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SYNOD NEWS
Bishop Gafkjen's October Newsletter
So, how's the 501st year of the Protestant Reformation going for you and your local faith community? This time last year many of us were quite busy with many events and activities in observance of the 500th year. This year? Not so much. And that's okay.
To read Bishop Gafkjen's
October I-K Lutheran newsletter article and share with your congregation, please click
here.
St. Francis of Assisi
Today we commemorate St. Francis of Assisi with a prayer that he wrote. Let us pray: Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
Here is a little more information from ELCA churchwide leadership (Franklin Ishida) regarding the HKBP, inviting prayers and generosity in supporting relief work:
The HKBP has one congregation in Palu (the center of the earthquake and tsunami on the island of Sulawesi), and news is that the church building was swept away by the tsunami, or at least heavily damaged. We have not heard yet if any church members were killed or injured: news coming out of Sulawesi is still sketchy in so many ways.
You may have seen that Lutheran Disaster Response has released $17,333 directly for HKBP disaster response needs (an odd number, but they produced a cost list of their initial response).
Meanwhile, LWF in Geneva is considering how it may work together with the Indonesian churches for a broader Lutheran-based response and rebuilding effort. This may very well be a long-term response. We'll make sure we keep you posted on things.
Please click
here to donate.
Please give today.
Synod Assembly 2019
Friday, May 31, through Sunday, June 2, 2019
Purdue Memorial Union | 101 North Grant Street | West Lafayette, IN
Lodging at Union Club Hotel and other local hotels
- Everything is in close proximity
- Free Parking
- Free breakfast included
- Food Court, Bowling Alley, Billiards Center on-site
- Beautiful worship and plenary session spaces
Extravaganza
One of the main stage speakers at Extravaganza 2019 is going to be Dr.
Dawn Rundman. She is a nationally recognized teacher, presenter, author, and resource provider specializing in children's faith development. She received her Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from the University of Oregon. Since 2002 she's developed faith formation resources at Sparkhouse and Augsburg Fortress, two publishing units of 1517 Media.
Dawn's newest book,
Little Steps, Big Faith, was released on October 2, 2018. In it she explores how the science of early childhood development can help each of us who are in ministry grow faith in our children. It's available now from Augsburg Fortress and Amazon.
Register now for Extravaganza 2019 at the Early Bird rate of $280 to hear Dawn, participate in the Intensive Care Courses, and be a part of the best continuing education experience in the ELCA! Prices go up after October 15, 2018. For more information, visit
www.Ext19.org.
Discovering Hope Workshop
When
Discovering Hope: Building Vitality in Your Congregation was first offered in the I-K Synod in 2012, one of the congregations participating in the conference for small churches was barely surviving. Their team returned to the congregation excited and filled with hope for the future. They are grateful for the seeds that were planted at that eventful workshop: today they are a thriving, vibrant part of their community, with ripples of outreach extending beyond their home-town boundaries. Come and see how your congregation can build vitality and hope by attending the October 27th conference. Click
here to register. A flyer to share with your congregation can be found
here.
Boundaries Workshops
All rostered ministers will soon receive a letter from Bishop Bill Gafkjen about upcoming Boundaries Workshops that will take place around the Indiana-Kentucky Synod. It is the expectation of the ELCA that all pastors and deacons (active, retired and on leave) attend a Boundaries Workshop every three years. The first workshop will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. EST - 4:00 p.m. at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 225 Haney Ave., South Bend, IN. Cost is $25 per person and includes lunch and all materials. Registration for this event is now open:
https://southbendikboundaries.eventbrite.com Additional workshops will be held on Thursday, March 21, 2019 in the Louisville area and Tuesday, May 7, 2019 in the Central Indiana area (locations to be determined - registration for these events will open at a later date). These events are also open to other ministry staff and volunteers in the synod, or ministers from other denominations. Contact Rev. Heather Apel with any questions,
[email protected]
New Way to Give with Tithe.ly
The Indiana-Kentucky Synod recently 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
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. You may also register
here. 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.
