Allegheny Synod 8C

Indoor gatherings and events of more than 10 persons are prohibited. Churches, synagogues, temples, mosques, and other places of congregate worship are specifically excluded from the limitations set forth above during religious services, these institutions are strongly encouraged to find alternative methods for worship, as in person gatherings pose a significant risk to participants at this time. While this an incredibly difficult recommendation to make, particularly at this time of year, faith leaders must carefully weigh the health risks to their congregants given the immense amount of community spread of COVID-19 https://www.wearecentralpa.com//new-restrictions-gov-wolf/

BE AWARE an internet scam is sending emails pretending to be Bishop Michael. Please do not respond. We do no Synod business through Gmail. All communication comes from our Allegheny Synod email accounts.

There is a false email going around from The Rev. Michael Rhyne at [email protected] . The email is saying to please respond because there is an important matter that needs to be discussed. This is an internet fishing scam. Please do not respond. Any correspondence from me or the Synod will, of course, come through the alleghenysynod.com email addresses. Thank you for your understanding. In Christ Bishop Michael

Our friends at ALSM are conducting a survey to help plan for the future. Please help them out by completing the survey through the link below. Allegheny Lutheran Social Ministries (ALSM) continues to plan for the future. To assist with our planning, we need to hear from our communities about human service challenges. We are particularly interested in feedback on ALSM at Home care services and affordable senior housing. Please respond to our survey by December 31, 2020. Any qu...estions, contact Patty Faith at 814.696.4556. We wish you and your family a very blessed holiday season. Survey link: http://tiny.cc/ALSM

The Allegheny Synod Stewardship Table is providing a series called "The Church is Here!" in which congregations and ministries around the Synod are encouraged to share stories of how stewardship has made ministry possible during the pandemic. We will regularly share these stories on the Synod Facebook page and via email to congregations for sharing with their people. Today's story is from Disciples Together at Grace, State College, written by Lois Lynn. If you have a story yo...u'd like to share, please contact Pastor Becca Ehrlich at [email protected]. The Church is here, in The Disciples Together ministry! For over six decades Grace Lutheran Church in State College has been ministering to a special group of individuals. This continues during the pandemic. The church is here for them even during these isolated and anxious times. The group started in the 1950’s as the Special Needs Bible Class, a Sunday School class formed for children with intellectual disabilities. Lessons were primarily songs and stories. As the years passed, the class members grew in age and needs. They were encouraged to be more involved in the life of the congregation. They began taking communion with their fellow congregants. They started studying scripture and praying. They ministered to others: serving as coffee hour hosts, assisting in the annual Crop Walk by making and distributing collection banks, and making Christmas card for inmates in area prisons. Thanks to their leaders, this group has remained active during Covid-19. They connected via Zoom. Following social distancing and masking guidelines, they held a picnic in a local park and a craft bag pick-up on the church’s porch. As a thank you to the professionals that support them in group homes, they fashioned and delivered 30 gift bags to these essential workers. During the pandemic, the group and their leaders made a decision to reach out and include adults in recovery of mental illness and anyone else interested in joining them. Inclusive and welcoming to all, they became the Disciples Together. And, now this fall, they are still not forgotten. Over Thanksgiving, their leaders delivered holiday treats to them. The treats came from The Good Day Café, a coffee shop in State College staffed by those with intellectual disabilities and mental health diagnoses. Two of the servers had no idea that later that same day they would be receiving special goodies that they had themselves prepared. Just as the rest of the world is managing to cope with the pandemic, so is this group of special adults. Proving not only that the church is here, but also that we are all more alike than unalike.