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SYNOD NEWS
August 16, 2018
I love to tell the story of unseen things above,
of Jesus and his glory, of Jesus and his love.
I love to tell the story, because I know it's true;
it satisfies my longings as nothing else would do.
(ELW #661)
To read Bishop Gafkjen's
August
I-K Lutheran newsletter article and share with your congregation, please click
here.
2018 Indiana-Kentucky Synod Candidacy Retreat
More than 30 people gathered last weekend for the annual I-K Synod Candidacy Retreat at the Benedict Inn Retreat and Conference Center, Beech Grove, IN. The group was made up of current candidates, applicants, inquirers, spouses, Candidacy Committee members and special guest presenters. Pastor Teri Ditslear started things off with a delightful Artful Prayer experience and then Bishop Bill presented on Transformational Leadership after dinner. We worshipped and fellowshipped together Friday evening, and then on Saturday morning Dr. Anne Marshall from Trinity Lutheran Seminary gave an interactive presentation on boundaries with social media. Deacon Jody Winter shared her experiences with "GLUE" in ministry, which stands for "Giving Loving Understanding Encouraging" and is a way to be intentionally inclusive in ministry. It was a great opportunity to connect with the women and men from the I-K Synod who are preparing to become public leaders as pastors and deacons in the ELCA.
Peer Ministry Training
High School students (grades 9 -12) as well as adults who work with and support them are invited to Peer Ministry Training on Saturday, October 13, 2018, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at Church of the Nativity in Indianapolis. This training is open to any congregation of the Indiana-Kentucky Synod and is co-sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis. The trainer will be Chad Senuta (see
www.peerministry.org). Students will learn practical skills for welcoming and communicating with others. The cost is $25 per person and includes lunch. Register by contacting Pastor Dan Fugate at
[email protected] or 317.253.3522. Pastor Fugate can help with options for spending Friday night in Indianapolis for those traveling from out of town. A flyer with information can be found
here.
Professional Leaders Conference
Registration for guaranteed overnight lodging will soon close for the 2018 Indiana-Kentucky Professional Leaders Conference. If you are planning to join us for this year's event, where we will focus on the topic, "Leadership Reset: Dreaming of the leader that I will be," click here to register:
https://ikleadership2018.eventbrite.com September 7 is the registration deadline for overnight lodging. After this date, you will be responsible to secure your own room with the Clifty Inn or other local accommodation. If you have any questions about this event, please contact Heather Apel,
[email protected]
Indiana-Kentucky Synod Stewardfest
You are invited to our second Indiana-Kentucky Synod StewardFest at Christ Lutheran Church, 3401 South Dixon Road, Kokomo, IN. It will be held on Saturday, August 25, from 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., with registration at 8:30 a.m. This action-packed event will give you and your congregation numerous tools for deepening and expanding your congregation's stewardship. Our time together will include two plenary sessions, one with Bishop Bill and one with Phil & Susan Schmidt, coordinators for the IK Synod Mission Ambassador Program. Please click here for a letter to share with your congregation. Please click here for a flyer to share with your congregation.
Mark Your Calendars!
Please be sure to mark your calendars for these upcoming events:
Middle School Retreat
Dates: Friday evening, September 21, through Sunday morning, September 23, 2018.
Location: Waycross Retreat Center, Morgantown, Indiana
Peer Ministry Training (grades 9 -12)
Date: Saturday, October 13, 2018
Location: Church of the Nativity, Indianapolis, Indiana
Bishop's Day for Youth (grades 8 - 12)
Dates: Saturday, February 23, 2019, with the option of staying over Friday and/or Saturday evening
Location: To Be Determined
I-K Synod Youth Leadership Summit (grades 8 - 12)
Dates: Friday, May 31, through Sunday, June 2, 2019
Location: Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
For more information, contact Pastor Dan Fugate at [email protected] or 317.253.3522.
Middle School Retreat
Join us at Waycross Conference Center and Camp in Morgantown, Indiana, the weekend of Friday, September 21, through Sunday, September 23, 2018, for IGNITE, our middle school retreat. Students in grades 6 through 8 (or whatever grades your congregation's confirmation students are) for a weekend of growth, connection, and discovery. Please click
here
for a flyer to share with your congregation.
See the flyer for more information. If you would like to be part of the planning team for this event, please contact Pastor Dan Fugate at
[email protected]
or 317.253.3522.
Where's the Bishop?
Many have expressed interest in knowing where Bishop Bill will be preaching and presiding so that they may attend if they are nearby. Below you will find a schedule of upcoming services and events where our Bishop will be presiding, preaching, participating or leading.
