Almighty God, gracious Lord, we thank you that your Holy Spirit renews the church in every age. Pour out your Holy Spirit on your faithful people. Keep them steadfast in your word, protect and comfort them in times of trial, defend them against all enemies of the gospel, and bestow on the church your saving peace, through Jesus Christ, our Savor and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Pastor Leta Behrens will be installed at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Fort Collins on November 13, 2011, and you are invited to attend. The Service of Installation starts at 9:00 a.m. and Bishop Allan Bjornberg of the Rocky Mountain Synod will preside. Our Saviour's is located at 2000 South Lemay Avenue (80525). All are welcome.

Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Anton, Colorado, which has been a presence of faith in the eastern rural part of Colorado for 63 years, will hold its closing worship service of thanksgiving on Sunday, October 30, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. (followed by a fellowship potluck).  All who have been blessed by this church are very welcome to come. Also, pastor Hermsmeyer asks that you pray for the congregation. Your spiritual support is greatly appreciated.

Bishop Allan Bjornberg, as well as former pastors, will be present. Although we recognize the grief and sense of loss this brings to present and former members and the community, we also celebrate with thanksgiving all the blessings God provided through this ministry over the years and hope that the church will live on through the people, by the power of the Holy Spirit, multiplying in many ways as they continue to serve the Lord where they are planted.

The congregation would love to gift their church contents to other churches in need. A list is forthcoming. You may also contact Pastor Teri Hermsmeyer by email.

Companion Synod Sunday

  To Our Shepherds in Christ:   

In August, we wrote to you asking you to schedule a Companion Synod Sunday, preferably November 13 or 20, 2011.  You may download the Seeds of Hope and Companion Synod - Walking Together brochures to use as bulletin inserts or for stimulating discussions about our sister synods in adult forums, council meetings or whichever arena you find most attractive for the congregation you serve.  Additional resources are available online.

Please encourage the congregation you serve to give to the Seeds of Hope fund which underwrites so much good work at Betela Seminary and throughout the Lutheran Church in Madagascar.

Bishop Allan Bjornberg and
Pastor Ron Roschke, Chair of the RMS Companion Synod Committee

God's Positioning System  

November 18-20, 2011

at Estes Park 

Our own RMS Senior High Youth Gathering is a 
Faith-forming, Fabulous Weekend! 

We Live by Grace.   

Register Now

The event promises an awesome line-up of speakers, workshops, worship and bands, including a concert by Agape and Rachel Kurtz. Download a schedule/poster and get more details at the SHYG website .  

Are you between the ages of 18-25? Consider serving as a Cornerstone Peer Minister for the SHYG. Details and applications can be found on the SHYG web page.   

The Rocky Mountain Synod has received an ELCA grant to take the lead in the work and ministry of stewardship through the Generosity Project - Our Table Is Ready.   

Rocky Mountain Synod congregations will be partnering with sister congregations and leaders to make this a vibrant and effective ministry. Of the 18 ELCA grants, the unique approach of the Rocky Mountain Synod focuses on giving and generosity as a faith practice of households. Please bring a cross+generational group from your congregation to experience this engaging time together -- and take it home to share with your congregation.

The next two workshops are scheduled as follows:

Saturday, October 29 - 

Zion Lutheran - Salt Lake City, UT

(Utah and Western Wyoming congregations)  

Saturday, November 5 -  

Prince of Peace Lutheran - Denver, CO

(1st workshop for Denver area congregations)

Congregations in these areas have received information and an invitation to attend. If you would like to attend and need information, please email Cheryl. 

 
Information online at  www.rmselca.org/generosity.  

 

Jesus knew the benefits of going up the mountain to pray.  Follow his example and set time apart for your congregation to step away from the world.  Rainbow Trail staff can help you plan a weekend of prayer, study, and community building.

 

New groups booking a retreat for 2012 at Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp by the end of 2011 can get a free night's lodging as part of a weekend or midweek package Selected weekends during the winter and spring of 2012 are available. Please contact Emily at Rainbow Trail by email or phone (719-942-4220) for more information.

 

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RTLC Fall Confirmation Retreat

Join us for a Confirmation Retreat at Rainbow Trail this fall and let us be partners with you in creating a fun atmosphere for learning in your confirmation program! We will sing songs, play games, learn together, and play together in God's beautiful creation.

For more information or to register, please go to the Rainbow Trail website or send an email message to Ashley.  

Note: We also offer a retreat in the Spring from February 24 - 26, 2012.

Registration is now open. Deadline is Dec 21.

The narrative of Jesus is some two millennia old. One of our greatest challenges is how we tell and share that Old Story in our New Day. At the 2012 Rocky Mountain Synod Theological Conference, Dr. Anna Carter Florence, Pastor Keith Anderson, and Dr. Stanley Olson will consider what it means to be proclaim, communicate and serve in today's context. Read more about the presenters.

All Saint's Day Pancake Breakfast for Local Lutheran Churches

Sunday, November 6

Urban Servant Corps volunteers will flip pancakes as they become acquainted with Lutheran faith communities who prayerfully and financially support the Urban Servant Corps. A celebration of all the saints will be part of this event!

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Shopping Event to Benefit the USC 

10,000 Villages 

2626 East Third Avenue, Denver (80206) 

Thursday, December 8 from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Please join us on October 26 at 7:00 p.m. for our Taiz� service at Saint Paul Lutheran Church located at 1600 Grant Street in Denver (80203).

