Upper Susquehanna Synod » What’s New

Singers Needed for Assembly Choir

News — Fri, 11 May 2012 10:57:07 +0000

On behalf of the Bishop’s Committee on Worship, which is planning worship for Synod Assembly on June 15-16, 2012, you are invited to sing as part of the Synod Assembly Choir that will provide musical leadership for the Eucharist on Friday, June 15, at 10:00 a.m. and Saturday, June 16, at 10:00 a.m. in Weber Chapel Auditorium at Susquehanna University. In addition to leading the liturgy and hymns, the choir will prepare special music for the service. Adult and high school singers who would like to sing in the Assembly Choir should have some choral experience in church and/or school. Being able to read music is helpful but not required. Bring a friend. If you cannot attend both services, please feel encouraged to sing at one. Two rehearsals are scheduled for Sunday afternoons, May 20 and June 3, from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. in the chapel of Zion Lutheran Church in Sunbury. A “warm-up” rehearsal will take place at Susquehanna University at 9:00 a.m. prior to each service. If you plan to sing in the choir, please contact David Reier by May 18, 2012, at dreier@ptd.net. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact Reier at 570-286-1664.

Looking Ahead to July at Camp Mount Luther

News — Fri, 11 May 2012 10:56:22 +0000

Camp Mount Luther is still accepting registrations for all programs for this summer! Several exciting programs will be held in July. On July 1^st, Super Night Owl Week will begin. Campers will be able to stay up later each night doing nighttime activities and we’ll have extra elective periods this week. Don’t forget Family Camp, a great vacation opportunity!!! This half-week intergenerational program is for families of all shapes and sizes. You’ll have the vacation of a lifetime if you come to family camp. Our Adult Bible Study leader this year is Rev. Chad Hebrink. We hope you will join us for a great half week starting July 8^th. Campers who aren’t sure they can stay a whole week at camp can come for our Mini-Camps from July 11-13. Traditional Camp (with a team sports twist this year) will be on July 15. This is a great sampler of all that an outdoor ministry has to offer! And, during the week of July 22, campers from Lutheran, Episcopal, and other denominations will come together for BASIC Week (Brothers and Sisters in Christ). This year, we’ll be celebrating Dr. Seuss during this special week. More information is available by calling the camp office at 570-922-1587 or visiting www.campmountluther.org.

Wanted: Congregations to Listen to Details about the Birthday Candle Campaign

News — Fri, 11 May 2012 10:47:04 +0000

Camp Mount Luther has launched a fundraising effort to help enhance annual fund giving, reducing existing debit, and build an endowment fund. The camp would like to talk to your congregation about our campaign! A representative of the camp is available to come to your congregation to talk to your council during a meeting or to do a temple talk during a Sunday morning service. We want to spread the good news about outdoor ministries and the effort to help Mount Luther be on solid financial footing to start its sixth decade of serve to Central Pennsylvania. Please let us know when your congregation would like us to come visit by e-mail cml@campmountluther.org or calling 570-922-1587. A representative of Camp Mount Luther will contact you to set up the presentation and confirm details.

Looking Ahead to June at Camp Mount Luther

News — Fri, 11 May 2012 10:46:16 +0000

The summer camping session at Camp Mount Luther will be in full swing in June! This summer’s staff will arrive on May 30^th for their two weeks of training. On June 10^th, the first campers for this year will arrive for on-site Day Camp. This program is especially good for those kids who are not sure they want to be away from home overnight. Their families will join them for Sunday activities and they’ll be here at camp during the day. Wednesday night, there will be an optional sleepover! On June 17, Senior High X-Teens will arrive for a ten-day camp experience. They’ll learn more about justice and service and then go out the next weekend and do service work before returning to Mount Luther to reflect on those experiences. The final week of June is reserved for two new programs. Confirmation students are invited to come with their leaders for CAMPFIRMATION. And, youth in grades 4-6 can come with their adult leaders for BUILDING YOUTH GROUPS. More information is available by calling the camp office at 570-922-1587 or visiting www.campmountluther.org. There is still time to register for all these and other summer programs!

