Connections - Gulf Coast Synod News

Fri Oct 24 09:57:11 EDT 2008

image001Connections

November 2008

Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Hurricane Recovery
Lutheran Style!

By Peggy Hahn

Kinsmen volunteers in Galveston.jpgLutherans are on the loose.  We have
learned from brothers and sisters who have led the way with Katrina and Rita
how to be the first and the last in responding to needs. From the first days
after hurricanes Gustav and Ike, Lutheran pastors and congregations have
been hands-on with listening, working, feeding and caring for victims. From
Pastor Chris Lake (new to the synod) using a generator to make wifi
available to the neighborhood, to almost 400 serving in one day to... well,
what’s next?

Pictured above: Volunteers from Kinsmen help clean and sort through 

kitchen and communion ware at St. Paul’s/Galveston. 

Your help is needed (bring friends, please) in Baton Rouge, Bridge City and
Galveston Island. (see info on Recovery below.)  Your support is critical in
resourcing recovery in these places – with volunteer time, prayer and
dollars.  

Thank you for caring.

Lutherans have a reputation for caring when the media and other
organizations have gone back to business as usual. Please don’t get tired of
helping –we are in this together. Something important (understatement...) is
happening to us as we come together. We are learning what it means to be a
synod. People journeying together. In many ways we are at our best as a
church. What we don’t want is the 911 effect. Remember – people crowding
into churches for a few weeks and then going back to their old way of life?
It would be a huge loss if we thought of this time of serving as a
short-termed experience to be put on the back burner when we move into the
holidays. Please take a minute to read reflections from Pastor David Hansen
after serving in Galveston.  

Lutherans... keep on rolling!

Pastor David Hansen’s reflections... share this with your family and friends
and invite them into something really important. 

Pictured below is a gentleman named Mr. Daniel, of Galveston, who sits in a
trash pile filled with a lifetime of his possessions. 

Mr. Daniel and belongings.jpgOn 10-4, six members of Saint John Lutheran
(Prairie Hill) met up with two members from Immanuel (Wiedeville) to carpool
to Galveston.  We were lucky enough to have been loaned a truck from a local
car dealership, which cut down on our travel expense for the day.  

We arrived just as the morning devotions were ending, and received our
assignment to a home on 53rd St.  As we arrived, there was some effort to
sort out what needed to be kept and what needed to be thrown away from the
home.  By noon, the owner had given up on attempts to sort out his
belongings, and the rule of thumb was that everything went to the curb. The
owner was an antique dealer, with an online business and a shop off the
Island, so there was a large amount of stock stored around the house,
including the garage. The garage sustained about six feet of water, the home
itself about four feet.

As with many of the homes in the area, this home had gotten backed up with
sewage.  The combined smell of rot, sewage, and mold, as we worked through
the day, was overwhelming.  A couple of our workers noticed that as you left
the house and walked down the street, you could tell the houses where the
sewage backup was particularly bad just by walking by.

It was, for myself and for our volunteers, heart-breaking to throw this
man’s life away. We watched as water-logged photo albums, books, clothes,
and everything else went to the curb.  Later in the day, I walked to our
truck, and picked up a picture off the ground. It was a 70 year old picture
of the owner’s father, which had drifted off of the trash pile.  Who knows
how many memories and irreplaceable keepsakes were taken away that day.

I recall visiting my in-laws in Southeast Texas following Rita. Then, as
now, I was over-awed by the debris piled along the road. I can remember huge
piles along every road, but they were, at that point-- and in that area –
almost entirely tree limbs and other yard-type debris. Standing on 53rd St
on October 4th, there was a never ending pile of debris – outside of every
home. But it was not limbs or yard waste at all.  Each pile was a person’s
life, stacked by the side of the road for everyone to see, and for the city
to cart away.

In the October 19th Gospel lesson, Jesus tells the Pharisees to give to God
those things that are God’s. Sure we, as Americans, cling too tightly to our
possessions when they rightly are God’s and not ours. Yet the storms of the
Gulf Coast require people to let go of possessions in ways that are
unimaginable. It is not the expensive things – the TVs, the computers, and
the stereo equipment. No, it is the truly valuable things – the objects
which embody the memories of a lifetime – which are painful to see sitting
out on the curb.

