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SYNOD NEWS
Bishop Gafkjen's December I-K Lutheran Newsletter
"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom God favors!"
(Angels to shepherds at the birth of Jesus as told in Luke 2:14)
In early November, my wife Janet, Assistant to the Bishop Pastor Heather Apel, and I heard the angels' proclamation of peace for all people when we met in Guatemala with Bishop Izani Bruch and Marcelo Molla of the Iglesia Evangelica Luterana en Chile (aka IELCH, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chile). We were gathered there for a triennial consultation with nearly 100 other ELCA synod leaders and the leaders of their companion churches from Latin America and the Caribbean. Please click here to read Bishop Gafkjen's full article.
Synod Assembly 2020
June 4-6, 2020
Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center
Noblesville, Indiana
On the Road Again
Here are some examples of the way your synod staff has been out and about in our mission territory, and beyond, during the month of November: First, Attica, IN; Christ, Terre Haute, IN; Antigua Guatemala; St. John, Otwell, IN; Faith, Owensboro, KY; St. John, Louisville, KY; St. Thomas, Bloomington, IN; Cross of Christ, Crown Point, IN; St. Paul, Middlebury, IN; Holy Trinity, Harlan, IN; St. John, Dubois, IN; Griffith, Griffith, IN; Good Shepherd, Louisville, KY; St. Stephen's, Plainfield, IN; St. John's, Hicksville, OH; Bethlehem, Chesterton, IN; Grace and Hope Fellowship, Pendleton Prison, Indianapolis, IN; St. Paul's, Toledo, OH; Gloria Dei, Crestville Hills, KY; Gloria Dei, Mulberry, IN; Roots of Life, Noblesville, IN; St. John, Sunman, IN; Faith, Logansport, IN; New Hope, Monticello, IN; ELCA Youth Leadership Summit; University of Louisville Campus Ministry; Bishop's & Synod Youth Gathering, Noblesville, IN; St. Luke, Cold Spring, KY; Guest Lecturer at Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago, IL; Connect Links 3 & 4, Servants of Christ, Indianapolis, IN; Candidacy Committee Meeting, I-K Lutheran Center, Indianapolis, IN
The synod has embraced visual storytelling. Please find and follow us @IKSynodELCA. Please be sure and tag us in your photos!
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!
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
December 8: St. Stephen's | Plainfield, IN | Preach and Preside | 10:00 a.m.
December 15: Cross of Christ | Crown Point, IN | Preach and Preside | 11:00 a.m.
December 23 - January 6: Vacation
Bishop Gafkjen looks forward to being with you and your faith community. Please contact his administrative assistant, April Lynch,
alynch@iksynod.org 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 Thomas Dearchs, Director of Communications, Administration, and Worship Life tdearchs@iksynod.org by Tuesday at noon (Eastern time) to be included in the Thursday Weekly News. Please see the Publications 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:
St. John, Elwood, IN
and Rev. Kal Rissman, Pastor of Record
St. John, Fort Wayne, IN
and Rev. Paul Offhaus
St. John, Lawrenceburg, IN
and Rev. Dennis Zimmerman, Interim
St. John, Loogootee, IN
and Rev. Timothy Fleace
St. John, Louisville, KY
and Rev. Andrew Rutrough
Rostered Ministers Not Under Congregational Call:
Rev. Thomas Vanselow, Retired
Rev. Joel Vogel, Retired
Rev. Donald Weber, Retired
Deacon Julie Stegelmann, Pathways Retreat Center, Inc., Goshen, IN
Rev. Pamela Thiede, Supply Plus Pastor, Calumet Episcopal Ministry Partnership, Crown Point, IN
Southwestern Texas Synod and Bishop Sue Briner
Prayers for Peace and Comfort
We offer our Christian sympathy and the promise of the resurrection to the family of Rev. Jill Kepler Campbell of St. Mark, Batesville, IN. Her mother, Gwendolyn Waddell Kepler went to the Church Triumphant on December 1, 2019. Please keep the Kepler family in prayer. You may read her obituary here.
We offer our Christian sympathy and the promise of the resurrection to the family of Rev. David M. Adams of Gloria Dei, Highland, IN. His mother went to the Church Triumphant on November 26, 2019. Please keep David and family in your prayer.
In David's words:
What do you say through the tears when you lose someone who always gave you love? What do you say when you know the person gave everything she could just to make you happy?
You say thank you Mom - and thank you God for giving me such a beautiful angel who I know is now living in peace and happiness she always deserved. I remember your smile on this day - and I remember how you recently told me you were doing well - probably again so I wouldn't worry.
Love you always, say hi to Dad - Dave
Installation Photos
The photos below are from the November 24, 2019, Service of Recognition and Welcome for the Synodically Authorized Minister, Clifford Nunn and the Installation of the Lead Pastor, Rev. Charles Miller, serving in shared ministry at St. Paul's Lutheran, Richmond, IN and Zion's Lutheran, Pershing, IN.
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CHURCH-WIDE NEWS
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Bishop Eaton's December Column for
Living Lutheran
Midnight stillness.
In her December column for
Living Lutheran, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reflects on the mystery of the season: the expectation and longing of Advent and the true gifts of Christmas - "the helpless baby in a wooden manger, a broken man on a cross." Read her column
here.
Ignite the Church Conference
4th Annual Ignite the Church Conference, Orlando, Florida, February 11-13.
Are you looking for a continuing ed event to inspire, encourage & challenge your ministry? Would Florida in February be a blessing?
Consider attending the Ignite the Church Conference in Orlando, Florida, February 11-13. In addition to 4 large group gatherings with talks and panel discussions on topics related to Congregational Vitality, there will be 12 intensive electives on a wide range of important topics like Reaching Younger Generations, Expanding Kingdom Impact, Church Renewal and Discipleship, Renewing Music, Vitality through Mission, Engaging Your Neighborhood, Evangelism, Social Justice, and Raising Up and Equipping Leaders. There will also be a field trip to Orlando's Castle Church Brewing Community, one of the ELCA's newest and most unique mission starts. The $99 Super Early Bird registration rate includes 2 meals and snacks when you register by November 30th. Rates increase to $109 in December and $129 in January. 75 Leaders from 20 states attended last year's gathering. All conference proceeds are donated to the ELCA Fund for Leaders. Last year's gift totaled $2500. For more information go to
www.IgniteTheChurch.net
We hope to see you there!
Lutheran Child and Family Services
Lutheran Child and Family Services will be operating this year's Christmas Store from December 9-12 at Gethsemane Lutheran Church, located at 6810 East 10th Street, Indianapolis. We are looking for donations and volunteers. We are also looking for individuals and churches to purchase gifts for Lutherwood residents to open on Christmas morning. Please click
here for a Christmas Store Flyer to share with your congregation and click
here for a wish list.
Subscribe to ELCA Newsletters
Access the latest resources, stories and events from around this church through ELCA e-newsletters and subscribe to several all in one place. Keep up-to-date with the ministries that mean the most to you or share with a friend and encourage them to subscribe. Sign up for news about the global church, Lutheran Disaster Response, stewardship and ELCA World Hunger at
ELCA.org/subscribe.
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