From:                                         Texas-Lousiana Gulf Coast Synod <synod@gulfcoastsynod.org>

Sent:                                           Friday, November 1, 2024 8:01 AM

To:                                               theschicks839@gmail.com

Subject:                                     Connections ~ November 2024

 

CONNECTIONS

 

A Network of Christ-Centered, Outwardly-Focused, Faith-Growing Communities for the Sake of the World

 

November 2024

 

 

A Spirituality of Fundraising

November is “stewardship season” in many of our congregations. In one sense this is fitting, because the new budget year is coming, and the congregation leaders need to be good stewards of the resources given for ministry. On the other hand, if the only time we talk about giving is near the beginning of a new budget year, we reveal that our true motives are about the budget, and not about the spiritual lives of people for whom we care.

Jesus talks about the use of wealth more than just about any other topic exceptional love. After meeting Jesus, Zacchaeus gives away half of his possessions and repays everyone he has cheated four times. Jesus tells the story of the widow’s penny. He warns us that we cannot serve both God and money. He tells a story about the rich man and Lazarus. We recently heard the story of the rich young ruler who wanted to follow Jesus but was too attached to his possessions.

We are entering a Lucan year in the lectionary. There are plenty of texts for us to engage if we believe that the use of our resources, our spending habits, are an expression of our relationship with Jesus. I will list some of those stewardship texts below, so we can consider broaching the topic even when the budget is not in play.

Read more...

 

 

Or A Deacon….

by Deacon Aimee Elles

During candidacy I was asked repeatedly what it meant to me to be a deacon, what Word and Service meant, why it was different from Word and Sacrament ministry, or why I didn’t want to be a pastor. When I told one retired pastor who was very excited that I had entered seminary that I was pursing Word and Service ministry, his response was “oh” and a look of disappointment. Not to be deterred, I have spent the last few years articulating my own understanding of this ministry and how the Holy Spirit has called me to serve.  At my final candidacy committee meeting, they told me part of the work would be to continue to educate people on what and who Deacons are.

Bishop Mike recently wrote a terrific article on the history of the diaconate. It gave biblical and historical references to who and what it meant to be a deacon. At a recent gathering of deacons in the Gulf Coast Synod, we each went around the table talking about our calls to ministry. This happened again at a gathering of Deacons from around the country and affirmed the same experience I also had while in formation during seminary. It has been wonderful to be surrounded by so many others who feel called to be the hands and feet in the world and yet do it in such a wide variety of circumstances.

Read more...

 

 

An Update on Call Processes in the Gulf Coast Synod

by Tracey Breashears Schultz, Bishop’s Associate for Leadership

At the time of this article, there are twenty-two of our synod congregations in the call process. Of these, six are redevelopments or new mission starts; seven are new transitions or just beginning to create call committees; five have active profiles and are awaiting pastors to interview, and two are in the process of interviewing candidates.

In the ELCA database used by bishops and their associates for finding profiles of pastors who have made themselves available for call, (as of 10/24/24) there are 289 pastors (and 8 deacons) with active paperwork. This means all 65 synods of the ELCA are recruiting these leaders. When I invite a pastor to consider interviewing for a call in our synod, they often already have paperwork to review and/or are in multiple call processes. Sometimes, they will tell me they have all they can handle or that they will get back to me if one of their current options falls through. This means, and I don’t love this language, that it’s a pastor’s market, meaning clergy can be selective about the calls to which they are open; they can take their time until the fit is right; they will prioritize full-time calls, those that will pay synod guidelines, and those that are not going to argue with them when it comes to continuing education, vacation, or other standard expectations.

Read more...

 

 

Lisa’s Pieces: Creation Care Tips from the Synod Lutherans Restoring Creation Team

by Lisa Brenskelle

The mission of Lutherans Restoring Creation is to promote incorporation of care for creation into the full life and mission of the church, working in five areas: worship, education, discipleship, building & grounds, and public ministry/advocacy.

Read more...

November Creation Care Events

Contact gcs.lrc@gmail.com for details on any of these events.

 

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