uss-elca

Stream of Information on Synod Assembly Highlights Available

News — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 00:45:46 +0000

Stream of Information is a formatted, occasional communication piece highlighting a specific topic of interest to members and leaders of the Upper Susquehanna Synod. A new Stream of Information is now available giving details about the 2010 Synod Assembly, held in June. To download, click here:

http://www.uss-elca.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/Assembly-2010-Stream-of-Info.pdf

New Life for Your Congregation?

News — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 00:44:45 +0000

Does your congregation face a crisis of energy and commitment? There is no such thing as a “magic bullet,” but the ELCA did identify three factors always present in healthy, spiritually alive congregations:

Commitment to & participation in what God is already doing in the community
Willingness to change for the sake of the Gospel
Ever-increasing shared leadership between pastor and lay leaders - all rooted in Bible study, discussion and prayer

The Transformational Ministry process is not a program or a project, rather it is an ongoing process of renewal that involves the whole congregation. The recently formed Upper Susquehanna Synod Transformational Ministry Team is prepared to lead you in this series of congregational renewal events for your church and two or more neighboring congregations at YOUR site and according to YOUR calendar! For more information on how to start on the path of congregational renewal please call: Rev. Karl-John Stone karljohn@uss-elca.org or Beth Yenchko eyenchko@uss-elca.org at 570-524-9778.

Another Resource for Your Congregation

News — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 00:43:06 +0000

Is your council or a group of leaders within your congregation looking to focus on your congregation’s vision for mission or possibilities for ministry? Hoping to review the ministries your congregation has done in the past, and decide what to retain, what to let go of, and what new directions to pursue? Think it would be a good idea to seek God’s transforming power, re-connect with your community, or better understand how people perceive the ministry that happens through your congregation? Then the Upper Susquehanna Synod has a number of resources available to assist you, with the help of both synod staff, and committed laity and clergy volunteers from throughout the synod’s congregations, who enjoy living their discipleship as coaches or retreat leaders. To discuss what might be the best fit for your congregation, please be in touch with Pastor Karl-John Stone, Assistant to the Bishop (karljohn@uss-elca.org), or Ms. Beth Yenchko, Director for Evangelical Mission (Eyenchko@uss-elca.org), or call them at the synod office (570) 524-9778.

Child Protection Policy Help Available

News — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 00:41:49 +0000

Many congregations, both Lutheran and other traditions, around the country are instituting Child Protection Policies as part of their ministry, especially for the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of “the least of these” among us. In some cases, insurance companies are requiring, or strongly suggesting, such policies. The Upper Susquehanna Synod’s Child Protection Policy is intended to assist congregations in developing a child protection policy. It contains the recommendations of the USS for its congregations, as well as providing an example policy that may serve as a resource as a congregation designs its own policy. This policy is available on the synod website under the “For Congregations– Resources” tab, or can be obtained by contacting Pastor Karl-John Stone at the synod office (karljohn@uss-elca.org; 570-524-9778). For more information, or to find out about what other congregations have done, you may also contact Pastor Karl-John.

Camp Mount Luther Campers Produce Weekly Newspaper

News — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 00:40:23 +0000

Each week this summer at Mount Luther, campers are producing a summer version of Camel Tracks. You can find out what is happening at our synod’s camp by visiting their website at www.campmountluther.org and viewing these weekly newspapers.

Wanted: Your Stories and Recipes for Camp Mount Luther

News — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 00:39:07 +0000

Camp Mount Luther is working to publish a cookbook in commemoration of our Food Service Manager Carol Segraves’ retirement. If you did not know, Carol is retiring at the end of the summer. The cookbook will include favorite Carol recipes, stories, and tributes. Please send requests of your favorite Carol recipes to be included to Chad Hershberger. Or, if you have a good recipe to share, send it their way. Also, if you have a story involving Carol, a testimonial or tribute to her, or any old pictures with Carol, please send them to Chad as well. Chad Hershberger’s e-mail address is: chad@campmountluther.org. The book should be available to purchase by Christmastime.

Health Kit Challenge

News — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 00:38:00 +0000

The Global Mission Team of the Upper Susquehanna Synod is thinking globally and acting locally by sponsoring a Lutheran World Relief Health Kit Collection Challenge! The bar is set at collecting 1,000 health kits, compiled locally, to be distributed globally through LWR for emergency and disaster response. Congregations are encouraged to collect as many kits as possible by October 3, to package and drop off boxes of kits at the collection points for WELCA’s Blanket Sunday (see below).

