A Network Of Growing, Christ-centered, Outwardly-focused, Faith-Growing Communities For the Sake of the World. |
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Weekly News And Announcements | February 18, 2021 |
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Due to the winter storm in the Houston area - the synod office staff are all experiencing power, water and internet outages. Cell service in our area is unreliable at this time.
If you have reached out to us, please note that we will respond as soon as we are able to. We invite your prayers and your patience during this time.
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2020 was a year of Unimaginable things, and the COVID-19 pandemic kept us from experiencing them together. We missed being together in community to share joys, sorrows, losses, and triumphs. Our community feels incredibly distant from each other. We are looking to Synod Assembly as a way to rekindle those connections.
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As a way to reconnect and celebrate each other, we’re gathering photos and videos of our leaders, congregations, and communities to share at assembly this May. Please consider contributing to this project in whatever format you’re most comfortable. We want to see video clips of your congregation in worship and pictures of how your community copes. Share the stories of the people you’ve lost or the moments you’ve celebrated or the ways you’ve found hope and inspiration.
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These forms are available now and due by April 9th:
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Annual Reports are due February 15, 2021 |
Still need to submit your annual report? There is still time.
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You’ve been doing it for months now. Are you having any struggles with online worship? Any questions?
Pastor Chris Lake will offer some best practices around live streaming worship and answer any questions you may have.
Wednesday February 24, 2021
1:00 PM
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Just think of the lives your congregation could impact if your members grew their giving by 10%-15% next year! This is exactly the goal of Stewardship for All Seasons, a two-year, comprehensive process. SAS congregations move embrace an impactful annual appeal and move into other vital realms of a culture of generosity: Communications and Storytelling, Strategic Planning, Endowments, Special Appeals, Volunteer Recruitment, and Donor Cultivation.
The Gulf Coast invites you to a virtual informational session to meet Pete Reuss, the SAS facilitator, and learn more about the process on Tuesday, March 9th at 7:00 pm. Contact Aimee Elles to receive the Zoom link, or with any questions.
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NLC Virtual Hymn Festival: Hope Lives! |
Join the National Lutheran Choir and guest artists, the Keith Hampton Singers, for a FREE virtual program blending spoken reflections, songs and familiar hymns of joy and hope with new music that speaks to our present time, inviting all people of faith to sing in joy together!
This online presentation is FREE for all. For a Virtual Subscription to exclusive content ($10/month), visit NLCA.com
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In April the Bishop will be hosting a zoom meeting with all congregation presidents.
Look for more information on this gathering coming soon.
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Ask the Spirit to teach us humility and to remind us that God made us to care for one another, love one another, be generous with what we have and participate in God’s good, reconciling work in the world. |
May 21-22, 2021
Join us online for our first Digital Assembly
Registration
Early bird registration prices end on April 1st.
Voting Members, Exhibitors and Visitors- $75
Tentative Agenda, Speakers and Churchwide Representative Information will be available soon.
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Do You Have News Or Announcements To Share? |
Please submit them to the synod office for consideration for our next publication.
Announcements are published for two weeks based on relevance and
at the discretion of the
synod staff.
Don't forget to include
a picture or logo!
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Give the kids something fun to look forward to this spring break as you grow in faith together! Camp Hope (a ministry of LEAD) has just released Galactic Adventure Home Edition for Spring Break!
In response to many faith communities not being able to meet face-to-face, we are release a 5-day Christian day camp for adults and older youth to lead with children in their own "COVID Bubble." There is a new Bible story each day with games, fun snacks, art and STEM/Imaginarium activity that relate to the Bible story!
Prices are very affordable for individual use and for congregations to purchase access and to share with their community. Check it out here.
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As we all increase our digital presence scammers, unfortunately, are also increasing their presence. Hackers gather information, such as the name of our Bishop and others, and send emails posing as these individuals with links that can cause your information to be taken or that may compromise your operating system and device.
Always read the subject line and email source in the FROM line, before opening such emails. If you aren't sure, reach out to whomever appeared to write the email and simply ask if they sent it.
Bishop Rinehart or the Synod Staff will never contact you directly via email to ask you to send money to them personally. Our synod office has checks and balances in place to make sure that only specific people handle donations. Bishop Rinehart is not one of those people.
If we were to ask for donations, you would be directed to send them to the synod office (12941 N Freeway, Ste 210, Houston, TX 77060). Please do not send money anywhere else on our behalf.
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#ELCAChurchTogetherResources |
Resources to help leaders and members stay connected and resilient during COVID-19 are available from the ELCA. Many resources on this page are also available in Spanish.
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The synod staff continue working out of our homes and limiting non-essential travel and face-to-face meetings. However, we are still reachable:
- The synod office phone number (281-873-5665)
- Individual staff emails
- Gulf Coast Synod Facebook pages
We do not have regular in person office hours at this time. We will continue to update this information as it is available. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate through this with you.
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LEAD: Living Every Day As Disciples |
LEAD is a Christian leadership development organization that is nurtured by this synod to be a gift to the whole church. |
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12941 I-45 North Freeway #210
Houston, TX 77060-1243
281.873.5665
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