Upper Susquehanna Synod

Bishop's Open Golf Classic
2019-05-13 11:30 - 18:30 (America/New_York)
The annual Bishop Open’s Golf Classic is set for May 13, 2019, beginning at 11:00 a.m. at the Susquehanna Valley Country Club in Shamokin Dam. The tournament benefits Camp Mount Luther and the camp’s annual fund. A flyer/bulletin insert containing information and registration form is available here: https://www.campmountluther.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/2019-Golf-Tournament-Flyer.pdf. The camp’s golf tournament committee is currently looking for hole sponsors, door prize sponsors, silent auction items, and golfers. If you can help, please contact the camp office at 570-922-1587 or cml@campmountluther.org. Congregations are also encouraged to become hole sponsors. Get involved and help our synod’s outdoor ministry!

LARC Luncheon
2019-05-14 12:00 - 13:00
The next LARC Lunch will be on Tuesday, May 14, at 12:00 Noon in the Dining Room of the Harrisburg Diocesan Center (4800 Union Deposit Road). All are welcome; you may bring new people as well. RSVP to FrJLease@hbgdiocese.org by May 7.

RIC Training
2019-05-17 - 2019-05-18
The Table, a new ELCA mission start congregation, will hold a Reconciling in Christ Training at 49 E, Main Street, Bloomsburg, on Friday, May 17, and Saturday, May 18. The Building an Inclusive Church (BIC) training helps you design and implement a journey for your faith community to publicly and intentionally welcome people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. Building an Inclusive Church equips you with ways to create dialogue, deepening relationships throughout your faith community rather than sparking debate and division. The registration fee of $100 includes training, materials, refreshments, and lunch. Registration, cancellation, and refund deadline is two weeks before the training. Reduced income registrations are available. To download a flyer, click https://www.reconcilingworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Bloomsburg-PA-May-17.pdf

CML Spring Work Day
2019-05-18 08:00 - 13:00
Practice stewardship through service at camp at our work day on Saturday, May 18, 2019, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. We need your help getting the camp grounds and facilities ready for summer. There will be plenty to do and everyone in the family can help! Please bring supplies to do cleaning, mulching, raking, and light construction projects such as step ladders, buckets, rakes, etc. A light lunch will be served. RSVP by May 10 if staying for lunch to cml@campmountluther.org or 570-922-1587.
To download a bulletin insert/flyer, click here: https://www.campmountluther.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/2019-Work-Day-Flyer.pdf

Lutheran Days in the Capital
2019-05-19 - 2019-05-20
On May 19 and 20, join people of faith from around Pennsylvania for inspiration, education and participation — in worship, service, learning and advocacy. We will focus on setting bigger, more welcoming, tables in our lives, our congregations, our communities and our Commonwealth. Come for our traditional Lutheran Day in the Capitol or come early and enjoy a day of service, learning and witness with our neighbors of different traditions. Bring a friend — or a team! Learn more and register here: https://www.lutheranadvocacypa.org/event/lutheran-advocacy-days-in-the-capital/
Kathryn Lohre, Assistant to the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA and Executive for Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations & Theological Discernment will keynote Lutheran Day. Lohre will offer a vision of what it could mean to live into the proposed Declaration of Inter-Religious Commitment, to be considered at the 2019 Churchwide Assembly. She will also lead a conversational workshop around the wisdom and work that went into the proposed policy statement. More information here: https://www.lutheranadvocacypa.org/kathryne-lohre-to-keynote-lutheran-day-2019/

Resume Writing Workshop and Dinner
2019-05-19 16:00 - 18:30
A Resume Writing Workshop and Dinner will be held at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Kreamer, on May 19th, 2019, from 4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. They will help with resume writing and provide supper! HR Professionals will be on hand from various local organizations to help. They will also be offering a listening ear to hear the needs of the community. For a flyer about the event, click here: https://www.uss-elca.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Resume-Writing-Workshop-and-Dinner.pdf

Synod Office Closing
2019-05-27
The Upper Susquehanna Synod Office will be closed on Monday, May 27, 2019 in observance of Memorial Day. The office will reopen at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 28, 2019. If you have an emergency, please call the synod office (570-524-9778) and the voicemail will give you phone numbers that you can call.

