In today's world one aspect of "social well being" is paying attention to social justice and environmental ethics. We will explore several perspectives on social justice and environmental ethics and then discuss how they apply to some current examples of environmental issues that raise questions of justice and ethic

Presenter: The Rev. Dr. Roger E. Timm is a retired ELCA pastor.  In 1970 he received an M.Div. degree from Concordia Seminary  and an M.A. in philosophy from Washington University, both in St. Louis.  Timm completed his Ph.D. in religious studies in a joint program with Union Theological Seminary and Columbia University in New York in 1975.  Ordained in April 1971, he has served in both parishes and campus ministry settings.  During the 1980's Timm was assistant chaplain and assistant professor of religion at Muhlenberg College.  After his retirement, he and his wife, Marilyn, moved to Emmaus in 2013 and has lived at the Luther Crest retirement community since 2019.  Since then he has served on the Faith Formation Resources Ministry Team and has led several Learning Ministry Day workshops.   Timm has also taught several courses for the Institute for Learning in Retirement, located at Cedar Crest College in Allentown, Pennsylvania, dealing with faith and science as well as ethics, justice, and technology.

Seminary education and faith formation have changed dramatically since the days before COVID. While we still seek to guide and equip God's saints for the work of the church, the way in which we relate to one another is different. Some things are much easier. Other aspects are more challenging. Join the Rev. Dr. Martin Otto-Zimmann from United Lutheran Seminary to discuss how best to raise up new Deacons and Pastors in this challenging environment. 

Presenter: The Rev. Dr. Martin Otto-Zimmann is the Senior Director of Continuing Education at United Lutheran Seminary. In addition, he also serves as the Executive Director of the Stewardship of Life Institute and as Adjunct faculty in the area of Church in Society. Martin helped shape the synodical partnership between the Southeast Michigan Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Holy Land and Jordan and has helped to organize several ELCA delegations to Jerusalem and the West Bank. In February of 2013, he served the English Congregation of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Jerusalem and was assistant to former LWF President, Bishop Munib Younan for 1.5 years.

This workshop seeks to provide purposeful and practical strategies to address the reality that it is harder for families to spend an entire Sunday morning at church, which is one of the challenges facing Faith Formation ministries today. Attending either church or Sunday School—but not both—is common. Providing Faith Formation as part of weekly worship can help balance one side of that equation inviting both children and adults to learn in the actual worship service. (Please note: this workshop is not about running worship and Sunday School concurrently, which will be mentioned in passing, but is beyond the scope of this workshop.)

Presenter: The Rev. Scott Paradise (he/him) is on the roster of Pennsylvania’s Lower Susquehanna Synod. He serves as the pastor of Millcreek Lutheran Church in Newmanstown, which is a rural community in Lebanon County, but just over the line from Berks County. In his 23 years as a pastor, he has found many ways to enhance the participation of all ages in worship. Although currently not in our synod, he continues to serve on the Faith Formation Ministry Team.

Particularly in our current fast-paced world, providing help to others requires a trauma-informed approach fueled by an ability to regulate our own emotions during stressful circumstances.

This session will explore the rich connection between faith and mental health, fostering understanding of how spiritual practices and beliefs can influence emotional well-being, and provide practical strategies participants can easily use to manage their mental health challenges.

Presenter: As a nationally certified therapist at The Moore Resilient Group in Wyomissing, PA, Beth Millar believes change happens when "top-down" therapy (the head) meets "bottom up" therapy (the body). Her approach is a marriage of cognitive behavioral, solution-focused, and experiential modalities. Beth specializes in acute, developmental, and legacy trauma to resolve PTSD. She has worked extensively with healthcare professionals and many others who successfully overcame anxiety, depression, and addiction as they learned to reconnect with and heal their authentic selves.

This workshop will take a look at how we speak, pray and sing about justice in worship. What do we mean by justice?  How can we pray and sing authentically? What resources in All Creation Sings can help in this work?

Presenter: Deacon Michael Krentz, is Director of Music and Organist at Christ Lutheran Church in Allentown.  He is Secretary/Treasurer of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians and has served on the NEPA Synod Worship Team. He is a worship leader, teacher and recitalist.

Participants will be given mosaic materials to decorate a 6” x 9” cross in a variety of ways.

Presenter:  Deacon Joy Gerhart is the director of Youth and Family Ministry at St. Paul’s, Douglassville.  She also serves on the Faith Formation Ministry Team.  Crafts are one of her passions!

Labyrinths are a form of spiritual exercise that have been used for centuries by various religious groups. A labyrinth looks kind of like a maze, but there is only one path, so you cannot get lost. Walking a labyrinth is a way of connecting deeply with oneself and with the Holy Spirit, and many find them to be calming and inspiring. Come and experience walking the labyrinth. 

Presenter: The Rev. Deb Staniszewski is pastor of St. Paul’s, Smithfild, and a spiritual director, wife, mom, sister, friend and labyrinth walker. She loves sharing spiritual practice and sacred space with others in community and individually, companioning folks as they experience spiritual growth and transformation which lead to healing, freedom and joy. She brings passion for sharing the good news of God’s love in Christ, and companioning people on the spiritual journey, into all the day to day adventures of ministry and life.

As we face so many challenges, how do certain Bible stories give us the courage and hope to stay on the path of God and get up and go with Christ? Join Bishop Chris deForest for a conversation and exploration where the Holy Spirit will show up, guide us, energize us, and send us out with joy.

Presenter: The Rev. Christopher deForest, Bishop Northeastern PA Synod

This workshop will present a summary of the ELCA's Social Message on Earth's Climate Crisis, adopted in April 2023.  Discussion will include factors that suggest that we are living in a climate crisis, the values of our Christian faith that apply to dealing with this crisis, and suggestions for actions that can be taken by Christians as individuals or as congregations.

Presenter: The Rev. Dr. Roger E. Timm is a retired ELCA pastor.  In 1970 he received an M.Div. degree from Concordia Seminary  and an M.A. in philosophy from Washington University, both in St. Louis.  Timm completed his Ph.D. in religious studies in a joint program with Union Theological Seminary and Columbia University in New York in 1975.  Ordained in April 1971, he has served in both parishes and campus ministry settings.  During the 1980's Timm was assistant chaplain and assistant professor of religion at Muhlenberg College.  After his retirement, he and his wife, Marilyn, moved to Emmaus in 2013 and has lived at the Luther Crest retirement community since 2019.  Since then he has served on the Faith Formation Resources Ministry Team and has led several Learning Ministry Day workshops.   Timm has also taught several courses for the Institute for Learning in Retirement, located at Cedar Crest College in Allentown, Pennsylvania, dealing with faith and science as well as ethics, justice, and technology.

Join this workshop to learn about how public witness and advocacy are important tools for living out our call to discipleship. Through standing up with and for our neighbors by advocating for just policies at the local, state, federal, and international levels, we can more fully embody God’s vision of a world where all are fed and loved.

Presenter: The Rev. Erin Jones, Communications and Advocacy Engagement Manager for Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania (LAMPa)  Rev. Erin Jones joined LAMPa’s team in August of 2023. She brings a wealth of faithful advocacy experience, having served as a Public Policy Director during her year of service with Lutheran Volunteer Corps, as well as serving on Policy Councils for the Lutheran Office of Public Policy in California and LAMPa. Jones received her bachelor’s degree in both religion and political science from St. Olaf College and earned a Master of Divinity degree from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary. She was ordained in 2016 and has served congregations in Southern California and Southwestern Pennsylvania. She completed the Iron Sharpening Iron Executive Leadership Certificate at Princeton Theological Seminary in 2023.