Updated Oct. 27 with new video. In the face of the Ebola outbreak that has stricken West Africa, several hundred people – Africans and Americans, from several faith traditions – gathered Sunday (Oct. 19) to pray together, console each other, and build bridges of hope rather than barriers of fear. Crush Ebola from on...
Category: Congregations
October 20, 2014
Standing Strong Against Ebola
Updated Oct. 27 with new video. In the face of the Ebola outbreak that has stricken West Africa, several hundred people – Africans and Americans, from several faith traditions – gathered Sunday (Oct. 19) to pray together, console each other, and build bridges of hope rather than barriers of fear. Crush Ebola from on...
September 19, 2014
Dealing with Grief in the Church Community
Grief is pervasive in our communities after death, divorce, loss of employment, diagnosis, incarceration of a loved one and other life milestones. Lutheran Congregational Services hosts “Reconciled with Grief: Shining a Light on Silent Suffering in the Church Community” on Saturday, Nov. 1 at Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, Emmaus. This workshop will help faithfully prepare the...
September 19, 2014
Help for Families Coping With Mental Illness
Navigating relationships can be a challenge for any of us, for those with a loved one suffering from Bipolar, Major Depression or Borderline Personality Disorder it can feel like a wild rollercoaster ride. The Mental Health Association of Southeastern PA is offering its’ Getting Off the Emotional Roller Coaster 10 week workshop beginning October 1 and 2 in...
September 15, 2014
A Growing Approach to Food Insecurity
From the seeds that planted a garden to help a local food pantry, Lutheran Church of the Resurrection (LCR) in Yardley is nurturing an ever-widening circle of ministry to people experiencing food insecurity. “God keeps putting opportunities in front of us to serve the hungry and the homeless,” says Diane Casey, LCR’s coordinator of serving...
August 20, 2014
Prayer for Ferguson
Please include the people of Ferguson, MO in your congregational prayers Sunday, using the following petition written by Linda Manson of Living Gospel Ministries, or a similar prayer: God of Peace and Healing, We experience violence and hatred that divides us as cultural groups, ethnicities and nations and we feel we do not have the...
July 23, 2014
Finding God In The Glories of Summer
How are you finding God today? As I write to you today it is a beautiful, hot, summery sunny day. Many of us long for summer, and after a winter like we have just endured, it is more welcome than ever! I love the light, and the sounds and smells of summer: the brightness and...
July 21, 2014
Mutual Ministry: Making it Work
In October 2014, Pastor Sue Lang, of RevWriter Resources, LLC, one of the co-authors of Pastor and People: Making Mutual Ministry Work (Augsburg Fortress, 2003), will offer a day-long workshop guiding participants through an exploration of mutual ministry and its exciting ministry possibilities for your congregation. It will be held on Saturday, October 4, 2014...
July 17, 2014
Nurturing Vibrant Congregations
Growing the vibrancy of a congregation is not something that can be imparted by a new pastor or a consultant, but is the result of congregations taking ownership of the need for change, understanding any gaps between where they are and where they want to be, and experimenting with ways to make faith useful to...
June 15, 2014
FAQ: Same-Gender Marriage in Pennsylvania
Following a U.S. District Court ruling on May 20, 2014, and the Corbett administration’s decision not to appeal, same-gender marriage is now legal in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. – Download a copy of this document – May Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod congregations and pastors participate in same-gender marriages? As the legal ban in our state...
June 11, 2014
Convocation Explores Generosity, Generations
For the first time in history, six generations are living and worshipping in our congregations simultaneously. To thrive congregations must find ways to relate to all of these cohorts, even though they respond to very different approaches to faith formation and institutional support. Join us at the 2014 Bishop’s Convocation as we explore the connection...
May 14, 2014
Ignorance is Not Bliss
Social Media for Adults Who Care about Youth Summary of an Assembly 2014 Forum led by Molly Beck Dean, Assistant to the Bishop/Youth Ministry Specialist. Contact Molly by email to arrange a presentation in your area. Factoid: 80% of internet-using teens say they are active with social media, engaging with it on a regular...
May 14, 2014
Congregations Earn Health Discount
For the first time, our Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod has earned a 2% discount on Portico health premiums for every participating congregation. Thanks to the 150 rostered personnel, church employees and spouses who completed the assessment to take us over the top. Not only did we exceed the goal, we went far above, eclipsing the 62%...
May 13, 2014
‘Be Communities of Discernment’
“To do God’s work with our hands, we need to know what God is about,” the Rev. Dr. Mark S. Hanson told the 2014 Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod Assembly in his keynote address. “We need to be communities of discernment,” the former ELCA presiding bishop said. To do that, “we need to be fluent in the...
May 13, 2014
VP Lifts Up ‘Out-of-the-Box’ Ministry
Through a year full of some hard decisions requiring much thought and prayer, the congregations of the SEPA Synod have increased their benevolent giving and increased their outreach efforts on behalf of their members and communities. Tracey Beasley, Synod Council vice president, used her report to praise the congregations and their efforts. “(This) hard conversation...
May 10, 2014
Ministry Partner: Stewardship Resource Team
“It’s all about modeling” said Rev. Larry Smoose, team leader for the Synod’s Stewardship Resource Team. To grow mission-minded stewards of finances, time, and talent, said Rev. Smoose, it’s important that congregational leaders – and congregations themselves – model what it means to be good stewards. For example, if the goal is tithing, the congregation...
May 10, 2014
MacPhersons’ Say ‘Asante Sana’
Over and over again “Asante Sana” (“Thank You” in Swahili) was spoken by our Tanzanian missionaries, Susan and Tom MacPherson, as they called via Skype into the Assembly from East Africa. Calling from a classroom at the Irente Childrens’ Home with some young students who had not yet had their dinner and were up past their bedtimes,...
May 9, 2014
Moving Toward God’s Preferred Future
“Nobody changes before they are ready,” the Rev. Dr. David Lose, consultant with Kairos & Associates, told the Assembly. “This body is ready, and excited, and eager to live into God’s preferred future.” Lose reported on a wide-ranging survey of synod leaders, including clergy, congregation council members and other lay leaders, conducted this spring to...
May 8, 2014
Join the Conspiracy
“I want to invite you all to join a new Christian conspiracy,” Bishop Claire Burkat challenged the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod in her address to the 2014 Assembly. “What does it mean to in the 21st Century to conspire with Christ and one another to heal and bless the world in whatever ways God is leading...
May 8, 2014
2015 Budget Approved Unanimously
The Synod Assembly unanimously approved a $3.14 million budget for 2015, which anticipates flat income from Mission Support and a $224,000 shortfall. Congregations’ Mission Support giving held steady in 2013 after declining at a rate of 4 percent annually since the 1980s, said the Rev. Karl Richard, finance committee chair. The new budget holds the...
May 3, 2014
God Strengthens our Hands and Resolve
God is hard at work, strengthening our hands and our resolve. Even when we are tired, weak and worn—especially then. Because He knows that as we heal from our broken, worn places, we gain strength from that healing, and we, in gratitude, turn to help heal others. “This is God’s work—strengthening our hands and our...
