News and Updates for the week of November 24, 2025 | | Lutherans Together. Loving God. Loving Neighbor. | | SEPA Synod Updates & Events | | |
There's Still Time to Contribute!
Hunger Fund Challenge
Thanks to your generosity and additional funds authorized by our Fund for Mission trustees, 26 congregations have already received $1000 grants to meet food insecurity needs in their community. They’ve told us about increasing numbers of people requesting food assistance and having less food to be able to give them. While churches cannot take on all of the assistance that government SNAP benefits would normally provide, we also trust in a God who can make 2 fish and 5 loaves go a lot farther than anyone anticipated. We mailed these checks knowing that they represent prayers and gratitude from our whole synod for all that congregations are doing to follow Jesus and feed those who are hungry.
Because the immediate need for support remains, we invite you to continue giving to support the Hunger Fund trusting in the Holy Spirit's work among us all. Trinity Lutheran Church in Lansdale, which hosts a weekly community meal called "Feast", is giving a $3,000 matching gift, with the hope that other congregations and individuals will match that amount by Thanksgiving. Please join us fighting food insecurity in our communities. As Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 12:25-26, "...the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it."
To give to the Hunger Fund, use our online giving page:
https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/253643?giving_to=Hunger Fund
You may also give via credit card by calling Martin Schwab at 267.323.3754. Or mail your check to:
Hunger Fund
Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, ELCA
7241 Germantown Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19119-1723
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SAVE THE DATE!
MLK Day of Service
Monday, January 19, 2026
In partnership with United Lutheran Seminary (ULS) and Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, Liberty Lutheran is hosting an MLK Day of Service and ingathering at ULS on Monday, January 19. Participants will collect hygiene supplies for local organizations in need and pack them into kits for distribution. The goal is 200 kits. Make plans now to participate in this service event to support our neighbors in need.
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NEW DATE!
Faith Alive Worship Learning Lab
January 10, 2026
Lutheran Church of God's Love, Newtown
This all-Synod learning event will support your congregation's ministry of welcoming children and youth and focus on how we use music to engage them.
REGISTER HERE
If you registered previously, your information will be carried over to the new date. If you need to cancel your registration, please contact the registrar, coutterbridge@sepa.org
Faith Alive is a Lilly Endowment funded process in SEPA Synod for creating a wider welcome for children (ages 0-12) to be fully themselves in worship.
You are invited to come along on this journey of faith and transformation.
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SEPA Creation Care Ministry Renewable Energy Grants Applications Available
In 2025, the synod allocated $50,000 to help congregations install renewable energy. In July 2025, $34,000 of the original amount was allocated. The remainder available for allocation currently is $15,000. A new round of applications will be accepted until December 31st. The Care of Creation Ministry Team will administer the Renewable Energy Grant Program. This grant money will be allocated among the selected applications. The intention is that the grant money will be returned to the synod when federal direct pay or utility refunds are received so that the funds can become available for future projects. Congregations are required to file for direct pay benefits with the IRS.
December 31, 2025 deadline for application.
APPLICATION
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You're Invited to an upcoming Celebration of Ministry
A 'Celebration of Ministry' is similar to what we might call an Installation, but for a 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.
NEW DATE!
February 22, 2026
2:00 pm
The Rev. Dr. Karyn L. Wiseman
St. Mark Lutheran
508 Harry St., Conshohocken
A reception will follow worship
| | Announcements from SEPA Congregations | | |
People of Faith Gather to Support Residents of War-Torn Areas
On November 9, 2025, Chester County Lutheran congregations sponsored a successful benefit for refugees at Penn Oaks Golf Club. A huge silent auction and numerous generous monetary donations raised more than $30,000 for the war-torn regions of Palestine and Ukraine. The event supported Anera, providing relief to vulnerable communities in Palestine and Jordan, and the missionary work of Bevan and Laura Stein with International Messengers, benefiting Ukrainian refugees.
Over 130 adults, teens, and children enjoyed a fabulous dinner, a silent auction, and DJ/dancing. The Steins were present to share how they partner with churches in Slovakia to deliver 50-pound food and care packages to war survivors living in areas of Ukraine devastated by the war. Bevan has helped open three relief centers to welcome and care for refugees who have nowhere to stay. He stated, “ I believe God will use this fundraiser opportunity to bring about partnerships that save lives.” The other benefit organization, Anera, distributes food and medical supplies to partners on the ground to fulfill its motto, “where hope finds a way,” advancing a vision of a Middle East where people live with dignity, purpose, and opportunity. Some attendees also supported scholarships for disadvantaged students attending schools operated by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land. Their schools serve both Christian and Islamic students, teaching about both faith traditions.
