Upper Susquehanna Synod

LARC Luncheon
2018-03-22
Our synod has participated in Lutheran, Anglican, Roman Catholic (LARC) dialog since its inception. Together with the Lower Susquehanna Synod, Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania, and Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg, we entered into covenant in 1993, committing ourselves to “leading the church to greater unity”. The commitments we made in that covenant continue to be lived out in our congregations and in bi-monthly lunch dialogs at the Diocese of Harrisburg Keeler Center. Anyone interested in joining the conversation may attend these lunches – contact Rev. Craig Miller for more information or to be added to the notification list. Dates for 2018 include March 22, May 22, July 26, September 18, November 15.

Multi-Point Pastors Gathering
2018-03-21 11:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Multi-point pastors gathering from 11:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. at the synod office.

Synod Council Meeting
2018-03-17 09:00 - 14:00
At Synod Office

Lutheran Marriage Encounter Weekend
2018-03-16 - 2018-03-18
Your marriage relationship is one of the things in life that provides the greatest potential for happiness. Is yours living up to this potential? Please make 2018 the year you resolve to attend a Lutheran Marriage Encounter Weekend to learn how to maximize the joy and intimacy that God intends for your marriage. The following weekends have been scheduled with one more to be added in Massachusetts in the fall.

March 16-18, 2018, at Heritage Hotel Lancaster in Lancaster, PA. A newly-renovated hotel, home of the unique treehouse-inspired restaurant, “Loxley’s.”
April 6-8, 2018, at Toftrees Golf Resort in State College PA. A peaceful resort surrounded by a golf course and nestled in the woods in the center of PA.
September 14-16, 2018, at Spruce Lake Retreat in Canadensis, PA. A lovely hotel-style facility In a wooded area of the Poconos, an hour north of Allentown.
October 19-21, 2018, at Olmsted Retreat Center. A stunning, hotel-style retreat next to Olmsted Mansion in Allegheny National Forest, 2 hours north of Pittsburgh.

Two nights lodging, five meals for each of you, and all supplies are included with your $100 per couple registration fee, plus toward the end of the weekend you will be given an opportunity to make a confidential contribution of whatever amount you wish toward the continuation of the program. To be sure to get the Weekend of your choice, sign up at your earliest convenience by going to the website: www.GodLovesMarriage.org and paying the registration fee with your credit card, or marking the option to mail a check. For questions, or if you would like a brochure with registration form mailed to you, contact Northeast US Directors of Lutheran Marriage Encounter, Fred & Julie Schamber, at 724-325-3166 or fjschamber@comcast.net.

Camp Mount Luther is Helped by Raise the Region
2018-03-14 18:00 - 2018-03-15 23:59
Camp Mount Luther is participating in “Raise the Region” on March 14-15, 2018. The event, coordinated by The First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania, helps the community support local nonprofit organizations’ fund raising efforts. FCFP, in partnership with Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships, will be launching the 30-hour fundraising event on March 14 and 15, 2018, starting at 6:00 p.m. on March 14 and ending at 11:59 p.m. on March 15. Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships has donated $150,000 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 our 2018 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 14 and 15, 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 five years and has garnered about $65,000 in donations during this event. The camp hopes you will help us to have another successful year!

"New Tax Law: New Giving Opportunities" Information Session
2018-03-11 14:00 - 15:00
“New Tax Law, New Ways to Give” is a workshop that will look at how the new tax laws might affect you. If you currently take the required minimum distribution from an IRA or are a church leader concerned about how the new tax law will affect congregation giving, this one-hour session hosted by our synod’s Gift Planner is for you. The workshop will be presented by Rev. Elizabeth Polanzke, ELCA Regional Gift Planner. It will be held on Sunday, March 11, 2018, at 2:00 p.m. at Camp Mount Luther, 355 Mt. Luther Lane, Mifflinburg. For more information, please contact Pastor Liz Polanzke at 717-654-2334 or elizabeth.polanzke@elca.org. To download a flyer for this event, click http://www.uss-elca.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/USS_Giving_Poster.pdf

Radical Inclusion
2018-03-07 - 2018-03-09
Progressive Youth Ministry presents “Radical Inclusion” on March 7-9, 2018. Cost is $199 and will be held at the Montreat Conference Center in North Carolina. Keynote speakers include Andrew Root, Monica Coleman, Ben Connor, and Abbi Long. Preachers include Ashley Birt and Alice Conner. For more information, visit ProgessiveYouthMinisty.org.

