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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.

Below is the link for the current job posting of Assistant to the Bishop/Director for Evangelical Mission for the Allegheny Synod. The opening was made active earlier this week. Careers - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (atsondemand.com) If you wish to apply, please use the link provided and have an updated, active RMP in the ELCA database. Interviews will be scheduled in collaboration with the ELCA CCL Home Team.

Beloved in Christ, We pray you are blessed as we continue in the season of Advent. As we prepare for the celebration of our Lord’s birth at Christmas, the staff of the Allegheny Synod Office wanted to send you our Christmas greetings. We ask you to please share this greeting with the members of your congregations. Please feel free to forward this message to your distribution lists. We pray that you will know the peace and presence of our Lord Jesus as walk through these days of Advent and prepare for the celebration of Christmas. This has been a challenging year. May the celebration of our Lord’s birth remind us that he is the light who has come into the darkness and the darkness shall not overcome it. No matter what we face in this world, our Lord and Savior stands with us and the power of the Holy Spirit is leading us forward. May we know the comfort of the presence of our Lord in these days. Remember he promised to be with us always and until the end of that age. May God be with you and may we all have a blessed Christmas and a happy new year. In Christ, Your Allegheny Synod Office Staff Bishop Michael Rhyne Pastor Becca Ehrlich Mrs. Michelle Bossler

Please click the link below to download the bulletin for the Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Ordination of Women.

Please click here for the Allegheny Synod Women's Organization Fall 2020 Newsletter.

Please click here for the 2020 Blanket Sunday and LWR Collection information from the Allegheny Synod Women's Organization.

I am writing to make you aware that today July 15, 2020, Governor Wolf issued an executive order limiting the size of gatherings in the state of PA to 25 people indoors and 250 people outdoors. Below is a link to information about the governor’s order below. https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/wolf-administration-announces-targeted-mitigation-efforts-in-response-to-recent-covid-case-increases/ This will limit the size of in person gatherings we can have for indoor worship. For some of our congregations they will be able to worship because they do not have over 25 persons at a service. For those that would exceed 25 people you may consider going back to online services, or streaming a live service with a maximum of 25 persons gathered for indoor in person worship. The governor orders all business to use telework unless not possible. That means our congregation offices can be open, unless your office manager or church secretary can do their job remotely. At this time, your sexton or housekeeper would be allowed to perform their duties in the building since these tasks cannot be completed remotely. The order also encourages us to continue the practice of social distancing when we are in our offices. Beginning Monday the Synod staff will be working remotely. We will continue to have meetings via Zoom. If you need individual meetings with the Synod staff we will schedule meetings via Zoom or telephone. If you have an issue that requires that we must meet in person, please contact the Bishop or Synod staff and we will make arrangements to meet safely. The Governor’s order also requires people to wear masks when they are away from home, and not participating in outdoor physical activity. This means all our people should be wearing masks for in-person meetings and in worship. As we get more information we will pass it along to you. May God bless you and keep you +Bishop Michael