Resurrection people who pray first, walk together and change lives

Upstate Update

July 11, 2012

Project Connect Meets With Young Adults 

By Rev. Joe McGarry 

Project Connect hosted a dinner for young adults during the Synod Assembly.  On Friday night 38 young adults from across the synod gathered at Dinosaur BBQ for some dinner and conversation about how God is at work in the world and in their lives.  Through conversation and good food we began to explore how God's presence is in our lives and we began to talk about the connections that we shared.  There were many laughs and there was a sense of hope that we are connected, that together we are the body of Christ.  Sometimes it may seem like we are alone, because our synod is so big.  However, there is a renewed sense that with the help of God and one another we all can celebrate the gifts God has blessed us with.  Project Connect continues to be active and alive.  In the coming months you will hear about more young adult dinners throughout the synod, about a mission trip later in the fall and a young adult retreat at Vanderkamp Center in Cleveland, NY (www.vk.org).  For more information about what is happening please contact Pastor Amber (pastoramber@gmail.com), Pastor Shawn (pastorshawnhannon@gmail.com) or Pastor Joe (pastormcgarry@gmail.com).

School's Out... 

By Marcia Brown, Mission Interpreter  

...now what to do with the kids all summer! The Upstate New York Synod supports two campgrounds, Lake Chautauqua Lutheran Center in southwestern New York, and Vanderkamp in the central part of the state. In the east confirmation camps and senior high weeks are held at other facilities. All provide summer programs under the supervision of Christian counselors. Rest assured that our kids are having fun in a safe, wholesome environment. You can find out more about our camps on the synod website, upstatenysynod.org. Scroll down the right side to "links", and you'll find an alphabetical list of many organizations and missions, the camps among them. Your mission donations help keep these wonderful outdoor ministries going. Thank you!

God's work, our hands.

Diving Into '100 Wells' 

as appearing in THE LUTHERAN

Rev. Adam Miller-Stubbendick, pastor of Bethel Lutheran Church, Jamestown, N.Y., took the plunge - as did the runner-ups.

Youth (left) from five congregations in the Upstate New York Synod asked their pastors to walk the plank in April for the "100 Wells Challenge."

Youth nationwide hope the challenge will raise $250,000 (the amount needed to build 100 wells) for ELCA World Hunger water projects. The New York youth will combine the more than $700 they raised with the offerings of 30,000 others at the July 18-22 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans.

Tidbits

• Spiritual Direction - training and mentoring is available.  The Spiritual Renewal Center in Syracuse will begin their nine month basic program for persons who wish to serve in the ministry of spiritual direction. The group meets the first Monday afternoon of every month from October to June.  For further information  www.spiritualrenewalcenter.com or e-mail mail@spiritualrenewalcenter.com. 
• ELCA experiencing growth in the number of missionaries - Fifteen new missionaries will begin service this July, and a number of ELCA pastors and lay members will return as missionaries as well. To learn about new opportunities for service, see www.elca.org/globalserve.
• Geneva and Taize: Take the Plunge into a deeper spirituality - Young adults are invited to experience the global faith community at the ecumenical centers in Geneva, Switzerland, and Taize, France, May 29-June 9, 2013. See www.elca.org/localevents.
• LET'S STUDY: This summer, don't forget to take time for individual and group study. The Lutheran's July issue is the resource for you! Go deeper and read "Four questions," where ELCA teaching theologians respond to how the American context has shaped Lutherans and the ELCA. And discuss "Dollar by dollar" to learn what it takes to get to the ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans. To help your study group discuss issues surrounding church fundraising, money and stewardship, a study guide is available at www.thelutheran.org (click on "study guides" in the left-hand column; it's free for print and Web subscribers).
• The Fellowship of Recovering Lutheran Clergy (FRLC) is inviting Lutheran clergy who suffer from alcoholism, addictions, and codependency to join with them in their journey to wholeness. FRLC is a fellowship that practices the 12-Step model of recovery and exists to support one another and to reach out to those who still suffer. To learn more, visit www.frlc.org.  
• Synod Ministerium - 2012 Annual Retreat - The 2012 Synod Ministerium will be held at the Notre Dame Retreat House in Canandaigua, NY September 17-19, 2012. This year's gathering features Dr. Erik Heen from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. Click here for the brochure. To register click here.  

Neal F. Fischer, Director of Communications, nfischer@upstatenysynod.org

Phone: 315-446-2502     Fax: 315-446-4642