Congregation Updates and News
By now you’ve probably seen that I have reclaimed my birth name. I am now known as Bishop Paula Lebo. It was a good thing for me to do and I am still living into the change. I had forgotten how many places a name is given and now needs to be amended. Over the past few weeks, I have been approached by people who have heard about this change and heard their story of reclaiming a name or their story of hesitating for one reason or another like I did. I am grateful for these connections and honored that others would share their story with me. In one instance, I listened as someone told me about their pain and how they felt carrying around a name that no longer seemed to fit. I was able to remind this person that first and foremost, they are God’s beloved child—which is at the heart of their (and our) identity. No matter what name we take or reclaim, we will always be known as God’s beloved first—and that’s what really matters. Have you thought about an answer to my question of a few weeks ago—whether there is something you’ve been carrying around that no longer seems to fit or is weighing heavier on you than you would like? I hope you find the courage to let it go and live more fully into your identity as God’s own.
+Bishop Paula
KENYA EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH REQUEST
Interested in how you can support our companion Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church? Bishop Paula is setting up a Zoom meeting with Bishop Meliyio in the near future. If you would like to join the meeting and hear more about how we can be supportive of our kindred in Kenya, please contact Bishop Paula and bishop.paula@alleghenysynod.com
Tend Festival Announced
Share in intentional time of faith discussions, good music, art, worship, ecology, and fellowship at Camp Sequanota. This event will have an open schedule allowing participants the freedom to pick what is right for them. It will include options for multiple workshops, open recreation & hiking, and time to relax and refresh yourself and your family. For more information and to register, click here: Tend Festival (sequanota.com)
LUTHERAN DISASTER RESPONSE TRAINING
You are invited to a special Lutheran Disaster Response leadership training camp at Crisfield Maryland on September 4-6, 2024. At this training you will join a small group of folks to dive deep into what long term recovery is, and why we do it both from a spiritual and practical perspective. Our baptismal promises call us to serve all people. Because disasters leave many worse off than they were before disasters, this is a place as Christians, where we should be. Furthermore, Lutheran Disaster Response is one of only a few organizations that do this type of work and we are working to build our capacity to help meet needs as our communities face new challenges…from tornado activity, to flash floods, to poor air quality from fires hundreds of miles away.
Accommodations for the training will be at Camp Kairos, a traditional volunteer camp of the Eastern Shore Long Term Recovery Committee. All camp expenses are being covered, except travel to the event, and hotel accommodations should you wish to stay at the local hotel instead of the Camp Kairos Sponsorships are available to those who may need financial assistance in order to attend the event. For more information or to register for this event, please contact Rev. Glenn Beard, Jr., gbeard@luthercare.org or Julia Frank, JFrank@LibertyLutheran.org.
ALLEGHENY SYNOD OFFICE IS MOVING
At the March Synod Council meeting members heard a proposal about moving the Allegheny Synod Offices to The Lutheran Home in Hollidaysburg. This topic has been discussed for several months as we seek to be good stewards of the resources we receive for the ministry we do in this Synod. The Synod Council voted unanimously for the office to be moved AFTER ASSEMBLY. We will maintain our phone number and e-mails in this move. We will have a somewhat smaller office space, but we will have access to two conference rooms and other spaces for meetings. The cost savings would be roughly $6,500/year to make this move. We do not yet have a move date as we are preparing for Assembly and know that we will have a significant amount of paring down of files and furniture and other items in the current office. We will make periodic announcements about the move in the coming months.
NOMINATIONS NEEDED
The Nomination Form for Synod Assembly is available on the Synod's website in the Synod Assembly tab. There are a variety of ways you can serve including as an officer--we are asking for nominations for Synod Secretary; as a Synod Council member or as a voting member to the Churchwide Assembly in July 2025. Prayerfully consider how you might be a part of the ministry we do together.
LAMPA STATEWIDE SERVICE AND JUSTICE NETWORKS
LAMPa’s work connects Lutherans to lawmakers. But their mission also connects Lutherans to each other and our neighbors here and around the globe. It connects faith to public life. Acts of service to works of justice. Thoughts and prayers, to action. This Eastertide, you are invited to lean with LAMPa into that work of connecting with the launch of statewide service and justice networks. Join LAMPa and your neighbors around the Commonwealth who are living into their baptismal call to serve in the way of Jesus and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth.
Noontime virtual gatherings around four areas in which our ministries have a depth of experience or excitement to grow and where Lutherans are expressing energy for making a difference.
April 3 - Hunger and Poverty
April 10 - Creation Care
April 17 - Human and Civil Rights
April 24 - Housing and Homelessness
(Follow the links above to register. And if you missed your date, don't worry, you can still join a network)
These initial virtual gatherings will start at noon on Wednesdays in April. We will survey to determine best days, times and frequency for meetings moving forward. The networks are not just about meetings. They're about ongoing connection and community, grounded in the hope of Easter. Of course, our call to love our neighbor extends beyond neat categories, and so does LAMPa's work. You can sign up for a network or let us know where else God is leading you (and/or your congregation!) to act in love here.
LUTHERAN DISASTER RESPONSE TRAINING
You are invited to a special Lutheran Disaster Response leadership training camp at Crisfield Maryland on September 4-6, 2024. At this training you will join a small group of folks to dive deep into what long term recovery is, and why we do it both from a spiritual and practical perspective. Our baptismal promises call us to serve all people. Because disasters leave many worse off than they were before disasters, this is a place as Christians, where we should be. Furthermore, Lutheran Disaster Response is one of only a few organizations that do this type of work and we are working to build our capacity to help meet needs as our communities face new challenges…from tornado activity, to flash floods, to poor air quality from fires hundreds of miles away.
Accommodations for the training will be at Camp Kairos, a traditional volunteer camp of the Eastern Shore Long Term Recovery Committee. All camp expenses are being covered, except travel to the event, and hotel accommodations should you wish to stay at the local hotel instead of the Camp Kairos Sponsorships are available to those who may need financial assistance in order to attend the event. For more information or to register for this event, please contact Rev. Glenn Beard, Jr., gbeard@luthercare.org or Julia Frank, JFrank@LibertyLutheran.org.
GO TELL IT IN THE MOUNTAINS PROMOTIONAL VIDEO
This link: https://youtu.be/wy_2UGerdO4 takes you to our first promotional video for the Go Tell It IN The Mountains initiative. Please watch it and share it with your congregations. Another promotional video along with an interest survey will come your way soon.
GO TELL IT IN THE MOUNTAINS INITIATIVE DIRECTOR SEARCH
The Steering Committee of the Go Tell It IN The Mountains Initiative has released the job description for the search for a Director of the initiative. You can find the job description here along with a link to the complete proposal. If you or someone you know is a good fit for this position, please share the description and follow the “how to apply” instructions in the document.
TECHNOLOGY DISCOUNTS AND COST BENEFITS THROUGH THE ELCA
ELCA congregations, synods, and partners are eligible for some discounts and benefits. Please see the attached .pdf for information on some supplies and vendors that your ministry may use.