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At Caring.com, we understand that making the right financial decisions when it comes to senior care can be complex and challenging. As seniors and their families navigate the various options for in-home care, understanding the payment methods and financial assistance available is paramount. In this guide, we provide you with a wealth of information and resources to help demystify the process, ensuring that seniors can receive the care they need while making informed financial choices. Whether you're a family caregiver or a senior seeking in-home care services, this guide is your roadmap to understanding the financial aspects of accessing quality care in the comfort of your own home: https://www.caring.com/senior-care/in-home-care/how-to-pay/.

AN EXCITING SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT Below is a news release concerning a grant from the Lilly Foundation. The Allegheny Synod, in partnership with the Upper Susquehanna Synod and the Northwestern PA Synod has been granted $1.25 million for our program Go Tell It In The Mountains, as part of the Compelling Preaching Initiative. This is exciting news! We are grateful to our writing team: Nathan Pile, Kevin Shock, Bishop Emeritus Pile, Barb Pile, Judy Gotwald, Jake Jacobson, Karla Leiby, Lisa Barnes and Diane Bubb. Soon you will be hearing more about how you can be involved in this robust preaching initiative in our Synod. SUMMARY OF THE CONFERENCE OF BISHOPS MEETING Below is a summary of the Conference of Bishops meeting. WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY Resources for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity held January 18-25, 2024 are available now at www.geii.org/order

If you have any interest in the Ricoh toner cartridges and/or staples listed below, please call or email Becky Whipkey at becky.whipkey@gmail.com or 814-483-6431.

We continue to have issues with Allegheny Synod email addresses communicating well with Gmail accounts for the group emails we send. To help with this issue, you can add the synod staff email addresses to your Google Contacts on the web or in the Google Contacts app. Office: office@alleghenysynod.com Bishop Paula: bishop.paula@alleghenysynod.com Pastor Kevin: kevin.shock@alleghenysynod.com Michelle Bossler: Michelle.Bossler@alleghenysynod.com

Please click the links below for more information regarding The Weekend youth event and registration materials in two different formats for your convenience. Early bird registration ends October 15!

ST. LUKE EPISCOPAL CHURCH FOOD PANTRY BENEFIT Below is a flyer for a fundraiser for the food pantry at St. Luke Episcopal Church in Altoona. please share as you are able. BLANKET SUNDAY INFORMATION If your congregation has made blankets or quilts for Lutheran World Relief and needs information for delivery, a mailing was sent from the Allegheny Synod Women’s Organization. If you did not receive the mailing, please contact Fay Dellinger, fldellinger@embarqmail.com or 814-276-3192. LAMPa news Season of Creation Begins as World Leaders Prepare to Gather The Season of Creation is an international, ecumenical, liturgical movement inviting Christians of all backgrounds and nationalities into a month-long season of hearing the cries of creation, raising our awareness of the new thing God is doing, and advocating for policies around the world that expand environmental justice. From September 1 – October 4 (the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi), individuals, congregations and communities are invited to participate in this world-wide movement through prayer, communal worship, and action. Begin today! Join LAMPa's statewide creation care network. Urge Congress to reform disaster response. Learn about other ways to participate with the global church as we give thanks and act for our common home. As we enter this season, the U.S. is experiencing a year of disasters reflecting the accelerating consequences of the climate crisis, even as global leaders prepare to meet in New York for United Nations summits on climate ambition and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 2023 report of the International Panel on Climate Change points to a path for a livable future — if we act together now. The cries are urgent, but we are called to act in hope. MIRACLE OF CHRISTMAS BUS TRIP Below is a flyer with information for a bus trip to see The Miracle of Christmas at Sight and Sound. SYMPOSIUM OF EVANGELICAL LUTHERANS IN APPALACHIA (SELA) Below is an information page about the upcoming SELA event being held at ULS, Gettysburg.

