Upper Susquehanna Synod

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

LARC Luncheon
2019-05-14 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
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.

Bishop's Open Golf Classic
2019-05-13 11:30 - 18:30
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!

Bishop’s Retreat
2019-05-08 - 2019-05-10
The annual bishop’s retreat will be held on May 8-10 at Camp Hebron, Halifax, on the topic of forgiveness. Rostered leaders are asked to mark their calendars and plan to attend the retreat. If spouses are interested in attending, please let Bishop Collins know. A registration form is available here: https://www.uss-elca.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Bishop-Retreat-registration-form_distributed.pdf
NOTE: A boundaries training will be held the day before at Camp Hebron for those who need that coursework. To register for that training, please contact Brenda in the synod office at 570-524-9778 or brenda@uss-elca.org.

Boundaries Training
2019-05-07
A boundaries training will be held by the synod at Camp Hebron for those who need that coursework. Any church workers, including ALWLs are invited to participate. Registration is $30 and includes lunch. To register for that training, please contact Brenda in the synod office at 570-524-9778 or brenda@uss-elca.org.

Buffalo Valley Lay School of Theology
2019-05-05 14:00 - 17:00
The Buffalo Valley Conference has rescheduled their Lay School of Theology. It is now scheduled for Sunday, May 5th from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., hosted by First Lutheran Church, Mifflinburg, PA. (Please note location change). They extend an invitation to all to participate in this day of learning and conversation. Continuing Ed contact hours can be for Authorized Lay Worship Leaders or rostered leaders. The schedule for the day is as follows:
2:00- 2:15 Registration and Refreshments
2:15- 3:05 Class Session I
3:05- 3:20 Refreshment Break and Conversation
3:20- 4:00 Worship: Holden Evening Prayer
4:00- 4:50 Class Session II
4:50- 5:00 Closing Prayer
Class offerings include:

Preaching on Gospel Texts of Judgment and End-Times
History of Holy Communion Practices
Reclaiming the E(vangelical) Word
Faith Formation
Holy Humor
Real Presence of Christ

Preregistration is encouraged: submit your registration to either brenda@uss-elca.org, 570-524-9778 or prjohnyost@gmail.com. There is no cost for this event but a free will offering will help offset the costs of refreshments.

Generosity Transformed
2019-04-30 - 2019-05-02
At the Generosity transformed! your mission * your ministry * your money Conference, April 30 – May 2, 2019 in Indianapolis, church and organizational leaders will learn how to energize and revitalize their strategies for faithful generosity by connecting their missions, ministries, and resources. More than a typical workshop-based conference, participants will engage deeply in peer discussion groups and subject-based roundtables to develop practical implementation plans and leave ready and able to help their churches and organizations thrive through transformative practices of faithful generosity. The ELCA is offering a limited number of registration scholarships. Contact Keith Mundy (keith.mundy@elca.org) for information on scholarships and the conference. For more information, visit https://stewardshipresources.org/generosity-transformed-2019/

Service for Conclusion of Ministry
2019-04-28 15:00 - 16:00
A service for the conclusion of 160 years of ministry at Grace, Mount Carmel, will be held on April 28, 2019, at 3:00 p.m. It will be held at St. Matthew’s, 301 West Ave, Mount Carmel. Synod members are invited to attend this worship.

Camp Mount Luther Spring Open House
2019-04-28 14:00 - 16:00
Have you ever wanted to see Mount Luther’s site and facilities? Do you miss camp and want to visit in the springtime? Are you interested in coming to camp this summer but want to get more information and see the place first? Well, this is your chance. The Camp Mount Luther Spring Open House will be held on Sunday, April 28, 2019, from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. You can ask questions, tour camp, and see what it’s like to be a camper! First time campers who are not yet registered for the summer and who attend the event can get a discount on their summer registration! To download a flyer for the event, click here: https://www.campmountluther.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/2019-Spring-Open-House-Flyer.pdf

