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![]() Weekly E-News ArchivesFrom previous editions of E-News (date posted)
New Confirmation Curriculum
The Synod Resource Center has a hot new confirmation resource that you
may want to explore. The curriculum is called re:form, and it
responds to questions kids really have about God and the church and
tough topics. Helping Children and Teens Cope with Grief
Ryan's Tree is a guided peer support program for children and
adolescents grieving the loss of a family member or friend. A free
workshop for clergy, nurses, educators, and others who work with
grieving children and youth will be held on Monday, October 18, 2010,
from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, in University Center, DeSales University.
Sponsored by the Ryan's Tree program of St. Luke's Hospital Network, the
workshop will enhance participants' understanding of the adult helping
role with children and teens in grief. The presenter, Alan D. Wolfelt,
PhD., C.T., is one of the pioneers in the grief of children. Important Issue of The Parish PaperBe sure to check out the issue of The Parish Paper that is in this month's mailing, which went out on Wednesday. It is very important that this issue of The Parish Paper be forwarded to your Finance Committee and Mutual Ministry Committee. IJCU First Friday
The Institute for Jewish-Christian Understanding of Muhlenberg College
resumes its First Friday luncheon discussions on Friday, September 3,
with a program entitled South India: A Melting Pot of Flavors and Faith.
The presenter will be Dr. Clif Kussmaul, Assoc. Professor of Computer
Science. Synod Musician Attends Lutheran Summer Music Academy
David Deiter of Hope Lutheran Church, Cherryville, was one of 149
students accepted into the Lutheran Summer Music (LSM) program,
one of the nation's premier music training programs for young people.
David participated in the 29th Annual LSM Academy at Luther College in
Decorah, Iowa, from June 20 to July 18, 2010. For Your Calendar: WELCA Spiritual Growth EventThe Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod WELCA will hold their spring 2011 spiritual growth even on March 19, 2011. The Rev. Gladys Moore, author of the Lutheran Women Today summer Bible studies, will be the presenter. Her presentation will be based on the summer sessions of "Pray Always." LYF Assembly: Registration Is Now Open!
The 2010 Lutheran Youth Fellowship Assembly is just a few short
months away! Start talking with your friends and members of your youth
group now to begin making plans to attend this year's assembly, Fishing,
Fellowship, Faith. For participants who register by October 15, the cost
is $125. Late registration will cost $150 per person. Scholarship money
is available! Jesus Calls Us ...to Action
Jesus Calls Us ...To Action, a one-day advocacy workshop, will be
held Saturday, November 6, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at
Christ Lutheran Church, Conyngham. Synod Youth Ministry News: Join the Mailing List!
Are you on the email list for Synod Youth Ministry News? You might want
to add your name so you can keep up with youth news and stories like
this one, excerpted from the latest issue: Grip/Birkman Blueprint Coaches Training
A training session to become a coach using the Grip-Birkman Blueprint
method will be held September 21-24, 2010, at St. Francis
Retreat House, Easton PA. Daily sessions will run from 8:30 a.m. to
5:30 p.m. on Tuesday through Thursday and 8:30 a.m. through noon on
Friday. This four-day comprehensive training on the method will provide
a thorough overview of the "Birkman Method." PA State Pastors' Conference: Registration Open
The Pennsylvania Council of Churches is now accepting registrations for
the 2010 State Pastors' Conference. Scheduled for November
8-10 at the Holiday Inn Harrisburg East, this year's conference will
explore Gifts of Gospeling and Generosity: Rethinking Evangelism and
Stewardship for Today. With a rich menu of plenary presentations and
workshops, the conference will help clergy to rethink these core
practices and set them in more faithful and celebrative contexts. Grants to Support Sabbatical Experiences
Wheat Ridge Ministries is offering ministry sabbatical grants to
Lutheran congregations to support and encourage the health and wellness
of clergy in their congregation. The Ministry Sabbatical Grant Program
aims to increase healthy ministry by promoting a sabbatical leave for
rest and renewal to support the whole person health of the Lutheran
ministry leader and the congregation. Volunteers Needed
The Memories in the Making art program is an Alzheimer's
Association-developed project that encourages communication through
painting. The program is being offered to residents of The Lutheran Home
at Topton from 3 to 4 p.m. each Thursday. Volunteers are needed
to work one-on-one with residents in a group setting. 2011 Bishop's Conference
The 2011 Bishop's Conference will be held February 1-3, 2011,
at Skytop Lodge. Openings at Bear Creek Camp
Bear Creek Camp
has what your kids need this summer: caring counselors, Christ-centered
faith nurturing programs, and a cool lake to jump into on those hot days
(which seem to be every day anymore). Only three weeks of summer camp to
go, but we still have many openings for many ages. Bishop's Canoe Trip a Success!
