SEPA Announcements

NEW! IRS sets 2026 business standard mileage rate at 72.5 cents per mile,

up 2.5 cents

The Internal Revenue Service announced that the optional standard mileage rate for business use of automobiles will increase by 2.5 cents in 2026, while the mileage rate for vehicles used for medical purposes will decrease by half a cent, reflecting updated cost data and annual inflation adjustments.

LEARN MORE

__________________________

NEW! Annual Congregation Report

In mid-January, congregations and worshiping communities will receive a letter from Secretary Mills containing information on how to access the online filing system.

LEARN MORE

__________________________

Black History Month Display

Mark Staples, a member of Trinity, Lansdale, has been working on an updated presentation/display for Black History Month. HERE is a link to the display. If you have questions or want to do the display in your congregation, contact Mark

__________________________

NEW! Rise Against Hunger at

Advent Lutheran Church

Saturday, February 14

Noon to 1:30 pm Set-up

1:30 -3:30 pm Meal Assembly

3:30 pm FREE hour of ice skating at PNY Sports Arena

1601 Green Lane, West Chester

Call 610-436 0807 with questions.

Great for ages 5 through seniors!

__________________________

2026 Council Leaders Gathering

February 21, 2026

8:30 am to Noon

United Lutheran Seminary

Benbow Hall

7241 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia

New or continuing Congregation Council leaders and officers are invited to this informative event to support your ministry. Register today!

__________________________

NEW! Zion Lutheran Church

Organ Recital Series

Friday, February 13, 2026

7:00 pm

301 Jefferson Ave., Bristol,Pa

Young, up-and-coming organist, Jake Darmstadter will present a delightful and varied program with nods to Valentines Day and Presidents Day. His program will feature works of Bach, Elton John and more!

__________________________

NEW! Renowned Composer and Pianist Thomas Keesecker to present to local concerts

Tom served as a church musician for over 40 years in Lutheran and Roman Catholic parishes in Virginia, Montana, and Maryland. His sacred music is published by several leading church music publishers. He studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and the Catholic University School of Music in Washington, D.C. He mixes classical technique, jazz improvisation, Celtic and folk music influences in his arrangements. His music may be listened to on Amazon Music, Spotify, and YouTube.

Don't miss your opportunity to hear this talented musician.

Saturday, February 28

3:00 pm

Trinity Lutheran

1000 W. Main St., Lansdale

Free will offering will be taken

Sunday, March 1

4:00 pm

St. Mark's Lutheran

508 Harry St, Conshocken

Free will offering will be taken

Sunday, March 22

3:00 pm

Reformation Lutheran

102 W Rose Tree Rd, Media

__________________________

NEW! Lutheran Men in Mission Winter Ambassador-Gram is here

You can catch up on all the Lutheran Men in Mission news by clicking the direct link:

LMM Winter 2026 Ambassador Gram

If you've missed previous Ambassador-Grams, you can click HERE to see archived issues a the bottom of the page.

__________________________

NEW! Reformation, Media to host two concerts

Susquehanna University Choir and Chamber Singers

March 2, 7:00 pm

Reformation Lutheran Church

102 W Rose Tree Rd, Media, PA 19063

The Susquehanna University Choir and Chamber Singers, under the direction of Amy Vorhees, will perform as part of their 2026 Choir Tour.

Thomas Keesecker

March 22, 3:00 pm

Reformation Lutheran Church

102 W Rose Tree Rd, Media

Thomas Keesecker will share music from his best-selling piano collections in a 75-

minute concert. Keesecker, a composer as well as performer, is known around the

country for his sensitive, delightful, and meditative piano arrangements of hymns. __________________________

NEW! St. John's, Phoenixville to host Classical Guitarist Stacy Arnold

February 15 + 4:00 pm

A free will offering will be received

MORE INFORMATION

__________________________

NEW! Understanding the Neurodivergent Brain: Using Knowledge and Compassion to Show God's Love

February 26. 2026

7:00 -9:00 pm

Zoom

Presented by Dr. Kristin Mauk, PhD, DNP, RN, CRRN, GNP-BC, FARN, FAAN

Sponsored by the Lutheran Faith Community Nurse Association

Registration fee: $30 for LFCNA members/$50 for non-members

MORE INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION

__________

EVENTS

Pastor Gayeuski's Book Launch Approaching

Pastor Alina Gayeuski, Reformation, Media, has written Beyond The Stained Glass Ceiling: Clergy Women in a Still Patriarchal Church. You can pre-order the book from all major book sellers and it also will be available at launch events for purchase (cash, check, Venmo only). Come out and congratulate one of our own pastors on this milestone and support the work she does on behalf of all of us.

Launch Team Invitation: An application for those interested in serving on the launch team is HERE

Book Launch Eve Champagne Toast, March 1, 2026: 4:00 pm at Reformation Lutheran, 102 W Rose Tree Rd, Media. Books available for purchase. All are welcome!

Book Launch event at ULS, Phildadelphia Campus, March 3, 2026. Interested in attending the book launch event at United Lutheran Seminary? REGISTER HERE

__________

NEW! Save The Date

Mediator Lutheran Church will be celebrating 120+1 years of faith, legacy, and community. SEPTEMBER 13, 2026

Mediator Lutheran Church is located at

2832 N. 28th Street, Philadelphia

__________

OVERVIEW

NEW! Yale Divinity's Youth Ministry Institute to host free webinar

Not Too Little to Lead: The Value of Children as Leaders in our Worship

March 4, 2026

Resources from Faith Alive Worship Learning Lab

Resources shared at Faith Alive's Worship Learning Lab on January 10 are now available on their webpage. Click the button to the right to explore those resources and begin considering how your congregation might take part in this initiative.

