As a visitor to a different congregation every week for over a decade, Beth Lewis (president and CEO of AugsburgFortress) has developed a strong sense of what helps congregations reach out to visitors. She’ll share that wisdom with us on Monday, Feb. 1, noon to 3 pm at the Seminary’s Brossman Center, co-sponsored by the...
Category: Congregations
January 14, 2016
Upgrade Your Congregation’s Hospitality
As a visitor to a different congregation every week for over a decade, Beth Lewis (president and CEO of AugsburgFortress) has developed a strong sense of what helps congregations reach out to visitors. She’ll share that wisdom with us on Monday, Feb. 1, noon to 3 pm at the Seminary’s Brossman Center, co-sponsored by the...
December 8, 2015
Get the Facts About Syrian Refugees
Lutheran Children and Family Service is the largest refugee resettlement organization in PA, and is involved in resettling Syrian refugees in Allentown. Did you know that refugees are the most scrutinized and vetted individuals entering the U.S.? Or that the process takes on average two years? LCFS has created an online resource center so that...
December 8, 2015
Refugees Welcomed in Allentown
As Christians celebrated Christ the King on Nov. 22, 500 people gathered in Allentown, Pa., to stand in solidarity against the face of fear and hatred at an interfaith event to welcome refugees from Syria. Those in attendance included young and old, the mayor of Allentown, clergy from the community, and people of many faiths...
November 9, 2015
Sacred Conversations for Racial Justice
The Synod is co-sponsoring live webcasts of “Listen for a Change: Sacred Conversations for Racial Justice” featuring New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, actor Anna Deavere Smith, and Vanderbilt Divinity School Dean Emilie Townes on January 21-23, 2016, at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. The webcasts from Trinity Wall Street’s annual theological conference will...
October 21, 2015
LDR Volunteers Staffed Pope’s Visit
Lutheran Disaster Response in Eastern PA connected volunteers with a number of groups working in support of Pope Francis’ recent visit. LDR connected volunteers with the Salvation Army feeding efforts to nourish police, first responders, firefighters, and others. They also connected our specially trained Disaster Spiritual Partners volunteers with Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health to be chaplains...
September 28, 2015
LDR Gives $1.9M to Nepal Earthquake Relief
Thanks to your generosity, Lutheran Disaster Response has collected more than $1.9 million to respond directly to the Nepal Area Earthquakes. Together, we were able to provide $527,700 to respond to the immediate needs of the people and communities affected, and we will continue to walk with our brothers and sisters in Nepal to rebuild...
September 22, 2015
Bradley Burke Called to Youth, Formation Roles
Dionne Jackson also joins ministry team The Rev. Bradley R. Burke has been appointed Assistant to the Bishop for Youth, Young Adult and Spiritual Formation by Bishop Claire Burkat. Pastor Burke, who is currently serving as executive director of Lutheran Charities in Southeastern Pennsylvania, has been involved in youth and young adult ministry in our...
September 22, 2015
Celebrating the Parkway as Home
While tourists strolled and workmen set up huge video screens for Pope Francis’ open air Mass, Welcome Church celebrated the “sacred ground” along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway as home to a number of Philadelphia’s unhoused persons. Participants sprinkled the ground with water that had been taken from the Logan Circle fountain and blessed. The Rev....
September 22, 2015
Collaborating Through God’s Grace
Three Northeast Philadelphia congregations have agreed to share clergy and some ministries in a collaboration known as God’s Grace Lutheran Community. St. John (Mayfair), Redemption and St. Petri-Hope congregations voted by large margins Sept. 13 to enter into the new collaboration. The move is not a merger – congregations retain their own councils and buildings....
September 18, 2015
Trinity Models Conversation About Race
Asks “Can we talk?” about Black Lives Matter After a post of “Black Lives Matter” on the church sign sparked community controversy, Trinity Lutheran Church seized the opportunity to bring members and Lansdale neighbors together to talk about issues of race in the community. “Even though this was not what we were looking for...
September 10, 2015
ELCA Partners to Aid Refugees in Europe
As Europe continues to absorb hundreds of thousands of migrants from the Middle East this summer, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is working with Lutheran companion churches and partners in Europe to assist people seeking refuge now and to meet their future needs. In a Sept. 9 “e-Alert” to ELCA members, the Rev....
August 27, 2015
Cultivating Cross-Generational Learning
Lutheran Settlement House’s Settlement Project paid teens to work this summer alongside folks from the Senior Center in its Urban Farm. This first-of-its-kind project also had youth lead games and activities with seniors. Zion, Tristian and Henry cultivated kale, tomatoes and sunflowers and built vibrant relationships with a number of elders.
August 27, 2015
Emergency Contact Systems For Your Church
By Bob Fisher Assistant to the Bishop for Mission Interpretation/Communication The school/program year is fast approaching – which means that winter isn’t far behind. Remember last year’s sudden Sunday morning icing event? Does your church have a plan for notifying members in case of foul weather schedule changes or other emergencies? The tried-and-true phone...
August 3, 2015
Final Worship at Zion, Flourtown
Zion Lutheran Church, located at 654 Bethlehem Pike, Flourtown, will hold its final worship service on August 30 at 4 PM. Bishop Burkat will preside at the closing liturgy. Rostered leaders and others are invited to attend the worship service as we gather to thank God for and remember the congregation’s 197 years of faithful service...
July 27, 2015
Confronting Racism
Join ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton and William B. Horne II, an ELCA member from Clearwater, Fla., for a live webcast conversation on the complexity and implications of racism Aug. 6 at 9 p.m. EDT (8 p.m. CDT). Through its social statement – “Freed in Christ: Race, Ethnicity, and Culture” – ELCA members have expressed this church’s calling to confront racism...
July 14, 2015
Highlights from 2015 Tanzania Visit
Bishop Burkat travelled to Tanzania in July for the celebration of the 125th anniversary of our companion North Eastern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania. While there she participated in a jubilee anniversary service, attended by President Jakaya Kikwete. She preached at a celebration at Kana Church, Tanga, and dedicated a nursery school...
June 26, 2015
Tanzania Diocese Celebrates 125th
Congratulations to our companion Synod, the North Eastern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, on its 125th Jubilee, to be celebrated in early July. On June 30 Bishop Burkat and Assistant to the Bishop Joanne Carlson leave for Tanzania, where the bishop will preach at the Jubilee worship service on July 6. Please...
June 17, 2015
Updates on Background Check Requirements
Under the state’s new child protection laws, pastors, staff and volunteers who are responsible for or have direct contact with children must have current background checks. Checks must be in place July 1 for employees and for new volunteers approved after July 1. Current volunteers have until July 1, 2016 or three years from the...
June 15, 2015
Save Dates for Bishop’s Convocation
Save the dates! This year’s Bishop’s Convocation will be held November 18 – 20, 2015 (Wednesday through Friday) at Bear Creek Mountain Resort and Conference Center, 101 Doe Mountain Lane, Macungie, PA 18062. (Not to be confused with the Camp in Northeastern PA Synod.) “Thinking outside the walls: Surprising spaces to be the church” will feature Bryan Berghoef and...
June 10, 2015
Governor Announces Fee Waivers for Volunteers
Governor Tom Wolf announced today that fees for child abuse clearances and criminal background checks required by the Child Protective Services Law will be waived for volunteers working with children. Additionally, the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) will be reducing the cost of both the child abuse and criminal...
