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Synod Council Initiatives

Synod Council Initiatives

God's rich grace be yours!

Our Synod Council was poised to introduce resolutions to the 2020 Synod Assembly that would have launched several synod-wide initiatives to deepen our faith and enhance our mission and ministry together in Christ’s name. The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed Synod Assembly action off until June 2021.

Our Synod Council believes strongly in these initiatives and their potential for our collective discipleship and doesn’t want to put all of this off for a year. So, the Synod Council has acted to initiate two of these initiatives this year, beginning on Pentecost Sunday: a Dwelling in the Word initiative and a Sister Congregation initiative. The information and tools contained on this site gives you information on both initiatives, as well as the story of how these initiatives were developed. It is important to see that these initiatives have truly developed from the ground up. They arise directly out of input coming from the 2019 Synod Assembly forums.

A Pastoral Letter About the Initiatives

Please find the pastoral letter from Bishop Roth and Synod Council Vice President Carey Mayer here in both PDF and Microsoft Word formats and also in the Bishop's Reflections.

A Litany for Pentecost

Below is a litany to use during your Pentecost worship provided in both PDF and Microsoft Word formats.

Sister Congregations

Find more information about the Sister Congregations initiative here, including congregation pairings effective until the 2022 Synod Assembly.

Dwelling In the Word

Learn more about the Dwelling in the Word spiritual practice initiative, including resources for leaders, a recording of a sample session, and reflections from a member of the Synod Council.

THE STORY BEHIND THE INITIATIVES

Pastor Pete Henrich provides some background on how the Synod Council decided on promoting these two initiatives.

https://youtu.be/rdaXZ3wIM-8

Sister Congregations

Today, as ever, the unity we enjoy in Christ is crucial for our mission in and to the world. We believe the Spirit gathers the church. To celebrate our unity, the C/SIS Council is launching a Sister Congregation program. Beginning on Pentecost, May 31st, 2020, each congregation asked to focus on establishing a relationship with its randomly assigned sister congregation.

These relationships will take different forms and will depend upon each congregation’s gifts, circumstances, and context.

We urge every congregation in the C/SIS to find some rich ways to connect.

Promotional Flyer

Please distribute this flyer to spread awareness of the Sister Congregations initiative throughout your home congregation. (Also available, a version optimized for monochrome printing.)

https://youtu.be/-I1bdJMayNE

Video: Sister Congregations

Check out this video of Pastor Ryan Anderson as he introduces the Sister Congregation initiative.

Congregation Pairings

Each congregation was randomly assigned its sister. Take a look at this document and see who your sister congregation is!

Dwelling in the Word

At the 2019 Synod Assembly of the Central/Southern Illinois Synod, participants shared ideas and concerns about life together in our synod based on Bishop Roth’s sabbatical report to the C/SIS. Based on those conversations, the Synod Council is strongly encouraging congregations to join Synod Council and synod committees in a spiritually nourishing practice called “Dwelling in the Word.”

Beginning in June 2020, all synod meetings will include a time of Dwelling in the Word. Congregations are also urged to engage in Dwelling in the Word at their council meetings, committee meetings, Bible studies, and/or any other gatherings. At Synod Assembly in 2021, we will share stories about how we have seen the practice of Dwelling in the Word forming and transforming individuals, congregations, and the C/SIS. We will share how we heard God calling, inviting, and moving among us and how that impacts our life together as a synod.

https://youtu.be/Ph_y2Q29WnM

Video: Introduction to Dwelling in the Word

Pastor Amy Ziettlow explains how to lead a Dwelling in the Word session and the spiritual benefits this practice can provide.

https://youtu.be/ooHnw87Hvtg

Video: A Reflection on this Spiritual Practice

Synod Councilmember Dorene Klages provides a video reflection on her experience practicing Dwelling in the word.

https://youtu.be/SmmLu9y53AU

Video: A Sample Dwelling Session

A group from St. John's Lutheran Church, Springfield has provided a recorded example of what Dwelling in the Word may look like.

