Complete Story
 

08/16/2014

Southern Ohio Synod E-bulletin for the Week of August 20, 2014

Take a glance at the headlines and intro paragraphs below. Then click through to read the full story on the synod website. Also, if you prefer the news to come to your social networking pages, follow us on Twitter and Facebook!

All of the stories, events, prayers and employment opportunities below are on our synod website. If you have trouble clicking through using the headline links below, please visit our website at www.southernohiosynod.org.

Missed last week's e-bulletin? Click HERE to view our archived weekly e-bulletins and get caught up on what's happening in our synod.

 

Giraffe Introduces Himself

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Giraffe is traveling the synod this summer!

Look for Giraffe and Bishop Dillahunt or another member of the Southern Ohio Synod staff at a ministry event near you!

See our Facebook page for photos of Giraffe's visits. Listed below are the sites he's visited so far. Did you see him? 

  • First English, Lancaster
  • St. Paul, Ironton
  • St. Paul, Bridgeport
  • All Shepherds, Lewis Center
  • Augsburg, Cincinnati
  • St. Paul, Pomeroy
  • St. John, Racine
  • Holy Trinity, Newark
  • St. John's, Martins Ferry
  • St. Paul, North Berne
  • Emmanuel, Coshocton
  • St. Mark's, Delaware
  • Roselawn, Cincinnati
  • First English, Columbus
  • St. Paul, Ashville
  • New Lebanon, Junction City
  • Holy Trinity, New Lexington
  • St. John's, Zanesville
  • Zion, Middletown
  • Fellowship, Columbus

New Amazing Grace Day Camps and Giraffe photos posted to Facebook. Click HERE to see them.

 

SAVE THE DATE! 2015 SOS Assembly

June 5-6, 2015 Southern Ohio Synod Assembly at Capital University in Columbus. Assembly plenary sessions will take place on Friday and Saturday, June 5 & 6. Please begin planning now to attend.

 

Synod News

SOS Hymn List for 2014-2015 Ready for Download

We are grateful to Pr. Bill Rauch of the SOS Worship Committee for once again putting this resource together for synod use. 

Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem Needs Your Help--Contact Congress to Release Needed Humanitarian Aid

An update from the SOS Middle East Task Force

Call for Congregations to Host Amazing Grace Day Camps in 2015-Contact Task Force Chair Before Oct 15

The Amazing Grace Day Camp Task Force will soon begin the process of choosing host congregations for Amazing Grace Day Camps in the summer of 2015. 

Community Life to Have New Structure at 2015 Youth Gathering

At the 2015 Gathering, Community Life will have a new structure. The changes are so exciting that we've dedicated a whole issue of gNews to Community Life! 

Bishop Dillahunt Appointed Chair of the Synodical and Churchwide Relations Committee of the Conference of Bishops

We are pleased to announce that Bishop Suzanne Dillahunt has been appointed by the ELCA Executive Committee to serve as chairperson for the Synodical and Churchwide Relations Committee of the Conference of Bishops. 

Congregations Invited to Attend 'Multiple Staff Workshop' Sept 8-10

The dynamics of mutiple staff ministry is something one learns after leaving seminary. Although multiple staffs are present in a minority of congregations in the ELCA, they tend to be highly visible ministries. Approximately 10% of the clergy in the Church serve in a team ministry and almost all lay professionals (Associates in Ministry, Diaconal Ministers and Deconesses) serve in a team setting. 

Feed My Sheep Newsletter: Feeding the Community, Kilts and Clean Air

This month's Feed My Sheep newsletter from the SOS Hunger Task Force highlights the feeding ministry at First English, Columbus that has given the congregation a new purpose and welcome presence in the neighborhood; the Kilted 50 For Charity that has our friends at the ELCA Churchwide office wearing kilts; and a connection between clean air and poverty. 

Southern Ohio Synod Members Invited to 'Growing in Christ' Conference in Akron, Featuring Our Own Gary Pecuch as Keynote Speaker

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church invites you to join them in Akron, Ohio, ​for Growing in Christ…a conference exploring ​the challenges and possibilities for ​Christian discipleship​. The dates are September 5 and 6, 2014.

August, September and October Parish Paper Issues Ready for Download and Sharing

The Parish Paper offers 'Ideas and insights for active congregations' and is made available to you to share with your congregation via hard copy, email or website thanks to your mission support contributions. 

Openings at the 4G Networking Word/Witness/Application Intensives in August and October-Read On for Details!

The Southern Ohio Synod's 4G Networking team invites all our congregations to participate in a 2-day intensive to learn new ways to talk about money and inspire generosity and church giving in a struggling economy. 

2014 Fall Southern Ohio Synod Lay School of Theology New Learning Opportunities

The course, 'Christian Ethics: Theology, Method and Practice' promises to be an interesting and meaningful learning experience. It is geared for the person-in-the-pew and also for people in positions of lay worship leadership in the congregation.  

 

 

ELCA News

Plan Your Congregation's Global Church Sunday Now

This fall, ELCA congregations and ministries are invited to celebrate God's global church by hosting a Global Church Sunday.

Registration Deadline for Portico Long-Term Care Insurance is Aug 29! Find Out More by Attending a Webinar Soon.

Long-term care is the medical and/or social term for helping people who develop disabilities or chronic care needs. Long-term care insurance pays for long-term care services such as helping someone with walking, getting dressed, eating, bathing and care associated with Alzheimer's disease. 

Email from Bishop Eaton, Presiding Bishop of the ELCA, Regarding Your Participation in 'God's Work, Our Hands' Sunday, Sept 7

It's not too late to plan your participation in this dedicated day of service! Here’s how I'm planning to spend the day.

