WHAT MATTERS..... December 3, 2013.... News from Your Synod and Ministry Partners Dates for the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin Synod Assembly 2014 These dates have been listed on the synod calendar in the newsletter for several months, but in case you missed it, the dates for the 2014 Synod Assembly are Saturday and Sunday, May 3 & 4, 2014. The Assembly will convene at the Kalahari Resort and Convention Center in Wisconsin Dells. Mark this date on your calendars! Synod Youth & Family Network Meeting December 19 All youth ministry persons-paid or volunteer-pastors, directors, and other staff are invited to join us at the table for education, connection, and renewal! Our Synod YFM Network meets on December 19 th from 9:30-12. From 9:30-11 we gather for education. This month we are reviewing step 2 of Rich Melheim s book Holding Your Family Together. We will discuss ways to implement these steps in our homes and congregations! From 11-12, we connect with one another and share resources as well as joys and struggles of youth and family ministry. Then, all are welcome to stay for renewal as we worship together with the synod staff at noon. An optional brown bag lunch follows worship. All are invited to enjoy all or part of the morning with us as your schedule allows. Global Wave of Prayer December 10 th at 12 noon Pope Francis is calling on people around the world to pray to end hunger. On Dec. 10, people are asked to pray at noon local time in what will become a wave of prayer across time zones. Bread for the World hopes that not only Catholics, but also other Christians will join this faithfilled effort to end hunger in the United States and around the world. You are invited to use Bread for the World prayer resources from various Christian traditions at www.bread.org/prayerwave. Caritas Internationalis, the lead organization for the event, has prepared a special prayer for the day, but feel free to use a prayer appropriate to your own tradition.
We ve Run Out of Beds But Not Out of Compassion! Refugees from Bhutan (via refugee camp in Nepal for up to 20+ years!) and Iraq continue to come to Madison through the ministry of the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin in cooperation with Lutheran Social Services and with Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services. MONEY DONATIONS are URGENTLY NEEDED to purchase MATTRESS/BOX SPRING SETS (seven twin/single and two full-sized now). PLEASE make checks payable to South-Central Synod of Wisconsin, designated for Refugee Resettlement Fund. IN-KIND DONATIONS of BEDDING (twin-size sheet sets and blankets or quilts) and FURNITURE IN GOOD CONDITION (four dressers; dining room and chairs; floor and/or table lamps; bookcases; occasional chairs) will also help set up apartments for these new arrivals. Contact George or Solveig Carlson at geosolv65@yahoo.com or at 608-576-4916 (G) or 608-576-1747 (S) if you can help with any of these needs, or if you have further questions. Turtle, Mint, Walnut, Frosted? What s your favorite kind of brownie that you will share with Bishop Mary at the Brownies with the Bishop gatherings? All are invited, especially pastors, rostered leaders, councils, treasurers and any interested members of your congregation. Please choose one gathering location to come together as a congregation for conversation and fellowship with Bishop Mary, each other and other congregations. And please remember to bring your completed 2014 Mission Support Intent Forms. Locations and dates are: Tuesday, January 21, 2014 from 6:30-8:00PM at Peace Lutheran Church, Belmont (346 South Mound Avenue, Belmont, WI) Sunday, January 26, 2014 from 2:30-4:00PM at Hope Lutheran Church, McFarland (3702 County Road AB, McFarland, WI) Tuesday, February 4, 2014 from 6:30-8:00PM at St. John s English Lutheran Church, Beaver Dam
(1209 Circle Drive West, Beaver Dam, WI) Monday, February 10, 2014 from 6:30-8:00PM at St. Luke s Lutheran Church, Middleton (7337 Hubbard Avenue, Middleton, WI) Tuesday, February 18, 2014 from 6:30-8:00PM at Bethany English Lutheran Church, WI Dells (620 Broadway, Wisconsin Dells, WI) Sunday, February 23, 2014 from 2:30-4:00PM at Williams Bay Lutheran Church, Williams Bay * (11 Collie Street, Williams Bay, WI) *limited handicap access Questions, please contact Karen at the synod office at 608-270-0201 or karenk@scsw-elca.org Worship Celebration and Installation of Bishop-Elect, The Rev. Mary Froiland Date: Saturday, December 14 Time: 2:00 pm Location: First Lutheran Church, 612 North Randall Avenue, Janesville All are welcome! Please join us on December 14 for the installation of Bishop-Elect, Mary Froiland. All rostered leaders should have received their invitation in the mail. Clergy are invited to vest. The color of the day is red. With Christmas Right Around the Corner, We Hope You will Consider Giving Gifts Through ELCA Good Gifts Many of us love to give ELCA Good Gifts as our purchases help the ELCA do important work God s work work that is worth celebrating! Your gifts help for example, in the care and nourishment of orphaned children in 50 centers in Malawi. Your gift of $250 provides a whole year of nutritional food for an orphan. Browse the catalog or shop online at www.elca.org/goodgifts for more than 50 different gift-giving options Reminder to Pick Up Photo at Synod Office If you had your picture taken by Lifetouch at the Special Meeting of the Synod Assembly and have not yet picked it up, this is a reminder to pick it up the next time you are at the synod office. Thanks!
Join us for Advent Worship This Thursday at Noon at Your Synod Office We invite you to Holy Communion and Word every Thursday from 12:00 12:30 at the synod office. Bring your brown bag lunch and enjoy fellowship too. Our address is: 2909 Landmark Place, Suite 202, Madison. PRAYERS Pastors and Congregations in our Synod: Rev. Connie Matye and the members of Peace Lutheran Church in Belmont Rev. Tina Koenig Ray and the members of Atonement Lutheran Church in Beloit Neighboring Synods: Bishop Marcus C. Lohrmann and the congregations of the Northwestern Ohio Synod Churchwide Partners: The Rev. Brenda Smith, Program Director of Faith Practices with Congregational and Synodical Mission at the ELCA Lutheran Center, Chicago, IL Dr. Mary Streufert, Director of Justice for Women with the Office of the Presiding Bishop at the ELCA Lutheran Center, Chicago, IL Special Prayers We pray for healing and wholeness for Rev. Tim Hansen (St. Stephens-Monona) as he recovers from a recent medical procedure. We share heartfelt sympathy for Solveig and George Carlson, past bishop, at the loss of Solveig s 100 year old mother, Mildred. We pray for healing and a rapid recovery after shoulder surgery for Russ Melland, Chris Melland s husband (our Daring to be Disciples Director). We celebrate the birth of Fiona Denow Fry on Thanksgiving to Pastor Rick and Nicole Fry (Adams-Argyle and Argyle-Argyle). We pray with sympathy for Pastor Kennith Smith (St. John- Madison) and his wife Judy Nolde on the death of his father, Kennith Smith, Sr. A Memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 7 at 11:00 a.m. at Lakeview Lutheran Church, 4001 Mandrake Road, Madison where Kennith Sr. was a member. We give thanks at this time for the ministry of those who celebrate their anniversary of Ordination during this coming week: Steve Kottke, December 5, 1999, Grace, Dodgeville ~ srkottke@msn.com Thomas Groth, December 9, 1984, Jefferson Prairie, Poplar Grove, IL ~ gro596@sharontelephone.com May God who has called these leaders to ministry continue to bless them and strengthen them for service. Thanks be to God!
Remember to look for us at www.scsw-elca.org or find us on Facebook! South-Central Synod of Wisconsin. Share your news. If you have something you would like considered for publication in What Matters, send it to Synod Communicator/Program Assistant, Vicki Hanrahan, at vickih@scsw-elca.org.