December 03, 2015

Bishop calls for 'Refugee Sunday' Dec. 27

Bishop James S. Dunlop has called for Lower Susquehanna Lutherans to observe Dec. 27, the first Sunday after Christmas, as "Refugee Sunday." He is urging

congregations and leaders to use the day to preach, teach and publicize the plight of refugees worldwide, especially out of Syria.

To accompany his declaration, Bishop Dunlop has released a Statement on Terrorism and the Syrian Refugee Crisis, urging Lower Susquehanna Lutherans prayerfully to ponder, "Who is my neighbor," in light of the horrific events of the last few weeks.

"We are called to be neighbor to people in need, especially people who are victims and are in desperate circumstances," Bishop Dunlop said in his statement. Click here to read Bishop Dunlop's statement.

The First Sunday after Christmas is an appropriate day for "Refugee Sunday," since the Holy Family were themselves refugees, fleeing to avoid Herod's violence against the innocents. Their flight to Egypt is told in Matthew 2:13-23 -- Year A's Lectionary text for the First Sunday after Christmas. Bishop Dunlop suggests congregations use this Gospel text on Dec. 27, rather than the Gospel text for Year C.

Resources and ideas for how your congregation can respond to the Syrian Refugee Crisis are available by clicking here. Look there next week for study and preaching guides for Refugee Sunday and Matthew 2:13-23.

Good News from our Congregations!

YAGM Savanna Sullivan and Pastor Kate Warn get a close-up of local wildlife.

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (Lebanon) held "Apples for Africa" community day event on October 18th to raise funds to complete the 2015 commitment to Pastor Kate Warn and her work with the Young Adults in Global Mission, Rwanda, and also to hold a community day event with participation of the entire congregation during the Sunday School hour to raise awareness and highlight Holy Trinity's global outreach. An apple theme was chosen because October is the apple harvest time of year. The event began with a short program about Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) Rwanda and Holy Trinity's global outreach presented by Jim Dibert. The Apples for Africa ministry fair included games and treats for people of all ages. In addition there was an African themed selfie picture station, apple themed baked goods for purchase and light refreshments including apple cider. Apple dumpling fundraiser tickets were sold at the Mission Team booth and fair trade Divine chocolate bars were raffled at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Global Mission booth, which highlighted Holy Trinity's participation in global outreach. Because of the abundant generosity of the church members the financial commitment to support Pastor Kate's work as coordinator of the Young Adults in Global Mission Rwanda and the work of her young adult volunteers for 2015 was met and exceeded.

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lemoyne held a dedication service on Sunday, November 8, to celebrate the completion of our renovation project. Over the summer months, construction crews worked on renovating the fellowship hall and kitchen, adding two handicapped bathrooms, and additional storage. A service of dedication for the Ruth Evinger Fellowship Hall was held at 11:00 am with approximately 120 members, community officials and representatives from the architect and construction crews in attendance. Trinity looks forward to using these upgraded facilities to the glory of G-d through mission and ministry in the community, across the Synod, and around the globe.

St. Matthew ELCA, Plainfield, recently provided ministry to the Salvation Army Carlisle with a nourishing meal at My Brother's Table. Pastor Jerri Morton Carlin and congregant volunteers also provided a devotion, prayers, information about Jesus, and fellowship with the clients at My Brother's Table.

Have good news to share! Please contact Pastor Sharron Blezard with details and photos.

Growing a Synod-Wide Ministry Network for Young Adults

Over the past decade, we have made a number of attempts to connect the young adults of our synod in a shared ministry that accentuates any ongoing ministries they are connected to on the

congregational level or in our para-church organizations such as LutheranHANDS and Hope in Haiti. To develop a community of sorts where they could enjoy faithful conversation, mutual support and prayer, and even have an opportunity to worship in settings beyond the local congregation. A young adult movement is emerging again under the direction of this office in cooperation with Darren Hamric, a member at Ascension Lutheran in Willow Street, and a student at Susquehanna University.

The plan is to gather young adults at the annual Winterfest 2016 event, our Silver Anniversary, and to get a pulse of what this generation is looking for in a peer community. Young adult small groups are available for college-aged students who attend Winterfest as full participants, and peer groups will gather on both Friday and Saturday evening for special receptions offered exclusively for this community. Social networks are being developed to help connect peers beyond our events, and a number of programming options will be presented.

