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Project Isaiah 43 Kicks Off!

On Sunday afternoon, in a fellowship hall of round tables at Grace Lutheran in Wadsworth, people from twelve different congregations in your Northeastern Ohio Synod gathered to share stories and dream about the future. Many of us are wondering what the church of the future will look like. Half of our synod congregations do not have a called pastor. Clergy retirements will continue to exceed seminary graduations. A massive paradigm shift is taking place in the Christian church.

Your synod staff acknowledges that we do not yet see clearly the new thing God is doing in our midst. We are convinced, however, that greater clarity will only come through continuing conversations within the body of Christ – for it is in these conversations that the Holy Spirit will be working.

For two hours on Sunday, we discussed the ways we already work together as the body of Christ and listened for how God may be moving in our midst. We found that our stories intertwined in ways we never knew.

One participant shared that this event was an "awakening." After their pastor of many years retired, they were fearful of what was next. Another participant realized that every time a pastor left, they lost their feeling of community.

Both say they are now filled with hope for the future.

We're learning that we can't "rely on how things were done in the past. We need to accept and create how (our churches) will look in the future," says David R, who drove from a different conference in order to attend this first event.

Another commonality many people shared was the lack of younger people in their congregations. They were especially grateful for the youth who attended this Project Isaiah 43 event. Everyone was in agreement that their voices were important and everyone needs to be listening to them - really listening.

It is not too late to join us at a Project Isaiah 43 event where we will dream together about the future of Lutheran Christianity. Four members of every congregation are welcome to join us at any of the next four events!

Project Isaiah 43 Upcoming Dates:

Northeast Conference:

Sunday, April 21, 2pm

Lord of Life, Chagrin Falls

South Central Conference:

Saturday, May 4, 10am

Zion, North Canton

Southeast Conference:

Saturday, May 4, 3pm

Bethel, Boardman

Northwest Conference:

Sunday, May 5, 2pm

Bethesda on the Bay, Bay Village

We would appreciate an RSVP (link below) to help ensure we have adequate supplies and refreshments for each event.

Have You Registered for Synod Assembly Yet?

Registration is open through May 1, 2024.

Assembly Schedule

8:30am Doors Open

9:00am Worship and Welcome

9:45am Project Isaiah 43 Continues

11:15am Business Session 1

11:45am Lunch

1:00pm Prayer Stations

1:30pm Business Session 2 

3:15pm Project Isaiah 43 Continues

3:30pm Worship and Sending

From the ELCA Office of the Secretary: Congregation Pulse Surveys

For many years the ELCA Annual Congregation Report included Form C. As time went by, the Office of the Secretary determined that the data collected through Form C lacked depth or thematic focus, and it took too long to report.

With those concerns in mind, the ELCA is trying something new in data collection. Instead of soliciting information from all congregations and worshiping communities simultaneously through Form C, they will be conducting Congregation Pulse Surveys. These surveys are one way for congregations and worshiping communities to share their perspectives, strengths, and needs with the synods and the churchwide organization in an expedient way.

Over the next year each congregation and worshiping community will receive one survey, in either April, July, October, or January 2025. Surveys will be distributed to the email address on file for the congregation or worshiping community with the churchwide organization. The first wave of surveys are being sent today!

Many thanks for taking the time to provide your feedback! If you have any questions, you may contact Rebekah Wissler in our Northeastern Ohio Synod office: rwissler@neos-elca.org

From your Synod Treasurer:

Dear NEO Synod Congregational Pastors and Treasurers:

In the next couple of weeks, the Synod’s outside auditors, Apple Growth Partners, will be sending you an email requesting confirmation of the Mission Support payments you made to the Synod during our fiscal year 2023, which runs from February 1, 2023 to January 31, 2024. In the past these confirmation letters were sent by U.S. mail, but now they are sent by email and Apple Growth requires an email response. I want to assure you that this is not a scam or phishing attempt. Please provide Apple Growth a timely response. If the auditors do not get a high enough response rate, their audit procedures will require more manual investigation on their part and on the part of the Synod staff. This will drive up the cost to the Synod.

If you have any questions about this, please call the synod office. Thank you for your cooperation.

Celebrating Creation Care: The ELCA's Commitment to Environmental Stewardship

As Earth Day Sunday approaches on April 21st, it's an opportune time to reflect on the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) steadfast commitment to environmental stewardship. At the heart of this commitment lies the social statement Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope, and Justice, which was developed in 1993 with the invaluable contributions of individuals like Rev. George Murphy, one of Northeastern Ohio's very own pastors and a physicist. This statement not only emphasizes theological principles but also calls for concrete action, urging Christians to recognize their role as stewards of God's creation and advocating for justice in environmental interactions.

As we look back on the origins of the Caring for Creation statement, it's evident that environmental concerns have long been a priority for the ELCA. With Earth Day serving as a poignant reminder of the importance of protecting our planet, the ELCA continues to empower its members to address pressing social and environmental challenges. Furthermore, as we navigate contemporary environmental issues, the ELCA's emphasis on sustainability, justice, and community engagement provides a guiding light for individuals and congregations alike. As we celebrate Earth Day Sunday, let us recommit ourselves to caring for the earth and all its inhabitants, in alignment with our faith, values and convictions.

For those interested in reading the article about the 1993 ELCA Environmental Statement by Rev. George Muphy or are interested in furthering their engagement with creation care, links to other faith-based eco-justice organizations dedicated to environmental stewardship can be found at the buttons below.

The Creation Care Affinity Group of the Northeastern Ohio Synod represents a concerted effort to uphold the sanctity of environmental stewardship. This group offers a space where belief harmoniously converges with ecological responsibility, propelling congregations to embrace and practice conservation principles. For additional resources or interest in joining this affinity group, please click the button below.

The next meeting will be Thursday, April 25, 2024. 

For more information and for the Zoom meeting link, contact Pastor Leonard Killings, Hunger Team Lead: hunger@neos-elca.org 

Prayers for Healing

Prayer concerns will be removed after four weeks unless otherwise requested.

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