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UNIFIED MAILING
September 18, 2017
Volume 30 - Issue 5
Published 6 Times a Year
Next unified mailing: 
November 13
Deadline for articles: 
November 17
Unified Newsletter Changes.  The Unified newsletter has gone "electronic!" Paper copies will still be sent to congregations and individuals who have requested them - or who contact the Synod office to request a paper copy going forward.  We will continue to publish the Unified six times/year; submission deadlines will be announced in each issue. The new e-Unified will be sent to all email subscribers, and published on the Synod's web site, www.neos-elca.org . The weekly E-news will keep you updated with all the news, events and pertinent information in between Unifieds.  If you would like to begin receiving the E-news and our other electronic mailings you may sign-up on our website. Simply go to www.neos-elca.org and click on Unified Newsletter; from there click on Join Our Electronic Mailings to sign-up. If you have articles or notices to publish in the Unified, please contact Marilyn Matevia at the Synod office,  [email protected]

Please remember to let the Synod office know if your Unified job postings, equipment offers or requests, etc., have been filled!
     
Lutheran Catholic Prayer for Commemorating the Reformation. The Lutheran-Catholic Covenant Commission invites Lutherans and Catholics to pray together, especially during this year's Common Commemoration of the Reformation.  For Reformation Sunday, you are welcome to use the Prayer for Commemorating the Reformation worship aid in the attachments to this newsletter.
For other prayer resources and for more Commemoration information, visit the Lutheran Catholic Covenant website: www.lccovenant.weebly.com or Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Lutheran-Catholic-Covenant-169767929709568/ . The Commission welcomes the use of any Commemoration resources by the NEOS ELCA churches beyond the geographical boundaries of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown.

Impact of the Reformation on Faith and Civilization Walsh University Series.   Make plans to attend the Walsh University Lifelong Learning Academy commemoration of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation in their fall series: Impact of the Reformation on Faith and Civilization, Wednesday, 7:00-8:30 p.m., including the following topics and speakers:
  • October 4:  Catholic and Lutherans Seeking Communion: An Example of Catholic/ Protestant Dialogue, Reverend Joseph Witmer and Pastor Mark Williams (Barrette Business and Community Center/BBCC)
  • October 11: Reform Movements in Judaism, Rabbi Jon Adland (BBCC)
  • October 18:  Reform and Renewal in Islam, Imam Ramez Islambouli (BBCC)
  • October 25:  Voices of Grace: Musical Voices Shared Across Theological Borders, Reverend Anissa Glaser-Bacon (Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapel)
  • November 8:  The Impact of the Reformation on Art and Architecture, M. J. Albacete (BBCC)
Walsh University Lifelong Learning Academy programs are open to the public without charge.  Reservations are not required.  For further information contact Rabbi John Spitzer at [email protected] , 330-244-4734, or visit https://www.walsh.edu/the-impact-of-the-reformation-on-faith-and-civilization%20
 
The 32nd Annual Festival Celebration of the Reformation and a Celebration of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation will take place Reformation Sunday, October 29, 2017, 7:00 p.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Alliance, Ohio (on Union Ave. (St. Rte. 183), one mile south of State St. (US 62) at second stop light). The Guest Preacher will be Pastor Karl Biermann, Assistant to the Bishop, Northeastern Ohio Synod of the ELCA. See the enclosed flyer.
 
Common Commemoration Ecumenical Evening Prayer. Mark your calendars for the Common Commemoration ecumenical evening prayer celebrated by Bishop George V Murry SJ and Bishop Abraham Allende on October 29, 2017, 6:00 p.m., St. Columba Cathedral, Youngstown. See the enclosed flyer.

   
Note: we are continually updating a calendar of Reformation Anniversary events in the weekly e-news and on the synod website: http://neos-elca.org/reformation-events/
   

Mark Your Calendars for the 2018 Sawmill Professional Ministers Retreat! Rostered ministers and full-time church professionals from all three Ohio synods are invited to the Professional Ministers Retreat at Sawmill Creek Resort;  400 Sawmill Creek Dr., Huron, OH 44839; January 16-18, 2018. The early, discounted registration deadline is November 15, 2017. The final registration deadline is December 15, 2017. The theme is "Prayer." Keynote presenter, the Rev. Brent Dahlseng, authored "Grounded in Prayer: A Small Group Training Guide in Congregational Prayer," and serves as senior pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Loves Park, Illinois. The Bible study presenter is Rachel Wrenn. An Old Testament Ph.D. candidate at Emory University's Candler School of Theology, Wrenn is a contributing scholar/exegete for "Working Preacher," has published Bible studies in the Augsburg Fortress "People of Faith" series, and was published in the Fall 2016 Word and World. Watch for registration information coming soon!