November 24, 2015

Happy Thanksgiving: Let Grace Abound...even for the Birds!

Even a turkey is in need of pardon and a little grace! This handsome gobbler keeps showing up for worship at St. Thomas Lutheran Church, Thomasville. "The turkey greeted worshipers in the parking lot as they approached the church door," said Pastor Warren Heintzelman. The bird presents a bit of a mystery. No one knows exactly where the turkey comes from or why he visits the congregation. "Hopefully he'll show up next Sunday and join the congregation," Heintzelman quipped. "Maybe this turkey is Lutheran!"

Lutheran turkey or not, your Lower Susquehanna Synod Bishop's Office Staff wishes you a blessed and peaceful Thanksgiving. We give thanks for your partnership in ministry and faithful witness to the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Ready to J.A.M. at Synod Assembly 2016?

We're ready to spread a little J.A.M. (JUSTICE AND MERCY) at next year's Synod Assembly, scheduled for June 3-5 at Messiah College. One of the ways we plan to do this is through a food packaging event on Friday, where in collaboration with Thrivent Financial and Kids Against Hunger we hope to pack and provide 400,000 meals for those around us who are hungry. 

And we need YOU to participate and help us spread justice and mercy. How? Gather a team and help us pack the meals. Use the resources we will be making available to educate yourself and your congregation about the root causes of hunger. Learn how to advocate on behalf of those living in poverty and facing hunger. Help us raise the $100,000 to buy the raw materials by raising ONE dollar for every baptized member (you can share the good news that ONE dollar feeds a family of four a nutritionally complete meal). We have plenty of ideas to help you raise the money and have fun in the process. 

Click here to watch Bishop Dunlop's 2015 Advent video, where he introduces Hunger J.A.M. Click here to download a PDF copy of his Advent message to publish and/or post in your congregation.

Finally, we invite YOU to help us come up with a logo for the event. Enter the contest and share your talent and creativity with our synod. Click here to visit the Hunger J.A.M. page on our synod website and learn more about how you can make a real difference, spread Christ's love, and have fun in the process.

Join our synod this Advent in reimagining faith formation. Together we are using the ministry tool of social media for the uplifting of God's word in the world.

Use the hashtags #InstADVENT, #LSS15, and #ELCA with the photo-a-day study guide to follow along. Post and share your photos daily. (Click here to download the study guide.) Enjoy reflecting on the scripture assigned to each week as the photo-a-day project helps to prepare us to celebrate Jesus' birth in refreshing ways this season.

Faith Formation Continuing Education Offered 
for Youth Leaders, Sunday School Teachers, Pastors & Volunteers

Looking for an affordable opportunity to get some practical & theological continuing ed for your winterfest snowflake
congregational leaders who serve with children, youth & families? Try Winterfest! Yep, the annual synod-wide event also offers intentional learning tracks for adults. If you are attending the event as a congregational advisor, all adult learning tracks are FREE, but if you'd like to drop by the event to take advantage of these learning tracks, we have designed the schedule so you can come for one session, or two sessions, and join the Winterfest community for lunch, all for $25. If you are already registered for Winterfest there is no reason to register for the adult learning tracks, merely show up. However, if you would like to attend just the adult learning tracks and have lunch with the community, please register at:  
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0548afa823a57-winterfest.

 Just as a glimpse of the variety of learning segments, we have invited Assistant to the Bishop, Pastor Rob Blezard to present on the new Pennsylvania child protection laws and the impact on congregations. Synod Resource Center Director, Deacon Marsha Roscoe will present on the use of digital technology in your ministry. Director of Lifelong Learning at Gettysburg Seminary, Chelle Huth will present a strategic planning segment for congregational youth & family ministry, and Pastor Haley Vay Beaman, Winterfest Chaplain, will offer FIT Church, a workout and ministry model for linking physical, spiritual and emotional health. For more detailed descriptions of our adult learning track options, visit the Winterfest page of our synod website, at: http://www.lss-elca.org/youth-family/events/winterfest/

ordinationClip
You are Invited...

December 6, 2015
Eucharist with the Rite of Ordination for Rachel Langford, Victoria Larson, and Possibly a Third Ordinand
Union Lutheran Church, 408 W. Market St., York
4:00 p.m.
The color of the day is red. Rostered leaders are invited to vest and process. All are invited to attend a light reception following the service. Additional information coming next week!

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)

Giving Thanks is Always God's Will
Thanksgiving Day may represent the high point in our culture's expression gratitude for all that God provides for us, but it really should set the standard for living every day with glad and joyful awareness of God's blessings. Gratitude should form the foundation for our faith lives. In this article, Pastor Rick Warren asks, "Why is it always God's will no matter what happens in my life that I am to give thanks, not for my circumstances but in my circumstances?" He gives five good reasons. For what are you grateful today? What blessings do you need to be reminded to give thanks for? (Click here to see the Leadership Link archives.)

