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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.
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
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]
Confirmation Retreat
We had a fantastic Confirmation Retreat this weekend at Waycross. Thanks to the awesome youth and adults from St. Thomas/Bloomington, IN; St. Thomas/Richmond, KY; Cross of Grace/New Palestine, IN; Gethsemane/Lexington, KY; Christ/Zionsville, IN; St. Paul (Borchers)/Seymour, IN: Faith/Lexington, KY; Resurrection/Fort Wayne, IN; Gloria Dei/Crestview Hills, KY; Faith/Avon, IN; First/Louisville, KY; Christ/Jasper, IN. You all rock!
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
September 26 - October 2:
Conference of Bishops meeting, ELCA Offices, Chicago, IL
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
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:
Bethel, Gary, IN
and Rev. Joy Heine
Bethlehem, Chesterton, IN
and Rev. Erik Grayvold
Bethlehem, Indianapolis, IN
and Rev. Wade Apel, Pastor of Record and Deacon Jody Winter
Calvary, Angola, IN
and Rev. Daryl Emowrey
Calvary, Bluffton, IN
and Rev. Thomas "TJ" Lynch
Rostered Ministers Not Under Congregational Call:
Rev. Walter Stitt, Retired
Rev. Theodore Stoneberg, Retired
Rev. Mark Strietelmeier, Retired
Rev. Brian Johnson, Director of Campus Ministries, Valparaiso University
Rev. Maxwell Johnson, Dept. of Theology - University of Notre Dame
Northwest Synod of Wisconsin and Bishop Laurie Skow-Anderson
A Note from Linda Henke | Bethlehem | Indianapolis
I used to get the e-news from the Episcopal diocese, and I loved reading about all the things happening in local parishes. It was obvious that they'd engendered support among parishes to document and submit their news, and I used to wish we could cultivate something like that in the I-K Synod. So ... I started submitting things, you were kind enough to include them in the e-news, and now we are beginning to see all manner of glorious news about what's happening around the synod and most especially in congregations. Yay!
Editor's Note: We have a number of congregations independently generating, developing, and executing ministries, when it would make so much more sense to "build" on one another's efforts. Example: the Knit Happens logo and greeting card, the whole family of promotional items for the Blessing of the Animals (and even the blessing rite), etc., could all be readily adapted for use in other congregations, even (and perhaps especially) those that don't have the resources to independently develop such things. The contact person for both news items listed above is: Linda Henke (
[email protected])
Unless instructed otherwise, I will begin publishing a name, and contact email or phone number with the stories and artwork submitted that could possibly be a "building block" for your local ministry and mission. "Don't plagiarize - localize!" Please share your congregation's stories, news, and photos! As you can see, there are glorious things happening in and around the I-K Synod!
"God's Work. Our Hands." | St. John, North Liberty, IN
The members of St. John Lutheran Church in North Liberty, IN celebrated "God's Work. Our Hands" on Sunday, Sept. 9th. After worship we gathered for lunch for salad and pizza. Afterwards, we had two projects-- the "younger crew" picked up trash and recyclables along the country roads leading into St. John's.
The "older crew" wrote notes of encouragement and "thinking of you" cards to shut-in members and to residents of Miller's Merry Manor nursing home.
Installation Picture
The Rev. Heidi Schwerdtfeger-Jones
Pilgrim Lutheran Church | Carmel, Indiana
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.
Dr. Walter Wangerin, Jr. will Speak at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
Dr. Walter Wangerin, Jr. will speak at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church,
1005 N. 21st Street, Lafayette IN 47904, on Saturday, September 29, 2018, at 2:00pm. (EST).
This 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. Please click here for a flyer to share with your congregation.
Saturday, September 29 | 4-8 PM
St. John Lutheran Church
901 Breckenridge Lane (across from Baptist East Hospital)
Louisville, Kentucky
Please click here for a flyer to share with your congregation. Please click here for a bulletin insert.
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 September Column for
Living Lutheran
Fear not:
For Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, Isaiah 43:1-7 is one of the most hopeful and lovely passages in all of Scripture. Find out why in her September column for Living Lutheran, where she says it is possible for us to fear and fear not. Read her column in English at https://bit.ly/2M7zjFJ and her column in Spanish at https://bit.ly/2wSb2hk.
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.
Gay Lutheran's World Record Performance Coming to Indiana!
