May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13 Beloved, “It’s about Jesus!” That was the theme for the ELCA’s exciting Congregational Vitality gathering this year. And it could well...
Category: Communications
December 6, 2019
It’s About Jesus – A Christmas Message
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13 Beloved, “It’s about Jesus!” That was the theme for the ELCA’s exciting Congregational Vitality gathering this year. And it could well...
December 9, 2019
The Search for Baby Jesus
Elise Seyfried “felt strongly about emphasizing Jesus’ humanity” when she started her job as director of spiritual formation at Christ’s Lutheran Church, Oreland, in 2002. The congregation was used to a pageant featuring a pink, plastic baby Jesus. “I decided to take a chance and add an element of surprise: a real baby. A possibly...
December 4, 2019
Invited Into The Wilderness
“Our Advent lectionary readings this year are a rich tapestry. In Matthew’s Gospel, we are swept up together in the comforting but challenging reality of the “already” and the “not yet.”” Read the full reflection In Living Lutheran, Angela T. Khabeb writes: “This thing called Christianity often beckons us to places we may not want...
November 20, 2019
Faith and Spiritual Affairs Conference April 17
The City of Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services Faith and Spiritual Affairs Initiative has set a date for a day of engaging and interactive workshops to help you improve the lives of Philadelphians. Faith & Spiritual Affairs Conference Community Response to Violence: Renewing Our Faith in Brotherly Love & Sisterly Affection...
October 28, 2019
Bishop Preaches at World AIDS Day Service
Bishop Davenport will be the featured preacher at Philadelphia FIGHT’s 11th Annual World AIDS Day Prayer Breakfast on Saturday, Nov. 30, 8 am, at the Doubletree by Hilton, S. Broad and Locust streets, Center City. Philadelphia FIGHT Community Health Centers provide culturally competent comprehensive primary care, and state of the art HIV primary care to...
October 7, 2019
Hurricane Dorian, One Month Later
Hurricane Dorian nit the Bahamas with devastating force, lingering over the islands for 24+ hours before moving along the southeastern coast of the US. One month later, more than 50 people have been reported killed there, with hundreds still missing and thousands left homeless. Crippled infrastructure, closed businesses, and a tainted water supply are exacerbating...
October 7, 2019
Child Poverty On Increase in PA
Twelve percent of children in Pennsylvania live in concentrated poverty according to “Children Living in High Poverty, Low-Opportunity Neighborhoods,” a new KIDS COUNT® data snapshot released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Pennsylvania is one of just 10 states where this measure is increasing. “Children whose neighborhoods have quality schools, abundant job opportunities, reliable transportation...
September 30, 2019
Volunteer with Liberty Hospice
Part of the Liberty Lutheran family of services, Liberty Hospice offers compassionate care to Philadelphia-area patients facing a life-limiting illness. Our hospice care team, which includes a medical director, social workers, chaplains, skilled nursing professionals, hospice aides, and volunteers, provides comprehensive support while helping patients and their families make the most of every moment. Volunteers are a vital...
September 17, 2019
Bishop Joins Forum On Racial Policies
Bishop Davenport will join Dr. Jim Wallis, Bishop Gregory Ingram, Dr. William Shaw and Rev. Luis Cortes in “The Elders Speak,” a forum on a Christian response to the radicalized public and corporate policies and practices impacting communities of color on Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 6:30 pm at Teatro Esperanza, 4261 N. Fifth Street, Philadelphia,...
August 28, 2019
September is Disaster Preparedness Month
National Preparedness Month is held in September every year. It is a chance to prepare yourself, your family, and your church for whatever disasters will bring you. An opportunity to look forward and not live in the past. Embrace a changing world and prepare for whatever may come your way. Use this National Preparedness Month toolkit to educate yourself...
August 28, 2019
Collaboration Sparks Creative VBS
Vacation Bible School looks a little different, maybe, than it has in years past, especially at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fort Washington, which was close to closing its doors five years ago when The Rev. Kristie Chandler first arrived. She and the congregation chose to use the God’s abundant gifts to move forward with their...
August 26, 2019
Rev. Bradley Burke to Leave Synod Staff
The Rev. Bradley R. Burke, Assistant to the Bishop for Youth, Young Adult and Spiritual Formation, has resigned in order to accept a call as pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Exton, effective September 30. His last day in the Synod office will be September 13. “The past four years serving on the Bishop’s...
August 19, 2019
Holy Closure of Good Shepherd, Mayfair on Aug. 25
Remembering in prayer the saints at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Mayfair. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, a congregation in the NE/nW Philadelphia Conference, will hold their final worship service on Sunday, August 25, 2019 at 3 pm with Bishop Davenport presiding. Rostered leaders and members of the SEPA Synod are welcome to attend the final service...
July 17, 2019
Pickleball Inspires Fellowship in West Chester
What could be more fun than a game of tennis or badminton or ping pong with friends? How about a game of pickleball—a combination of all of the above? The two West Chester, Pa., congregations of Advent and Calvary Lutheran churches decided to apply for a Forward Together in Faith grant to allow them to...
July 17, 2019
Servants at Work in South Dakota
A cadre of youth, young adults and leaders from SEPA Synod are in South Dakota for our famous Servant Trip. Here’s a peek into some of what they’ve been up to: For today’s service project in South Dakota a group of us converted an old church basement into a beautiful space that will be used...
July 9, 2019
The Rev. Dr. William Flippin, Jr. Joins Office of the Bishop
The Rev. Dr. William Flippin, Jr. has been called as Assistant to the Bishop and Director of Evangelical Mission for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, ELCA. He will join the synod staff August 5. Pastor Flippin currently serves as the first African-American pastor of Emmanuel Lutheran Church, the largest multi-racial Lutheran congregation in Atlanta. In this...
May 29, 2019
ELCA Student Minister Deported
Betty Rendón, a synodically authorized minister in the Greater Milwaukee Synod, and members of her family were detained by immigration officialsMay 8. On May 28,Rendón and her husband, Carlos Hincapie, were deported to Colombia, from which they fled civil war in 2004. Her daughter (a DACA recipient) and granddaughter (born in the U.S.) were released...
May 23, 2019
‘Are We Willing to be Transformed?’
The beloved community is like this: ‘God takes it very personally how we treat one another,” the Rev. Dr. Wyvetta Bullock said in her sermon at the Assembly’s Saturday Eucharist. “The compassion we express to others is our expression of our love for God.” As humans we struggle with love that seeks nothing in return....
May 22, 2019
Laments of a Death-and-Resurrection People
“It is time for our inadequate dreams to die in order for Christ to rise in us, and our church.” This observation by one pastor to Bishop Patricia A. Davenport grounded the preaching, prayer and lament during the opening worship service of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod’s 2019 Assembly. Several preachers and prayer leaders explored the...
May 20, 2019
Balanced 2020 Budget Approved
The Assembly adopted a budget for fiscal 2020 that anticipates total revenues of $3.33 million and expenditures of $2.88 million. The budget takes effect Feb. 1, 2020. Finance Committee Chair Albert Glenn outlined one significant change to the 2020 budget. The synod regularly gives support to United Lutheran Seminary, including about $50,000 for tuition support...
