Weekly E-News and Events from the Southeastern Iowa Synod
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December 8, 2014
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Support the mission and ministry of the Southeastern Iowa Synod by making a donation using our secure online donation page.
 
2015 Mission Intent Form
 
Event Registrations
 
Sacred Trust Boundaries Workshop
Jan. 22 and Jan. 23

ConFest
February 7th and 8th
Register Here
Synod Calendar

Commission Meetings
December 4
10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Synod Center for Ministry

FCTE Meeting
December 11
10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Synod Center for Ministry 

Synod Council
December 13
9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Synod Center for Ministry

Synod Center for Ministry Closed
December 24-26
Merry Christmas!

Remember in Prayer
 
In this Advent season, we anticipate and acknowledge the presence
of the light that no darkness can overcome, Jesus Christ.






















































































































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Synod News
ask the bishop
Joy to the world
I love how the hymn "Joy to the World" jockeys for position in the evolution of worship books. It moves from being the last hymn in the Advent section (Service Book and Hymnal) to being the first in the Christmas section (Lutheran Book of Worship), and then back to the last hymn in Advent (Evangelical Lutheran Worship). 

An awareness of the movement tends to temper the demands of those who insist on singing Christmas carols during Advent. And it calms the voices of those who insist that we only sing songs that are clearly associated with honoring this precious time of expectation and waiting-in-the-world. Continue reading Bishop Burk's message 
New Healthy Living online to replace Mayo Clinic EmbodyHealth

Mayo Clinic is introducing Healthy Living online to replace the current web portal, EmbodyHealth. Healthy Living will offer features that make it easier for you to manage and track your health goals. It's where you'll take the Mayo Clinic Health Assessment, and new this year, you'll access Healthy Living directly through myPortico- no need to create and remember a Mayo Clinic user ID and password.

 

Important: EmbodyHealth will close at midnight (Central) on Dec. 14, 2014, and Healthy Living will launch no later than Jan. 1, 2015. Actions to bake before EmbodyHealth closes:

  • Personalized health information is not carrying over to the new site. If you took the 2014 health assessment and want to save your My Health Summary and Physicians Report, sign in to EmbodyHealth and download or print them before the portal closes at midnight Dec. 14, 2014.
  • If you have a spouse on the ELCA health plan, please pass this information on to him or her.

If you have questions please contact the Synod Center for Ministry at 319-338-1273.

Faithful People, Holy Lands
How big are the blocks of the temple? What color is the wilderness? What does the wind on the Sea of Galilee feel like? While we can learn a lot about Christ's life and death from scripture, there are a lot of details we can only know from first-hand experience.  

Here's your chance! On September 11-25, 2015, members of the Southeastern Iowa Synod are making a pilgrimage to Israel and Palestine. Pastor Dan Kuckuck (St. Stephen, Urbandale) hosts this trip along with Monte Luker, Professor of Hebrew Scriptures at Lenoir-Rhyne University and Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. For more information, contact Pastor Dan Kuckuck 515-276-4628 dan@ststephenlutheran.org or find out more here.
Churchwide News

Cross True Gift of Christmas

bishop eaton

I remember this jarring image: It was the Christmas Eve candlelight service at my home congregation. A banner depicting Mary and Jesus in the manger had been hung from the ceiling at the front of the nave completely obscuring the large suspended cross. I had seen that banner on Sunday mornings, but on this Christmas Eve in the semidarkness something else appeared. A spotlight that illumined the cross now shown on the banner with the effect of making the outline of the cross appear as the background of the Christmas scene. 


The cross on Christmas? I didn't want the crucified Christ casting a shadow on the Christ child. Christmas is about angels and shepherds and the babe, lying in a manger, not betrayal and death. I didn't like it. Keep reading...

Synod Events
Anti-Racism Workshop

Martin Luther King Day
January 19,2015
9:00AM-3:00PM
Synod Center for Ministry

Let us resolve to not let the events in Ferguson be for nothing. We have tremendous power to initiate healing and change within our communities. Rather than sit back and watch, let us come together to listen to each other, share our stories, hold each other in faith, and work toward a common goal.

"Despite the anger, violence and injustice connected with this sad and horrible tragedy, we should not abandon our hope or our neighbors. The reconciliation we have with God in Christ leads us to our neighbors with the hope that we can engage one another in a common cause.  We come together at the cross. It is our only hope. And, resting in the conviction that we are redeemed, we can begin the hard work of confronting the reality of systemic racism in our country. Because of the cross, we have peace; we have hope; we are loved."  Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton speaking of events in Ferguson, MO.  

Sacred Trust Boundaries Workshop
Rostered leaders and church professionals are invited to attend a one-day Sacred Trust Workshop. This workshop will be presented from 9:00am-3:00pm in two different locations:

Thursday, January 22 
Windsor Heights Lutheran Church, Windsor Heights

Friday, January 23
Faith Lutheran Church, Eldridge

The cost is $25 per person, which includes lunch. You can learn more about the event and register online: here.
ConFest 2015

A high-impact, low-cost, event for junior high youth who are involved in confirmation ministry across the Southeastern Iowa Synod. We invite all middle school students and adult advisors to come and discover their place in God's Story!

The same event will be held on two dates at two locations 

 

Saturday, February 7

Bethany Lutheran Church

West Branch

 

Sunday, February 8

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Ankeny

 

Click here for more information and registration.

You're Invited
Cedar River Theological Education Forum

Held from 9:00AM-11:45AM at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids. See more
Southeastern Iowa Synod | davison@seiasynod.org | http://www.seiasynod.org
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Iowa City, IA 52245




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