March 9, 2010
Diakon Family Life Services will sponsor a comprehensive workshop on preventing child abuse in the congregational setting on Thursday, April 15 at Trinity, Lansdale. Registration deadline is April 1. Read on for full information.
February 16, 2010
The Council Presidents and Vice Presidents Gathering with Bishop Claire Burkat Saturday, Feb. 27 will focus on communications. What trends can shape communication with our members and neighbors? How can we collaborate to spread the Gospel and make our congregations more visible through communication? These and other questions will be addressed by Bob Fisher, assistant to the bishop for mission interpretation/communications. Please RSVP as soon as possible so that we may make appropriate arrangements.
February 1, 2010
“People do have a lot on their minds these days, and they don’t mind sharing,” reporter John Rawlins observed introducing the person-on-the-street interview video used at last fall’s “Discover the Secret” conference gatherings. The video, the Bible study used at the meetings as well as a set of four additional Philippians studies are now available on the synod website.
January 21, 2010
Once again a team from Christ Lutheran, Kulpsville, is in Ocean Springs, MS. Lois Kadel is keeping a journal of the group's activity as the group works, even with their eyes and hearts fixed on Haiti. Now is the time to join a SEPA-LDR trip to Mission Starfish (formerly Camp Victor) in March -- your interest needs to be noted by Jan. 24.
January 19, 2010
Each year on the day before the holiday commemorating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Family of God Lutheran in Buckingham hosts a forum on race relations. The collective effort of the NAACP of Bucks County, the Peace Center, the Bucks County Committee for Interracial Harmony, the Bucks County Human Relations Council has been held since the 1980s.
December 15, 2009
Across the region, the slumping economy is sending more and more people to local food banks to supplement their grocery budgets. At Shepherd's Shelf at Christ Lutheran Church, Kulpsville, for example, more than 140 families were served in November -- 15 percent of whom were first time visitors. The church gave out 850 bags of groceries valued at more than $24,000 in the month.
December 14, 2009
The Sebastian Kolowa University College (SEKUCo), the college of our Tanzanian companion synod, now has 824 students. Most of those enrolled are in the special needs education program, which is the only one of its kind in Tanzania. Rapid growth, while welcome, poses some challenges for the new college, with many students needing off campus housing and the libraries and classrooms requiring expansion.
October 15, 2009
Sixth Annual Boxcity to raise awareness about homelessness in Bucks County and raise funds for the Red Cross Shelter in Levittown. Members and friends of the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Yardley and Family of God Lutheran in Buckingham will sleep outside on Friday, December 4th to raise awareness and funds.
October 2, 2009
This has been a turbulent and frightening week for the people of Asia. A typhoon, a tsunami and an earthquake have struck since Saturday, and another storm is expected to affect the region tomorrow. Click through to give a gift to Lutheran World Relief's Asia Disasters fund to provide food, water and other life-saving assistance.
September 8, 2009
Our Tanzanian companion synod's Sebastian Kolowa University College (SEKUCo) starts its third year in October with new programs in nature conservation and eco-tourism and a total enrollment of more than 800 students. Click on to download the Fall 2009 SEKUCo newsletter.
September 1, 2009
There have been some exciting steps our Church has taken recently towards fuller inclusion of youth and young adults in the decision making bodies of our ministries. Many of our congregations elect their voting members to Synod Assembly and their new Congregational Council members in the winter and so I wanted to be sure you had this information before those things took place.
April 17, 2009
The Sebastian Kolowa University College (SEKUCo) in Tanzania is opening the second semester of its second year with two new programs and 438 students -- and challenges to provide books, instructors and Internet connections to its campus. You and/or your congregation can play a role in helping this new university overcome its growing pains. Read on to download the latest SEKUCo newsletter.
February 19, 2009
About 60 SEPA Lutherans worked at Camp Victor, Ocean Springs MS the week of Feb 8-14.
February 14, 2009
"We are coping as well as we can." wrote Pastor John Carlson of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on Feb. 13. "The four most recent fires were set outside the city limits so it is no longer a 'city issue,' -- it is a community issue. Everyone is encouraged to put their front and back porch lights on at night -- and we're doing it."
January 29, 2009
A work team from Christ Lutheran Church, Kulpsville, is back at Camp Victor in Ocean Springs, MS, this week, continuing the more than three-year long process of rebuilding from Hurricane Katrina. Check out this article for journal entries from Lois Kadel, which will be updated as we receive them.
December 16, 2008
Local Lutherans contributed more than 1,200 gifts for children served by Lutheran Children and Family Services, food items for food pantries, quilts for Lutheran World Relief and other items in the annual Christmas Ingathering Dec. 7. In all about 3,000 people will be served by donations to the Ingathering, which totaled over $100,000. About as many people participated in gathering and making gifts and delivering them to drop-off points across the Synod.
December 16, 2008
If you would like to use a different hymn to honor Mary on Sunday, feel free to use this hymn authored by the Rev. Kay Braun of St. Petri-Hope Lutheran Church.
October 27, 2008
If you’re between the ages of 21 and 30 and want to find out more information on how to serve in the Czech Republic from September 2009-August 2010 at Silesian Diakonie, join Lutheran Children and Family Service at an informational meeting Tuesday, October 28th, at 1:00 p.m. at 5401 Rising Sun Avenue, Philadelphia, 19120.
October 24, 2008
"Financial downturns create uncertainty and fear," says Ed Kruse, ELCA director for stewardship. But Kruse notes that "generosity has never been a matter of how much money we have." He offers several tips for congregations who "want to grow a culture of generosity" on the ELCA website
October 20, 2008
As part of its annual program to promote congregation-based, community-focused social ministry efforts, Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries has awarded grants to two local social ministries: The Welcome Center based at Holy Communion, Philadelphia and Feast of Justice Ministries based at St. John, Mayfair.
