What IS "Formation"? Seems like all of us are now going through a REformation process on FORMATION.
Gather with us at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Atlanta, on Saturday, Feb 11, 2023, 9:00am-5:00pm
Cost is $25 per person
We welcome Daniel Kirschbaum (Program Director for ELCA Young Adults) and Rebbecca Payne (ELCA Innovation Hub) as our guest speakers/leaders for this event who will help us wrestle with what Formation looks like in YOUR context and will help to come up with some concrete plans for your Summer / Fall 2023 programming.
(Hotel discounts good through 1/20/2022!!!)
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Donations for GA/AL Tornado Response Needed Especially Now
https://www.elca-ses.org/relief
There is a great need at the moment for emergency assistance funds for families and individuals who have had their homes destroyed or have been made uninhabitable by the tornadoes. These storms impacted several areas within our synod.
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Calling all 6th-12th grade youth!!!
Join us at Camp Grace in Roberta, GA for the
2023 All GA Lutheran Youth Gathering
We will have with us special guests Joe Davis (spoken word artist) and David ("Agape") Scherer (music artist and seminarian) who will prepare our curriculum and lead our community in word and song
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Click image above to learn more about Pr. Linda's transition to the Southeastern Synod staff
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Saturday, January 28, 2023
10:00-11:30am ET / 9:00-10:30am CT
This will be a workshop (held via Zoom) for Lay Leaders of our Synod congregations to offer Resources for Stewardship, Suggestions for “Making the Ask,” and other valuable tools. This workshop will help you update your Stewardship webpage, reach people through generosity, and "Flipping the Switch" from transactional Stewardship to Transformational!!
Register now for this informative event and be ready for a transformative discussion about being a vital congregation for Giving, Gratitude, and Generosity!
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January 16-20, 2023
A group from the Southeastern Synod is rebuilding and repairing the home of a family that lost so much in the August 2021 floods. They have a good mix of folks and skills on this trip. Please keep them in prayer, with thanksgiving for housing being provided by First United Methodist Church in Waverly.
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Monday, January 23
11 am ET / 10 am CT
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything make your requests to God...by prayer, thanksgiving and placing your request to God, the peace of God will guard your heart and mind fully beyond understanding (Phil. 4: 6–7)
The synod staff invites you to join them in prayer. Newcomers are always welcome!
This team will meet once a month via zoom to pray.
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Monday, January 23 - 7 pm ET / 6 pm CT
Topic: Congregational Disaster Planning
Attention congregational and synod volunteer disaster coordinators!
Please join us for this ZOOM Gathering to discuss your congregation's disaster plan
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Friday, February 3 - 11:30 am - 2:00 pm
St. Mark's LC, East Point, GA
We hope that all congregations will have a disaster coordinator to assist them to prepare for times of disaster and also help them see how they can respond and care for their neighbors, their community, and the congregation.
Register for this lunch and learn event and join us for this training for new coordinators and a helpful refresher for seasoned ones!
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Shepherd of the Hills (Birmingham) holds a Word and Prayer Ministry in Spanish 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.
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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.
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February 10-11, 2023
Lutheranch, Tallapoosa, GA
Hosted by Bishop Kevin Strickland.
Each of us has been called by God in the waters of our baptism and while being called into the priesthood of all believers is a gift in itself, trying to figure out what that means is not quite so easy.
Join us to discern how God has called you and is calling you today!
Cost and details in the link above.
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2023 Synod Assembly will take place June 2-4, 2023, in Chattanooga, TN.
At the 2023 Synod Assembly, we will hold elections for Synod Vice President, Synod Treasurer, (Lay) At-Large members of Synod Council, as well as Consultation and Discipline Committee members.
Details in this article will help you understand our goals for elections in 2023.
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Need some time to figure out what is next? Looking for a way to serve a community? Want to live in an intentional Christian community? Come join the Passion Collective at Grace House!
The Passion Collective is a gap-year Internship at Grace House, the Lutheran-Episcopal Campus Ministry in Atlanta. During the year you will live rent free in an intentional Christian community, work alongside students, and have time to discern where God is calling you next!
Contact Pastor Andrew Rickel (andrew@gracepeople.org) for more details!
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What did your congregation give to the Southeastern Synod in 2022? Ask your congregational leaders!
How has your life or your congregation been positively impacted by the work of the synod? Ask your congregational leaders if you don't know!
A 1% increase in mission support from your congregation also means that the synod continues to serve you and your congregation in greater ways. We receive with one hand, and give with other. That small increase means an opportunity for God to bless what we have and multiply this into ministry.
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Bishop Strickland is the featured preacher Sunday, January 22. His sermon is based on Matthew 4 in which Jesus calls his first disciples from their fishing boats:
"As far as Jesus was concerned, their willingness to get up and follow was credentials enough.” he says. “He would make his community out of this diverse, contentious dozen.”
“Day 1” is currently distributed to 200 radio stations across America and overseas, and the “Day1” Weekly Program is on all podcast apps.
For more information, check the site Day1.org.
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Our very own Pr. Robin Lovett-Owen (Christ, Nashville) published an article in Living Lutheran. Here is an excerpt:
Luther’s perfectionism and guilt resonated with me when I read about them in seminary—just not when it came to religious devotion. The religious scrupulosity he lived with still exists, but I think it’s less common, in part because of his bravery. He did his best to free himself and others from pious perfectionism, and we’re all better for it. But works righteousness still rages in our hearts; we still want to be our own saviors, and we are still furious when we fall short of the standards we set for ourselves.