LGBT/Christian Advocate, Professional Singer and World Record Adventurer, Mikah Meyer, has been performing across the USA as part of his journey becoming the youngest person to experience all 417 National Park Service sites. A lifelong Lutheran, Mikah uses the 1,000s of media pieces from his project to provide a positive image of a gay Christian, and visits churches along his route as a guest preacher, singer, and cabaret show performer sharing a Gospel message inspired by his journey. After being featured on The Today Show this past Easter, Mikah brings his show to Indiana on his drive back East from Alaska!
Valparaiso, Indiana
"National Parks Cabaret" performance by Mikah Meyer: Singer, Adventurer, & LGBT/Christian Advocate
Tuesday Oct. 2, 7:00pm - Trinity Lutheran Church - Freewill Offering Admission
201 Washington St, Valparaiso, IN 46383
Fort Wayne, Indiana
"National Parks Cabaret" performance by Mikah Meyer: Singer, Adventurer, & LGBT/Christian Advocate
Wednesday Oct. 3, 7:00pm - First Presbyterian Church - Freewill Offering Admission
300 W Wayne St, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802
As part of his attempt to become the youngest person to visit all 417 National Park Service sites, countertenor Mikah Meyer performs a humorous
and inspiring, Today Show-featured cabaret about his 2.5 years on the road and 357 parks visited thus far, and how the journey is shattering stereotypes about gay men and LGBT Christians. Fans of the outdoors, vocal music, faith, and LGBT topics will all find something encouraging to take from this free concert.
We are happy to announce that our new Spiritual Direction Certification Program here on the campus of Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary is going wonderfully! Our first group completed the program in June 2018. We anticipate an enrollment in January 2019 of around 40!
Spiritual direction is a centuries-old Christian tradition; however, it has largely stayed rooted in the Roman, Eastern, and Anglican community. Somehow, it fell off the Protestant "radar" for far too long.
Over the last few decades our candidacy committees have seen the value in spiritual direction and are increasingly suggesting that our seminary candidates participate in spiritual direction. This trend matches a growing desire within Protestantism to embrace this ancient tradition again.
In search of spiritual directors, we Protestants have turned largely to our wonderful brothers and sisters in the non-Protestant traditions. They have served us well.
We would like to begin to raise up new generations of Protestant (and Lutheran!) spiritual directors. With this sense of calling, we are offering our Spiritual Direction Certification Program.
You can find out more information on the information sheet
attached or on our website:
www.lr.edu/ltss/afl under the Spiritual Direction Certification tab. We have already commissioned our first cohort of participants and are preparing to commission our second cohort this June. Our next cycle of new participants begins with an intensive January 16 - 19, 2019.
Faith. Passion. Purpose. Call.
Join us for Explore Trinity on October 18th on the historic campus of Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Capital University. If you have a heart to change the world, learn how Trinity will shape you and invest in you to be a servant leader who can both proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and nurture renewed and renewing communities. Opportunities abound to tour campus, meet faculty, worship, sit in on a class, and learn about admissions and financial aid. Where is God calling you?
Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Capital University, a seminary of the ELCA, welcomes students, faculty, and staff from many denominations. As a Reconciling in Christ seminary, Trinity welcomes people of all sexual orientations and gender identities whom the Spirit calls to God's reconciling mission in the world.
Contact Trinity Admissions at 614-236-6101 or [email protected] with further questions.
Via de Cristo Weekend Retreat
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].
Hearts, Hands, and Voices:
A Hymn Festival and Workshop on Mental Health and the Church
SPONSORING GROUP: The Association of Lutheran Church Musicians and Christ the King Lutheran Church of South Bend, Indiana
DATE & LOCATION: Friday and Saturday, October 5-6, 2018 at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 17195 Cleveland Road, South Bend, IN 46635 (ND football is AWAY this weekend!)
COST: Registration (including meals) is $45 (only $20 for students!)
This ALCM-sponsored Hearts, Hands and Voices workshop will focus on our vocation as church musicians and the role church music can play in the lives of those who are journeying through mental illnesses towards recovery and wellness. This event will take participants through various topics, such as: self-care for the music minister, finding and utilizing healing hymns and liturgies, and planning music for healing services, such as a Blue Christmas Service. Attendees will also have the opportunity to attend Christ the King's 5th Annual Hymn Festival of healing and Hope on Friday evening, October 5th at 7:00 pm, where participants can see much of what they encounter in the weekend's break-out sessions put into practice. Other highlights include: a performance by the University of Notre Dame Children's Choir, a service of morning prayer, and the presentation of a new hymnal supplement - a resource inspired by Anton Boisen's 1950 collection entitled Hymns of Hope and Courage.
Please click
here for a flyer to share with your congregation.
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