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Bishop Kevin Jones
January 4, 2024
July
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Linda Groe Appointed Synod Vice-President
Kris Meyer is moving out of state and will no longer be able to continue to serve as the Vice President of the Northeastern Iowa Synod. The Synod Constitution calls for the Bishop, with the approval of the Executive Committee of the Synod Council, to “arrange for the appropriate care of the responsibilities of the officer until an election of a new officer can be held.” (S8.55)
After careful consideration, prayer, and conversation with the whole Synod Council, Linda Groe has been appointed, and accepted, to serve as the Synod VP until an election can be held at the next Synod Assembly in 2025. Her term as VP officially begins December 15, 2023.
- Linda was elected to the Synod Council at the 2021 Synod Assembly. We felt it was important to have a VP that was elected to leadership by the Synod Assembly rather than bringing someone into this role who is new to the work of the Synod and Synod Council.
- Linda has served as the Chair of the Registration Committee at several Synod Assemblies and is the one who has presented the registration reports to the Assembly.
- Linda is a member of St. John Lutheran in Waukon. Her congregational involvement includes, Altar Guild, Choir, Bell Choir, LYO, WELCA, and Bible Study leader. She enjoys golf, scrapbooking, and reading.
Please join us in prayers of gratitude for the work of our outgoing VP, Kris Meyer, and prayers of blessing for our new VP, Linda Groe. The January/February 2024 issue of the Northeastern Iowa Star will include a more detailed article about this change in Synod leadership.
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New Synod Conferences Map
Congregations from the Northeastern Iowa Synod’s Shechem Conference have joined other conferences, so there are now eight conferences instead of nine. The new synod map and a list of the conferences—including deans, chaplains and correspondents—are available to download from
the synod website.
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The Northeastern Iowa Synod is invited to attend online listening sessions to share your hopes, ideas, needs and comments regarding the structure and governance of the ELCA. Each session will last approximately one hour and also includes invitations to learn about the Churchwide Assembly Memorial initiating the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church as well as participation in a digital survey to share more extensive comments.
Sessions:
- Active Rostered Ministers:
- Thursday, January 25, 2:00 pm
- Monday, January 29, 4:00 pm.
- Retired Rostered Ministers:
- Friday, January 26, 10:30 am
- Lay Ministers:
- Tuesday, January 30, 7:00 pm
To participate, please contact Alison Pettit at pettita@neiasynod.org. You will then receive a handout with further information and the Zoom link.
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Apply for a Hunger Ministry Grant
Northeastern Iowa Synod congregations and hunger ministries are invited to apply for a “Ride Against Hunger” Ministry Grant.
The grants are the result of funds raised through the 2023 “Iowa Bishops Ride Against Hunger” in RAGBRAI. Congregations and individuals supported the ride by donating close to $100,000. Of those funds, $50,000 went to ELCA World Hunger, and approximately $14,000 went to each synod to invest in their own hunger ministries. Ministry Grant applications will be reviewed monthly. All applications turned in before the 15th will
be reviewed that month. Checks will typically be sent out by the end of that month.
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In the aftermath of a storm, hurricane, or tornado, New Orleans residents regularly find themselves without electricity. This quickly becomes a health crisis as people try to manage life in the hot, humid Gulf Coast summers.
City leaders and community organizers identified the eight most-requested items to help residents as they wait for the power grid to be restored. Our goal is to create 3,000 disaster relief kits filled with these items to help New Orleanians get through the days immediately following a natural disaster.
It takes about $100 to create an entire disaster relief kit. We encourage you to collect the items for your region or raise funds to complete an entire kit!
Starting in April, you may order directly through an Amazon Wishlist with items being delivered directly to New Orleans.
Now we need your help to make sure families and neighborhoods are prepared for the next disaster.
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The Northeastern Iowa Synod is in Region 5 and is asked to bring cooling towels.
What are "Cooling Towels?"
Microfiber towels that when soaked in water stay cool for hours.
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The Handbook Series
The Handbook Series is a collection of courses filled with tips & tricks from seasoned youth ministry leaders and Gathering leadership designed to help you navigate the 2024 Gathering, MYLE and the tAble.
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The 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly authorized two reconsiderations of the ELCA’s social statement "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust." This process of discernment for the church will begin in 2024. | |
A new website offers more information, plus a form to apply or to nominate someone else for the task force that will guide this process. Learn more at www.elca.org/reconsiderations. | |
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The ELCA is currently working on creating a social message about gun-related violence and trauma. Social messages are ELCA teaching documents that draw from existing social teaching but throw a fuller and sharper spotlight on a particular social issue. The draft’s themes focus on trauma, public health, and an ethic of shared responsibility for peacemaking, seeking to move beyond the strict polarization of gun rights vs. gun control.
Please take the time, alone or with a group, to study the draft version of this social message and share your affirmations, concerns, and suggestions via an online survey by Jan. 31. Submitted comments will be taken into account in revising the draft, which will then be considered for adoption by the ELCA Church Council in late March of 2024.
Feedback is due by January 31, 2024
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Christmas Around the Synod | |
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Arise, shine; for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
Isaiah 60:1
Please join us in praying for the following leaders and ministries of the Northeastern Iowa Synod:
Rev. David A. Werges, Decorah; Camp Shalom, Davenport; Rev. Todd A. Burrichter, Nashua; ELC - Republic of Namibia; Linda Groe, Waukon; Rev. Kathleen J. Graves, Mason City; EWALU Camp and Retreat Center, Strawberry Point; Rev. Michael L. Sherer, Waverly
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What is our Bishop up to? | |
- Meetings with individual Rostered Leaders
- Region 5 Bishops Check In, via Zoom
- Lakeside Campaign Leadership Meeting, via Zoom
- Systems Academy
- Louise Johnson: Future Church, via Zoom
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What is our Synod Staff up to? | |
- Meetings with individual Rostered Leaders
- Meeting, Wartburg College
- Monthly Region 5 Mobility Meeting, via Zoom
- Call Vote, -West Clermont Lutheran, Clermont
- Fall Theological Conference Planning, via Zoom
- Congregational Vitality Coaching class
- Synod Endowment, Grant Distribution
- ELCA webinar
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- 1/10 Racial Justice Advocacy Network
- 1/11 Executive Committee Meeting
- 1/11 Congregation Treasurers Meeting
- 1/13 SWO/Cluster Leadership Meeting,
- 1/15 Synod Office Closed, Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- 1/17-21 Extravaganza 2024, New Orleans
- 1/20 Synod Council Meeting
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201 20th St. SW, PO Box 804
Waverly, IA 50677-0804
319-352-1414
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