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SYNOD NEWS
Stewardship Training Opportunity in Indianapolis!
The Ecumenical Stewardship Center is holding its national conference, "Generosity Transformed!", in Indianapolis from April 30 - May 2. Registration is $275 per person, and the ELCA is offering a limited number of scholarships on a first-come, first-served basis. Please see the attached flyer for details. If you have any questions, please contact the IK Stewardship Director, Pastor Jerry O'Neal, at
[email protected]. We look forward to seeing you there! Click
here for a flyer to share with your congregation.
New Contact Information for the ELCA Region 6 Archives
The ELCA Region 6 Archives has a new phone number, email, and website address! Please update your information:
The ELCA Region 6 Archives continues to cooperate with synods, congregations, rostered leaders, and congregation members in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and the Michigan Lower Peninsula to preserve Lutheran history. Contact the ELCA Region 6 Archives for congregational anniversary and history writing ideas, research assistance, congregational archives help, and records management guidance.
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Every January, the Christian church world-wide marks the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. This ecumenical "octave," or eight-day observance, lasts from January 18 (the Feast of St. Peter) to January 25 (the Feast of St. Paul). The week is based on Jesus' prayer to his heavenly Father in John 17:21 that his followers "may all be one ... so that the world may believe that you have sent me" (ESV). Jesus knew that if Christians were fiercely divided, people outside the faith wouldn't want to learn more about him. The theme for the 2019 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is from Deuteronomy 16:20 (NRSV): "Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue."
More information will be forthcoming, including a poster/brochure, but here is some initial information about one of the Week Of Prayer for Christian Unity services we will participate in:
Where: First Friends Meeting | 3030 Kessler Blvd., East Drive | Indianapolis
When: Sunday, January 20, 2019 | 6:00 p.m.
Discernment Retreat
Do you feel the Holy Spirit leading you in a new direction? Are you curious about becoming a deacon or pastor in the ELCA? Have others told you that you would make a great public leader in the church? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, consider attending the next ELCA Region 6 Discernment Retreat, March 1-2, 2019 at Camp Mowana in Mansfield, OH. You can download the registration flyer
here (deadline Feb. 22), and contact Rev. Heather Apel for more information,
[email protected].
2019 Chrism Liturgies
Traditionally, chrism (blessing of oils) and renewal of ministry commitment liturgies occur during Holy Week. In practice for some years, the bishop of the Indiana-Kentucky Synod has offered these liturgies in the season of Lent. In 2019, we will spread out the liturgies beyond Lent. Two will be offered in the season of Epiphany. Three will be offered during Lent, one of them on Holy Tuesday, in partnership with the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Indiana.
Unless otherwise noted, each morning will begin with gathering fellowship at 9:30am, worship at 10:00am, conversation with the bishop and each other following worship, concluding with lunch, either on site or at a local restaurant. While the primary focus of the morning will be on rostered ministers (pastors and deacons), all are welcome to participate. All times are local. Please click
here to register for the date and location of your choice. When the locations of the April 2 and 16 sites are determined, this list will be updated.
- January 10, New Joy Lutheran Church, Westfield, IN
- February 26, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Crestview Hills, KY
- March 7, Faith Lutheran Church, Owensboro, KY
- April 2, hosted in the NE IN Conference
- April 16, hosted in the North Central Conference with Episcopal Diocese
Bishop's Day for Youth
Bishop's Day for Youth will be held Saturday, February 23, 2019, at Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Carmel, Indiana. Youth in grades 8 through 12 and adult mentors are invited to join Bishop Bill Gafkjen for conversation, worship, games, workshops, a service project, Bible study, and lots of fun. Overnight housing is available on Friday night. There is also the option of a Friday evening activity. Last year a number of groups came on Friday evening and we had a great time! For more information, contact Pastor Dan Fugate at
[email protected].
The National Lutheran Choir
The National Lutheran Choir is scheduled to perform in the Basilica at Notre Dame on February 28, 2019. The Indiana-Kentucky Synod is co-sponsoring this event with Notre Dame. In some ways, it is a follow up to the Lutheran/Roman Catholic Reformation observance that was in the basilica last fall, in which Presiding Bishop Eaton preached. That was a great event to be a part of and it opened the door to further Lutheran/Roman Catholic engagement at Notre Dame.
