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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.

Living Our Mission

We are resurrection people who pray first, walk together and change lives. This mission is accomplished through God's grace alive and active in the lives of individuals and congregations throughout the synod. Living Our Mission provides a place to share the stories of how God's work is being done in the world with our hands.



You are invited to go on a church mission trip PDF Print E-mail

Many congregations participate in mission trips of one sort or another. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to participate in a mission trip? or thought you'd like to to experience one but don't have the opportunity in your congregation? If you answered yes to either of these questions. here's an invitation for you.

For the fourth time, Holy Trinity, Jamestown will be sending a group on a 7 day spring break Mission Trip. This could be the first time for YOU!

Having gone to New Orleans, Clintwood VA, Caldwell OH, the Team will head back to Clintwood in the mountains of western VA, leaving after church on April 18 and returning to Jamestown on the 24th.  Working with Sister Jean of St. Joseph’s Housing Repair program, participants will do all kinds of work from cooking and cleaning to painting, drywall and floor board repair.  While Sister Jean tries to make good use of any special skills within the Team, there is always work available for the unskilled.  A worker from the program accompanies each work group to direct and to teach new skills. 

Why this particular location?  Clintwood and its people have been greatly impacted by the coal, gas, and timber industries and by absentee ownership.  Despite the poverty, and the land and water devastation, they are determined to assume control of their destiny.  St Joseph’s is one of several churches in the area that has formed a ministerial association to meet some of the needs of local residents.  Their housing program offering low-income people home repairs and an opportunity for groups to come to the area to learn the social, political, economic and cultural aspects of life in central Appalachia while performing some much needed home repairs.

The cost for going on the mission trip is $100 for Holy Trinity members and $300 for those not from Holy Trinity.  [Please note that the $300 is still subsidized by Holy Trinity, and that if enough people sign up so that we need a third car, there may be some additional transportation costs.]

We would welcome folks from other congregations to participate.  AND, as a bonus, we will coach anyone from another congregation about involving the congregation in the trip, even if they never leave NY state!

If you’d like more info or wish to sign up for the trip, please contact Holy Trinity 716-488-4325.

Peace & Joy!
Pastor Allie Leitzel

 
Grace Church, North Tonawanda PDF Print E-mail

God’s work. Our hands. 

It’s exciting to point to all the ways that one congregation, Grace Church, North Tonawanda, is living out these words. A recent church newsletter highlighted all the ways in recent months that the hands at Grace have been doing God’s work. 

For example:

  • 140 health kits assembled for migrant workers in Niagara County
  • 83 hats and 16 blankets knitted and crocheted for at-risk babies around the world through Global Health Ministries
  • over 35 shoeboxes of gifts and $400 for Operation Christmas Child, so children not only get Christmas gifts but also receive story books about Jesus’ birth and a connection to a Christian faith community
  • 2 members of Grace spending a week’s vacation in Mississippi with Thrivent to rebuild a home destroyed by Hurricane Katrina
  • a community food drive for the Food Pantry
  • over 20 Grace disciples who participated in the CROP Walk to help those in hunger and poverty
  • over $700 raised through chowder and a brunch for brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe
  • $600 raised through the rummage sale for Community Mission in Niagara Falls, the children of Compassion International developmentally disabled youth and adults through Lutheran Service Society
  • visiting and care for those who are sick

In telling this story, Pastor Janet Griffiths writes:

"And this is just in the past two months! "

"If we looked back over the entire year, I could show you many more ways Grace has been reaching out with hands of love to be a part of God’s work here in North Tonawanda and around the globe. And what makes it so exciting is that it has involved so many of you, from children in Sunday School to those who are homebound. "

When God’s work is being done with our hands, we are living our mission to be resurrection people who pray first, walk together and change lives. It’s that simple!

 
Candidacy: by Bishop Jerge PDF Print E-mail

Krista ZimmermannOne of the strong signs of resurrection hope in the Upstate New York Synod is our work in Candidacy.  When people sense a call from God the Candidacy Committee works with them over a period of time to discern whether they have the appropriate gifts for leadership in this church at this time. The Candidacy Committee shepherds potential candidates through the entrance process, nurtures and encourages them while studying at seminary and after much evaluation and lots of hard work, rejoices with them when they are approved and then become available for their first call.

In January 2010 we had 14 candidates and 7 of their spouses meet with the Candidacy Committee.  This was the largest event in several years and we are delighted with the quality of the candidates.  We have 30 candidates who have been approved for entrance (the first step in the process) and there are 30 more with whom we’ve had some contact.  Upstate New York Synod students are attending 7 of the 8 ELCA Seminaries. 

In January we rejoiced as 3 seminary seniors were approved – they are Krista Zimmermann from Transfiguration, Irondequoit is a senior at Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago.  Shawn and Scott Hannon from First, Jamestown are seniors at Southern Seminary in Columbia, S. Carolina. We will continue to pray for them as they work their way through the Assignment Process for First Call. 

Candidacy is one of the best examples of our partnership with the whole church.  We walk together with the Vocation and Education Unit, the 8 ELCA Seminaries as well as congregations to prepare those who will lead this church into the future.

Those being prayed for in the pictures:

Above: Krista Zimmermann, below left: Scott Hannon and below right: Shawn Hannon.

Scott HannonShawn Hannon

 
Haiti Eartquake - An Update from LWR's President & CEO PDF Print E-mail

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Skip the Coffee. Feed the Hungry. PDF Print E-mail

From ELCA.org

Many are familiar with the tradition of giving something up during Lent. Last year, Pastor Steve Biegner of Zion Lutheran Church in Clarence Center, N.Y., decided to add something to his Lenten tradition. For 40 days, he stopped drinking coffee. And in its place, he gave whatever money he normally spent to support ELCA World Hunger.

“What does giving up coffee have to do with my relationship with God?” Pastor Steve asked. “Nothing. But focusing on the problem of hunger does. It helps ‘enlighten my eye’ to the ongoing problem.”

He placed a large, empty pickle jar outside the sanctuary of his church and asked others to join him. Each day, members of the congregation would sacrifice their favorite morning beverage and save the money they would have spent. By Easter Sunday, the pickle jar was full of donations to help end hunger and poverty.

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For resources to help your congregation remember those who are hungry and living in poverty this Lenten season visit http://www.elca.org/Our-Faith-In-Action/Responding-to-the-World/ELCA-World-Hunger/Resources/For-Congregations/Lent.aspx.

 

 
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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.