2024 Synod Assembly Update

The business sessions of the thirty-seventh Annual Assembly of the Lower Susquehanna Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, gathering under the theme “For the Healing of the Nations: Christ’s Healing in a Broken World” will be held the evening of Friday, May 31, 2024, on Zoom, and Saturday, June 1, 2024, in person at St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church, 839 W. Market St., York. (Please note this is an updated location change from the November 3, 2023 Official Notification: Call to the Lower Susquehanna Synod 2024 Assembly). Our Day of Edification will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2024, by Zoom.

Early Bird Registration opens on March 1, 2024. Mark your calendars now to take advantage of early bird pricing.

Learn More.

Resource of the Month

Lower Susquehanna Synod Resource Center

Witness at the Cross: A Beginner’s Guide to Holy Friday

by Amy-Jill Levine

Experience Holy Friday from the perspective of those who watched Jesus die: Mary his mother, Mary Magdalene and the other women from Galilee, the two men crucified with Jesus, the centurion and the soldiers, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus - Jews and Romans, friends and strangers, the powerful and the powerless, the hopeful and the despairing.

The story of Jesus’ death is more than something we read: we think about it and we experience it. Join Amy-Jill Levine with her engaging teaching style for this six-week DVD Lenten study. Resources include accompanying leader guide and book. 

To borrow this and other resources, please contact Marty Shifflett at [email protected] or call 717-652-1852 x115.

Worship with the Rite of Ordination

Save the date! On Saturday, March 16, 2024 at 1:30 p.m., you are invited to join us for worship with the Rite of Ordination at Friedens Lutheran Church, 301 West Washington Avenue, Myerstown where approved candidate for ministry Stacy Chavis has been called. Rostered leaders are invited to vest and process.

Fostering Spiritual Resilience

ULS Kindling Faith – February 29, 2024 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

This LSS-sponsored workshop with Dr. Elaine Heath will focus on nurturing our spiritual needs and caring for our souls as we engage in Christ’s meaningful work. This workshop is being offered in person at ULS Gettysburg, as well as offering a Zoom option. View the full event description here. Cost: $20 (online), $30 (in-person, lunch included)

Register.

Updates Across The Synod

Worship with the Rite of Installation

You are invited to worship with the Rite of Installation for the Rev. Sean Titus at Christ Lutheran Church, 1214 Crosby Street, Linglestown, on Sunday, February 25, at 3:00 p.m. Rostered leaders are invited to vest and process. The color of the day is purple.

Day of Renewal Registration for LSSWO

The Lower Susquehanna Synod Women's Organization will meet on Saturday, April 20, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Lititz. Speaker will be Karen Wright from Heartsongs Ministries. See more information on the registration form here.

Reminder: Rostered Minister Annual Reports to the Bishop are due March 1.

Pillars of Sacred Justice Lenten Series

ULS Kindling Faith



These sessions will help rostered ministers empower their congregations for the work of justice in our jobs, churches, families, and communities. The first four Thursdays of Lent at noon ET will include the following topics:

• Pillars of Sacred Justice.
• Helping our congregants and communities understand the mechanisms of injustice and our call to the work of justice.
• Holy imagination and equipping for the nitty gritty of justice work in the story of Esther.
• Leading by example as churches in preventing, confronting, and healing from injustice. 

Learn More & Register.

ULS Kindling Faith Spring Training Opportunities

LGBTQIA2S+/Racial Justice/Boundary Trainings

LGBTQIA2S+ Training

·    March 5, Philadelphia Campus in person, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

·    March 13, Gettysburg Campus in person, 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.

·    April 18, online, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Toward Racial Justice Training

·    February 25 and 26, online, from 6 - 8:30 p.m. (one training, two nights)

·    March 6, Philadelphia Campus in person, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

·    March 14, Gettysburg Campus in person, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

·    April 17, online, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Boundary Training

·    March 3 and 4, online, from 6 – 8:30 p.m. (one training, two nights)

·    March 7, Philadelphia Campus in person, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

·    March 15, Gettysburg Campus in person, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

·    April 16, online, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

These trainings fulfill ELCA rostered ministers' requirements.

Learn More & Register.

