Today was the first full day of the Lower Susquehanna Synod Assembly. For those you not familiar with what a Synod Assembly is, here’s the quick version. I’m a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. Our churches are group together in regions that we call synods. Each year the synod (group of churches in the region) gather together to worship, pray, conduct business of the synod, and hear about what else is going on in the synod and seeing how God is working in South Central PA.

It’s a nice event. We see friends from around the Synod, hear some good speakers, worship together, learn and eat (wouldn’t be a Lutheran gathering without food).

This year I got to lead a forum at lunch time. I chose to lead a forum on earned media. My wife asked me how many people were going to my forum. I said “I don’t know. They don’t tell us because people don’t have to register for which forum they are going to. I’m hoping for 10 people. That would be great.”

Well, it turns out that about 50 people showed up. That’s a best guess, the room was full. It went well. It turns out that there’s a lot of interest in learning how to obtain earned media (which is media attention you get because there is a story, as opposed to paid advertising). The session went well, which I was thrilled with – people were telling stories and asking questions and talking. That’s a sign of a good session as far as I’m concerned.

Some overall observations about this year’s synod. 1. We have an amazing Bishop. Bishop Dunlop has done a great job of focusing the message of the synod. He’s even stated it as “we want to be known as the synod that feeds people.” Nice, simple, memorable. It says it all. And, there is consistency throughout the assembly from the food packing event yesterday, through the educational forum, and everything else.

2. The synod is a small world. The people who come to Synod Assemblies are a small group of people who go to many synod events. You get to know who people are pretty quickly. You recognize others you haven’t met yet, but you know that at some point you’ll be introduced to them. This really helps in building relationships throughout the synod.

3. This synod assembly, more than the previous two, feels more focused on worship. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because there is less official business to take care of. Maybe it’s because we had a service of ordination and consecration. Who knows. I think it’s nice and sets a good tone.

Tomorrow is a shorter day, but I know it will be just as good.