Bulletin Inserts in Honor of Hispanic Heritage Month

The En Cojunto Latinx Ministry Task Force created downloadable and printable bulletin inserts for Hispanic Heritage Month (9/15-10/15).  These inserts are to be used on Sundays, 9/19/2021 through 10/10/2021.

Learn more at the En Cojunto website.

Learn Spanish for Ministry

Have you ever wanted to understand when someone speaks to you in Spanish or wished you could respond to someone in Spanish? Well, if so, then you’re in good company. This is why Southeastern Synod’s En Conjunto Latinx Ministry is developing a Spanish language course for rostered and congregational leaders who want to learn Spanish for ministry. If you’re interested, please let us know by reading this article, and completing the following form.  We will contact you soon!  Thank you!

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month - October 2

Saturday October 2, 9am-3pm

Christ Lutheran Church
3612 Old Oakwood Rd.
Oakwood, GA Saturday

Join members of Christ Lutheran Church for an outdoor fair with Latin American foods, music, crafts, and more to celebrate Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month! 
 

Word & Prayer Ministry (in Spanish) - October 3

Shepherd of the Hills (Birmingham) holds a Word and Prayer Ministry the 1st Sunday of each month at 2:30pm CT, 3:30pm ET. The Rev. Ed Cortes leads the service in Spanish and invites all who understand Spanish to participate.

Shepherd of the Hills (Birmingham) realiza un servicio de palabra y oración en español el primer domingo de cada mes a las 2:30pm CT, 3:30pm ET. El Rev. Ed Cortes dirige el servicio y invita a todas y todos que entienda español a participar.

2022 Border Immersion Experience

March 12-19, 2022

The Southeastern Synod will be sponsoring a Border Immersion Experience through Cristo Rey Lutheran Church in El Paso, Texas.

Cristo Rey Border Immersion Program seeks to educate participants about border issues through shared learning, experience, work and prayer.

Welcome Rev. Derrick Rice - New Director of the Lutheran Theological Center in Atlanta (LTCA)

The Christian Community and Leadership Home Area of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America welcomes Rev. Derrick Rice as the new director of the Lutheran Theological Center in Atlanta (LTCA). Rev. Rice will be part of the CCL Education for Leadership team and will begin in his role on September 13, 2021.

 

God's Work.  Our Hands. 2021

To read about a few responses to God's Work.  Our Hands. Sunday and other Stories of Inspiration, check out our Stories of Inspiration page.

REMEMBER:  You can go to this page and submit your own story TODAY!

Growing Younger series - starts on September 19

6-week series:

Sunday, September 19 through

Sunday, October 24

4-5:30pm ET / 3-4:30pm CT

The Synod Youth Team will lead an initiative of educating several congregations on the concepts of "Growing Younger."   

SIGN UP BY Wednesday, September 15!!!

Council Leader Training

Sunday, September 26, 2021

3:00-5:00pm ET / 2:00-4:00pm CT

Wondering what it takes to serve your congregation as a leader, or a council member?  Come and join in this workshop to learn how Bishop Strickland and the synod staff can equip you to help you serve the congregation in the best way possible.

Monthly Youth Gathering Prep

Monday, September 27

7pm ET / 6pm CT

Join Pr. Michael Jannett - your 2022 ELCA Youth Gathering Synod Coordinator - every 4th Monday at 7pm ET / 6pm CT over Zoom, to learn about the latest Gathering news, share ideas on travel and fundraising, and more!

Register once to receive a monthly reminder.

Shift Change Service of Healing and Prayer - [For Health Care Workers]

Sunday, October 3, 2021

8pm ET / 7pm CT

This online time of healing prayer is set aside for those who work within our health care system. 

We invite you to come and be surrounded in healing prayer.  As we gather, we ask for everyone else to pray for our health care workers especially at this time of incredible stress and grief.  

Rostered Ministers:  Select a time for "Cafe with PJ"

Assistant to the Bishop Jonathan Hemphill invites all rostered ministers of the Southeastern Synod to setup a time to meet with him, via his online calendar.

"I would love to meet and visit with each of you. I am still learning about how the geography of our territory works. Because of Covid, it makes it impossible to have a traditional meet and greet event. I am inviting you all to sign up for, Café with PJ. It is an opportunity for us to share together in conversation and get to know one another."

November Lectionary Study with Shauna Hannan

Monday, October 18

1-4pm ET / 12noon-3pm CT

Take part in a study of the Gospel texts for the for All Saints Sunday through Christ the King Sunday, Year B, in the Revised Common Lectionary with Shauna Hannan, Professor of Homiletics at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (of California Lutheran University) and Core Doctoral Faculty of the Graduate Theological Union (GTU) in Berkeley, CA. 

