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Thu Jul 29, 2010
Hartwick Seminary Summer Institute of Theology

Fri Jul 30, 2010
Hartwick Seminary Summer Institute of Theology

Thu Aug 12, 2010 @08:30AM - 10:00AM
SPIRITUALITY AND AGING!?

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Upstate New York Synod Ministerium

Upstate New York Synod Ministerium
2010 Annual Retreat
The Rev. Craig A. Satterlee, Ph.D.
September 20-22,2010
Notre Dame Retreat House, Canandaigua, NY

CLICK HERE for the Brochure.

CLICK HERE to register.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

LYO

Lutheran Youth Organization of Upstate New York.

DAC is Looking for You!!!

Who?!? DAC stands for "Definitely-Abled Advisory Committee" and it's a committee of the national Board of Lutheran Youth Organization BLYO). The ministry of DAC is to help the BLYO to be "more inclusive of youth with physical or cognitive disabilities....", as well as to "voice the concerns and needs of youth with disabilities."

Last year I met DAC's dynamic chair, Tim. Tim is young man whose physical challenges don't keep him from being an amazing disciple of Jesus Christ, minister in the best sense of the word, and leader in the church. He recently wrote asking for help identifying youth in the Upstate New York Synod who have disabilities. Tim and DAC represent disabled youth; they want to be in touch with youth, their congregations, and the agencies who nurture them.

Tim wrote in an e-mail, "I hope we can stay in touch and work together to lead the youth with disabilities to do great things in the church of the present and the future." If you are, or know of, a young disciple who brings the gift of being definitely-abled to the church, please contact me. We'll get you connected with DAC.

Pastor Laurie Carson-Nelson
Church Phone: 716.542.2880
e-mail: pastorlcn1@verizon.net
Or Facebook

Convo Wrapup

While not the largest CONVO ever, you wouldn't know it among the 32 youth and staff at this year's CONVO gathering in Rochester! Every person at CONVO became connected with their faith, some amazing friends (both peers and those a "little older") and some amazing ministry that is happening in our church. From family groups, to being up front at Synod Assembly, to service and even composing an original song...CONVO participants will always remember this year's CONVO! Check out pictures from this year's CONVO at the Pictures page at www.nfclyo.org! CONVO made a food castle (pictured) of donations brought to the Assembly. Food donations were given to the Rochester Food Bank.

CONVO youth encourage each other in faith and fun

From the Tuesday edition of The Daily Call (click here for the pdf version)

by The Rev. Mark Frickey

“If you were a secret agent, what would your code name be?” A great question to ask a bishop. And the youth involved in this year’s CONVO were able to ask just
this question to Bishop Marie Jerge!

Along with quizzing the bishop, the participants of CONVO have been busy getting to know each other, greeting voting members as they arrived for the Synod
Assembly, strengthening their faith through Bible study and conversation, and serving as the always-helpful pages during the assembly’s plenary sessions, handing
out ballots and counting votes.

One way these young people have gotten to know each other is though Christkins mailboxes. They each have a daily opportunity to leave anonymous messages for one another in these mailboxes, seeking to support and encourage their fellow CONVO participants.

What’s it like to be involved in CONVO? Ben, who is attending CONVO for the first time, remarked that his experience has been “awesome.” Jillian, in her fourth year of CONVO, enjoys the break from the stress of school work and connecting with other youth from around the Synod.

Important to the CONVO experience is the leadership from Rick “Myrtle” Mollenkopf-Grill and the Rev. Laurie Carson-Nelson. It appears that these adult leaders are having just as much fun as the youth.

Thanks to the participants and leaders of CONVO for enriching our Synod Assembly experience! And a standing “O” to you for asking the Bishop a meaningful and illuminating question. We can only wonder what her answer was to you...

---

The Daily Call is the newspaper of the Upstate New York Synod Assembly. Join us in giving thanks to the wonderful work this year's staff has done.

Newspaper Production Staff
Editor: The Rev. Katie Yahns

Reporters: The Rev. Mark Frickey
The Rev. Greg Huth
The Rev. Amber Malone
The Rev. Rebecca Mentzer

Photography and Production:
The Rev. Jeff L. Kane

Distribution: Ms. Denise Ballou

Wartburg Youth Leadership School

Wartburg Youth Leadership School

Click Here for the flier.

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.

July 29
Pray for Pastor Rob James and GPS (God’s People Serving), Machesney Park, IL, which organized in May, that God will continue to nurture growth in faithfulness, numbers, stewardship, and service. GPS, already averaging 230 people in worship, notes that it started to grow when it began serving its neighborhood.

Daily Bible Verse

Daily Bible Verses from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 06:00:00 GMT
"How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings." -- Jesus (Luke 13:34)

ELCA News Releases

Official news releases of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

ELCA Presiding Bishop Calls for Immigration Reform in Letter to Obama
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- If Congress does not pass comprehensive immigration reform soon, state legislators and local governments will continue to take immigration policy into their own hands, wrote the Rev. Mark S. Hanson,...
ELCA Members Elected to Lutheran World Federation's Council
STUTTGART, Germany (ELCA) -- Four members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) were elected to the 48-member council of The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) July 24 at the LWF Assembly...
ELCA Members, Bishops Moved to Ensure Children Don't Go Hungry
WASHINGTON (ELCA) -- Nearly one in four American children are hungry, according to a report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Bishops and members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)...

Daily Bible Reading

Daily Bible Readings from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Thursday, July 29, 2010 [Romans 11:33-36 (NRSV)]
God's riches, wisdom, and knowledge

O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
"For who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?"
"Or who has given a gift to him,
to receive a gift in return?"

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.