St. Peter, Carlsbad Does its Part to Make Malaria History 

Thank you to the people of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Carlsbad, New Mexico for participating in the ELCA Malaria Campaign!  They have already raised over $600 to help treat and prevent malaria.  Part of those funds were raised by a youth-led effort in the Souper Bowl of Caring on February 3.  The youth group raised $461.49.   

Rev. Geri Cunningham of St. Peter shared this story and we would love to hear more stories!  You are invited to send your stories and pictures by email to Rev. Deb Abbott.  

Prep for Summer Service Projects and Mission Trips 

Do you want your congregation's summer service projects, mission trip or journey to the  ELCA Youth Gathering to be faith forming and transformational?  

Then watch this informative and in-depth interview with Eugene Roehlkepartain, Search Institute, on his 25 years of research on Service and Learning. It is free and includes a Study Guide.  

The entire 6 session Service and Learning course may be ordered, downloaded or streamed.   

You may use the series for study within your congregation. The Rocky Mountains Synod has a limited number of copies that may be borrowed by contacting the synod office at 303-777-6700 or sending an email to Willie. 

You can read more information and preview the series at the Discover Islam website. Study guides are available at the ELCA Inter-Religious Relations website.

Youth Leadership Opportunities

Lift up and equip youth in your congregations with the skills they need to be leaders on your church council, in your youth ministry or as you travel for service and mission. Check out these opportunities at Sky Ranch.

Youth Go! June 10-22

Youth Go! is a two-week leadership training program for high school youth. Campers return to their congregations empowered to lead and serve from this experience that includes: community building, in-depth Bible study and worship planning, a two night backpack trip, service projects at Harvest Farm (run by the Denver Rescue Mission helping men with addiction), and a 24-hour silent retreat. Once you complete Youth Go!, you are elegible for the Staff in Training program.

Youth Leadership Retreat June 22 - 24

Inviting all 8th - 12th grade youth who want to explore the gifts that God has given them and learn how to use those gifts to serve the Church and the world. The weekend will be full of team building, leadership training, spiritual gift exploration, and peer ministry moments. The cost is $55.  

October 1-17, 2012

There are still some spaces on this October trip to the Holy Land - if you are interested, please contact Pastor Paul Rowold by May 30, 2012.  

Experience this journey of faith and relationships as you take in the geography of the Holy Land and meet the people living there today! Tour guide Pastor Paul Rowold has traveled to the Holy Land 30 times, since the summer of 1978, when he and his wife Donna worked as archeologist volunteers.

The tour is: 17-day Holy Land/Turkey/Greece at $4450, from Denver. Details can be found at the website or you may contact tour leader, Pastor Paul Rowold by email or phone: 406-883-5864. Reservation deadline is May 30, 2012.

For your information and more about peacemaking in Israel and Palestine, check out the blog by Jan Miller.

La Mansi�n After School Program currently serves 25 students, from grades 1 through 6. These students, who mostly come from the neighborhood surrounding Iglesia Luterana Cristo Rey in El Paso, come to the After School Program three days a week from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m. 

You can help this program of literacy by first reading more information about the program and then learning how to sponsor a child. It's easy. A brochure contains the details and a sponsorship form.

Slovakia: Many countries, one congregation

The Bratislava International Congregation, with a remarkably diverse membership from many countries, denominations and occupations, has just welcomed its new pastor, ELCA missionary Miriam Schmidt. She and her husband, Jeremy Blythe, are also the new ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission coordinators for Central Europe. Read the article.

Hosting a missionary this summer?

Is an ELCA missionary visiting your congregation this summer? Hold a potluck with PlaceMaps and ELCA Missionary Sponsorship offering envelopes for everyone. Both are available by sending an email message or by calling 800-638-3522. Larger orders may be placed through ELCA Resources. 

Global water crisis claims more lives per year than war or natural disasters  Nearly a billion people - that's one out of seven people in our world today -- lack access to clean, safe water. Unclean water causes millions of people, especially young children, to die from water-related illnesses each year. Learn how ELCA youth can make a difference through the 100 Wells Challenge at www.elca.org/100wells.