ALL ARE WELCOME - lay and rostered ministers alike!

Advent Lectionary Study with Troy Troftgruben

Tuesday, November 9

1-4pm ET / 12noon-3pm CT

Take part in a study of the Gospel texts for the Sundays in Advent, Year C, in the Revised Common Lectionary with Shauna Hannan, Professor of Homiletics at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (of California Lutheran University) and Core Doctoral Faculty of the Graduate Theological Union (GTU) in Berkeley, CA. 

ALL ARE WELCOME - lay and rostered ministers alike!

Trauma Responsive Program for Congregations (IN THE ATLANTA AREA ONLY)

All congregations respond to trauma. Responding well can lead to thriving—in the life of our congregations, our neighborhoods, and our cities. Trauma Response Program fosters mutual learning among a network of educators and congregational leaders to generate theologically robust, interdisciplinary, and innovative responses to collective trauma that are deeply integrated into the mission of thriving urban congregations. Learn more by attending one of two information sessions on 8/18 and 8/23. If selected, a Lily grant in the amount of $12,500 will be awarded to help with your program/ministry. Application Deadline: September 30^th, 2021.

Calling All Coaches!

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

7-8pm ET / 6-7pm CT

Calling all Coach Leaders

• Have you received ELCA Coaching Certification and/or ICF (International Coaching Federation) accredited training? 

• Are you passionate about empowering leaders of the church to connect their dreams to concrete actions to bring about change in individual lives, congregations, and communities? 

If you answer yes and YES, REGISTER TODAY!!!

Congregation Disaster Plan

Are you ready to enter your Congregation Disaster Plan into the synod database?   Wish to start your plan?  Not sure where to start?  Check out this helpful resource on disaster planning today!

Weekly Sermons From your Synod Staff

The Bishop and Assistants are filming sermons for Sunday's surrounding the pandemic of COVID-19; we will post them here and host on our synod YouTube channel.

Each Sunday’s sermon will be archived on the Sermons page on our synod website.  If you wish a dial-in option, just call:

678-379-4840  (This number will be available through September 2021, after which we will discontinue this service.)

Please note:  Due to the rise in COVID cases and congregations being more cautious, we have decided to continue sharing sermons at least through the end of October 2021.

Southeastern Synod Swag is Now Available!!!

If you would like Southeastern Synod Swag, polo shirts, jackets, pretty much anything you can put the logo on you can now order direct from Land’s End Business.  You can get items embroidered in the multi-colored logo or in a single color.  Items are directly shipped to you. We look forward to seeing #sesswag pictures soon!
 

Southeastern Synod Advocacy SURVEY

What is Advocacy? In our baptismal  and affirmation of baptism vows we all promise “to proclaim Christ through word and deed,
care for others and the world God made, and work for justice and peace.”  Our Synod Advocacy Policy Committee works to provide education, resources, and connections for congregation members and ministries, and rostered leaders, to live out those vows through being aware of opportunities to speak on behalf of issues such as caring for creation, racial equity, hunger, affordable housing, immigration, and many other issues that affect vulnerable people. If you can take about five minutes to complete this survey, it will help our Advocacy Policy Committee connect our Synod advocates for the most effective efforts and outcomes. Please help!
 

ELCA World Hunger - Online Benefit - "A People of Hope: Until All Are Fed"

Thursday, October 14

8:30pm ET / 7:30pm CT

You’re invited to join Bishop Eaton and Rick Steves, guidebook author and travel TV host, as we celebrate World Food Day!

This online benefit for ELCA World Hunger will feature interviews hosted by Rickwith people on the ground who are doing the dynamic work of fighting hunger around the world. 

God's Work.  Our Hands. ~ Christ our Shepherd, Peachtree City, GA

DISASTER RESPONSE WORK

Christ Our Shepherd in Peachtree City has an established Disaster Ministry Team that has been on four previous mission trips to assist others following a disaster.  This disaster (Newnan, GA), however, hit closer to home.

God's Work.  Our Hands. ~ St. Timothy, Hendersonville, TN

SACKS OF KINDNESS DELIVERY

The St. Timothy Lutheran Church congregation created more than 800 sacks of kindness to give to local healthcare workers in appreciation for their efforts above and beyond during the Covid pandemic!  Each sack contained a mixture of goodies such as fun-size candies, granola bars, crackers and other snacks, along with a note of thanks from St. Timothy and a prayer or Bible verse of encouragement.

