Around the Synod

Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod

A network of growing, Christ-centered, outwardly-focused congregations

passing the faith to the next generation

Weekly News and Announcements

March 13, 2018

Synod News

Annual Gulf Coast Synod Mass - March 27

We invite you to worship with us on Holy Tuesday, March 27, 11am.

The synod staff will lead the Chrism Mass at St. James/Santiago Apostol in Houston, giving you the opportunity to engage in worship during Holy Week without having to lead it.

Please bring your cruet or other vessel to be blessed. There will also be a renewal of vows and holy communion.

Support Gulf Coast Synod through Amazon Smile

3x your impact! From March 12-31, Amazon is tripling the donation rate on your first Amazon Smile purchase! Go to the Gulf Coast Synod Amazon Smile page and Amazon donates to Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod (ELCA).

Updated Tax Info from Portico

With tax time coming up, you probably have some tax questions regarding the new tax proposals, pertinent to your members and clergy taxes. Portico has gathered some resources to answer questions for clergy and non-profit giving.

Stay up to date on charitable contributions, new withholding tables, tax brackets, moving expenses, work-related educational expenses, and more with this year's Federal Reporting Requirements for Churches and the Clergy Tax Return Preparation Guide, both by Richard R. Hammar. (You will need a Portico member login to view.) Learn More

Administration

Nominations and Resolutions for Synod Assembly

All resolutions for consideration must be submitted by April 14.

There are a number of important leadership opportunities within our synod. If you know of a qualified candidate, who is a person of integrity, passionate about the work of the church, and a voting member of a congregation in our synod, please submit the corresponding nomination online form. All nominations are due by April 14:

At this time, there are no positions up for election with the discipline or consultation committees.

Register for Synod Assembly

Synod Assembly is May 17-19 , at the Hilton Houston North. We will be focusing on FAITH5 with our speaker Rich Melheim. Rich founded FAITH5 to promote the FAITH5 practices for families (and also used by churches) that help grow in faith in all aspects of our lives. The FAITH5 practices are: Share, Read, Talk, Pray & Bless.

Whether or not you are already using FAITH5 to encourage these Christian practices in your home or church community, this will be an opportunity to learn more about the whys and hows of FAITH5, and share your own experiences.

Early Bird Prices End April 20, Registration Closes May 4.

Register separately for hotel room(s) by April 25 with our group rate - all booking info and group rate codes available on our Synod Assembly page: Schedule, Hotel Info and Registration

LEAD's New Annual Roadmap, Faith Formation Edition

LEAD just added a faith formation edition of the Annual Roadmap on the website. The original congregational version and the new faith formation version are each available individually for $125 or you can get both for $150. Such a deal!

Events

Kartoberfest at St. James, Houston

St. James Lutheran, Houston, is hosting a Kartoberfest this Saturday, March 17, 11am-3pm.

Come see exotic cars, Model A's and Porsches! Buy a raffle ticket to get a chance to win a 2002 Jaguar XK8 convertible and other prizes. Food, beverages and a bounce house for the kids, too!

All proceeds go to support the ministries of St. James and their Family Life Center. Call 713.686.1577 for more information or to register your exotic car for display.

Gardening Party at Christ the King

The Pollinator Garden at Christ the King in Houston suffered due to the harsh winter and plants need to be replaced. So, we invite gardeners to ring your gardening gloves & tools to plant native and pollinator plants in the garden in time for Holy Week!

Join us Saturday, March 24, at 9am.

Light refreshments served afterward to gardening party attendees. Contact Lisa Brenskelle to volunteer.

LEAD Hosts Faithful Metrics Trainings

So you've read the book...now what?

Join LEAD at a 1-day seminar in your area or online for a series of webinars that will provide you with:

a process for identifying congregational values and purpose
an understanding of why some goals are more important than others
a plan for using stories as metrics

Upcoming seminar on Saturday, April 14, 9am-3pm, at Faith Lutheran, Dickinson. Check out LEAD's Faithful Metrics trainings page for more details and registration.

Save the Date: Regional Conference of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians

Calvary Lutheran, in Richland Hills, TX, (Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex) is hosting a regional conference of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians July 19-20. Save the dates, and there will be more information soon!

God's Work, Our Hands Sunday - September 9

"God's work. Our hands." Sunday is an opportunity to celebrate who we are as the ELCA - one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor.

The suggested date for the 2018 dedicated day of service is Sunday, September 9. Mark your calendars today! If your congregation cannot participate on this date, please consider another day.

Service activities offer an opportunity for us to explore one of our most basic convictions as Lutherans: that all of life in Jesus Christ - every act of service, in every daily calling, in every corner of life - flows freely from a living, daring confidence in God's grace.

You work every day to make your community a better place. Let us continue doing this work together in 2018. Read More.

Justice

ELCA Bishops stand with youth addressing gun violence

Following a school shooting in Florida, the ELCA Conference of Bishops has issued a statement calling for "a deeper conversation about school safety and second amendment rights and responsibilities."

The statement is issued in solidarity with children and youth and supports the March for our Lives , a gun control rally planned in Washington, D.C, and other cities worldwide on March 24, 2018. Read More.

Children & Youth

Kindred Collecting Clear Plastic Bottles for Youth Gathering

KINDRED is one of the service sites for the Youth Gathering this summer and participants are going to make a beautiful piece of public art!

Only thing is....they need the raw materials.

Can you bring every clear plastic bottle you can find between now and then? Bring them from home, get your office involved, or make it a neighborhood thing.

Drop offs are welcome at the KINDRED OFFICE:

2515 Waugh Dr, Houston, TX 77006

Monday-Wednesday, 10am-4pm

Gulf Coast Synod Training for Adult Leaders

The synod's Gathering Synod Coordinator will be holding training for adult leaders. The second training will be held on April 22. Please RSVP with Kristen, if you plan to attend.

April 22
3:00 - 5:00 pm
Kinsmen in Houston

If you would like to receive regular communication from our Gathering Synod Coordinator, please notify Kristen Schulze with the name and email of your congregation's primary adult leader for the Gathering.

Job Openings

Director of Discipleship at Living Word, Katy

Living Word Lutheran Church in Katy is looking for a Director of Discipleship. Read the job description to learn more.

Churchwide News

Conference of Bishops Focuses on Congregational Vitality and Leadership

Meeting under the theme "To Claim and Test Our Heritage," the Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) engaged in discussions around two key priorities for this church: congregational vitality and leadership.

The conference, which met March 1-6, is an advisory body of the ELCA that includes 65 synod bishops, the presiding bishop and the secretary. Read More.

Daily Prayer with Living Lutheran

Living Lutheran offers the daily ELCA prayer resource Prayer Ventures on their website. If you are looking for a simple resource for daily prayer, find it here.