Northwest Conference Update

During our recent annual meeting, the NWC debuted a series of videos highlighting unique ministries in nine conference churches. Each video features interview segments with church staff, lay leaders and pastors-intermixed with video footage from the churches highlighted-telling stories of transformation and innovation in ministry.

The videos are also designed for use throughout the year in church new member classes, services and other adult education opportunities to help congregations better understand and engage the work of the NWC. Each church's delegates left with a DVD copy of the videos, and the series is available on the NWC web site's video page.

You can also view the videos on our Facebook page or on YouTube.

M.O.V.E. 2011 follow-up video online now

The M.O.V.E. 2011 follow-up video is now online as well. It can be viewed, along with both of Eugene Cho's messages, on our Children, Youth & Family media page.

The follow-up video is also available on the Youth Ministry Facebook page and YouTube. Youth Pastors, please share these links with your students.

NWC parent church and plant experience Easter blessings

Crossroads Church and The Gallery celebrate in their own unique ways

Between its two campuses in Eagan and Woodbury, Crossroads Church had 4,350 people attend 10 Easter weekend services. The theme for the weekend was "Awakening: Everything Jesus touches comes alive."

The Gallery book drive
The Gallery Covenant Church in St. Paul, a plant of Crossroads, used Easter weekend to kick off its own unique outreach effort. The church passed out more than 80 plastic eggs stuffed with $20 bills.

Read the full story online

Pastors, don't forget ...

Minnehaha logo You are invited to Minnehaha Academy North Campus on Thursday, May 26. We would like you to attend our chapel service at 10:30 a.m. in the Hognander Chapel, followed by a light lunch during which we can highlight the strengths of the educational program at Minnehaha. Some of you were able to attend our gathering last fall. You certainly are welcome to come again, and I hope many others will also attend.

We know you are a strong influence to those in your congregations, and we hope that you will encourage your members to check out Minnehaha Academy as a possibility for their children's education. Though our financial aid is need based, we do give 100 percent of identified need to members of our Covenant churches.

I hope you will take time on May 26 to join us for chapel and lunch. Please R.S.V.P. to me at 612-728-7763 or Johnson-kathy@minnehahaacademy.net. I would love to have opportunities to present Minnehaha Academy to your congregations and would appreciate any other ideas you have to do so. Thank you again for your support. I look forward to hearing from you.

Kathy Johnson
Director of Admissions

Covenant Village of Golden Valley invites you to attend a free Lunch and Lecture

Pastors Workshop
Monday, June 20, 2011
9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Speaker: Rob Moll, author of "The Art of Dying"

About Rob Moll

Rob Moll is an award-winning journalist and editor-at-large with Christianity Today. He has served as a hospice volunteer and worked in a funeral home. Rob has written extensively on health and health-care issues, investing and personal finance, religion and rural America. His work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Dow Theory Forecasts, Books & Culture and Leadership. His first book is "The Art of Dying: Living Fully into the Life to Come." He is director of publications at Trinity International University.

Seminar Schedule
9:30 a.m. Registration and coffee
10 a.m. Message from Rob
11 a.m. Question and answer time
11:30 Lunch and networking time

Seminar held at
Covenant Village of Golden Valley
5800 St. Croix Ave. North
Golden Valley, MN 55422-4446

RSVP required. Please respond by Monday, June 6, 2011. You may either call or e-mail your RSVP to Dan Gardeen at 763-732-1521 or via e-mail to DJGardeen@covenantretirement.org.

Brown Hymnal Society's Hymnsing returns

Friday, May 20, 7 p.m.
Bloomington Covenant Church
10150 Xerxes Ave. So., Bloomington, MN, 55431

After a year of laying fallow, the Brown Hymnal Society's Annual Hymnsing has returned. Rev. Bob Dvorak, of course, will lead us masterfully from the piano, inviting us to sing with gusto (accosting us if we don't), to sing in parts, to sing in competition as groups, and to sing praise to the Lord.

An offering will be taken in support of Friendship Place, as well as to cover the costs of Bob Dvorak. Following the hymnsing we'll have refreshments provided by Bethlehem and Bloomington Covenant Churches.

Join us for a great evening! For those of you who have an opportunity to announce this to a congregation or other groups, please do so. Also, if you have a copy of the Brown Hymnal, dust it off and bring it with you.

God's peace,
Tim Johnson
Pastor, Bloomington Covenant Church

Sudanese congregations need choir robes

Sudanese congregations, both in the U.S. and the Sudan, have expressed a need for choir robes. If your church has used robes in good condition, please contact David Gong by e-mail at Davidwie.Gong@gmail.com.

NWC Church Resource Bank

One great feature of the new Northwest Conference website is our ability to connect churches with specific needs, with those who have resources to share. The site features a "Church Resource Bank," and our vision for this page is that churches with items or resources (e.g. curriculum, equipment, other assets) they no longer have need for would post them for those who might find the resources helpful.

If you think your church has something to share, please email What's Available, Church Name, a Brief Description, and Contact Information, to Cheryl at the Northwest Conference office.

If your church has a need, remember to check back often for new postings.

The Northwest Conference on Facebook
Become a fan of the Northwest Conference on Facebook to receive important notifications and see photos from events.