LARC Vespers
2019-06-02 16:00 - 17:00
The Lutherans-Anglicans-Roman Catholic (LARC) Vespers will take place this year on June 2 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Liverpool. This annual service is a time for us to gather in celebration of the growing unity we share with brothers and sisters in Christ in the Roman Catholic and Episcopal Churches. Our synod continues to live into the covenant we signed in 1993 with the Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania, the Roman Catholic Dioceses of Harrisburg and Scranton, and the Lower Susquehanna Synod. While registration is not required for this event, we ask that you indicate by emailing info@uss-elca.org with the number of people from your congregation expected to attend in order that we can plan for sufficient refreshments following the vespers. The time for the event is 4:00 p.m.

Summer Camp Kickoff and Circle of Faith Dinner
2019-06-09
On Sunday, June 9, 2019, Camp Mount Luther will have a worship service at 7:00 p.m. at which time they will kick-off the 2019 Summer Camping Season. The worship service is open to anyone who would like to attend to support our synod’s outdoor ministry and this year’s summer staff. The service will be held outdoors, if the weather permits, so please bring a lawn chair. The worship will be immediately following the annual Circle of Faith Giving Club Dinner, which is by invitation. If you would like information on the Circle of Faith Giving Club, contact chad@campmountluther.org.

Synod Assembly
2019-06-14 - 2019-06-15
The 32nd Annual Assembly of the Upper Susquehanna Synod will be held at Susquehanna University on June 14-15, 2019. This year’s theme will be “On the Way Together: United, Supporting, Serving.” Our ELCA Churchwide Representative will be Rev. Ruben Duran, who serves as the Director for Congregational Vitality. Register by May 20! Special attention needs to be made to the meal registrations. Meal tickets will not be available after the late registration date or at the door on the days of the assembly. Other notes as we prepare for this June event:

Live Tweet from Upper Susquehanna Synod Assembly: We will live “tweet” and invite others to as well using this hashtag: #usselca19. If you’d like to see what is happening at assembly, search for the Twitter hashtag or visit facebook.com/usselca.

Along the Way Bookstore: Sandy Grier will operate her bookstore at assembly. She’ll have cards, gift items, books, bulletins, flower charts, Sunday School attendance charts, CDs, DVDs, plays, church supplies, Bibles, Sundays and Seasons and much more. Visit her in the Degenstein Campus Center.

Bulletin of Reports: The bulletin of reports will be available for download at uss-elca.org/assembly.

From Crib to Cross (Lutheran-Episcopal Retreat)
2019-06-24 - 2019-06-26
Explore the Lutheran-Episcopal full communion partnership in a relaxed, scenic setting in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia through conversations with participants of each tradition. It will be held at the Shrine Mont Retreat in Orkney Springs, Virginia, with keynote speakers Dr. Alyson Barnett-Cowan and Dr. Timothy Wengert. Register online (and get more information) at www.virginialutheranepiscopal.wordpress.com.

Celebrate LOM’s 100th!
2019-07-02 18:30 - 20:00
July 5 is the date of the 100th anniversary of Lutheran Outdoor Ministry. In 1919 on that day, the first Lutheran camp was held near Zelienople, PA. The Camp Mount Luther staff invites everyone to come to camp on Tuesday evening, July 2, 2019, to celebrate. As part of our annual Family Camp, we’ll be having a campfire and worship service to commemorate the birthday. It all gets underway at 6:30 p.m. The program will be held outdoors, weather permitting, so bring a lawn chair. To help us plan, it would be helpful to have an RSVP to chad@campmountluther.org or call 570-922-1587.

