Congregation news and updates

SYNOD ASSEMBLY

Synod Worship will be held on Friday, June 14 at 6:00 pm at Zion, Hollidaysburg. Synod Assembly will be held Saturday, June 15 at the Blair County Convention Center. Registration begins at 8:00 am. As a reminder, you will need to physically sign in at the registration desk to be able to vote using our VPoll app. More information with credentials will be sent via e-mail. Voting members are asked to be seated in the plenary hall at the Convention Center at 8:30 am so we can begin on time. We have a full day of reports planned and hope to end our day by 4:30 pm. All the information we currently have for Synod Assembly can be found in the Synod Assembly tab on the Allegheny Synod website. If you are responsible for a report for the Bulletin of Reports, please get it to Secretary David Finney no later than Friday. If he does not receive a report, it will not appear in the Bulletin and we will not make copies. Nominations are still open. We can receive Nominations on the day of the Assembly, but a nomination form will not appear in the Bulletin. The form will be available at the registration desk. If you have questions, contact the Allegheny Synod Office.

UPCOMING ORDINATION

Allen Stump will be ordained to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament on Sunday, June 2 at 4:30 pm at Faith Lutheran Church, 6567 Glades Pike, Somerset. You are invited to attend. Clergy may vest and process. The color of the day will be red. Refreshments will be offered following worship in the social hall.

PIANIST NEEDED

Mt. Olivet in Altoona is seeking a pianist for one service each Sunday at 9:15 am. For more information, contact Darlene Shaffer at 814-943-2092.

LAY WORSHIP LEADER TRAINING CONTINUES

The Worship class for Lay Worship Leader training begins soon. If interested, contact Bishop Paula for a registration form and information form.

LEAD presents Good Soil Online Summer Seminar on Thursday, June 13th! This is a great online learning event for deacons, pastors, and all leaders within your faith community. Topics/speakers: Leading with Love (Rozella Haydee White), Teamwork Works (Pastor Brad Otto), Know Your Neighbors (Deacon Jessica Noonan), Communication Clarity (Deacon Peggy Hahn). Cost is $45 per seminar for 150 minutes of learning! Share the flyer and promo video with your friends on this page. Questions, contact LEAD at LEAD@leadconnects.org 

SOCIAL STATEMENT ON CIVIC LIFE AND FAITH HEARINGThe ELCA is developing a social statement on civic life and faith, the relationship of church and state, and related matters, as called for by the 2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. Social statements are the ELCA’s primary documents to address significant social issues. They are intended to aid reflection, shape conscience and set forth the ELCA’s teaching and policy on the major social issues and questions of contemporary life. Social statements are developed by task forces, using an established process of study and widespread participation across the church to guide theological and moral deliberation.

At this time the task force encourages you to study and give feedback on a draft version of the social statement. You can participate by filling out a survey, found here, or by participating in a hearing ON Friday, June 14 at 5:00 pm at Zion Lutheran Church, Hollidaysburg. Hearings are public gatherings where participants share their specific affirmations or concerns about a draft statement. The feedback period will be open until Sept. 30, 2024. To download a copy of the draft social statement, click here. We are unable to offer printed versions at this time.

The ELCA wants to hear your voice on climateYou are invited to share your attitudes and perspectives through the five-minute American Climate Metric Survey by ecoAmerica. The ELCA partners with ecoAmerica through its Blessed Tomorrow coalition of religious partners. Responses to this survey will help to shape strategy and planning in the coming year. Your responses are anonymous. The survey will close Tuesday, May 28. Should you encounter any problems or questions while taking the survey, please contact Jennifer Giordano at ecoAmerica. Take the survey: www.surveymonkey.com/r/HHQ22QM .

Augsburg Fortress free summer music clinicsLearn from our exceptional clinicians, Mark Sedio and David Cherwien, at the Augsburg Fortress free summer music clinics. Attendees can also enjoy a handbell clinic and a hymn festival. Learn more and sign up at www.augsburgfortress.org/music/summer-music-clinics. Dates and locations:

• Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.: July 16-17

• Columbia, S.C.: July 19-20

• Philadelphia, Pa.: Aug. 1-2

• Columbus, Ohio: Aug. 5-6

• Chicago, Ill.: Aug. 8-9

Mission Investment Fund (MIF): Invest now and earn 5.05% APY1 on the new 7-Month Term InvestmentInvest with the Mission Investment Fund’s new 7-Month Fixed-Rate Term Investment and take advantage of its newest term, its highest rate and this limited-time opportunity to make a real difference in our communities of faith. Investing with MIF means more than a high rate of return. That’s because MIF investments fund building and renovation loans that extend the capacity of ELCA congregations and ministries to share God’s love. As always, MIF remains a reliable financial investment choice for individuals and ministries. See what the Mission Investment Fund can offer at mif.elca.org.   

LAMPA ANNOUNCES GRANT AND FELLOWSHIP

LAMPa is honored to announce it has received one of the inaugural awards for the Jackie Maddox Racial Justice Grant from ELCA Witness in Society. This grant is for a three-year project entitled "Isaiah 58:12 Fellowship: Empowering Lutheran Youth in Pennsylvania for Racial Reconciliation."

Building on the prophet Isaiah’s vision of those who “will be called repairer of the breach, restorer of the streets to live in,” this fellowship empowers recipients to address racial injustice and enact reconciliation at the grassroots level. Up to 3 fellowships will be awarded each year.

Each recipient is paired with a clergyperson of color to serve as mentor to bring the project to fruition. Monthly check-ins with mentors and LAMPa staff, and participation in antiracism training are required parts of the fellowship.  Fellows will present on their project and fellowship experience at Lutheran Day 2025 (date TBD).  Fellows who successfully complete their projects will then receive $1,000 for college tuition or continuing education.  With this fellowship, LAMPa hopes to encourage and empower young people in the Church to further lead us all in the way of antiracism and reconciliation, building up the beloved community with our voices and our actions.

Application Requirements:

Youth and young adults (under 25) in Pennsylvania are welcome to apply with a proposed project to further racial justice and reconciliation in their local communities. All projects must include an advocacy component around one of LAMPa’s issue priorities (e.g. hunger and poverty, housing, creation care, human rights) as well as engagement with LAMPa and ELCA Witness in Society. A letter of recommendation from an ELCA rostered minister (pastor or deacon) committed to supporting the applicant in their project is required.  Find out more and apply here.