Bishop Gafkjen's Calendar of Events
August 19: Preach and preside at St Paul Connersville, IN 10:30 a.m. service celebrating 175 years
August 19: Preach and preside at Installation of Rev. Todd Lotridge, Christ the Savior, Fishers, IN 3:00 p.m.
August 21:
Finance Committee, Synod Office, 10:00 a.m. -2:30 p.m.
August 25:
Present at Steward Fest, Christ, Kokomo, IN
August 26:
Preach and preside at Zion, Sunman, IN 10:00 a.m.
September 4:
Conference Dean's Meeting 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. (Synod Office)
Bishop Gafkjen looks forward to being with you and your faith community. Please contact his administrative assistant, April Lynch,
[email protected] to schedule a time.
Synod
Weekly News
The Indiana-Kentucky Synod welcomes stories and photographs of ministry moments to share with its mission territory. Stories and accompanying photos are accepted for the Weekly News (which is sent out each Thursday), the monthly I-K Lutheran, and the web site (www.iksynod.org). Send announcement submission to Tom Dearchs, [email protected] by Tuesday at noon (Eastern time) to be included in the Thursday Weekly News. Please see the Publication Submission Guidelines document for complete details on submissions.
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CONGREGATION NEWS
During the weekly I-K Lutheran Center staff devotions we included these individuals and mission centers in our prayers:
St. Peter's, Corydon IN
and Rev. Evangeline Anderson
St. Stephen, Louisville, KY
and Rev. Kerri McFarland
St. Stephen, Plainfield, IN
and Rev. Ellen Mills, Interim
St. Thomas, Bloomington, IN
and Rev. Lyle E. McKee
St. Thomas, Brookville, IN
and Rev. Ladona Webb
Rostered Ministers Not Under Congregational Call:
Rev. Allan Sager, Retired
Rev. John Sanders, Retired
Rev. Carl Satre, Retired
Rev. John Conway, On Leave from Call
Rev. Teri Ditslear, Pastor-Developer, Roots of Life
Northern Illinois Synod and Bishop Jeffrey Clements
Prayers for Healing
We ask for prayers for healing, comfort, and recovery for Pastor John Pannkuk, who is undergoing cancer treatments.
We ask for prayers for healing and recovery for Pastor Jim Swanson after hospitalization for a stroke.
In Memoriam - The Rev. Dr. Ronald J. Lavin
We have received word of the death of The Rev. Dr. Ronald J. Lavin on August 7, 2018. A Memorial Service will be held at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Tucson, AZ (date and time pending). Please click
here to read his obituary. Please keep his family in your prayers. Cards and condolences may be sent to his wife:
Joyce Lavin
5393 N. Hanna Ct.
Bloomington, IN 47404-8986
For more information on the festival, please click
here.
Proud Parents - Rev. and Mrs. T.J. (Lauren) Lynch
"Yesterday, at 3:02pm,
Lauren and I received the greatest gift we could ever even imagine as we welcomed Hannah Jane Lynch into this world!
6lbs 13oz, 19.5in!
Mom and baby are doing GREAT! I can't even put into words how proud I am of Lauren...I'm really just in awe. She is so strong and so amazing, and it's taken less than 24 hours to know that she is going to be the best mother in the world.
Hannah Jane, you've already got me tightly around your finger. You are the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, your snuggles take my breath away. I can't wait to see what an incredible woman you will grow to be.
Thank you all for your continued love and support! It means everything.
Now about that parenting manual..."
Choir Music Available
The Choir Director here at Mt Zion has done a file purging of choral music. As a church, we don't want to just toss the music in the trash. Attached is a listing of the choral pieces with the arranger noted and the number of copies we have of each piece. Click
here for a list of the music. The music is available to anyone who has a use for it. All we ask is that if we need to ship it, shipping cost is paid. Pastor Smoot is willing to take it along to meetings and such if that helps with shipping.
Thank you!
Sandy Klausing
Mt Zion Lutheran Church
797 N Detroit St.
LaGrange, IN 46761
260-463-3624
Sharing a Story........News from Gethsemane Lutheran, Indianapolis
Please click
here to read about "The Neighborhood Connection" at Gethsemane. This is a result of the Connect process. What a wonderful story of our faith in action!
Editor's Note: This worship community has an average attendance of 37. "New" and exciting things can be accomplished no matter the size of the congregation!
Chairs Available
Risen Savior, Fort Wayne, IN., has about 40 of these chairs available, free for the taking, for any congregation or ministry that could use them. Please call 260-432-1214 if interested.
Dr. Walter Wangerin, Jr. to Speak at Holy Trinity, Lafayette
Dr. Walter Wangerin, Jr. will speak at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church,
1005 N. 21st Street, Lafayette IN 47904, on Saturday, September 29, 2018, at 2:00 p.m.
This event is free and open to the public. Childcare will be available. You may preregister by emailing the office at [email protected] or calling 765-447-4205.
