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We rejoice that you have found us, and wish you greetings of grace,
peace and power from God our Creator and Jesus our Lord and Liberator! |
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AIC News AIC's 2nd Annual Community Meeting was Sunday, October 26 at Gracious Saviour Church. It was a huge success! Our dinner was catered by members of Gracious Saviour. The venue was well-prepared, the meeting was well attended by members of AIC congregations, the agenda was well planned, and participation was high. Rev. Dr. Marsha Foster Boyd, president of the Ecumenical Theological Seminary and one of our partners, was present to affirm our direction as she preached our closing worship AIC will be move forward in 2009 with a specific concentration on two of our six strategic objectives: Congregational Leadership and Financial Development for our congregations. A monthly meeting / teaching / resource schedule is being developed that will provide accessibility for all our congregations to participate in this important resourcing. The Parish Professionals (rostered leaders of our congregations) are in the planning stages of developing new ministry models for urban congregational communities. More partnerships, team ministry, better use of spiritual gifts and financial resources, doing more faithful and effective ministry in our context and with our resources, are some of the driving factors of this initiative. Pastors will begin by opening up these difficult discussions in their respective congregations, and seek to bring leaders to a larger table for more concrete discussions. The AIC Board of Directors met on November 24. As a resource board, they are seeking resource funding in the particular areas of leadership development, capacity building, youth initiatives, and community outreach. The Board of Directors meet every other month on the 4th Mondays, starting in January. 2009 Dates & Events Sunday, January 25 ~ Synod -wide Martin Luther King Service, 4 pm (place TBA). The Rev. Dr. Sean McMillan, pastor of Giant Step Ministries, Chicago is the preacher. Saturday, February 29 ~ Celebrating II: Expanding our Hospitality and Discipleship. This one day event is co-sponsored by the Southeast Michigan Synod, ELCA and the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan. It's designed as a day of teaching, fellowship, and worship for both clergy and lay members. The event will be at the Diocesan Cathedral Center in Detroit. April 23-24 ~18th Annual Nelson Trout Lectures in Preaching: Thurs/Fri, (place TBA). The Rev. Dr. Freddie Haynes, pastor of Friendship West Baptist Church, Dallas, TX is the preacher and lecturer. This event is hosted by Acts In Common and Trinity Lutheran Seminary (Columbus OH). This is one of only five preaching lectureships in this country dedicated to African American preaching. April 25 ~ Reaching the Unchurched, a one-day, community relationship building seminar designed to help congregations look at ways to determine the needs to your particular community and create "entry points" for receptive and potential members. All members of the Southeast Michigan Synod are invited to join us. Details are forthcoming. Namaste Men's Ministry Our African American male ministry is called Namaste (a word from the Sanskrit language which means "the divinity in me salutes the divinity in you". We seek to inspire fellowship, spirituality, pride, understanding and purpose in the Black males that come together. We also participate in a mentoring ministry for young Black males called The Simba Circle ("Simba" is a word from the Kiswahili language which means "young lion"). African American males are welcome to join us for breakfast and more Saturday mornings from 8-10 am at St. Andrew Redeemer Lutheran Church, 2261 Marquette (@14th St.), Detroit (313-896-3370). Our 2009 meeting dates are: January 17, February 21, March 3-9 ~ Namaste Annual Retreat, April 25, May 16, June 27 and July 25. Lutheran Volunteer Corp is the Lutheran version of the Peace Corp. Behinds the scenes preparation is underway with an anticipated fall 2010 kick-off. Acts In Common is working with the Southeast Michigan Synod to gather synod and community volunteers to staff the Synod LVC committee. Two local committees (one in Port Huron and one in Detroit) will oversee the localized needs for those two sites. Dates are subject to change. Please call (313) 821-1055 for more information on any of the events listed above. |
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the metropolitan Detroit region. Our
specific goal in that wider purpose is to assist in the renewal,
resourcing and empowerment of Lutheran
congregations in those communities. We are a non-profit 501c3 organization that is a ministry of the Southeast Michigan Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. We come to our work with a leading from the Spirit of the Living God, with joy and vision, with purpose and objectives, with prayer and possibilities, with resources and faith. We come to our work with the desired result being changed Lutheran congregations that are better able to partner with their neighborhoods in ways that help to raise the quality of life for those who live there, work there, learn there, worship there, and shop there. The name Acts In Common comes from a description of one of the first "Jesus communities" that formed after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, a description found in Acts 2:42-47 in the New Testament. That congregational community is a model of some of the qualities we would like to help create in our Lutheran congregations. Specifically, verse 44 says: "All the believers were together, and had everything in common." We are constantly seeking ways to invite your participation in this God-given work. We certainly invite your prayers with us and for us. We also invite you to contact us so we can explore possibilities together. Peace & Power, Rev. Stephen G. Marsh, Director Acts In Common |
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Director Rev. Stephen G. Marsh revsgm@actsincommon.org Assistant to Rev. Marsh rmccants@sbcglobal.net Robin McCants Process and Strategy Consultant thejoyd@aol.com Joy D. Calloway |