Do you think your congregation might be able and willing to be a co-sponsor, or perhaps a family or group of folks from your congregation? We would be most grateful for your consideration in this matter. If you are able and/or willing to contribute, please visit our website, www.iksynod.org, click the Donate button, and select "National Lutheran Choir". You may also click the "Donate" button at the bottom of this email. We thank you in advance for your gift and your partnership!
Give with Tithe.ly
The Indiana-Kentucky Synod signed up with Tithe.ly to make giving easier than ever. Download the app and set Indiana-Kentucky Synod as a regular mission to support. You can also simply text the word GIVE to 765-347-9974, then follow the link. You may also visit our website (
www.iksynod.org), click the
Donate Button, and follow the prompts.
Treasurers: Save a stamp and send Mission Support with Tithe.ly! ACH and debit/credit cards accepted.
Please include your congregation name in the "Note/Memo" line.
Thank you for all you do to support the ministries and mission of the Indiana-Kentucky Synod!
Please consider using Tithe.ly in your congregation! To learn more about Tithe.ly and its relationship with the ELCA, please visit this link:
https://elca.org/News-andEvents/7914
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 - all times listed are local
January 12: Installation of Pastor Liesebet Gravley | St. Luke, Cold Spring, KY | 2:00 p.m.
January 13: Hope, Frankfort, KY | Preach and Preside | 10:30 a.m.
January 17: Extended Staff Meeting | Synod Office
January 18-19: Synod Council | Pleasant View Lutheran Church, Indianapolis, IN
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
Prayer Concerns
During the weekly I-K Lutheran Center staff devotions, we included these individuals and mission centers in our prayers:
Grace, Columbia City, IN
and Rev. Matthew Converse
Grace, Elkhart, IN
and Rev. Daniel Forehand
Grace, Syracuse, IN
and Rev. Wendolyn Piano
Griffith, Griffith, IN
and Rev. Freda Scales, Interim
Hilltop Church of the Ascension, South Bend, IN
and Rev. J. Timothy Diemer, Pastor of Record
Rostered Ministers Not Under Congregational Call:
Rev. Edward Boone, Retired
Rev. Susan Briehl, Retired
Rev. William Bucher, Retired
Rev. Michael Vinson, Campus Minister, Purdue Lutheran Ministry
Rev. Walter Wangerin, Valparaiso University
New Jersey Synod and Bishop Tracie Bartholomew
We offer prayers for comfort and healing for Rev. Joyce Gerwing-Grimm, who will be having surgery on Friday, February 11.
Epiphany worship at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Indianapolis began with a rite shaped by the ancient eastern European tradition of inscribing a blessing with white chalk above the main entrance of the building, which also included a blessing of the nave, font, ambo, table, and assembly. Young magi were on hand to distribute Home Blessing kits and to bring forward the offerings of bread, wine, and monetary gifts. The beautiful sounds of the choir's offering of Felix Mendelssohn's
There Shall a Star Come Out of Jacob combined with the visual beauty of a stained-glass Epiphany panel to make the celebration of Christ's manifestation especially memorable. Click
HERE for a look at the service order and Home Blessing kits.
St. John Lutheran Church, Richmond, IN has the following items which will be available after April 28th. Wicks 38 rank Pipe Organ, Lutheran Book of Worship (Green), With One Voice Hymnal (blue), White Acolyte Robes, Children's Choir robes and additional robes. If interested, please contact Jim Resh of St. John Lutheran at 765-935-2481 in Richmond, IN.
Ordination of Christie Beckmann
Christie Beckmann's ordination will take place at Resurrection Lutheran Church, Indianapolis, on Saturday, January 12 at 1:00pm. Bishop Suzanne Dillahunt of the Southern Ohio Synod will be presiding. Christie has been called to serve Hope Lutheran Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. Rostered ministers are invited to vest and process - the color of the day is red.
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Speaker Series
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Speaker series
is sponsoring interfaith discussions on the
following dates at 6 PM:
● Monday, January 28, 2019, Philip Schlossberg, Director Of Hillel Jewish Student Center
at Purdue
● Tuesday, January 29,2019, Hisham Elkhatib, Founder Of Islamic Education Center of
Lafayette
● Wednesday, January 30, 2019, Dr. Stuart Robertson, Director of the Biblical Hebrew
Program at Purdue which he started in 1999. He is also former pastor at Faith
Presbyterian Church and retired after 21 years in 2007.
