The ABUNDANCE Appeal

In 2020, 88 of our congregations (57%) made a Mission Support intent to our synod. As of today, 41 of our congregations have made a Mission Support Intent for 2021 and 21 of these are new intents! Our goal is 117 congregations (75%) and 30 new intents for 2021, and we are well on our way! Thanks be to God!  We give thanks for all the congregations who have made already made intents for 2021. If your congregation still needs to make a 2021 intent, the link is here.
 
In addition, as you have read in our vice president's update, our synod giving is behind for 2020, but we have great confidence that God is abundant. We give God thanks for the individuals and congregations who have responded already to our Abundance Appeal. 100% of our synod staff and Synod Council, Deans, individuals, and many generous congregations have made over $85K in intents and our synod is well on our way towards making up the $225K shortfall. Again, God is good. God is abundant. Thanks be to God!
 

2021 Mission Support Intent

Congregations: submit your 2021 Mission Support Intent online this year. It's easy! It's quick! It's important! 

Hurricane Disaster Relief for ILAG, Guatemala

The Southeastern Synod has set up a Hurricane Relief Fund to raise a minimum of $44,000 to provide our siblings in Christ with emergency food and supplies. Your gift will bring compassion and relief to our rural ILAG families. 

Click the article title to learn more about this special ministry..

Disaster Relief for Rostered Ministers

These past months have been personally difficult for two of our Rostered Ministers. One pastor’s home was significantly damaged by wind, and another pastor’s home was greatly damaged by fire.  
 

The Southeastern Synod Disaster Committee has set up a fund to assist them in their recovery.  Please consider making a donation through our giving page, or by mailing a check to the synod office.

COVID Updates and more from Congregational Leader Zoom

On Dec. 7, Bishop Strickland, the synod staff, and 70+ congregational leaders gathered to discuss several updates and initiatives for the Southeastern Synod.

Here is what is available:

• video recording of session
• COVID-19 updates and resource links
• Synod Mission Support and Stewardship updates
• Mental Health Ministry
• and much, much more...

Please take a moment to view this important information and to see how you can support the rostered ministers that serve the congregations and ministries of the Southeastern Synod.

A Christmas Message from Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton

"Precisely in our distress, in our dislocation, the Lord shows up. Emmanuel—God with us—makes his home in the very places we find foreign or isolating."

To share Presiding Bishop Eaton's Christmas Message click the following:

• Download English PDF
• Download Spanish PDF

IGNITE - 2021 Evangelism Initiative

When I hear the word ignite - my mind goes to fire!  Especially this time of the year, a nice warm fire that chases the chill away.  Our stories about Jesus’ presence in our lives is like a fire, it chases the chill of the world away and replaces it with the knowledge that we have a God who is infinitely loving, grace-filled, patient and always leading us out into the highways and byways of the world.

Ignite describes our Evangelism initiative for 2021 and you will hear more about it over the next few months

Year-End Giving:  Insights from the ELCA Foundation

This year has been a challenging one for our ministries, especially those that work year-round on the front lines to serve our neighbors in need. As our church has stepped up to respond to rising rates of hunger, illness and unemployment, you responded with faithfulness and generosity. On behalf of the greater church, thank you.

Stewardship Symposium with Rev. Mike Ward

Friday, January 29, 2021, 10am-3pm Eastern / 9am-2pm Central

Join Rev. Mike Ward, Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) and author of "Abundance: Creating a Culture of Generosity" for a practical, deep dive into how to develop and live into a culture of abundance in your congregation.

Introducing: Southeastern Synod World Hunger Chair, Ms. Cheryl Bopp

"Please allow me to take this opportunity to introduce myself as the new Southeastern Synod World Hunger Chair.  Raised in privilege, I was only vaguely aware of the quiet tragedy of hunger in the U.S and the world.  I first came face to face with hunger as a CDC microbiologist when I travelled to Bolivia to assist with setting up a study of waterborne diseases..."

ADLA Southeastern Chapter presents Watch Night Bonfire VIRTUAL Prayer Service

Saturday, December 19, 2021, 7pm Eastern / 6pm Central.

We will gather and join with family and church members across the country and the world with The Rev. Dr. Kathryn Love and The Rev. David Trott to pray and thank God for seeing us through the Pandemics of 2020.

