Issue No. 7 | August 2021 STORIES FROM THE ROAD. In this issue... MADAGASCAR REFORMATION MINISTRY RELIEF FUND HYMNODY: A GIFT ACROSS FOR ALL TIME DENOMINATIONS P. 3 P. 5 P. 9 Published by Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod MISSION: INSIDE THIS ISSUE TO SERVE, CONNECT, AND EQUIP ELCA 02 The Global Church CONGREGATIONS IN SOUTHWESTERN 04 iServe PENNSYLVANIA TO TELL THE STORY OF JESUS 05 Reformation Hymnody 07 The Power of Data “O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done 08 marvelous things.” Meeting Our Neighbors Grants –Psalm 98:1 09 Ministry Across Denominations 11 Health & Wellness Ministry 12 Eating Again at the Table Cover Photo: Luther in the circle of his family, by Gustav Adolph 13 Staff Book Picks that Inspire Spangenberg, edited 14 Colleague Connections CONTACT: 1014 PERRY HWY, SUITE 200 15 Calendar of Causes PITTSBURGH, PA 15237 412-367-8222 SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA SYNOD WWW.SWPASYNOD.ORG Rev. Kurt F. Kusserow SYNOD COUNCIL BISHOP Jennifer Armstrong-Schaefer Rev. James V. Arter III BISHOP & ASSISTANTS Barbara Nugent Rev. Kerri L. Clark [email protected] VICE-PRESIDENT Rev. Beth Clementson [email protected] Dr. Wendy Farone [email protected] Rev. William Schaefer Myra L. Fozard SECRETARY Beryl Gundy RESOURCE MINISTRY Rev. Brenda Henry Gary N. Teti [email protected] Rev. Susan A. G. Irons TREASURER Rev. Allyn Itterly ACCOUNTING Janice Jeletic [email protected] Dennis T. Lane Rev. Peter D. Asplin Fiona Lubold ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP Rev. J.J. Lynn [email protected] Rev. Sarah Rossing Rev. Melissa L. Stoller [email protected] Linda Schaeffer DIRECTOR FOR EVANGELICAL MISSION Holly Schmitt & ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP COMMUNICATIONS Amy J. Schultz [email protected] Deacon Elizabeth Caywood Kelly Spanninger RESOURCE MINISTRY DIRECTOR 1 Issue No. 7 | August 2021 2014 Synod Visit to Tulear Synod, Madagascar THE GLOBAL CHURCH Bishop Kurt F. Kusserow Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod Bishop [email protected] | 412-367-8222 f your bookshelf is like mine, among your books are little treasures that remind you of places you have been and people you have met. One treasure on my bookshelf is a 41-year-old Icandle. I have never lit it because I do not want to melt away the image molded into its side: “CONFESSIO AUGUSTANA 1530 – 1980.” It comes from Augsburg, Germany, from the celebration of the 450th anniversary of the Augsburg Confession which I attended with my family on our way home from furlough that year. But when I ponder the treasures of the Global Filius est Deus, (the Son is God) and Spiritus Church in our shared exercise of the faith, it Sanctus non est Pater, (the Spirit is not the becomes clear that we don’t have to Father). This compact logic of the travel far to receive their blessing. Holy Trinity presented as a graphic comes from North Africa, where Sit with me on Sunday St. Augustine was bishop morning. Just as the liturgy many, many years ago. begins we hear, “In the name of the Father and of We stand to welcome the the Son and of the Holy Gospel in song, but we Spirit,” which reminds us of leave the hymnal in the the stained glass window pew because we know this that pictures a triangle with acclamation by heart: “Halle, a circle at each point and one halle, halle – lu – jah!” (ELW more circle in the center of the #171) Our fingers tap the pew triangle. Each circle has a Latin in front of us to the beat and our word in it, and there are more Latin feet move around a little. This is words written along the straight edges from the Caribbean, much closer to us of the image. We read little sentences like, both in geography and in time. Wayfarer | Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod, ELCA 2 The sermon hymn is another favorite, Children of the Heavenly Father. It’s from Sweden, and is less than 100 years old. MADAGASCAR But as soon as we finish that relatively new, Nordic song, we begin to recite the creed, RELIEF FUND written nearly 1,700 years ago in Greece. It’s the Nicene Creed, which takes its Our companion synod is suffering from a name from the place where it was written, protracted drought. Are you able to help the ancient city of Nicaea, which is now provide relief and support? called Nikaia, and is effectively a suburb of Athens. Southwestern Pennsylvania enjoys an abundance of water. Besides the three This Sunday happens to be a donation day rivers that flow through our principle city, for the food bank, so the chancel is filled we rely on the Youghiogheny, Kiskiminetas, with grocery bags and packaged diapers. Beaver, Connoquenessing and Loyalhanna The committee chair has been asked to Rivers and many smaller creeks to sustain