Already, on my first week back, I have members asking me when we will take
another group to the Island to work. 

The Rev. David L. Hansen

Pastor, St. John Lutheran Church of Prairie Hill

Thank you for your commitment and passion for responding to urgent needs.
You have asked for more synod-wide opportunities to care for others so
please see below.  You are shaping our synod’s vision and our Lutheran
identity in wonderful, faithful ways.  

Please join us at one of 5 sites: The release form for the first three sites
can be found at the synod website. 

#1 Baton Rouge, LA – 

6000 homes are still struggling to recover from tree damage due to hurricane
Gustav.  Volunteers are needed to do yard work, fix fences and take down
trees. Both Our Savior Lutheran Church and St. Paul Lutheran Church welcome
overnight guests. Please contact Dagfinn Magnus at 504/432-7826 if you or a
group would like to schedule a time to help. Complete the attached release
form and bring it with you – even if you have served with us before. People
under 18 years old will need a parent’s signature.  Anyone under age 16
should be accompanied by a parent.

#2 Bridge City, TX – St, Mark’s Lutheran Church

The storm surge from Ike completely flooded Bridge City. Volunteers are
needed to help as people continue to muck out homes and clean the church.
Congregational groups are welcome any time.  Housing for overnight can be
arranged. Grocery stores and gas stations are open.  Please contact Paul
Zoch at 409/ 988-3003 to schedule your visit. Complete the attached release
form and bring it with you – even if you have served with us before. People
under 18 years old will need a parent’s signature.  Anyone under age 16
should be accompanied by a parent.

#3 Second Galveston Clean-Up Day - November 8 Meet at Zion Lutheran Church.

Please officially sign up no later than November 4: (We want to assign you
to projects before you arrive, serve as many people as possible and have
enough t-shirts – unless you already have one.)

1.         Email peggy at gulfcoastsynod.org with your name and number of
friends you are bringing and how many already have t-shirts. (Please, one
per person.) You are encouraged to bring co-workers and neighbors. The sign
up deadline is important so we can do our best to get ready for you. 

2.         Complete the attached release form and bring it with you – even
if you have served with us before.  (It is critical we have your up-to-date
information.)  People under 18 years old will need a parent’s signature.
Anyone under age 16 should be accompanied by a parent.

Work day schedule:

9-10:00 a.m. Check-in at Zion Lutheran Church, 6910 Yucca Drive, Galveston,
TX 77551 (turn in release form and get your assignment and t-shirt.  Please
wear your shirt if you have one.)

10:00 a.m.  Devotion & Safety Instructions

10:45 a.m.  Project Assignments:  Congregational groups will be assigned to
different homes. We are working with the Galveston Island organizations to
identify homes that need our help.  While some work may happen at our
churches, we will primarily be in homes.

12:00 p.m.:  Eat the lunch you brought with you. (No food or drinks will be
provided for volunteer workers.  Please be self-sufficient.)

3:30 p.m.: Clean up work site, gather your belongings and Depart (Tools are
still missing... see below.)

Tools Missing from First Galveston Work day (Email
<mailto:Peggy at gulfcoastsynod.org> Peggy at gulfcoastsynod.org if you have seen
these.)

·     MaryAnn is missing a tool box.

·     Michael is missing a very large, square bladed coal shovel with a
steel scoop and steel "D" handle with a wooden shaft.  The name "Joyce" is
written on the shaft just above the scoop, in black marker.

#4 Houston - Habitat for Humanity

Building in Cypress for a family still recovering after Hurricane Katrina,
2005 

Reynard and Lois Mitchell understand quite well that recovery from Hurricane
Ike will be a slow and stressful process.  Three years ago after Katrina
ravaged the Gulf Coast, the Mitchell’s evacuated and eventually settled in
Houston. They were approved to build and purchase a home of their own with
Habitat for Humanity earlier this year but, for the second time, a hurricane
has affected their housing situation.