Jonathan Rundman Concert
2018-03-03 19:00 - 20:00
Jonathan Rundman, contemporary rock/folk musician, will perform at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Lancaster on Saturday, March 3, 2018, at 7:00 p.m. This is part of the Musical Arts series at St. Peter’s. Come for what promises to be an uplifting evening of beautiful music. For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/events/343210709443562/. Come back Sunday, March 4th as Jonathan will be helping to lead worship at their New Day service, too.

Church Pot Pie Supper in Western Union County
2018-03-03 15:30 - 17:00
Christ’s United, Millmont, will be holding their spring Pot Pie Supper on Saturday, March 3, 2018, starting at 3:30 p.m. Ham, Chicken and Beef Pot Pie will be available. Meals include applesauce, pickled cabbage, roll, beverage and cake. Dinners and quarts of pot pie are available for take-out. For more information call us at (570) 922-1860, email potpie@4bellschurch.com or visit www.4bellschurch.com.

ALDE IGNITE in Minneapolis
2018-02-28 - 2018-03-03
Learn how to take your mission to the next level at IGNITE: Minneapolis 2018, February 28-March 3. This conference will include top-notch keynote speakers as well as rich curriculum sessions and network building opportunities for those with congregational leadership, fundraising, communications, or marketing roles. If you are looking to grow an already vibrant organization, need to reenergize a once-thriving program or are guiding an organization that’s just in its infancy, ALDE is here for you. View the curriculum. Find out more at ignitespark.org. Register now at www.alde.org/register. Early Bird Rates expire January 10. Please note that it is less expensive to become an ALDE member, and then register as a member, than it is to attend as a nonmember. So, you might as well join and take advantage of all ALDE offers year-round. Why ALDE? Click here and find out! Who attends this conference? People just like you who are ready to learn, connect and experience career and mission changing curriculum. In 2017, attendees held such titles as: Pastor, Principal, Board Member, Chief Development Officer, Major Gifts Officer, CEO, Executive Director Consultant, Annual Fund Director, Special Events Coordinator, Director of Marketing, and many more — so you are certain to make a strong peer connection at this event. The conference offers content for every area of the development profession, and for congregational leaders.
Can’t make it to the full event, or looking to save money? Try the day rate! Attend just one day for a very reduced price. March 1 offers several curriculum sessions designed with pastors and congregational leaders in mind. Topics include: Igniting Donor ATM (Abilities, Time, and Money); Kindling the Spiritual Meaning of Philanthropy; and IGNITING Planned Giving for Churches and Schools. Other days highlight additional focus points. Win a $6,000 Consulting Grant There’s even more you can gain from attending IGNITE. We are offering the chance to win a Pro Bono Consultation from Gronlund Sayther Brunkow to someone who is new to ALDE, or has been a member for less than five years. This could be you, but you must attend IGNITE! Learn about the opportunity and sign up now to win at bit.ly/aldegrant (case sensitive). ALDE inspires, educates and mentors the Christian fundraising community to spark generosity for mission. We are an international community of fundraising and communication professionals rooted in the Lutheran tradition of the Christian faith and dedicated to serving God’s people in the church and the world.

Healthy Congregations Facilitator Training
2018-02-16 - 2018-02-17
Interested in investing in your own leadership and the vitality of your congregation? Our synod will host a two-day training for those interested in becoming facilitators for Healthy Congregations. This training will take place at the synod office – 500 Reitz Blvd, Lewisburg. Healthy Congregations Facilitator Training provides faith communities with the perspective and challenge that contribute toward health and thoughtful mission and ministry in these exciting and transformative times. An introduction to the thinking behind the workshops will be offered as well as an overview of the resources that facilitators will have access to following the training. Discounted registration has ended; if you would like to attend this workshop visit the Healthy Congregations website: https://www.healthycongregations.com/event/healthy-congregations-inc-facilitator-training/. For more information contact Assistant to the Bishop Craig Miller: prcmiller@uss-elca.org or 570-524-9778.

