Around the Synod

Thu Jun 19 10:17:15 EDT 2008

Hola!

DATABASE COLLECTION FORM:
We recently purchased a new database program called ACS Technologies, which
will help us get our data in up to date. Please help us out by filling out
the form that is attached to this e-mail and sending it back to me at
lucia at gulfcoastsynod.org. You can also print it out and fax it to
281-875-4716 ATTN: Lucia or mail it to 12707 North Freeway Ste. 580,
Houston, TX 77060, If you have any problems with the form please let me
know...Thanks so much for your help!

Strategy  for the purpose of raising leaders for Christ's Church! 

Image1. Let us pray!
2. Let's boldly look for the brightest and best among us, and invite them!
3. Let's look in the places where there are "lots of them."
        Our parishes.
        Our outdoor ministries.
        Our campus ministries.
        Our own families and communities.
4. Let's not underestimate our personal importance!  There are persons who
respect us, look up to us, and will listen to what we say because of it.
When we identify a person with special gifts, let's raise what we see with
them.
5. Let's plot, scheme, brood over just who is the right person to help "make
the ask," and let's "gang up" on the prospect. We may not be prophets in our
own country, but we can surely bring in some "big gun" to help us!
6. Let's "put ideas in peoples' heads," people who come to us as having
wonderful gifts for ministry, whether or not we think they've ever thought
they have them.
7. Let's build a relationship, one-on-one, with persons we identify, and
make sure we keep in touch over their life and living.
8. Let's let them know how excited we are about serving in Christ's church.
Excitement rubs off!
9. Let's identify the benefits, and there are many, both tangible and
intangible.
10. Let's spare no expense! Recruitment is an expensive thing, time-wise,
dollar-wise. Let's be just that...wise! Let's get past this baloney that
says that people must pay some part of the experience in order to get the
most out of it. Not true! Let's pay the cost.
11. Let's above all, go ahead and act!  Let's be proactive!  So often in the
church we go through multiple stages of theological reflection, vocational
assessment, spiritual gifts assessment, etc. before we act. The word "gift"
and derivatives is used about 75 times in the bible. "Giving" on the other
hand is used over 900 times. Let's reflect, but let's DO while we are
reflecting.

LYO MINISTRY TEAMS

Application process has NOW BEGUN for all adults and high school students
with leadership gifts to offer the Gatherings planned and executed by the
FIVE LYO Ministry Teams.  If you have gifts that pertain to Peer Life
(hospitality), Small Groups, Worship Design, Servant Life, and/or Audio
Visual Design then YOU need to go to www.soggyshoes.org and click on
"Lutheran Youth Organization" and then "Getting Involved" for the full
application.  Forms are due to the Synod Office by July 7th.  All LYO
Leaders MUST attend the Ministry Team Leadership Retreat, Aug 15-17, 2008 at
Camp Lutherhill.  Questions?  Contact Jessica Noonan at
jessica at gulfcoastsynod.org 

REVEAL YOUTH WORKER TRAINING (Aug 22-24) 

Reveal is a youth worker training designed for professional youth ministers,
and volunteers in youth ministry to come with their team of leaders that
work with Jr. High and High School students.  At this event you will:

                - build relationships with a valuable network of other
adults who work with students, just like   you!

                - be pushed to grow and develop your own gifts for youth
ministry through dynamic and relevant workshops!

                - be refreshed by moving worship services! 

                 be better equipped to go back to your congregations to
serve the students and families you work with!

Key Note Speaker is Jeremy Myers, Assistant Professor of Religion at
Augsburg College in Minneapolis.

Musician and Worship Leader is Jonathon Rundman.

To download a full brochure with workshop listings, more information about
the speaker, and cost for this event....go to www.soggyshoes.org and click
on "Event Registration."  Due to technically difficulties, the online
registration has been delayed but is set to open up by June 12 the at the
latest - thanks for your patience!  Registration will close on August 7th.

YOUTH MINISTRY NETWORK MEETING (September 4)

The daytime Youth Ministry Network Meeting will begin meeting again on
Thursday, September 4 at a Houston area congregation.  This past year we
have held this monthly meeting at Living Word in Katy, but are open to
moving the meeting to a Houston location that might allow more youth
ministers to attend.  Please contact Jessica Noonan at
jessica at gulfcoastsysnod.org with your preference for location.