WELCA Day of Learning and Renewal
2019-04-27
The WELCA Day of Learning and Renewal will be on Saturday, April 27th, at Messiah, New Berlin. The morning panel presentation will include either or both Sharon and Talena Truitt who visited Liberia this past January, in addition to Pastor Ann Zimmerman (Moderator), Dr. Robert and Carol Bradford, Carol Harrison, Esther Bratton and Jean Bahner, all of whom have been in Liberia at various times. They will share their knowledge and impressions. Sandy Nelson has just returned from a three-month stay in Liberia and will have a table of artifacts that she is offering in exchange for money donations. She’ll be at the table ready when people arrive and during the lunch hour.
The afternoon will feature a Liberian Fashion Show (with dresses “modeled” by members of the audience) and will have TWO commentators–Ruth Koble and Leilee Boko. Leilee is the daughter of Esther Thomas who visited many WELCA groups and congregations in the synod some 20 years ago while she was President of the Church Women’s Association in Liberia and also Director of the Lutheran Training Institute (LTI) at Totota. Esther brought her school-age son and daughter to relatives in Connecticut so they could escape the dangerous conditions in Liberia that led to the civil war (1990’s) but Esther remained in Liberia. Leilee will be able to share much of her mother’s story, since they are in constant contact. Ruth Koble–affectionately known in Liberia as “Ma Ruth”–helped to establish a Literacy Program at LTI, distributed “seed money” so Liberian women could start mini-industries, and taught American canning methods to another group of women.
Please register in advance with Deb Hackenberger (cost is $10.00) or notify her that you are coming to New Berlin. Phone Deb at 717-363-0277 or email (dktabb@gmail.com). Payment will be accepted at the Day of Learning and Renewal.

Princeton Forum on Youth Ministry
2019-04-23 - 2019-04-24
Join other youth leaders, directors, and pastors on April 23-26 on the campus of Princeton Theological Seminary for a 4-day youth ministry conference. We believe that lives and communities will be transformed when theological reflection meets practical application. This year’s theme is MOVEMENT: Mission, Body, and Justice. For more information, visit iymforum.ptsem.edu. Click here for a flyer: https://www.uss-elca.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Forum-on-Youth-Ministry-2019-2.pdf Click here for a bulletin insert: https://www.uss-elca.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Forum-2019-Bulletin-Handout.pdf

Synod Office Closing
2019-04-19 - 2019-04-22
The Upper Susquehanna Synod Office will be closed on Friday, April 19 and Monday, April 22, 2019 in observance of Good Friday and Easter. The office will reopen at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 23, 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.

CML Early Registration Deadline
2019-04-15 23:59
Register for summer camp at Mount Luther by midnight on April 15, 2019 to get a discount on your summer camp registration! Or, if you bring a friend to camp who’s never been there, you and the friend (or sibling or church buddy) can both get $30 off your registration! Or, first time campers who attend the Spring Open House on April 28 can get a the same discount on their summer registration! Only one discount per camper.
Program information: https://www.campmountluther.org/programs/summer-camp/
Register online at https://registration.campmountluther.org/

College Workshop
2019-04-07 17:00
Four out of five parents send their children to college without knowing how to pay for it. Do you know there are ways to potentially save on your out of pocket costs? If you are the parent of an 8th through 11th grade student, join Thrivent Representative Melissa Apanel on Sunday April 7th at 5:00 p.m. for a free
presentation, “College Planning Strategies” presented by college planning expert and Thrivent representative Chris Grant. You’ll learn why:

applying to more than one college can improve admissions and financial aid chances
a college with high sticker price can turn out to be less costly out of pocket than a competitive public college
similarly situated families can have widely different FAFSA results that can affect their student’s financial aid.

