If this page is not displaying correctly, please click here. 

	Jump To: NIS News & Events Keep in Your Prayers ELCA News & Events Continuing Ed Opportunities News from Other Organizations Bulletin Board Synod Vacancies Financial Snapshot Annex
November 4, 2007 Walking Together is a weekly e-mail newsletter of the Northern Illinois Synod best viewed in html. If you cannot see the graphics, go to www.nisynod.org/pubs/wt . Additional news and information can be found at the Walking Together Annex	Sign up to join the  Walking Together mailing list
Visit the Walking Together Annex for more news and information from Walking Together.   Calling all ELCA Parish Nurses! The ELCA is updating its parish nurse database and needs your help. If you are an ELCA parish nurse or have one in your congregation, please email jfields@nisynod.org . Please send: name, email, contact phone, congregation, and address. Thank You!! Congregation Council members, personnel committee members, rostered leaders, and all congregational leaders are encouraged to attend one of this year’s Mission Gatherings. There is no cost for this important event and all are welcome! Registration begins at 6:30 p.m. The program begins at 7 pm and ends at 9 pm.  Mission Gatherings are excellent annual events of the synod which give lay and rostered people a chance to come together with Bishop Wollersheim and staff to talk about an important topic. This year’s Mission Gathering “Care and Support for Rostered Leaders” will focus on ways to provide these essential elements in the congregational setting. The principle is that if Rostered Leaders feel well supported they will be better able to support Congregational Leaders in their ministry. Dates and locations: November 1 - Immanuel, Altona - Southwest Conference; and November 6 - Calvary, Moline - West Conference.   Enrich your life and change the world at the same time! You’re invited to a Lutheran World Relief Fair Trade Fair held at Prince of Peace (2700 W Stephenson St, Freeport) on November 15 & 16 from 9-Noon and 5-8 pm, November 17 from 9-3 pm & November 18 from 9-Noon. The fair will feature fairly traded handcrafts and food items from around the world. Purchase a gift from the sale and you will provide income, dignity and hope to people in developing regions of the world. If you have any questions, please contact Small Groups & Ministries Coordinator, Julie Lee, at 815-232-4911 or popsmgrp@aeroinc.net .   Peace Lutheran Church in Morris will begin its third annual concert series on Sunday, December 16 at 2:30 p.m. with a program of Christmas music performed by organist Mike Kessler, who will play familiar holiday favorites. Part of the concert will be played on the organ, part on piano. The program will be followed by a reception. A suggested donation of $5 will be collected at the door. For more information, contact concert series director Mike Kessler at 815-634-6075.   Everyone is welcome to the Annual NI Synod Ski Trip, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 21, 2008 at Chestnut Mountain Resort, Galena, IL. Lift Only $ 23.00; Lift, Lesson, Rental $ 40.00; (Ski or Snowboard); Meal Deal $ 7.00. Register (this year directly with Chestnut Mountain) at www.chestnutmtn.com : Click on Plan&Buy, then on Group Booking, then on Book Group Reservations, and give information including group name (your church name/NIS) or call: 1-800-397-1320 x577. Give church name and say you are with Northern Illinois Synod to receive the discount. Chestnut will then Fed-Ex all the tickets, rental forms, and lunch vouchers directly to you. Questions please feel free to contact Mary Lasits at 815-756-4169. Download a flyer to advertise in your congregation.   The Northern Illinois Synod Congregational Resourcing Event (CRE) will take place Saturday, March 8, 2008 at Kishwaukee Community College in Malta, Illinois. The CRE theme is “Getting Lutherans to Read the Bible.” The keynote speaker will be Dr. Ralph W. Klein, Christ Seminary-Seminex Professor of Old Testament and editor of Currents in Theology and Mission. Workshops and presenters for the CRE are sought. If you, or someone you know, would like to present a workshop, please forward a copy of the CRE Workshop Form to them.  Submission deadline for CRE workshops is November 30, 2007. Contact Pastor Karl Otto, Congregational Resourcing Event Coordinator, at drkarlotto@aol.com or phone: 815-547-6102 or Nancy Corey, NI Synod Registrar, at ncorey@nisynod.org or 309-794-4004. Find more NISynod News & Events in the Annex Back to top
