Metropolitan New York Synod

LORD, who may dwell in your tabernacle?
Who may abide upon your holy hill?
Those who lead a blameless life and do what is right,
who speak the truth from their heart;
they do not slander with the tongue, they do no evil to their friends;
they do not cast discredit upon a neighbor.
In their sight the wicked are rejected, but they honor those who fear the LORD.
They have sworn upon their health and do not take back their word.
They do not give their money in hope of gain, nor do they take bribes against the innocent.
Those who do these things shall never be overthrown.

Psalm 15

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” (John 1:43-51)

[Jesus said,] “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.” (John 6:51-58)

Jesus said to [the crowd,] “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They were saying, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” Jesus answered them, “Do not complain among yourselves. No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” (John 6:35, 41-51)

Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.”

When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

John 6:1-15

O God, powerful and compassionate, you shepherd your people, faithfully feeding and protecting us. Heal each of us, and make us a whole people, that we may embody the justice and peace of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.

Are you interested in what you can do as a non-partisan influence in this election cycle? Take your energy to the network - an opportunity for individuals and our congregations to share in our communities love in action.

ELCA Election Activators from various parts of our ELCA faith community are invited to a call once-a-month to for updates and to hear from each other about local initiatives. Because the ELCA does not endorse a particular candidate, party or form of government or strive for a Christian one, participation requires sign-up and a non-partisan pledge. "Lutherans care about government because it is a gift from God intended for the safety and flourishing of human life" (from ELCA social message "Government & Civic Engagement in the United States: Discipleship in a Democracy").

Our first virtual meeting is July 23. Learn more today! https://blogs.elca.org/advocacy/elca-election-activator-network/

Our MNYS participation in the ELCA 2024 Youth Gathering in New Orleans! Way to go!

Synod Day worship at the ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans.

Synod Day at the ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans. The Bishop's from Regions 5 & 7 presided at the Eucharist, including our own MNYS Bishop Egensteiner.

Lutheran Church of the Resurrection | Mount Kisco

Ascension Lutheran Church | Deer Park

St. John's Lutheran Church | Mamaroneck

ELCA Youth Gathering 2024 Mass Gathering

St. John-St. Matthew-Emanuel Lutheran Church | Brooklyn

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church | Bellerose, NY

MNYS Bishop Egensteiner hard at work pulling weeds at the Animal Shelter on Accompaniment Day.

Trinity Lutheran Church | Rocky Point

Redeemer-St. John's Lutheran Church | Brooklyn

Hope Lutheran Church | Selden

Trinity Lutheran Church | Astoria, NY

Tuesday morning Swamp Tour with Seaford, Manhasset, Rocky Point, Glen Head and Brooklyn

Our Redeemer Lutheran Church | Seaford, NY

Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church | East Northport, NY

Pastor John Hickey's "Krewe" at the ELCA Racial Justice exhibit at the Youth Gathering in NOLA and the MYLE Lounge!

15,000+ ELCA youth, leaders, and young adults will gather in New Orleans for the ELCA Youth and Young Adult Gathering for a week of faith formation and fun. We have 125 from Metro NY attending, who will all be wearing the t-shirt pictured with Bishop Egensteiner on our Synod Day. The graphic combines the Louisiana and New York State flags, designed and created by Lyla McAdams, Youth Director at St. John - St. Matthew - Emmanual Lutheran Church in Brooklyn.

Gathered around the theme of “Created to Be,” youth will explore how their faith has created each of us to be brave, authentic, free, disruptive, and disciples. They will do this through engaging with the city and people of New Orleans, an interactive learning center to learn about the many different ministries of the ELCA, Synod Day Worship, accompanying the people of New Orleans in service projects, and evening mass gatherings of music and speakers.

For those unable to attend in person, the mass gatherings will be live-streamed from 7 pm to 8:45 pm (Central Time) at www.elca.church/gathering and the ELCA YouTube channel. Remember, these streams will only be accessible during the event and won't be available afterward. Your prayers for all 15,000 individuals in New Orleans and for the city itself are greatly appreciated.

I will listen to what the Lord God is saying;
for you speak peace to your faithful people and to those who turn their hearts to you.
Truly, your salvation is very near to those who fear you,
that your glory may dwell in our land.
Steadfast love and faithfulness have met together;
righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Faithfulness shall spring up from the earth,
and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
The Lord will indeed grant prosperity,
and our land will yield its increase.
Righteousness shall go before the Lord
and shall prepare for God a pathway.

Psalm 85:8-13