Things churches can do to help slow COVID transmission 1. Encourage vaccinations. CIDRAP’s Dr. Michael Osterholm urges everyone eligible to get the updated vaccine when it becomes available, likely in early-mid October. Don’t forget influenza and RSV vaccines: He recommends getting the RSV vaccine now and getting the flu shot once your area starts showing flu...
Category: News
August 28, 2023
5 Ways To Slow COVID Spread
Things churches can do to help slow COVID transmission 1. Encourage vaccinations. CIDRAP’s Dr. Michael Osterholm urges everyone eligible to get the updated vaccine when it becomes available, likely in early-mid October. Don’t forget influenza and RSV vaccines: He recommends getting the RSV vaccine now and getting the flu shot once your area starts showing flu...
August 3, 2023
“You Know…How Deeply We Are Hurting”
After torrential rains caused severe flash flooding that claimed seven lives, including two children, in Washington Crossing on July 15, the community came together to grieve and honor those lost and to support their loved ones and the police and firefighters who responded that day and during many days of searching afterwards. Pastor Mukesh Cheedie...
August 3, 2023
Transformed to Serve: Cars, Coffee and Christ
It’s a thing! A chance to share stories and share your ride – or just come for the coffee. It’s a form of outreach ministry to bring together people car enthusiasts who love the Lord. St. Luke’s, Obelisk, kicked the idea off last year in Montgomery County (top, middle photos). Since then Immanuel, Norwood and...
August 3, 2023
Who Is A “Real” American?
Column by Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton My husband and I live in Skokie, Ill., a diverse community. Our neighbors to the west are an octogenarian Taiwanese Evangelical couple who regularly order meals from Kosher to Go. Our neighbors to the east are a Ukrainian and Russian multigenerational family. Our grocery stores have both kosher...
August 3, 2023
Disaster Response Training and Engagement
In the next several months Lutheran Disaster Response is offering more than 40 opportunities for disaster and humanitarian response training, education, and network building. You can download a catalog of upcoming events here. We encourage you to share this catalog with others in your congregation, synod, organization, or community who may be interested. All activities...
August 3, 2023
Mission Grants for Congregations in NE/NW Philadelphia
Upon the closure of St. Petri-Hope Lutheran Church, funds from the sale of the building were set aside to be used for future ministry in Northeast Philadelphia. So now congregations in the Northeast/Northwest Conference as well as Immanuel Somerton are welcome to apply for these funds. Applications will be taken on a rolling basis each...
August 3, 2023
Resourceful Servants Unveils Emergency Savings/Congregational Financial Assessment Program
The ELCA’s Resourceful Servants Initiative promotes the financial wellness of congregations, rostered ministers and seminarians. For many rostered ministers, financial stress—frequently caused by personal financial challenges or by congregational or organizational financial challenges–stands in the way. To support growth in both individual and organizational financial health, Resourceful Servants is launching the Emergency Savings/Congregational Financial Assessment...
August 3, 2023
The ELCA Wants to Hear Your Opinion
Throughout the next couple of months, the ELCA is asking for your help. We are looking for your thoughts and ideas on how we are called to be a church in today’s world. Please visit our website on Future Church: God’s Love Made Real –https://lovemadereal.elca.org – where you can watch a video from Presiding Bishop...
July 31, 2023
Thrivent Resources for Flooding Relief
In response to recent flooding in communities served by the SEPA Synod,Thrivent is reminding our church leaders that Thrivent Action Teams can be used to support disaster response efforts. See flyer which includes Service project and fundraising ideas, and includes a promotion code, NEFlood2023, to expedite processing of Thrivent Action Team kits. Download Flyer All...
July 13, 2023
Can You Help Pay Food Forward in Philly?
The Welcome Church Community is seeking to launch Pay It Forward Philly, a simple plan to help Philadelphians share food with one another. Welcome Church envisions a citywide campaign inviting businesses and vendors to offer a product(s) of their choice to folks who cannot pay. The cost of the products would be covered by inviting...
June 29, 2023
Phillies Event Supports Youth Ministry
Thank you to everyone who came out to Lutheran Night at the Phillies in May. We just received the check from the Phillies. With 299 tickets sold, you helped us raise $1,052 for synod youth programs. We are grateful for your continued support in this synod event and in supporting our synod youth programs. Special...
June 27, 2023
Stand Up for Fairness for LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians
PA Bishops Support Proposed Fairness Act Pennsylvania’s seven ELCA Bishops have issued an open letter in support of proposed legislation that would expand the list of groups legally protected from discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations. The Fairness Act would amend the 1955 Human Relations Act — which already prohibits discrimination based on race,...
May 17, 2023
ELCA Vocational Fellowship for Young Adults
The ELCA Young Adult Vocational Fellowship offers young adults an opportunity to discover their calling while gaining valuable professional experience. In partnership with ELCA affiliated ministries, participants are equipped to explore their faith and vocational aspirations, all while receiving support from a network of peers and experienced ELCA coaches. The program is designed to prepare...
April 11, 2023
2023 Rostered Ministry Compensation Guidelines
The SEPA Synod Executive Committee has determined the 2023 Unadjusted Minimum Salary for Rostered Ministers to be $64,671 ($46,671 salary and $18,000 housing) for Pastors, and $48,072 for Deacons. For pastors who reside in a parsonage, the minimum is $46,671. These amounts were determined by taking the existing SEPA 2019 amount and applying the subsequent...
April 5, 2023
2023 Chrism Service
Rostered and lay ministers, seminarians, and Lutherans from our synod participated in the annual Chrism Service, Tuesday of Holy Week, April 4 at the Schaeffer-Ashmead Chapel on the Philadelphia campus of United Lutheran Seminary. This traditional service of Word and Sacrament includes the blessing of oil for anointing, healing prayer, and renewal of ministry vows....
March 17, 2023
Vitality Updates for Spring 2023
Vitality Check-in Call Join the Vitality Team Saturday April 15th at 10:30am for a conversation around helping your congregation deepen its sense of vitality. Members of the vitality team will be present to talk about vitality and present ideas on ways your congregation can focus on the work of growing relationships. All are welcome as we...
March 16, 2023
A History-Making Bishop
Editor’s Note: In May, 2018, our Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod elected the Rev. Patricia Ann Curtis Davenport as the first African-American woman elected as a bishop in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. She is also the second woman to serve as our bishop. The first was her predecessor, the Rev. Claire Schenot Burkat. Dr. Addie...
February 27, 2023
Black History Month: Pioneering Deaconesses
Do you know the name Emma Francis? She was the first deaconess of African descent to serve in North America and the first Lutheran deaconess to come from the West Indies.1 She was born in St. Kitts in 1876, received teacher training at a Moravian College there, and received her missionary and nursing training in...
February 21, 2023
Black History Month: More Lutheran Roots
We’ve learned more about the full work of Henry Melchior Muhlenberg at Augustus Lutheran church, Trappe, welcoming Americans of African descent. Muhlenberg arrived in British North America in 1742. At the consecration of the original Augustus Lutheran Church building on October 6, 1745, which is still standing and in use today, Muhlenberg celebrated adult baptism...
February 16, 2023
Registration Fees Waived for Some MYLE and tAble Participants
It’s with great excitement that we announce the registration fees for the first 1,000 registrants for the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE) and the first 200 registrants for the tAble will be waived by the Gathering for the 2024 cycle. “As crucial parts of the ministry of the Gathering, we are thrilled to be able...