Mount Luther Sunday
2018-02-11
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, February 11, 2018. 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/2017/12/2018-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/2017/12/General-Bulletin-Insert.pdf

Disaster Response Meeting
2018-02-10 10:00 - 12:00
NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY! Those interested in participating in Disaster Response Work Teams are encouraged to attend an informational meeting at the synod office (500 Reitz Blvd, Lewisburg) on Saturday, February 10, 2017, from 10:00 a.m.-noon. Plans are underway to arrange for up to four ecumenical work trips this year to places such as Houston, Florida and Puerto Rico. For information, contact Craig Miller, Assistant to the Bishop.

GROW in the Snow
2018-02-09 - 2018-02-10
This year’s synod youth retreat at Camp Mount Luther will be held on February 9-10, 2018. All youth in 6-12th grade and their youth leaders are invited to attend. The theme of this year’s retreat is “Hello God, It’s Me,” dealing with prayer. 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 $59 (whole program) or $40 (Saturday only) if registered by January 30, 2017. A late fee of $25 added after that date. No refunds will be given after the January 30 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/2017/11/2018-GROW-in-the-Snow-Flyer.pdf.

Camp Mount Luther Turkey Benefit Dinner
2018-01-21 16:00 - 18:00
This event will celebrate Benjamin Franklin’s Birthday. Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird of our country. Camp Mount Luther thought it would be fitting to have a turkey dinner to honor his January birthday! You are invited to come to his birthday party and support camp at the same time! The dinner will be held on Sunday, January 21, 2018, from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at the Evergreen Center at Mount Luther. The menu will consist of turkey and all the trimmings. Cost for the meal is $14 per person. Reservations are required and can be made by contacting the camp office at (570) 922-1587 or cml@campmountluther.org. Deadline for reservations is Tuesday, January 16, 2018, at 9:00 a.m. To download a bulletin insert/flyer at the dinner, click here: https://www.campmountluther.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2017-Turkey-Dinner-Flyer.pdf

Camp Mount Luther Camperson Meeting
2018-01-21 15:00 - 16:00
The annual meeting for Camp Mount Luther Campersons is Sunday, January 21, 2018, starting at 3:00 p.m. The camp is an extension of local congregational ministry and wants every member of the Upper Susquehanna Synod to know what is happening with this important ministry. To do that, Mount Luther has CAMPERSONS! A camperson is a liaison between CAMP and your CONGREGATION, who is interested in camp and wants to regularly share camp news with others. Parents of campers, past campers or staff, or someone with a genuine interest in outdoor ministry makes a great camperson. Campersons are ambassadors and promote camping ministry in your congregation. Each synod congregation is asked to send a representative to this event to learn more. Campersons will

Share Information
Plan and Coordinate a Camp Sunday
Recognize Campers
Reach Out to promote outdoor ministries
Support camp fundraising efforts

Each congregation who sends a camperson to this event will receive Camel Bucks for the camp store for each camper. For more information, visit http://wp.me/P7aFC9-y2

Here is a bulletin insert/flyer to promote this event in your congregation: https://www.campmountluther.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2018-Camperson-Meeting-Flyer.pdf

Synod Office Closed
2018-01-15
The Upper Susquehanna Synod Office will be closed on Monday, January 15, 2018, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The office will reopen at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 16, 2018. 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.
A blessed weekend to all!

Synod Office Closed
2017-12-25 - 2018-01-01
The Upper Susquehanna Synod Office will be closed from Monday, December 25, 2017, to Monday, January 1, 2018, in observance of the Christmas and New Years holidays. The office will reopen at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 2, 2018. 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. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Upper Susquehanna Synod Staff.