You’ll also learn how to access free college planning tools, resources, and information to make your family’s college planning efforts as effective as possible. Taking on $30,000 in student loan debt (the average debt per borrower at graduation), can’t be the best strategy to starting life after college. Learn how having a solid plan for admissions, focusing on academics, and understanding the financial
process could provide a much better option. Please RSVP to melissa.apanel@thrivent.com or call 570-884-4060 by April 3rd. This event is open to all – please feel free to share with others that may have interest in attending. It will be held at the office of Melissa Apanel, Thrivent Financial, 434 Market St (Iron Front), Lewisburg, PA 17837. Students are encouraged to attend with their parents. No products
will be sold at this event.

New Beginnings #2
2019-04-05 - 2019-04-07
“New Beginnings” is a unique ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Central PA that shares the love of Christ with the middle school-aged (grades 6-8) youth of today. Because of the synod and camp’s partnership with the diocese, Lutheran youth are welcome and encouraged to attend. Throughout the retreat weekend, the high school youth will minister to the middle school youth. “New Beginnings” speaks, listens, and challenges middle school youth to be positive about themselves, their friends, families and their communities, in a critical time in their lives. This ministry reminds them that we are all children of God, we are special, we are loved, and there is nothing that we cannot overcome with Christ. The “New Beginnings” check-in begins at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, April 5th and continues through a special Eucharist at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday the 7th. (The entire weekend concludes around 12 noon). The event is held at Camp Mount Luther. Activities include a series of songs, skits, movie clips, and small group discussions. Topics such as God’s love, prayer, self, friends, parents, siblings, and school is explored with talks introduced by the high school youth and adult members of the team. Cost is $100.00 per participant! That includes housing in cabins with other youth, all meals, a t-shirt and an entire weekend of activities! To register, visit https://tinyurl.com/y78dlyx9. Registration deadline is March 29, 2019. After your registration has been sent in and accepted, you will receive a few additional forms to fill out along with a packing list for the weekend. Please feel free to email or call Mary Ellen Kilp or Theda Tallman at cpayouthcom@gmail.com or 717-475-2785 with questions. Here is a flyer for the event: https://www.uss-elca.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/New-Beginnings-1-Flyer-002.docx

GROW Writers’ Retreat
2019-04-04 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 April 4, 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. Please RSVP to the camp office at cml@campmountluther.org or 570-922-1587.

Conference Assemblies
2019-03-31
All voting members to Synod Assembly are expected to attend their conference assembly.

Juniata Valley: Sunday, March 31, 6:00 PM, Trinity, McAlisterville
Middle Creek: Sunday, March 31, 5:00 PM, Salem, Selinsgrove
North Branch: Sunday, March 31, 2:00 PM, Pine Street, Danville
West Branch: Sunday, March 31, 3:00 PM, Messiah, South Williamsport

LARC Lunch
2019-03-21
Lutheran Anglican and Roman Catholic representatives will hold the next LARC Lunch on Thursday, March 21, at that Harrisburg Diocesan Center (4800 Union Deposit Road, Harrisburg, PA). RSVP by noon on Friday, March 15, to FrJLease@HBGDIOCESE.ORG.

Meeting on Disaster Response Work Trip
2019-03-18 19:00 - 20:00
The Susquehanna Interfaith Network for Disaster Response is facilitating a work trip to North Carolina on May 19-25, 2019. A planning meeting for anyone interested in attending will take place March 18, 2019, at 7:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Milton. Click here for a flyer/more information: https://www.uss-elca.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Poster.pdf. For more information contact Doug Orbaker (dougorbaker@yahoo.com).

Day of Remembrance Essay Deadline
2019-03-15
The Upper Susquehanna Synod Council supports the work of Days of Remembrance, a member of the Association of Holocaust Organizations. Synod Council encourages congregations to publicize the organization’s essay contest, which has a deadline of March 15, 2019. Go to www.daysofremembrance.org/essay-contest for more information. Awards will be announced in early May. There are financial prizes.