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: Pilgrim Lutheran, Carmel, Indiana
I-K Synod Youth Leadership Summit (grades 8 - 12)
Dates: Friday, May 31, through Sunday, June 2, 2019
Location: Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
I-K Synod Youth Mission Trip (grades 8-12 and Adult Mentors)
Dates: Sunday, June 23, through Saturday, June 29, 2019
Location: Louisville, Kentucky
For more information, 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 - all times listed are local
October 6: Final Worship Service in preparation for merging with Grace Lutheran | 11:00 a.m. | Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Elkhart, IN
October 6: David Adams Ordination | 4:00 p.m. | Gloria Dei, Highland, IN (preach and preside)
October 7: St. Paul, Milan, IN. | 10:00 a.m. | (preach and preside)
October 7: Ordination of Ryan Bailey/Installation of Ryan Bailey and Mitch Phillips, | 3:00 p.m. | Resurrection Lutheran Church, Indianapolis, IN
October 9: Finance Committee | 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. | Synod Office
October 11-12: St. Olaf Board Meeting
October 14-16: Professional Leaders Conference, Clifty Falls State Park
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:
Calvary, Cromwell, IN
and Rev. Forrest VanGundy, Interim
Christ Chapel, Elizabethtown, KY
and Rev. Robert Hetzel, Pastor of Record
Christ, Crawfordsville, IN
and Rev. Kelly Nelson
Christ, Evansville, IN
and Rev. Jim Culver, Pastor of Record
Christ, Hammond, IN
and Rev. Freda Scales, Pastor of Record
Rostered Ministers Not Under Congregational Call:
Rev. Daniel Strobel, Retired
Rev. Jim Stuck, Bishop Emeritus, Retired
Rev. John F. Stuck, Retired
Deacon Gerald Klim, Bluegrass Hospice-Assoc. Medical Dir.
Rev. Mark Kloess, On Leave from Call
East-Central Synod of Wisconsin and Bishop Gerald Mansholt
Halloween Spooktacular Concert
The community is invited to a holiday-themed musical event at Christ Lutheran Church - the Halloween Organ Spooktacular. Two artists will perform on the organ: Vincent Carr, Associate Professor of Music (Organ) at Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University Bloomington, and Timothy Denton, Organist/Choirmaster at St. Alban's Episcopal Church, Indianapolis. The concert will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, October 29. The church is located at 3401 South Dixon Road, Kokomo. A reception will follow the concert. Costumes optional!
"God's work. Our hands."
Faith Lutheran Church celebrated "God's work. Our hands." Sunday on September 30. It was changed to that date to allow me to participate after worship.
After worship we gathered in Fedde Hall (our Fellowship Hall) and baked cookies and bagged them. Some of our members wrote personal thank you notes for each basket. Then we filled 29 baskets with crackers, nuts, gum and cookie bags for local police and fire stations. We shared a meal (taco bar!), packed the baskets in cellophane bags and delivered them to all of the shifts at our first responder stations. 15 persons spent in excess of 55 hours on this project. The whole congregation was a Thrivent Action Team! We give thanks to God for those persons who work all days including Sundays and holidays and all hours of the day to keep us safe and respond to any trouble.
Peace,
Jane Rothman
Pastor, Faith Lutheran Church
Owensboro, KY
eFormation Bootcamp
Designed for pastors, ministry leaders and/or lay people responsible for congregation communications, The Lutheran Foundation and Trinity English Lutheran Church are excited to bring the eFormation Bootcamp to Fort Wayne, Indiana. Out of Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary, the team at eFormation, believes culturally savvy, digitally literate leadership skills are essential in every congregation. Join us to explore the intersection between formation, communications, and 21st century technology in a hands-on 2-day experience.
When:
October 26: 7:00pm-8:30pm
October 27: 8:30am-3:00pm
Location:
Trinity English Lutheran Church
450 West Washington Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN 46802
Not from Fort Wayne? No problem! There are plenty of hotel accommodations near Trinity English Lutheran Church.
For more information and to register, please follow this link:
St Andrew's Lutheran Church to host Blessing of Pets
Speedway IN - St Andrew Lutheran Church will present a Blessing of Pets, taking place under the church portico at 6118 Crawfordsville Road on Saturday, October 6 at 12 noon. Following the example of St Francis of Assisi, those gathered will give thanks for the joy and companionship of pets and pets will receive a blessing. Prayers will be brief.
Pets should be leashed or crated. Pets who would not enjoy this outing may be represented by a photo. And those pets who have already crossed the rainbow bridge may be remembered with a photo, as well.
There will be treats for pets and their people so all are welcome to stay for the fellowship.
Participants are encouraged to bring a can or bag of pet food that will be donated to a local animal shelter.