The Mitchells are not the only ones touched indirectly by Ike. Juana Rangel,
a single mother of three is staying with her family along with over a dozen
other family members.  She really needs the stability of a home for her
family, but her Habitat house is also in danger of not being completed
without more help from volunteers. 

If you are available to give a day to these two families, we really need you
on Wednesday, Thursdays or Saturdays at the site in Cypress. No experience
is needed! If you can volunteer or you would like to make a donation towards
construction expenses (the goal is $14,000) Contact Ken Dinges at
281-256-9557 or  <mailto:kendinges at gmail.com> kendinges at gmail.com. What a
blessing it would be if we could help these two families be “home for the
holidays!”

2009 Tri-Synodical Leadership Conference

this good earth.jpgThe Tri-Synodical Planning Team is pleased to invite you
to the 2009 event: 2009 TRI-SYNODICAL THEOLOGICAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
Arlington Convention Center / Sheraton Hotel on January 26-28, 2009 --  THIS
GOOD EARTH -- An exploration into the practical and theological implications
of the environmental crises confronting the world, with presentations by
Mr. Jerome Ringo, President of the Apollo Alliance and past president of the
National Wildlife Federation. Dr. Sallie McFague, Carpenter Professor of
Theology, emerita, at Vanderbilt Divinity School.  Dr. Larry Rasmussen,
Reinhold Niebuhr Professor of Social Ethics, emeritus, at Union Theological
Seminary.  To learn more please visit www.ntnl.org/2009conference.

ONE Lutheran and ONE Sabbath

Congregations Please Remind all Candidates About Our Support for Fighting
Global Poverty

The ELCA is calling on all of our congregations to advocate for the hungry
and to make poverty history.  As the election season peaks, now is a
critical time to remind all candidates and elected officials about our
support for fighting global poverty and achieving the Millennium Development
Goals (MDG’s).  This fall, our synod joins forces with the ONE Campaign to
promote ONE Sabbath, an effort of people of faith committed to urging their
elected officials to demonstrate leadership in addressing global poverty,
hunger and disease.  

ONE Sabbath will run from now through the first 100 days of the next
Administration.  ONE Sabbath is a wonderful opportunity for all of our
congregations to become ONE Lutheran Congregations. For information and
resources to help you promote ONE Sabbath, visit the following links:

Ø  For more information on how to become a ONE Lutheran Congregation:

      http://archive.elca.org/advocacy/one/06-03-06-cong.html  

Ø  For ONE Sabbath Resources: www.one.org/onesabbath/?id_612-3335964-nlBz3-x
<http://www.one.org/onesabbath/?id_612-3335964-nlBz3-x&t=2> &t=2 

Ø  For ONE Sabbath Christian materials:
http://www.one.org/onesabbath/christian.html

Ø  For local information on the ONE campaign, contact our synod ONE Lutheran
Campaign coordinator, Beverly Davis, at beverlydavis at ctkelc.org

A View from the Pew / A View from the Pulpit

Our series of open letters between Kurt Goedecke and Pastor Herb Palmer
continue this month. Pastor Palmer responds this month.

Dear Kurt,

You make a point about congregations that are thriving or surviving based on
the size of the congregation. I want to mess with the issue of churches that
you identify as surviving.

You make the point that congregations that have a small worship attendance,
because of institutional needs, may focus their work on survival. I believe
that every congregation should be focused on mission, even if there are
factors that contribute to decline in membership and worship attendance.
Some congregations are just not in a position to grow in numbers, but all of
our congregations are in a position for mission, even if that mission is
understood that they will soon close. Focus on survival is not helpful for
the ministry of the congregation and I would have to say that neither is it
faithful. 

Every congregation, regardless of the size, must ask: What might God be up
to in this place and time? What is God calling us to do? What is God’s
mission for this congregation? 

Congregations that once thought their work was to keep the doors open, who
have now begun to look for what God is up to, have found that God opened
other doors for them. Even though they were small in size they were faithful
to the mission they believed God had called them to do.