Independence Day Office Closing
2019-07-04
The Upper Susquehanna Synod Office will be closed on Thursday, July 4, 2019, in observance of Independence Day. The office will reopen at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, July 5, 2019. If you have an emergency, please call the synod office (570-524-9778) and the voicemail will give you phone numbers that you can call.

Synod Council Meeting
2019-07-10 17:15 - 19:30
At Camp Mount Luther with dinner at 5:15 p.m. and meeting following.

Theological Education with Youth
2019-07-13 - 2019-07-20
This program, sponsored by United Lutheran Seminary, is open to youth in grades 9-12 (completed as of June 2019). The program will focus on how Lutherans read the Bible and engage in response and dialog about our beliefs and how these beliefs meet the needs of our world. Leadership components will build on how to approach advocacy and practice through the Lutheran lens. Registration and more detailed information will be available soon.

Theological Education with Adults
2019-07-14 - 2019-07-20
This program, sponsored by United Lutheran Seminary, is open to all people interested in the topic matter. Registrations are available for one day, part of the week, or the whole week. The theme for 2019 will center around Biblical Hermeneutics (interpretation of the Bible and texts) using historical and cultural knowledge, reading through the Lutheran lens. Registration and more detailed information will be available soon.

USSWO Convention
2019-07-20 07:30 - 16:00
The Upper Susquehanna Synodical Women’s Organization Annual Convention will be held on Saturday, July 20, 2019, at the Evergreen Center at Camp Mount Luther, 355 Mt. Luther Lane, Mifflinburg. Women are asked to be present for this one-day convention as it brings an excellent opportunity for you to meet your sisters from neighboring churches and become informed about the workings of the Women of the ELCA. The theme for this year’s convention is “Go Worth in Faith,” based on 2 Corinthians 5:7. Pastor Jerri Carlin is the worship leader. The ingathering offering will go to Lutheran Disaster Relief and an in-kind offering will be items for Camp Mount Luther as suggested by the camp. Registration forms are available at http://www.uss-elca.org/upper-susquehanna-synodical-womens-organization/

Misconduct Training
2019-08-12 - 2019-08-14
The following is a link to information on a valuable and timely training opportunity for rostered ministers: “Misconduct in Congregations: Moving from Hurt to Wholeness,” August 12-14, 2019, Stow (Akron), Ohio. For event information, flyer links, and the online registration form link: https://conta.cc/2K3iobE. Workshop presenters include Barbara Keller, therapist and ELCA consultant for the prevention of misconduct; Beth Marie Halvorsen, intentional interim pastor and National Association of Lutheran Interim Pastors faculty member; and Marcus Lohrmann, interim pastor, Memorial Lutheran Church, Toledo, OH, former interim bishop, Florida-Bahamas Synod (2017), retired after 18 years as bishop of the Northwestern Ohio Synod.

Dandelion Trail Run at CML
2019-08-31 09:00 - 12:00
Camp Mount Luther will be holding a 5- and 10- kilometer trail run race at the camp on Saturday, August 31, 2019. This is an entry-level trail race on Mount Luther grounds with proceeds going to the camp. The start time for the race is 9:00 a.m. Runners decide on race day if they want to do a 5k or 10K (a double loop of the 5K) run. The 10k distance is included in the Rocksylvania 10k race series. More details on that are available at http://midpenntrailblazers.com/links.html. Race day registration is $30. Pre-register by August 28 and pay only $25. Registration opens at 7:30 a.m. on race day. Spectators are welcome as well. A kid’s fun run will also be held with two age categories: six and under and 7-10. Special awards will be presented to every participant in the fun run. Again this year, a one-mile fun walk on a dirt road will be held with the same registration fees and amenities applying (or you may just walk without receiving amenities for $10). Awards will be given for overall male and female race time, three awards for each age group and an overall master’s for male and female in both the 5K and the 10K. The awards ceremony will be immediately following the race. Shower facilities are available after the race. All miles for the course will be marked and there is one water stop on the course. Timing will be electronically done. To register, visit http://midpenntrailblazers.com/trail-race-events/dandelion-run/dandelion-run.html. The Dandelion Run, begun in 2002, is organized by Joel and Shelley Heasley of Middleburg. It was named in honor and memory of Rev. Glenn E. Heasley, Jr., former Assistant to the Bishop of the Upper Susquehanna Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Glenn’s favorite “flower” was the dandelion. Heasley’s widow, Shirley, is also involved in the planning of the race.

