Upper Susquehanna Synod

“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.

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.

Dandelion Trail Run at CML
2019-08-31 09:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
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.

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.

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/

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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/

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

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
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.