Every congregation, regardless of size, can pursue excellence in worship;
get involved in the community; work with other congregations in the
community; teach the faith; visit the sick and homebound; and serve the
poor. None of this is focused on survival. It is focused on mission. All of
it can be part of the mission of any congregation, regardless of size and
the numbers of people in worship.

You ask how is it possible to give good, reliable and valid feedback to
pastors serving congregations that are just trying to survive. I believe
that the feedback is to congregations, as well as pastors, and that survival
is not our calling. Mission is our calling. Do what God has called you to
do.

Yours, in Christ,

Herb Palmer

“Tour de Revs”

By Jim Shields, Synod World Hunger Appeal Coordinator

Save the date – Give us ideas 

>From May 13 through August 24, 2009, three ELCA pastors from the West
Virginia-West Maryland synod will put foot to pedal / seat to saddle and
travel over 13,000 miles. They will be making stops in each synod, the 2009
Youth Gathering and the Churchwide Assembly.

bike of bamboo.jpgOn July 22 and 23, 2009, these three incredible ELCA
pastors from West Virginia will come through Houston on their BAMBOO bicycle
built for three!! 

All proceeds will go to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal. Margie Taylor and Jim
Shields met “the Revs” at a recent World Hunger Conference in Denver. Go to
http://www.tourderevs.org to see all the details. Their dedication to
raising money for the World Hunger Appeal is inspiring.

How can we participate in this event? We are limited only by our
imagination. Below are some ideas, but we need more:

·         We could organize a “bikeocade” similar to a motorcade used to
escort dignitaries into town. Imagine our bishop and pastors on bicycles
with flashing lights and banners escorting the Revs pedaling a bamboo three
seater. This would be a real media draw. It would give us an opportunity to
tell the residents of Houston about the work that Lutherans do to care for
the poor and oppressed all over the world. 

·         People could pledge, say, $1 a mile for the escort. The Revs will
be coming in from Seguin and we could meet them 25 miles outside of Houston,
for example. 

·         The Revs will preach along the way and we could hold three
different events the night of the July 22nd  (a Wednesday) so that they get
maximum exposure to our congregations. What ideas do you have for events?

·         To defray costs, we will provide meals and lodging for the 3 Revs
and their three support people. We need volunteers for this.

·         The revs will be headed for the 2009 Youth Gathering in New
Orleans. We need ideas to engage youth and children.

If you have ideas for us and if you want to participate in the planning
please call or email Margie or Jim.

Jim – 713-225-4357 jshields at justiceforchildren.org 

Margie – 936-890-1132 margie.taylor at youthmc.org  

Meet Jon Richter, Seminarian and Scholarship Recipient

By Karen Landahl

Aaron and Sarah 3-19-07Just a few years ago, Jon Richter, (pictured left
with his wife Sarah) was a young man from Beaumont, Texas, a member of
Bethlehem/Beaumont, working for Chick-fil-a. He would not let the idea of
training to be a pastor even enter his head.  But after some gentle nudging
from his wife, Sarah, and with the support of his home congregation, Jon
Richter took the leap of faith that would lead him to Wartburg Seminary in
Dubuque, Iowa.

As is the case with most candidates preparing for ordained ministry, Richter
spent his first two years at Wartburg in classes studying the bible,
theology, and practical ministry.

All this prepared him for his year-long internship at Atonement Lutheran, an
urban congregation in southern Syracuse.  At Atonement, Richter came face to
face with the gifts and struggles that come with an urban setting:  poverty,
lack of affordable housing and childcare, multiple ethnicities and mixed
incomes.

Sower graphic.gifBut going to seminary comes at a cost. Too many pastors
enter their first calls burdened by student loans.  Richter, too, will have
loans to repay after he finishes his education. His burden, however will be
lessened, thanks to scholarship money from this synod’s Mission Endowment
Fund. 

As Richter says, “it made a world of difference.”  Not every synod supports
their candidates in the same way as the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod,
Richter found out from fellow seminary students.  Receiving money from the
Mission Endowment Fund not only gave him peace of mind, it made him know
that he was being supported in several ways.  And that seems to have made
all the difference.