Labor Day- Office Closed
2019-09-02
The Upper Susquehanna Synod Office will be closed on Monday, September 2, 2019, in observance of Labor Day. The office will reopen at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 3, 2019. If you have an emergency, please call the synod office (570-524-9778) and the voicemail will give you phone numbers that you can call.

“God’s work. Our hand.” Day of Service
2019-09-08
Save the date! “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday will be Sunday, September 8, 2019. This day is an opportunity to celebrate who we are as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor. Service activities offer an opportunity for us to explore one of our most basic convictions as Lutherans: that all of life in Jesus Christ – every act of service, in every daily calling, in every corner of life – flows freely from a living, daring confidence in God’s grace.
You work every day to make your community a better place. Let us continue doing this work together in 2018! Access resources to guide your congregation’s planning, promotion and more at https://www.elca.org/dayofservice.

Synod Council Meeting
2019-09-21 09:30 - 13:00
From 9:30-1:00 p.m. at the Synod Office

CML Volunteer Brainstorm
2019-10-06 14:00 - 16:00
Be part of a new camp event on Sunday, October 6, 2019, from 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. at the Evergreen Center at Camp Mount Luther. Everyone, but most especially campers, parents, alumni staff, camp friends, and anyone interested in our outdoor ministry is invited to come to this new, exciting event. Bring your ideas for camp- summer camp programs, fundraising, marketing, facilities, non-summer events, or anything else you think might benefit Mount Luther. We’ll share ideas and organize Camel Crews (task forces) to work on those ideas for the coming year! If you have questions, contact the camp office at 570-922-1587 or cml@campmountluther.org
Download a flyer to promote it here: https://www.campmountluther.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/2019-Volunteer-Brainstorm-Flyer.pdf

CML GROW Writer’s Retreat
2019-10-08 10:00 - 16:00
Anyone wishing to come and write devotions for Camp Mount Luther’s First Light Digital Devotions is welcome to join other writers on October 8, 2019. The retreat will be from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Evergreen Center. It will be a day of writing and sharing resources for devotional writing. You don’t need to stay the whole time! Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP to the camp office at cml@campmountluther.org or 570-922-1587 before September 30, 2019.

Mission Trip Planning
2019-10-17 08:00 - 17:00
More than two years ago Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico. Thousands of homes are still covered with nothing but a blue tarp. The Upper Susquehanna Synod and the Northumberland Presbytery are going to help on January 4-11, 2020. A planning meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 6, 2019, at 7:00 p.m. at the Upper Susquehanna Synod Office.
Here is a flyer about the event: https://www.uss-elca.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/PR-Trip-Poster.pdf

Mission Trip
2019-10-20 - 2019-10-26
Upper Susquehanna Synod and the Northumberland Presytery of the Presbyterian Church (USA) are sponsoring another mission/work trip to hurricane ravaged areas of North Carolina. The trip will be October 20-26, 2019, and the cost will be $100 plus transportation. All levels of experience are needed.
PRELIMINARY PLANNING AND INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS: (You can attend either, or both, or contact us directly if you can’t make either.)

Tuesday, September 17, 7:00 p.m. at Sharon Lutheran Church, 120 South Market St. Selinsgrove.
Tuesday, October 8, 7:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 47 Walnut St. Milton.