Active Shooter Response Training
2017-12-18 10:00 - 11:30
In light of recent mass shooting events, church leaders have asked to have training in how to respond if an active shooter comes into the building. United Lutheran Seminary will offer this training at the Gettysburg campus December 18th led by the Safety & Security team of Gettysburg College. This event is open to all interested persons who wish to receive such training. Questions can be directed to Chelle Huth, Director of Lifelong Learning, United Lutheran Seminary at chuth@uls.edu. It is a busy time of year, but ULS wanted to offer this in a timely manner. Another training will be scheduled in the new year. The Active Shooter Response Training will be held on Monday, December 18, 2017, from 10:00 a.m. -11:30 a.m. at the Church of the Abiding Presence on the United Lutheran Seminary Gettysburg Campus. Cost is $10 per person, payable at the door (reservations/registration not necessary).

Multi-Point Pastors Gathering
2017-12-13 11:00 - 13:00
Multi-Point Pastors Gathering
Multi-point pastors gathering from 11:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. at the synod office.

Holiday Breakfast
2017-12-09 09:00 - 11:00
Diakon’s Buffalo Valley Lutheran Village and Camp Mount Luther are teaming up to provide a fun morning of food, fellowship, and Christmas crafts and games on Saturday, December 9, 2017. The breakfast will feature an appearance and photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, chocolate chip pancakes, craft stations, and cut-out cookies. Space is limited. Call Gretchen at 570-523-4285 to RSVP. The event will be from 9:00-11:00 a.m. at the Buffalo Valley Lutheran Village Common Building. For more information and a flyer to help publicize this event to your friends, visit https://www.campmountluther.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/SLS-BV-Breakfast-With-Santa-4Q-B-2017-4.pdf.

Ecumenical Stewardship Center’s Generosity NEXT
2017-11-29 - 2017-12-01
Generosity Next takes place November 29 – December 1 in Nashville, Tennessee. It explores how current culture informs faithful stewardship and generous giving. This year’s topic is Stewardship & Generosity: Are We Doing All We Can? Engage with keynote speakers Steve Manskar and Anne Burkholder as we explore John Wesley’s well-known sermons about money and their relevance for generous stewards of the 21st century. Connect with Christian sisters and brothers who share a passion for faithful stewardship and generous giving. Be inspired through meaningful worship, insightful presentations, and thoughtful conversation. Become better equipped to lead others in their discipleship journeys of becoming faithful stewards and generous givers. Contact Pastor Craig Miller in the Synod Office for information on ELCA sponsored registration. Information about Generosity NEXT and registration can be found at https://stewardshipresources.org/generosity-next

Lecture at Bucknell University
2017-11-09 19:00 - 20:00
“Genuine Love in the Reformation” is the title of a lecture on November 9, 2017, at 7:00 p.m. at Bucknell University. It will be held in the LC Forum and feature Peter Iver Kaufman, George Matthews & Virginia Brinkley Modin Chair in Leadership Studies, Jepson School of Leadership Studies, University of Richmond.

Healthy Congregations Workshop
2017-11-04 09:00 - 14:30
On Saturday, November 4, 2017, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., there will be a workshop held titled, “Healthy Congregations 2.” The workshop will focus on dealing with anxiety in your congregation. The event will be held at St. John Lutheran Church, 229 South Broad Street, Jersey Shore. It’s designed for any member of a congregation and is free of charge. Lunch will be provided. Please register by calling Molly Mitchell at 570-398-1676.

Evening at Shade Mountain to Benefit Mount Luther
2017-11-03 18:00 - 20:00
Come to Shade Mountain Winery to share fellowship, entertainment, and enjoy locally produced wine, all to benefit Camp Mount Luther. The event runs from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Entertainment will be provided by Bernie Rich, a local musician who sings contemporary folk music and Christian anthems. The menu will include heavy appetizers, dessert, and one glass of wine per person. SPACE IS LIMITED. Please make your reservations with the camp office at 570-922-1587 or cml@campmountluther.org. If you choose to purchase any bottles of wine that evening, a portion of the proceeds will be given to Mount Luther. We ask all participants to make a donation to the camp that evening, equal or greater to the food and entertainment provided. Download a flyer/bulletin insert here: https://www.campmountluther.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/2017-Shade-Mountain-Winery-Flyer.pdf