Transforming Light to Life

Emotional Emancipation & Healing During the Season of Lent

You are invited to spend Lent in community with the Delaware-Maryland ADLA chapter, Lower Susquehanna Justice Ministries, and the Rev. Dr. Beverly Wallace, Director of Lifelong Learning, Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, as we engage in what the Association of Black Psychologists and Community Healing Network call “Emotional Emancipation,” to reclaim the light from within and move to new life. This six-week series will explore the principals of Emotional Emancipation in defying the lies of what we have been told about ourselves and about Jesus as we walk with and like Jesus to a resurrected life. Gatherings will be hosted Wednesdays on Zoom from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. ET beginning February 21, 2024.

Register for this no-cost event here.

We Pray Together

We are a synod that prays together and for one another. Be sure to visit our website prayer page each week.

Prayer Lists.

Holy Land, Unholy War

ULS Kindling Faith Event

How do Lutheran pastors serve in a time of war? The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land serves in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Jordan. Since October 7, members of their congregations have suffered tremendous loss of mobility, economic stability, and hope for a peaceful future as Israeli troop movements through their ministry contexts. Hear the stories of the ELCJHL’s youngest pastors, the Rev. Sally Azar and the Rev. Rodny Said, as they seek to serve during an unholy war in the Holy Land. This event will be held online on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. ET.

Learn More & Register.

Let’s Talk about SOGIE!

Trainings from ReconcilingWorks

As we seek to deepen and expand the holy work of welcome, inclusion, and celebration of LGBTQIA+ people in the church and society, we can find ourselves asking, “What does LGBTQIA+ mean?” Together we will co-create a safe space to learn helpful skills and tools to support you and your ministry.

Participants Will:

• Gain an understanding of why LGBTQIA+ work matters in church and society
• Learn the difference between a person’s sex assigned at birth, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation
• Understand how specific forms of hospitality can have a big impact
• Engage in Action Mapping to create a plan for actions and next steps, as well as reflect on what they have learned and how it impacts their lives and ministry

2024 Trainings

• February 29, 2024
• May 2, 2024
• May 30, 2024

To register, visit their website.

PA Poor People's Campaign Mass Mobilization in Harrisburg

March 2 - 11:30 a.m.

Eight hundred people are dying from poverty every day in the U.S., making poverty the fourth leading cause of death. The 140 million people in this country who are poor and low income are a sleeping giant. We have to take action together and mobilization is one part of that.

On Saturday, March 2, the Poor People’s Campaign will hold simultaneous mass poor people’s and low wage worker statehouse assemblies at state capitals across the country in more than 30 states, including here in Pennsylvania.

Schedule:

11:30 a.m. Gather and eat lunch at Grace United Methodist Church

12:30 p.m. (Short) March to the State Capitol

1:00 p.m. Mass Poor People’s and Low Wage Worker Statehouse Assemblies

3:00 p.m. Assembly Ends

They will provide assistance with food, transportation, housing, and childcare. Please let them know in your RSVP form what assistance you need.

Learn More & Register.

Lutheran Men In Mission Ambassador-Gram

Winter 2024 Edition Available Now

You can download and the share the LMM Winter 2024 Ambassador-Gram now! You can view the newsletter here and download a PDF version here.

Portico Financial Wellness Insights

Many people set goals at this time of year — why not set your financial goals for 2024? Whether it's saving more for retirement or becoming more familiar with your investments, Portico's Financial Planning team provides resources to support the financial goals you make this winter.

Make Small Changes to Boost Your Retirement Savings

While reviewing and updating your budget for 2024, consider using the Power of Small Amounts tool to see if a small increase to your current pretax retirement contribution amount could be possible. If you decide to update your contribution amounts, visit myPortico.

Preparing to File 2023 Taxes?

Clergy members can access the updated tax return preparation guides by Richard R. Hammar at no cost.

Kentland Retreat Center Renovated and Ready

Kentland, a woodland retreat center, is available for daily, weekend, or weekly rental. A Grace Lutheran Church, Camp Hill property, Kentland is nestled in 19 acres of forest at 1022 E. Winding Hill Rd., Mechanicsburg. The newly renovated space sleeps 16, has a spacious open cabin with full kitchen, indoor fireplace and outdoor fire pit. For more information or to make a reservation, contact the church office at 717-737-0439 or email at [email protected].

Learn More.

Faith & Waters Restoration Summit

February 19 - 9:00 a.m.

Join keynote speakers Bishop William Gohl, Jr., Delaware-Maryland Synod ELCA, and Hilary Falk, President & CEO, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, for this gathering of faithful green leaders from congregations throughout the Chesapeake Bay for a time of shared learning, inspiration, reflection, celebration, and fellowship. Learn More.