Pr. Lee Bennight (Trinity, Rockford) and family at the death of his grandfather, Robert Ernest Haugh, Jr., in Arizona on October 24.   ELCA Secretary-Elect David Swartling and family at the sudden death on 10/23 of David's father who was being evacuated from his home at Covenant Village in San Diego at the time of his death.   Rostered leaders celebrating birthdays in November including: Rev. Mary Frances 11/1 Rev. Gordon Carls 11/2 Rev. Roger Olson 11/5 Rev. Arthur Halbardier 11/10 Rev. John Kindschuh 11/10 Rev. Jeffrey Chubb 11/11 Rev. Todd Peterson 11/11 Ms. Judy Bergeson 11/14 Rev. Mark Boster 11/14 Rev. Mark Cole 11/14 Ms. Myrna Andersen 11/17 Rev. Susan Eckhoff 11/19 Ms. Ruth Anderson 11/20 Rev. James O. Olsen 11/22 Rev. Robert C. Kinnear 11/24 Rev. Frederick Larner 11/26 Rev. Gregory Mayer 11/30 (if we missed your birthday, please send it to Karin@nisynod.org)   Jacob Werkheiser, Stephanie Wherry, and the other NIS candidates for rostered ministry. Find the complete list of NIS Candidates at www.nisynod.org/candidates.htm .   Those not named here who need our prayers.   Send prayer requests to karin@nisynod.org.   Find more Prayer Requests in the Annex Back to top
FYI: A web-based disaster alert about the Southern California Wild Fires is online at www.elca.org/disaster , ready for congregations to reproduce in bulletins and newsletters.   Coming in November: ELCA Election Resource for Congregations, Colleges, and Seminaries! Watch www.elca.org/advocacy  in the coming weeks for the brand-new, comprehensive 2008 elections guide, which will be available as a free download or to order from Augsburg Fortress. Called To Be a Public Church: Your Faith, Your Vote - ELCA civic engagement tours are coming to Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada this fall! Join staff of the ELCA Washington Office for meaningful conversation, critical thought, and a unique opportunity to gain a greater understanding of the 2008 electoral process, including: • How you and your congregation can become involved in the 2008 election process without violating the separation of church and state. • Relevant public policy issues from ELCA social statements. • The power and influence of advocacy by preparing questions to ask political candidates at public forums. These events are non-partisan and seek to empower people of faith to thoughtfully engage in the electoral process and challenge all candidates to work for the common good. For more information and downloadable bulletin inserts, visit www.elca.org/advocacy   This week's front page features from The Lutheran magazine It's all about grace: Martin Luther's 95 Theses still teach us that 'the true treasure' -- the gospel -- is our gift from Christ. (Illustration at left.) Parade of hope: "I know the line is full of joy and of brokenness." Funeral stories, Part I: Light Side celebrates All Saints' Day with a humorous look at funerals. 'Retirement' means service: Psychologist begins counselor training in Tanzania. Also: Numbers up, down. Also: Table grace. Also: Continuing their education   Find more ELCA News & Events in the Annex Back to top
The Tri-State Forum features five day-long lectures throughout the year, ideal for lay and rostered leaders. Cost for forum membership, which includes all five lectures, is $110. Each individual lecture is $35. Tri-State Forum Brochure (pdf format) Upcoming event: Rev. A. Katherine Grieb, PhD. Preaching Advent, Year A: Reading Matthew's Infancy Narrative from the Margins November 8, 2007. Lecture Description: Matthew, the evangelist, shapes his Gospel narrative to focus our reading of the Messiah's Birth in a particular way. We will focus on the lectionary texts of the Revised Common Lectionary for Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany with an emphasis on possibilities for preaching and teaching them in parishes. Reading Matthew's infancy narrative from the margins opens up interpretive vistas for the rest of this liturgical year as well. Come with your questions and suggestions! Suggested Readings : Warren Carter, Matthew and Empire: Initial Explorations (Trinity, 2001); Richard A. Jensen, Preaching Matthew's Gospel (CSS, 1998, 2001); Paul S. Minear, The Good News According to Matthew (Chalice, 2000); Brian C. Stiller, Preaching Parables to Postmoderns (Fortress, 2005)   Reflections at the Intersection of Ecology, Religion and Ethics, Tuesday, November 6, Noon-1:00 p.m. Advent, 11th Floor, Lutheran Center, 8765 W. Higgins Road, Chicago. Directions: http://www.elca.org/localmap.html . William Schweiker, an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church, is director of the Martin Marty Center and professor of theological ethics, Divinity School, University of Chicago. His scholarship and teaching engage global dynamics, comparative religious ethics and the history of ethics. Schweiker has written numerous books, articles and essays, and edited and contributed to several volumes. He is chief editor and contributor to "A Companion to Religious Ethics," a comprehensive and innovative work in the field of comparative religious ethics. He is writing a book on "theological humanism." The ELCA Interunit Staff Team on Faith, Science and Technology hosts this brown bag presentation and discussion.   Find more Continuing Education Opportunities in the Annex Back to top
