Article Archive
Forever Connected in Christ
"The most powerful learning is my new understanding and appreciation for the oneness of God’s people in Christ," Bishop Burkat writes about her participation in the recent ELCA Ecumenical Journey to the seats of Anglican, Orthodox and Catholic communions. "Yes, there were differences in culture, in worship, in theology, and in current pressing issues as we traveled to four major Christian centers, and met with prominent Christian leaders in London, Istanbul, Rome and Geneva. However, the hospitality, love and respect for us, and us for them, and our common faith in Jesus Christ transcended the difficulties, which sometimes threaten to divide us and undermine the common Christian witness to the world."
Share your faith story on video
The 2010 Assembly will focus on the ways that God’s story revealed in scripture inspires and supports our faith. Your story is important, too, and we want to share it. Throughout the Assembly we will show a number of short testimonies from lay people around the Synod sharing how the Bible has formed their faith, driven them to action, connected them with others, or equipped them as disciples. Read on to learn how to participate.
Train as a volunteer disaster chaplain
Liberty Lutheran Services and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia are sponsoring a Volunteer Disaster Chaplain Training Course on March 15-16 at the Seminary. This two-day training prepares faith leaders or spiritual care providers to volunteer as disaster chaplains in mass care settings or to serve as disaster chaplains within their house of worship, religious community or professional institution.
Join Bishop Burkat for annual Chrism service
On Tuesday of Holy Week, it is our tradition to gather for a service of Word and Sacrament, for blessing of oil, and renewal of ministry vows. The Chrism Service is a time for pastors, associates in ministry, deaconesses, and diaconal ministers to revisit and renew promises made at ordination/commissioning/consecration, and blessings for congregational deacons to honor their local ministries. It’s also a time to worship our Lord and be strengthened and renewed as we prepare to lead the faithful to the Cross and Resurrection. This year we will gather at St. Paul’s, Olney, on March 30, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.
LTSP's Preaching with Power March 7-11
For the 28th year, five sermons and one lecture by six distinguished African American preachers and theologians, and a celebration of black sacred music comprise Preaching with Power: A Forum on Black Preaching and Theology. Preaching with Power, March 7-11, is a program of the Urban Theological Institute (UTI) of The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (LTSP). The March 9 program features Bishop Stephen G. Marsh of the Southeastern Michigan Synod, our partner synod, who will preach at 7:30 pm at Emanuel Lutheran Church at St. John's Episcopal Church, 1332 South Third Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147. The worship offering proceeds go to The Rev. Dr. Joseph Q. Jackson Endowed Scholarship Fund, which benefits UTI students.
Register now for 2010 Assembly
The 2010 Synod Assembly will meet on Friday and Saturday, May 7 and 8, at Franconia Mennonite Church in Telford. Registration is open now. Early (discounted) registration will end March 19, and all registrations are due by April 9. Read on to download registration materials.
For Such a Time as This: Empowered by the Sabbath
Region 7 of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is hosting a women of color in ministry event - For Such a Time as This: Empowered by Sabbath. This gathering will take place April 22-24, 2010 at Xavier Retreat Center in Morristown, NJ and will feature the Rev. Dr. Wil Gafney of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia as a presenter.
Time to make the fastnachts
Volunteers toiling away at Little Zion Lutheran Church to make 350 dozen doughnuts to celebrate Shrove Tuesday are featured in an article and video at the website of Lansdale's Reporter newspaper.
How connected is your church?
The Council Presidents and Vice Presidents Gathering with Bishop Claire Burkat Saturday, Feb. 27 will focus on communications. What trends can shape communication with our members and neighbors? How can we collaborate to spread the Gospel and make our congregations more visible through communication? These and other questions will be addressed by Bob Fisher, assistant to the bishop for mission interpretation/communications. Please RSVP as soon as possible so that we may make appropriate arrangements.
Bishop's journal from ecumenical journey
Bishop Burkat is part of a delegation of ELCA officials led by Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson on the 2010 Ecumenical Journey to visit Christian leaders in London, Istanbul, Rome and Geneva, including the heads of the Anglican, Orthodox and Roman Catholic communions. "I thank God, ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson, and the people of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod for allowing me this most remarkable opportunity to visit the major faith centers and major Christian leaders of the global and ancient Church," the bishop writes in her first message from the trip. "More than any other time in history the one holy, catholic and apostolic Church is connected and accessible. By air, by sea, by land, by internet, by cell, and, yes, by clear, mutual conversation, consolation and communion, we have opportunities as never before to work pray for the peace of the whole of God’s world, the well being of the people of God, and the unity of all."
