Individuals and congregations in the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod have contributed more than $300,000 to the development of the Sebastian Kolowa University College (SEKUCo) in our companion diocese in northeastern Tanzania. You can still help with the expansion of the campus to handle larger than expected registrations, scholarships, and faculty development. ... Read more about how you can help.

Download the Winter 2007-8 SEKUCo newsletter

The morning started out just pouring down rain - here rain is good luck. There were people sitting on the hillside, on the ledge by the road and the PA system could be heard throughout the mountain area. The campus is just beautiful. Really Beautiful! There was a combined choir of 200 people and a brass band of 50. The Prime Minister of Tanzania was present as well as the retired President of Tanzania. ... Read an account of the opening by Susan Pursch, chair of our Synod's coordinating committee.

A delegation from our Synod headed by Joanne Carlson, assistant to the bishop for global vision, and Susan Pursch, chair of the synodical SEKUCo Coordinating Committee, head to Tanzania Monday to represent us at the opening of the new university campus on Reformation Sunday, Oct. 28. The people and congregations of our Synod have offered countless volunteer hours developing curriculum, technology and support for SEKUCo, along with more than $300,000 in donations. Please pray for those who will teach and those who will learn at this new campus, including Amanda Grant of St. John, Mayfair, who is spending this year teaching at SEKUCo, and for the people of the North Eastern Diocese as they open this magnificent new venture.

• Celebrate SEKUCo in worship using these resources by Pastor John Hougen
• View Amanda Grant's blog

Here is the letter sent by Bishop Burkat to Bishop Stephen Munga and the people of the North Eastern Diocese on this milestone occasion:

Bishop Stephen Munga

Northeastern Diocese

P.O. Box 10

Lushoto, Tanzania

Dear Bishop Munga, and our sisters and brothers in Christ in the North Eastern Diocese:

“Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture:

‘See, I am laying in Zion a stone,

   a cornerstone chosen and precious;

and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.’  (1 Peter 2:4-6)

Congratulations, blessings, prayers of thanksgiving and shouts of joy are sent your way from the entire Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod on this most miraculous occasion, as God brings to fruition the dream of opening the Sebastian Kolowa University College.

Ms. Joanne Carlson, assistant to the bishop for global vision and special events, is representing my office as I am not able to bring these blessings to you in person. Please know how grateful I am to have warm and vivid memories of my recent trip to the Diocese, so that I can see exactly where my spirit is standing with you as we praise God together!

Ms. Susan Pursch, chairperson of our synodical SEKUCo Coordinating Committee, has been the sharer if this dream from the very beginning. We are pleased to have Susan and the other enthusiastic and committed members, who have traveled across the world to join with you in this enormous celebration. Tracey Beasley, Linda Breckenridge, Paula Campagna, Marcia Hougen, Pastor Dyan Lawlor, Pastor Mark Singh-Heuter, and Bruce and Janet Waechter are representing the many proud partners you have in the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod. Prayers of thanksgiving and gratitude for bringing us to this day are being lifted to God on your behalf.  For what has been accomplished, and for the tremendous outpouring of time talent and treasure, we give God the glory!

I want to acknowledge the visionary leadership of the Rev. Dr. Anneth Munga, acting provost of SEKUCo, who was the prime motivator in the development of the university. I am pleased so many in our Synod have been inspired by her dream and have contributed much to support this new venture.  We are proud of our sister in Christ, Amanda Grant, who so generously has dedicated herself to helping to set up the infrastructure on which the foundation depends.  This adventure in faith has greatly enhanced the already strong sense of partnership and connection between the Synod and the Diocese.

Today as you celebrate the building of this inspired university, I know that you are also praising God for building up the people in unity and as living stones for God’s purpose. Together -- those who have dreamed and planned, those who have built and renovated, those who have supported and sacrificed, those who will teach and those who will learn – have laid a foundation on which new dreams can be built. May God bless the Diocese and Tanzania for generations to come!

With and in Christ,

The Rev. Claire S. Burkat

Bishop

Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Tanzania's Sebastian Kolowa University College (SEKUCo) will open Oct. 28 with 178 students – nearly twice the 100 students originally projected. The popularity of SEKUCo's programs testifies to the desire in Tanzania for special needs education and other programs that will improve the lives of its people. Please pray for the workers who have reported and those who are on their way to SEKUCo. Pray for the students who prepare themselves to begin their studies in the Bachelor of Special Needs Education program.