Johnstown Banishment Vigil on September 7th Our friends in the United Methodist Church are planning an event in Johnstown: The commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Johnstown Banishment, in which around 2,000 African American and Mexican American people were given 24 hours to leave Johnstown after a shooting that left several people dead. Here are some links to information about the banishment and events: https://www.wpaumc.org/johnstown-banishment https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rosedale-remembered-a-commemoration-of-shame-and-commitment-to-change-tickets-443058659377 NOMINATIONS FOR SYNOD COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS As you know, we did not have enough people nominated to fill open vacancies on some Synod committees. Below is a list of vacancies on Synod Committees. HERE is a link to the Constitution. See notes below for where the description of the committee can be found. If there is someone in your congregation who could fulfill a vacancy, please be in contact with Pastor Kevin or Bishop Paula before September 10 so we can contact people and have their names added to the Synod Council material for its next meeting on September 23. Synod Council: 1 lay male, 2 year term; 1 youth member, 2 year term [Constitution, Chapter 10, begins on page 17] Consultation: 1 lay female, 3 year term; 1 lay female, 6 year term [Constitution, Chapter 11, begins on page 23 and Chapter 17 begins on page 40 and Chapter 14 begins on page 29] Discipline: 1 lay female, 3 year term; 2 lay female, 6 year term; 2 lay male 6 year term [Constitution, same a consultation] FREE WEBINAR The Rev. Dr. Mark Yackel-Juleen and Pr. Peter Soli will host a free webinar focusing on adaptations a congregation might take to sustain or renew their ministry. They will share their experiences of accompanying congregations considering making change. This is an opportunity to sample the course and learn more. The Practical Tools Webinar is scheduled for Friday, September 1, at 11:30 AM. Click HERE to register and for more information. LUTHERAN LETTER SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER EDITION The latest edition of the Lutheran Letter is here Join European Descent Lutheran Association for Racial Justice (EDLARJ) in Minneapolis for: community building racial justice education shaping the future of EDLARJ. Every three years, EDLARJ meets to build community, learn about racial justice, and to shape the future of EDLARJ. This year, we will be gathering in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Our time there will include: A pilgrimage to George Floyd Square co-lead by ELCA Racial Justice office; Conversations with community members; Worship & meals together; Discussions on what EDLARJ does, where we are hoping to go, and how you can take part; Elections of new board members and officers …and more! Logistics Schedule: Registration time: October 12, 3:00pm CST Closing: October 14, 3:00pm CST Registration cost: $250/per person (This covers meals, transportation to and from George Floyd Square, and assembly materials.) An offering will be taken at worship for the American Indian Alaska Native Association (ELCA) and MIGIZI, a Minneapolis non-profit supporting American Indian youth. Hotel Information: We have reserved a block of rooms at Aloft Minneapolis , 900 Washington Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, 55415 The Aloft Hotel is .3 miles from the Metro Light Rail Blue Line stop, which you can take directly from the Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport. You are responsible for obtaining transportation to/from and around Minneapolis with the exception of our group pilgrimage to George Floyd Square. Register Here! BY SEPTEMBER 15

LOVE MADE REAL The ELCA’s Future Church Initiative has evolved into God’s Love Made Real. Visit the website below to learn more about our ministry goals and to take a survey that will assist in ministry moving forward. https://lovemadereal.elca.org/ NOMINATIONS FOR SYNOD COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS As you know, we did not have enough people nominated to fill open vacancies on some Synod committees. Below is a list of vacancies on Synod Committees. HERE is a link to the Constitution. See notes below for where the description of the committee can be found. If there is someone in your congregation who could fulfill a vacancy, please be in contact with Pastor Kevin or Bishop Paula before September 10 so we can contact people and have their names added to the Synod Council material for its next meeting on September 23. Synod Council: 1 lay male, 2 year term; 1 youth member, 2 year term [Constitution, Chapter 10, begins on page 17] Consultation: 1 lay female, 3 year term; 1 lay female, 6 year term [Constitution, Chapter 11, begins on page 23 and Chapter 17 begins on page 40 and Chapter 14 begins on page 29] Discipline: 1 lay female, 3 year term; 2 lay female, 6 year term; 2 lay male 6 year term [Constitution, same a consultation]

