2022 Lenten Devotion - from En Conjunto Task Force

As we embark on the 40 day journey of reflection, prayer, meditation, self-examination, and turning back to God, the En Conjunto Task Force invites you to reflect with us on the theme, "What does it mean to live en conjunto (together)?" How has, is, and will God call us and form us into the beloved community? What is God speaking into our shared spaces, our collective heart, as we journey with Jesus and the whole church to the cross? Welcome to this Lenten experience.”

Foros22: Voces, Vidas y Visiones - Perspectivas latinoamericanas

Patrocinado por En Conjunto - Las Iniciativas de los Ministerios Latinos del Sínodo del Sureste de la ELCA.

Tema: “Identidades luteranas + evangelización desde las perspectivas latinoamericanas”

Fecha: 17 de marzo (jueves)

2-4pm ET / 1-3pm CT

Este foro incluirá voces, experiencias vividas y visiones del mundo luterano latinoamericano acerca de la construcción de las identidades luteranas en contexto y cómo compartimos la fe en Jesucristo. Se realizará el foro en español por Zoom.
¡Guarde la fecha e inscríbase!
 

2022 SESLYO Assembly

March 18-20, 2022

We are still taking participants!!!

Every year the youth of the synod are invited to gather "in assembly" to worship, grow in faith, learn from youth-led workshops, and discuss issues relevant to the youth of our synod.

Our SESLYO (Southeastern Synod Lutheran Youth Organization) board plans and develops the entirety of this event, which allows our board to work on their leadership skills.

When we gather, we also elect a NEW SELSYO BOARD, so please look out for a registration link soon.

To learn more about SESLYO, click the link above.

Easter 2022 - Lectionary Study with Brian Peterson

TWO FRIDAY SESSIONS!!!

Fridays, March 18 AND 25, 2022

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

The Rev. Dr. Brian Peterson teaches Greek, Paul's letters and preaching. In the Greek courses, he hopes that along with language skills, students also learn how to welcome God's Word, with all the challenge, ambiguity and discovery that endeavor involves.

Please be sure to sign up today for these TWO sessions where will discern God's Word for us for this upcoming Easter season.

Evangelism Workshop - Listening to Others

Sunday, March 20, 2022

3-4:30pm ET / 2-3:30pm CT

Building on the first workshop where we Discovered our Story, we learned that we need to listen to others. Through listening to others’ stories we are able to continue discerning our own authentic story. Join us on the 20^th for another great Evangelism Workshop!

WEBINAR:  SHE - Five Keys to Unlock the Power of Women in Ministry with Karoline Lewis

Monday, March 21, 2022

10am-12Noon ET / 9-11am CT

In honor of Women History Month, the Southeastern Synod invites you to come to hear and learn from Rev. Dr. Karoline M. Lewis as she does a presentation based on her book SHE: Five Keys to Unlock the Power of Women in Ministry.

Atlanta Concert Ringers

"All Weather Bells" - Tunes in Celebration of Weather

Saturday, March 26, 2022, 7pm ET

Christ the King LC
5575 Peachtree Parkway
Norcross, GA

FREE Admission

2022 Southeastern Synod Assembly Conference Caucus Day: "Have I got a story to tell you!"

Presenter:  Pastor Mary Canniff-Kuhn

Sunday, March 27, 2022

3-5pm ET / 2-4pm CT

We are excited to invite Pastor Mary Canniff-Kuhn as our presenter at this year’s Conference Caucus Day to present on “Storytelling and Evangelism”. Following our program with Pastor Mary, attendees will be able to meet with their conference caucus to elected Conference leadership, elected Synod Council representatives for Conferences 6-9, and discuss ministry opportunities together. This meeting will be held on zoom.

Synod Prayer Team

Monday, March 28, 2022

11am-12Noon ET / 10-11am CT.

Our Synod Prayer Team meets every month to seek the Lord's guidance, support, and grace, as we join in God's mission.

Healthy Boundaries - training for Rostered Ministers

Thursday, March 31, 2022

9:30am-12:30pm ET / 8:30-11:30am CT

The church should be a safe place where people can worship, learn, work, love and receive care. The Southeastern Synod has entered into an agreement with the other synods in Region 9 to assure that all Rostered Ministers, actively in calls or retired are required to attend the basic boundary training every three years and the annual rotation for boundary education offered by the Region.

We plan to offer this once annually in addition to when it is offered every third year for the regional agreement. 

If a rostered minister has already completed Boundary Education in 2022 – with another agency or judicatory, they must submit proof of completion to Pastor Jill Henning at jhenning@elca-ses.org.

Disaster Ministry Roundtable

Theme:  "How to help in the first week after a disaster"

Thursday, March 31, 2022

7pm ET / 6pm CT

Attention all Synod Volunteer Disaster Coordinators and Congregational Disaster Coordinators! 

We will gather via ZOOM and report out on disaster activities in the synod and in our congregations followed by a guest presentation on various disaster topics.

We will also gather via Zoom for other Disaster Response activities on 4/28.

Word & Prayer Ministry - April 2022 - in Spanish

Shepherd of the Hills (Birmingham) holds a Word and Prayer Ministry in Spanish the 1^st 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.

