Bishop
'We Are Ambassadors of Reconciliation'
In her sermon during worship, Bishop Claire Burkat opened the 2011 assembly of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod reminding those present of their vocation as ambassadors of reconciliation for Christ. “Think of the implications of this in your role as a Christian,” she said. “You are, in the eyes of the Church, an official of the highest rank representing Christ himself.”
Living in the Present Tense
“Our lives as we once knew them are changing,” said Bishop Claire Burkat in her May 6 address to the Synod Assembly. “Our church … (and) our world as we once knew it is changing.” She reminded those gathered that the mission we’re engaged in is God’s, not ours. Throughout the Bible God led people of faith through anxious and unsettling times. The Hebrews exiting Egypt had no idea where God was leading them. How could those witnessing the crucifixion possibly appreciate the world-changing, culture-crushing, faith-forming, and life-transforming event they were witnessing?
Vivet! He Lives!
On Easter Sunday we read Psalm 118, a song of victory, hope and gratitude for God’s mercies. This psalm was Martin Luther's favorite, one he claimed as “mine.” Particularly these words: “I shall not die, but shall live and recount the deeds of the Lord.” (vs. 17) Towards the end of Dr. Luther’s life his wife, Katherine, commissioned a stonemason to build a new entrance to their house. At the top of the arch the chief stone was inscribed with the Latin word Vivet, which means “He Lives!” It was meant to remind everyone who went out or came in that Christ lives!
CCT's Letter From Birmingham
The annual meeting of Christian Churches Together, an ecumenical gathering of the five Christian faith families in the U.S., ended its meeting Jan. 14 issuing "A Letter From Birmingham" calling on Christians to remember, repentand renew their efforts to end poverty and racism in America.
Liberty Lutheran Celebrates 10 Years
Liberty Lutheran Services will celebrate its 10th Anniversary on Sunday, Jan. 30, with worship, praise and thanksgiving. Bishop Claire Burkat will give the homily at the 3 p.m. service at Upper Dublin Lutheran Church, Ambler.
Faiths Unite as Zones of Peace
“Zones of Peace” seeks to unite houses of worship from all faith traditions in the effort to reduce violence (not only gun violence, but domestic abuse, bullying, uncivil discourse, etc.) in the Greater Philadelphia Area.
Religious Leaders support freedom and understanding
"We live in a Commonwealth that was established on the vision of religious freedom and are committed to striving to actualize that vision. Together, we repudiate discrimination against the followers of any religion and reject violence of any sort," members of the Religious Leaders Council of Philadelphia wrote in an October statement on "Living a Vision of Religious Freedom and Understanding." Click on the headline to read the entire statement.
Synod to Receive Two Pastors onto Roster
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will receive two pastors onto its roster of ordained ministers in upcoming congregational ceremonies. The Rev. Jay A. Wiesner of University Lutheran Church of the Incarnation (UniLu) will be received Sunday, Dec. 12 and the Rev. Stephen Keiser of the Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion will be received Sunday, Jan. 2 in services in their respective congregations
Bishop's Convocation on Facebook
If you're attending the 2010 Bishop's Convocation Nov. 15-17, or if you would like to learn a bit more about our visiting speaker Phyllis Tickle and her book "The Great Emergence," you can check out the Convocation's Facebook Page.
One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, One People
"The opportunity to bring the Word of God and to baptize in the name of the Triune God in a place far away, to a people foreign to my culture, in a language not my own, was one of the highlights of my call as a pastor and a bishop," Bishop Burkat writes about her recent safari to visit our compaion synod in Tanzania. "This was truly a time when distance narrowed, offering a glimpse into God’s amazing grace!" Click to read the Bishop's message and a diary of the journey.