Lutheran Men In Mission The Summer newsletter for Lutheran Men in Mission is below Resourceful Servants E-mail You probably received an email from the ELCA concerning the Resourceful Servants Emergency Savings program. If not, here is the e-mail. Included in the message are these links for more information: Find out if you qualify for the Emergency Savings/Congregational Financial Assessment Program by visiting our website, reviewing the introductory booklet and completing the Financial Wellness Assessment. Through the website you can also register to attend an introductory webinar on Aug. 24. The due date to complete the Financial Wellness Assessment and included program application is Sept. 20. God’s work. Our hands. Sunday Project ideas, resources and other information can be found here. Invitation to Ordination You're Invited To A Service of Holy Communion with the Rite of Ordination for Laura Waltermire. Wednesday, August 23, 2023 + 5:30 pm. Messiah Lutheran Church, 144 Jubilee Street, Rockwood, PA. Clergy are invited to vest and process. The color of the day is red. If you plan to vest and process, please arrive at the church no later than 5:00 pm. Clergy will be invited forward for the laying on of hands. Laura is called to serve St. Mark, Pleasant Gap. Administrative Opening St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Martinsburg, is seeking an Administrative Assistant who is proficient in clerical and computer skills and demonstrates professional courtesy in communication and confidentiality. Part time position: 12-15 morning hours, 4-5 days weekly. If interested, please contact PrTraciStMatthewMartinsburg@gmail.com. Best Practices for safer online worship A discussion is taking place within the Conference of Bishops regarding safer practices for online worship since several reports have been received from pastors who have discovered several of their services which are archived on YouTube receiving significantly higher viewership. A more detailed analysis indicated that the folks viewing them were focusing on the children's sermons, especially when the kids' underwear was showing or the kids were spreading their legs. If you are providing online worship, consider blurring the kids’ images or focusing on a different part of the sanctuary during the children’s message. At this point, we have not received any written guidance on how to prevent this, be aware that it is happening. Lutheran Faith Community Nurse Association Education Event In September, the Lutheran Faith Community Nurse Association will be offering a three part series entitled This is How We Die. We will couple excellent content from Barbara Karnes’s 3 DVD series This is How People Die, with dialogue and reflection. Barbara Karnes is a registered nurse and well-known hospice pioneer and advocate. The events will be held on September 11, 18, and 25 starting at 7 pm. Nursing contact hours will be provided for the sessions attended. For more information click on this link: https://lutheranfcna.org/event-5361391. Ending With Grace from Dialog Works Ending with Grace Begins September 19th. Closing a congregation is a complicated and often painful process. Ending with Grace guides faith leaders in navigating the process's mechanical tasks and emotional and spiritual dimensions. Attorney Murray Sagsveen and a guest student in the course said this about Ending with Grace. "The complexity of closing congregations is often underestimated and misunderstood. It can be handled well or extremely poorly. Well presented and well attended by interested students." Author and priest Gail Cafferata, in her teaching video, shared how the closing of a congregation does not necessarily mean its life is over. More information and registration can be found here The Online "Practical Tools for the Journey" Course Begins September 21st Dialog Works helps faith leaders with practical tools to assess their congregation's needs, explore sustainability options, and develop leadership skills to promote effective leadership within their communities. We aim to provide the necessary resources and support to help them succeed in their important work. Rev. Marie Bonnie wrote in her course evaluation: “I appreciated the videos to view in preparation for class. The spiritual practices videos from Martha were good reminders for me to engage in reflection in an intentional way. I liked having more than one voice-the newness of Peter and the familiarity of Mark. They partnered well together. Peter, Mark and Martha’s combined experience brought a richness to the class content and conversations.” For more information or to register, click here Merry Christmas! As many of you are now discovering, Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday this year. Some congregations who are not served regularly by a pastor are asking what to do concerning worship. There are some options. There are likely other options that are not listed. The strong encouragement from the Office of the Bishop for congregations who do not have a pastor is to accept an invitation to join with another congregation. Supply people will be limited this year. Celebrate the 4th Sunday of Advent in your regular morning service and hold an evening celebration of Christmas Eve. Celebrate the 4th Sunday of Advent AND Christmas Eve in your regular morning service and do not have an evening service (similar to Palm/Passion Sunday). Celebrate the 4th “Sunday” of Advent on Saturday evening and then celebrate Christmas Eve on Sunday morning or evening. Celebrate the 4th Sunday of Advent on Sunday morning, skip an evening worship and then celebrate the Nativity of our Lord on Monday, December 25 Join with a neighboring congregation(s) for an evening of Lessons and Carols on December 24 after a “regular” morning service Join with a neighboring congregation(s) for both a morning and evening service on December 24 Plan a week-long celebration of the season by providing daily readings and prayers to be distributed on Sunday, the 24th in the morning. Kindling Faith Continuing Education Events at ULS For Everyone who enjoys the art of “The Naked Pastor” For Church Musicians who want Inspiration For Congregational Leaders who need ideas for aging infrastructure and membership For People who want to think critically about the work of Martin Luther (Luther Colloquy info. coming soon!) For anyone who’s dreamt of spending six weeks learning about life in the Holy Land while living in Bethlehem For those who care about justice for the wrongly imprisoned (Author Anthony Ray Hinton, March 18th in Philadelphia For anyone who enjoys a veritable buffet of learning opportunities in one day (Learning Day in Gettysburg, March 2nd) For those who’ve found inspiration from reading Kate Bowler (Save the date: she’ll be in Gettysburg on April 24th) For any congregation that would enjoy a field trip to Gettysburg (email mzimmann@uls.edu to plan your trip) Christian Nationalism Blog post from LEAD written by Bishop Michael Rinehart can be found here. HOPE: A four-week series with reflection questions from LEAD LEAD is offering a four-week series on hope. More information can be found here

