HUNGER GATHERING: FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Join us on March 13, 2010 at Atonement Lutheran Church in Rochester for a workshop on fighting hunger both locally and globally.

The Rev. Daniel Rift, Director of ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal, will be with us to talk about the work we do as a church. He will also be able to give us the latest details on the work we are doing in Haiti to help in their time of crisis.

To reserve your spot today, please contact Atonement Lutheran Church at 585-442-1018.

We are a resurrection people

The Upstate New York Synod of the ELCA is a Resurrection People.  We are more than 70,000  people connected to Jesus through Holy Baptism, gathered around Word and Sacrament in more than 185 congregations, served by more than 260 rostered leaders who in the face of fear, decline and despair live and proclaim good news of a God of hope, abundance, and new life.  We trust that Jesus’ Resurrection Spirit is at work transforming us, our church and our world.

We pray first

We encourage and promote activities which nurture the faith of disciples and grow servant leaders – worship, Bible Study, prayer groups.  We are a Book of Faith Synod.  We encourage Christian education for adults and youth through two Outdoor Ministries, the Synod’s Deacon Program, the Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO), Youth Convo and Young Adult Lutheran Link (YALL), Region 7 First Call Theological Education, the Eastern Cluster’s Project Connect, 185 campus ministries and the 28 ELCA colleges and universities.

We walk together

We build a network of connections which strengthen a sense of partnership in mission – in clusters, conferences, across the synod and with the wider church.  We gather leaders, provide training focused on transformation and mission, and work with ecumenical and interfaith partners and the New York State Council of Churches. We share with and learn from our companion synods in Central Southern Illinois, Zimbabwe and Zambia.  The Bishop’s Office, Synod Council, Conference Deans, Conflict and Healing and Mission in Transition Teams assist congregations through times of transition and conflict.  Mission interpreters help to tell the story of the difference we make in the world.

We change lives

The Holy Spirit changes us and uses us as channels of God’s life-giving power.  Organic Faith in Amherst, Todos los Hijos de Dios in Amsterdam, and Nile Lutheran Mission in Rochester are avenues of outreach to new and immigrant communities. We ordain, consecrate and commission church leaders. We fight against hunger and poverty through the World Hunger Appeal and ELCA advocacy offices.  Lutheran Disaster Response coordinates the work of thousands of volunteers and 300 social ministry organizations (the largest network in the US) serve 1 in every 50 Americans.

We are a Book of Faith Synod

The purpose of the Book of Faith Initiative is to increase biblical literacy and fluency for the sake of the world.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has made a commitment to encourage all members of our congregations, from children to adults, to dig deeper into our book of faith, the Bible.  The Book of Faith Initiative recommends a new model for our church—a grass-roots approach embracing a common vision in which all are invited to open scripture and join the conversation.  Each community is encouraged to decide how the Book of Faith Initiative will become a vital part of its own ministry.