Headlines: Assembly, Cristo Rey, Lenoir-Rhyne, and more.
Joining neighbors, serving boldly, loving all, through Christ.
The South Carolina Lutheran eNews
2016 South Carolina Synod Assembly June 9-11, 2016
This year's Synod Assembly will be held for June 9-11 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, 1101 Lincoln Street Columbia, SC. Wireless internet is available throughout the facility at no cost.
  
A Reforming Church: Living out Reconciliation and Renewal
  
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you may discern what is the will of God" - Romans 12:2
  
2016 is the Twenty-nineth Assembly of the South Carolina Synod - ELCA and the 191st meeting of the Lutheran Church in South Carolina.
  
At this Assembly we are looking forward to the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation by exploring our history as well as looking ahead to the ways we continue to be a Reforming Church. We will be electing a Secretary and Treasurer in addition to the general elections for Synod Council leaders and Committees. We will share in Bible Study, Worship, Mission Moments, Keynote Presentations, and Faith Practices/Discipleship Experiences. It promises to be a full and exciting Assembly. We look forward to being together with you.
  
Online Registration is Now Open
  
All of our registration is done online (no paperwork for assembly is mailed). Please go to http://scsynod.com/synod-assembly to get up-to-date information on assembly and to register. If you need assistance with online registration, please give Julie a call at (803) 509-8323, or email her [email protected].
  
Early Birds get a significant discount for Registration so please take advantage of this and Register early. Online registration will remain open until June 7th, HOWEVER, the last day you can include meals and t-shirt is May 20 at 5:00th pm. May 20th is also the deadline to request any refunds for any changes that you have made in your registration. Registration is set up so that individuals may register themselves or one person may register their entire group. Please note that after you register, we send follow-up information which is pertinent to our work at assembly, and if you are registered as a group, it is the responsibility of the person who registers the group to be sure that everyone has the information.
  
Payments:
There are two options for Payments this year.
  • You can mail a Check to the Synod Office within 10 days of your registration or by May 27th. Your check should be made payable to SC Synod with a note that says Assembly Registration. The address is 1003 Richland Street, Columbia, SC 29201 or 
  • You can pay online at http://bit.ly/scsynodgiving Please put the amount next to Synod Assembly and follow the instructions online.
Registration Fees:
$35 until April 18th;
$50 after April 18th
  
You can help. "There's a job for everyone!"
By Michael Kohn
  
What a way for you and your congregation to spend a spring Saturday in outreach! Latinos and Anglos work side by side clearing the land for Cristo Rey Lutheran, Lexington.
  
Cristo Rey, a fast-growing and spirit-filled Latino congregation in the SC Synod, initially hosted and shepherded by St. David's/Lexington, is now planning to build, and you can help! Volunteers will be working to clear the land this spring and prepare for initial modules this summer.
  
There's a job for everyone! Pisgah youth, pictured here, were a major force on the first workday. You and your fellow members are invited to join in the next scheduled Saturday workdays, 10:00 - 1:00:
  • April 2
  • April 16 (in conjunction with Operation Inasmuch)
  • May 7
  •  May 21
Bring your work gloves, wheelbarrows, chainsaws, lops, sun protection, and a willing, eager heart! For more info, email [email protected] or call 803.609.KOHN [5646].
  
A Letter from Bishop Timothy Smith of the North Carolina Synod Regarding the Events at Lenoir-Rhyne University
Photo: Will Wing
Allow me to catch you up on presidential candidate Trump's visit to Lenoir-Rhyne University (LRU), one of our ELCA universities, in Hickory, NC yesterday, March 14. We had about 100 clergy and at least that many more lay people from as far away as Atlanta and Nashville who came to join us. Our presence was less a "protest"--really not a protest at all--and more of a "demonstration," a demonstration of the love and peace of Christ.
  
There were about 5,000 people lined up to get into the auditorium which seats only 1400, and Trump was almost 2 hours late due to fog. In addition to ELCA groups, there were groups of students (it was spring break on campus), a faculty demonstration group, a Latino group waving Mexican flags, and a large African American group that for unknown reasons was denied entrance to the auditorium even though they had tickets. The Lutheran group, by choice, did not try to go inside the rally.
  
Because we got there about 8 a.m. and Trump didn't speak until almost noon, there was a 4-hour period with thousands of people standing together. The Lutherans sang hymns constantly, and at one point when one group of protesters and a pod of Trump supporters started screaming, shouting obscenities, and making obscene gestures and finally rushing toward each other, spontaneously the Lutheran clergy linked arms and got between the screaming groups and sang "Jesus Loves Me"...second verse, "Jesus loves you." It was a sight to behold. Clearly, our presence, at least in that moment, kept things civil. One reporter near me who was running with a camera to film the altercation was clearly disappointed. Thwarted violence and "Jesus Loves Me" are not news. I'm pretty sure she was miffed that we had spoiled her "scoop" sensationalist story.
  