Invitation to Ordination You're Invited To A Service of Holy Communion with the Rite of Ordination for Laura Waltermire. Wednesday, August 23, 2023 + 5:30 pm. Messiah Lutheran Church, 144 Jubilee Street, Rockwood, PA. Clergy are invited to vest and process. The color of the day is red. If you plan to vest and process, please arrive at the church no later than 5:00 pm. Clergy will be invited forward for the laying on of hands. Laura is called to serve St. Mark, Pleasant Gap. Administrative Opening St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Martinsburg, is seeking an Administrative Assistant who is proficient in clerical and computer skills and demonstrates professional courtesy in communication and confidentiality. Part time position: 12-15 morning hours, 4-5 days weekly. If interested, please contact PrTraciStMatthewMartinsburg@gmail.com. Merry Christmas! As many of you are now discovering, Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday this year. Some congregations who are not served regularly by a pastor are asking what to do concerning worship. There are some options. There are likely other options that are not listed. The strong encouragement from the Office of the Bishop for congregations who do not have a pastor is to accept an invitation to join with another congregation. Supply people will be limited this year. Celebrate the 4th Sunday of Advent in your regular morning service and hold an evening celebration of Christmas Eve. Celebrate the 4th Sunday of Advent AND Christmas Eve in your regular morning service and do not have an evening service (similar to Palm/Passion Sunday). Celebrate the 4th “Sunday” of Advent on Saturday evening and then celebrate Christmas Eve on Sunday morning or evening. Celebrate the 4th Sunday of Advent on Sunday morning, skip an evening worship and then celebrate the Nativity of our Lord on Monday, December 25 Join with a neighboring congregation(s) for an evening of Lessons and Carols on December 24 after a “regular” morning service Join with a neighboring congregation(s) for both a morning and evening service on December 24 Plan a week-long celebration of the season by providing daily readings and prayers to be distributed on Sunday, the 24th in the morning. Continuing Education Opportunities offered from West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod. Please be in contact with them if you have questions. Mark on Mark: A Gospel Study for Preachers Date: 3-5 October 2023 Venue: Blackwater Falls State Park Audience: Preachers (clergy and lay) Fees: $100 tuition (all other expenses on your own) Abstract: The Rev. Dr. Mark Vitalis Hoffman leads us through the Gospel of Mark in anticipation of Year B. More information: http://wv-wmd.org/education/#Fall2023Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/6515763551803379 SCALD III (Symposium of Central Appalachian Lutheran Dogmatics) Date: 9 November 2023 Venue: Morgantown, WV Audience: All Fees: Free Abstract: An academic-style conference involving interaction with the Lutheran Confessional/dogmatic tradition in which rank and file clergy and laity get to test their research and ideas with peers capable of critical (yet convivial) conversation. More information: http://wv-wmd.org/education/#SCALDFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1009286270072701 What's a Prince-Bishop To Do...Or Not? Augustana XXVIII and Civic Engagement Format: Lecture Date: repeated four times (3 Sept 2023, 6 Sept 2023, 9 Sept 2023, 17 Sept 2023) Venue: Wheeling, WV; Parkersburg, WV; Charles Town, WV; Bittinger, MD Audience: All Fees: Free Abstract: Bishop Riegel lectures on Augsburg Confession 28, dissecting Melanchthon's critique of prince-bishops and exploring the implications for civic engagement by ecclesiastical bodies and their agents. More information: http://wv-wmd.org/education/#AC28 Ecumenical and Inter-religious News from the ELCA The latest newsletter can be found here: community.elca.org/emailviewonwebpage.aspx?erid=e75db29b-1c98-48bd-9bf5-b8b90a4ec72d&trid=e75db29b-1c98-48bd-9bf5-b8b90a4ec72d

