Updates for Congregations 3/18
LUTHERAN CAMPUS MINISTRY FUNDRAISER FOR MARCH MADNESS
Hoosiers and Panthers and Nittany Lions, Oh My! This year during NCAA March Madness, Lutheran Campus Ministry at Penn State is participating in Campus Ministry Madness, a fundraising challenge between Lutheran Campus Ministry sites across the country. Did you know that 89% of students who participated in campus ministry planned to continue being active in a faith community. Your support of Campus Ministry allows students to have a community to explore and grow in their faith and prepare themselves for a deep faith life after they graduate. Help LCM at Penn State reign supreme and even more importantly support the transformational work happening through campus ministry nationwide! Give today at https://luminelca.org/madness/
LUTHERAN DAY IN THE CAPITOL 2024
Registration is open for Lutheran Day in the Capitol on May 9, 2024. You may register at this link:https://www.lutheranadvocacypa.org/about/lutheran-day-2024/
An informational fliers is below
EASTER VIGIL
Bishop Paula will participate in an Easter Vigil with Bishop Scanlan of the Central PA Diocese of the Episcopal Church being held at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church on Saturday, March 30 at 5:30 pm. You are invited to attend.
THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2024 – COMMUNITY LEADERS, EDUCATORS, EMERGENCY RESPONDERS, AND FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS DOMESTIC TERRORISM TRAINING
This course is being offered to community and faith-based organizations who will learn:
· Identifying speech, symbols, and propaganda commonly associated with racially and ideologically motivated behavior.
· Discerning between criminal activity and First Amendment protected speech and actions.
· The indicators of radicalization to violent extremism.
· Educational considerations and best practices,
· How to leverage community resources to combat extremism.
Registration is now open: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/domestic-terrorism-and-violent-extremism-training-tickets-838558871157 An informational flier is below
GO TELL IT IN THE MOUNTAINS INITIATIVE
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.
SPRING CONFERENCE MEETINGS
Please encourage anyone in your congregation to be present for the Spring conference meetings. There will be a presentation on the upcoming social statement on civic life and engagement as well as information about our upcoming Synod Assembly and in some conferences, a Deans election. Anyone is welcome to attend these meetings, voting members to Synod Assembly are especially encouraged to come.
April 8: Bedford Conference. 6:30 pm at St. Peter’s, Osterburg
April 10: Clearfield Conference. 6:30 pm. First, Phillipsburg.
April 16: Johnstown AND Laurel Highlands Conferences. 6:30 pm at St. David’s in Davidsville
April 17: Blair-Huntingdon Conference. 6:00 pm at The Lutheran Home in Hollidaysburg
April 22: Nittany Conference. 7:00 pm. St. Mark, Pleasant Gap
MORAL INJURY AND SUICIDE PREVENTION WORKSHOPS OFFERED BY PITTSBURGH VA
A free 2-hour training on April 19th (10 am to Noon) will offered by the VA Chaplain Department. The attached faith leader flyer includes a QR code and a link to tune into this training free of cost as well as a registration form needed in advance of the event. For those not in the Pittsburgh area/unable to attend in person, please scan the QR code on the attached flier, the day of the event, April 19th to join via Teams. Questions?: Call the VA Chaplain Services Team: 412.360.1826.
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.