For more information, contact: Doug Orbaker at 570-768-6436 or dougorbaker@yahoo.com. For a flyer about this event, visit https://www.uss-elca.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/poster-to-send-out.pdf

Religious Security Summit
2019-10-24 09:00 - 12:00
As we approach the one-year anniversary of the Tree of Life shooting in Squirrel Hill, the Pennsylvania Public Safety Agencies of Governor Wolf and the Anti-Defamation League will be hosting a Religious Security Summit on Thursday October 24, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at 140 Main Capitol Room (House Majority Caucus Room)– Pennsylvania Capitol. Currently, representatives from the following agencies are being asked to attend and speak:

Anti-Defamation League
Pennsylvania State Police
Pennsylvania Homeland Security
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Secret Service
Pennsylvania Postal Service

This program is designed to educate religious leaders about the acts of hate directed toward faith communities and related institutions in Pennsylvania and our nation, and actions to protect congregations from acts of hate and violence. This will be a free program for leaders of all faith traditions in South Central Pennsylvania. After this event, there is a plan to move this program to other regions of the state. (This is the first such program). Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania invites you to RSVP to LAMPa@lutheranadvocacypa.org so they can assess the attendance and help organizers prepare.

LIRS Entertaining Angels
2019-10-26 09:00 - 15:00
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) will be hosting an Entertaining Angels training at First Lutheran Church, Mifflinburg, on October 26, 2019, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This is a new LIRS initiative to accompany people of faith as they hear a call to welcome and love their neighbor and extend hospitality to alien, sojourner, and stranger. Lunch will be provided and registration is $15 per person. This event is shaped by examining the biblical mandate for hospitality; our Lutheran heritage of hospitality; and social and cultural responses to migrants and refugees. To register, email brenda@uss-elca.org.

LARC Day of Dialog
2019-10-28 09:00 - 15:00
LARC Day of Dialog is set for Monday, October 28, 2019. The event is held at the Catholic Center on Union Deposit Road in Harrisburg, from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. This year’s Day of Dialogue topic will be: “Division in Society, Division in the Church: Healing and Hope for the 21st Century“. Speakers will be:

Maria Erling, Professor of Modern Church History and Global Mission, United Lutheran Seminary
Eric Failing, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference
Very Rev. Dr. Amy Welin, Rector of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral, Harrisburg

The day will also feature prayer together according to the three traditions represented by LARC, as well lunch together and time for dialogue and discussion. A flyer and registration form is available here: https://www.uss-elca.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/2019-LARC-Registration-form.pdf

Church Women United’s World Community Day
2019-11-01 13:30 - 14:30
Church Women United’s World Community Day service will be held Friday, November 1, 2019, at Pine Street United Methodist Church, 441 Pine Street, Williamsport at 1:30 in the afternoon. The theme is The Time is Now! “Resolve to Love.” The scripture is Colossians 3:14. World Community Day 2019 focuses on global peace and justice. As women of faith we have a responsibility to reach beyond Christian denominations to brothers and sisters who are Muslim, Buddhist, Jewish and many others. It is a move from an ecumenical to an interfaith orientation. Through mutual respect we can create an inclusive community that is just, caring and supportive. World Community Day began in 1943 from discussions at meetings of denominational presidents and executive secretaries asking that a day be set aside for the study of peace by church women. Although we come with different cultures, family traditions and religious practices, those differences provide gifts that we can share with one another. Join us as we honor and rejoice in those differences that will unite us in new ways and courageously resolve to love all our neighbors as a way to peace. Refreshments will be served in the church fellowship hall following the celebration.
CHRISTMAS STOCKING PROJECT: We will be preparing gift items for over 1,125 nursing home residents. We are asking for a $4.00 donation per resident. Items included in the stockings are: pen, notebook, hand cream, emery board, tissues, comb and a Christmas card. We also prepare 50 gift bags for children who have mothers in the State Correctional Institute at Muncy. All donations will be used for the Christmas Stocking Project.
WORKDAY MONDAY: Filling of the Christmas stockings will be on Monday, November 18th at Pine Street United Methodist Church, Williamsport at 9 am. Thanks to everyone who will be working on this project. (Parking permits will be available at the church.)