This series provides HTLC a unique opportunity to connect with a broad audience. In the same vein, it sends a message to our community and the congregation that we embrace, support and value conversations that build bridges of understanding with all faiths.
Holy Trinity is located at 1005 N. 21st Street, Lafayette IN 47904
Internship Opportunity
Stephanie Khuri is a member of Salem Lutheran/Shalom International Ministries and serves on the church council there. Shalom is a ministry made up of people from several African countries, including Stephanie's home country of Kenya. Stephanie is currently attending Indiana State University majoring in Psychology with a minor in Criminology and Criminal Justice who will be graduating in May, 2019. She is looking for an HR internship in Spring 2019 from January until May in the Indianapolis area. This can be a paid or unpaid internship and will require 8 hours per week. If anyone knows of an internship opportunity, please contact Stephanie at:
[email protected].
Please Join Us
The Wittenberg University Choir will be performing at Bethlehem Lutheran in Indianapolis during their spring break tour on February 28th, 2019 at 7:30pm. The choir works all school year to perfect their repertoire and then spends their spring break with a different congregation every night to share their incredible ministry. It will be an evening of excellent choral music and we look forward to sharing with you. Cost is free. There will be a free will offering during intermission. All proceeds will go to the Wittenberg Choir.
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CHURCH-WIDE NEWS
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Bishop Eaton's January Column for
Living Lutheran
Happy New Year.
In this reprint of her January, 2017, column in Living Lutheran, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reflects on the new year: "Here is where the gift of grace ... helps us make sense of our lives and resolves the stress of New Year's resolutions - it acknowledges that we are broken and does away with the false hope or the intolerable burden of our being able to make ourselves right." Read her column here.
The Addiction Crisis: A Catholic and Lutheran Response
February 19, 2019
9 AM - 3:45 PM
GOOD SHEPHERD CATHOLIC CHURCH
8815 E KEMPER RD, CINCINNATI, OH
GUEST SPEAKERS:
SIS WENGER, NACoA & FR. MARK HUSHEN, ASHLEY ADDICTION TREATMENT
Registration fee is $20 per person and includes materials and lunch (provided by Fresh Box).
Priority attendance will be given to 2 representatives (preferably a rostered minster and a lay person) from each congregation within the Synod who register by the priority deadline. If space remains, all Lutheran parishoners will be welcome until maximum attendance is reached. 6.0 CEU's available upon request.
Priority registration deadline: January 19.
Please click
here for information and to register.
Save the Date!
Plan now to attend an upcoming workshop for pastors and church leaders that Thrivent is presenting on Thursday, February 28, 2019 from 9:00 AM - 12:00 noon at Lutheran Child & Family Services, 1525 N. Ritter Ave., Indianapolis.
"Engaging Generations through Generosity" is a 3-hour interactive workshop for church leaders that brings participants together to explore different expressions of generosity and develop ideas to engage with all generations in their church and community. The cost to attend the workshop is $50, which includes attendance for you and another leader from your church.
Your invitation and event registration information will soon be on their way! Stay tuned!
The Center for Interfaith Cooperation
The Center for Interfaith Cooperation is looking for a person to serve for one year through Americorps at a community non-profit in Indianapolis to enrich the community efforts of faith groups. The dates of the program are January 14, 2018 - July 19, 2019. The person will receive a $550 bi-weekly stipend, a $2,960 education award, and professional development. For more information, contact Ben Leslie at (708) 805-1688 or
"For the Sacrament of Holy Communion has no blessing and significance unless love
grows daily and so changes a person that they are made one with all others."
Martin Luther, 1519
Announcing the 71st Institute of Liturgical Studies to be held on the campus of Valparaiso University April 29-May 1, 2019. We will gather under the theme, "Table of Thanksgiving: How Eucharist Forms Us." Plenary presenters will be Charles Aurand, Paul Bradshaw, M. Shawn Copeland and Cynthia Moe-Lobeda plus many workshops and worship. For more information about the institute and to register, visit valpo.edu/ils
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