2023 Domestic Hunger Grants

If your congregation is interested in applying for a Domestic Hunger grant, check out the registration information (opening on March 18^th) and application information (opening on April 18^th) from ELCA World Hunger.  World Hunger will be hosting a Zoom webinar April 6^th at 12 pm Central time to review the process for registration, application, and the grant priorities. Please contact the Southeastern Synod Hunger Chair (Cheryl Bopp, cherylbopp@hotmail.com) if you have questions about hunger grant opportunities or how to register.   

Motivating the Exhausted

Tuesday, April 5, 2022

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

Led by Rev. Dr. Marj Funk-Pihl

This pandemic has gone on and on.  It’s taking a toll on everyone in just about every area of our lives. People are frustrated, resentful, even angry, and that is actually a good thing. This 3-hour workshop will give you tools to lead your congregation to channel their exhaustion and frustration in creative ways that inspire curiosity and lead to positive change.  Appreciative inquiry will provide the strategy and the underlying principles, so you’ll learn a bit about that too.

2022 Southeastern Synod Assembly - June 3-5, 2022

Early Bird Registration runs through March 31

Chattanooga Marritt Downtown
Group Rate of $159.00 USD per night
Last Date to Book: Tuesday, May 3, 2022(subject to availability)
 
Book your group rate for the Annual Southeastern Synod Assembly

Registration runs February 8 through May 10, 2022. 

WE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTING ON-SITE REGISTRATIONS for this Synod Assembly, to allow us to follow COVID safety protocols.

Accepting Nominations for Synod Council - to be elected at 2022 Synod Assembly

During the Assembly, we will be electing a Vice President of the Synod.  We will also be electing 2 At Large Positions to Synod Council. In addition to the Vice President position and the At-Large Position to Synod Council, we will be electing a Young Adult Member on Synod Council.

AFFIRM 2022 (STAFF AND PARTICIPANT) Registration is NOW OPEN!!!

Join us June 12-17, 2022, at the University of West Alabama, in Livingston, AL, for another week of faith formation at the Southeastern Synod's longest-standing discipleship formation event: AFFIRM!

Please go to the website to see Unit descriptions, registration and more.

Early bird pricing extended: Cost is $400 through March 15, 2022.   $150 deposit is due upon registration. 

Contact Pr. Michael Jannett for assistance with scholarships.   Contact Registrar, Traci Billman, with registration questions.

2024 ELCA Youth Gathering - CITY CHALLENGE...

Where will we be headed in 2024?

Download the “City Challenge” bracket, make your guesses with your congregational group, and submit your completed bracket by March 8 for the chance to win a prize. Follow along on Gathering social media throughout March to learn where we’ll be hosting the 2024 Gathering!

2022 Mission Support Intent

As you prepare your congregation budget for 2022, we ask you to prayerfully consider God's abundance and how your congregation can reflect that abundance. The Mission Support Gifts given from your congregation to the ELCA-Southeastern Synod truly change lives.

Southeastern Synod ELCA Great Commission and Linn Fund Grants Available

Deadline to apply:  Monday, March 28

Please go to https://www.elca-ses.org/grantsandfunding for more details. Complete the application, scan, and email to synod.office@elca-ses.org (preferred method). You can also mail a copy to the synod address below, and keep a copy for your records. Keep in mind that mail can be delayed.

Postal Address:

ELCA-Southeastern Synod
P.O. Box 400
Decatur, GA 30031

Reach out to Pastor Patti Axel or Ms. Melissa Fuller Sims if you have any questions.

Don’t forget that the next Grant request deadline for Vitality Grants / Outreach Grants / Multicultural Grants is 
Monday, March 28th. 

Bishop Strickland Begins Lenten Visits with Renewal of Vows

Rostered Ministers (retired or active) are invited to join Bishop Kevin Strickland at one of these services for an opportunity to renew your ordination vows, receive oils for use in ministry rites, receive Holy Communion, and gather with one another in prayer. Following each of these services, Bishop Strickland will offer a time of conversation. Spouses are also welcomed to attend these services. As well, lay church staff are welcomed and invited to attend. We will follow all COVID protocols and masks will be required. 

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!

When you click on an item, once you select your size, it will allow you to select the logo and whether or not you would like the logo full color or a single color logo.

Ukraine Crisis: Mapping Your Impact through Lutheran Disaster Response

In a Facebook Post from the ELCA Facebook Page, on 3/15/2022:

You have helped raise more than $1 million so far and your dollars are already at work in Ukraine and Eastern Europe! THANK YOU!  

To learn more about Lutheran Disaster Response, check out their FACEBOOK PAGE.

Ecumenical Advocacy Days - Virtual Conference

April 25-27, 2022 - #EAD2022

This year’s theme, “Fierce Urgency: Advancing Civil & Human Rights,” calls us into solidarity to restore, protect and expand voting rights in the United States and to realize human rights around the world.

Because Ecumenical Advocacy Days (Apr 25-27) is such a good opportunity to connect faith-voices in advocacy action, several Evangelical Lutheran Church in America scholarships for the registration fee are available to encourage the strength of the witness of ELCA advocacy both in the locations of the attendees and in the ELCA’s voice on federal matters. Consider being part of #EAD2022 and applying for a scholarship before Mar. 31. The ELCA as an EAD sponsor. More info HERE.