Watch video

Unaccompanied and Migrant Children: Myths vs. Facts

Since October 2013, approximately 60,000 children from Central America have crossed borders to arrive in the United States. This mass migration of children has garnered international media attention, and with it, a lot of contradictory information. 

Global Mission of the Month--Abby Henderson, Young Adult in Global Mission

August 2014 Mission of the Month-AbbyAs a Young Adult in Global Mission, Abby Henderson mentored teen girls and encouraged them to stay in school. Inspire your congregation with her story! 

 

ELCA Establishes Working Group to Explore Ministry to Same-gender Couples, Families

The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has established a working group to explore ministry and pastoral care for same-gender couples and their families. “Ministry to and with Same-Gender Couples and their Families” was established in response to action taken by the 2013 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, approving a memorial regarding conversations about ministering to same-gender couples and families.

ELCA to Provide Humanitarian Assistance for Victims of Violence in Gaza

he Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will provide $100,000 in humanitarian assistance to Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem to help support the operation of the healthcare system in the midst of the current violence in the Middle East. The funds will be disbursed through Lutheran Disaster Response to The Lutheran World Federation (LWF).

'Great expectations not novel'--Bp Elizabeth Eaton's August 2014 Column in The Lutheran

In her August column for The Lutheran, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton reminds readers that God gives us what we need to participate in God’s mission—and it’s happening. She asks ELCA members to share the signs of life, of mission, they see across this church. They are there if we take time to notice.

ELCA Leaders Call for Dignity, Compassion Toward Unaccompanied Children

Prior to the U.S. House of Representatives’ cancellation July 31 of its vote to provide an emergency response to the tens of thousands of unaccompanied children entering the United States, some members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) had worked to contact their representatives to encourage them to “address the issue with dignity and compassion.”

Invitation to Attend Region 6 Discernment Retreat Sept 19-20 2014

"I'm curious where the Holy Spirit is leading me." "Lately, I've been feeling a sense of call to serve the church in a new way." "I'm intrigued by becoming a leader in the ELCA."

If you identify with any of the statements above, please plan to attend the ELCA Region 6 Discernment Retreat on September 19-20, 2014 at Lutherwald in Howe, Indiana. 

ELCA Malaria Campaign Newsletter-August 2014 Updates, Insights and Tips for You and Your Congregation

The Southern Ohio Synod is inching it's way toward our $350,000 goal by the end of 2015. 

 

Partners and Affiliates 

Ebola, Gaza, Unaccompanied Children at the Border: How LWR is Responding

The Ebola outbreak in West Africa, unrest in Gaza and the unaccompanied minors at the border crisis have all been dominating headlines and news broadcasts. With your help, Lutheran World Relief is responding, working with partners around the world to reach people affected by all three of these situations. Read on to find out what we’re doing. 

Earthkeeping Summit, Oct 12-13, in Columbus-Don't Miss Out!

An invitation to Ohio’s faith community to gather on October 12 & 13, 2014 to empower a religious response to climate change through: sharing Earthkeeping congregational and advocacy success stories; learning from one another about the joys and challenges of our Earthkeeping efforts; affirming the moral and ethical foundations of our response to climate change; and offering resources to equip congregations to fulfill their responsibility for the stewardship of creation .

'Appreciative Inquiry' 2.5 and 1 Day Conferences Offered Through Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky for Rostered & Lay Leaders

Two offerings are available to rostered and lay leaders in the Southern Ohio Synod to make this conference as accessible to as many people as possible. 

Lutheran Men in Mission Looking to Meet with Congregations About the Benefits of a Strong Men's Group

This is a unique opportunity to help start, restart or jump start the men's group in your congregation. 

 

Prayers    

Congratulations to Pr. Ken Witt on the birth of his grandson, Isaac

The Rev. Patricia Lull as she is installed as Bishop of The Saint Paul Area Synod

Family and friends of Rev. David Riley

Family and friends of Rev. Ray Garrett

Congratulations to Pr. Will Hartfelder on the birth of his granddaughter

Congratulations to Pr. Karen Torrez on the birth of her first grandchild 

 

Employment Opportunities 

Organist
Zion Lutheran Church, West Jefferson

Director of Music
Lord of Life Lutheran Church, West Chester

Assistant to the President/CEO
Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio

Director for Budget Planning
ELCA

If your ELCA-affiliated organization or congregation has an open position you'd like to advertise, please send the position description, contact person information and a deadline for submitting applications to sbarton-nonno@southernohiosynod.org.

 

Upcoming Events in Our Synod

August 18-20, 2014
Southern Ohio Synod Office Closed

August 22-23, 2014
Candidacy Retreat
Fleming Falls Retreat Center, Camp Mowana

August 25-26, 2014
Southern Ohio Synod Office Closed

September 3, 2014 10:00AM
Muskingum Conference Clergy Gathering--Hosted by Pr. Mark Combs
St. John's Lutheran Church, Zanesville

September 3, 2014 7:00-8:30PM
Fall 2015 Youth Gathering Informational Meeting
All Saints, Worthington

September 4, 2014 8:15-9:50AM
Northwest Columbus Clergy Cluster Gathering--Prs Bonnie Gerber, Mike Weaver & Jeff Wise, hosts
All Saints Lutheran Church, Worthington

September 4, 2014 7:00-8:30PM
Fall 2015 Youth Gathering Informational Meeting
Christ, Cambridge

September 5-6, 2014
Growing in Christ Conference
Challenges and Possibilities for Christian Discipleship
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 50 North Prospect St, Akron

September 7, 2014
God's Work, Our Hands Sunday Day of Service
Your community

September 8-10, 2014
Multiple-Staff Workshop
St. Therese's Retreat Center, 5277 East Broad St., Columbus

 

To see all events on the synod website calendar click HERE.

Printer-Friendly Version