Dwelling in the Word: A Leader's Guide

Below, please find a brief guide to help those who lead a Dwelling in the Word session.

Leading Dwelling in the Word:
June - July 2021

Use this resource to lead a group through Dwelling in the Word. Follow below to lead a session now, including the current Scripture reading, or download the complete guide and selected readings for the entire year.

Preparing for the Gathering
This practice is meant to be flexible, for use with smaller or larger groups; you are free to adapt the amount of time for sharing, as well as whether to spend time with partners or small groups or only sharing with the whole group. Dwelling in the Word can be done in person or through video conference. The “Acting” section would be more applicable to council and committee meetings than a Bible study or quilting group.

Depending on your group, you may want to provide a handout or use a “screen share” with the Scripture passage and/or the reflection questions. It is helpful for everyone to hear and/or read along with the same translation. Typically, the same text is read twice by two different readers. A variation is to read a second translation.

If you are Dwelling in the Word on Zoom, make sure the host has enabled the share screen and breakout rooms options in settings.

Prepare to Listen
The leader provides a brief introduction to the practice of Dwelling in the Word – more if the practice is new to any member in the group; less if it is a developed practice. For example:

“Dwelling in the Word is a time of prayerful and communal reflection on a passage of Scripture. We will hear God’s Word read twice, allowing for silence between the readings. Are there two volunteers who would be our readers? I will let you know when to read. As we listen to the text, consider these questions; feel free to write down any reflections if you’d like.

  • What captures my attention?
  • What questions do I have? What do I wonder?
  • Where might God’s Spirit be nudging us?

After we hear God’s Word, you will have a few minutes to share our responses [with a partner]. These can be simply words or phrases that stand out for you, with or without explanation.”

Listening
The leader opens with a prayer asking God to open our hearts and speak to us.
Ask participants to reflect on these questions while the first reader to reads the text slowly.

  • What captures my attention?
  • What questions do I have? What do I wonder?
  • Where might God’s Spirit be nudging us?

Ephesians 2:13-22

13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace; in his flesh, he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. 15 He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, 16 and might reconcile both groups to God in one body[a] through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it.[b] 17 So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; 18 for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, 20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.[c] 21 In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom you also are built together spiritually[d] into a dwelling place for God.

Allow for silence.

Invite the second reader to read the text again.

Allow for silence.

Reflecting
The leader instructs people to pair up and share responses – words or phrases, with or without explanation. “Listen carefully to your partner; after sharing with each other, you will be sharing some of your partner’s responses with the whole group (or a table group).” (On Zoom, host selects break out rooms and the amount of time desired (4 or 5 minutes); the number of rooms is your participants divided by two. The host will be able to join any room after activating the rooms. At the end of the allotted time, participants will return to the full group.)

After a few minutes, remind people to switch to let the other person share if they haven’t already.

After a few more minutes, have people gather with their partner at a table of 6-8, or in the large group. With their partner’s permission, let people share what their partner heard and wondered.

After a few more minutes, if not already gathered as the whole group, bring everyone together, ask for any other sharing. After hearing responses, ask “Where might God’s Spirit be nudging us?” (There may or may not be much response but allow time for people to process the question after everything they’ve heard.) The leader does not have to answer questions or respond directly to what is shared.

Acting
The leader invites participants to keep the Scripture in mind throughout the meeting and encourages participants to share reflections from the text throughout the time together. What does the text say in the midst of the meeting/gathering and making decisions?

You may decide to end your time together by reading the text one more time and invite reflections on how the passage influenced discussion and/or planning.

Close with a prayer, asking God to continue speaking to the group through the Scripture.

Bring the Scripture text to the group in the same manner at the next meeting or gathering.

SHARE YOUR STORIES AND REFLECTIONS!

We'd love to hear what you and your sister congregation are doing. Please submit your ideas and reflections on these initiatives using the online form below so that they might be shared throughout the synod and further benefit Christ's Church!

Fields marked with * are required.

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