Bishop Zeiser paddled 23.4 miles on the Schuylkill River
July 15 to raise funds for the restoration of Henry Melchior
Muhlenberg's journals. His adventuresome party included Pastors Carl
Shankweiler and Bruce Osterhout, as well as Pastor Osterhout's wife,
Julie, and a photographer from the Reading Eagle. Youth Servant Event to Argentina/Uruguay
The Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod, ELCA, is a companion synod with the
Lutheran Church in Argentina and Uruguay. In July 2011, a group of youth
and three adult chaperones will travel to Argentina for a 2-week-long
service trip. (The actual dates will be set in January 2011.) Renew, Respond, Rejoice!
Mark your calendars and plan to attend the Women of the ELCA Eighth
Triennial Gathering to be held July 14-17, 2011, in Spokane,
Washington. Revitalize yourself in one transformational weekend.
Register early and win prizes. Assembly SummaryA summary of the 2010 Assembly of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod may be found in the August issue of Synod News. Young Adults to Serve Around the Globe
Do you recognize any of the 44 people who will gather in August to
prepare for a year of service with the
Young Adult in Global Mission (YAGM) program? Amanda Tompkins, a
member of St. Paul, Tannersville, and recent graduate of Muhlenberg
College, is one of those pictured. Hear Dave Scherer in Concert
Dave Scherer from the Agape band will present a concert on the synod
territory on Sunday, September 19, at 3:00 p.m. Dave brings his
passion for reaching out with God's love to all ages through interactive
hip hop music. He and/or his group have performed at the national youth
gatherings and will be at the regional youth gathering this month. Check Out Mark Powell in the Resource Center!
Those of you who heard Dr. Mark Allan Powell's presentations at the synod
assembly know what a gifted speaker he is. You can share his gifts with
others in the congregation and check out some of his new materials in
the Resource Center. Mark Allan Powell Presentation at the 2010 Synod Assembly
A number of people have asked if Dr. Powell's synod assembly
presentations are available on video. Unfortunately, they are not.
However, his presentation at LIFT 2009, which contains most of
the same material as his first synod assembly presentation, is
available. Contact Debbie Frey (debbie@nepsynod.org)
Church Relations at Muhlenberg College
As a church-related college, Muhlenberg College strives to nurture its
relationship with congregations and other church-related agencies. For
information about church relations at Muhlenberg, check out their online
church relations newsletter, Crossroads, at
http://www.muhlenberg.edu/main/campuslife/chapel/relations/. It is a
great way to keep up to date with what's going on at Muhlenberg. Some Wireless Microphones Now Banned
New rules by the Federal Communications Commission now restrict the
frequency on which wireless microphones can operate. The 700 MHz Band
became off-limits to wireless mics on June 12, 2010. That band now
is dedicated to public safety agencies. Music Planning Calendar
Congregational musicians: Did you know that Augsburg Fortress publishes
an online music planning calendar? Planning a Day at Dorney Park?
