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Upcoming Events

Mon Mar 15, 2010 @09:30AM - 11:30AM
SPIRITUALITY AND AGING!?
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HUNGER GATHERING: FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Join us on March 13, 2010 at Atonement Lutheran Church in Rochester for a workshop on fighting hunger both locally and globally.

The Rev. Daniel Rift, Director of ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal, will be with us to talk about the work we do as a church. He will also be able to give us the latest details on the work we are doing in Haiti to help in their time of crisis.

To reserve your spot today, please contact Atonement Lutheran Church at 585-442-1018.

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We are a resurrection people

The Upstate New York Synod of the ELCA is a Resurrection People.  We are more than 70,000  people connected to Jesus through Holy Baptism, gathered around Word and Sacrament in more than 185 congregations, served by more than 260 rostered leaders who in the face of fear, decline and despair live and proclaim good news of a God of hope, abundance, and new life.  We trust that Jesus’ Resurrection Spirit is at work transforming us, our church and our world.

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We pray first

We encourage and promote activities which nurture the faith of disciples and grow servant leaders – worship, Bible Study, prayer groups.  We are a Book of Faith Synod.  We encourage Christian education for adults and youth through two Outdoor Ministries, the Synod’s Deacon Program, the Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO), Youth Convo and Young Adult Lutheran Link (YALL), Region 7 First Call Theological Education, the Eastern Cluster’s Project Connect, 185 campus ministries and the 28 ELCA colleges and universities.

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We walk together

We build a network of connections which strengthen a sense of partnership in mission – in clusters, conferences, across the synod and with the wider church.  We gather leaders, provide training focused on transformation and mission, and work with ecumenical and interfaith partners and the New York State Council of Churches. We share with and learn from our companion synods in Central Southern Illinois, Zimbabwe and Zambia.  The Bishop’s Office, Synod Council, Conference Deans, Conflict and Healing and Mission in Transition Teams assist congregations through times of transition and conflict.  Mission interpreters help to tell the story of the difference we make in the world.

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We change lives

The Holy Spirit changes us and uses us as channels of God’s life-giving power.  Organic Faith in Amherst, Todos los Hijos de Dios in Amsterdam, and Nile Lutheran Mission in Rochester are avenues of outreach to new and immigrant communities. We ordain, consecrate and commission church leaders. We fight against hunger and poverty through the World Hunger Appeal and ELCA advocacy offices.  Lutheran Disaster Response coordinates the work of thousands of volunteers and 300 social ministry organizations (the largest network in the US) serve 1 in every 50 Americans.

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We are a Book of Faith Synod

The purpose of the Book of Faith Initiative is to increase biblical literacy and fluency for the sake of the world.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has made a commitment to encourage all members of our congregations, from children to adults, to dig deeper into our book of faith, the Bible.  The Book of Faith Initiative recommends a new model for our church—a grass-roots approach embracing a common vision in which all are invited to open scripture and join the conversation.  Each community is encouraged to decide how the Book of Faith Initiative will become a vital part of its own ministry.

2010 Finances PDF Print E-mail

Current economics and reactions to Churchwide Assembly decisions continue to impact synod income in a negative way. Overall income for 2009 was $225,000 less than 2008, including a decrease in congregational mission support of more than $138,000.  In order to be fiscally responsible the Synod Council at their February meeting adopted a 2010 budget that cut $200,000 from the mission proposal adopted by the Synod Assembly in 2009. The Bishop's office and Synod Council continue to work hard monitoring expenses while also aligning our spending more closely with our synod mission to be resurrection people who pray first, walk together and change lives.  A few congregations are considering redirecting mission support to specific ministries. The Synod Council is in conversation about how this redirection might impact the synod budget and commitments to those specific ministries.

