March 5, 2019
Greetings, Beloved. As I ponder my Lenten journey, I was thinking it’s not as much about giving up as it is an invitation to give ourselves over to the love of God; to be aware of our blessings, and our call to share those blessings. In that sense it is a call to action, to recommit to...
March 4, 2019
“Leadership is disappointing your own people at a rate they can absorb.” Tod Bolsinger, PhD, used this quote from adaptive leadership guru Ronald Heifetz to summarize the balancing act of leading in uncharted territory for more than 200 clergy and lay leaders gathered for a learning day with the author of “Canoeing the Mountains.” As...
January 23, 2019
Our late, beloved former Synod treasurer, Dick Reimet, started Lutheran Night at the Phillies decades ago, one of the – if not the – first such partnership between a religious organization and professional baseball. In Dick’s memory, we’re dedicating this year’s event in thanksgiving for his long-time stewardship of this ministry and support of our...
March 12, 2019
The 2019 Synod Assembly will meet Friday and Saturday, May 3 and 4, under the theme Building Beloved Community. Registration is now open . Our keynote speaker will be the Rev. Nicole D. Diroff , associate director of Interfaith Philadelphia. A number of learning opportunities will explore various aspects of the beloved community theme,...
March 11, 2019
“Trustworthy Servants of the People of God,” an expression of the aspirations of the ELCA for its rostered ministers and candidates, is expected to be voted on by the Church Council in April. The Conference of Bishops, which reviewed the document and issued a pastoral message this month, is accepting comments on the content of...
March 8, 2019
St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church – Ambler, a congregation in the Lower Montgomery Conference, will hold their final worship service on Sunday, March 31, 2019 at 3 pm with Bishop Davenport presiding. Rostered leaders and members of the SEPA Synod are welcome to attend the final service at St John’s – Ambler celebrating the life, witness and service of this congregation...
March 6, 2019
Is “Lutheran spirituality” an oxymoron? When we consider Martin Luther and the early reformers, we think of great theologians, prolific writers and musicians. We are well aware of Luther’s earthy language and direct communication. But spirituality? Luther as mystic? Not so much. And yet, Luther was a deeply spiritual person who also cared for the...
February 28, 2019
In a pastoral letter to the ELCA, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton writes: “What we can say with certainty is that as the (United Methodist Church) takes its next steps, we in the ELCA will continue to walk with our full communion partner. We treasure the joyful memories of the Churchwide Assembly in 2009, where...
February 25, 2019
Bring Your Faith to the Table — On May 19 and 20, join people of faith from around Pennsylvania for inspiration, education and participation — in worship, service, learning and advocacy. We will focus on setting bigger, more welcoming, tables in our lives, our congregations, our communities and our Commonwealth. Come for our traditional Lutheran Day...
February 25, 2019
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Women of the ELCA 2019 gathering will be held Saturday June 1, 2019 at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lansdale. Registration will begin at 8:45. Bishop Patricia Davenport is the keynote speaker. Our theme is Water of Life. We will give thanks for God’s gift of water and learn ways to care for...
February 19, 2019
CHICAGO (Feb. 19, 2019) – The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has formed a preferred vendor agreement with Vanco, an eGiving software developer and payment processor serving more than 20,000 churches across the country. The agreement offers Vanco’s GivePlus suite of eGiving solutions to ELCA congregations. The ELCA churchwide organization has sought new working...
ELCA News
2018 Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
