East Central Synod of Wisconsin
Weekly Newsletter
3/13/2020
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Bishop Mansholt Pastoral Letter Regarding COVID-19
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Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus whose journey to the cross is our life and salvation. Every day we are receiving new information about COVID-19, the short-hand name for the disease coming from coronavirus 2019. There are many types of coronaviruses, one of which is related to the common cold. The one causing COVID-19, however, is a new or novel one previously not seen in humans. While scientists and health professionals are still learning about COVID-19, the disease appears to be more serious and life-threatening than the flu, especially to older adults and the more vulnerable among us.
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Synod Launches COVID-19 Site.
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The Synod has launched a COVID-19 Resources page for congregational leaders and members. This page will be continually updated with information regarding live stream worship, virtual Bible study, and health information for our congregations and members from the ELCA. As some of our congregations move to online ministry we will share these resources with congregations who may not have the capacity for online ministry. We are Church Together! While we may be physically isolated let us strive to remain socially and spiritually connected.
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The Chrism Mass scheduled for Tuesday March 17th for Rostered Leaders has been cancelled due to the spread of COVID-19.
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Bishop Eaton Response to COVID-19
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Companion Synod Visit Postponed
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The East Central Synod of Wisconsin was planning on hosting visitors from our Companion Synod the Western Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Southern Africa this June. Bishop Mansholt worked in consultation with Bishop Job Ubane (Bishop of the Western Diocese of the ELCSA) and given the global coronavirus pandemic and travel concerns both Bishops agreed that it was necessary to postpone the trip. Bishop Mansholt released a letter regarding this decision.
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Register Today for Synod Assembly!
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The 2020 East Central Synod of Wisconsin Synod Assembly will be held May 15-16th at Best Western Hotel and Convention Center in downtown Oshkosh! A beer and hymnsing event will be held May 14th at the Best Western and is open to all regardless of assembly registration. This year's Synod Assembly will feature guest presenter the Rev. Dr. Anna Madsen as well as a celebration of 50th anniversary of the ordination of women, the 40th anniversary of the ordination of women of color and the 10th anniversary of LGBTQIA clergy in partnered relationships.
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Informational Stewardship for All Seasons
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“I’ve grown to see how generous our congregation can be and how hungry they are to see the church grow with our goals. I don’t know how normal this is, but many members of the congregation have approached me to say how much they liked our Generosity campaign! Who knew stewardship could be so fun?!
J
-Wayne Ludkey, Lord of the Lakes Lutheran Church, Winneconne
Stewardship for All Seasons (SAS) helps pastors and congregation leaders to learn tried and true basic principles and effective methodologies to carry out productive stewardship programs. Learn how to do year-round, on-going stewardship resulting in more money for ministry, more energized stewards, and a culture of generosity.
Want more information? Check out the SAS testimonial from Pastor Jeff Tengesdal of First English Lutheran Church in Appleton (
insert link).
There will be an informational webinar on Monday, March 2 at 6:30 p.m. Please contact Pastor Amy Engebose at
amy.engebose@ecsw.org
to receive a link to that webinar.
Registrations for both first and second year congregation teams are now being accepted!
see attached
Registration will close on March 30.
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2020 Statement of Intent and Remittance Forms Available
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Statement of Intent Forms are now available! Please Return to the forms to the Synod office. To access the forms and learn more about Mission Support in the East Central Synod and the ELCA use the following link.
https://ecsw.org/financial/
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Augsburg Youth Theology Institute July 12-17
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The theme of AYTI 2020 deals with the way that youth are looked down upon in society and highlights their God-given gifts. The church and the world are ready for them
right now
, and AYTI will help them dig deeper into how God is calling them in unique ways to God’s redemptive work in our world. If you know youth who would benefit from this immersive learning experience, please plan on sending them to this year’s Augsburg Youth Theology Institute. We will look at many ways the world views teenagers and we will construct a theological way of understanding what it means to be a youth. We will explore sites around the Twin Cities that will help you develop a deeper appreciation for how unique youth are and how God is calling them to be co-creators.