Association of Lutheran Development Executives

2009 International Education Conference Feb. 22-25

ALDE jean pocket logo.jpgThe Association of Lutheran Development Executives
(ALDE) is hosting its 2009 International Educational Conference – “Deep in
the Heart of Texas” – Feb. 22-25 in Austin, Texas.  The conference features
a diverse program of professional development and networking. 

This conference is open to anyone who works in faith-based development, or
is a person of faith working in development. Moreover, all those who work in
development can learn much from the numerous, wide-ranging sessions offered
at Austin 2009.  

Attendees are invited to come early and stay late to get a true taste of
Texas hospitality and history.  In addition to the great people, there are a
wealth of intriguing places to visit – too much to squeeze in just during
the conference. 

To kick things off in Austin, there is a welcome event at Reunion Ranch,
where generous helpings of barbeque and libations will be served up, great
dancing – or listening – music will be featured and roaming outlaws and a
mechanical bull will be present to test the wits and courage of visitors.

In addition to the good times, attendees will enhance their careers and
contribute to their organizations with high-caliber keynote speakers, master
class presenters and conference speakers.

Keynote speakers for the event are Paul Kruse, CEO of Blue Bell Creameries,
and David Williams, president and CEO of the Make-a-Wish Foundation.  Master
classes will consider the topics, “Developing and Implementing Strategies
for Successfully Cultivating and Soliciting the Major Gift,” as well as how
to “Make a Compelling Case.”  Breakout sessions cover a host of timely
topics ranging from online giving, grant writing, donor engagement and more.
Session titles include, “Facebook Philanthropy,” “A Screen Door Ministry –
Deep in the Heart of Texas, or Anywhere Else!,” “Good Grant Write Now!” and
“Getting to the Heart of Board Relations.”

Spiritually, attendees will be renewed with worship services and a servant
event that features working with a unique church that ministers to the
homeless by feeding both body and soul.  The conference also includes
numerous networking opportunities.

Austin 2009 is being held at the Renaissance Austin Hotel. The Renaissance
is located near a host of retail shops and eateries.  It is also
conveniently located for a trip to downtown Austin or a Hill Country escape.

For more information, visit www.alde.org <http://www.alde.org/> , or contact
Pat at pata at alde.org or 1.800.458.2363 ext. 3.

The Association of Lutheran Development Executives is an international
organization of fundraising and communications professionals, which is
rooted in the Lutheran tradition of the Christian faith and dedicated to
serving God's people in the church and the world.

Association of Lutheran Development Executives (ALDE)

Deep in the Heart of Texas: February 22-25, 2009

Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest: “Give and You Shall Receive”

By John Hunsicker

Yes, that’s the way it works.  And with an LFSW gift annuity, you not only
receive the satisfaction of helping to further the mission of your favorite
charity, you receive annuity payments for the rest of your life.

First Example:  John and Mary Jones are both 75 years of age. They give
$10,000 to LFSW for a two-life gift annuity.  Assuming a gift annuity rate
of 6%, they will receive $600 every year for the rest of their lives. Even
after one of them dies, the remaining spouse will continue to receive the
payments. On top of this, the Joneses will receive a charitable income tax
deduction, and a substantial portion of their payments will be tax-free.

Why does LFSW offer gift annuities? Many of our friends want to give more to
our sponsoring charities, but live on fixed incomes and can’t afford to
donate income-producing assets. With our gift annuity program, they can make
a significant gift and still retain lifetime payments. In some cases, they
can even increase their annual cash flow.

Second Example:  Wilma Williams is 80 years old and has common stock in a
company that pays her a dividend of 2% per year. This means that $10,000
worth of stock provides Wilma with a quarterly check of only $50. Wilma can
transfer this stock to LFSW for a charitable gift annuity. Assuming a gift
annuity rate of 7.6%, she could receive $190 each quarter, or $760 for the
year. And, her payments are secured by all the assets of LFSW!

