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| Moving Day |
7/8/11: We've Moved!
At least fifty volunteers and twenty-five vehicles showed up
in Wescosville this morning and moved the synod office to its new home.
The fleet of trucks, buses and SUVs crammed the parking lot, and the
phone installer at the Lutheran Center commented that it looked like a
barn raising. We had so much help that we completed all of the work
today and will not need volunteers on Saturday.
Thanks to everyone who pitched in and worked so hard. We'll look forward
to welcoming you back to visit when we finish unpacking!
7/1/11: Moving Day Is Almost Here!
The
synod offices will be moving to our new home in the Lutheran Center in
Northeastern Pennsylvania on July 8 and 9. The office will be
closed beginning Wednesday, July 6, and we will reopen in our new
location on Wednesday, July 13.
Here's where to contact us starting on July 13. Our address will be 2354
Grove Road, Allentown PA 18109-3044. Our phone will be 610-266-5101, and
our fax will be 610-266-5106. The main email address is remains
info@nepsynod.org and all staff
email addresses will be unchanged except for Mike Bennethum, whose email
address is
Michael.Bennethum@elca.org. He will no longer use the Mike@nepsynod.org
address.
6/24/11: Moving Help Needed
The synod offices will be moving to their new location at the
Lutheran Center in Schoenersville on July 8 and 9, and we could
use lots of volunteers to help with the move. On Friday, July 8,
we will be moving boxes and smaller items, so both volunteers and
vehicles (trucks, vans, and cars) would be appreciated beginning at 9
a.m. On Saturday, July 9, beginning at 8 a.m., a group of
volunteers will move the furniture, but assistance
would be helpful then as well.
If you can help, please contact Pastor Carl Shankweiler at 570-682-9834
or Pastor Catherine Ziel at
catherine@nepsynod.org. It would be helpful for us
to have some idea of how many volunteers to expect, both to be sure we
get the job done and so we can provide lunch for those who are helping.
4/28/11: On Thursday, April 28, twelve people gathered for a brief service of Morning Prayer at what we are coming to know as the Lutheran Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania.
There were several surprises that morning at what had been Christ Lutheran Church, Schoenersville, and soon will house the offices of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod. First, the layer of construction dust that had covered the nave was gone, thanks to the unexpected work the previous evening by Mr. and Mrs. Art Laudenschlager.
The next surprise was the worshippers themselves. Half of them were former members of Christ, Schoenersville. Some expressed gratitude—with great emotion—that the building would continue to serve the Church, rather than being sold to one of the neighboring industrial parks.
And it was striking, if not surprising, when the Scripture lessons appointed by the daily lectionary turned out to be profoundly suited to the occasion. The first lesson, from Ezekiel 37, included, “Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.”
Morning Prayer services will continue to be held every Thursday at 8:00 a.m. Join us as God does a new thing on Grove Road in Allentown.
4/21/11: One of the opportunities that our new office space
presents is the chance to gather regularly for worship. And there’s no
better time to start this new chapter in our synodical life than during
the Easter season.
Beginning next week, on April 28, we invite you to join us for
Morning Prayer each Thursday at 8 a.m. at the Lutheran Center at
2354 Grove Road, Allentown. For now, this will be a simple spoken
service, but we look forward to expanding it to include preaching and
the Eucharist in the future. While the office wing is not ready for
occupancy yet, the nave is functional, although dusty, and you’ll even
get a sneak peak at rest of the building.
4/8/11:
Renovations to the new Lutheran Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania in
Schoenersville are progressing quickly. The air conditioning duct
work is now largely completed, and all of the new windows have been
installed. The elevator shaft is almost finished, with delivery of the
elevator expected in the next few weeks. We continue to be on schedule
to move in early summer.
In order to maintain the tax-free status of the worship space, we
anticipate beginning regular services shortly after Easter. Watch for
details about weekly Morning Prayer services so you can join us
in the synod's new home.
1/21/11: Two important steps took place this week as we
continue to prepare the new home of the synod offices.
On Monday the contractor hired by the Lehigh Valley Airport Authority
began preliminary work on installing air-conditioning in the office
wing. This is part of the airport’s noise abatement program. A later
step will involve installation of new exterior doors and window.
On Wednesday the synod council approved the installation of an elevator
in the Schoenersville building. While this expense was not included in
the original plan, it is in keeping with the synod’s commitment that our
activities will be fully accessible.
We are hopeful now that the building will be ready for occupation by
early summer.
11/30/10: The final legal steps were taken this week to transfer ownership of the Schoenersville property to the synod. We continue to encourage the airport authority to start the renovations they have planned for the building. Meanwhile, we are putting into place all of the practical details of maintaining what will become the Northeastern Pennsylvania Lutheran Center.
10/25/10: The first step in the renovations necessary to the
new synod offices in Schoenersville is the installation of new windows,
exterior doors and air conditioning. These changes will be carried out
and paid for the by Lehigh Valley Airport as part of their noise
remediation program. The contract for this work should be signed in the
next few weeks, and then work can begin.
9/17/10: Forty-five members from Christ, Schoenersville, worshipped at St. John, Bath, last week as the congregations began their new life together. The bishop’s office continues to work with our attorney on transferring the property to the synod. We will be meeting shortly with our contractor to begin finalizing plans for the necessary renovations to the office space in the building.
At its meeting on
January 20,
2010, the synod council acted on two resolutions related to the
congregation of Christ Lutheran Church, Schoenersville.
In
an
email to rostered leaders, congregations, and others following that
meeting, Bishop Zeiser noted that "the people of Christ Church have come
to the realization that their life as a community is coming to an end.
As they have considered how to dispose of their assets wisely, they have
offered their building and property to the synod, should we wish to use
it as the synod office."
The resolutions call for the appointment of 1) "a committee ... to
perform a due diligence analysis concerning converting the church and
education building ... to become the [synod] offices"; 2) "a committee
to review the fit of the Christ, Schoenersville, building as the synod
office with the vision of the synod."
In
a
subsequent email on April 23, 2010, Bishop Zeiser noted that the two
committees had reported to the synod council and that "after intense
discussion, the decision was made to let the members of Christ,
Schoenersville, know that we are open to receiving this gift. In the
coming weeks we will continue to be in conversation with them about the
best decisions for them and for the synod."
The
2010 Synod Assembly acknowledged with gratitude the gift of the
building that has been Christ Lutheran Church, Schoenersville. The
congregation held its last service on September 5.
Updates on the relocation of the synod office to Schoenersville have
been posted on this website since August.
The Northeastern Pennsylvania Lutheran Center (formerly Christ Lutheran Church) is located just off Route 22 near the Lehigh Valley Airport. You can reach Route 22 from I-476, I-78, or Route 309, and then go east, or from Routes 191, 512, or 33, and then go west. Exit Route 22 at the exit for the Lehigh Valley Airport, Route 987 north. Drive 1.5 miles to Grove Road on the right. Turn right on Grove Road. Drive approximately ¼ mile, and the Lutheran Center will be on the right.
Ministry Partners
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© 2011 Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod. All rights reserved. |
Visitors to the Lutheran Center will notice that it no longer has the
tall graceful spire that made the building striking and visible from a
distance (and from the air as you landed at Lehigh Valley Airport).