The instructor for AYTI 2020 is Jeremy Myers! Jeremy has been a member of the Religion department at Augsburg University since 2006 and Executive Director of the Christensen Center for Vocation since 2019. He is a rostered Deacon in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and has served in the field of ministry with youth and young adults professionally since 1997. His first book, Liberating Youth from Adolescence was released in 2018 by Fortress Press.
The cost for the week is $350/participant which includes: housing, food, and all programming.
Students and families are responsible for the cost of travel to and from AYTI. As they are able, congregations are encouraged to pay part or all of this fee to support the youth. Please contact us with any concerns about the registration fee.
For more general information, feel free to visit our
website
for general information, like us on Facebook (
@augsburgYTI
) and follow us on
Twitter
(@AugsburgAYTI) to stay updated as well.
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WELCA Announces Synod Conference Events
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Please consider joining the Women of the ELCA at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 2330 E. Calumet St. Appleton for our Appleton Conference Spring Event on Saturday March 21, 2020 from 8-1 pm.
We are excited to welcome our keynote speakers, Frankie Moscato and Cindy Czarnik-Neimeyer M.S. CPS, Catalpa Health Therapist and Prevention Specialist. Frankie is a 17 year old singer/songwriter from the Omro area who was a recent contestant on American Idol. Frankie has faced bullying, social isolation and suicidal thoughts and has used music for her own healing as well as sharing her story and musical talent to help others through public suicide awareness events. Cindy Czarnik-Neimeyer, M.S. CPS, Catalpa Health Therapist and Prevention Specialist is a member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. Cindy will address how we can use faith and build resilience in the face of bullying and social isolation in her presentation “Beauty in the Broken Places: Faith and Resilience” Both of these programs are appropriate for young teenagers and above. We hope you will consider attending this program and bringing your daughters and/or granddaughters. All women are invited to attend. You do not need to be an active member of Women of the ELCA.
Activities will begin with registration and time to get to know each other over coffee and treats provided by Lord of the Lakes Lutheran Church. Following the speakers, we will hold a short worship service. Our offering from this event will go specifically to programs supporting women and girls. We will conclude the morning with a light luncheon at noon.
In kind gifts will be collected the day of the event for the Appleton East Compassion pantry. Items donated are distributed to high school students and their families in need. Needed items include: $25 Kwik Trip gas cards, toilet paper, paper towels, spaghetti noodles and sauce, Hamburger/Tuna Helper, applesauce/fruit cups, ramen noodle packets, cereal, nuts, dried fruit, soup, granola bars, men’s deodorant and single serve snacks. Cash donations are also accepted (checks can be made out to WELCA-Prince of Peace with Appleton East noted on the memo line).
If you have any questions about this event, please contact Leslie Fens at 920-915-8983 or email
fens4usa@att.net
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WELCA Partnership with AMMPARO
(Sponsored by ECSW WELCA)
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This year we'd like to share projects and programs that the women of the ELCA are currently focused on to inform women in our congregations and encourage them to participate in any way they may want to. Thank you for sharing as fits your congregation.
Women of the ELCA are supporting AMMPARO = Accompanying Migrant Minors with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities .
In this holistic, whole church response that connects international and U.S. outcomes, the ELCA has developed a strategy based on the following commitments:
1. Uphold and guarantee basic human rights and safety of migrant children and their families.
2. Address the root causes of migrant children and their families.
3. Work toward just and humane policies affecting migrants in and outside the U.S.
4. Engage as a church body with all of its companions, affiliates and partners to respond to the migration situation and its causes and to advocate for migrant children and their families.
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The ministries of all of our 122 Congregations. Especially those congregations currently in Transition.
All Pastor's currently seeking call throughout the ELCA.
Rev. Justin Smoot as he is installed as Associate Minister at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Wausau
The Family and Friends of Retired Pastor Kathleen Kraft and all who mourn her loss.
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View Job opening from our ministry partners from across the East Central Synod. If your Congregation or organization has a job posting that it would like lifted up on the Synod job board please send a job description and application information to Ben Stepanek at ben.stepanek@ecsw.org
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Monday - Friday 8AM - 4:30PM
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The Arise Campaign is a capital campaign for the East Central Synod of Wisconsin. This campaign will fund many exciting new ministry initiatives. Learn more about the campaign and consider a monetary gift.
Learn More
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