The good things God is doing Planning an assembly is challenging. What ministry areas need to be highlighted? What do we hope congregations will learn that can be energizing for their own ministries? The recent 2019 NC Synod Assembly was no different. While the assembly theme, Vital Congregations, was lifted up in a variety of […]
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Saint Peter’s in Salisbury began a garden ministry in 2015. The congregation sits on about 13 acres of land. There are many people in the congregation who have a good knowledge of farming and gardening. We also understand that part of God’s mission is that the hungry be fed, so it seemed to be a
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A lamentation of gun violence Saturday’s assembly session opened with a meaningful litany and lamentation on gun violence. In particular, it was a time to remember and lament the fatal shooting that took place on the campus of UNC Charlotte almost exactly one month ago. We also gave attention to another act of gun violence
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Life-giving relationships with the world To continue the exploration of the congregational vitality definition of “life-giving relationships with the world,” Deacon GeoRene Jones addressed the assembly, bringing news of the many ways the North Carolina Synod brings recovery and relief after disasters. She invited a pastor from the coastal area to share some experiences.
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Affordable housing: how will you respond? Housing ends homelessness. Yes, it is that simple…and yet it is quite difficult when there isn’t enough affordable housing to meet the demand. The pre-assembly event on affordable housing allowed attendees to learn about homelessness and the ways congregations might get involved in solutions.
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Photo: Emily Edwards Business hats or prayer shawls On a Sunday morning last June, shortly after graduating from seminary, Cassie McIntosh Overcash drove from Columbia to Charlotte to preach at a neutral site for the call committee from Grace, Thomasville. She shared, “I stopped for coffee and a chocolate pastry and ate the pastry hastily
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In June of 2017, Bethany, Hickory, submitted a Peeler/Casey grant for the purpose of developing a Stephen Ministry for the congregation. The Stephen Ministry would better equip Bethany members to offer care to their own members who are “struggling through a difficult time in life—experiencing grief, divorce, job loss, chronic or terminal illness, or some
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Nio Farr (We Are in This Together)! On April 7, Pastor Kristin Engstrom, the ELCA’s Coordinator of the Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) program in Senegal, visited Good Shepherd, Brevard. This was Pastor Kristin’s first visit with us, and we celebrated with African-inspired food and drink at coffee hour. Pastor Kristin preached during worship
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A Small Church Big on Community Daniels Lutheran Church is a small church tucked in between hay fields and soy bean fields. It’s a church that worships around 70 people a Sunday. Small churches often get the reputation that they are dying. If you believe that I’ve got some ocean front property in North Dakota
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Women in ministry On the day this article is published, I and all the bishops from Region 9* will be in Puerto Rico along with our facilitator, Dr. Mindy Makant, deacon, of Lenoir-Rhyne University and the NC Synod, to discuss, affirm, and work out logistical possibilities based on a document formulated in a series of