MORE INFO

Love Revolution Applications Open

If your congregation would like to be part of Love Revolution's second cohort, complete an application by April 30, 2026.

NEW! Informational Meeting

An informational Zoom meeting about Love Revolution is scheduled for Tuesday, February 17 at 7:00 pm. (This is the correct date!) You can REGISTER here.

MORE INFO

Upcoming Celebration of Ministry

A 'Celebration of Ministry' is similar to what we might call an Installation, but for Full Communion partners of the ELCA. Per ELCA guidelines, we do not install clergy from our partner denominations. So, we rejoice with our new colleagues and welcome them in a Celebration of Ministry. We hope you will join us for each of these services as we receive these new colleagues in the SEPA Synod.

The Rev. Dr. Karyn L. Wiseman

St. Mark Lutheran

508 Harry St., Conshohocken

February 22, 2026 + 2:00 pm

A reception will follow

__________________________

Upcoming Ordination

Jessica Zurcher

Luther Place

1226 Vermont Ave., Washington DC

February 14, 2026 + 11:00 am

Clergy and seminarians of all traditions are invited to vest and process. The color of the day is red. A reception will follow.

Livestream will be available at facebook.com/lutherplace/live.

Jessica has been called to serve Holy Trinity, Narberth

SEPA Youth Events

February 14, 2026

Rise Against Hunger Meal Assembly Followed by free Pizza and Ice Skating

Advent Lutheran Church, West Chester, PA.

We will gather at 1:30 PM. Event is followed by free Pizza and Ice Skating at PNY Sports Arena, right down the street from Advent.

March 14, 2026 + 6:00 pm

76ers BASKETBALL

Join Lutherans from across Chester County for Sunday Evening Basketball on March 14. Cost is $36 per ticket, including all fees/taxes. Use the following link.

https://www.gofevo.com/event/Adventlutheran8

March 20-22, 2026

Tuscarora Lutheran Youth Retreat

Tuscarora Inn and Conference Center

Mt. Bethel, PA

Grades 6-12

This retreat fosters relationships between youth of different churches to unify the Lutheran churches and youth of the South Eastern Pennsylvania Synod of the ELCA. INFORMATIONAL FLIER

April 11-12, 2026

Box City

NEW! More Information

Informational Flier to Share

Christ, Harleysville (Kulpsville)

Grades 6-12

The purpose of this event is to raise awareness about homelessness and raise funding to support sheltering efforts.

July 5-10, 2026

Summer Servant Trip

Lutheridge Christian Camp, Arden, NC

INFORMATIONAL FLYER

Seeking Summer Staff for Summer Camp 2026

Love adventure, working with youth, and making a real impact? We’re hiring counselors for overnight and day camp, as well as kitchen staff, to help create an unforgettable summer experience for our campers.

Apply and Learn More

Spring Women's Retreat

April 10-12, 2026

This retreat offers women the gift of rest, space, and presence in the beauty of God’s creation. With flexible programming and ample free time, the weekend fosters gentle connection, creativity, and renewal.

Learn More and Register

Summer Camp 2026

Summer camp is more than just fun—it’s a place where campers feel welcomed, try new things, build friendships, and create lifelong memories. At Bear Creek Camp, we celebrate community while growing together through meaningful, faith-filled experiences.

Learn More and Register

Spring Family Nature Retreat

March 20-22, 2026

This nature-filled weekend gives families the chance to unplug, slow down, and enjoy the peaceful environment of Bear Creek Camp. Guided activities, open time to explore, shared meals, and comfortable accommodations create a refreshing retreat centered on nature, community, and rest.

Learn More and Register

LEARN MORE

Save The Dates!

Preaching With Power

A preaching series sponsored by the Urban Theological Institute of United Lutheran Seminary.

Sunday, March 15, 2026

6:00 pm

Bishop J. Louis Felton

Schaefer-Ashmead Chapel

United Lutheran Seminary

7301 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia

Monday, March 16, 2026

7:00 pm

Rev. Dr. Derick Brennan

Grace Baptist Church of Germantown

25 W. Johnson St., Philadelphia

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

11:45 am

Dr. Marquisha Scott

United Lutheran Seminary, Benbow Hall

7301 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia

7:00 pm

ELCA Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry

Reformation Lutheran Church

1215 Vernon Rd., Philadelphia

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

11:45 am

Rev. Dr. Leslie Callahan

Schaefer-Ashmead Chapel

United Lutheran Seminary

7301 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia

7:00 pm

Rev. Dr. Janet J. Sturdivant

St. Paul Metropolitan AME Church

8398 Lindbergh Blvd., Philadelphia

Each of these events will be livestreamed on United Lutheran Seminary's YouTube page.

EVENTS

LAMPa News and Action Alerts

New! Urgent! Oppose additional funding for ICE detention and support funding for disaster response

TAKE ACTION HERE

Save The Date!
Lutheran Day at the Capitol

April 20, 2026

Details will be available soon.

LAMPA

Kindling Faith Events and Training

Kindling Faith of United Lutheran Seminary has a new website with events and training listings updated regularly. Visit their site to register for informative events and continuing education.

Liberating Our Democracy: Exploring religious and racialized roots of American democracy and paths toward a more just future

February 27–28, 2026

United Lutheran Seminary Philadelphia campus.

7301 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia

The conference builds on a growing body of research that examines the theological, cultural, and political intersections of democracy, citizenship, and power.