Changes in the 2010 budget fall into three main areas: program ministry expenses, staffing, and administrative costs and include both things to rejoice about and challenges in the financial picture. Some key initial decisions include:

Program Ministry Expense

  • Maintaining candidacy support. We have 41 candidates who are currently in the candidacy process. Another 10 are at some point in their discernment but have not yet applied for candidacy.
  • Increasing dollars for Care of Congregations including more dollars for Mission in Transition training - $3,000.
  • Increasing our ELCA mission support to 47.1% rather than the 48% as planned resulting in a decrease of $110,530 from Mission Proposal. (While the percent of synod mission support is increasing, the total dollars projected for churchwide in 2010 will decrease due to an expected decrease in income from congregations.)
  • Elimination of mission support for LTSP - $3,000.
  • 10% reduction in support for Transforming and Urban ministries - $3,200;

Staffing

  • Resolution passed by Synod Council to allow synod support staff flexibility to take up to 6% of pension contribution as salary - $579.
  • Approval of 1% salary increase for all synod staff, including conference deans effective February 1, 2010 - $5,565. This is the first salary increase since 2008.
  • Maintaining the reductions in staff made in 2009 including closure of Buffalo office and decrease in support and pastoral staff.
  • Considerable financial savings have been realized by not filling in full the position vacated by Pr. Ed Sproul or the reduction to part time synod ministry by Pr. David Preisinger. However, a portion of those savings has been set aside for a future staff configuration that aligns staffing more closely to our synod mission.
  • Elimination of support for the Statewide Advocacy position - $12,500.

Administrative Costs

  • Increased use of electronic communication which has resulted in less postage - $5,500.
  • Elimination of contract cleaning services in synod office - support staff volunteered to take on this responsibility - $2,600.

We give thanks for many congregations who participate in the ministry of the wider church through their mission support and benevolence. Congregations can continue to help in planning and preparing for the coming fiscal year by completing the 2010 Synod Mission Commitment forms available on the synod website and returning them as soon as possible to Karen Brundige.

 
LDR To Host Webinar PDF Print E-mail

LDRLutheran Disaster Response is hosting a webinar on Saturday, April 24, 2010, 9am - 12noon, on disaster spiritual & emotional care presented by Rev. Kevin Massey, Executive Director of LDR.  There are 3 host locations - Holy Trinity, Buffalo; St. John's Home, Rochester; and the American Red Cross, Utica.  Please share the attached information with rostered leaders and congregations in your conference and encourage their participation.   The webinar will last 90 minutes and will be followed by facilitated discussion at each site about how participants can work together to plan for providing spiritual care in the event of a local disaster.  Facilitators at each site are:

  • Holy Trinity - Rev. Eric Olsen
  • St. John's - Gary Roller
  • Red Cross - Rev. Janet Hoover (Presbyterian pastor) and Peg Ward (lay Presbyterian pastor)
 
Proposed Social Statement Released March 18 PDF Print E-mail

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is preparing a social statement that addresses issues in genetics and biotechnology, a task authorized by the 2005 Churchwide Assembly. The ELCA's Genetics Task Force was formed in 2007 to lead this process and craft a proposed social statement to be considered by the 2011 Churchwide Assembly.

The proposed statement will be released on March 18. Congregations are invited to study the statement and provide comments to the task force by October 15, 2010.  A final proposed document, with possible revisions based on comment and review, will be prepared and reviewed by the Church Council.  The council is expected to transmit
the proposed social statement for action by the 2011 assembly.

Information about the proposed social statement, names of task force members, a timeline, study documents, background material and other documents relating to the work of the Genetics Task Force is available on the ELCA website.

Robert Roger Lebel, Syracuse, NY, a member of King of Kings, Liverpool, NY, serves as a member of the Genetics Task Force. Dr. Lebel will be leading a discussion of the draft social statement that addresses significant theological, ethical, public, and pastoral challenges arising from developments in genetics on Saturday, May 1, 2010 from 9:30 - 12:15 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Buffalo, NY. The gathering is open to rostered leaders, church members and guests. Call the church office to reserve continental breakfast and a copy of the draft statement Genetics and Faith - 716-886-2400, Ext. 10.

