Resources for effective church leaders
+ November 23, 2021
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Pastor Stacey-Kyle Rea Joins Synod Staff |
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The Rev. Stacey-Kyle Rea has been called as Assistant to the Bishop for Youth and Young Adult Discipleship, starting December 1, 2021.
Currently Pastor Rea serves Trinity Lutheran Church, Fairview Village, as senior pastor. She previously served St. John’s, Phoenixville, and St. John’s, Folcroft. She has been active with Synod youth ministry, leading groups of youth and adults on servant trips, and serving as a key leader on the local urban servant experience and on the planning teams for South Dakota trips.
“Helping young people experience Jesus is one of my favorite things,” she said.
“We are excited to have Pastor Rea’s deep faith and experience on our team leading our programs for young disciples,” Bishop Davenport said.
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Synod Assembly Set for April 30
The 2022 Synod Assembly will be held on Saturday, April 30 as an online business meeting. Conferences will participate in service projects on Saturday, April 23, and an in-person gathering will be scheduled later in the year.
The theme for this year’s gatherings is Hope for Today, Strength for Tomorrow Through Community in Christ.
This year we are holding a logo contest to visually represent our theme. You are invited to submit finished images to represent the Assembly theme no later than Dec. 15, 2021.
The logo will be reproduced at various sizes, from smartphone screens to full-page (8.5x11”) to larger signage, so keep that in mind as you are designing.
For reference, a logo “is a graphic mark, emblem, or symbol used to aid and promote public identification and recognition. It may be of an abstract or figurative design or include the text of the name it represents,” according to Wikipedia.
More information will be available soon at ministrylink.org.
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New Video: COVID Update with Dr. Babinchak
How will the availability of vaccines for 5 to 11-year-olds impact church activities for Advent and Christmas? What about travel and gatherings for the holidays, and the onset of colder weather?
Dr. Tim Babinchak, an infectious disease specialist, joined us for our regular COVID update for congregations and leaders. Watch by clicking this link (Passcode is sepa!comms2021).
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Living Lutheran:
Wrestle with the Bible
“So many of our foundational scriptural narratives would shock us if we heard them for the first time today,” writes Cory Driver. “But because some of us have grown up with these Bible stories, we often avoid their difficult issues. This is a pity. … If we want to grow stronger in our faith, one traditional method is to wrestle with God’s challenging words of Scripture.”
In Living Lutheran’s November lead feature, Driver wrestles with challenging Bible stories and shares a perspective and interpretation of grace within these difficult passages. He writes, “With many mysterious and difficult passages of Scripture, the most faithful response is simply to continue the struggle, not giving up or letting go of the text until it blesses us, however it may” (Genesis 32:26). Read more and download the study guide.
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The Rev. Lauren Bruno
St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Ridge Valley, cordially invites you to the Installation Service of The Reverend Lauren Bruno on Sunday, December 5th with ONE service at 3 p.m. with Pastor Erika Wesch presiding and Pastor Joseph Klinger preaching. There will be a social hour from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Clergy are invited to vest and process. The color of the day is blue.
St. John’s is located at 910 Allentown Road, Sellersville, PA 18960.
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Bishop Eaton: Our Mission
In her November column for Living Lutheran, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reminds us that God has given all of us a mission to invite more people into the way of Jesus. Read her column in English at https://bit.ly/3DrbK6p and in Spanish at https://bit.ly/3os6PeU .
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New Recording: Free Tech Tools to Reach Your People Online in 2021
There are an endless number of apps and tools available for digital ministers to reach their people online, but which ones are really worth your time? In this week’s presentation Sammy Kelly and Michele Barra, co-owners of Digivangelism, explored some of the most effective FREE methods to connect with your people and with others online. Tools included Facebook Groups, Facebook Pages, Canva, LinkTree, Tiny PNG/JPG, GoogleMyBusiness, Marco Polo, TikTok/IG Reels, and more.
Click the link below to watch the recording (FREE registration required). Access Passcode: sepa!comms2021
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Alternative Gifts for Sanctuary Village
Need a gift that both honors your recipient and offers hope? Give the gift of a Sanctuary Village donation. You gift will help to build a tiny house - and a big opportunity - for a person experiencing chronic homelessness.
Sanctuary Village is a non-profit organization that is building a community of tiny houses in the Holmesburg section of Philadelphia. This community will provide safety for the residents – both physically and emotionally. A home with others who know their struggles, but with the ability to lock their own door. This will provide residents with the security they need to begin rebuilding their lives, and preparing to successfully transition back into community and a permanent place to live.
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Snazzy Jazzy Christmas Benefits Sanctuary Village
Sanctuary Village's mission of building tiny houses for people experiencing homelessness is a challenge. The city has never permitted tiny homes before – so we are facing lots of hurdles – but we are slowly but surely plowing through the red tape. Your help is truly needed.
A benefit concert is being held at Christ Lutheran Church, Kulpsville (and as a livestream) on Sunday, November 28 (Thanksgiving Weekend). The artist is an accomplished and professionally trained singer, who experienced homelessness in Philadelphia some years ago.
Christ Lutheran Church is located at 2211 Mainland Road, Harleysville, PA. For more information, download this flyer.
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The Southeastern and Northeastern Pennsylvania synods are sponsoring a hybrid Generosity event on Saturday, January 22, 2022, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lansdale. Keynote speakers for “Stewardship and Vitality in the NOW Normal” are Louise Johnson and Soong-Chan Rah, with workshops featuring Dave Daubert, Ryan Burge, Doug Powe Jr., and others.
The cost is $40 in-person or virtual. Visit ministrylink.org for more information.
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Recording: Liturgy for Traumatic Times
Dr. Kyle Schiefelbein-Guerrero of United Lutheran Seminary joined SEPA leaders on Oct. 28 for a vibrant conversation on worship and liturgy in these uncertain and digital times. Click the link below to watch (FREE registration required). Access Passcode: sepa!comms2021
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Guidance for Safe Worship Practices
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Young Adults in Global Mission
ELCA’s Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) program is preparing to send volunteers out into the world again! Applications are now open, and you can invite young adults on this journey abroad for the 2022-2023 program year.
If you know young adults aged 21 to 29, this is the time to reach out. Encourage them to apply for YAGM by the deadline of Feb.1, 2022. (Priority deadline is Jan. 15, 2022.) Talk to them personally about what this opportunity will mean for their faith, identity, career and understanding of God’s work in the world. You can share these videos about the YAGM experience.
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Did you miss a recent issue?
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Have stories, events, or resources to share?
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Thank you
The Rev. Bob Fisher, assistant to the bishop for mission interpretation/communications
Ms. Cynta Outterbridge, communications assistant
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