Please note if you will need child care when you preregister. Click here for more information and a flyer to share with your congregation.
Rachel Kurtz in Concert
Messiah Lutheran Church, 801 S. Green Street, Brownsburg, IN, will be hosting Rachel Kurtz in concert Sunday, November 4, at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance by contacting Hope Moran, 317-910-6080, or $15 at the door for the 3:00 p.m. concert. More information and a flyer will be available in the near future.
Thrivent Members Can Use Thrivent Action Teams to Support GWOH
Thrivent Action Teams are a great way to TAKE ACTION in your local community, so Thrivent Financial members are encouraged to use theirs to support "God's Work. Our Hands". Sunday on September 9!
Whether a congregation prepares and delivers meals to people who are homeless, cleans local parks and beaches or writes thank-you notes to emergency responders, service activities may be eligible for Thrivent Action Teams.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Please apply for your TAT at least 17 days in advance of the project start date. If you need help submitting your application, please contact Member Care Services at 800-847-4836.
Mary Beth Trotter
Community Engagement Leader
Great Lakes/Mid-America Region
Thrivent Financial®
A Workshop on Deliberative Dialogue for Congregations, Clergy and Communities
The Isaiah 1.17 Justice Team is sponsoring a workshop on August 25, entitled
"Finding the Purple Zone: A Workshop on Deliberative Dialogue for Congregations, Clergy and Communities." Its purpose is to help congregations and their leaders begin to lead conversation in their communities on issues around which they may have differing views.
Update: Pilgrim Lutheran, Carmel, IN., will be the host site for the Indianapolis area.
Please register for the event
here.
An updated flyer and a bulletin blurb can be found
here.
The workshop will be led by Rev. Dr. Leah Schade from Lexington Theological Seminary and will be held at St. John's, Louisville, KY on that day from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
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CHURCH-WIDE NEWS
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Bishop Eaton's August Column for
Living Lutheran
We are the branches:
In her August column for Living Lutheran, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton asks, "Is it possible to be Lutheran and an ecumenist? Yes, of course. For we are "scripturally, confessionally and even constitutionally wired to be an ecumenical church." Read her column here.
ELCA Job Opportunities
The
ELCA Foundation is searching for a
Director of Gift Planning. A copy of the Position Profile is
attached.
There are two key responsibilities for this leadership position:
- Through the direct supervision of a national staff of about 20 regional gift planners (coaching and managing), lead and manage a robust fund-raising program to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward prospective donors of current and planned gifts;
- Manage the business relationships with ministry partner organizations through on-site visits.
This position is
located in Chicago and
reports to the Executive Vice President of the Foundation. It requires
about 30% travel, visiting regional gift planners, donors, and ministry partnerships.
****
The
ELCA is searching for an
Executive Director for Domestic Mission. A copy of the
Position Profile is
attached.
This senior leadership position brings
decisive and visionary leadership to this unit charged with wide-ranging work and relationships with churchwide units, synods, congregations, and other partners. The work involves
equipping synods and congregations; developing new ministries, seeking to renew strategic ministries; and
working with synods and congregations in programs and strategies for
evangelical outreach.
Reporting to the presiding bishop, this position requires about
25% travel. It is
located in Chicago.
Keep on Learning
... for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. (Proverbs 2:10)
Trinity Lutheran Seminary forms leaders for Christ's church at work in the world. While the primary way in which we carry out that mission is through our degree programs, we also believe that forming and informing leaders extends beyond our current students.
We offer courses in several formats that we think may be of interest to a wider audience: online courses, evening courses, and one-week intensive courses. Interested in taking a course in an area of interest? Thinking about seminary but want to get a taste before you decide to enroll? Looking for a high-quality, low-cost continuing education opportunity? Check out these options for Fall Term 2018! Please click
here to learn more!
News from Lutheran Child and Family Services
We are hosting a service project for the September 9, 2018, "God's Work. Our Hands". Day of Service. This year at LCFS, we would like to plant a Biblical Garden here on campus. We are looking for churches that are willing to supply a few plants and the manpower to get them into the ground. Please contact Susan Ryan, Event Coordinator, at 317-359-5467, ext. 235 or [email protected].
Please save the date Sunday, September 9, for "God's work. Our Hands." Sunday.
As members of the ELCA, we believe we are called, gathered and sent into the world to embody the good news of Jesus' death and resurrection - called into relationship with God, gathered together as a community of believers and sent into the world to love and serve our neighbors.
On "God's work. Our Hands." Sunday, we join together to use our various gifts in services to our communities - this is work you do every day, sharing the love of Christ with all of God's people. Save the date and visit ELCA.org/dayofservice for updates to our resources.
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