Leave a Legacy for Ministry and Mission

News — Fri, 11 May 2012 10:45:43 +0000

Life insurance protects your family against a calamity. Your family includes your congregation and other ministries of the Church. Shouldn’t they be included in your protection, too? Adding a ministry as a beneficiary of your policy is easy. Simply call your life insurance agent and request a change in beneficiary form. For more information about making charitable gifts call Pr. Greg Kramer at the Lutheran Planned Giving Office at 570-374-2044 or call the Foundation of the ELCA, 800/638-3522, ext. 2970 or visit our website at www.elca.org/fo.

Help three families in New Orleans!

News — Fri, 11 May 2012 10:44:57 +0000

Youth and their advisors at the ELCA Youth Gathering this summer will build the basic structure of walls for three houses that will be completed by Habitat for Humanity in the New Orleans area to become homes for families there. Campus ministry is coordinating the efforts to raise funds for supplies and transportation of the walls to their final sites. We need $17,000 and every gift will help! Checks made out to “Lutheran Campus Ministry – BUILD NOLA” can be sent to: Lutheran Campus Ministry, 211A Pasquerilla Spiritual Center, University Park, PA 16802. If you have questions, contact Alicia at ara2@psu.edu or 814-865-0715.

New Orleans: 100 Wells Challenge at ELCA Youth Gathering in July

News — Fri, 11 May 2012 10:44:07 +0000

Just $2500 could build a well that provides clean water for up to 500 families. The 100 Wells Challenge allows youth of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) across the country to make a difference by raising $250,000 to build 100 wells or support water projects where they are needed most. See www.elca.org/ELCA/Youth-Gathering/Planning-for-the-Gathering/Gathering-Offerings/100-Wells.aspx.

Parish Nurse Emergency Preparedness Training

News — Sun, 06 May 2012 18:30:28 +0000

The Pennsylvania Department of Health and Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries present a Parish Nurse Emergency Preparedness Training. Recovery from an emergency tomorrow depends on the planning and preparation done today! This one hour emergency preparedness program will provide valuable resources for parish nurses to disseminate to underserved populations in their congregations. The emergency preparedness kit shown above will be yours to use to provide education and awareness about the importance of developing emergency plans and assembling a personal preparedness kit. Don’t miss this opportunity! For a flyer about this even, please click here: http://www.uss-elca.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Emergency-Preparedness-Kit-flyer2.docx.

Sessions will take place at the following times and locations:

Session 1

Date: Thursday, May 31, 2012

Time: 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Location: Messiah Lutheran Church

324 Howard Street

South Williamsport, PA 17702

Session 2

Date: Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Location: Upper Susquehanna Synod

500 Reitz Boulevard

P.O. Box 36

Lewisburg, PA 17837

Seats are limited! Please contact Tonya Welshans, Public Health Educator, on or before May 24, 2012 to register. Call 570-327-3400 or e-mail twelshans@pa.gov today!

“Unpacking” Young Adults: Millennials, Faith, and the Church

Beth Ann — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 18:49:08 +0000

A workshop for church members who wonder where the young adults are

Sunday, May 20^th, 2:00 – 4:30 PM, Faith Lutheran Church, Lewisburg (2349 Old Turnpike Rd–Hwy 45)

Pastor Beth Ann L. Stone will describe the culture and characteristics of today’s young adults, what many say they think about faith and the church, and what keeps them from finding their way into congregations. Come learn and talk about how church members can make better connections with younger generations, to share their hope in Jesus Christ! No cost for participants. RSVP for numbers is helpful, but not required: bethann(at)uss-elca(dot)org.

Click here for a downloadable bulletin insert.

Is God calling you to consider service as an Authorized Lay Worship Leader?

News — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 01:27:48 +0000

The Lay Ministry Institute of the Upper Susquehanna Synod will begin a new class for Authorized Lay Worship Leaders in September 2012. This two-year class (18 Saturday classes) is designed for those who want to serve as Worship Leaders and those who want a deeper understanding of the history, theology, and practice of the church. The cost of the program is $1,050. Applications are available on the Upper Susquehanna Synod website at http://www.uss-elca.org/for-individuals/lay-ministry-institute or

http://www.uss-elca.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/LMI-Application.revised.filled.2012.pdf. For more information contact Pastor Sell at prmsell@verizon.net.