Why Health Kits? People who must flee their homes quickly often do not have time to pack essential items. Health kits can help refugees maintain personal hygiene while living in exile. Items may also contribute to a new start for those who can return home. Include the following items in each health kit:

One hand towel, dark color recommended
One washcloth, dark color recommended
One bath-size bar (4 to 5 oz.) of soap, any brand, in its original wrapping
One adult-size toothbrush in its original packaging
One sturdy comb, remove packaging
One metal nail file or nail clippers with file attached, remove packaging (do not substitute cardboard emery boards for the file)
Six Band-Aids® (or similar brand), preferably 1/2″ to 3/4″; secure together with a rubber band

Do not add other items or leave out any of the items listed. All items should be new and in good condition. Wrap smaller items in the washcloth; wrap washcloth and remaining items in the towel and tie securely with ribbons or yarn. Do not enclose the kit or any of its contents in plastic bags.

Note: LWR’s approximate cost to handle and ship one LWR health kit overseas is $2.65. Contributions by cash, check, or money order may be sent to:

Lutheran World Relief

PO Box 17061

Baltimore, MD 21298-9832

For general assembly instructions, please go to: http://www.lwr.org/beinvolved/assembly.asp.

For packing instructions, please go to: http://www.lwr.org/beinvolved/pack.asp.

Drop Off in October: The completed health kits can be dropped off at the same time as blankets being collected by WELCA on Blanket Sunday (October 3). Drop off locations include St. Luke, Williamsport; St. Matthew, Shamokin Dam; St. Matthew, Bloomsburg; and St. John, Lewistown. The items may be dropped off on Sunday, October 10, from 3-5 p.m. or Monday, October 11, from 10 a.m. to noon. From there, they begin their trek to New Windsor, Maryland, and around the world.

Thrivent Financial Members Give $1 Million

News — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 00:36:29 +0000

Members of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans recently voted on where to distribute $1 million among 10 national charities through a new program called Thrivent Choice. Funds were distributed to the organizations based on the percentage of votes they received. Organizations, and the total funds they received, were:

LCMS World Relief and Human Care: $192,122
Lutheran Disaster Response: $147,242
ELCA World Hunger: $145,345
Habitat for Humanity International: $114,212
LCMS World Mission: $112,315
Feed My Starving Children: $99,465
American Heart Association: $67,854
WELS Committee on Relief: $57,281
WELS Humanitarian Aid Committee: $32,987
Lutheran Malaria Initiative: $31,176

A total of 150,199 members voted in the inaugural Thrivent Choice Voting Event. The voting took place April 19 – May 21, 2010. Thrivent Financial will launch a second aspect of Thrivent Choice later this summer called Choice Dollars. Here, eligible benefit members will be able to help direct funds to thousands of Lutheran non-profit organizations, including Lutheran congregations. Eligibility for this program will be based on benefit members’ involvement in Thrivent Financial through their fraternal benefit society product ownership and/or Thrivent Financial volunteer leadership. In 2009, Thrivent Financial provided $113 million to help congregations, communities and nonprofit organizations. Thrivent Choice is one of many ways that Thrivent Financial gives back.

Latest Kathryn’s Kloset Open House/Orientation Coming Soon

News — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 00:11:30 +0000

Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries is now operating “Kathryn’s Kloset,” a warehouse in Baltimore where they gather and house surplus items (except food) in large quantities. The items are available to non-profits who can pick up stuff in dock-height trucks. Many of the items must be received by the skid load. The next Open House/Orientation Meetings at Diakon Kathryn’s Kloset will be held on the following dates: Tuesday, July 20, and Monday, August 30, all at 10:00 a.m. at the warehouse, 1101 Desoto Road in Baltimore. The meetings will end no later than noon. Diakon Kathryn’s Kloset is a ministry of Diakon Lutheran Social Services, where personal care items and other goods are received from a central warehouse in Baltimore and distributed free-of-charge through churches and other non-profit agencies to the needy people of our communities. For more information, or to reserve a spot at one of the open houses, please be in touch with Rev. Karl-John Stone (karljohn@uss-elca.org; 570-524-9778) or Rev. John Richter (RichterJ@diakon.org).

Leave a Legacy for Ministry and Mission (July 2010)

News — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 00:09:10 +0000

Would you like to make a gift to your congregation and/or other favorite church charities but are not sure what your future financial needs will be? You can make charitable giving part of your will or you could simply change the beneficiary statement of an insurance policy, qualified retirement plan, commercial annuity, or bank or brokerage account. There are many ways you can make an estate gift to support your favorite church charity without sacrificing your personal financial security. For more information on how to include your favorite church charities in your estate planning call Pr. Greg Kramer at the Lutheran Planned Giving Office at 570-374-2044 or call the ELCA Foundation, 800-638-3522, ext. 2970 or visit our website at http://www.elca.org/fo.