Tidbits
Help Wanted: Full-Time Director of Music Ministries - Grace, Rock Hill
Grace Lutheran Church, Rock Hill, SC is looking for a Director of Music ministries (salary $42,000-$46,000).
Key Responsibilities:
  • Provide musical leadership for weekly worship (8:30 and 11:00 AM Sunday Worship) midweek Lenten and Advent worship, major festivals and other worship opportunities as scheduled. 
  • Director children's music program with the assistance of music interns from Winthrop 
  • Work collaboratively with pastor to plan and lead thematic worship 
  • Plan and conduct inspiring, efficient choir rehearsals 
  • Oversee, build upon and expand a creative program of vocal and instrumental music 
  • Perform administrative duties related to worship and music, including, but not limited to preparation of worship support material, copyright compliance and budget management. 
  • Oversee maintenance of music library, musical instruments, rehearsal space, etc. 
  • Be available for planning rehearsing and playing for weddings and funerals
Resumes may be sent to Rev. Christine Stoxen: [email protected]
  
Help Wanted: Resident Director - Camp Kinard, Batesburg-Leesville
The South Carolina Lutheran Retreat Centers is currently seeking a dynamic team player to fill the position of Resident Director at Camp Kinard in Batesburg-Leesville, SC. This individual will be responsible for the hospitality of a diverse range of year round guests at this camp and conference center. Hospitality includes, but is not limited to, greeting guests and being available to them during their stay while making sure the facilities are kept in running order.
     Required qualifications include a welcoming and inclusive personality, excellent communication skills, willingness to "get hands dirty", knowledge of general maintenance and facilities upkeep, and ability to lift and carry objects weighing over 50 pounds. This job also requires an understanding of and appreciation for ELCA policy and doctrine. Preferred qualifications include a bachelor's degree, some theological training, and prior church camp experience.
     This is a year-round position and requires weekend and summer work. The resident director is expected to live on-site in company provided housing. Benefits include a competitive pay package, health and pension benefits, housing and utilities. Applicants are asked to please forward a letter of interest that includes at least three references, salary expectations, and resume by email to [email protected]. Resumes and letters of interest will be accepted through May 15, 2016. It is anticipated that this position will be filled by September 15, 2016. More information about the ministry of the South Carolina Lutheran Retreat Centers can be found at www.sclrc.com.
  
Child Development Ministries / Day Cares "Save the Date"
Pisgah Lutheran Church in Lexington, SC will be hosting "The Quill: A Professional Development Workshop" on May 14, 2016 for Child Development Ministry Directors and Staff. There will be sessions offered in areas like using Christian curriculum, teaching techniques, working with children of differing needs, and lots more! Exhibits and sessions will offer some great information that would help your staff better serve the children in your ministry. Attendees can earn up to 6 hours of continuing education credit. Save the date and keep an eye out for more details and registration information to come soon! We hope to see you there! If you have questions, or would like to present or exhibit at the event, please email Rose at [email protected].
  
Lutheridge spring events
March 31-April 3
Create in Me with the theme: Holy Spirit--Dreams and Visions. Come explore and enjoy music, stained glass, movement, fabric, words, paint, drums and more. Register by March 10 and receive a $20 discount! Learn more >>
April 8-10
Scrap Camp is dedicated to scrapbooking sprinkled with fun, inspiration, fellowship, devotions, and Sunday worship. Arrive on Thursday for an extra day of scrapbooking: $65.00 per person. Learn more >>
  
Newsletter now available
The Winter 2015-2016 edition of The Ripple is now available. Read the latest from the South Carolina Women of the ELCA here >>
  
500th Anniversary of the Reformation Resources from Augsburg Fortress
The Augsburg Fortress Lutheran resource development team is hard at work on a number of resources to assist congregations with commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.
  
Photo courtesy of Allegheny Synod
ELCA Conference of Bishops, others to examine future direction, priorities
The Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is discerning the denomination's future directions and priorities in a new process known as "Called Forward Together in Christ." ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton is leading "Called Forward Together in Christ," endorsed by the ELCA Church Council and in collaboration with the Conference of Bishops. The process is designed to invite the more than 3.7 million-member ELCA into discernment about the church's future. From this process, a statement will be prepared that articulates future directions and priorities that the council, which serves as the ELCA's board of directors, will consider at its November 2016 meeting. The goal is to launch the statement in 2017 as part of the ELCA's observance of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.
  
ELCA's comprehensive campaign finishes second year with $80 million raised
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) first comprehensive campaign, Always Being Made New: The Campaign for the ELCA, is celebrating the completion of its second year with $80 million in cash gifts and gift commitments, representing 40 percent of the five-year, $198 million goal by Jan. 31, 2019. In addition, the ELCA has received another $17 million in planned gifts commitments to the priorities of the campaign.
  
End Racism Day - March 21
The SC Human Affairs Commission is taking the lead to promote End Racism Day and we hope it will encourage goodwill and harmony in our state. This is South Carolina's time to show the rest of the country we are moving our state in a positive direction by advancing civility and concern rather than hate and divisiveness.
  
Crime prevention for your congregation
It's impossible to predict when and where crime will strike. That's why it's so important to be prepared. By starting a crime prevention program now, you are helping protect your worship center and congregation.
  
GO! Take the Health Assessment before April 30
Have you taken the annual Health Assessment offered by Portico yet? As of March 1, 31.82% of eligible plan members and spouses have completed it. In order to reach 65%, and earn a 1% discount for all participating organization, 59 more individuals will need to take the Health Assessment before April 30. Not only will each individual earn $150 wellness dollars, but you then have until Nov. 30 to work to create change in your health or community, and earn an additional $250. Go to the Portico website for more information.
  
IRS Tax Credit Available for Small Employers
Many churches still qualify for a tax credit offered by the Affordable Care Act if they amend prior year tax returns. The tax credit was available from 2010-2013 to small employers that provided health insurance for employees. The ELCA organizations that claimed these credits saved thousands of dollars - but many did not make this claim. To determine if your church or organization is still eligible, download this information sheet from Portico Benefit Services.
And a time to laugh...
Palm Sunday
For Palm Sunday I was thinking about printing Bible verses of the resurrection on palm fronds. But I reconsidered after realizing the reading palms was against scripture. (Deut. 18:10)
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