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois Celebrates 140 Years of Caring for People in Need Ever since October 31, 1867, when a boy named Edward walked into the Children’s Home at Andover – the first Lutheran charitable institution in the state – congregations in northern Illinois have worked to help those in need. Since that simple beginning, a tradition of caring for those in need has grown through Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI). And LSSI’s earliest ministries, whether they were orphanages or homes for the elderly, were started by church members through their congregations — often in concert with other congregations — identifying or being confronted with a human need calling out to be addressed. Over the years, the manifestations of the agency’s service have changed in keeping with the times, but the church has always been a part of the agency’s mission. Today, partnering with the church as well as state agencies, LSSI continues to identify needs and develop programs to meet them. As it celebrates its 140th anniversary throughout the coming year, the agency’s mission statement, “Responding to the Gospel, LSSI brings healing, justice and wholeness to people and communities” remains active and relevant.  For more information on LSSI, its programs, services and the people who serve and are served by this historic ministry, visit www.LSSI.org or call 847/635-4600.   Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) is offering affordable home care services in Winnebago, Stephenson, JoDaviess, and DeKalb Counties through Intouch Home Care! The mission of this program is to help seniors remain in their homes for as long as possible. Services are available 24 hours a day – 7 days a week. Our trained home care assistants provide non-medical services which include personal care, companionship and supervision, housekeeping tasks, medication reminders, meal preparation, grocery shopping and errands, laundry, and transportation to appointments. If you can display brochures about our program or would like someone to speak with your women’s groups or adult forums, please contact one of our offices: Rockford – 815-387-9170, Freeport – 815-988-9075, DeKalb – 815-289-1679. Find more News from Other Organizations in the Annex Back to top
Beautiful hand-carved light oak pulpit, semicircular in shape available immediately for a church in need of one. This pulpit was replaced due to a re-configuration of our church’s worship space. A modest donation and the ability to pick the pulpit up yourself is all we ask. CONTACT: Grace Lutheran Church 1300 Kishwaukee Valley Rd. Woodstock, IL. 60098 815-338-0554.   Joyful Harvest, Johnsburg would like to find a flag set - a Christian and an American flag for sanctuary use.  Please contact Doug Liston at 815-385-2700 or dliston@premmag.com. Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) is looking for home care assistants for Intouch Home Care Services. Our home care assistants visit older adults in their homes and assist them with the responsibilities and activities needed for daily living. We provide initial and ongoing paid training – you provide the compassion and dedication to serve those in need. We provide services in Stephenson, JoDaviess, DeKalb, and Winnebago Counties. If you want to learn more please contact: Rockford – 815-387-9170, Freeport – 815-988-9075, DeKalb – 815-289-1679 Send your bulletin board items to NISNews@comcast.net.   Find more Bulletin Board Items in the Annex Back to top
...were updated 10/22/2007    ...are available online, and are updated near the first of each month.  Click here to see vacancies Back to top
Looking for information from a previous Walking Together? Visit the ANNEX for more information OR visit www.nisynod.org/pubs/wt for all the back issues.   Walking Together is a weekly e-mail newsletter that brings you all the news you need to know to stay up to date on happenings in the Northern Illinois Synod. It is sent to rostered leaders, congregations, and others by request. To be added to the listserv, change your e-mail address or otherwise manage your subscription, please click the link on the right or e-mail Karin@NISynod.org Your submissions, comments, and suggestions are welcomed. Contact Karin Graddy, Communication Director for the Northern Illinois Synod at Karin@nisynod.org.   If you are changing your e-mail address please send your name, old e-mail address, and new e-mail address to karin@nisynod.org .   You can also change your e-mail address, subscribe, unsubscribe, or control other personal options by going to http://lists.faithgroups.net/mailman/listinfo/walkingtogether . If you have any questions about this service, or ever have any trouble with Walking Together, please don’t hesitate to contact Karin@nisynod.org .   Karin Graddy, Associate in Ministry Communication Director for the Northern Illinois Synod of the ELCA Karin@NISynod.org   www.nisynod.org 103 West State Street Rockford, IL 61101 815-964-9934 - office (Fridays only) 815-964-2295 - fax 815-762-0758 – cell (email messages preferred)   <>< Making Christ Known <>< Back to top

---

Northern Illinois Synod, 103 West State Street, Rockford, IL 61101 Phone: 815-964-9934 Fax: 815-964-2295 welcome@nisynod.org Questions or comments about this website may be directed to Karin Graddy, Northern Illinois Synod Communication Director