The Daily Call

a call to order a call to worship a call to be transformed

Upstate New York Synod Assembly 2013 Rochester Riverside Convention Center Friday, June 7 Volume 6:1

Transformed:
Assembly inspired by ELCA 25th anniversary theme

Always being made new

Celebrating 25 years together as a synod and as the ELCA, the Upstate New York Synod Assembly gathers this morning around a theme of transformation. In the words of Bishop Marie Jerge, God is transforming us through our baptism...and reaching out to transform the world using our hands and voices. As keynote speaker, the assembly welcomes Mr. Don Johnson, Associate in Ministry and Vice-President of Student Development at The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. He will address the assembly Friday morning, focusing on the role of Gods call and vocation in our lives, and on Saturday he will speak about the transforming power of discerning Gods call. Johnson says there are two things assembly-goers can do to prepare for his speech: listen for Gods voice from within, and listen for Gods voice in the voice of others. He also advises that this will not be a traditional keynote presentation: Therell be a surprise or two!

Early arrivals get to work serving the community

Those who arrived early in Rochester wasted no time. They made a dierence right away by volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House and at Foodlink. At the Ronald McDonald House, four volunteers were hard at work scrubbing windows, sills, blinds, and screens in the rooms where families will stay. I dont get time for this very often, admitted Bishop Marie Jerge. She explained that she had spent the morning working on her sermon for Friday evening, but she was looking forward to this chance for hands-on service. This way, I know I am doing some good. To the north, ten volunteers were working like clockwork to ll plastic grocery bags with cereal, macaroni and cheese, ravioli, peas and carrots, milk, juice, raisins, and cookies. Through the BackPack Program, Foodlink provides food for children who are eligible for free or reduced-price school lunches. Each bag helps make sure a child will have enough to eat over the weekend. After three hours, the volunteers had packed 545 bags of food. Sue Osborne of Holy Trinity, Elmira was excited to be working there for the afternoon, especially because Foodlink provides food to her local food bank in Horseheads. I went right away to sign up, she said. Congregations from Geneseo to East Schodack were represented among the volunteers. These ministries stretch across the state. Families from as far away as Europe and all over New York state stay at the Ronald McDonald House. The Rochester location of Foodlink helps stock food banks as far away as Bualo, Syracuse, and the Southern Tier.

Whats Happening Today

Plenary 1 begins at 9:00 am 2014 Mission Proposal to be introduced Proposal to Restructure Synod Council will be introduced Fifteen dierent workshops oered at 1:15 pm Awards and Recognitions in Plenary 2, 3:15 pm Worship with Eucharist begins at 7:15 pm

Upstate New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Resurrection people who pray rst, walk together, and change lives.

The Daily Call

Friday, page 2

What does it mean to be who God created us to be?

by the Rev. Norma Malfatti

Do you believe in God? If your answer is, Im a Lutheran, then you should have been at last nights Imagining Mission conversation when the Rev. Laurie Carson asked this question. Over 130 people wrestled with what it means to be Christian, what it means to believe in God, and how we share our faith in actions, not just words. Woven through the small group conversations, Organic Faith of Bualo led the body of Christ in prayerful song about Gods grace and Gods ability to create thriving A guitarist from Organic Faith leads the group in song. life even when we walk through the valley of death. That valley can be the death of family and friends or tragedies like bombings and tornadoes, but it is also the way we understand what it means to be church and to Steve Knutson of Portico will be at the table be successful disciples. As the Rev. Matthew Nickolo outside the plenary hall this morning. If you asked, Do we evaluate our successes by how many proreceive Portico benets or are a person who helps grams our churches have? How big our Sunday School make insurance decisions in your congregation, is? Size of worship attendance? Or do we evaluate our please visit Steve today to learn more about the success based on what Jesus has done for us? major changes coming to Portico in 2014 due to These are hard questions. There are pressures we the Aordable Care Act. face with meeting budgets, serving our community, and Q: Where can I put these providing meaningful worship for Gods children. But aluminum can tabs? God calls us to resist the temptation to protect the instiA: Theres a table at registration tution of church and instead boldly proclaim the gospel. with containers and bags for the tabs. As Nickolo declared, God puts his body on the table every Sunday even though we put him on the cross. Choir rehearsal will take place today from When Jesus left us, he made it clear that we are to 4:30-5:30 pm in Highland D. share this message, reminded Tara Eastman, followed by the Rev. Nate Preisinger who urged us to share Gods message freely. Just as we see the generosity of children who collect toys, pens, crayon-colored pictures and other treasures and then share them indiscriminately with others, we are to pick up Gods love and give it away.

Announcements

Meet the chaplains

Synodically Approved Sudoku

courtesy of websudoku.com

Pictured at left: The Rev. Rick Kwiatkowski Pictured at right: Ms. Pamela Hoh Not pictured: Sister Donna Font

Newspaper Production Staff

Editor: Reporter: Photography: Production: Distribution: The Rev. Katie Yahns The Rev. Norma Malfatti The Rev. Je L. Kane Mr. Dave Truland The Rev. Je L. Kane Ms. Marcia Brown

Upstate New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Resurrection people who pray rst, walk together, and change lives.