relief Projects at nrgood@comcast.net or 717-399-7697.
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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.
CORRECTION: In last week's article about our synod's Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR), we incorrectly attributed Pr. Glenn Beard's generous release time to Diakon. While Diakon is the fiduciary oversight partner for LDR, Pr. Beard's employer--Luthercare--is the organization that has so generously given him time to work with this crucial ministry. Thank you, Luthercare! Thank you, Pr. Beard! Please do consider a gift to this important work through the Always Being Made New Campaign. Together we are stronger.
Reminder! Hunger Legacy Grant Applications Due August 30.
Click here to download an application for this year's Lower Susquehanna Synod World Hunger Legacy Grant program. Please download a copy of the application, fill it out, save it as a PDF and email it to sblezard@lss-elca.org. Please mail a copy of the signature page only (postmarked by August 30) to Pr. Sharron Blezard, Lower Susquehanna Synod, 900 S. Arlington Avenue, Suite 220B, Harrisburg, PA 17109. Grant recipients will be announced no later than September 30, 2015. Have questions about the grant process? Contact World Hunger Committee Chairperson Cheryl Burns at cherylsburns@gmail.com. Please reference "World Hunger Grant Question" in the subject box. Need a Word document copy of the application? Contact Pr. Sharron Blezard.
Minute Book Orders Due August 30
The 2015 Minute Book (synod handbook and directory) will be posted on the synod website. To order a hard copy of the Minute Book, please click here to download a form and mail it to the Rev. Thomas E. McKee, synod secretary, at 900 S. Arlington Avenue, Suite 220B, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17109 by August 30, 2015. Please enclose your check or money order payable to the Lower Susquehanna Synod for those Minute Books you wish to purchase. Congregations also may request their complimentary copy of the Minute Book by contacting Pastor McKee at 1-800-692-7282, ext. 111, or tmckee@lss-elca.org .
NOTE: Our office will be closed Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day. Regular office hours resume Tuesday, September 8.
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.
August 26
Climate Disruption is a Moral Issue: Interfaith Climate Advocacy Training, Unitarian Church of Harrisburg, 1280 Clover Lane. Sponsored by Pennsylvania Interfaith Power & Light.
August 29
Growing Faith in our Home: A Day Retreat for Leaders and their Families (Rescheduled for October 15, 2016--mark your calendar)
September 5
"Survey of the Lands of the Bible" free online course
Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gettysburg (For more information or to enroll click here.)
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.
September 17-19
ELCA Networks for Mission Event: We are Church Together
Capital Retreat Center, Waynesboro, PA
Click here for more information and to register.
September 23
A Day with Tim Wright (presented by Lutheran Men in Mission), Trinity Lutheran Church, 2000 Chestnut St., Camp Hill
September 26
Seminary for a Day
Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, VA
October 5-7
Celebration of Biblical Preaching: The Courage to Preach
Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN
October 13-14
Parish Secretaries' Seminar: "Checks & Balances"
Bird-in-Hand Family Inn, Bird-in-Hand, PA
October 23-26
"Lord, Let Our Eyes Be Opened: Breaking the Chains of Mass Incarceration," sponsored by the Pennsylvania Council of Churches, Red Lion Hotel, Harrisburg. Visit http://pachurches.org/ for more information.
November 1
Luther Rose Lectures "Martin Luther: Then & Now" with the Rev. Dr. Richard Carlson
Palm Lutheran Church, 11 W. Cherry St., Palmyra
January 31 - February 2
LSS Rostered Leaders' Wellness Retreat
Hotel Hershey, 100 Hotel Rd., Hershey, PA (Save the date!)
April 14-17
"White Privilege Conference: Understanding, Respecting, & Connecting"
Philadelphia, PA (Hold the date and click here for information)
"Psalms: A Journey of Prayer"
Join Pastor Rob Myallis, the congregation of Zion's Lutheran Church, Jonestown, and others across the digital world in a six month reading, sharing, and study of the Psalms. Click here to join the Facebook group, and click here to visit the congregation's website where you'll find a host of useful resources to help you with this study, including an introductory video. (Note: The program began July 1, but feel free to join in at any time.)
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.
Be sure to check the Center for Faith Formation webpage for information about upcoming events and links for registration. Added recently are . Click here to be redirected.
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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.
August 23
Annual Ice Cream Social, Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church, 9 North Main St., Dover
August 25
French Boys' Choir in Concert, Christ Lutheran Church, 30 Chambersburg St., Gettysburg
August 29
"Chicken for Chickens" BBQ to Benefit World Hunger, St. John Lutheran Church, 111 Walnut St., Boiling Springs
"Lobster Fest", Tree of Life Lutheran Church, 1492 Linglestown Rd., Harrisburg
September 6
Rejoicing Spirits Worship (a disABILITIES ministry), St. Luke Lutheran Church, 2695 Luther Dr., Chambersburg
September 12
"Queens Who Cook" Fundraiser to benefit the St. Barnabas Center, Tree of Life Lutheran Church, 1492 Linglestown Rd., Harrisburg
September 13
"God's Work. Our Hands." Sunday (and LAMPa's "God's Work. Our Hands. Our Voices" Sunday)
Rejoicing Spirits Worship (a disABILITIES ministry), St. Stephen Lutheran Church, 30 W. Main St., New Kingstown
September 27
5th Annual Pet Sunday and Blessing, Mt. Carmel Lutheran Church, 1398 Moulstown Rd., N, Hanover
September 29
Bus Trip to NYC and 9/11 Memorial Museum with St. Mark's Lutheran Men in Mission
October 4
Rise Up Together: The Tour (featuring Rachel Kurtz, Agape, and Joe Davis), St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 839 W. Market St., York
November 7
Sorensen in Concert at the Grove Community Coffee House, Salem Lutheran Church, 99 York Rd., Jacobus
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!
Needed: Accompanist's Book for With One Voice. Have one you would be willing to donate? If so, contact Pastor Susan McCarthy at pastorsusan@yahoo.com or call her at 717-357-3223.
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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: Cumberland County Prison (Carlisle Area Religious Council)
Position: Full-time Chaplain and Director of Pastoral Care (Posted 8/12/15)
Congregation: St. Stephen Lutheran Church, New Kingstown and St. Mark, Mechanicsburg
Position: Youth and Family Ministry Director (Posted 7/28/15)
Congregation: Trindle Spring Lutheran Church, Mechanicsburg
Position: Choir Director and/or Organist (Posted 6/24/15)
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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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