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Save the Date for Trinity Institute 2016!
 Gettysburg Seminary, the Episcopal Diocese in Central Pennsylvania, and our synod's Center for Faith Formation will host a partner site for Trinity Institute's 2016 National Theological Conference, Listen For Change: Sacred Conversations for Racial Justice. A leading group of activists, scholars, authors, artists and experts on racial inequality will come together January 21-23, 2016, for life-giving conversations on the racial issues of our time, including structural racism, mass incarceration, and policy change. Participation is open to anyone interested in a practical, theological perspective on racial equality and is ideal for seminarians, students, and church leaders looking for thoughtful leadership from experts and activists.
Registration, lodging information, and more details coming soon. Click here for more information about the speakers.
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Don't Miss this Opportunity to Learn about the Digital Cathedral!
 Wondering what to do next after Social Media Sunday (#SMS15)? Still trying to decide how and when to take the plunge into digital ministry? You won't want to miss this free workshop offered on Saturday, November 14 at Zion Lutheran Church in York through a partnership with Zion and the Lower Susquehanna Synod Center for Faith Formation. Using the cathedral as a metaphor, Pastor and author Keith Anderson offers a renewed vision for ministry that steps beyond bricks and mortar to encourage 21st ministry grounded in relationships, neighborhoods and social media platforms.
"A Cathedral is an immersive experience of faith formation, with the images, architecture, people, music, and ritual all serving to form those who enter that space," Anderson says in his new book The Digital Cathedral: Networked Ministry in a Wireless World. "Part of the genius of Cathedrals is the way they affect and shape us simply by being inside them. Even as you trace a  particular stone carving with your finger, stare up at a certain stained glass window, walk a labyrinth, or listen to a guided audio tour, the environment of the Cathedral itself is shaping you." Engaging ministry through a spiritual hub in a widely networked and integrated world is more than possible, it's necessary. Join us for this useful, interactive workshop at Zion Lutheran Church, 2215 Brandywine Lane, York. The event is offered to you free of charge; however, registration is required by November 7, 2015 (no day-of-event registration available). Register here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0e48ada62fa1fb6-thedigital. Note: Workshop attendees receive 4 hours of continuing education credit.
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Register NOW: LutheranHANDS Winter Mission Trip & Winterfest Pre-Trip
 LutheranHANDS, a ministry partner of our synod Office for Children, Youth & Family Ministry, has opened registration for its Winter Mission trip to Monmouth, NJ, to continue Hurricane Sandy recovery and relief efforts along the Atlantic coast, through the St. Bernard Project. The trip is scheduled for Saturday, December 26 - Thursday, December 31, at a cost of $275.00.
Groups will travel by van and be lodged at the Camp Evans Volunteer site. You can learn more or register at www.lutheranhands.org, and while a $100 deposit holds your spot, registrations must be received by November 14. Additionally, LutheranHANDS is working closely with partners in Lancaster city to offer an on-site service event at the Lancaster Host Resort as a part  of the 2016 Winterfest Pre-Event, scheduled for Friday, January 1, 2016.
Youth, young adults and their congregational advisors can register for just Winterfest 2016, entitled "Community," or for both the Winterfest event and LutheranHANDS Pre-Event that includes an overnight stay, Friday snack and Saturday breakfast. To learn more about the Winterfest event, pre-event, or to register please visit http://www.lss-elca.org/youth-family/events/winterfest/ .
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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)
The Pastor's Role in Stewardship Ministry
Along with frank discussions of sex and politics, honest conversation about money is a huge taboo in many congregations. According to this great article by Pastor Chick Lane -- author of "Ask, Thank, Tell" (among other things) and noted stewardship speaker -- the taboo harms not only the financial life of the congregation, but also faith life of the congregation that is prevented from exploring a major element of discipleship: generous giving. As the spiritual leader of the congregation, the pastor must shatter the "conspiracy of silence" by talking about money. The pastor must do this for the spiritual health of the people in the congregation. Talk about this in your clergy group or cluster meeting. ( Click here for the Leadership Link archives.)
Nov. 12 TED Talk: Rekindling Stewardship for Advent
Advent of Lectionary Year C offers the perfect opportunity to talk about the proper use of God's gifts. Luke's gospel, which takes center stage in Year C, is all about money. Including the Magnificat (with its wonderfully subversive economic underpinnings), Year C's Advent texts provide an excellent backdrop for a giving-response program, or for a follow-up to a stewardship emphasis that concluded earlier this fall. Come to this TED Talk to get some ideas on preaching and teaching stewardship for Advent - as well as for the rest of Lectionary Year C. Leaders will be Pastors Robert and Sharron Blezard, assistants to the bishop. (Note: Participants can obtain two yours of FREE continuing education!)