Camp Mount Luther Helped by Raise the Region
2019-03-13 18:30 - 2019-03-14 23:59
Camp Mount Luther is participating in “Raise the Region” on March 13-14, 2019. The event, coordinated by The First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania, helps the community support local nonprofit organizations’ fundraising efforts. FCFP, in partnership with Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships, will be launching the 30-hour fundraising event on March 13 and 14, 2019, starting at 6:00 p.m. on March 13 and ending at 11:59 p.m. on March 14. Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships has donated money that will be used to stretch a portion of donations made to pre-registered nonprofits. Additional monetary prizes and incentives will be awarded throughout the entire event. This program is designed to help organizations, like Camp Mount Luther, kickoff 2019 fundraising campaigns and increase donor bases. Proceeds from this event will go to camp’s Annual Fund, unless a donor gets in touch with the camp office to designate it for another camp cause. How it works:

On March 13 and 14, donors will visit raisetheregion.orgfrom a computer, smart phone, iPad, etc. to learn more about the nonprofits participating and how their work is impacting our community.
You can then make an online donation to support one or more of those nonprofit organizations on the Raise the Region website. Running totals will be shown throughout the day at the Raise the Region website.
At the end of the donation period, a pro-rated match per gift will be determined and the Community Foundation will send checks to all participating nonprofits with the amount raised, the pro-rated match, and any EXTRA money from prizes awarded throughout the day.

Camp Mount Luther has participated in Raise the Region for six years and has garnered about $82,000 in donations during this event. The camp hopes you will help us to have another successful year!

Volunteer Chaplain Assistant Training
2019-03-05
UPMC Susquehanna’s Pastoral Care Department announces their Volunteer Chaplain Assistant Training on Tuesday, March 5, 2019, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the UPMC Sunbury Hospital in the ground floor conference room (use main entrance, take elevator to ground floor). Topics include: UPMC Susquehanna’s mission, the structure of a pastoral patient visit, assessing a patient’s spiritual needs, patient-centered listening, and when to pray with a patient. Following the training, Volunteer Chaplain Assistants will be scheduled to shadow with their staff chaplains. If you or someone you know would enjoy being a UPMC Susquehanna VCA please contact JoAnn Welch at 570-546-4128 by February 26, 2019, at welchja2@upmc.edu.

Buffalo Valley Conference Lay School of Theology
2019-03-03 14:00 - 17:30
This event will be from 2:00-5:30 p.m. at Christ’s, Lewisburg, and will feature workshops and educational opportunities. The conference extends an invitation to all to participate in this day of learning and conversation. Continuing Ed contact hours available for Authorized Lay Worship Leaders. To see the schedule and sessions, click here: https://www.uss-elca.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/BV-Lay-School.pdf. You may direct further inquiries to Rev. John Yost, 570-837-9232, prjohnyost@gmail.com. Freewill offering for refreshment costs. Advanced registration is helpful but not necessary. Call 570-837-9232 or 570-524-9778.

Mount Luther Sunday
2019-03-03
The Upper Susquehanna Synod Council has designated that Transfiguration Sunday each year be recognized as “Mount Luther Sunday” to help promote outdoor ministries in the synod. Members of USS congregations are encouraged to celebrate outdoor ministries on this day, March 3, 2019. Mount Luther is an extension of the ministry that is done in local Lutheran congregations. The camp asks that congregations promote the camp on that Sunday or designate another Sunday this spring to do so. Ways to promote the camp include bulletin inserts to share with congregation members, Temple Talks, camper testimonials, bulletin board displays, special camp music during Sunday school and church services, as well as special offering being collected. Ideas are available here: https://www.campmountluther.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Mount-Luther-Sunday-Flyer.pdf. For a bulletin insert to put in your church bulletin, click here: https://www.campmountluther.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/General-Bulletin-Insert.pdf

Conference Assemblies
2019-02-19 08:00 - 17:00
All voting members to Synod Assembly are expected to attend their conference assembly.

