Resources for effective church leaders
+ December 1, 2022
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Reimagine. Renew. Rejoice.
Nearly 100 pastors and deacons participated in the 2022 Rostered Ministers Equipping Event Nov. 14-16. The Synod provided this event free for rostered ministers. The ‘choose your own adventure’ agenda featured worship workshops, and time for participants to connect, dine together, and participate in spiritual practices, crafts, and time in nature.
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Bishop Davenport preached and distributed Communion. |
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Participants enjoyed a hike in Wissahickon Park. |
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A Fresh Look for the ELCA |
The ELCA has released refreshed branding featuring a cleaner look and a modified color scheme. Learn more and view the logos and usage guidelines at elca.org/Resources/ELCA-Branding. The new logos should be used in digital media including websites, email, and socia media. Printed materials may be used until they are depleted.
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Extravaganza 2023: 'Enough' |
The Extravaganza is the ELCA Youth Ministry Network’s annual ministry conference for adults who work with children, youth and family ministry! Join onsite or online to be renewed and equipped for ministry as you network and learn from leaders across the ELCA. The main event is February 3-6, with intensive courses Feb. 2-3.
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Gifts of Hope With Sanctuary Village |
Need a gift that both honors your recipient and offers hope? Give the gift of a Sanctuary Village donation. Your gift will help to build a tiny house - and a big opportunity - for a person experiencing chronic homelessness. You might have seen articles about the tiny house village in the Inquirer or the Philly Voice. Your gift – from $10 for a welcome mat to $20,000 to sponsor an entire house – will help this dream become reality. Your honoree will receive an acknowledgement and a Sanctuary Village Christmas ornament.
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A decade ago, the country learned in horror that 20 children and 6 educators were massacred at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Since that day, we’ve lost so many more to gun violence: 15,000 Pennsylvanians. Their memories are what remain as family and friends prepare to gather around holiday tables with too many empty chairs.
CeaseFire PA and Reformation Lutheran Church, Media, welcome your attendance on Wednesday, December 7th at 7:00 p.m. for a vigil to remember those lost and demand our leaders #EndGunViolence. RSVP today.
For information contact Carol Lastowka, CeaseFirePA – Southeast PA Coordinator, at 610.357.1954
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Gold background indicates time-sensitive information. |
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Thanksgiving Spirit
Upper Dublin Strong, a partnership between Upper Dublin Lutheran Church, Kiwanis of Ambler, and Giant Food Stores, distributed holiday meals for Thanksgiving to families still recovering from last year’s tornado or other financial circumstances.
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Christmas Lessons and Carols With Bethlehem |
The 16th annual Christmas Lessons and Carols simulcast live between the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral in the United States and the Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, Palestine, will take place on Saturday, December 17, 2022 at 10 a.m. EST and 5 p.m. Bethlehem time.
Hear familiar carols and readings in Arabic and English, and a word of hope preached this year by Bishop Sani Azar of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land.
The Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral invites you to join in person for this free event. Registration details are forthcoming.
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(You can watch last year’s event on YouTube here.)
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Live Nativity at Jerusalem Lutheran Sellersville
Family, friends, and neighbors are all welcome to see the sights and sounds of the season come alive in a free dramatic presentation of The Nativity with live animals on Sunday, December 4, 2022 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Jerusalem Lutheran Church, 733 Ridge Road, Sellersville PA 18960. Continuous performances are given every 15 minutes. For more information, please call 215-257-9423. www.jelchurch.com
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Advent Day of Prayer and Reflection
Sponsored by the Philadelphia Theological Institute. The Rev. Professor Sarah Coakley, one of today's foremost Anglican theologians, will lead a day of prayer and reflection at The Church of the Good Shepherd, Rosemont (1116 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr, PA 19010) on Saturday, December 3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. A light lunch will be provided.
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Advent Meditation Class with Dr. Hillary Raining
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Ordinations and Installations |
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Ms. Maeve Elizabeth Schurz will be ordained to the ministry of Word and Sacrament on Saturday, December 10th, at 10 am EST at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church (1000 W. Main St Lansdale, PA 19446). A brunch reception will follow. Maeve has been called to serve as Pastor of St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in Feasterville. The service will be live streamed at: https://www.trinitylansdale.com/livestreaming/
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Our Gift to You:
Christmas Day Worship
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As a thank-you to the rostered ministers, musicians, worship assistants, and tech teams in our congregations, we are making available a pre-recorded Service of the Word for Christmas Day. If you so choose, this service can be used so that your congregations' leaders can spend Christmas Day with their families. Links to the recorded service will be available in early December.
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Registration is Now Open For: |
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Join us Saturday, Jan 21 at Trinity, Lansdale, to engage with two outstanding church leaders in plenary presentations and question and answer sessions. Louise Johnson will speak on change leadership; while The Rev. Dr. Soong-Chan Rah will talk about how the church can express generosity and vitality in the midst of our broken reality. Plus, 10 practical workshops!
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Save the Dates: Anti-Racism Education for Rostered Ministers |
The SEPA Anti-Racism Team’s next educational event for rostered ministers is coming soon. It begins with a 90-minute Zoom meeting to introduce the curriculum on Thursday, January 12, 2023, 7 to 8:30 p.m. The series will complete with an in-person day-long final session covering Connections and Conversations on March 9, 2023, 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., at ULS/Philadelphia. In between, participants will compete historical context modules at their own convenience.
Please register through the Anti-Racism Team email, [email protected]. The registration deadline is January 5, 2023. This educational program, required by a Synod Assembly resolution, is free to all participants
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Worship Honoring Rev. Jehu Jones Jr. on December 4 |
A worship service honoring the Rev. Jenu Jones Jr. (1786-1852), who established the first African American Lutheran congregation in 1834, will be held on Sunday, December 4, at 3 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church, 7240 Walnut Street, Upper Darby, PA 19082. Sponsored by the African Descent Lutheran Association Philadelphia Chapter.
Guest preacher is the Rev. Cornelius D. Eaddy of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Philadelphia. Guest choir from Grace Lutheran Church, Philadelphia. Musician: Rev. Diane Gilbert/
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Applications Open For Young Adults in Global Mission |
The ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission program invites ELCA young adults ages 21-29 into a transformative, year-long journey in international service. As they offer themselves in service, ELCA young adults are shaped by the witness of our global neighbors. They share in the journeys of companion churches and organizations in one of nine countries around the world.
Applications for the 2023-2024 YAGM service year will be open from Nov. 1, 2022 through Feb. 1, 2023. Priority will be given to those who apply before Jan. 15.
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Attention Reconciling in Christ congregations:
ReconcilingWorks wants to celebrate with your faith community and is excited to offer these resources. Many RIC communities celebrate RIC Sunday on the last Sunday in January. This year, that lands on January 29, 2023.
ReconcilingWorks encourages you to celebrate on a date that is meaningful for your community. Be sure to use this day as a time to recommit to your partnership as a RIC faith community, discern ways to live into your RIC partner commitments, and set new milestones for the year to come
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How Should We Respond to Christian Nationalism? |
The Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields hosted a presentation about Christian Nationalism by Dr. Philip Gorski, a sociologist at Yale University, and co-author of the new book “The Flag and the Cross: White Christian Nationalism and the Threat to American Democracy.” Watch the video. |
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Read the most recent MinistryLink newsletters
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Have stories, events, or resources to share?
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Thank you
The Rev. Bob Fisher, assistant to the bishop for mission interpretation/communications
Ms. Cynta Outterbridge, communications assistant
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