Epiphany Service from the Conference of Bishops

Wednesday, January 6, 2021, 7pm Eastern / 6pm Central.

An online worship service led by the ELCA bishops elected in 2019.

This worship service will air via our synod Facebook page, YouTube channel, and website.
 

Martin Luther King Day - Bishop's Commemoration Worship Service

Bishop Strickland and the Synod Worship Team are recording a worship service and will present it on January 17, 2021, 4pm Eastern / 3pm Central, to commemorate the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  

The worship service will be available on the Southeastern Synod's YouTube page, Facebook page, and website.

Martin Luther King Commemoration Worship Service - WE NEED YOUR VOICE!

We would like to extend an invitation to one and all to participate in the virtual choir for our Martin Luther King Day celebration! You can find detailed instructions here for recording and submitting your videos (by January 3) to be included in the sending hymn, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

Election Day in the U. S. for a Poll Chaplain

"Lawyers and Collars" sent hundreds of pastors to poll sites across the United States on Election Day on Nov. 3. A few encountered intimidation and conflict, but most, like me, found a spirited atmosphere of community engagement, and a reason for hope.

Thanksgiving Meals Given to Over 100 Families

Utilitzing Thrivent Action Teams and soliciting members of St. John's Lutheran and people in our community to assist us, we put together, handed out, and delivered 115 complete Thanksgiving Meals along with grocery story gift cards and various snack items for families in need in our community. 

Share YOUR Story of Inspiration!

Did you know that you can share YOUR story of inspiration TODAY?!?!  You can!

Check out the main synod web page and SCROLL DOWN TOTHE BOTOM OF THE PAGE and look for the yellow box.  Upload photos, share your stories, and provide contact information to allow others to learn more about your story.

Children's Time with Bishop Strickland (Facebook link)

Wednesday, December 16, 9am EST / 8am CST

The reading will take place on the Southeastern Synod's Facebook Live feed. December's book is "Room for a Little One" by Martin Waddel & Jason Crockroft.

A Very Terry Christmas

Join the ADLA Family as we celebrate the Joy of Advent and Christmas 2020.  ADLA-Southeastern Chapter presents a holiday cheer streaming performance of a VERY TERRY Christmas starring Terry Burrell directed by Susan V. Booth (Alliance Theatre). 

Performance dates are December 20, 2020 - December 31, 2020. $20/ticket (per access)
 

Spring 2021 Programs at Lutheranch

Lutheranch is offering two spring programs in 2021:  The "Prayer Labyrinth and Meditation Retreat" on Jan 22-24, 2021, & "Women of the Range" on March 5-7, 2021.  We intentionally selected these programs because they are limited in size and either have a majority of the activities outside (Women of Range) or are inherently individual and introspective in nature (Labyrinth).

The Annual Lutheranch Quilting Retreat has been rescheduled from February to September.

Visit Lutheranch.org to register TODAY!

Rostered Ministers Check-Ins with Bishop Strickland

We have two opportunities for rostered ministers to sign up for a time to check-in time with the Bishop Strickland.

Here are the two time slots available our rostered ministers:

December 15th 4:00-5:00pm Eastern / 3:00-4:00pm Central

December 16th 2:00-3:00pm Eastern / 1:00-2:00pm Central

2020 Rostered Ministers Report to the Bishop

All rostered ministers are asked to complete an annual report to the bishop in order to allow Bishop Strickland and the synod staff to know more about the joys and concerns from the rostered ministers and to help us support one another in our ministries.

Check your email inbox (or spam folder) for the invitation to fill out your 2020 Report to Bishop Kevin Strickland.  If you do not have yours, please email Pr. Michael Jannett (mjannett@elca-ses.org) to make sure you have your individualized link to this report.  (Note:  please do not share the link, as each link is unique to each rostered minister.)

Lenten Preaching Workshop with Karoline Lewis

February 8, 2021, 9am-12noon Eastern / 8am-11am Central

Please mark your calendars for this special opportunity to prepare for the Lenten season. 

Registration will be made available in January 2021.

ELCA World Hunger to Hold Digital Gathering

The ELCA has an annual gathering that was slated to be held in Nashville, in early 2021, but has been changed to a virtual gathering instead.
 
The annual gathering is to be held on January 20-23, 2021.  Here is a link for more information and to register:

https://community.elca.org/online-registration/2021-elca-world-hunger-leadership-gathering-january