October 14, 2024

October 2024 Mission Support Memo

STORYTELLING ENGAGEMENT Hallelujah! A story from the Indiana-Kentucky Synod Imagine entering a sanctuary, hearing the joyful sounds of a praise band, the drums, keyboard, guitar and voices singing “Hallelujah,” dresses and jackets full of bright color, mostly young adult leaders, and the congregation swaying with the music. Then, you realize the words are not in...

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February 5, 2024

For Peace in God’s World Study Guide Available

For Peace in God’s World  is an ELCA Social Statement that conveys church teaching on matters related to war, domestic and international security, and the Christian call to be peacemakers. Download a summary of the statement. What does it mean to be peacemakers in a time of ongoing war and conflict? Can war ever be...

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October 10, 2019

Tanzania

August 26, 2019

Our Global Connection With Tanzania

There’s an African tradition that when someone is physically present, it’s not just their “face” that is present, but life itself. Bishop Davenport, Pastor Bradley Burke, and Ms. Yvonne Curtis visited our companion North Eastern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania this summer, sharing not only the life of our Synod but your prayers and gifts. In the previous year,...

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November 21, 2018

SEKOMU Raises Up Special Education Leaders

What do you do when you lack qualified people to help with your ministries? Well, you could start a university to train qualified people. That’s what the North Eastern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania was facing, and what it did, according to Bishop Munga. Speaking at a Meet & Greet at Advent Lutheran...

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September 23, 2016

SEPA Standing with SEKOMU After Attack

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod is standing in prayer and financial support with Sebastian Kolowa Memorial University in Tanzania after armed gunmen attacked the university on September 1. Pastor Brad Burke and other members of our synod were in the North Eastern Diocese at the time and shared pastoral care and the prayers of our synod. The...

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August 2, 2016

Proclaiming God’s Love in Tanzania

Church in Tanzania ELCA Did you know that Tanzania, home to our companion North Eastern Diocese, has many more Lutherans than the ELCA has members. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania has 6.5 million members compared to the ELCA’s 3.7 million. As the ELCA looks to its future, what can it learn from the global Lutheran church? Read more...

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April 29, 2016

Bishop Welcomes New Refugee Partner

LIRS refugees Pennsylvania Lutherans have an long history of stepping up to help resettle refugees arriving in our area. This life-transforming work will continue despite the decision by Lutheran Children and Family Services in Pennsylvania to bring their resettlement work to a close. Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) is partnering with Bethany Christian Services to manage...

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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...

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May 12, 2015

Joanne Carlson Honored at Last Assembly

The Assembly gave a long, standing ovation to Joanne Carlson, assistant to the bishop for global vision and events, who is retiring in July after coordinating 25 Synod assemblies. “Joanne has a truly missionary heart,” the bishop said of her service representing SEPA to companion synods in Tanzania and the Czech Republic. The extended Carlson...

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May 12, 2015

Tanzania Missionaries Welcomed Home

Plant it. Water it. Watch it Grow. The theme of the 2012 Synod Assembly perfectly expresses the partnership of SEPA Synod and the Northeast Diocese of Tanzania. This fruitful partnership was spotlighted at the Assembly on May 9, as we celebrated The Sebastian Kolowa Memorial University (SEKOMU) and missionaries Susan and Tom MacPherson. Watch the session...

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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,...

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June 25, 2013

Bishop’s Tanzanian Visit

Bishop Burkat and Joanne Carlson have just completed a visit to Tanzania, including five days on the territory of our companion North-Eastern Diocese and then a gathering to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania. The festive anniversary celebration included tree-planting, gift-giving, choirs and greetings from Lutheran representatives from the ELCA...

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May 23, 2013

Mission Idea: ROAR for Tanzania

Motorcyclists at Upper Dublin Lutheran Church are sponsoring ROAR: Ride Organized for A Reason to raise funds to help purchase a motorcycle for use by their mission partners at Cathedral Church in Tanzania. This 75-mile scenic motorcycle tour will be held rain or shine on Saturday, June 8. Registration and pre-ride meeting starts at 8 am...

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May 6, 2013

Gardens Grow in Tanzania

Tom and Susan MacPherson, missionaries from our Synod at Irente Children’s Home in Tanzania, gave the Assembly an update on their mission and ministry Saturday morning — live from Tanzania via Skype. The MacPhersons have been serving as part of the companion relationship between SEPA and the North East Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church...

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May 11, 2011

MacPhersons Commissioned

“Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” (1 Peter 4:10) Surrounded by family, friends, and congregations supporting ministry in Tanzania, Tom and Susan MacPherson were commissioned by Joanne Carlson, Assistant to the Bishop for Global Vision, and Bishop Claire Burkat, to serve...

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