07/29/2014

July 2014 Note to Synod

Grace and peace be with you in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Summer in the church does not mean things slow down or stop or come to an end. Many ministries continue right through and into the fall. As I have visited around the synod I see how we are church together in neighborhoods and faith communities. Ministries from Amazing Grace Day Camps, to food giveaways, community gardens, worship, calling new rostered leaders and being Christ's presence in the world continues and you are a part of that.

As many of you have seen and heard, Giraffe has become a mascot-of sorts for SOS; visiting Amazing Grace Day Camps, congregations and showing up in places where God's work, through all of you, is happening. It has been wonderful to see the faces of children, young and old alike.... as they meet Giraffe. The invitations for him to travel throughout the synod have been amazing. In some cases Giraffe receives more invites to come join a congregation than either Prs. Wick and Williams receive in a year! Hmmmm.

Last week, I had the privilege and honor to attend the 9th Triennial Gathering of the WELCA in Charlotte, North Carolina. Over 2400 women from all over the ELCA, about 50 or so from SOS, met, prayed, sang, learned, networked and shared their faith together. The theme was based on Isaiah 58:12: "And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations. You shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in.”

We must take seriously the call to be repairers of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in. Our Christian brothers and sisters in the world are in need of our continued prayers and support.

From Kenya, to Pakistan, to Mosul,…Christians are killed and displaced because of their faith. Along the border of the U.S. we hear of bus loads of unaccompanied children, some as young as three-years-old, coming to find a better life. With the help of ELCA Immigration and Refugee Services, we are on the ground working alongside LDR-Disaster Response and our advocacy office in Washington to assist and help find foster homes for these children. You are part of this ministry, being church together, not just in your congregation and this synod, but through support of the larger church.

As Lutheran Christians today, we not only share the gospel in our communities...proclaiming Jesus Christ as the embodiment of God's love...but we connect to the larger church with Mission Support to make ministry happen here, and throughout the world. That's how we start being church together. We love to do ministry and I am grateful to all the congregations who give to the ministry of the larger church. Without all of you, ministry in Southern Ohio could not happen.

Having said that, this brings me to mission support.......well, I can say that 177 (we have 202) congregations have sent in the Statement of Intent for 2014, which is the highest number we’ve received in years. That is good news and THANK YOU. But there is more to just sending the Intent in. The second part is actually giving what is intended. THANK YOU to those congregations who have given. Keep it up! For those who have not given or are somewhat behind, please give. We are now about half-way through the fiscal year, and we are not at 50% of those intents. I know giving in the summer is often times ‘not all that great,’ but, we do have a commitment to ministries and lives in the synod, ELCA and beyond. At the WELCA Gathering those 2400 women gave, in the Thursday evening worship service for thank-offerings, $38,978 to share in the work of being church together for the sake of the Gospel. I have faith that you all will give also and send in the mission support regularly. In the next several weeks you will receive your quarterly statement. Please check to make sure it is accurate and let it serve as a reminder of your commitment to the larger church.

Finally, I ask for your prayers for all of our companion synods....Tanzania, Northern Germany, Kazakstan and Brazil. On August 11, Pr. Bob Ward, Pr. Mick Althauser, Pr. Ed Williams and I leave for Brazil to join others from the ELCA and Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil (Igreja Evangelica de Confissao Luterana no Brasil) to discuss renewing congregations, sustainability, ministry models and leadership as we move into the future. This trip was made possible through a grant from the ELCA and the generous people of St. Jacob, Anna and I thank them for this incredible opportunity. I look forward to sharing my impressions when I return.

Have a good rest of the summer!

We are Church Together.

God's Peace,

Bishop Suzanne Dillahunt