Allegheny Synod Connections - February

Welcome to Allegheny Synod Connections

We’re pleased to reach out to you with the first issue of Allegheny Synod Connections, a monthly (for now) e-newsletter designed to keep you connected with what’s happening around our synod and in the ELCA. But we need your feedback! Do you have some information you’d like us to share about an event that’s coming up? Has your congregation reached out to help your neighbors? We’d love to hear and share your news. Please reach out to us at alleghenysynodcommunications@gmail.com - we can’t wait to hear from you!

February 4, 2026

5th Wednesday of the Season after the Epiphany

Dear Friends:

Grace and peace to you in the name of +Jesus, who is our Salvation! Amen.

In my last letter I wrote that the Allegheny Synod Council approved a staff structure of four quarter-time Assistants to fulfill the duties of the Office of the Bishop alongside me. There are advantages to this structure, one of which is keeping gifted clergy at their current ministry sites while adding their gifts to Synod staff. It is my pleasure to introduce your Synod staff and their positions.

The Rev. Deacon Alicia Anderson will serve as Assistant to the Bishop for Formation. She will oversee our Synod’s candidacy process, work with people who are discerning public ministry, and coordinate educational events for lay people and clergy. She also serves as Campus Minister for Lutheran Campus Ministry at Penn State.

The Rev. Tyler Graham will serve as Assistant to the Bishop for Transition. He will work closely with congregations who are seeking new leaders, clergy who are seeking a new call, and with Deans to secure pastoral coverage for ministries in times of vacancy. He also serves as Pastor of the Living Waters Lutheran Parish.

The Rev. Marty Jo Irvin-Stellabotte will serve as Assistant to the Bishop for Communications. She will generate official Synod communications across all of our media, interpret ELCA communications for our Synod, and work with congregations to help them spread their news in our Synod and local communities. She also serves as Pastor of the Geeseytown-Newry Lutheran Parish.

The Rev. Traci Marriott will serve as Assistant to the Bishop for Life Together. She will work with others to match people’s gifts to ministry needs in our Synod, to encourage a healthy philosophy of stewardship for congregations and individuals, and to ensure that Synod resources feed ministry well. She also serves as Pastor at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Martinsburg.

Alongside these four gifted people, Ms. Michelle Bossler will continue to serve as our Office Manager; Ms. Sue Ellen Spotts will continue as our shared Director for Evangelical Mission (DEM) with Upper Susquehanna Synod; and The Rev. John Kratz continues as Director of the Go Tell It IN the Mountains Initiative among Allegheny, Northwest PA, and Upper Susquehanna Synods.

There are some details to be completed before our new staff begin their work. Their contact information will be shared when they officially begin in the Office. For now, please welcome them, congratulate them, and pray for us all in our ministry together.

In three short days I will be installed as your Bishop in the Allegheny Synod. I confess that I am nervous about the responsibilities that come with this call. Yet, when I consider these co-workers in the Gospel serving with me and the abundance of ministry I witness across the Allegheny Synod, I am encouraged and excited about what God can bring to bloom among us. As the Holy One promised our ancestor in faith Abram, as he journeyed toward an uncertain future, I trust that God will bless us, in order that we might bless all the people in these Allegheny hills and valleys and beyond.

In the peace of Christ,

The Rev. Kevin Shock

Bishop, Allegheny Synod—ELCA

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Livestream link for Bishop Kevin's installation

If you're not able to attend Bishop Kevin's installation this coming Saturday at 2pm at Mt. Calvary Johnstown,, you can watch it live-streamed on the church's Facebook page at the link below. A link will also be provided for the bulletin, which will be sent out later in the week.

https://www.facebook.com/MtCalvaryJohnstown

Installation of Pastor Regina Holliday

The Rev. Regina Holliday will be installed as Pastor to the people of Amity UCC, Meyersdale, at 3pm Sunday, Feb. 22. All are welcome to attend and clergy are invited to vest; the color of the day is purple. She will continue in her call to the people of Horner Lutheran Church.

Text Study for Preachers

Dr. Allison DeForest, Kraft Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies in New Testament at United Lutheran Seminary, will lead a study on the upcoming seasonal lectionary texts on Wednesday, Feb. 11, at The Lutheran Home at Hollidaysburg. Doors open at 8:30am and study begins at 9am and will include lunch. The day will conclude at 3pm. Cost is $20 and includes continental breakfast and lunch.

Seating is limited so please sign up through the Sign-up Genius link https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4EA4AE29A5F8C34-57215934-pericope

Camp Sequanota hosts online Lenten Bible Study

Join Pastor Nathan Pile and Bishop Kevin Shock for a study on Why Lutheran Voices Matter Today. The text for this year's study is the new Augsburg Fortress resource, "By Heart" (a Small Catechism resource). All are welcome! Attendees will meet weekly on Zoom to explore God’s story intertwining in our story.

Dates: February 24, March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31     Time: 7pm

For a link to the reading schedule and how to join the study on Zoom, please visit https://sequanota.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Participant-Guide-Why-Lutheran-Voices-Matter-Today.pdf