Headlines: Holy Listening, Reconciliation, Boundaries and more.
Joining neighbors, serving boldly, loving all, through Christ.
The South Carolina Lutheran eNews
Holy Listening and Conversation
Traditional African-American churches and South Carolina Synod congregations will be participating in three Holy Listening events taking place in Charleston, Columbia and Greenville. Together they will watch the movie, and discuss how the events that occurred in Selma are still present today in small groups, participate in Bible study and work to discern next steps for faithful racial reconciliation. You are invited to join in this vital discussion about race relations in our area and the world at large. The events are free and open to the public.
  
Where and when:
  
In Columbia join together with members of Bethel AME, Rehoboth United Church of Jesus Christ, Christ Mission, Ebenezer, and Incarnation from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on August 30th at Ebenezer Lutheran Church.
  
In Greenville you are invited to join Allen Temple AME, Long Branch Baptist, Sringfield Baptist, Lutheran Church of Our Savior, St. Michael and Trinity in this dialogue at 2:00 p.m. on August 30th at Trinity Lutheran Church. This event starts with lunch together. RSVP for lunch to [email protected].
ELCA to join AME Church Sept. 6 for prayer, commitment to end racism
By Melissa Ramirez Cooper, ELCA Associate Director, Publications & Public Relations
  
In response to a statement and call to action from the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME), the Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), has pledged the 3.8 million-member ELCA to participate Sept. 6 in "Confession, Repentance and Commitment to End Racism Sunday."
  
The AME Church, together with the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church and Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, are calling "every church, temple, mosque and faith communion" to "confess and repent from the sin of racism" Sept. 6 during their respective worship. Faith leaders worldwide are being asked to preach about racism and engage as "people of faith to end racism."
  
"We received the AME Bishops statement and call to action," wrote Eaton in a letter to AME Church leaders. "I pledge to you that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will participate, and I will invite our bishops, pastors, and leaders to reach out to ecumenical and inter-religious partners to encourage them to do so as well, and to consider possible ways of joining together," she wrote.
  
ELCA worship resources for Sept. 6 are available at www.ELCA.org/resources/worship and resources from the AME at www.ame-church.com/liberty-and-justice-for-all. To encourage participation and continued conversation about racism, Eaton shared these resources in an Aug. 25 email to ELCA rostered leaders.
  
A Seat at the Table: Pathways to Reconciliation
In the wake of a rash of police shootings of black men across the country and the terrible tragedy at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, ETV will air a special that provides a conversation about race. Nikky Finney narrates the program which features interviews with people who have spent years thinking about race and reconciliation, including S.C. Congressman James Clyburn, among others. The program will be followed by a discussion with a group of local leaders who reflect on racial reconciliation in the state.
  
The special airs on September 7 at 7:00 p.m. and September 27 at 5:00 p.m. Both times are immediately followed by the local discussion.
Boundaries Workshop for Rostered Leaders
A one day Boundaries Workshop for all rostered leaders of the South Carolina Synod will be held on Thursday, September 10, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church (525 St. Andrews Rd., Columbia). All rostered leaders are asked to make participation in this important workshop a top priority. Please put this date on your calendar and plan to attend. Please complete the registration form and return it to the Synod Office by September 1st, 2015. Lunch will be provided for all participants.
  
Pastor Tommy Lineberger and Pastor Kathy Chartier have been trained as South Carolina Synod Boundary Workshop Leaders. Their willingness to serve as the leaders for this important event is appreciated. Also appreciated is the hospitality of Pastor Gary Loadholdt and the people of Redeemer for serving as hosts.
  
This workshop is one step in helping us all face a topic that is of deep concern in our society and in our church. Rostered leaders serving in the South Carolina Synod are strongly urged to take advantage of this educational opportunity.
  
Tidbits
Lutheridge Power Line Update
Lutheridge faces a serious threat from an electric transmission line running through the site. Your help is urgently needed to help divert Duke Energy from routing the transmission line through the site. Thanks to so many for already responding to this concern. I've heard from people across the southeast and have received excellent counsel.
  
Sundays at Lowman Concert Series
Join us, Sunday September 13, 2015 for an afternoon of music. Performing will be Susan Zhang on the piano. All Sunday at Lowman Concerts are held at 3:00 pm on Sunday afternoons in the New Life Chapel located in the Wellness Center on the Heritage at Lowman campus and will be followed by a reception in the adjacent Hoefler Gallery. The concerts are free and open to the public. For more information about our concert series please call 803-451-7414.
  
Embracing Stewardship in the Congregation
It's hard work to embrace stewardship in the congregation. It's about changing the language, biblical teachings, being missional, being faithful to proportionate giving, and the practice of giving. Sometimes we need a program to move us from thinking to doing. So if you are looking for a program, I recommend that you take a look at Because of God's Great Mercy, written by Pastor Charles Lane, author of Ask, Thank, Tell: Improving Stewardship Ministry in Your Congregation. Because of God's Great Mercy is a stewardship response program designed to be used in congregations of any size. It is an online resource, easily found at www.embracingstewardship.com.
  
Synod Spouses Lunch
Reminder: There will be a lunch on Saturday, August 29th at Travinia Italian Kitchen, 5074 Sunset Boulevard, Lexington, SC 29072 starting at 11:30 a.m. This lunch is for spouses of rostered leaders in the South Carolina Synod.
  
A 250th Anniversary Celebration
Sandy Run Lutheran Church [1927 Old State Road (Hwy 176), (Sandy Run), Swansea, SC 29160] will celebrate her 250th Anniversary of her founding beginning at 11:00 AM on Sunday, September 27, 2015. The Guest Pastor to deliver the sermon will be the Reverend Herman R. Yoos, Bishop of the South Carolina Synod. A homecoming type-meal meal will follow this historic worship along with an afternoon of fellowship and activities. Sandy Run will recognize any letters and other correspondence sent All congregations, Roistered Leaders, past members and brothers and sisters in Christ, interested persons please come, be a part of our rejoicing in the Lord.
  
A Practice Discipleship Webinar
"Story of Self and Other" the fifth in a series of Practice Discipleship Initiative webinars is coming September 1st at 2:00 p.m. (EDT) / 1:00 p.m. (CDT). The presenter is Mindy Makant. Webinar Description: Making room to hear others' stories is an act of hospitality in which Christ is present. Listening to such stories helps us see beyond what is to what can/could/might be, opening imaginative possibilities and realities beyond the immediately visible and self-evident. Ultimately, our relationships with others can then inform and shape our own story.
  
Building support for refugee resettlement in the Carolinas and beyond
As an agency that helps resettle refugees in North and South Carolina, Lutheran Services Carolinas believes that the Carolinas should be a place of support and welcome for refugees. Part of encouraging that attitude is helping people understand who refugees are and dispelling myths and misconceptions about refugees. To that end, working together with HIAS, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service and their partners in The Linking Communities Project, Charlotte Awake, has released a series of eight infographics designed to foster pro-resettlement sentiment in North Carolina by getting the facts out. By offering positive, simple messages that are easily shared across social media networks, these infographics can reach a wide audience and encourage communities to be more welcoming and supportive of their new refugee neighbors. All eight graphics are available here. LSC encourages churches to make use of this valuable free resource.
And a time to laugh...
Who was the greatest babysitter mentioned in the Bible?
David. He rocked Goliath to sleep.
  
If you ever met Goliath, would you tell him that joke?
No, he already fell for it once.
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