The Servant Winter 2017

ServantTHE Winter 2017

Greetings from the Executive Director

re•sil•ience
/r ’zily ns/

1. the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.
ee

Resilience is something that With Lay Eucharistic Visitor Training, we equip
people of faith know well. compassionate people to bear Christ’s presence
After all, Christ himself to those who are sick or homebound. With our
Jennifer Ollikainen revealed the foundation bereavement ministries, we console those who are
Executive Director of our resiliency: he rose grieving with the hope of Christ’s promises and offer
insight to congregational members about how to
from the dead. In the Bible, story after story of God’s accompany those who are grieving in their midst.
people point to a resiliency beyond our human With disaster response programs, we reach out to
imagination. God’s people escape plagues and march communities experiencing disasters large and small,
out of slavery in Egypt to form a new life in a new equipping congregations and individuals to respond
land. The prophets proclaim hope even in the darkest to the situation thereby proclaiming God’s love in the
times of destruction and exile. Psalmists cry out in midst of the crisis.
lament while seeking God’s presence in the midst of How can we work together to build resilience in your
darkness. Christ’s followers are persecuted. Paul and community or congregation?
Peter are imprisoned, all the while praising God and I welcome you to reach out to me at
clinging to hope. [email protected]
or 610-425-2981.
Lutheran Congregational Services strengthens
individual and community resiliency with all of In Christ,
our ministries. When times get difficult because
of loneliness, death or disaster, we come alongside The Rev. Dr. Jennifer Phelps Ollikainen
congregations and communities to remind them of our Executive Director
shared hope and to lead them to respond with grace
and love. In essence, our ministries build the resiliency
of the Gospel so that our congregations proclaim
clearly that God is always bringing forth renewal and
hope even in times of crisis and despair.

Note: In order to bring you more stories about our ministries, all donors will be acknowledged in our end-of-year publication.

THE Servant Fall 2015

Work of LDR-EPA Headlines Julia Menzo, Coordinator of LDR-EPA, talks to members of
Regional Meeting the Bux Mont Collaborative about how to foster community
resilience should a natural or man-made disaster occur.
Pastors Tom Kadel and David Lutcher, congregational
leaders who participate in Lutheran Disaster Response-
Eastern PA’s (LDR-EPA) unique program of congregational
support known as Disaster Spiritual Partners, keynoted
at the Bux Mont Collaborative’s October 2016 meeting.
Their topics ranged from spiritual care in disaster to the
challenges and miracles experienced by congregants of
Grace Lutheran Church in Hatfield, PA as they rebuilt
after a devastating fire in 2011. Additionally, Julia Menzo,
Coordinator for Lutheran Disaster Response-Eastern
PA, spoke about the importance of networking and
collaborations for resiliency.

LDR-EPA Helps Build App to Gracious Gift to Allow
Safeguard Churches Expansion of LCS’
Bereavement Ministries
Julia Menzo, Coordinator of Lutheran Disaster
Response-Eastern PA (LDR-EPA), recently participated As the recipient of a significant gift for our
in a specially selected task force of disaster planning and bereavement ministries, LCS is off to a great
start in 2017. This gift will help us offer more
recovery experts who six-week Journeys Through Grief support
helped the National groups and two-hour Path of Grief programs.
Institute of Justice (NIJ) We are also beginning development on a cell
develop Safeguarding phone app that will host an online community
Houses of Worship, a and resources for bereaved individuals and
new software app for congregational ministry leaders.
congregational and law
enforcement leaders For more information or to arrange a
that facilitates planning bereavement program, contact Pastor Jennifer
for potential bomb
threats, terrorist attacks, at 610.425.2981 or
and other catastrophic [email protected].
events. Julia was
interviewed by WHYY’s
Newsworks Tonight host David Heller to discuss the new
app and congregational preparedness for disaster. To
listen to the interview, visit libertylutheran.org/news.

Looking for Marriage Preparedness Classes?