Looking Back and Called Forward—ELCA 500
2017-10-31
This event, commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, will feature ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton as co-host. It will also include speakers and a service at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Bishop Eaton will be joined by co-hosts Indiana-Kentucky Synod Bishop Bill Gafkjen, ELCA Vice President Bill Horne and Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Synod Bishop Dick Graham. The event is open to the public and will be available online via livestream. All are invited to participate and honor the Reformation anniversary as we bear public witness to Christ, who frees us to love and serve our neighbor, and as we look to the future to which God is calling us. More details will be available soon at https://elca500.org/events/looking-back-called-forward-elca-500-washington-d-c/

Community Reformation Service
2017-10-29 10:00 - 12:00
All are invited to celebrate the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation at the Liberty Community Reformation Service. The service is being held by several churches including the Liberty Lutheran Parish and other denominations in the Liberty area. It will take place on Sunday, October 29, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. in the Liberty High School Auditorium in Liberty. Following worship, there will be food and fellowship.

LARC Vespers and Day of Dialogue
2017-10-22 - 2017-10-23
Bishop Barbara J. Collins invites you to celebrate our Ecumenical relationships with the Lutheran-Anglican-Roman Catholic (LARC) dialog with the LARC Vespers on Sunday, October 22, 2017, at the United Lutheran Seminary (Gettysburg Campus) Chapel. The liturgy for the evening will follow the order used at Lund, Sweden, to celebrate the ecumenical strides made between Roman Catholics and Lutherans. Worship begins at 4:00 p.m. and will be followed by refreshments in the seminary refectory. Click here to download a flyer. The LARC Day of Dialogue will be Monday, October 23, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Cardinal Keeler Center. The events will take special note of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation as well as our progress on the path to Christian Unity. Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod Bishop Emeritus Donald J. McCoid, who as Executive for Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) had a key role in developing the document Declaration on the Way, will be the speaker for the Day of Dialogue. A registration form is available here: http://www.uss-elca.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-LARC-Registration-form.pdf

WELCA Action Day
2017-10-21 11:00 - 12:00
The Mission Action Committee of the Women of the ELCA, Upper Susquehanna Synod, announces its Action Day at the Synod Office. Action Day will be Saturday, October 21st, at 11:00 a.m. The topic is “Caring for Your Congregation and Your Neighbors. Speaker will be Ryan Versulisu, discussing Stephen Minstry. He was involved in the Stephen Ministry program at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church, Hamlin, N.Y. where he trained two classes of new ministers and supervised active Stephen Ministers. He moved to Danville, PA, in 2013 to help his wife care for her parents and joined Pine Street Lutheran Church. There he restarted a Stephen Ministry program and trained new Stephen Ministers and is recruiting new members. He, with his wife, had served in a hospice home and Ryan serves two days a week as a hospital volunteer chaplain at Geisinger Medical Center.

The Day of Advocacy program is free. They will be collecting a free-will offering. The day promises to be exciting! Bring a packed lunch, dessert and beverages will be provided.

Building Youth Group Event at Camp Mount Luther
2017-10-21 10:00 - 16:00
Keep your youth group strong and growing by laying a foundation for its future members! Bring your youth to Camp Mount Luther for BYG, a fun community building time. We’ll work with you and your campers to facilitate relationship-building experiences. Youth leaders, pastors, and parents should bring as many as you can in this age bracket to help build comfort and trust within your future youth group. Come along- bring the youth leader, pastor, or parents with your kids. Camp Mount Luther invites you to bring one adult free for every seven kids you bring to camp. Additional adults come for half of the participant’s fee. We’ll have team building, reflection time on God’s Word, Frisbee golf, ropes course, and fellowship. Our theme this year is “Pray!” Cost for the program is $22.00, which runs from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Each participant is asked to bring a bag lunch. To register, call the Camp Mount Luther office at 570-922-1587 or e-mail cml@campmountluther.org. Click here to download a flyer/bulletin insert: https://www.campmountluther.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-BYG-Day-Long-Flyer.pdf. Deadline to register is October 16, 2017 at 3:00 p.m.