Discount tickets are available! Living into the Future Together
The ELCA is undertaking a study to look at the social and economic
changes in the 20 years since this church was formed and to consider
what the changes mean for the organization, governance, and
interrelationships within our denomination. We'll be hearing more about
this study at our synod assembly, and you can read about it on the ELCA
website. (Click
here to go to the page.) Faith Formation Resource Team
Are you gearing up for the fall Sunday school program yet? Are you unsure
of what curriculum to use? Could you use some teacher training? Do you
want to look at some ideas for strengthening your Christian education
program? Resource Center - Saturday Hours
The Resource Center will be open on Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. through
1 p.m. by appointment. Come check out the variety of resources we
have for Christian Education, youth ministry, evangelism, stewardship,
and much more. Preview some of our DVDs. Lutheran Disaster Response Receives National Award
On May 11, Lutheran Disaster Response was recognized as the
National VOAD "Member of the Year." The award was presented at the
Annual VOAD Conference in Orlando, Florida. 2010 Parish Secretaries' Seminar
The annual
Parish Secretaries' Seminar will take place October 5-6
at the DoubleTree/Willow Valley Resort in Lancaster, PA. The theme this
year is Less Hurry, Hurry and More Hurray, Hurray! Workshops will be
interspersed with devotions, meals and free time. The Rev. Jami
Possinger from Hope, Cherryville, will be the spiritual leader. Save the Dates!
February 1-3, 2011: Annual Bishop's Conference, Skytop Lodge.
Presenter: The Rev. Dr. Timothy Wengert M.u.d.dy in Maphumulo: Opie in Africa
Last week's E-News told of Samantha Marquart, a young adult member
of St. Paul, Dallas, who went to Senegal to work with 10,000 Girls on
her winter break from college this past January. Samantha shared her
reflections on her journey on our
Faith Tools for the Family of Faith blog. For Your CalendarThe second Jesus Calls Us...to Action event will be held at Christ Lutheran Church, Conyngham, on Saturday, November 6, 2010. Keynote speaker will be the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, LAMPa Director. One Young Adult's Story of Mission in Senegal
Those who attended the ELCA National Youth Gathering, Jesus Justice
Jazz, in New Orleans may remember the dynamic presentation by Viola
Vaughn, Executive Director of 10,000 Girls, in Senegal,
West Africa. Bear Creek Adding More Adult Programming In 2011
Bear Creek Camp staff wants to add more adult programming in 2011 - and
they need your help. Do you have an adult ministry in your congregation?
The staff would like to meet with the leadership and discuss ways that
Bear Creek Camp can reach out all year long to people of all ages. Items for Lutheran World Relief
Does your congregation collect items such as health kits, school kits,
and quilts for Lutheran
World Relief? Several individuals and congregations have been asking
where they could donate items such as these. Lutheran World Relief is an
excellent avenue for such donations. Website for Staff of Former River Camps
Were you a counselor, chaplain, or support staff at one of the "river
camps" (Miller, Hagan, Ministerium, Miller Hagan) and/or Bear
Creek Camp? Want to know what other staff are doing these days - or just
get together to float down the Delaware with old buddies? Beware of Email Hoax
Several members of the synod staff recently received emails that seemed
to be from people they knew (including a rostered leader and a regional
committee member). The message was that the sender was vacationing in
England, had lost all of his or her money in some sort of unfortunate
incident, and needed help to get home. Both the message and the return
address seemed plausible, but both were hoaxes resulting from hackers
gaining access to email accounts. Youth and Young Adult Ministry Ideas
Recently youth, young adults, and the Lutheran bishops from our region
met to discuss youth and young adult ministry. Karen Matthias-Long also
attended the gathering as the synod staff person relating to youth
ministry. Online Stewardship Survey
The Northeastern and Southeastern Pennsylvania Synods are working
together to gather information about congregational giving and
stewardship. The project includes an online survey to learn which
congregations are using tools that allow their members to give to their
churches with debit/credit cards, recurring monthly withdrawals from
checking accounts, or other ways to manage their giving. Your Mission Support at Work
See your congregation's mission support at work! ELCA Releases Draft Social Statement on Genetics
On March 18, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America released a
49-page draft social statement on genetics, a framework for discussion
on a variety of current topics in the field including certain advances
in medicine, reproductive cloning, human embryonic stem cells, and
animal and plant genetic engineering. Seminars at Luther Crest
Luther Crest holds twice-monthly seminars to acquaint people with the
features of its current senior living accommodations as well as
Bridgegate, the Diakon Lutheran Senior Living Community's planned
new complex of apartments designed to enhance an active senior
lifestyle. What's New in the Resource Center
The resource center open house is a great opportunity to see what's
available in your resource center, but don't forget that you can visit
the virtual
resource center any time, 24/7. Learn about new or recommended
resources on the regularly updated
resource center web page on this website.