2009 ELCA YOUTH GATHERING, JESUS+JUSTICE+JAZZ  (July 22-26, 2009)

36,000 people will descend upon New Orleans once again for the upcoming 2009
ELCA Youth Gathering, but their purpose for going there will be somewhat
different than the last time the Gathering was held there.  This time around
the primary purpose of this event is to serve God and grow in our
understanding of compassionate justice.  

There are MANY OPPORTUNITIES for your group and adults in your congregation
to serve at the Gathering - the Youth Servant Corps (only 200 spots
available for youth groups/sponsors!), Servant Companions (ages 20-25),
Community Life (ages 19 and older), Gathering Volunteer Corps (ages 19 and
older), House Band, and Emcees.  Go to www.elca.org/gathering for more
details on all the ways you and  your group can serve at the Gathering in
New Orleans.  The event logos, registration brochures and lots of other
important information is also available on the Gathering website.
Questions? Contact your Synod Coordinator, Jessica Noonan at
jessica at gulfcoastsynod.org 

Important Info and Dates:

Registration Brochure available online
NOW

Volunteer Registration available online
NOW until spots filled

Youth Servant Corp Registration available online
NOW until spots filled

Deadline for applying to play in the House Band
Aug 1, 2008

Registration opens for  the Gathering, MYLE, and DAYLE
Sept 15, 2008

Peace+

Jessica Noonan

LYO Ministry Coordinator

Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod, ELCA

12707 North Freeway, Suite #580

Houston, TX 77060

web info  <http://www.soggyshoes.org> www.soggyshoes.org 

e-mail  <mailto:jessica at gulfcoastsynod.org> jessica at gulfcoastsynod.org
cell 832-215-3722 

HOUSTON AREA CHURCHES

I received an urgent need from Carl and Gina Lindsey concerning the
worsening condition of Carl Lindsey, a patient at M.D. Anderson Cancer
Center.  I met Carl and Gina November 2006, shortly after he was diagnosed
with his life-threatening illness and officiated at their wedding in Spring
of 2007.  Carl is a life-long Lutheran and engineer who moved to Louisiana
shortly before being diagnosed.  Most of their married life has been spent
in and out of M.D. Anderson.  CARL IS IN NEED OF WHITE BLOOD CELL DONORS.  I
offered to send this note to you to forward to other pastors.  Perhaps,
there is someone who would like to be a donor.  Minimally, let us pray for
this family.

Excerpt from Gina's note:

The doctor wants Carl to received infusions of white blood cells.  (I didn't
even know they could transfuse white blood cells.)  Since white blood cell
donations are rare and delicate, blood banks did not have drives for them. 

I have been put in charge of finding 4-5 donors and  was told to have 4-5
family members or friends stop by the blood bank to be screened to see if
they would meet the donation criteria.  I have no relatives or friends in
Houston.

 If there are Lutherans and/or friends willing to help, here is the process.

White Blood Cell Donation Schedule:

1. Phone the MD Anderson Donor Center at 713-792-7777 and ask them to
explain the donation criteria over the phone.

2. If it looks like you can be a white blood cell donor you'd need to get to
Houston ASAP and receive an injection that would help boost your white blood
cell production.

3. You'd donate white blood cells the following day.  You can donate white
blood cells every four days, if necessary.

For more Info:

Gina Reedy-Lindsey

10948 Shoreline Drive

Baton Rouge, LA 70809

LA Cell:  225-636-6255

IA Cell:  712-310-2732

vreedy3 at cox.net

Carl Lindsey

Room G1162

M. D. Anderson Cancer Center

1515 Holcombe Blvd.

Houston, TX 77030 

LUTHERAN CAMPUS MINISTRY HOUSTON NEWS

I've attached two items.  The first item is a message I would like sent out
to all pastors and youth and family ministers.  I've included my own message
that precedes the "blurb" by the College/ University Name Gathering Project.
Please take a moment to read through what I've written.  Is my communication
clearly stated?  If there are changes you think I should make, let me know
and I'll do it.  The second attachment is the HLCM logo.  I offer this to be
included in your communication to the synod.  The logo will offer some
recognition for pastors and youth and family ministers.  Pr. Brad Fuerst

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