Interfaith community participation included the Islamic Society of Chester County and St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church in Newtown Square. Pastor Christopher J. Franz, Conference Dean/Pastor of Advent Lutheran Church in West Chester, noted, “It was wonderful to bring together a diverse group of people of faith to help alleviate human suffering in God’s good creation.” Pastor Julie DeWerth, of Good Shepherd, King of Prussia, and Dean of the Lower Montgomery Conference, served as Co-MC with Pastor Franz. Organizers wish to offer a huge thank you to all who attended or made monetary or silent auction contributions.
The following Lutheran churches participated/contributed: Advent, Harleysville; Advent, West Chester; Calvary, West Chester; Centennial, Kimberton; Christ the King Deaf, West Chester; Good Shepherd, Coatesville; Good Shepherd, King of Prussia; Messiah, Downingtown; St. Michael, Unionville; St. Paul, Exton; Zion, Spring City; along with Sharing the Love Family Boutique, Oxford and the SEPA Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Additional support came from Boy Scout Troop 222, the Democratic Committee of Chester County, the Islamic Society of Chester County, the Republican Committee of Chester County, and St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church of Newtown Square.
Silent auction items were solicited and coordinated by Nancy Jamieson, a member of Advent, West Chester. Donors included: Aneu Catering, Christopher’s Chocolates, Deaf CAN!, D&K Appliances, Duffer’s Tavern, Fearless Restaurants, General Warren Inn, Gerhard’s Appliances, G. P. Martini Roofing, Hood’s BBQ, Kimberton Inn, Little House Shop of Wayne, Maggiano’s, Malvern Flowers, M.R. Cockerham Painters, Najat Muqbel of St. Sharbel Maronite (Palestine Wallet and Olive Wood Last Supper Plaque), Naz and Mohsen Bonakdarpour (Nectar Gift Card), O’Brien O’Comfort, Pasha Boutique, Penn Oaks Golf Club, Larry Christenson (Phillies Memorabilia), The Philadelphia Opera Company, Poseidon Asian Cuisine, POSH Collections, Sacco Hair Design,
Seaman Gasworks, Taste of Britain, Wedgewood Gardens, The Wilma Theatre, Worrell’s Butcher Shop, and handmade items from members of several congregations.
Participants saw the event as a night of hope and promise that would positively impact many lives. To learn about the Steins’ work, contact Bevan at bevan_d_stein@msn.com. To learn about Anera, visit their website at Anera.org. For more information, contact Pastor Christopher J. Franz at Adventlutheranwc@gmail.com
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Jerusalem Ministries presents
The Live Nativity
Sunday, December 7, 2025
3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Jerusalem Lutheran Church
733 Ridge Road, Sellersville, PA 18960
Family, friends and neighbors are all welcome to see the sights and sounds of the season come alive in this free dramatic presentation including live animals. Continuous performances are given every 15 minutes.
For more information, please call 215-257-9423 + www.jelchurch.com
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Thanksgiving Eve Worship
November 26
7:00 pm
Resurrection Lutheran Church
620 Welsh Road, Horsham
All are invited. Refreshments following worship.
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Interfaith Thanksgiving Service
St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Chester Springs
Wednesday, November 26, 7:30 pm
Community of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Chester Springs, PA cordially invites you to attend the Interfaith Thanksgiving Service on Wednesday, November 26th, 2025 at 7:30PM. Come join us for the celebration of people of all faith. Clergy from the Phoenixville Area Clergy Association (PACA) will be leading worship. Come and enjoy beautifully arranged music performed by our choir and the pianist, stay for the reception and a social gathering. We would love to meet you! For questions and RSVP please email office@stpeterschestersprings.org.
MORE INFORMATION
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A Candlelight Christmas Concert
Sunday, December 14, 2025 at 7:00 PM
The Acclamation Ringers
Emmaus Road Lutheran Church
2185 Bristol Oxford Valley Road, Levittown
INFORMATIONAL FLYER
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Church Items Available
Calvary, West Chester has two candelabras, 8 boxes of 17" tall candles (95 candles total) for the candelabras. These items are "mix and match." For example, if you choose one candelabra, you do not have to take the other.
