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SYNOD NEWS
Isaiah 62:6-12 is one of the suggested readings for Christmas Day. There are no she
pherds in Isaiah's proclamation, no star, no angels or magi, no Mary, Joseph or Jesus. There is only promise, the encouragement to hold God to God's promise, and sentinels and ensigns to herald the fulfillment of the promise drawing near. See, your salvation comes! You shall be called, "Sought Out...Not Forsaken"! Read more or download for your congregation here.
Thank You for Your Generosity
To all who brought gifts and non-perishable food items to the I-K Synod office, we thank you! We will be delivering the items to The Sharing Place, a ministry of Lutheran Child and Family Services, which is sponsoring its annual Christmas assistance program. The "Christmas Store" offers needy families the opportunity to experience the joy of carefully selecting and wrapping Christmas gifts for their loved ones, something they would not be able to do, without the help of people like you!
PLEASE PRAYERFULLY CONSIDER PARTICIPATING IN THE ELCA WELCOMING CONGREGATIONS NETWORK OF AMMPARO (Accompanying Migrant Minors with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities)
Welcoming Congregations agree to welcome migrant children and families, listen to their stories with respect to receive the divine blessings that they bring, pray for and share the gospel, provide emotional and spiritual support, accompany migrants to access local and institutional services as needed and advocate for justice for and with migrant families and children. Entire letter can be read
here. For more information on the ELCA website, please
click here.
DATES OF NOTE
December 17-27
Bishop Gafkjen's Vacation
December 23-26
Office Closed for Christmas
January 2
Office Closed for New Year Holiday
January 7
Mission Ambassador Training, Synod Office
January 10
Finance Committee Meeting
January 13-14
Synod Council (Conference deans encouraged to attend)
2017
June 1-3, 2017 - "Formed, Transformed, Reformed"
The Indiana-Kentucky Synod Assembly, Covington, KY
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CONGREGATION NEWS
Prayer Concerns
During the weekly I-K Lutheran Center staff devotions we included these individuals and mission centers in our prayers:
St Luke, Newburgh, IN and
Pr Tom Vanselow
St Luke United, Trail Creek, IN and Interim Pr Thelma Megill-Cobbler
St Mark, Albion, IN and
Pr Phyllis Smoot
St Mark, Louisville, KY and Vacancy Pr Joe Kiser
St Mark's, Butler, IN and
Pr Amy Beitelshees-Albers
Rostered ministers
not under congregation call
Rev John Conway, on leave, Buda, TX
Rev Charlene Cox, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN
Rev Carole Poole, retired, Towson, MD
Rev Richard Poole, retired, Towson, MD
Rev Arlington Rehrig, retired, Cincinnati, OH
The Pacifica Synod and Bishop Andrew Taylor
Special Advent Worship
You are invited to worship at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Indianapolis at 11 a.m. on Sunday, December 11, when the choir, accompanied by a small orchestra and under the direction of Precentor Peter Rogahn, will present Johann Christian Bach's
Magnificat. Come and hear this splendid expression of "Mary's Song."
Employment Opportunity
New Hope Lutheran Church, Monticello, is in need of a keyboard/pianist musician for Sunday morning worship services at 9 a.m. Please contact the church office, mornings, at 574-583-5486 or at
[email protected]
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CHURCH-WIDE NEWS
Hear the Good News
In her December column in Living Lutheran, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reflects on Matthew 24:36-44, reminding us that through a helpless baby, God was announcing the end of a world "in bondage to sin and death, a world that believes in a god of 'what have you done for me lately?' " Read more of Bishop Eaton's column here. For a Spanish translation you are invited to click here
Journey with Global Church
As members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), we believe we are freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbors. And next year, as we commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, we have the unique opportunity to reaffirm this commitment through Always Being Made New: The Campaign for the ELCA and the Global Church annual theme year.
Throughout the Global Church year, we will be celebrating and encouraging support of three programs - Missionaries and Young Adults in Global Mission, International Women Leaders, and Global Ministries - with a variety of special learning and giving activities. In addition to year-round engagement ideas, we will highlight these programs through three major events:
read more
Moment for Mission:
ELCA World Hunger - Domestic Hunger Grants
During the Christmas Season, our hearts go out to those who are homeless and hungry - our minds are drawn to Mary, Joseph and the Christ Child in Bethlehem. How can we accompany them in truly authentic ways?
The ELCA Domestic Hunger Grant program allows congregations to develop ministries that are appropriate for their neighbors who are homeless and hungry. One such program is "Grace Feast," a program at Gift of Grace Lutheran Church in Seattle WA. Through the sharing of Sunday lunch between congregation members and those in their community, the congregation has found one way of walking alongside their neighbors. This program addresses not only their neighbor's physical hunger but also their need for relationship and spiritual meaning.
To learn more about "Grace Feast" and the impact that it has had on a homeless couple, Harold and Debra, watch this
brief video (https://vimeo.com/140677009 5½ min). You will see how the ELCA Domestic Hunger program changes lives, not only of Harold and Debra but also of congregation members.
Thank you for your support of ELCA World Hunger and its Domestic Hunger Grant program.
This is a message from the Mission Interpretation Ministry of the Indiana-Kentucky Synod. To learn more about the program of congregational Mission Ambassadors,
click here.
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