Pastor Sandra Brown is utilizing LCS’ curriculum to continue this program in 2017. Contact her at Peace
Lutheran Church (Bensalem) at 215.638.3063 or [email protected] for the schedule and to register.

THE SeWrinvtaer n20t17

Four Decades of Grace

In the 1970s Lutheran Congregational Services (LCS), The extension of the meal is a time
then known as Lutheran Chaplaincy Service of Lehigh when we embody the gospel in a way
Valley, established a Lay Eucharistic Visitor Training that Luther called, “Mutual consolation
(LEVT) program to teach congregational members
how to bring the sacrament to people who are of the brothers and sisters.”
homebound or hospitalized.
Forty years later LEVT continues to endure. In fact, “As we move toward the future, it is my hope to
according to LCS’ Executive Director and LEVT provide more congregations with the opportunity of
instructor The Reverend Dr. Jennifer Phelps Ollikainen, LEVT so that all of the homebound individuals within
interest in the training has notably increased. their faith community are remembered and nurtured,”
“Three years ago we’d have five or six people in training says Pastor Jenn.
and now we have 10 or 12,” says Pastor Jenn, who partly Thanks to the ongoing support and graciousness of
attributes the increase in LEVT trainees as a way to dedicated donors, the cost for Lay Eucharistic Visitor
better address the growing core of aging congregants Training is kept low to give as many congregations as
who have restricted mobility. possible an opportunity to participate. The schedule for
“Congregations understand that more people can 2017 training can be found at libertylutheran.org/lcs or
participate in this vital part of their faith life when by calling Pastor Jenn at 610-425-2981.
lay people who are appointed by their congregational
leaders are trained to share the sacrament,” she says.
Judy Levermore of St. John’s Lutheran Church in
Hamburg, PA, recently completed training and says she
felt called to do so because she believes everyone should
be able to experience Communion in the physical
partaking of bread and wine. “It is an honor for me to
bring it to those who cannot partake at church,” she says.
This sentiment is commonly heard by those who share
the sacrament with homebound elders, as is a deep
appreciation for new and enlivening wisdom that is
usually gained from the stories of faith these mature and
experienced congregants impart.

Lay Eucharistic Visitor Training for 2017

The following dates are set for Lay Eucharist Visitor Training from 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

March 11 Cost is $25 per person and participants should bring a pen
Good Shepherd Lutheran, Reading and paper, a bible and lunch.
For more information or to register for these sessions,
May 13 contact Pastor Jennifer at 610.425.2981 or email
St. Michael’s Lutheran, Sellersville [email protected]. You may also
schedule a training to suit your congregation’s or area’s
September 16 needs for $250 plus mileage for the facilitator. Thrivent
Christ Lutheran, Hellertown Action Team grants ($250) can be used to pay for an
educational event like Lay Eucharistic Visitor Training!
October 7
Christ Lutheran, Conyngham

THE Servant

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Coming Soon!

Make It, Take It Kitchen’s curriculum
is almost ready to go! This spring,
watch for a free resource to help your
congregation teach economical and
healthy cooking skills to those who
struggle with food insecurity.

Watch for more information on
our Facebook page at

fb.me/lutherancongregationalservices
and in your congregation’s mail.

Spring 2017: Journeys Through Grief

Luther Crest, Allentown
Monday mornings, 10:30 a.m. to noon
March 6-April 10
Sponsored by J.S. Burkholder Funeral Home

Emmaus Moravian Church
Monday evenings, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Sponsored by Bachman, Kulik & Reinsmith Funeral Homes
and Schantz Funeral Home

St. John Lutheran Church, Kutztown
Tuesday evenings, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Sponsored by Edward J Hildenbrand Funeral Home and Ludwick Funeral Homes

To learn more about scheduling or supporting a six-week grief support group in your area or a two-hour “Path of
Grief ” one-time event, contact Bereavement Coordinator Sylvia Havlish at 610.657.7075. Thrivent Action Team grants
($250) can be used to cover part of the cost of a grief support group or the entire cost of a “Path to Grief ” session.