Tuesday was the first full day of Churchwide Assembly in Columbus, and boy, was it full. We began the process of electing a new Vice President, began to hear and vote on memorials, and conducted other important business of this church. The day concluded with a difficult yet beautiful example of the CWA theme, Embody […]
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You are likely old enough to remember the finger play: This is the church. Here is the steeple. Open the doors. See all the people. The emphasis on Day Two of the 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly was on all the people. I wish that I had kept a tally of the number of times I
The 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly officially opened Aug. 9 at the Greater Columbus (Ohio) Convention Center, meeting through Aug. 12. Day one consisted of plenary sessions one and two, an apology to Iglesia Luterana Santa María Peregrina, Stockton, Calif., and a service of word and prayer. Continue reading the Living Lutheran recap of the 2022
2022 Churchwide Assembly—Day One Read More »
My first day as a Churchwide Assembly voting member. Wow, what a day. From COVID protocol checks at registration to sharing stories and meals with colleagues and seeing old friends and meeting new ones, today was a full day. As I walked into the hall where we will go about the business of our church
Make plans to join us for the NC Synod summer Bible Reading Plan sponsored by the Engage the Bible Task Group, a Book of Faith ministry. This summer we will read the Gospel of John together as a synod. Journey with John will begin on Sunday, July 3, and end on Tuesday, July 26. Each
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On June 2-4, 2022 the NC Synod converged on the campus of Lenoir-Rhyne University (LRU) for our first-ever Synod Gathering, and it was just what we needed. I traveled to the Gathering in Hickory from Greensboro on Friday, along with five other members of our congregation, Prince of Peace. It was hard to believe that
Just What We Needed Read More »
The 2022 NC Synod Gathering—the first of its kind—is a wrap! Initially planned for May 2020, but of course, postponed due to the pandemic, the Gathering finally happened! Except for precautionary pandemic-type restrictions, the event was almost identical to the one initially planned. Rostered ministers—pastors and deacons—and lay people from all across the synod came
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In much the same way as it began, the 2022 Synod Gathering ended with a spirit-filled worship service. We gathered at Lenoir-Rhyne University’s Grace Chapel on Saturday afternoon to celebrate the Vigil of Pentecost with music, liturgy, prayers, and the sacrament of Holy Communion. All rostered ministers were invited to vest and process for the
Closing Worship—Shake Us Awake Read More »
It was a long time coming, this Synod Gathering! We had planned to be together in the spring of 2020; that was not to be. The synodwide learning event we dreamed of—with learning, inspiration, and plenty of worship—finally happened! The BBQ with fabulous food, great music, and games was to have happened on Shaw Plaza
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On the final day, Synod Gathering participants ventured into LR’s Grace Chapel for an open and honest panel conversation with young people to consider the gift and the challenge of church. Bishop Smith began the time together by relating a recent conversation. “Bishop,” he was recently asked, “How do we get the young people in
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