This gathering is free and open to the public. No reservation is required. For more information, please contact St Andrew's Lutheran Church office at 317-243-6684.
Join Us for Evensong with St. Francis
Please join the choirs of Christ Lutheran Church and St. Francis in the Fields Episcopal Church on October 21 at 4pm at Christ Lutheran Church for a service of Choral Evensong celebrating the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi.
Choral Evensong is a 45-min long peace-inducing church service in which the 'song' of voices (the choir) sounding together in harmony is heard at the 'even' point between the active day and restful night, allowing listeners time for restful contemplation, while listening to the psalms, canticles and anthems sung by the choir.
During this service the choir will be singing works by Mendelssohn, Morley and Richter. A 15-minute organ prelude will begin at 3:45. Following the service, a reception of wine and cheese will take place in the Fellowship Hall.
Christ Lutheran Church | 600 N. Ford Road | Zionsville, IN 46077
Hymn Festival
This event is free and open to the public. Any donations benefit the Samaritan Counseling Center's Client Assistance Fund, helping members of our community gain access to the quality mental health care they need.
Portico Benefit Services - 2019 Annual Enrollment Dates
Employer and plan members make their benefit elections annually. For 2019 benefits, the dates are as follows: for Employers: October 1 - October 26 and for Plan members: October 31 - November 14.
Upcoming Live Webinars:
Turning 65 in 2019 - September 25th from 2-3pm
Pre-retirement webinar 1: "Can I Afford to Retire?" - October 4th from 2-3pm
Pre-retirement webinar 2: "Can I Create a Sustainable Income in Retirement?" - October 11th from 2-3pm
Ready to Retire - November 6th from 1:2:30pm
Register online:
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CHURCH-WIDE NEWS
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Bishop Eaton's October Column for
Living Lutheran
So now what?
Last year it was all Reformation all the time. On this 501st anniversary of the Reformation, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton uses her October Living Lutheran column to call on us to "refocus our attention on the gospel of our freedom, forgiveness and reconciliation given to us through God's indescribable act of love in Christ's death and resurrection." Read her column in English at https://bit.ly/2NlNPtV and in Spanish at https://bit.ly/2xVgZeQ.
Interested in Traveling to Martin Luther's Germany??
Pastor Dave Schreiber, recently retired from Resurrection Lutheran Church in Indianapolis, will be leading a Collette Travel tour June 5-15, 2019 "On the Trail of Martin Luther." Come to a presentation on Wednesday, October 24th at 6:30 p.m. (North: Scotty's Brewhouse at 3905 E 96th Street in Indy) or Monday, October 29th at 6:30 p.m. (South: Mashcraft Brewery at 1140 N State Rd 135 in Greenwood). For more information contact: Pastor Dave Schreiber (317-919-4056) or
[email protected]
Please click
here for a flyer to share with your congregation.
Part-Time Campus Minister Position Opening
Attached is a job description for the Campus Minister at the United Campus Ministries in Terre Haute, IN. Please click here for a complete job description. Please Note: ELCA rostered leaders who are interested in applying should contact the Synod office in addition to the Campus Ministry Board.
Valparaiso University presents an Organ Recital by Dr. Sunghee Kim on Friday, October 5th at 7:30 pm., in the Chapel of the Resurrection. The program includes works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Robert Schumann, and Maurice Duruflé. Admission is free and open to the public.
Dr. Kim is Visiting Assistant Professor of Music and the Interim Director of Chapel Music. She also serves as University Organist and conductor of the University Kantorei.
Via de Cristo weekend applications are now being accepted and they are offering a "two for one" deal. A Via de Cristo weekend retreat is a three-day course to review Christian fundamentals, discuss ways to actively live them and learn some practical tools to keep them vital. The weekends are co-ed and will be held Sept. 27-30 at Epworth Forest, North Webster, IN or Nov. 1-4 at Camp Lakeview, Seymour, IN. Go to http://www.inkyvdc.org/ for more information. When you register, write "BOGO" in the notes to pay $100 for the first attendee and $0 for the second.
Additional Information on the Breaking Barriers Conference
There will be an ELCA networking gathering at St. Luke's United Methodist Church on Thursday, October 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., prior to the preconference activities. If you are interested in attending, please contact Megan Neubauer, Program Associate, ELCA Strategy on HIV and AIDS, at 773.380.2423 or [email protected].
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