Our companion synod, the North Eastern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, conceived and birthed SEKUCo, helped by many gifts and talents of people in our synod. As part of the dedication ceremonies our delegation will present a "birthing gift" of more than $285,000, the result of many miracles, large and small. There's still time to make a gift in honor of the dedication. Send your contribution to:

            SEPA-SEKUCo Project

            506 Haws Ave.

            Norristown, PA 19401

Most of us can't be there when SEKUCo is dedicated on Reformation Sunday, but we can worship with our companions in spirit by using the prayers, hymns and texts in the worship planning resource edited by Pastor John Hougen that has been mailed to congregations and is available on the synod website.

Related resources

• SEKUCo Newsletter, Fall 2007 
• SEKUCo News, September 2007:  PDF   |  RTF (for any word processor) 

“Echo of Alfred’s Song”, written and sung by Katie MacLuckie, a member of New Hanover, Gilbertsville, was inspired by Alfred, a student at the Irente Rainbow School located in the North Eastern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania. The Irente Rainbow School is the only school for students with developmental disabilities in this large region of Tanzania.  Alfred and his fellow students had shared his message of faith in song at his church, and when Katie heard the story she was inspired to write an echo of his song. The CD, on the S.O.L.A. label, is available for a minimum donation of $5.00.  All donations will benefit SEKUCo.  Email for information.

At long last, the Sebastian Kolowa University College campus in Tanzania will be dedicated on Reformation Sunday, Oct. 28. SEKUCo will offer education for teachers, lawyers and business leaders, who will incorporate passion for improving the lives of people with special needs into their professions.

Many from our synod have contributed expertise, time or funds to help bring this dream of our companion synod -- the North Eastern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania -- to reality.

Our synod will be represented by a delegation in Mgamba that day, but you and your congregation can be a part of this milestone by incorporating some or all of the suggestions provided by the SEKUCo task force in your worship and preaching that Sunday.

Resources for worship are available in three formats: Adobe Acrobat PDF, Microsoft Word, and plain text (which can be cut and pasted into any word processor or desktop publishing program).

• SEKUCo worship helps (text version)
• SEKUCo worship helps (Word version)
• SEKUCo worship helps (PDF version)

• Celebrate! It's SEKUCo Sunday! -- Suggestions for celebrating the day with Tanzanian style.
• Make children a part of SEKUCo Sunday -- Ideas and crafts to enrich children's knowledge of life in Tanzania. Includes animal graphics for use in craft.
• Tinga Tinga graphics -- Included in "Make children a part of..." package.
• Life in Tanzania: C.J.'s view -- To come. An 11-year-old from PA tells of his experiences during a year in Tanzania. Good discussion starter.
• Fun facts: Tanzania -- Ideas and crafts to enrich children's knowledge of life in Tanzania. Includes animal graphics for use in craft.
• SEKUCo Activate -- To come. An activity for all ages. Fosters team spirit and a greater understanding of the challenges of special needs children and adults. Great for youth groups!
• A half hen for SEKUCo -- Explanation of "Half Hen" and how we can respond in our giving to support SEKUCo project. Suggestions for adults, youth and younger children to participate in our Synod's gift to this new college in Tanzania.
• Miles to Magamba -- A great project to involve all ages, individually or in groups, such as Circles, adult Bible study and Sunday School classes, youth groups, seniors, families and others.
• SEKUCo bulletin insert -- Half-page bulletin insert, black and white.
• SEKUCo Sunday posters -- 8.5x11 printable versions of the posters mailed to each congregation.
• Worship planning guide -- Suggested hymns, prayers and sermon ideas
• Newsletter article -- Suggested article for your bulletin or newsletter
• SEKUCo Newsletter
• Taking a collection for SEKUCo -- Instructions, pledge form and labels to help your congregation support the SEKUCo project.

• An information sheet which tells more about the plans and mission for SEKUCo.
• On the opposite side is a pledge form, for those who wish to consider a pledge to help our Synod support the efforts associated with opening SEKUCo.
• An envelope which may be used for a special offering collected today, with our regular offering, for SEKUCo. If writing a check today, please make it out to our church. We?ll then send one summary contribution from our Church to the Synod?s SEKUCo fund.

• Learn more about SEKUCo on the North Eastern Diocese webpage.