To preview these books, visit the Resource Center or contact Karen Matthias-Long at Karen@nepsynod.org or Debbie Frey at Debbie@nepsynod.org. Youth: Get Ready for the 2012 ELCA Gathering!
The Youth Gathering of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will
return to New Orleans in 2012. Returning to a host city
consecutively is unprecedented in the history of ELCA Youth Gatherings.
The gathering will take place July 18-22, 2012. Quilts, Kits for Haiti
On Monday, January 25, Lutheran World Relief's first shipment of health
kits and layettes arrived in Haiti. LWR's partner, Church World Service,
helped LWR expedite this process. ELCA Disaster Response Has a Blog!
ELCA Disaster Response now has a blog. Early on, the focus mostly will be
on the relief efforts in Haiti, but they will expand into other disaster
response topics and other responses over time. For Your Calendar: 2011 Learning Ministries Day
The date has been set, the theme has been selected, and the presenter has
been chosen for the 2011 Learning Ministries Day! 2010 Mission Support Intention Form
The synod council uses the information provided by congregations on their
annual mission support intention form to prepare a realistic
budget for the ministries we do together -- across the synod and around
the world. Invitation from the A-Team
The Accessibility Ministry Team (A-Team) in our synod is seeking
new individuals to join our team. Presently we do not have
representation from the Pocono, Schuylkill, or Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre
mission districts, but we are certainly open to people from other
mission districts, too.
Please contact the current A-Team chair, the Rev. William (Bill) M. Horn at whorn@gsrh.org or 610.776.3139 with your suggestions. 2009 Minutes Book
The 2009 Minutes Book is finished and available. Most of the content is
available in the Resources section, Synod Forms and Documents
subsection, on this website. ELCA Ministry Policies Draft
The ELCA Vocation and Education program unit has posted a first draft of
amendments to the candidacy manual. The draft is posted at
www.elca.org/ministrypolicies. 2010 IRS Mileage RateThe Internal Revenue Service announced this week that the standard mileage rate for business travel in 2010 will be 50 cents per mile. The rate for volunteers in service to a charitable organization will remain at 14 cents per mile. These rates take effect January 1, 2010. Healthy Practices during Flu Season
What are you doing to cut down on the chance of spreading the flu in
church? Need Ideas? Have Ideas? Check Our Blog!
The Faith Formation Resource Team of our synod has started a blog
entitled Faith Tools for the Family of Faith.
Guidelines for your first visit to the blog may be found in the resource
section of the synod
website. Click here to go to that page. You may also read these in the
November issue of
Synod News, which was mailed to congregations this week. Bible Study on Synod Purpose Statement and Strategic Directions
At the 2009 synod assembly, the synod council presented a proposed synod
purpose statement and strategic directions, the result of a nearly
year-long visioning process. Are You Prepared for a Disaster?
Perhaps the most important component of being prepared for disaster is to
Make a Plan. When you plan, you are forced to think about different
scenarios and how you might handle them in the case of an emergency. Parliamentary Procedure Chart
If you are running a congregation meeting, serving as parliamentarian, or
just want to have a simple explanation of the parliamentary process, a
chart on motions prepared by the Secretary of the ELCA, David Swartling,
will help you understand procedures. Church World Service Needs Kits
If you have an opportunity to promote CWS Kits in your congregation,
please do so! Postal Regulations and Newsletters
New postal regulations may affect how you prepare your congregation's
newsletter for mailing. Briefly, the rules that become effective this
month require that: Holden Village Offers Great Resources
One of the gifts of the Holden Village community is the great variety of
teachers and preachers who have come there to give lectures on whatever
they are passionate about.