 July 8-14, 2012

Let Rainbow Trail help prepare your graduating Seniors prepare for an awesome college experience!  RTLC's experienced college guides will lead a week long Compass Points backpacking trip that takes you literally into the wild and back again as you explore the joys and challenges that are ahead of you in college.  Check out the Rainbow Trail website for more information on this amazing opportunity. 

These and other open positions can be found on the Rocky Mountain Synod's website. 

SEPTEMBER 23

Installation of Rocky Mountain Synod Bishop
BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH 

SEPTEMBER 23-25

Fall Theological Conference/ Bishop's Convocation
EMBASSY SUITES 

 Denver, CO.

NOVEMBER 16-18
RMS Senior High Youth Gathering
YMCA of the Rockies
Estes Park, CO 

2013

MAY 2-4 

2013 RMS Assembly

SEPTEMBER 23-26

Theological Conference 

With life ever turbulent, busy, and sometimes chaotic, it is important to find time to think quietly and reflect on where life is taking us. Taiz� is a worship tradition grounded in Christian beliefs, but at its core is a message of inclusion. Saint Paul Lutheran Church in downtown Denver has long been an advocate for inclusion. 

An hour of contemplative worship by candlelight with simple prayer, song, and silence is Wednesday, May 23 at 7:00 p.m. in the nave of Saint Paul Lutheran Church (1600 Grant Street). All are welcome.

For more information, please visit www.spiritoftaize.org. 

5K Run/Walk Event to Benefit Selian Lutheran Hospital in Tanzania  

On Saturday, June 9, 2012, from 8:15 a.m. until noon, Saint Peter Lutheran Church will sponsor a 5K Run/Walk Event which will benefit the programs of Selian Lutheran Hospital and the Arusha Lutheran Medical Center (ALMC), completed in 2009 in Arusha, Tanzania.

The Selian 5K Run Event will include a jump castle and face painting for the kids, Jamba Juice, Juice Plus, Free blood pressure readings, live musical entertainment, craft and food concessions, swag bags, t-shirts, awards and door prizes. Contact Carol for more Information about the 5K Run/Walk event but for  about Selian, please visit the Selian Hospital website: www.selianlh.habari.co.tz or the Saint Peter website: www.stplc.org.

Saint Peter Lutheran Church, located at 9300 E. Belleview Avenue in Greenwood Village (80111).

4^th Annual Sky Ranch BBQ and   

Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church in Fort Collins (corner of Harmony and Lemay) is pleased to host the 4^th Annual Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp BBQ and Bluegrass Fundraiser which will take place on Saturday, June 9, 2012, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Everyone will be gathering out under the trees. Spirit of Joy has some benches available, but for your comfort please bring a camp chair or blanket.

The event will feature wonderful barbeque, along with slaw, chips and dessert. There will even be vegetarian and gluten-free choices available. Tickets can be purchased at the event: Under 2: free / 2-12 years: $5 / over 12 years: $9 / family: $25  

For your musical enjoyment, Spirit of Joy's own Bluegrass band, "Jerusalem Road," will perform. The Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp staff will also be there assisting and participating in the program, so it's a great opportunity to meet these wonderful young people from around the country.

Annual Mount of the Holy Cross Pilgrimage Dates Set

Each year since 1976, Mount of the Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Vail, CO, has sponsored a pilgrimage hike up Notch Mountain to view Mt. of the Holy Cross. Again this year Mount of the Holy Cross will sponsor pilgrimages climbing Notch Mountain in order to view the Mount of the Holy Cross.     

There is a brief service of worship near the summit before descending.  It's a wonderful experience for those who participate and this year the community of Mount of the Holy Cross wanted to offer the opportunity to a wider audience. Due to Forest Service regulations the groups are limited in number so reservations are required.

The dates are Friday, July 20 and Saturday, July 21, 2012.  The event will be from approximately 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day.  This is a fairly strenuous hike and requires good hiking boots and waterproof weather protection. 

There is no cost to participate but pre-registration is required.  Please email the church or call 970- 476-6610 to receive a registration form or for more details.   

photo provided by Pastor Scott Beebe