Hold the Date for "Healthy Congregations"
Our December TED Talk will feature Pastor Dan Biles, an expert in family and systems theory. Pastor Biles will review "Healthy Congregations" and how church leaders can work to improve church life. Join us from 10:00 a.m. - noon on December 10.
Our synod's monthly TED (Theology, Evangelism and Discipleship) Talks cover topics of interest to congregational leaders free and open to anyone. They are held every second Thursday of the month from 10 a.m. - Noon in the lunchroom of the United Church Center (where our synod office is located), 900 S. Arlington Ave., Harrisburg. 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.
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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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.
You are Cordially Invited . . .
Sunday, November 8, 4:00 p.m.
Installation of the Rev. Alison Bowlan
Salem Lutheran Church, 26 Owl Hill Rd., Lititz. The color of the day is green.
Sunday, November 15, 3:00 p.m.
Installation of the Rev. Marleen Griffith-Stull
St. John Lutheran Church, 8 Linden Ave., Mercersburg. The color of the day is green. Refreshments will be served following the service, and guests will have opportunity to shop at the congregation's SERRV Fair Trade Fair.
 Wanted: A New Home for Our Synod Office
As a way of containing the costs and reducing our footprint to permit our important ministries to continue and expand, our Lower Susquehanna Synod Office plans to move from its present location in 2017. Bishop Dunlop has appointed a task force to plan for our new office space. The first step is to explore possible locations. Our first preference would be to use existing space in one of our congregation's church buildings or in one of our related agencies' properties. We would prefer to be in the Harrisburg area or near the geographical center of our synod, which is near Dillsburg. We would like to have adequate parking, to be near main highways, and to be permitted to repurpose the space to meet our needs. Congregations and agencies that would be willing to explore with the task force the possibilities of allowing our synod to use space in their buildings for our offices, please contact Pastor Thomas McKee, synod secretary at 1-800-692-7282, ext. 111 or at tmckee@lss-elca.org
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...
CLICK HERE to be redirected to our synod website for detailed information about upcoming events. We add events and update our website weekly.
NEW THIS WEEK...
January 3-8, 2016
Diaconal Ministry: History, Formation and Spirituality
Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN
Click here for more information about this event. Note: Tuition is paid for all participants by the Deaconess Community.
Be sure to check the Center for Faith Formation webpage for information about upcoming events and links for registration. Click here to be redirected. Don't forget about all the fun and educational events at our area Lutheran Camps! Click here to visit the Lutheran Camping Corporation website and see what's happening at Nawakwa, Kirchenwald, and Wittel Farm.
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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 website page. E-mail event information to sblezard@lss-elca.org.
NEW THIS WEEK
November 29
Advent Wreath-Making Event, Zion Lutheran Church, 100 W. Main St., Hummelstown
December 25
Christmas Day Community Dinner, St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 839 W. York St., York
Coming Soon...
November 6
St. Petersburg Men's Ensemble in Concert, Trindle Spring Lutheran Church, 14 State Rd., Mechanicsburg
November 7
"Looking to the Future: Aging and Estate Planning," Zion Lutheran Church of Union Deposit, 5 W. Main St., Hershey
SERRV Fair Trade Fair, St. Luke Lutheran Church, 1432 Heidelberg Ave., Schaefferstown
Annual Pork & Sauerkraut Dinner, St. Paul Lutheran Church, 201 W. Louther St., Carlisle
Sorensen in Concert at the Grove Community Coffee House, Salem Lutheran Church, 99 York Rd., Jacobus
November 8
Special Service Honoring All U.S. Military Veterans, Living and Deceased,Zion Lutheran Church, 100 W. Main St. Hummelstown
Rejoicing Spirits Worship (a disABILITIES Ministry), St. Stephen Lutheran Church, 30 W. Main St., New Kingstown
An American in Paris--Great American Composers, with Paul Bisacchia, piano, Trinity Lutheran Church, 2000 Chestnut St., Camp Hill
To Share:
Need hymnals, tables, Bibles, an organ, or choir robes? 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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Em ployment 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.
NEW THIS WEEK
Congregation: Mt. Carmel Lutheran Church, 1398 Moulstown Rd., N, Hanover
Position: Part-time Organist
Congregation: St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Red Hill, PA Position: Director of Music Ministries
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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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