Download the audio file onto your computer or iPod. You can search their media library by topic or by the name of the presenter. Identity Theft
Each day, the risk of identity theft grows greater. LIFT DVD Available
Did you miss LIFT? Did you not miss LIFT but want to hear the
keynote speaker and Dakota Road again? Sermons Available On This Website
The sermon that Bishop Zeiser preached at the service of Holy
Communion on Saturday, June 6, during the 2009 synod assembly is
now available on the synod website.
Click here to read the sermon. West Berks Mission District Website
The West Berks Mission District has a new website! We're Now on Twitter
The synod is now using Twitter to send out timely information. Great FREE Resource for Congregations and Leaders
Administration Matters is a bimonthly e-newsletter for ELCA
congregational and synodical leaders. It addresses common, practical
issues including finance, governance, risk management, tax, legal
concerns and topics of interest about day to day operations and
management in church settings. What Is Happening with the SALM Program?
This question is frequently asked of synod staff. The Importance of Audits
Doing an audit of the congregation's finances may seem like a lot of work
where there's very little risk, but don't underestimate how important
this task is. Subscribe to a Board of Pensions NewsletterDid you know that the Board of Pensions provides three newsletters by
email?
Order a DVD of Bishop Zeiser's Installation
Copies of the service and the pre-worship music for Bishop Zeiser's
installation are available for purchase for $6 per copy. Leaders of
congregations that have not requested the congregation's free copy may
still do so. Year-End Giving StatementsA recent notice sent to congregation treasurers by the synod finance committee may have been misleading. As long as the statements you send out meet the IRS guidelines listed below, they do not need to be signed by the treasurer. The requirements are
Website Includes Videos of Worship, Other Programs
Trinity Lutheran Church, Reading, has started an online half-hour
version of its worship service each week, with a two-month archive of
services. In addition, the archives feature music programs and other
programs. Looking for Grant Money for a Congregational or Cluster Project?
The key priority assigned to the
Witness and Service
Ministry Team is to assist our synod to renew our passion for sharing
the Good News. Be Careful Out There!Here at the synod office, we have experienced a string of e-mails that will do bad things to the computer. To be safe, here's a review the warning signs:
Honorarium Guidelines for Supply PastorsThe Committee of Deans recently approved new guidelines for fees for supply pastors. Congregations are encouraged to begin using these guidelines immediately. They became the expected amounts January 1, 2009. The recommended minimum honorarium amounts are as follows:
In addition, if one of these services is on a day other than Sunday, an additional $50 should be added to the rate for the total number of services. Join the (Free) Creative Worship Tour!Are you leading a worship team that is filled with creative energy? Do you wish you were? Whether you would like to find a forum for sharing the great, creative worship being done in your ministry setting or you'd like some fresh ideas to jump-start the energy, you should check out www.creativeworshiptour.com. It's a free social-networking site for excellent, creative worship, music, and media ideas and resources. How can you participate? Sign up! Then
It's free. . . it's fun. . . it's cool. . . and you are invited! (From Beth Lewis, president and CEO, Augsburg Fortress) SIGN UP FOR THE ELCA E-ADVOCACY NETWORK!E-Advocacy empowers ELCA members to advocate for peace, justice, and care of creation. You'll receive timely updates from the ELCA on a wide variety of issues, including hunger, poverty, and the environment; and you can be confident knowing you are being asked to call or e-mail your elected officials only at the moments when your voice can make the most difference. Visit www.elca.org/advocacy to sign up. JOINT CONFLICT RESOURCE TEAM BROCHUREDo you know about the Joint Conflict Resource Team? This program is designed to provide resources at no cost to congregations and church leaders experiencing low-level conflict. The program is a joint venture of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod, ELCA, and the Penn Northeast Conference, UCC. Check out the brochure! THE VOLUNTEER MINISTRY TASK FORCE: A VALUABLE RESOURCEThe synod Volunteer Ministry Task Force coordinates volunteer ministries across the synod. This group can provide support, assistance, and training for a Director of Volunteer ministries position. In addition, they will assist congregations in recruitment, training, recognition, and retention of congregational volunteers. For more information and the names of contacts, click here. PROOF OF 501(c)(3) EXEMPTIONIf at any time your congregation needs to prove that you are a 501(c)(3) exempt organization, you will need to know the ELCA Group Tax Exemption number. The four digit number is occasionally requested when applying for grants, receiving endowments, opening postal accounts, and the like. To obtain this four digit number from ELCA headquarters