Young adults not able to fully participate in the Winterfest event are encouraged to consider attending the Saturday evening Silver Celebration that includes worship with Bishop Jim Dunlop, a dinner meal, a concert featuring Agape, and an evening that includes the special reception, plus various other activities. Please help us promote this opportunity to young adults in your congregation, and visit the Winterfest website for more details: http://www.lss-elca.org/youth-family/events/winterfest/.

Leaders Don't Miss the Deadline for the 2016 Wellness Retreat!

The deadline to register for the 2016 Wellness Retreat, "Keeping the Sabbath Wholly", to be held February 1-2 at the Hotel Hershey is December 15, 2015.

You won't want to miss this opportunity to explore practical ways to honor the Sabbath through ceasing, resting, embracing and feasting with special guest speaker, Dr. Marva J. Dawn and
Michelle Wohlfarth, founder of The Healthy Living Kitchen and author of Eat with the Seasons.

Thanks to our Portico grant, this event is available at the subsidized cost to ALL full-time, active rostered leaders (and spouses). This retreat is also available at the subsidized cost to
ministry employees under contract or call (and spouses) who receive Portico health insurance benefits. Please contact Deacon Marsha Roscoe at 717-652-1852, ext. 103 or mroscoe@lss-elca.org with questions.

You are Invited...

December 6, 2015
Eucharist with the Rite of Ordination for Rachel Langford, Victoria Larson, and Byron Wesley (Wes) Smith, III
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. Ms. Langford is called to serve as Associate Director of Admissions at Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary. Ms. Larson is called to serve as pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Steelton), and Mr. Smith is called to serve Bendersville Parish (Bethlehem, Bendersville; Christ, Aspers; and St. James, Wenksville).

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)

Three Ways to Simplify Advent

This instructive article from Leadership Journal could have been titled, "How to Stay Sane in Advent/Christmas." It provides some practical advice for church professionals on how to set priorities for our work and ministry as Christmas approaches and the temptation grows for us to do everything and be everything. Knowing your limits - and the limits of what works - can help you feed the flock and have an enjoyable Advent/Christmas season.

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, cdeitrich@lss-elca.org.

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 MIlan J. Veres, father of The Rev. Joseph A. Veres, who died November 29, at the age of 97. Click here to access the obituary.

We pray for The Rev. Jay Eickhoff (disability), who is recovering from surgery.

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 sblezard@lss-elca.org.

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 Lower Susquehanna Synod Malaria Campiagn Task Force. We are grateful for the leadership of Christine Mummert (chair), and the commitment of team members Robert Durand, Judy Garber, Pastor Bob Hoover, Pastor Matt Lenahan, Pastor Beth Martini, and Seminarian April Trout--as well as others who have helped along the way. Thank you for being our partner in mission and ministry and for helping our synod raise funds to help eradicate this deadly yet treatable and prevantable disease.

AND, WE REPENT RATHER THAN REPRINT!

In last week's Carings & Sharings we reported a turkey sighting in the parking lot of Saint Thomas Lutheran Church. Unfortunately, we played foul with the magnificent fowl by trying to transport him to from St. Thomas, PA to Thomasville, PA. Thanks to the eagle eye of Pastor Richard Seaks (retired) for catching our error!

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.

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...

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 sblezard@lss-elca.org.

NEW THIS WEEK

December 5-6

SERRV Fair Trade Holiday Shop, Epiphany Lutheran Church, 1100 Colonial Rd., Harrisburg

December 12

Cookie Walk, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 212 Cocoa Avenue, Hershey

COMING SOON...

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

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

Rejoicing Spirits Worship (a disABILITIES Ministry), St. Stephen's Lutheran Church, 30 W. Main St., New Kingstown

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

To Share:

FREE TO A GOOD HOME!
One Lowery D325 Holiday organ in decent condition.

No cost, but you must come and transport it yourself. For more information, contact: Chaplain Hank Steinhilber, 717-881-2578, SpiriTrust Lutheran, The Village at Sprenkle Drive

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 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.

NEW THIS WEEK

Congregation: Trinity Lutheran Church, 1186 Jason Drive, Greencastle

Posted: 12/03/15

Position: Part-time Musician to lead Contemporary Christian Music

Congregation: Zion Lutheran Church, 1290 River Rd., Marietta

Posted: 11/25/15

Position: Part-time Organist

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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