 |
|
SYNOD NEWS
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Romans 6:3
In mid-January I experienced a distinct pleasure that I have had only a handful of times over the last six and a half years of ministry as bishop: I preached and presided at the baptism of Xavier Alan Burkholder, the son of two of this synod's pastors, Joshua Burkholder and Carolyn Lesmeister. Over the last half dozen years, I have presided at Communion and preached for countless worship services across and beyond this territory. I have presided at somewhere between 35 and 40 commissionings, consecrations, and ordinations. All of these experiences bring me deep joy as a pastor and bishop. But every time I pour the water and Word over the head of a new sister or brother in Christ, I am brought back again to the very essence of who I am and who we are as baptized and beloved, cross-marked and Spirit-sealed children of God. This is the foundation for all our worship, ministry, and service in the world.
Read more or upload a copy for your congregation.
I-K Yout
h Gathering
Formed in God's image, Reformed in the cross of Christ, Transformed in the Holy Spir
it
The IYC is hosting another Synod Youth Day - this time at Resurrection Luthera
n Church on Saturday, February 18 from 9:30-3:00. The day is for 7th-12th graders and their adult faith mentors. Not only will you get a great insight into the
ELCA 2018 Youth Gathering in Houston but representatives from Cam
pus Ministry and Lutheran Outdoor Ministry will be able to help answer questions about faith & college and summer camp including jobs. There will be opportunities to learn how to lead a bible study, develop new or renewing prayer practices, Adults will have an opportunity for their own session with other adults bouncing ministry and parenting ideas related with teens. Read more here.
The cost is $25 for the first 10; $5 for every additional person. register here or if you have questions email Julie Schuessler Peralta ([email protected] )
Farewell and Godspeed to Rev. Rudy Mueller
Health concerns and his desire to be back in the parish before retiring have resulted in Rev Rudy Mueller's resignation as Assistant to the Bishop. He wil
l take an interim appointment at Pilgrim Lutheran Church, effective, Feb 1, 2017. Rudy has served faithfully and well as Assistant to the Bishop since 2001. We will miss his sense of humor, ability to connect a song with almost any conversation topic, careful attention to rostered leaders and congregations in transition, worship planning and leadership, and his energetic partnership and support as a member of the synod's leadership team. I hope you will find ways to say "thank you" to Rudy and to bid him farewell and Godspeed as he transitions to interim congregational ministry over the next couple of weeks.
In light of Rudy's departure, a staffing reconfiguration is underway. We will then begin the interview and discernment processes toward shifting the responsibilities of current staff and adding the staff member(s) needed to continue moving forward in empowering, equipping, and encouraging one another to make Christ known across this territory. For the short term, Pastors Judy Follis and Karen Husby, who are both under synod council call to interim ministry, have agreed to serve as Interim Stewards of Call Process and Interim Ministry. As we transition, there will very likely be delays and glitches in call processes, as well as some of the other ministries that have been Pastor Mueller's responsibility. I invite your prayers and patience as we move into this next new thing that God is doing among and through us.
Shalom International Ministry in Indianapolis
A new ministry, Shalom International Ministry, in Indianapolis is an example of the creative means by which our Indiana-Kentucky Synod and the ELCA forms a new congregation. Shalom is part of a "parallel development" launched by Salem Lutheran Church. Salem is a traditional ELCA congregation in the city and Shalom is a new mission start serving African refugees and immigrants who are new to the Indianapolis area as well as to Lutheran faith. At worship on Sunday mornings, one can expect to see 12-15 white people and 30-40 people of color. It is a wonderful mingling of languages, cultures and traditions. Read more
here.
Mission Support Intent Form Addition
From Pastor Jerry O'Neal
In my letter that accompanied the Mission Support Intent Forms sent to congregations, I mistakenly forgot to include Purdue Lutheran Ministry in the list of campus ministries. I apologize for the error. Pastor Mike Vinson is doing excellent ministry with the students at Purdue, and I give thanks to God for your Mission Support that helps to make Purdue Lutheran Ministry possible!
|
CONGREGATION NEWS
Prayer Concerns
During the weekly I-K Lutheran Center staff devotions we included these individuals and mission centers in our prayers:
St Peter (Bear Branch), Dillsboro, IN and
Pr Pamela Thiede
St Peter, Camden, IN and Pr Marissa Tweed Harrison
St Peter, Dillsboro, IN and
Vacancy Pr Pamela Thiede
St Peter, Milton, KY and Vacancy Pr Pamela Thiede
St Peter, Spencerville, IN and Vacancy Pr Debra Meuter
Rostered ministers
not under congregation call
Rev William Gafkjen, Bishop, Indiana-Kentucky Synod Mission Territory
Rev Doug Givan, St Vincent's Frankfort/Clay, Indianapolis, IN
Rev Herb Schlotterbeck, retired, Indianapolis, IN
Rev Christine Schrey, retired, Hebron, IN
Rev Paul Schumacher, retired, Indianapolis, IN
The South Dakota Synod and Bishop David Zellmer
Hymn Sing to Celebrate Christian Unity
To carry out Bishop Eaton's suggestion to mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation and to celebrate our Christian unity, St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Vincennes, Indiana is hosting a hymn sing on Sunday, January 29th at 4:00 p.m. Donald Meineke, cantor at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in New York City is the organist. (He also created the hymn sing.) Enrico Lagasca, a bass-baritone who sings with the Holy Trinity Bach Vespers Choir, is the featured soloist, and selections include Ralph Vaughan Williams', Five Mystical Pieces. A volunteer community choir...we welcome anyone to participate...will also involved in the Williams piece as well as with hymns. More information
here.
|
|
CHURCH-WIDE NEWS
In her January column in Living Lutheran, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reminds us that the "gift of grace, especially as it comes to us in baptism," helps us "make sense of our lives and resolves the stress" of making resolutions. Read her column here
Candidacy Portal and Mobility Database Updated
Dear colleagues in ministry,
This email is to inform you that the Candidacy Portal and the Mobility Database System have been updated and are now available.
If you completed work on your RLP or MSP offline from Dec. 15 until today, you can now log in and update your forms.
As a reminder, here is what you will see:
- The Rostered Leader Profile will be the Rostered Minister Profile.
- Those of you on the roster of ordained ministers will be referred to as a minister of word and sacrament.
- Those of you on a lay roster will be referred to as a minister of word and service.
This information has been sent to all bishops and synods. Please contact your synod office with any questions you may have. Thank you for your patience during this time of transition.
Wm Chris Boerger
Secretary
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Capital University's Annual Winter Youth Retreat
Join us February 10-11 in Bexley, Ohio! This retreat is for students in grades 9-12 and the theme this year is "Made to be Transformed" focusing on Roman 12:1-5. We will discuss society's expectations of us and grapple with the pressure to conform. For more information,
click here or to register online
click here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