in Chicago, send an email to: 501c3@elca.org. In your email, explain for what purpose you need the group exemption number, then send the email. You will receive a return email asking for the name, address, phone number, and Employer Identification Number (EIN) of your congregation so that the ELCA can update your records. This data is sent to the IRS each year. Once the ELCA has updated your information, an official letter stating that your congregation is a Subordinate Organization of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod, which is included as a Subordinate Organization of the ELCA to which the IRS exemption number is assigned. This official document should be kept in the congregation's permanent files. This four-digit number is not to be confused with the nine-digit Employer Identification Number. The four-digit group exemption number indicates that the ELCA and its related entities are recognized as exempt from Federal Income Tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. FIDELITY BOND COVERAGEThe synod office regularly gets phone calls asking about bonding of treasurers and others who handle money. This was a service that was once provided to congregations by the ELCA. Please be aware, however, that the ELCA has not provided fidelity bonding since March 31, 1995. Each congregation must make its own arrangements for bonding. Your insurance company can provide you with information about this coverage. CHANGE IN MANDATED REPORTING LAWUnder Pennsylvania law, pastors and other rostered leaders who come into contact with children as part of their work are required to report suspected child abuse. Until recently, this report only had to be made if you suspected the abuse as a result of actually hearing from the child or seeing indications of abuse first-hand. However, a change to the law took effect on May 29, 2007, and it affects rostered leaders. Under the new law, you must file a report even if you have not actually seen or talked with the child, as long as you have reasonable cause to suspect abuse. Reports should be made to ChildLine at 800-932-0313. If you are in doubt about how to handle a particular situation, feel free to contact Family Life Services (610-682-1337) for guidance. COMMUNION WARE JOURNEY CONTINUESThe communion ware given to ELCA synods by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Lands is still available for your congregation to use. It provides an opportunity for you and your congregation to learn about and pray for Palestinian Christians and their Muslim and Jewish neighbors. Use these vessels in Holy Communion as a reminder of and a witness to our partnership in mission with our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land. If you are interested in borrowing the set (a chalice and paten), contact Pastor Catherine Ziel (Catherine@nepsynod.org) at the synod office. TAX LAW CHANGESChanges to the tax laws that took effect in 2006 may affect donations to churches. In the past, members who made cash donations were allowed a tax deduction if they had some sort of written record of the donation, and if each gift was under $250. Notes in a diary or on a calendar, for example, were considered a sufficient record. Beginning in 2006, however, donors must have either a bank record (such as cancelled checks) or a written receipt from the church. While most congregations have routinely sent such receipts, it is now essential that they do so. Remember, too, that these statements must say that the donor did not receive anything in return for the donation. LISTING YOUR CONGREGATIONAL WEBSITE ON ELCA AND SYNOD WEB PAGESDoes your congregation have a website? Is it listed on the ELCA website? You can check to see if your site is listed by clicking the link about congregations on this web page on our website. If your congregational website is not listed or is listed incorrectly, you can update the information by clicking this link. WORSHIP AND SPIRITUALITY MINISTRY TEAM GRANTSThe Worship and Spirituality Ministry Team is offering grants for local initiatives related to their purpose, to help the people of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod "deepen their relationship with God." For information on the criteria for grants and for a grant application, go to the Worship and Spirituality Ministry Team web page and click on the grant information and application links. CONTINUING EDUCATION GRANTSLooking for a grant for continuing education? The Leadership Development Ministry Team reminds you that rostered leaders of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod may apply for matching grants of up to $250 to support continuing education. More information and a grant application may be found via the team's page on the synod website at www.godslove.org/people/ministry_teams/leadership/. PRAYERS FOR PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EASTThe ecumenical prayer vigil for peace in the Middle East that began in 2000 continues across the USA, on the same day each month in each state, until there is an end to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The day of the month for Pennsylvania is the 9th of the month. We will include the reminder in the monthly prayer list that is posted online each month.
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