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Happening Soon: Project Isaiah 43

“I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth; do you see it?”

God spoke these words to the people of Israel in exile in Babylon, but there is

no reason to believe God isn’t saying the same thing to the church today!

Do you wonder what the Lutheran Church of the 21st century will look like?

Are you concerned about the future of your congregation?

Bishop Barbins and the Northeastern Ohio Synod Staff is inviting every congregation to send four people to a Project Isaiah 43 event in your conference! Each Project Isaiah 43 event will include a brief presentation time, but will be heavily focused on conversations as we think together about the future of Lutheran Christianity.

• Your synod staff acknowledges that we do not yet see clearly the new thing God is doing in our midst. We are convinced, however, that greater clarity will only come through continuing conversations within the body of Christ – for it is in these conversations that the Holy Spirit will be working.

• The most important voices at these events will be congregation members! Please plan to attend even if your congregation does not have a pastor. Please include no more than one staff member in your group of four.

• We will utilize a model of conversation called The World Café – a model that values the contribution of every participant; seeks emerging patterns and deeper meaning; and gathers a harvest from the conversations that is shared with all participants.

• Information harvested from the Project Isaiah 43 conference events will be shared with the whole Northeastern Ohio Synod prior to our Synod Assembly – where the next round of World Café conversations will take place!

• Each event will be approximately two hours. Refreshments will be provided.

• Downloadable flyers, bulletin inserts, images, and more information can be found on the Project Isaiah 43 web page: neos-elca.org/project-isaiah-43

We would appreciate an RSVP (link below) to help ensure we have adequate supplies and refreshments for each event.

Come join us for some café conversation as we seek to discern what God is doing!

Synod Assembly Registration Opens Next Week - Monday, April 1!

Mark your calendar for Sunday, Sept. 8, when congregations of the ELCA will join together for our annual day of service, “God’s work. Our hands.”

Participating in service projects is one way to celebrate who we are as the ELCA — one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor.

This year we also celebrate 50 years of ELCA World Hunger. In commemoration of this milestone, consider including ministries focused on alleviating hunger and poverty in your plans for “God’s work. Our hands.” Or make it a season of service! Expand your volunteer opportunities, advocacy efforts or food drives until World Food Day on Oct. 16.

If your congregation cannot participate on Sept. 8, you are encouraged to pick another date that fits your schedule. ELCA congregations participate in acts of service every day. This day of service is an extension of the work you already do to make your community a better place.

Be sure to save the date and check ELCA.org/DayOfService for updated resources soon.

Go in peace. Serve the Lord. Join us on Sept. 8!

This month our ELCA Mission Support Memo for March 2024 explores how the Central States Synod is equipping leaders through their Ministry Lab ~ an active place to ask questions, learn new ideas, work with different “tools” or resources, and experiment to see what works. They welcome anyone from anywhere to engage in the lab. Also learn about how congregations can join in a Cultivating Generous Congregations Cohort starting in April. We also share our gratitude for congregations submitting Annual Congregational Reports. Read the memo here! 

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is committed to the common good – not for the good of Christians first – and to working with and learning from others. An overview of Christian nationalism from a Lutheran perspective is presented in a new resource with foundations for the assertion “We Are Christians Against Christian Nationalism.” Background and discussion starters can seed conversations as we face this distortion of our faith and divisive force in our country.

Empowering Lay Preachers: Crafting Sermons with Wisdom and Authenticity

A Lay Preacher's Guide: How to Craft a Faithful Sermon by Karoline M. Lewis is a beacon of wisdom and encouragement for churches navigating without a traditional spiritual leader. This guide offers practical mentorship, serving as an essential toolkit for lay preachers eager to refine their skills and connect more profoundly with their congregations.

Lewis transcends the ordinary, blending rich theological scholarship with accessible language. The book speaks to both avid biblical scholars and newcomers to the pulpit, transforming dense scriptural analysis into relatable wisdom with elegant prose.

With an approach that celebrates the lay preacher's unique path and voice, Lewis encourages a sermonic rhythm that is true to the teller and striking in its sincerity. This endeavor to cultivate genuineness not only promises to move the congregation but also to thread stronger bonds of kinship and belonging in worship.

The guide concludes with actionable advice for sermon construction, providing detailed roadmaps for text selection, narrative building, and storytelling. Lewis becomes the architect of preaching transformation, ensuring spiritually nourishing and captivating sermons.

For congregations seeking spiritual guidance in the absence of a shepherd, A Lay Preacher's Guide is more than a text; it's a companion, confidant, and coach. Lewis's work invites ministry elevation, imbuing every message with the resonant power of truth and passion. Essential for any lay person stepping forward to guide their church, this book will echo in the souls of their community.

National Faith + Climate Forum Tuesday, April 16. 2024

12:00pm - 5:15pm EST

Celebration Lutheran Church in Chardon will host a regional in-person gathering of webinar viewers/participants for the National Faith + Climate Forum, April 16, from noon to 5:15 p.m. This event is produced by ecoAmerica and Blessed Tomorrow.

Registration is free. Light lunch and refreshments will be served.

Registration is free. Light lunch and refreshments will be served.

Register and select Celebration as your preferred location (you can also participate from your own home or office, but this will be more fun!).

Contact Pastor Marilyn Matevia if you have any questions: pastor@celebration-lutheran.org

Please note that advance registration is required to attend. The Zoom link will be sent to those who have registered.

Prayer concerns will be removed after four weeks unless otherwise requested.

Consent is required for all submissions. Thank you.

These pages are updated every week with new trainings, events,

opportunities, and more! Be sure to check them out.