Fixed payments, income tax deduction for itemizers, partial bypass of
capital gains tax, possible reduction of estate taxes---these and other
benefits make an LFSW gift annuity a prudent option for many of our older
friends.  In fact, we find that some of our donors obtain additional
annuities as they get older because of the higher payment rates. 

These gift annuities and other planned gifts let the charities know that
vital resources are in the pipeline to help them fulfill their mission to
the next generation.

I can provide a tailor-made illustration showing you exactly how a gift
annuity can work for you.  Just give me a call at 1-866-542-1349 or email
johnh at lfsw.org.

Bookkeeper Position Available with Gulf Coast Synod Office

The TX-LA Gulf Coast Synod Office is looking for a part-time (20 hours a
week) Bookkeeper/Accounting Clerk with the following qualifications:

•  3-5 years experience

•  Knowledgeable in AR/AP

•  Highly organized and attention to detail

•  Prior experience as full charge bookkeeper

•  Good written and oral communication skills

•  Knowledge of Windows based PC Operating System

•  Proficient in Microsoft Word & Excel

•  Ability to work in a multi-task environment

Duties:

•  Maintain a complete and systematic set of records of all financial
transactions of the Synod

•  Record detail of Synod financial transactions in appropriate journals and
ledgers

•  Summarize and balance entries recorded in individual journals and ledgers
and transfer date to general ledgers

•  Prepare monthly statements of income, expense, cash balances and fund
balances

•  Maintain detail transaction register of all restricted and dedicated
funds

•  Prepare for and coordinate the annual audit of the financial accounts and
records of the synod

•  Maintain regular communication with the Synod Treasurer

•  Other duties as assigned by the Bishop of the synod and/or the
Administrative Assistant to the Bishop of the Synod

Please send your resume to Reyna Pereira, Administrative Assistant at 12707
North Freeway, Ste. 580, Houston, TX 77060 or e-mail
reyna at gulfcoastsynod.org or fax it to 281/875-4716.

cid:image018.png at 01C91CD5.5DE7BD90

Please do not send postings or comments to this list.
Its sole purpose is to distribute this newsletter.

TX-LA Gulf Coast Synod, ELCA

12707 North Freeway, Suite 580

Houston, TX  77060

Voice: 281-873-5665

Fax: 281-875-4716

Website: www.gulfcoastsynod.org

In This Issue:

Click on a link to go

2009 <>  Tri-Synodical Leadership Conference, January 26-28, 2009

ONE Lutheran/ONE <>  Sabbath

A View From the <>  Pew/A View From the Pulpit

“Tours de Revs”

Meet Jon Richter, <>  Seminarian and Scholarship Recipient

ALDE: 2009 <>  International Education Conference, Feb 22-25, 2009

Lutheran Foundation <>  of the Southwest: “Give and You Shall Receive”

Bookkeeper Position <>  Available at Synod Office

ALDE International Education Conference

 <http://www.alde.org/Education/Conference/tabid/99/Default.aspx> ALDE
logo.jpg

Development for your career. Development for your organization. Development
for the people of God.

 <http://www.alde.org/Education/Conference/tabid/99/Default.aspx> The ALDE
(Association of Lutheran Development Executives) 2009 International
Educational Conference – find out more and register.

Our Connection to Peru

Each month we will have a special feature article about our sister synod in
Lima Peru. Please visit Our Connections to
<http://www.enthuseddesigns.com/connections_peru/>  Peru for our articles.
You will also find information on Future Seekers, the recent trip to Peru,
and Pastor Navarro’s blog spot.

Virginia Theological Seminary: Applications Being Accepted for Summer
Collegium

Applications are now being accepted for the Summer Collegium, a Lilly
Endowment project in support of small congregations.  Twenty-five clergy and
their spouses/partners from all Christian denominations will be invited to
spend nine days at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia,
focusing on Body, Mind, and Soul:  Celebrating, Strengthening and Sustaining
Clergy Wholenss in Small Congregations.   The Summer Collegium takes place
June 24-July 1, 2009, and applications must be postmarked by December 15,
2008 to be considered.  All expenses for the event, including travel, meals,
lodging, books, pulpit supply and child care at home are paid for by the
grant.  For more information and an application packet, visit our website at
<http://www.vts.edu/education/collegium> www.vts.edu/education/collegium or
call Marilyn Johns at 703-461-1760.

