A Message From Bishop Davenport January 13, 2022 Dear Beloved, As we enter the depth of the winter season, I want to remind you how important it is to hold fast to our COVID mitigation protocols for the safety of our leaders, worshippers, and communities. We encourage you to find safe ways to gather in...
January 13, 2022
As COVID Surge Continues, Stay the Course on Mitigation
A Message From Bishop Davenport January 13, 2022 Dear Beloved, As we enter the depth of the winter season, I want to remind you how important it is to hold fast to our COVID mitigation protocols for the safety of our leaders, worshippers, and communities. We encourage you to find safe ways to gather in...
October 29, 2021
Celebrating Our Rostered Ministers
Yes, it’s a celebration. We recall the words of St. Paul, written in First Timothy 5:17. He says, “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy “of double honor, especially those who labor “in preaching and teaching.” And then he reiterated it to the saints in Thessalonica, “But we appeal to you, brothers and...
September 23, 2021
Ideas for Adapting Worship and Congregational Life
Ideas: Adapting Congregational Life In September 2021, 40 SEPA Synod congregations responded to our informational survey regarding changes to worship in the midst of the current Delta variant surge. Most of the congregations report requiring or strongly suggesting the wearing of masks inside their buildings. Some have agreed to stop worship if attendees do not...
September 23, 2021
Ideas for adapting worship and congregational life to high risk of community transmission
July 12, 2021
Prayer and Encouragement from Bishop Davenport
In a video message, Bishop Patricia A. Davenport offers prayer for our leaders and congregations as together we continue to press through to the other side of the pandemic. In this pastoral word of encouragement, the Bishop asks Lutherans to be gentle with one another as individuals and congregations have varying feelings about returning to...
March 15, 2021
Thank you for your creative ministry!
Greetings, beloved. I’m reminded of the encouragement that comes from Psalm 31. It says, “Be strong, and take heart, “all you who hope in the Lord.” It’s hard to believe that we are coming up on the first anniversary of the day everything shut down. I remember thinking that it would be a few weeks...
November 17, 2020
Bishop’s Letter Regarding Latest COVID Spike
Nov 17 2020 Greetings, Beloved, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.” Romans 12:12 Right now, new cases of COVID-19, positive test rates, and hospitalizations are spiking across Southeastern Pennsylvania. Public health officials are issuing new mitigation orders in our area. In order to protect our most vulnerable members, our pastors...
September 21, 2020
A Word of Encouragement from Bishop Davenport
Greetings beloved. If I could sing, I would sing I woke up this morning with my mind stayed on Jesus, which I did. However, I also had you on my mind, and I just wanted to pause today just to say, God bless you. And I am so grateful for each and every one of...
August 21, 2020
A Prayer For The New School Year
Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 4:6-7 Bishop Patricia A. Davenport offers a word of Scripture and prayers...
April 29, 2020
Synod Assembly Cancelled
Dear Siblings in Christ, We are in the midst of difficult times. Governor Wolf has issued “Stay at Home” orders across the state and has banned non-essential businesses from operating until further notice. Even with the upcoming exceptions anticipated mid-May, churches do not yet fit that designation. Because of this, the Synod Council unanimously adopted...
April 11, 2020
Easter Greeting From Bishop Davenport
Praise the Lord, everybody. Glory to God in the highest! Grace and peace to you, beloved, in the name of the One who can do all things but fail, Jesus the Christ! Today is Easter. We will gather virtually around the globe, sheltered in place, on one accord. Today we sing: Christ is risen! Alleluia!...
August 19, 2019
Holy Closure of Good Shepherd, Mayfair on Aug. 25
Remembering in prayer the saints at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Mayfair. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, a congregation in the NE/nW Philadelphia Conference, will hold their final worship service on Sunday, August 25, 2019 at 3 pm with Bishop Davenport presiding. Rostered leaders and members of the SEPA Synod are welcome to attend the final service...
June 2, 2019
Holy Closure: St. Petri-Hope
Remembering in prayer the saints at St. Petri-Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church. St. Petri-Hope Lutheran Church, a congregation in the NE/W Philadelphia Conference, held its final worship service on Sunday, June 2 at 3 pm with Bishop Davenport presiding. The service was attended by 152 saints. An offering of $880 was received to benefit the Feast of Justice feeding...
May 23, 2019
‘Are We Willing to be Transformed?’
The beloved community is like this: ‘God takes it very personally how we treat one another,” the Rev. Dr. Wyvetta Bullock said in her sermon at the Assembly’s Saturday Eucharist. “The compassion we express to others is our expression of our love for God.” As humans we struggle with love that seeks nothing in return....