 
Earthquake in Chile PDF Print E-mail

Chile EarthquakeChile EarthquakeAn 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit central Chile February 27,  2010, at approximately 3:30 a.m. local time about 70 miles northeast of the city of Concepcion and 200 miles south of the capital, Santiago. The earthquake is the biggest to hit Chile in 50 years.

What you can do:

Pray:

God our creator, through whose providing care we enjoy all goodness and life, turn our eyes to your mercy in this time of confusion and loss.  Comfort those who mourn the loss of loved ones because of the earthquake; shine your light on those whose only companion is darkness; and teach us all so to number our days that we may apply our hearts to your wisdom; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.  (Adapted from ELW, pew edition, page 77)

Give:

Gifts to ELCA Chile Earthquake Response help us to provide immediate and effective support to communities which are in need. Please consider giving to support the needs of this response and others like it.  Information on giving is provided in the box on the right "How You Can Help." 100% of your gift will be used in full to bring life sustaining support to this crisis. Thank you for your prayerful consideration.

Connect:

Read and subscribe to the ELCA Disaster Response Blog.  Subscribe to receive ELCA Disaster Response Alerts.

 
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ELCA Prayer Ventures

Prayer Ventures is a guide to daily prayer for the ministries of the church. It is produced by ELCA Communication Services on behalf of the whole church.
  • March 11
    Ask the Holy Spirit to surround the people God is calling to be a part of Rivers of Life Community Church, Colora, Md., a new ELCA ministry in Cecil County, Md. Pray that God will strengthen the faith of these new Christians.

Daily Bible Verse

Daily Bible Verses from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
  • Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:00:00 GMT
    "If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet." -- Jesus (John 13:14)

ELCA News Releases

Official news releases of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Daily Bible Reading

Daily Bible Readings from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
  • Thursday, March 11, 2010 [2 Corinthians 4:16-5:5 (NRSV)]
    Paul comforts with a promise of glory

    So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.

    For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling -- if indeed, when we have taken it off we will not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan under our burden, because we wish not to be unclothed but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.


New Resources from Augsburg Fortress

Keep up-to-date on the latest resources for your ministry from Augsburg Fortress
  • Art Studio Slabbinck Paraments
    Art Studio Slabbinck Paraments for Augsburg Fortress employ the best in European design. The artisans are masters of their craft, with expertise in design and art. They are biblically aware,...
  • Splash! Packs for Birth to Three Faith Formation
    Congregations can purchase Splash! Packs for all their birth to three members. Each month, the congregation mails an issue of Parent Pages to families with children between birth and 36...
  • The Lutheran Handbook
    The essential field guide for all things Lutheran. Confirmands - or anyone hiking the trails of life's adventures and challenges - will want to pack this handy illustrated field guide...

Sundays and Festivals (Lectionary)

Texts and liturigcal colors for upcoming dates from the Revised Common Lectionary
  • Sunday, March 14, 2010
    Fourth Sunday in Lent (Year C)
    Sunday, March 14

    First Reading: Joshua 5:9-12
    Israel eats bread and grain, the produce of the land
    Psalm: Psalm 32
    Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the LORD. (Ps. 32:12)
    Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
    The mystery and ministry of reconciliation
    Gospel: Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
    The parable of the prodigal father and the repentant son
    Liturgical Color: Purple

Festivals and Commemorations

Lesser festivals and commemorations of the Church
  • Friday, March 12, 2010
    Gregory the Great, Bishop of Rome, died 604
    Friday, March 12

    Born into wealth and power, Gregory was for a time the chief administrator of the city of Rome. Giving this up for a life in the church, he was elected pope in 590. He influenced public worship through the establishment of a lectionary and prayers to correlate with the readings. Gregorian chant is named in his honor.
  • Wednesday, March 17, 2010
    Patrick, bishop, missionary to Ireland, died 461
    Wednesday, March 17

    A native of Britain, Patrick was kidnapped by pirates at age sixteen and sold into slavery in Ireland. After a few years, he escaped, returned home, and entered the ministry. Returning to Ireland, he successfully served as a bishop and missionary there.