So many communications channels are available today, and they all can be used to share the Gospel. And therein lies the challenge for the church, says the Rev. Keith Anderson of Upper Dublin Lutheran Church, author of The Digital Cathedral. Introducing the Communicating component of Forward Together in Faith, Anderson noted that fewer people know...
May 9, 2015
Forward Together in Faith: Communicating
So many communications channels are available today, and they all can be used to share the Gospel. And therein lies the challenge for the church, says the Rev. Keith Anderson of Upper Dublin Lutheran Church, author of The Digital Cathedral. Introducing the Communicating component of Forward Together in Faith, Anderson noted that fewer people know...
May 9, 2015
Congregational Giving Continues to Increase
Congregations’ mission support giving to and through the synod has been on a slight increase since 2012, Treasurer Janet Huber Neff, CPA, told the Assembly. In 2014, 81 of the synod’s 157 congregations maintained or increased their mission support, of which 50 percent is offered as support to the ELCA churchwide organization. Neff said as...
May 8, 2015
Unlocking the Future
Bishop Claire Burkat invited worshipers at the 2015 Assembly’s opening Eucharist to keep our fear in perspective as we courageously meet the challenges of ministry in the 21st century. To do this we remember the promises of God and the gifts God gives to unlock the secrets of doing ministry in a rapidly changing world....
May 4, 2015
Communications Ministry Profile
Synod communications has a lot of moving parts. We tell the story of how Synod and ELCA ministries make a difference through our website, e-newsletters, Facebook (facebook.com/sepasynod), videos (vimeo/sepasynod), and other channels. Synod communications also advise the bishop and staff on public relations, and work with the media when they want to cover Synod stories. How...
April 1, 2015
Transforming a Container into a Clinic
A large, red shipping container sits in the parking lot of the Lutheran Church of God’s Love in Newtown waiting for Saturday mornings. That’s when team members open it up and continue work on its transformation into a medical clinic that will serve a community on the outskirts of Kisumu, Kenya, Africa. The idea first...
March 18, 2015
NE Church Helps Evacuated Neighbors
When a four-alarm fire broke out on Academy Road in Northeast Philadelphia Tuesday, evacuated residents were taken in for a time by St. David’s Lutheran Church. Kudos to St. David’s for being ambassadors for Christ in the neighborhood! Does your church have a plan for how to serve your community in case of a disaster...
February 19, 2015
Thank You! For Mission Support
Thanks to the generosity of many of our congregations, there was an increase in 2014 in Mission Support for Synod and Churchwide ministry after years of declining or flat support. Mission Support from congregations totaled $2,148,000 — $48,000 over budget and $10,000 more than 2013, but still well below the $2.7 million received in 2006....
February 3, 2015
Ministry Partner: Communicators’ Network
Together as SEPA Synod we confidently declare it’s “God’s Work – Our Hands”. Those of us who work in SEPA’s Communicator Network declare further that it’s “God’s Message – Our Channels” Who is a “communicator”? It’s anyone in our congregations who is working in: Print communications Email Web and social media Video Multimedia for worship...
January 22, 2015
Synod Celebrates Dr. King
Despite icy roadways and heavy rain the Synod’s service celebrating the life and dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was held last Sunday (Jan. 18) at Tabor Lutheran Church. The Rev. Dr. Mark Kelly Tyler of Mother Bethel AME Church preached an outstanding sermon, and the Reformation Choir rocked the house. Participants left blessed...
January 13, 2015
Preaching in a Digital Age
As we become used to 140-character “tweets” and ephemeral updates and chats, preachers will have to work harder to earn and keep the attention of their listeners, according to “Preaching in a digital age,” a Lutheran article by our own RevWriter Sue Lang. In the article, LTSP President Dr. David Lose explains that people are saturated with...
December 16, 2014
Pastoral Message on Montgomery County Shootings
In the wake of an horrific murder spree across Montgomery County that left six people dead and police conducting a wide search for a suspect, Bishop Claire Burkat calls the Synod to prayer and acts of compassion for those affected and for communities traumatized by the events. “Many will ask, ‘Where was God?'” the bishop writes....
December 11, 2014
Christmas Message: A Life Worth Living
In her 2014 Advent/Christmas message, Bishop Claire S. Burkat reflects on Mary’s visit with Elizabeth, a Spirit-filled encounter that may have allowed the realization of God’s great promise and fulfillment that was visited upon Mary begin to really sink in. “God did not promise Mary an easy life, a trouble free heart, an unburdened mind…but God promised her a...
November 30, 2014
Keeping Watch After Ferguson
There are no easy solutions to the inequalities that fueled the rage and despair that erupted in Ferguson, Mo. last week, Bishop Claire Burkat writes in a pastoral message to the Synod. Christians are called to find a third way between our cultural impulses to fan the flames of discord or trivialize others experience. “We...
November 21, 2014
We’re Stronger Together…Forming Candidates
Do you know how we, together, identify and form tomorrow’s church professionals? “We’re blessed that the Synod’s Candidacy process is evaluative, supportive and formative,” says senior Seminarian Kat Steinly. “SEPA really tries to bring candidates together to build relationships,” says Kat, who grew up at Trinity, Perkasie. The Synod is very supportive of the contributions...
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 sepasynod@gmail.com on...
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...
August 5, 2014
“An Undercover Force For Good”
What are you doing on Sunday, Sept. 7 — “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday? “We do the work of serving our neighbors and making the world a better place every day — we’re kind of an undercover force for good,” Presiding Bishop Eaton says in a video message. “But on ‘God’s work. Our hands.’ Sunday...
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 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...