December 10 TED Talk to Explore "Healthy Congregations" 
Healthy Congregations is a way of looking at your church as a system of relationships, how it handles anxiety and conflict, and the crucial role of leadership in promoting  health in the congregation. Pr. Dan Biles has served as a teacher of Healthy Congregations in our synod, and has taught understanding churches as systems at the Lutheran Seminary in Russia. Based on the teachings of Bowen Family Theory, Ed Friedman, and Peter Steinke, the program on December 10 will offer an overview of understanding how your church system works. Here's a flyer about Healthy Congregations.

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, [email protected].

prayers
WE PRAY 
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 LaRea K. Minnich, mother of The Rev. Karen Minnich-Sadler, who died November 18, at the age of 90. Click here to access the obituary.

Looking for a prayer resource that is grounded in world events? Check out World in Prayer, a ministry of the Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist, Lodi, CA .

Check out ELCA Prayer Ventures by clicking here and download daily prayer petitions each month.
Have prayer requests to share with others in our synod? Contact Pr. Sharron Blezard at [email protected]. 

WE ARE GENEROUS
CLICK TO GIVE: 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 top 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 and quickly support our work together. Make a one-time gift or set up a regular giving schedule. Give to the Always Being Made New Campaign, too! Use QR Codes to give? Try our synod's QR code to make a donation today.

WE ARE THANKFUL!
We are blessed to have many faithful volunteers who help accomplish the work of the church through our Lower Susquehanna Synod.  We say THANK YOU to each one who serves on a committee, team, or task force and shares their expertise and time. This week we acknowledge the work of our Synod Learning Ministries Team. We are grateful for Pastor Haley Vay Beaman, Alicia Winey, Pastor Jan Mills, AiM Ann Seitz-Brown, Michelle Shirk, and LSS staff members Pastor Rob Blezard, Deacon Marsha Roscoe, and Charlie Roberts. Thank you for being our partner in mission and ministry and for helping to provide us with great opportunities for learning and faith formation.

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
WE LEARN 
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...
Check out a variety of short classes and seminars offered on the campus of Lutheran Theological Seminary Philadelphia or online. You'll find everything from comparative religion to Lutheran basics, and from stewardship of bricks and morter to a Brene' Brown workshop. Visit http://ltsp.edu/LifelongLearning� for more information.
COMING SOON...
November 28
Advent Retreat, St. Luke Lutheran Church, 2695 Luther Dr., Chambersburg. Click here for a flyer.
December 1
Peace Not Walls Convocation and Exhibition, Lutheran Theological Seminary Philadelphia. Click here for more information.
December 12
Advent Day Apart at the Wittel Farm. Click here for more information.

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.


WE CONNECT
CLICK HERE to visit the Congregation Connections page on our synod's website where you'll find details about the many wonderful events happening in congregations across our synod.

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 [email protected].

NEW THIS WEEK
December 13
Toys for Perry County Christmas Concert, Christ Lutheran Church, 46 West High St., New Bloomfield
Christmas at Trinity Concert, 
Trinity Lutheran Church, 2000 Chestnut St., Camp Hill
December 17
Baby Shower Celebrating the Birth of Jesus of Nazareth (benefiting PMI Prenancy Resource Center),
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 12043 Old Route 16, Rouzerville

COMING SOON...
November 25
Thanksgiving Worship, Chapel of the Abiding Presence, Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary
November 29
Advent Wreath-Making EventZion Lutheran Church, 100 W. Main St., Hummelstown
December 4
Craft Show and Fair Trade Fair, Zion Lutheran Church, 18 Quarry Rd., Leola
December 5
Cookie Walk for Konde, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Springettsbury, 25 W. Springettbury Ave., York
"Christmas is a Claus for Celebration" Breakfast, Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church, 9 N. Main St., Dover
"Do You Hear What I Hear?" Richard A. Sultner, Sr. Music Scholarship Holiday Concert, Calvary Lutheran Church, 9 N. Main St., Dover
Journey to Bethlehem, an Interactive Christmas Adventure for Children and their Families,
Christ Lutheran Church, 66 S. Main St., Manchester
December 6
"Angels and Shepherds" Wheatland Chorale in Concert, St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 839 W. Market St., York
Rejoicing Spirits Worship (a disABILITIES Ministry), St. Luke Lutheran Church, 2695 Luther Dr., Chambersburg 
December 12
Cookie Walk (to provide scholarships for children of Agape Parish in Tanzania),  
Shiloh Lutheran Church, 2201 Church Rd., York
December 13
Rejoicing Spirits Worship (a disABILITIES Ministry), St. Stephen's Lutheran Church, 30 W. Main St., New Kingstown

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!

 Employment listings are provided to synod congregations and related agencies free of charge. This service is made possible by your Mission Support of our Lower Susquehanna Synod and the 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.
NEW THIS WEEK
Congregation: St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 270, Berrysburg
Posted: 11/23/15
Position: Children and Youth Ministry Coordinator

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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