calendar December 7, 2010 in Congregations, Giving

It Takes All The Saints for Vital Lutheran Witness

So we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. Romans 12:5

Together we are the body of Christ.  All the parts of the body are needed to give support, strength and flexibility for the ministry of Jesus Christ.

Our Synod exists to oversee and support Christ’s mission here in Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the ELCA.  We facilitate missional activities no single congregation could accomplish.  Here are just a few examples:

• Identifying, supporting and equipping seminarians for future church leadership;
• Helping to start innovative ministries like the Welcome Church for and with the homeless in Center City;
• Resourcing congregations in transition with trained interims and new pastors;
• Supporting youth leaders and sending nearly 500 people in 2010 for life changing service opportunities, and;
• Partnering SEPA Lutheran congregations with Lutheran congregations in Tanzania;
• Connecting our leaders and congregations through our email newsletter, website and Facebook.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod is a leader in the ELCA in equipping and resourcing congregations to minister in our challenging, ever-changing times.  Recently, several hundred leaders came together for an exciting series of “Taste and See” conference gatherings that offered inspiration and new ideas for deepening spirituality in our congregations. 

Now more than ever, we value your continued support to connect Lutherans across our Synod as “members one of another”. 

Please help ensure that our vital Lutheran witness continues to thrive.  Your gift will provide the services and initiatives needed by the Church of Christ in these challenging times. 

• Download a pledge card/bulletin insert to use in your congregation.

 

It Takes All The Saints to…

• Nurture the formation of future rostered leaders like Jack Ambuka, Rebecca Horn, and Jim Goodyear, and 30 candidates for rostered ministry.

• Help start innovative ministries such as The Welcome Church, an outreach to Center City homeless, and Rhawnhurst Turning Point, an ecumenical center for teens and young adults in the Northeast.

•Walk with 25 congregations this year in the process of calling a new pastor.

• Keep members of the Synod connected and equip congregations to tell their story through social networks, eCommunications Boot Camp, the www.MinstryLink,org website, SEPAnews e-mails, www.sepayouth.org, Facebook and Twitter.

• Encourage and support youth leaders through regular networking and specialized training.

• Send nearly 500 people over the last six years on servant trips to South Dakota, Mexico, Miami and other sites.

• Help struggling congregations find renewed vigor through consolidation, including New Life Ministries and Saints United in Philadelphia and Emmaus Road in Lower Bucks County.

• Inspire hundreds of congregational leaders through Assembly presentations by visionaries and theologians, our annual Conference Gatherings, which offer a menu of experiences congregations can translate to their ministries, and our bishop’s convocation which supports and equips rostered leaders for mission.

• Link more than a dozen congregations in partnership with Tanzanian parishes.

Won’t you help ensure that this vital Lutheran witness continues to thrive? Your gift will help us continue to provide the services that congregations and pastors deserve in these challenging economic times.