These items are available to any congregation that could use them. Pick up or meeting at a place agreed upon by both congregations.
Contact Jan Meuser for more information.
| | St. Peter's Lutheran Church, 211 S. Main Street, North Wales | | |
Reformation Pilgrimage to Germany Planned for 2026
Pastor Julie Dewerth of Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in King of Prussia is planning to lead a pilgrimage to Germany in June 2026. The trip is open to everyone. The itinerary includes many of the important sites of Martin Luther. Complete information including costs and registration forms can be found HERE.
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December 7
Advent Night
4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Christ's, Trumbauersville
218 E. Broad St., Trumbauersville
RSVP to Kayla Wulffleff: 1kwuffleff@gmail.com or 215-536-3193
January 10, 2026
NEW DATE!
Faith Alive Worship Learning Lab
Open to all who want to learn more about including children in worship.
This workshop will center on the role of music in worship. Registration is open! If you previously registered, your information will carry over to the new date.
February 14, 2026
Rise Against Hunger Meal Assembly Followed by free Pizza and Ice Skating
Advent Lutheran Church, West Chester, PA. (www.Adventwc.net)
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. Sign up link coming soon!
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
Tuscarora Lutheran Youth Retreat (formerly know as Harvey Cedars) is a weekend retreat for 6th - 12th grade youth and their leaders. 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. This retreat is also unique in the fact that it is run by the pastors and leaders of our youth groups so we depend on our adult leaders who attend with their youth to help make this retreat possible. We ask our adult leaders to be a part of small groups either through teaching, assistant teaching, or being an extra pair of hands in the classroom. INFORMATIONAL FLIER
April 11-12, 2026
Box City
Christ, Harleysville (Kulpsville)
Grades 6-12
The purpose of this event is to raise awareness about homelessness and raise funding to support sheltering efforts. During the event, youth will hear real-life stories about homelessness, discuss and learn about this social issue in fun ways, and experience what it’s like sleeping without proper shelter.
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Prophets, Saints and Kings: Resisting Christian Nationalism and Building the Beloved Community with King and Bonhoeffer
Join LAMPa, ULS Kindling Faith, and Gettysburg College Department of Public Policy for a day with internationally renowned Bonhoeffer scholars, Dr. Stephen Haynes and Dr. Reggie Williams.
On MLK weekend, we’ll learn about the intersecting legacies and lessons of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Martin Luther King, Jr., while deepening our understanding of how people of faith can confront and resist the growing forces of authoritarianism and Christian nationalism in our own time. Being rooted in learning and worship, we’ll dream together about how to make a world to best live into our own calls to seek justice and peace.
Register for in-person attendance here..
Register for the livestream here.
For more information, see this Flyer or Bulletin Insert
| | SEPA Partner Organizations | | |
NEW! Gather Philly to Host Cookies, Cocoa & Community
What better way to wrap up our 2025 year of Gather Philly than celebrating the holidays with Cookies, Cocoa, and Community?! 🎄🍪☕️
Join us on Sunday, December 7th at 4:30pm at Atonement Lutheran Church in Fishtown to bake some cookies, drink some hot cocoa, gather together, and perhaps watch a classic holiday movie! Holiday themed PJ’s are HIGHLY encouraged but not required.
Help us get a headcount for cookies by RSVPing via commenting or DM’ing our socials or emailing gatherphilly@gmail.com
We are truly grateful for this wonderful community of young adults and we hope to see you soon!
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NEW! Just Move to Offer Racial Justice Cohorts
Just Move is offering Racial Justice Cohorts for Pastors, Deacons, Church Councils, Synod Leaders and White Christian Men. Visit: https://www.justmoveculture.com and choose the cohort that is right for you.
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NEW! Lutheran Men in Mission Ambassador Gram
The Lutheran Men in Mission Ambassador Gram can be found HERE
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NEW! NOVEMBER 2025 Mission Support Memo
Connection as Stewardship
A story from the East Central Synod of Wisconsin, written in collaboration with the Rev. Jenn Pocket
Is there going to be food? The Rev. Tauna Roth, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Fremont, Wis., loves gathering with people to eat a meal — yes, at the communion table, but also in her home or out at a picnic. Pastor Tauna serves in our East Central Synod of Wisconsin. As pastor of Immanuel and dean of the Appleton Conference, she has consistently shown what it means to steward relationships, community, collaboration and God’s abundant gifts. This is why she has received the Dr. Richard Lee Peterman Stewardship Award, an annual award from the ELCA’s Congregation and Synod Support team and stewardship ministry, celebrating our churches’ abundant and creative forms of stewardship.
