Bishop’s Note 8 September 2022

​Update Highlights: Calendar updates, Community of Practice Invitation, Congregations in Transition, Commentary and few other items along the way…
 
NOTE: I continue to add individuals to the email list as you share the Notes. Please continue sharing the Notes and sending me individuals to add to the email list as well.
 
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.

• 10-24 September Annual Training, Darien, IL
• 17 September Upper Susquehanna Synod Bishop Installation, Zion, Sunbury
• 18 September Minneapolis, MN
• 25 September, Gettysburg, PA
• 26-27 September ULS Board Meeting Gettysburg, PA
• 28 September – 1 October Conference of Bishop’s Meeting, Chicago, IL
• 2 October Emanuel, Bradford
• 5 October @ Synod Office
• 9 October Grace, Brookville/ Trinity, Reynoldsville
• 12 October @ Synod Office
• 15 October Synod Council, Grace, Franklin
• 15 October ALWL Training @ Grace, Franklin
• 16 October Hope, Homer City
• 19 October @ Synod Office
• 23-26 October Rostered Leaders/ALWL Retreat
• 30 October  St. John, Oniontown
• 2 November @ Synod Office
• 9 November @ Synod Office
• 13 November Trinity, Smethport
• 14-16 November FCTE (First Call Theological Event) Capitol Retreat Center
• 19 November Vocations Committee Meeting
• 20 November Faith, Erie
• 23 November @ Synod Office
• 27 November St. Paul, Warren
• 29 November @ Synod Office
• 30 November LAMPa, Harrisburg

 
·        Sunday Supply Dates: October 23*; December 11, 25*. *Mercer/Crawford only. February 19, 26 2023; March 12, 19 2023.
 

• Rev. Tedd Cougar writes: All are invited to join in a roundtable discussion on our NWPA Synod book club reading of Becoming a White Antiracist: A Practical Guide for Educators, Leaders, and Activists by Stephen D. Brookfield and Mary E. Hess, Thursday, September 22, 2:00 pm (https://iupvideo.zoom.us/j/7056259230).

 

• Attached to this week’s notes is a document on SELECT Courses. This catalog of courses can be used for congregational and individual education.

 

• Our ecumenical partners in the UMC have extended an invitation to our Rostered Leaders in SWPA and NWPA Synods to join them in becoming part of Communities of Practice. The letter of invitation is attached. I would encourage our pastors/deacon to join a COOP and our congregations to support our rostered leaders in joining with our UMC colleagues. The deadline is September 23, 2022.

 

• The 2022 ELCA Youth Leadership Summit is taking place November 3 – 6, 2022 in Ashland, Nebraska. Each synod may nominate 2 youth and 1 adult to attend. The letter with details on the event is attached to this email. If you are interested or know of someone who might be interested please email me at [email protected].

 
·        On Oct. 24 the theme for the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering, the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event and the tAble will be announced! The National Youth Gathering will be held in New Orleans from July 13-16. Mark your calendars now.
 
·        It is not too late for Rostered Leaders in our Synod to begin planning to attend the 2023 Rostered Leaders Gathering July 17-20 in Phoenix, AZ. More information can be found at: https://elca.org/rmg. I attended the first Gathering and found the event informative and a wise use of continuing education funds I would encourage our congregational leaders to support your pastors and deacons to attend this event.
 
·        Fall Convocation. The dates for Convocation are 24-26 October.
The NWPA Convocation registration is open. We will gather at the Sheraton Bayfront, Erie for this year’s event. When registration opens you will need to register with our synod (website) and with the hotel if you are staying at the Sheraton. The cost of the hotel is $149+tax per night. Our synod will reimburse room cost of $50 per night for Monday and Tuesday per room. You will need to submit a request for reimbursement in order to receive the funds. Single and double rooms are available. You will also be responsible for meals.
 
We will be using The Post Quarantine Church by Thom S. Rainer as a focus for the educational time together. Purchasing the book is not necessary for the event but it might be helpful.
 
Attendees are invited to check in on Sunday afternoon and relax Sunday evening into Monday morning. Onsite registration will open on Monday and the Convocation will begin after lunch. Monday night we will gather at Brewerie at Union Station for a hymn sing (beer will be involved for those who wish to partake.) Tuesday will continue our convocation learning time along with opportunities to explore the Erie area. We will end by noon on Wednesday. There will be time to worship and pray together along with other updates from around our synod and churchwide.
 
·        Our 2023 NWPA Assembly will be (8) 9-10 (11) June 2023 at Thiel College. I will form a Synod Assembly Planning Team in the next few weeks. I will ask each Conference to nominate one lay person to be on this Planning Team. This core group along with the synod staff will begin the initial planning process for the next three Assemblies 2023,2024, 2025. As the core team progresses other individuals within our synod will be asked to join specific teams or committees centering around our upcoming 2023 Assembly and beyond.
 
·        The following congregations are in transition:

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

 

• The Synod Supply Pastor Policy took effect 1 September 2022.

 

• Rev. Allison Leitzel reached out to me to offer her expertise in helping churches organize their financial records/systems. She is willing to help develop new chart of accounts, set up new/easier software programs, and trained staff/volunteers to use the system, assisted in setting up an internal auditing process and using the ELCA guidelines. If your congregation can use Pr. Leitzel’s gifts please reach out to her at [email protected]. There is a cost for mileage and time involved which can be negotiated with her.

 

• Rev. Ralph Mineo offers: "BUTTERFLIES AND PENGUINS - The Ralph and Jo Show" is a musical story-telling event about the joys and struggles of the journey of Pastor Ralph & Jo Mineo, from Ralph's time in seminary and ordination as a Roman Catholic priest, to their marriage, and pastoral ministry in the Lutheran Church. The centerpiece of the program is several songs that Pastor Ralph has written over the years for Jo, including "Butterflies and Penguins" (Jo's signature song) and others such as "Always Remember the Love." Also included will be some of the songs Pastor Ralph has written for prayer and worship, including the first prayer-song he wrote. Congregations may contact Pastor Ralph at 419-581-1837 to schedule the program (which is about 75 minutes long).

 

• Rev. Mark Fischer, Twelve Apostles reports, “On September 25th we will hold our Harvest Home Dinner. Donations will go to Lutheran Disaster Response for Kentucky Flood victims.” IF your congregation is working to lift up the ministries in your community and beyond please let me know so I can share your work within this email AND invite those who might be interested in supporting your local efforts to show up in support.

 

• Chris Curran writes, “Grace Franklin welcomes Rev. Shawn Clerkin as their interim pastor. This is another step in collaborative joint ministry between Grace Lutheran and St. John’s Episcopal churches in Franklin who have shared a building since 2009 and now share a pastor and priest. We are better together.” I had lunch with Fr. Clerkin and Chris Curran this week. Fr. Clerkin brings many gifts, skills and talents to Grace Lutheran and to our synod. He is planning on being with us at Convocation.

 
Over the next several weeks I will be moving between the Eastern and Central time zones for my Army Reserve Annual training time, participate in the installation of Rev. Craig Miller as the fourth bishop of Upper Susquehanna Synod, the fall ULS Board Meeting and the fall Conference of Bishops Meeting. Recently Christopher and I were discussing our digital presence online, he googled my name, and found some old references to me. He found one in particular, a video, of me in uniform (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLjmaIPbbgw), which we talked about. I’ll be wearing several uniforms over the weeks I am away from my family and our synod, but I mindful the uniform I always wear is through baptism I am clothed in Christ. Dear Synod as I enter my fourth year as bishop I give thanks to wear the uniform which represents us all and whichever other uniform I wear I am mindful that I am …
 
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