Buffalo Valley: Sunday, April 7, 2:00 PM, Zion, Turbotville
Tulpehocken: Sunday, April 7, 1:00 PM, Grace, Shamokin

Synod Council Meeting
2019-02-16 09:30 - 13:30
At Synod Office

Happening #12
2019-02-15 - 2019-02-17
This is a program sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Central PA, held at Camp Mount Luther. Because of the synod and camp’s partnership with the diocese, Lutheran youth are welcome and encouraged to attend. All youth in grades 9-12 are invited for an exciting weekend of fun, friendship, and faith! Youth leadership is a key feature of the Happening program. The entire weekend is led “by youth for youth” with adult supervisions and guidance. Happening is not a traditional church retreat. As a Happener, whether you are a high school student or an adult) yes adults may happen, too!) You will have the opportunity to talk about God, as God is reflected in your daily life, with your peers, the people who will be experiencing the same event with you. Happening is truly an event designed with you and your faith in mind! Finally, a key piece to a happy Happening is dedication to a friendly, accepting, and understanding environment. No matter who you are, where you come from, or what your favorite cereal happens to be, you are welcome with open arms. Please register by February 8, 2019! Click to register: https://tinyurl.com/ycnlgl4q. Cost is $125.00 and scholarships are available.
Please contact Mary Ellen Kilp or Theda Tallman at cpayouthcom@gmail.com for questions. Click here for a flyer about the event: https://www.uss-elca.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Happening-flyer-12.docx

GROW in the Snow
2019-02-08 - 2019-02-09
This year’s synod youth retreat at Camp Mount Luther will be held on February 8-9, 2019. All youth in 6-12th grade and their youth leaders are invited to attend. The theme of this year’s retreat is “The Apps on God’s Tablets,” dealing with the Ten Commandments. Experience your Creator, play winter games and find refreshment in the peace of camp in winter. The retreat is from Friday night to Saturday afternoon, but there is an option for youth and leaders to come just for the day on Saturday. Cost is $60 (whole program) or $40 (Saturday only) if registered by January 29, 2019. A late fee of $25 added after that date. No refunds will be given after the January 29 deadline. Each registered group should provide one adult (21 or over) for every seven youth and at least one adult for each gender represented. Cabin assignments will be made based on available adults and number of youth attending. Contact Chad Hershberger at chad@campmountluther.org with questions. Click here for a flyer and registration form: https://www.campmountluther.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2019-GROW-in-the-Snow-Flyer.pdf

Mental Health First Aid Training at United Lutheran Seminary
2019-02-07
One in five adults will experience a diagnosable mental disorder in any given year. Even if you are not a trained mental health professional, you can be prepared and know what to do when a mental health crisis happens. Mental Health First Aid is a clinically proven training course that will help you identify and respond to the signs of mental health difficulties and give you the skills to apply a 5-step action plan to assess a situation and provide help. Participants will receive a nationally recognized course certificate of completion, a Mental Health First Aid manual, listing of local mental health resources and Certification as a Mental Health First Aid Responder. The eight-hour course is offered by WellSpan Philhaven. This event will be held on February 7, 2019, in Valentine Auditorium on the Gettysburg Campus and on February 26, 2019, at Benbow Hall of Brossman Center on the Philadelphia campus from 8:30-4:30 p.m. Cost is $40 and includes lunch.

Ecumenical Celebration
2019-01-24 12:00 - 13:00
JIn recognition of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity the Roman Catholic Diocese of Scranton will host an Ecumenical Celebration of God’s Word on Thursday, January 24, 2019, at 12:10 p.m., in St Peter’s Cathedral, Scranton. The Rev. Rebecca Tanner, Moderator, Ashley Presbyterian Church, will preach and music will be provided by the students from All Saints Academy, Scranton. All are invited to this service. Bishop Collins encourages all our congregations to remember God’s call to seek the unity of our church, especially during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, January 18-25.
