A Synod-wide Worship opportunity is happening Sunday, January 29, 2023, at 4:00 pm. There will be one worship service in two different places that day: at St. David’s in Davidsville and Trinity in State College. If there is concern about the weather that day, the worship service will move online. Please mark your calendars and plan to join us.

Thursday, November 17 at 6:00 pm via Zoom everyone in our Synod is invited to an online gathering. We will share in devotions, hear some updates and share information about upcoming events. The Zoom link for this event is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87439859880

Friends in Christ, on this last day of October, the last day of Clergy Appreciation Month, I want to express my deep gratitude and appreciation for our pastors, deacons and vicars. I hope you have done the same. Our leaders are dedicated, faithful servants of the Gospel and I am proud of the way they are serving our Synod in challenging times. What concerns me is the way that many of our pastors are treated. We hear people say our pastors aren’t worth what they are paid. We hear people question the pastor’s personal family decisions. We hear individual pastors being blamed for trends that are happening across the whole church—even in denominations other than our own. We hear how their ideas for ministry are openly ridiculed. It’s disturbing and painful to Pastor Kevin and me, but even more so to the ones to whom it is happening. I understand when someone has a bad day and lets off some steam in a stressful situation. However, when this kind of behavior is consistent and chronic, it’s not okay; we end up losing good, solid pastors to other Synods. Believe it or not, word gets around the church pretty quickly that our Synod is one in which it can be hard to serve and it then becomes harder to attract leaders to our Synod. These are challenging times for the church and our world. It’s not easy being a pastor, deacon or vicar these days—and it’s even harder when one is up against disrespect and humiliation. Belittling each other or demanding your own way is not the way forward. The Apostle Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthian church tells us that Jesus calls us to “a still more excellent way”—the way of love because “love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) Not every congregation in our Synod is experiencing these challenges, but it seems to be a growing trend. Pastor Kevin and I are committed to finding ways to make a shift in this culture and call us back to our center—Jesus and his enduring love—but we can’t do it alone. Will you be someone who commits to helping change the trend? Will you commit to praying for your pastor, deacon or vicar every day—especially when you might not agree with something that was said or done? Will you pray for the courage to challenge others who might be displaying bad behavior and to do it with respect and love? If you haven’t yet expressed your appreciation for your pastor, deacon or vicar, I hope you will take a moment today to do it. You’ll never know what one kind word can mean amidst challenges you may never hear about. +Bishop Paula

Please click on the links below for information on the Allegheny Synod 2022 Making Ministry Stronger Day of Learning Event and the Registration Form. If you have questions, please contact the Synod office - office@alleghenysynod.com or 814-942-1042.

Please click the link below for the Allegheny Synodical Women's Organization The Courier 2022 Convention Issue which includes important information and registration forms.

Please click the link below for information and registration for Lutheran Day at the Altoona Curve.

Every year in October the Lutheran Parish Secretaries group holds a seminar for parish admins. Below please find links to a flyer and registration form.

You are invited to join with others from across the Allegheny Synod for a Synod-Wide worship service with Holy Communion and the Rite of Installation for the Rev. Kevin Shock, Director for Evangelical Mission and Assistant to the Bishop. We will gather on Sunday, July 24 at 3:00 pm at Zion Lutheran Church, 500 Allegheny St., Hollidaysburg. Clergy are invited to vest and process. The color of the day is green. Light refreshments will follow in Zion's fellowship hall.

Allegheny Synod Alternative Youth Gathering When: July 20 - 24, 2022 Where: Two nights in Washington D.C. and Two nights at Caroline Furnace Lutheran Camp in Fort Valley, Virginia Costs: Approximately $700 per person. For: Current 8th - 12th Graders With the cancellation of our National Youth Gathering this summer we have organized an alternative option for our high school youth. Join with youth across the synod to explore our nation’s capital. We will be visiting the National Cathedral, museums, and other sights in the city and then enjoy recreational time at a local camp. If your youth are interested in participating or if you have questions, please contact Pastor Amanda McCaffery at pastor.amanda.mccaffery@gmail.com. Interest Deadline: Wednesday, April 20. The registration form is below for your convenience.

When I was in the third grade, my grandparent’s shoe and clothing business burned to the ground—literally. I distinctly remember standing on the parking lot with my family and seeing a big rectangle of thick, black ash. That was all that was left. We eventually found a few small items that survived, but everything else was reduced to this pile of ash. I think about that day almost every Ash Wednesday as the black, sooty cross is traced on my forehead and I hear the words, “Remember that you are dust and to dust you will return.” I saw a tangible reminder of that fact after the fire that I carry with me. I also saw new life emerge from those ashes when the community came together to clean up and start over. That’s what Jesus does for us, too—cleans us up and gives us new life—a chance to start over when we’ve made a mess of things. On Ash Wednesday, we face our own mortality—not only our physical death, but the “little deaths” all along the way as a result of our sin. In The Invitation To Lent we hear, “We begin this holy season by acknowledging our need for repentance and for God’s mercy. We are created to experience joy in communion with God, to love one another, and to live in harmony with creation. But our sinful rebellion separates us from God, our neighbors, and creation, so that we do not enjoy the life our creator intended.” Throughout this season we will be called through Scripture to be renewed in Christ and to share His love through praying, fasting, sacrificial giving and works of love. We will be assured of God’s great love for us through Jesus’ action on the cross. I pray that in this season you will find rest and renewal; that your passion for sharing Christ’s love will be rekindled and that you will know more fully the great love Jesus has for you. Peace be yours, +Bishop Paula Schmitt

After much prayer, conversation and tears, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the 2022 Gathering, MYLE and the tAble due to the ongoing pandemic, the recent COVID-19 surge and public health considerations. We know there are thousands of young people who will not get to experience the Gathering, and our hearts break for them. This was not an easy decision, and we ask for your prayers and your grace. We understand the impact this decision will have on our youth, volunteers and planning teams, and we hope to return to Minneapolis for a future Gathering. Registered congregations can visit their registration accounts starting Monday, Feb. 7, to select their desired refund option. For more information and FAQs, please visit elca.org/Gathering. With God’s power at work in and through us, we can do far more than we dare ask or imagine! The ELCA is fully committed to supporting the young people of our church and to seeing that the ministry of the Gathering, MYLE and the tAble continue for years to come. With that assurance, we are turning our attention toward 2024 for the next Gathering. Stay tuned to Gathering communications for a location announcement this summer. Grace and peace.