Welcome to new subscribers. If you no longer wish to receive these updates, you can click unsubscribe at the bottom of the page. If you continue with a subscription, you will receive news and calendar updates when they are posted on the Allegheny Synod website. We try to do that on a weekly basis, but some weeks there are no updates. What appears below is information that was sent to pastors and deacons. Information that is specifically for them is not included in this update. I recently spent a few days at an art conference in Lancaster County. The theme of the event was Finding our Place: The artist, the church and placemaking. Dr. Jennifer Craft was the keynote speaker. She made three presentations around the idea of place and how artists fit into the place that is the church. One thing she said that I have been thinking about is that our relationship to place says something about our relationship to God. It got me thinking about the many conversations I have had in recent months about the places we call church and how tied to those places (i.e. buildings) we seem to be. The four walls that make up the building, set in one place in our geography often is viewed as the only place where God lives. We know God is more expansive than that and we preach it and teach it, but I wondered whether having a more tangible example of it would help us see it more clearly and feel less tied to the building as where God lives and help us to make a shift toward seeing God in others and in the world around us. I met people from across Pennsylvania and listened to their experiences of place and sometimes how out of place they feel in the church. What struck me was how the focus of the community of faith shifted when there was not a building involved. The people who were part of communities of faith that worshipped in rented facilities such as a school auditorium, were keenly focused on their community and each other—not on whether they would be able to fix the broken water pipe or have enough saved for a new roof. Don’t get me wrong—I am church building nerd for sure. I love architecture and stained glass and carved wood. What I started seeing more clearly in my interaction with these new friends was the shift in who they were and how they were because they could focus on their mission as God’s people in a community. I plan to keep pondering this idea and seeking an answer to a question asked at the conference: “Where is the Holy Spirit taking us and into whose lives?” I would commend to you Dr. Craft’s book. And, ask you to consider, what would church look like for you and your community if there were no building? Be of good courage, +Bishop Paula RECONSIDERING THE SOCIAL STATEMENT ON HUMAN SEXUALITY Below information/FAQ sheet provided by Dr. Roger Willer of the ELCA concerning the upcoming reconsideration of language in the 2009 Statement on Human Sexuality. It is for your information and describes the process the ELCA Church Council and the whole Church will take moving forward. YOUTH LEADERSHIP SUMMIT Below is information on the Youth Leadership Summit 2023. If you wish to nominate a youth to attend, please contact the Office of the Bishop. YOUTH MISSION TRIP VIDEO If you have not had the chance to see the Youth Mission Trip video. It can be found here: https://youtu.be/YkgGzVvV_xY THE WEEKEND HAS A THEME SONG Here’s a first look at The Weekend’s theme song. https://youtu.be/8kwRutq7Lj4 The Weekend is the Allegheny Synod Youth Event being held December 8-10 at St. James, Huntingdon. The chord sheet for the theme song is below LUTHERAN FAITH COMMUNITY NURSE EDUCATIONAL EVENT Attached to this message is an informational flyer with registration information for an upcoming event sponsored by the Lutheran Faith Community Nurse Association. MERRY CHRISTMAS! Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday this year. Some congregations are asking what to do concerning worship. These are some options--you may think of others: Celebrate the 4th Sunday of Advent in your regular morning service and hold an evening celebration of Christmas Eve Celebrate the 4th Sunday of Advent AND Christmas Eve in your regular morning service and do not have an evening service. Celebrate the 4th “Sunday” of Advent on Saturday evening and then celebrate Christmas Eve on Sunday morning or evening. Celebrate the 4th Sunday of Advent on Sunday morning, skip an evening worship and then celebrate the Nativity of our Lord on Monday, December 25 Join with a neighboring congregation(s) for an evening of Lessons and Carols on December 24 after a morning service celebrating the 4th Sunday of Advent Join with a neighboring congregation(s) for both a morning and evening service on December 24 Plan a week-long celebration of the season by providing daily readings and prayers to be distributed on Sunday, the 24th in the morning.

The deadline for Lutheran Day at the Curve is fast approaching ... Tuesday, August 1! Lutheran Day at the Curve will be Sunday, August 13. Game begins at 6:00 pm. Fireworks after the game. Click on the link below for a registration form.