Whatever your background, please know that all are welcome for this time of simple song, silence, prayer, and candlelit meditation. It truly is a time for those of all faiths to reflect and pray.

For more information, please visit www.spiritoftaize.org, or contact Jeff directly at jeff.steen@gmail.com.

Featuring: Diana Butler Bass

October 28-30, 2011

The congregation of Messiah Community Church in Denver invites you to a lecture series featuring acclaimed author, speaker and independent scholar Diana Butler Bass. She holds a Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Duke University and specializes in American religion and culture.

The schedule for the lectures is:

Friday, Oct 28, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Saturday, Oct 29, 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Lunch, 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Saturday, 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.

Sunday, Oct 30, Worship, 9:30 a.m. 

The cost is $15 for any one lecture and $60 for all four lectures (Friday-Saturday) including lunch on Saturday. Students with an I.D pay only $5 for a single lecture and $20 for all four including lunch on Saturday. You are encouraged to download, print and display the poster for all to see. For more information, please call the church on 303-355-4471. Messiah Community Church is located at 1750 Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO (80220).

  Celebrating the Reformation through Music

On Saturday, October 29, 2011 beginning at 7:00 p.m. King of Glory Lutheran Church will present an evening of chamber music celebrating the Reformation and the life and teachings of the great reformer Martin Luther. King of Glory is located at 10001 West 58^th Avenue in Arvada (80002). 

Highlighting the evening will be the Musicians of St. Clare (Carma Romano-LaMorte, conductor). The Musicians of Saint Clare is an ecumenical, international touring chamber ensemble known for its precision, power, and stunning performances of great choral works.

There is No Admission Charge - A Free Will Offering will be taken. A flyer is available to post or use as an insert to include in Sunday bulletins. If you have questions or need more information, please call the church at 303-421-9930.    

 image from the St. Clare website 

Reformation Celebration at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church - Fort Collins 

With special guest:  Prof. Tim Wengert of
Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia

6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.  

October 30    Guest speaker at Forum     Sunday 9:45 a.m. in room 12E
"Luther's Small Catechism for Adults: Tasting It Again for the First Time"   

Professor Wengert is the Ministerium of Pennsylvania Professor of Reformation History and Confessions at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, teaching primarily in the fields of Reformation history and the Lutheran Confessions.  Read more about Prof. Wengert. 

Music at Saint Paul is a "music ministry" that presents outstanding concerts and inspiring liturgies in the superb acoustics of the congregation's historic building.  

On Sunday, November 6 at 2:30 p.m., Music at Saint Paul - Denver will present The Sounds of Autumn Colors featuring the Mountain Chamber Music Society.Tickets are $15 general admission, $12 for seniors and $10 for students. Everyone is welcome to come. 

Here is a list of other concerts happening through the remainder of the year.

The Metro East Cluster of the Rocky Mountain Synodical Women's Organization (WELCA) congregations are invited to a Brunch at Joy Lutheran located at 7051 E. Parker Hills Court in Parker, on Saturday, November 19, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  There will be food and devotions, special music, and a special program. Reservations must be made to Joy Lutheran by calling 303-841-3739 or 303-841-2341 no later than November 11, 2011.  All Women of the Metro East Cluster of Lutheran churches are invited, and please bring a friend.  If you have questions concerning the Brunch, please contact Gwen Wilhelm at 303-841-2341.

Learn more about what our women are doing! Information about the Rocky Mountain Synodical Women's Organization (RMSWO) and cluster units can be found on the women's website. Check out the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (WELC) website for news and information from around the national church.

Healthcare Exchange Webinar Set for November 9

Learn How to Shop for Health Care Coverage    

By action of the state legislature, Colorado is in the process of creating a Health Benefit Exchange where individuals and small businesses will be able to shop (comparing apples to apples) for health care coverage for themselves or for their employees.It is important that our clergy, lay leaders and members who need health care coverage or seek to provide health care coverage for their employees have as much knowledge as possible on what the Exchange will offer and when it will be available.

To this end, the Colorado Council of Churches is offering an informational webinar at no cost on Wednesday, November 9 from 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. For participation in a webinar, you need a computer with internet access (for visual) and a phone (for audio). You may register for the webinar by going to www.cochurches.org.

You will receive an email confirmation of your registration with a link to use for the webinar as well as the phone number to call on November 9 for the audio. These webinars are limited to 50 participants, so register (and share this information with appropriate people in your congregation) soon.

You are cordially invited to spend Thanksgiving Evening (November 23) with Jonathan Edwards who will be preaching a sermon titled "What a Pilgrim's Faith is All About." The Rev. Dr. Jack Van Ens of Arvada, CO brings to life this intellectual giant, considered to be the most important American philosopher and theologian of his time. Mr. Edwards (1703-1758) was a Puritan theologian who inspired a number of religious revivals and has been called "the greatest mind produced in America."  

Rev. Dr. Jack Van Ens' presentation at Atonement is made possible by funding from the Lutheran Center for Theological Studies. Atonement's traditional Thanksgiving Eve pie and coffee fundraiser for youth attending the 2012 National Youth Gathering in New Orleans will follow the service. Atonement is located at 6281 West Yale Avenue (80227). A Free Will offering is will be accepted.