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East Central Synod of Wisconsin
Weekly Newsletter
1/17/2020
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Farewell Open House for Pastor Jean Devoll Donaldson!

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Stewardship for All Seasons
The Purpose of Stewardship for All Seasons (SAS) is to guide 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. Rely on more than the annual stewardship appeal. THINK STEWARDSHIP DEVELOPMENT.


"Here I Am" Discernment Retreat
Are you feeling the nudge of the Spirit to explore a vocation as a leader in the church? Are others telling you that you should think about ministry as a pastor or deacon? Consider attending the East Central Synod of Wisconsin Discernment retreat Feb. 28 - 29 at the St. Anthony Retreat Center in Marathon. Hear about others call to ministry and engage in conversation about your own discernment.
2020 Statement of Intent and Remittance Forms Available
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/


Lutheran School of Theology Chicago $300 Courses
You're ready to go deeper into scripture, go further in your ministry, go beyond your comfort zone into new ways to engage your community? Join the diverse community of learners at LSTC. You'll gain new insights, new energy, and maybe even a new direction for your ministry. As a non-degree student, you qualify for a special tuition rate of $300 per course. Course may be audited or taken for credit. This includes pastors and other professional church leaders. Learn More.


Equipping People in Congregations (EPIC) 3/14
SAVE THE DATE!


The Annual (EPIC) Event will be held March 14th at Zion Lutheran Church in Shawano. This event features a multitude of different workshops and presenters to help develop and empower lay leadership. This years presenter will be Wisconsin Council of Churches Executive Director Kerri Parker! More information will be coming soon. Save the date and be sure to attend! This event is open to all!



JYG FEb 15-16
The Junior High Youth Gathering will be held Feb. 15-16 at the Holiday Inn in Manitowoc. This event features an exciting guest speaker and musical talents! Registration information can be found by visiting https://ecsw.org/events/?et_fb=1&PageSpeed=off



The Forty Days
A Story from Young Adults in Global Mission
(Sponsored by ECSW Global Mission Team)
You might not believe it, since the image of the Middle East most people have in their heads involves sweltering heat and rolling sand, but it gets quite cold here. Not as cold, perhaps, as the -66 windchill the Midwestern United States is experiencing right now, but cold enough. With houses designed to draw heat out during the summer and no indoor heating, the temperature is often the same chilly 50 degrees inside that it is outside, if not cooler...
Innovation, Faithfully Learning to Soar
Rev. Jean Devoll Donaldson
Analogy: innovative imagination & kite flying
Homemade kite—can follow a pattern with basics of principles, but each kite is unique; potential to fail in the translation
·         Takes trial and error to get the principles right and successfully get a kite to soar
·         Cross beams—cross of Jesus reminder for the faithful
·         Material of the kite—our intentions//hoped for outcomes? Ourselves/lives? Both/and! READ MORE
World Hunger Team - Top Ten Things You Can Do In Your Congregation To Fight Hunger
The Top Ten Things You Can Do In Your Congregation To Fight Hunger

1. Learn!  Learn about world hunger. Learn about the Bible verses related to hunger. Learn about current hunger situations in the world. Learn by reading magazines and books on hunger.
 
  2.   See!  See the hungry in your community. See the hungry at your local food pantry. See the hungry of the world on TV, newspapers, and magazine. See yourself in the place of the hungry (empathize).
 
  3.   Pray!  Pray for the hungry people in the world. Pray for those involved with distributing food in relief efforts. Pray for church members to be generous in giving to hunger causes. Encourage your
pastor to pray often for the work of feeding the hungry.

4. Give!  Encourage your congregation to give generously to the ELCA World Hunger program. Have World Hunger in your church budget. Have special collections for hunger (such as the “Souper Bowl”) throughout the year. Have envelopes available in the pew or on a table so members can give when they choose.

Thank you for all that you are doing!
In Prayer We Lift Up.
The ministries of all of our 123 Congregations. Especially those congregations currently in Transition.

All Pastor's currently seeking call throughout the ELCA.

Donna VanRamhorst as she is Ordained a Minister of Word and Service.
Jobs Across the Synod
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
Synod Office Hours
The Synod Office Will be closed Monday 1/20/20 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day


Monday - Friday 8AM - 4:30PM
Learn About ARISE!
Arise Campaign
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