READ MORE HERE
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NEW! Liberating Our Democracy: Exploring religious and racialized roots of American democracy and paths toward a more just future
United Lutheran Seminary (ULS) will host A Vision for Liberating Our Democracy: Examining the Religious and Racialized Roots of American Democracy on February 27–28, 2026, at its Philadelphia campus. The interdisciplinary conference will bring together scholars, activists, educators, and faith leaders to examine how religion and race have shaped democratic life in the United States and to explore liberative visions for the future.
The conference builds on a growing body of research that examines the theological, cultural, and political intersections of democracy, citizenship, and power. Participants will investigate how worldviews and faith traditions have informed concepts of governance, belonging, and personhood from the founding era to the present. The conference will highlight not only the Haudenosaunee Influence on American Democracy but also the historic and present contributions to Democratic thought by Black, Indigenous, and Latine communities, contributions which are often forgotten and ignored.
READ MORE HERE
REGISTER HERE
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ELCA Action Guide for Congregations
The new ELCA Action Guide for Congregations is full of ideas for ways to engage in the shared work of this church, including ELCA World Hunger, Lutheran Disaster Response, AMMPARO, and more!
LEARN MORE
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United Lutheran Seminary Annual Advent Vespers Worship Service.
Sunday, December 7, 2025
5:00 PM
Schaeffer-Ashmead Chapel
United Lutheran Seminary
7301 Germantown Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19119
Free parking in Brossman Center lot
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NEW! 2025 Lutheran Summer Music Musical Advent Calendar
Experience the fifth annual Musical Advent Calendar from Lutheran Summer Music, November 30–December 24—daily musical meditations to inspire reflection throughout the Advent season. Follow along on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube, with all videos archived at LSMacademy.org/acal.
Sign up to receive each day’s video directly to your inbox by completing this form: https://forms.gle/xfPUVkVTyUffp8PH7
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“Rethinking Addiction: A Faith Leader’s Guide”
hosted by the Center of Addiction & Faith.
Wednesday November 26, 2025 at 1:00 pm ET
A one-hour free webinar titled “Rethinking Addiction: A Faith Leader’s Guide” hosted by the Center of Addiction & Faith. Guest presenter will be Rachel Bowling, Director of SAFE Communities at SAFE Project, a national nonprofit working to end the addiction epidemic. Faith leaders are often called upon to support individuals and families navigating the complexities of substance use, addiction, and recovery. This session invites participants to help examine how we understand and respond to substance use and share insights from professionals and recovery advocates.
REGISTER HERE
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ELCA Youth Ministry Network Extravaganza 2026
Main Event: January 30–February 2
(Intensive Care Courses: January 29–30)
Hyatt Regency at the Arch, St. Louis, Missouri
The ELCA Youth Ministry Network invites all congregational leaders in children's, youth, young adult, and outdoor ministries to the Extravaganza 2026, a four-day event designed for spiritual renewal, professional development, and community connection.
At Extravaganza 2026, you’ll engage in diverse workshops covering topics like trauma-informed ministry, mental health, and leadership development, while connecting with over 500 ministry leaders from across the country. Participants can join worship, reflection, and community-building activities, and take part in a pre-conference multicultural initiative for leaders of color.
LEARN MORE
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Kindling Faith has a New Website!
Visit the Kindling Faith website for upcoming events, trainings, resources, information about SOLI (Stewardship of Life Institute) and more!
Kindling Faith Website
Remember, both the Philadelphia and Gettysburg campuses offer free lodging for up to three nights for rostered leaders who just need a break. Email mzimmann@uls.edu to arrange your place apart.
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Keep Up With Synod News and Resources
With so many events coming up we'd love to make sure that your congregation's office and key leaders are subscribed to MinistryLink. Many congregations encourage council members and program leaders to subscribe.
We encourage leaders, parish administrators or newsletter editors to forward MinistryLink (this link) to your congregation.
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Thank you for taking the time to read this edition of MinistryLink. Fellow church members and colleagues can subscribe by clicking below.
The Rev. Paula Lebo, Assistant for Mission Interpretation
ministrylink@sepa.org / 267.323.3743
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