However works righteousness shows up, the answer is grace.
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At the 2022 Churchwide Assembly last August, voting members adopted a memorial concerning restructuring the ELCA’s governance, and in November the Church Council responded to this by authorizing the establishment of a Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church. Individuals who wish to be nominated for the commission or to nominate another person can learn more here. Nominations are open through March 9.
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After 15 years serving the ELCA as a Portico Regional Representative, Barb Debski put into practice much of what she’s been teaching and entered retirement. As of Jan. 9, our synod’s new Regional Rep is Pastor Cathy Schibler, who’s served on the Regional Rep team since 2016. While the Portico Customer Care Center (800.352.2628) remains the primary point of contact for benefit questions and processes, Portico’s Regional Reps provide education, encouragement, and a personal connection. Cathy can be reached at cschibler@PorticoBenefits.org
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If you are a parish administrator, church secretary, pastor, or church archivist who is overwhelmed by the state of your parish register, church files, or archives; we are here to help. In partnership with Pastor Mary Anderson of Columbia, SC, and other Synods, we are offering a 4-week Zoom workshop from 10-11 am EST on Mondays: January 23, January 30, February 6, and February 13, 2023.
Cost: $30
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Friday, January 27, 2023 - 10am-5pm ET
Stavros Lecture Hall - LTSS, Columbia, SC
Cost: $20 for in-person; $10 for online
"Financial Accountability and Empowerment for Missional Leaders" with keynote by Bonnie Ives Marden
In-Person registration includes a free lunch and a complimentary copy of Bonnie’s book, “Church Finances for Missional Leaders: Best Practices in Financial Stewardship.”
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The ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission program invites ELCA young adults ages 21-29 into a transformative, year-long journey in international service. As they offer themselves in service, ELCA young adults are shaped by the witness of our global neighbors. They share in the journeys of companion churches and organizations in one of nine countries around the world.
Applications for the 2023-2024 YAGM service year will be open from Nov. 1, 2022 through Feb. 1, 2023. Priority will be given to those who apply before Jan. 15.
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Thursday, February 9, 2023
7-8:15pm ET / 6-7:15pm CT
Being a friend, follower, or subscriber to someone on social media is no longer the only way to connect. All major social media platforms are building in discoverable algorithms to connect people with new creators based on their interests and interactions. Understanding how this new type of algorithm works and being able to create content for it (vertical video) is a huge opportunity for evangelism for churches of all sizes.
Led by Pr. Colleen Montgomery, Virginia Synod
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LVC has just begun recruitment for the 2023-24 Volunteer/ Fellow Cohort. We are excited that we have many applications already. In the last 4 years, under President Deirdre Bagley's leadership, we have increased the number of LGBTQ+ and BIPOC volunteers and have also increased the number of volunteers who are discerning seminary. We are truly living "Reconciling in Christ" and also have Social Justice programs.
If you wish to apply to be an LVC Fellow / Inter, click HERE.
If you wish to learn how to be a LVC Placement site, click HERE.
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Offer ONE: Respite Stays at Camp
We all need time away to rest and renew our body, mind and soul. We invite you to schedule a respite stay at any of our locations in 2023.
Rostered leaders will receive 50% off the normal nightly rate.
Offer TWO: 1/2 Off One Program Per Year
Come enjoy the fun and faith-filled experiences of our camp programs in 2023!
Rostered leaders will receive 50% off one program registration. Use code ROSTERED23 when registering.
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Just a reminder that ALL are welcome to post a congregation-related classified on our synod website, here:
https://www.elca-ses.org/classifieds
Click the "Submit a classified" button,
or read through current classifieds
Click the link for each position for a full list
of Responsibilities and Job Description
| Rostered Minister & Congregational Transitions |
Installations:
- Rev. Dave Helfrich - St. John's, Atlanta, GA
- Interim Pastor
- Sunday, January 22, 10:30am ET
- Rev. Dr. Julius Carrol - Ascension, Jackson, MS
- Interim Pastor
- Sunday, January 29, 10 am CT
- Rev. Diana Bottin - St. Mark's, Huntsville, AL
- Interim Pastor
- Sunday, February 5, during worship
- Rev. Patti Axel - Advent, Lagrange, GA
- Pastor (1yr term call)
- Sunday, February 12, 3pm ET
- Rev. Nyahaley Labor - Emmanuel, Atlanta, GA
- Pastor
- Sunday, February 26, 3pm ET
- For the family of Pastor Doug MaGinn who passed on Jan. 5
- For the family of Pastor Paul Haffly who passed on Jan. 15
- For Pastor Dena Lane and Lutheran Church of the Nativity, Austell, GA recovering after burst pipes
- For Pastor Jeff Halenza and Christ Our Hope Lutheran Church, Riverdale, GA recovering after burst pipes
- For the community of Selma, AL and all communities affected by recent storms
- For the 118th Congress of the United States
- For all peoples fleeing war, violence, oppression, hunger, poverty, climate disasters
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Check us out on social media
 
 
ELCA
Southeastern
Synod
St. John's Lutheran Church
Physical Address:
1410 N Ponce de Leon Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30307
404-589-1977
Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 400
Decatur, GA 30031
As always, please feel free to visit our website for more information:
www.elca-ses.org
For questions or concerns regarding our regular or special enews, please contact: Rev. Michael Jannett - Assistant to the Bishop for Formation and Communication MJannett@elca-ses.org
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