The 2008 Nebraska Synod Assembly

Assemblies

Nebraska Synod: 2008

Grace, Gratitude, Giving: Living a Generous Life

The 2008 Nebraska Synod Assembly was held May 30 to June 1, 2008, at the Heartland Event Center, Grand Island. Dr. Mark Allan Powell, guest speaker, delivered three keynote presentations on “Grace, Gratitude and Giving.” The Sunday presentation were given by Dr. Richard Hardel on the topic, “ Living a Generous Life.” The representative from the ELCA was Dr. Wyvetta Bullock. Music was led by Jay Beech.

Hundreds of Nebraska Lutherans gathered as the voting members and as visitors at our annual Assembly! Grace, Gratitude, Giving was the focus of this annual gathering of Nebraska Synod Lutherans. We celebrated our many ministries together and lifted up how we respond to God through our stewardship of time, talent and treasure.

SURVEY
The Synod Assembly Committee and the Synod Staff would appreciate learning your impressions of the assembly. If you attended part or all of the assembly, please complete a brief, five-question survey. Thanks!

Mission Possible Dramas

At your request! Scripts for the stewardship dramas that preceded each of Dr. Mark Allan Powell’s keynote presentations are available online:

Photos

There are two online galleries of photos from the assembly.

Downloadable Resources

In the News

Details

Presenters and guest speakers included:

On Friday evening, we celebrated the 15th anniversary of our Companion Synod relationship with the Northern Diocese of Tanzania! Our congregations gathered a special offering to prepare future pastoral leaders and strengthen ministry in Africa.

Additional congregational Steward Leaders attended a separate day-long workshop on Saturday, and joined the Assembly for some keynote presentations.

Business before our Assembly included:

  • Elections of Nebraska Synod leaders
  • Election of Voting Members to 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly
  • Report of Bishop David L. deFreese
  • ELCA presentation by Pastor Wyvetta Bullock
  • 2009 budget
  • Resolutions.

At our Saturday evening Recognition Banquet, Patrick Henry Hughes shared the inspiring story of his life as we recognized special anniversaries of service in the lives of our leaders.

Sunday morning, we invited everyone to join us for a festival Worship at 10:30 a.m. Bishop David L. deFreese preached!

Registration

No registration was required to attend the Sunday Assembly session and worship. You could hear Pastor Dick Hardel’s presentation and then stay for worship at 10:30 a.m. Visitors attending Assembly sessions on Friday or Saturday were required to register.

Stewardship Workshop

In addition to the Assembly sessions and workshops, a one-day stewardship workshop was held on Saturday, May 31, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., during the Assembly session. Congregations were encouraged to send two or three members from their stewardship committee for this hands-on, practical workshop. Separate registration was required for the Saturday workshop. Assembly voting members were not be able to attend this event.

The Steward Leader Workshop is a day-long “hands-on” stewardship education event specially designed to offer practical stewardship information for congregation stewardship committee and team members.

This day-long workshop was packed full of events. Participants were invited to sit in on Dr. Mark Allan Powell’s keynote addresses on GRATITUDE and GIVING, as well as to choose from one of seven individual workshops on stewardship. Participants also met together with ELCA Stewardship Director, Dr. Ed Kruse, and Keith Mundy, ELCA Area Stewardship Specialist for specially tailored presentations for congregation stewardship committee leaders.

We hope you didn’t miss this opportunity to jump start and refine your congregation’s vital stewardship ministry with some of the best people around. To maximize the workshop’s impact, two laypeople from each congregation should have attended.

Cost was $10 which covers the noon meal and all the workshop materials.

Congregational Worship

Because the assembly runs through Sunday, June 1, the synod offered some resources for lay leaders to use for congregational worship.

“And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.”–2 Corinthians 9:8.

Nebraska Synod 2009 Assembly

Next year’s assembly dates are set.

ELCA Churchwide Assembly: 2009

To find out more about the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, review the ELCA’s announcement on its Web site.