View this email as a webpage

ELCA World Hunger Celebrates 50 Years!

From ELCA World Hunger:

Over the last 50 years, as we worked to transform the world through ELCA World Hunger, our church has been transformed. Together we have learned how hunger, poverty and other justice issues intersect. We have deepened our understanding of how baptism calls us to “strive for justice and peace in all the earth.” We have been strengthened in hope by the decline in hunger since we began this work. And we have nurtured relationships with local communities to ensure that the work we support will be sustainable, effective and authentic.

We have been part of this story — a story of faith in action, a story of hope, but most of all the story of a church set free for bold, abundant love and service, a church that responds, with creativity and courage, to God’s invitation to transform the world.

Join us and be part of the story of our next 50 years together — boldly and hopefully pursuing God’s promise of a just world where all are fed.

Looking for a way to get involved in your Northeastern Ohio Synod? Check out the Hunger Team Affinity Group! The Hunger Team Affinity Group will share ELCA World Hunger updates and address issues regarding grants and the root causes of hunger. In 2024 we celebrate the 50 year anniversary of ELCA World Hunger. 

We invite leaders within congregations and hunger programs within our Synod to attend the Affinity Group. We encourage participants to reflect on their triumphs and their trials in their hunger ministry programs. 

The 2024 Northeastern Ohio Synod Assembly will take place Saturday, June 1 at the John S. Knight Center in Akron, OH.

We will be electing several synod officers, members of the Northeastern Ohio Synod Council, members of two synod committees, and approving the synod’s 2025 Budget.

Registration opens April 1, 2024.

Voting members & non-voting visitors: $100

Retired Rostered Ministers: 50% off

*$5 fee for online payments

Additionally, our assembly will elect voting members to the 2025 Churchwide Assembly. This is

an important assembly in the life of the ELCA as the voting members will be electing a Presiding Bishop, and will be asked to take action on recommendations made by the Commission for the Renewed Lutheran Church (CRLC). The formation of the CRLC was approved by the 2022 Churchwide Assembly to examine all aspects of the ELCA including the three expressions of the church (congregations, synods, churchwide) and what that will look like for the years to come.

Questions may be referred to Susan Frantz, nomination committee liaison: susan.frantz@yahoo.com

Completed forms can be emailed to assembly@neos-elca.org.

Save the Date for Project Isaiah 43!

More information coming Soon!

Bishop Barbins is inviting four participants from every congregation to be a part of these important conversations.

Southwest Conference: Sunday, April 14

2:00pm at Grace, Wadsworth

Northeast Conference: Sunday, April 21

2:00pm at Lord of Life, Chagrin Falls

South Central Conference: Sat., May 4

10:00am at Zion, North Canton

Southeast Conference: Saturday, May 4 3:00pm at Bethel, Boardman

Northwest Conference: Sunday, May 5

2:00pm at Bethesda on the Bay, Bay Village

Registration is still open until April 15th! It's not too late to join us this summer in New Orleans!

Primary Leader Info Meeting Monday, April 15th 6:00pm on Zoom. Link to the meeting will be emailed to you. If you haven't registered yet, contact Jenny to be added to the list.

Airport Transfers are now available for those who will be flying to the Gathering. $25/person each way.

Celebrating the Pioneering Spirit of Young Clergy Women International During Women's History Month

As Women's History Month unfolds, it offers a reflective moment to honor the trailblazers who pave the pathways of faith and spirituality—one such group being the dynamic individuals of Young Clergy Women International (YCWI). This organization stands as a beacon of support and empowerment for the young women who answer the call to clerical life.

YCWI isn't just an organization; it's a thriving community of spiritual leaders under 40, creating a supportive network for those breaking new ground in religious spaces. These women, often the first to serve in their positions, navigate unique challenges with grace and unwavering faith. They embody the progressive, guiding light crucial in the evolving landscape of faith-based communities.

By fostering connections, sharing resources, and providing developmental opportunities, YCWI equips young clergywomen for the multifaceted role of spiritual leadership. At its core, YCWI aids in nurturing growth, affirming calls to ministry, and echoing a powerful message: women's voices are essential in the tapestry of faith.

During Women's History Month, let's honor the ordained clergywomen who serve with devotion, redefining what spiritual leadership looks like and inspiring future generations. Their journeys reverberate far beyond the walls of chapels and congregations, into the heart of community and service.

YCWI reminds us that progress isn't just about looking back at how far we've come; it's also about fostering the courage and conviction in those who lead us forward. Let us celebrate the ordained clergywomen—may their paths be bright, and their spirits unshaken.

Our Lutheran Advocacy Ministry - the Hunger Network in Ohio - will hold its monthly check-in call on zoom on Thursday March 14th at 7pm. All are welcome to join the conversation or just listen in and hear what other people of faith are working on.

This month, we will offer updates and conversation about redistricting reform, the capital budget, and environmental issues. We also want to hear from YOU on the issues most important to your community!

Register at www.hungernetohio.com/events

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.