ONLINE CONVOCATION OPTION - from the NT-NL Synod

October 18-20, 2021 - ONLINE

Theme:  "From Reaction to Response:  Changed for Good"

In light of the fact that we canceled our in-person Convocation, our friends from the Northern Texas - Northern Louisiana Synod are holding their convocation in-person AND online.  

Please CLICK HERE to learn more and to sign up.  REGISTER BY SEPT. 15 for half-price of $25.  After Sept. 15, cost is $50.

Mediation Skills Training Institute for Church Leaders
 - Five Sessions
Scheduled for 2022

Does your congregation suffer from internal conflicts? Be proactive, not reactive! Join us for MSTI and acquire skills that will help you deal more effectively with interpersonal and group conflict. Sessions available: March 14-18, May 9-13, June 13-17, August 1-5, or November 14-18, 2022. There is also still time to register for the last session of MSTI this year on Nov. 15-19.

Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton:  "We Are the Body of Christ"

One body: Reflecting on the early church, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton writes: “They were one body. We are one body. We are the body of Christ.” Despite cultural and political differences, she reminds us that we can’t dissolve this bond.

Read her September column for Living Lutheran in English or in Spanish.

Or download the PDF to print or share.
 

Prompts for Prayers of Intercession

These brief posts will suggest national and world events and concerns that prayer writers might consider as they prepare for worship. These prompts will be posted on the ELCA Worship Blog on Wednesdays in preparation for the upcoming Sunday.
 

ELCA Youth Gathering Registration opens SEPTEMBER 22!!!

ELCA Youth Gathering registration opens on Wednesday, September 22!!!  Please head on over to the ELCA Youth Gathering web page to register your youth, check out the latest webinars, and find all the information you need to make plans to head to Minneapolis in June/July 2022!

Also, CHECK OUT THE NEW COVID UPDATES - requiring attendees to have a COVID vaccine or negative COVID test.

Donor-Advised Funds: A Charitable Giving Option

Often referred to as “charitable checkbooks,” donor-advised funds are charitable accounts established by donors with current gifts to provide future support to ministries. These accounts are opened and funded by a donor who then advises distributions to charity over time.

Learn more about the ELCA Foundation's socially responsible donor-advised fund option — designed specifically for ELCA members — or contact Rev. Ana Lugo to discover how a donor-advised fund may help you achieve your charitable-giving goals.

Subscribe to "Administration Matters" Newsletter TODAY!

How have Christians responded to this multiplicity? Some have viewed this multiplicity to be tragic – a denominational splintering of the singular vision for the visible Church inaugurated by Jesus.

Others have viewed this “manyness” to be a gift; believing that each Christian tradition can contribute to a full-orbed understanding of what it means to “follow Jesus.”

This project creates a venue for Christians who embrace these two differing views to present the reasons for their views, seeking to uncover some common ground as to what it means to “follow Jesus.” This quest will require “respectful conversations” about disagreements, which is a rare thing these days.

Following Jesus: Perspectives from Diverse Christian Traditions

How have Christians responded to this multiplicity? Some have viewed this multiplicity to be tragic – a denominational splintering of the singular vision for the visible Church inaugurated by Jesus.

Others have viewed this “manyness” to be a gift; believing that each Christian tradition can contribute to a full-orbed understanding of what it means to “follow Jesus.”

This project creates a venue for Christians who embrace these two differing views to present the reasons for their views, seeking to uncover some common ground as to what it means to “follow Jesus.” This quest will require “respectful conversations” about disagreements, which is a rare thing these days.

Newberry College Among Top FIVE for Best Value!

Newberry College has been named one of the top five best value colleges in the South, according to U.S. News & World Report. In the annual college rankings for 2022, published today, Newberry also held its place among the top 10 for social mobility and retained its No. 11 position among the overall best colleges in the region.

Here are Newberry’s official rankings:

• Best Regional Colleges – South: No. 11
• Best Value Colleges – South: No. 4
• Top Performers on Social Mobility – South: No. 7

Coordinator of Youth Ministries - Cross of Life, Roswell, GA, and Prince of Peace, Johns Creek, GA

Supervisor: Pastor Terri Stagner-Collier (COL) and Pastor Kevin Martin (PoP)
 
Position Purpose: To plan and execute joint events for the youth of COL and PoP and provide mentorship to the youth as they face life in Middle School and High School.
     

Faith Formation Minister - Incarnation LC, Columbia, SC

Contact:  Pastor Emily Willhide; office@incarnationlutheran.com
 
Position Purpose / Scope: Part-time Faith Formation Minister who will enable children, youth, and young adults to grow in their Christian discipleship. This position has the opportunity for full time hours and some benefits through additional hours at our Child Development Center.