​Bishop’s Note 20 October 2022

• New Notes or Changes to Notes will have this bullet and will remine new notes for two weeks, then will shift to the • until they are removed from the Notes. Upcoming Events changes or additions will be italicized and then shifted to Ø until removed.

 
Upcoming Events:

• The following is a list of upcoming events I will be attending in person. If I am in your area and you would like to go to lunch, coffee, have a chat, etc. let me know.

 

• 23 October Trinity, Meadville
• 23-26 October Rostered Leaders/ALWL Convocation
• 30 October  St. John, Oniontown
• 2 November @ Synod Office
• 3-6 November Camp Swift, TX for Army Reserves
• 9 November @ Synod Office
• 13 November Trinity, Smethport
• 14-16 November FCTE (First Call Theological Event) Capitol Retreat Center
• 19 November Vocations Committee Meeting
• 19 November Faith, Erie
• 20 November Faith, Erie
• 23 November @ Synod Office
• 27 November St. Paul, Warren
• 29 November @ Synod Office
• 30 November LAMPa, Harrisburg
• 3-4 December  @ Army Reserves
• 7 December @ Synod Office
• 9-10 December Region 8 Steering Committee
• 14 December @ Synod Office
• 18 December St. John/Bethany, Warren
• 26 December – 2 January Synod Office Closed.
• 26-31 December Family Vacation
• 4-8 January 2023 Conference of Bishops Academy, Minneapolis, MN
• 11 January 2023 @ Synod Office
• 15 January 2023 First English and Mt. Zion, Punxsutawney
• 16 January 2023 30th Anniversary of Ordination
• 17 – 30 January 2023 ELCA Bishop’s Holy Land Visit
• 1 February @ Synod Office

 
·        Sunday Supply Dates: 2023 February 19, 26;  March 12, April 9*, 23. *Mercer/Crawford/Erie.
 
Churchwide Events:

• I will be visiting the Holy Land next January with 17 other ELCA Bishops. This trip was to occur in 2020 but COVID. While in the Holy Land, there will be an ordination. Sally Anzar, daughter of Bp. Sani Ibrahim Anzar, will be ordained as the first woman pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land. Prayers for Sally and the Anzars are welcomed. I am planning on bringing a gift from our synod to her ordination. Ideas are welcome.

 
Ecumenical Events:
 
Region 8 Events:

• The Rev. Dr. Craig Satterlee will be presenting the theme, "My Burden is Light: Making Room for Jesus in Preaching," at the WV-WMD Synod's Fall Clergy Continuing Education Event to be held 16-18 Nov. 2022 at Cacapon Resort State Park (Berkeley Springs, WV). Registration information and other details are posted on the WV-WMD Synod's Education for Clergy & Laity webpage (http://wv-wmd.org/education/index.html#Fall2022). Event registration is free (for content), but attendees are on their own for room & board. This event is for clergy, seminarians, and SAMs. It is open to all judicatories.

 
Other Continuing Education Opportunities:

• Upcoming Kindling Faith continuing education events at ULS:
• We are planning a reboot of the Symposium of Evangelical Lutherans in Appalachia (SELA) on the Gettysburg campus from October 26th – 28th 2023. This event is a time of formation and renewal for rostered leaders or synodically-authorized lay leaders. I would like to hear from folks who would be likely to participate at a special informational session on November 13th at 7 pm. The zoom link for those who are interested in or currently serving in a Appalachian ministry contexts: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88294752114?pwd=Y25nWDlicHFCam5JcGxWMnU1bG55UT09
• Soul Care is a new multi-event program in collaboration with the Lower Susquehanna Synod. You can register here.
• Transgender and Lutheran with Dr. Stephanie Dykes. Sunday, October 23, 7 pm. Join Stephanie on zoom for a delightful introduction to her experience as a transgendered Lutheran living in the Seattle area.
• Luther Colloquy with featured speakers President Guy Erwin, Dr. Volker Leppin, Dr. Monica Melancthon, and Dr. Amy Nelson Burnett speaking on the topic of “Lutheranism and the Status Quo.” Wednesday October 26th on the Gettysburg campus. Livestream is available.
• An Evening with Pastor Franklin Morales will be held via zoom on Sunday, November 20th at 7 pm EST. is an opportunity to meet an ELCA Latino pastor who has an amazing story to share about his many journeys that led him to rostered service in the ELCA’s Metro DC synod. It is a beautiful story of love and courage. I hope you can join us.

 
Walking Together as Synod:

• Just a quick a note to say thank you to our congregations across the Synod, as we are currently ahead/exceeding our budget for Mission Support. Pr. Jacobson once again affirmed we are noticed in Chicago and Chicago wonders what it is that we do to continue to be such faithful, joyful givers. As always, Pr. Jake, just tells them… “That’s who we are!” Thank you for being you and being such faithful, generous servants! – Ron King, Synod Treasurer

 

• Second Class of ALWL training and Continuing Education for current ALWLs. Introduction to the Lutheran Confessions 2023: This course will delve into the writings of Martin Luther and the early reformers. Audio, video and written materials will be used to introduce Lutheran history and theological concepts. Conversation, lecture and the adult learning model will facilitate individual and group synthesis of the materials. Weekly questions and small projects will assist individuals in discovering the application of Lutheran theology for application for the authorized lay worship leader instructional program.

Course Dates: February 18, 25, March 11, 18, 25 and April 8.
More information will be posted after the first of the year.

• Check out Lutherlyn’s Capital Campaign video at www.lutherlyn.com/future. Lutherlyn has set a goal of two million dollars to be raised with a challenge goal of two and half million dollars. Lutherlyn will be reaching out to our congregations to determine your support as communities of believers in the work and mission of Lutherlyn. Wouldn’t it be interesting if our synod outgave SWPA synod?

 
Congregations in Transition:

1. Christ, Sharon and Holy Trinity, Hermitage. The congregation councils working on a model of shared pastoral ministry.
2. Grove Chapel, Indiana and Harmony Grove, Creekside. Two-point parish.
3. Zion, Mayport
4. Luther Memorial, Erie. Call Committee considering Candidate
5. St. Paul, Erie Call Committee developing MSP
6. Tabor, Kane Call Committee developing MSP

 
Clarion-Forest-Venango-Warren Conference:
 
Cameron-Elks-McKean-Potter Conference:
 
Crawford-Mercer Conference:
 
Erie Conference:
 
Indiana-Jefferson Conference:
 
Commentary:
Today I found myself at Thiel College for a conversation with the Campus Pastor, Rev. Brian Riddle. The air was crisp, the leaves on the trees and ground golden yellow, tan and red. It was good, we both agreed, to see the students back on campus. Students popped in or waved as they passed Pr. Riddle’s office while we chatted. And President Susan Traverso stopped in as well. It was good to see her and to hear about the challenges and accomplishments of the students, faculty and staff at the college. Of note, Thiel was one of four colleges in western Pennsylvania whose enrollment grew during the last two years of COVID. Why did enrollment grow? President Traverso said it was because the college focused on being community. Why are we as a synod recognized by the ELCA churchwide staff for our giving toward mission support? Because we focus on our communities – local, synod, national and global. I am proud of our synod and our ELCA college and all the other agencies and institutions within and across our boundaries which build, sustain and promote communities of care towards one another’s needs and concerns and beyond.
 
Called to Serve,
 
Bp. Lozano
 
Rev. Michael L. Lozano, Bishop
Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
22598 Titusville Road
PO Box 43
Pleasantville, PA 16341
 
[email protected]
(o) 814.589.7660
(c) 724.931.4848