Houston Community to Commemorate Kristallnact November 9, Christ the King

The Houston Community will commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the
Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass,* in Nazi Germany on the
anniversary day, November 9, Sunday, at 6:00 p.m. The solemn service will
take place at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 2353 Rice Boulevard (at
Greenbriar). The event is sponsored by the Holocaust Museum Houston, the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (Gulf Coast Synod), Interfaith
Ministries of Greater Houston, and the Bach Society at Christ the King
Lutheran Church. Mr. Ben Waserman, an eye-witness to the destruction in
Berlin, will speak. Music by Bach, Mendelssohn, and Jadassohn, all Leipzig
composers, will be presented by the Bach Choir and Orchestra under the
direction of Dr. Albert LeDoux. 

Speakers include Bishop Michael Rinehart (Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America), Rabbi David Lyon (Congregation Beth Israel), The Honorable Rainer
Münzel (Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany), and the
Honorable Asher Yarden (Consulate General of Israel).

Seventy years ago, on November 9-10, 1938, the Nazis staged vicious
pogroms-state sanctioned, anti-Jewish riots-against the Jewish community of
Germany. These came to be known as Kristallnacht (now commonly translated as
"Night of Broken Glass"), a reference to the untold numbers of broken
windows of synagogues, Jewish-owned stores, community centers, and homes
plundered and destroyed during the pogroms. Encouraged by the Nazi regime,
the rioters burned or destroyed 267 synagogues, vandalized or looted 7,500
Jewish businesses, and killed at least 91 Jewish people. They also damaged
many Jewish cemeteries, hospitals, schools, and homes as police and fire
brigades stood aside. Kristallnacht was a turning point in history. The
pogroms marked an intensification of Nazi anti-Jewish policy that would
culminate in the Holocaust-the systematic, state-sponsored murder of Jews. 

2008-09 Lutheran Youth Organization Dates at a Glance

November 22-23, 2008 LYO Jr. High Gathering, Now at Kinsmen, Houston 

December 18, 2008 Sr. High Early Bird Postmark Deadline

January 22, 2009 Sr. High Final Postmark Deadline/Online Reg. Closes 

February 27—March 1, 2009 LYO Sr. High Community of Service at Camp For All,
Burton, TX            

ELCA National Youth Gathering, New Orleans, Louisiana 

Next year 36,000 people will descend upon New Orleans once again for the
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.

Important Info and Dates:

Registration Brochure available online NOW

Volunteer Registration available online NOW until spots filled

Lutheran Youth Organization Convention registration opens Jan 1, 2009

Gathering, MYLE, and DAYLE registration closes Jan 15, 2009

Lutheran Youth Organization Convention registration closes Apr 15, 2009

Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE) July 19-22, 2009

Definitely-Abled Youth Leadership Event (DAYLE)) July 19-22, 2009

ELCA Youth Gathering July 22-26, 2009

Triennial Convention of the LYO (Hattiesburg, MS) July 26-30, 2009

Visit www.elca.org/gathering

Connections Deadline 

Connections goes out monthly the first week of the month. If you have an
article for the December issue, please submit it by November 15. Send
articles to Susan Rinehart at  <mailto:rinehart at shawus.com>
rinehart at shawus.com.

Links:

Congregations <http://www.gulfcoastsynod.org/call_process.htm>  in
Transition

Mission Support <http://www.gulfcoastsynod.org/mission_support.htm>
Information

Synod Web Site -

www.gulfcoastsynod.org

Youth & Family Ministry www.soggyshoes.org

Disaster Relief Web Site 

www.futurewithhope.org

Churchwide Web Site

www.elca.org

ELCA Global Missions

www.elca.org/GlobalMission

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