bless the items collected and pray for our life. Can you imagine if a strong storm those who will receive them. She turns suddenly changed the course of your local to the collection of prayers in the front of run so that it no longer supplied the water the hymnal and prays, “Make us worthy, you depend on? Lord, to serve our fellow human beings throughout the world who live and die in This happened in southern Madagascar. poverty and hunger. Give them through The Lutheran seminary in Bezaha was once our hands this day their daily bread, and surrounded by rice fields, fed by a canal that by our understanding love, give peace connected to the Taheza River. But when and joy. Amen.” The prayer is from India, a cyclone changed the course of the river, from the lifelong work of Mother Teresa. the rice fields dried up. Continued drought and famine have left the seminary faculty While it is true that each local congregation and students in dire straits. is fully the Church in its life and ministry, not one of our congregations could even Our Synod Council has authorized an begin to accomplish its purpose without appeal to raise funds to provide relief and using the bounty of treasures that come support for Madagascar, especially for the from the Global Church. Many of these seminary, but also for any other pressing treasures are so familiar that we have needs the Tulear Synod has. We have sent forgotten that they come as gifts from an initial $5,000 from synod funds and others around the world. are matching gifts from our members and congregations raised this summer up to A particular treasure that the Evangelical another $5,000. Lutheran Church in America has been able to give is the freedom of global travel Along with this fund raising effort, we hope that U.S. citizens enjoy. We have used to do some “friend raising” as well – to that gift to visit our companion synod in strengthen our synod’s relationship with Madagascar several times. Right now, our fellow Lutherans in Madagascar. When our synod is providing a financial gift for you send in your gift of support, let us know the relief and support of our companion if you or your congregation would also synod and for the seminary in Bezaha. like to be part of the “friend raising” effort. Together we can make a difference! We are part of a Global Church in which each local community blesses all the DONATE AT: others with the treasures it has to give. S SWPASYNOD.ORG/MADAGASCAR 3 Issue No. 7 | August 2021 iSERVE STAY AT HOME MISSION WORK CAMP (IN A BOX) Pastor Christina Hough Director of Spiritual Care and Community Liaison, Glade Run Lutheran Services [email protected] | 724-452-4453, ext. 1150 ince 2008, the Stay at Home Mission Work Camp (SHMWC) has gathered youth and adults from across the synod the end of June to partner with local congregations, Sagencies, and ministries to help their neighbors in need. SHMWC has helped over a hundred low income and elderly families and a dozen or more community services and ministries. SHMWC’s mission, from the very first summer, is to provide an opportunity for youth and adults to serve their neighbors. Like so many other camps, events, and youth iServe takes the original mission one step programming, Covid-19 meant no SHMWC further by equipping and empowering for the summer of 2020 and an uncertain congregations to serve right in their own future. As the pandemic surged in the fall neighborhoods, and tailoring support and winter, leadership wondered if a camp in based on their needs to make serving the 2021 was even possible; there were still so community easy. Our team has used their many unknowns and uncertainties. years of experience running local mission trips. Can’t join live? Not a problem! Need A year of pause gave everyone an opportunity help finding a service project for your group? to rethink, retool, and reevaluate our We can help! Need tools, supplies, and ministries. Committed to the mission of resources? We can help with that too! Each SHMWC as well as to the people and kit contains devotions, tips, resources, and communities, we knew the work of SHWMC treats. needed to continue. Determined not to miss another summer, the leadership began to It is not too late to get a box and serve your reimagine a SHMWC that would be safe as neighbors. This new model means there are we continue to live through the pandemic opportunities all year long and we are here by offering virtual, hybrid, and asynchronous to help! To learn more about the box and a components. Congregations had the have free consultation, or to learn how your opportunity to participate in a live three-day congregation or small group can be a part of day camp, join virtually, or participate as their iServe: Stay at Home Mission Work Camp (in schedule allowed.