Bethany Lutheran Church – West Branch, Iowa

Please find attached a wonderful recap of the Synod Assembly prepared by Frank Frostestad. Thanks Frank!

Synod Assembly 2014 Report

The 2014 Synod Assembly is complete.  We concluded with a fabulous worship yesterday morning probably around 500 people in attendance.  Bishop Michael Burk was reelected as bishop of the Southeastern Iowa Synod.  Congratulations to Bishop Burk and may we all hold him and Bishop Eaton, Presiding Bishop of the ELCA, in prayer.

Below are some photos of Pastor Chad, Frank and Euyln with Bishop Eaton, Bishop Burk, and one of the Sunday worship.

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The 2014 Southeastern Iowa Assembly is underway.  Some ways you can follow are: like the Southeastern Iowa Synod on Facebook, follow @seiasynod on Twitter or via #seia14

Pastor Chad will also be posting on our Facebook page periodically over the duration of the Assembly.

The June/July Newsletter is available and can be viewed by clicking here.  Enjoy!

Please see the attached flier regarding the Summer Meal Program being offered through the West Branch Schools.

Summer Meals

Congratulations to our youth who affirm their baptism in worship this morning!  They are saying “yes” to the promises God made to each of them in their baptism.  May they, and every baptized child of God, cling to the promise and knowledge that they are precious in God’s eyes and a child of God!  Congratulations to:  Karly, Ethan, Billy, Emma, Annika, Maggie, and Lauren!

The Annual Assembly of the Southeastern Iowa Synod will be May 30 – June 1.  You can stay posted by following Bishop Burk and/or the Southeastern Iowa Synod on Twitter or Facebook.  Additionally, the Assembly will be webcast.  Links to these various avenues of staying in touch are on the Synod website by clicking here.

Additionally, an offering collected at the assembly will be designated to the two items below.  Each congregation of our synod is invited to collect an offering that will be brought to the assembly on behalf of their faith communities.  As such, on Sunday May 25we will have a special offering that will be taken the Synod Assembly on behalf of our voting delegates:  Frank Frostestad, Sue Hughes, and Pastor Chad.

• The Southeastern Iowa Synod Fund for Leaders: The Southeastern Iowa Fund for Leaders is a significant way to make an investment in future leaders and the life of this church. Annual distributions from this endowment fund provide tuition support to Southeastern Iowa Synod candidates for ministry who are studying full-time in an ELCA seminary while pursuing ordained or rostered lay ministry within the ELCA.  These leaders graduate from seminary with less debt, which in turn opens them to be able to serve in congregations that would otherwise have difficulty calling pastoral leadership.  As God continues to raise up leaders for tomorrow, full of potential, the fund reflects our hope that one day every seminary graduate will enter ministry free of seminary debt.
• The Pare Diocese, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania: The companion relationship between the Southeastern Iowa Synod (ELCA) and the Pare Diocese (ELCT) exists for the purpose of strengthening one another for life and mission within the body of Christ, and has existed since 1988. Bishop Mjema of the Pare Diocese has invited Bishop Burk to join in a special initiative of the diocese. Three Guest Homes will be built and operated to help support the ministries of the diocese, including, health, women/children, Christian Education/Youth and agriculture sustainability.