Weekly E-News

February 3, 2012

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Office Hours at the Lutheran Center: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

Contents

• Carings and Sharings
• Financial Audit Form
• LM Day Participants Donate to ELCA Malaria Campaign
• Save the Date: Renewal of Ministry Service
• Leaning, Lifting, Leading: the 2012 Lutheran Youth Fellowship Assembly
• Bear Creek Camp Update
• 2012 Youth Gathering: Hotel Shuttle Information
• Get Back to Basics!
• Update on Lutheran Disaster Response in the Synod
• Upcoming Installations
• Positions/Jobs/Items Available
• Items from Previous Editions

Carings and Sharings

Please remember the following in your prayers:

Pastors Don Henderschedt, Louise Johnson, John Keiter, Tom Lichner, Royal Olson, Scott Staub, Lester Stephenson, John Tomlinson, Harold Weiss
Betty Bagger (widow of Pastor Ralph Bagger), Joyce Hittinger (wife of Pastor Ray Hittinger), Grace Seifert (mother of Pastor James Seifert) Lois Siemasko (mother-in-law of Pastor Michael Frost), Marsha Staub (wife of Pastor Scott Staub), Deborah Stinner (wife of Pastor Frank Stinner), Chris Terhune (wife of Pastor Frank Terhune), Janice Wert (widow of Pastor Don Wert)

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Financial Audit Form

The Certification of Financial Audit of Congregation Records should be completed and returned to the Lutheran Center by March 31, 2012. If you do not have the copy sent out in the mailing, you will find a copy on the synod website.

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LM Day Participants Donate to ELCA Malaria Campaign

A great day was had by all at Learning Ministries Day last Saturday. Participants were challenged to contribute $1,000 to the ELCA Malaria Campaign to supply four villages with mosquito nets and vaccines. A total of $1,256.25 was raised -- enough to supply five villages. What a marvelous example of working together in God's name!

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Save the Date: Renewal of Ministry Service

The annual Renewal of Ministry service for all rostered leaders will be held this year on Maundy Thursday, April 5, at 1:30 p.m. at the Lutheran Center in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The preacher will be Pastor Walter Wagner. Watch for more details in the coming weeks.

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Leaning, Lifting, Leading: the 2012 Lutheran Youth Fellowship Assembly

Leaning, Lifting, Leading is the theme of the 2012 LYF Assembly to be held at Muhlenberg College June 22-24. The cost for the event is $120 ($15 less then last year!). Scholarship money is available to lower the cost even further. Youth who are completing 8th through 12th grades are invited to register for this year's assembly. Please consider sending at least one youth from your congregation. It's a great way for them to meet other Lutheran youth in the synod and to talk with other youth about faith issues that concern them! A registration form, medical release form, poster, and scholarship form can be found on the synod website.

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Bear Creek Camp Update

John Greenleaf, the chair of the Bear Creek Camp Board, has written an update on the camp, New Visions and Transitions for Bear Creek Camp. Click here to read the letter.

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2012 Youth Gathering: Hotel Shuttle Information

Visit the 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering Special Discounted Airport Shuttle page to sign up for a discounted $25/person round-trip shuttle for your group. There are a few simple rules that you must follow to get this discounted rate:

• In order to book your discounted airport/hotel shuttle reservations online, you must book no later than 24 hours prior to your flight arrival time.
• Changes to an existing reservation can be made by phone (866-596-2699) only if you made your original reservation online.
  The round-trip ticket discount is only for tickets bought through the web page.

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Update on Lutheran Disaster Response in the Synod

During the more than four months since the devastating storms Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, Lutherans have been busy helping the affected local areas figure out how best to assist the many hundreds of families still in need. For an update on the response through Lutheran Disaster Response - NE PA, including statistics on the impact in the area and a summary of the response in each county, click here.

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Family Faith Challenge

The synod's Youth, Young Adult and Family Ministry Team has developed "Family Faith Challenges" for families of all sizes and configurations. The team suggests an activity for each week of the month around a monthly theme.

You may find the weekly challenges through June here.

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Upcoming Installations

Darcy Reis will be installed as pastor of St. John, Auburn, on February 12, 2012, at 4 p.m. Clergy are invited to process; the color of the day is red. A meal will follow the service.

Christopher deForest will be installed at St. John, Mahoning, on Sunday, February 26, 2012, at 3 p.m.

Maritza Torres Dolich will be installed as Pastor of Community Outreach at Christ Lutheran Church, Allentown, on Saturday, April 7, at 6:00 p.m.

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Positions/Jobs/Employment Opportunities/Items Available (date posted)

Music Ministry Director (2-3-12)
St. John, Emmaus. Provides choral and instrumental music leadership for two services each Sunday morning as well as for special services. Duties include playing organ and piano to lead liturgy and hymns; selecting appropriate music for each service; rehearsing and directing choirs and instrumentalists; meeting with pastor and Worship and Music Committee for planning. This is a part-time position (approximately 16-18 hours per week). Salary commensurate with training and experience. Reply to St. John Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 181, Emmaus, PA 18049.

Organist/Choir Director (1-27-12)
Nativity Lutheran Church, 1501 N. 13th St, Reading, PA, seeks a part-time (10-12 hours/week) organist/choir director. One weekly worship service (pipe organ and piano), adult choir, handbell choir, children's music program. Full job description and contact information on the music page of their website, www.nativityreading.org.

Choir Director (1-27-12)
Christ's United, Ashland, seeks a part-time director for the senior choir. This is a newly reinstated position. Choir currently consists of 20 members, singing weekly at 9.30 AM Sunday service and special services. For more information please contact Ralph Johnson, Personnel Committee Chair, through the church office at 570-875-1591 or office@christsunited.org.

Church Organist/Accompanist (1-20-12)
St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Plainfield Township (http://www.stpetersplainfield.com/). Two Sunday services; accompany one adult choir. Send resume to stpeters@epix.net or 1422 Church Rd., Pen Argyl PA 18072.

Volunteer coordinator, project coordinator (cleanup and rebuilding) and site managers (1-6-12)
Volunteer coordinator, project coordinator (cleanup and rebuilding) and site managers for the Disaster Recovery Coalition of Luzerne County (DRCLC). The DRCLC, a partnership of organizations and individuals, is coordinating efforts to assist families in Luzerne County still recovering from the flooding of fall 2011. For information or to express interest in these positions, please contact Dennis Steffy (rickyracer@dejazzd.com or 717-413-6434) about the project coordinator and site managers positions or Ruth Doty (ruth@lutherancongregationalservices.org or 484-553-1162) about the volunteer coordinator position.

Director of Music Ministry (11-4-11)
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (ELCA), 50 Luther Drive, Mertztown, PA 19539, seeks a dedicated Director of Music Ministry. This position is quarter-time (10 hours/week). Responsibilities include playing weekly and special services using our electronic Allen organ, directing our choir(s), and joining us in praising the Lord. Please contact Pastor Jeremiah at 610-657-0269 (revjr@dejazzd.com) or Lori Savidge at 610-682-6229 for further information.

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