Giving Thanks for Generous Leaders in the I-K Mission Territory

At the annual Professional Leaders Conference at Clifty Falls National Park, Madison, IN, participants gathered for worship three times. Each worship service offered the opportunity to make gifts to designated programs and we are thankful that our professional leaders gave freely to the following funds:

Sunday, Sept. 29: $557.75 for the ELCA Special Needs Retirement endowment fund

Monday, Sept. 30: $237.75 for ELCA Malaria Campaign

Tuesday, Oct.1: $241.40 for the Freed to Lead fund

Thanks be to God for the loving gifts made so freely by our I-K Mission Territory professional leaders!

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  -2 Corinthians 9:7

ELCA Human Trafficking Curriculum Series 

This series is designed to raise awareness and encourage thoughtful dialogue and leaning so that young people of the church learn about justice, advocate for change and lead into the future. Sessions can be adapted for adults. The series contains six one-hour leaning sessions designed to equip young people on the realities of human trafficking. 

Find the series here.

For more information, contact the Justice for Women program at

"Gather" Magazine is now also an "App"

Gather, the magazine of Women of the ELCA, offers a mix of articles, theological reflections, devotions, and stories of comfort and challenge that help readers grow in faith and engage in ministry and action. "Gather" is published 10 times a year with combined issues in January/February and July/August. Only $15 a year. 

Find "Gather" magazine in digital format at  www.womenoftheelca.org and subscribers can find the app in Google Play, the iTunes store or Amazon.com. Also available is the new nine-month Women of the ELCA Bible study, In Good Company: Stories of Biblical Women."

To learn more about the magazine and the Bible study, visit www.gathermagazine.org

WorshipFest 

Saturday, October 26, 2013 

                  8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.                 

Did you know...

                       every day more than 14,400 children die of starvation?    

Join us in the fight against hunger as we work together to assemble 2000 packets of Kids Against Hunger meals. One packet of Kids Against Hunger food provides SIX highly nutritious meals that are distributed to partners overseas, as well as to food pantries in the local area.

The organization will bring the equipment and raw materials and you will put everything together. This project costs $0.25 per meal, which the I-K Synod will subsidize, but we would gratefully accept monetary donations to help pay for these meals.

Portico Enrollment and Eligibility Information

Have you looked at the Indiana-Kentucky blog about financial health and well-being?

Which employers need to make a health benefit option election for 2014? Which employers do not need to make a health benefit option election?

Employers who need to make a health benefit election for 2014:

• Employers currently sponsoring any members (even if all those members are waived or Medicare-primary).
• Employers who have sponsored at least one member since January 01, 2012, even if they are not currently sponsoring any members.
• Employers not currently sponsoring but planning on sponsoring in 2014.

Employers who do not need to make a health benefit election for 2014:

• Employers who have not sponsored any members since before January 01, 2012, and who do not intend to sponsor any members in 2014.
• Special exception employers (e.g. grandfathered-in retirement only, Luther Seminary, Global Missions, etc.).

Communal Discernment Tool:

Click on the Resources tab on the I-K Synod web site and scroll down to find communal discernment tools designed to be used by rostered leaders to help congregations have a constructive and faithful conversation about selecting a health plan option -  one in which the Spirit is invited to enter and guide the process. You will find a Communal Discernment Handout, and a Communal Discernment Leaders Guide.

Pre-Retirement Seminars:

A list of available seminars, more information, and registration are on the Events page under the News & Events drop-down menu at www.porticobenefits.org. 

CROP Hunger Walk 

CROP Hunger Walk season is here. CROP Hunger Walks involves neighbors walking together to end hunger now, raise awareness and funds for international relief and development, as well as local hunger needs. 

Find a walk near you at: www.cropwalkonline.org. 

For more information, questions, or to start your own local Hunger Walk, please contact John Dolon, Indiana-Kentucky Field Director for Church World Service at: jdolon@cwsglobal.org or 317-923-2938.