Northeastern Minnesota Synod
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week of March 27, 2016  
2016 Bishop's Convocation - Postponed

Due to low registration totals (only about 20 people per event), the Bishop's Convocation scheduled for this weekend (April 2nd & 3rd) has been postponed until a date in early 2017.
Notice of Death

Reverend Gregory Sarkis Daher 
April 30, 1956- March 27, 2016
Rev. Gregory Sarkis Daher, 59, died March 27, Easter Sunday, at his home in Kerrick, Minn., with his family by his side.
He was born in Minneapolis on April 30, 1956 to James and Gloria Daher. He married Jennifer Nelson in Minneapolis on Dec. 16, 1977.

He attended Luther Seminary and was ordained June 1, 1977 by Bishop April Larson in the La Crosse Area Synod. His first call was at Bethany and East Lemonweir Lutheran Churches. He was called to Bethany Lutheran and Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity in Duluth in 2004.He remained as a Pastor to the churches in Duluth up until the time of his passing.

Pastor Daher was devoted to his family, friends and serving the Lord through Christ's beloved Church. He was crazy about his children, grandchildren, hunting, fishing and enjoyed repairing things.

He was preceded in death by his Father and grandpa and grandma Daher grandma and grandpa Hall.

He is survived by his wife, Jennifer; son, Elias; daughters Andrea (Brian) Gregory, Catherine (Leland) Driggs, Amy (Douglas) Waller; grandchildren Ave Gregory, Cyrus Gregory, Natalie Gregory, Gabrielle Driggs, Austin Driggs, Aaron Gregory Driggs and Alexander Driggs; mother Gloria Moser; brothers and sisters Michelle Paajanen, Debra Avila, Anthony Daher, Nora Wessling and Daniel Moser and many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and parishioners. "Hi sweety. This is Dad. Just calling to see how things are going. Give me a holler when you get a chance. Love you lots. God Bless. Bye Bye."

VISITATION: 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday March 29 in Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity, 2701 W. 3rd St., Duluth. Visitation continues from 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. Funeral Service Wednesday March 30, in the Church with Bishop Thomas Aitken presiding. Burial will be at Oak Lake Lutheran Cemetery. Memorials preferred. Final arrangements entrusted to Williams-Lobermeier-Boettcher Funeral Home.
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED
 
Stewardship is not a new word for the church. Nor is stewardship limited to dollars and cents. It is also related to common sense and well-being. That is why your help is needed! If you are a rostered leader in the Northeastern MN Synod, a church employee with benefits from Portico, or a covered spouse, we need you to complete your Portico Health Assessment Challenge. In doing so, you are being a good steward of mission support dollars: a) in order to earn a 1% discount on ELCA health contributions for our synod; b) you are being a good steward of your physical, spiritual and emotional health; and c) congregations will all benefit by having their rostered leaders take care of themselves in order to lead and serve. Oh, and did I mention with full participation of our rostered leaders the Northeastern MN Synod would be eligible for a 1% discount on health contributions?!
 
Please ask your Pastor or other rostered lay leader if they have taken the Portico Health Assessment Challenge for 2016! The deadline for doing so is April 30th. Help us earn the 1% discount. Thank you to those who have already taken the challenge. Together we can strengthen our health and the health of our faith communities and lower some of the costs for health care. That, my friends, is indeed good stewardship.
 
Russian Deacons Visiting Apr 21 - May 5
Evgeny Raskatov

This spring we are very pleased to welcome two Deacons from the Ingrian Lutheran Church of Russia as guests of our 2016 Synod Assembly - Evgeny Raskatov from the central office of the ELCIR in St. Petersburg, and Sergey Anikin from the Lutheran parish in Saratov, Volga Deanery.
 
During their two-week visit, they will be giving a greeting at synod assembly, speaking at congregations in different parts of our synod about God's work in and through the Ingrian Church, learning about the ministry of the Northeastern MN Synod, and visiting Luther Seminary.
 
Our Synod is funding all of their travel expenses, which amount to approximately $2,200. The Task Force welcomes any gifts from congregations, conferences, or individuals sent through the Synod Office and so marked in the memo, to help cover their costs. Dates, times, and locations of their presentations will be announced soon.

Pastor David Carlson, Chair
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia (ELCIR) Task Force
+Bishop's Visitation to Confirmation Students
 
Bishop Aitken continues to invite you to do a Visitation/ Teaching/Anointing on a Wednesday night (or whenever you meet) for your Confirmation Class. He encourages parents to come that night as well so he can meet them and include them in the teaching time. Pastors and Confirmation teachers are welcome of course to be there, but he will teach about Christian Vocation, the role of the Christian in our world, our call in Christ and end with Communion and Commissioning for service with Anointing oil from Palestine. It's best to gather a cluster of congregations for this - that has worked well in the past.
Synod Photo Directory

Hello Ordained Ministers, Associated in Ministry, and Deaconesses!
 
Bishop Aitken would like every Rostered Leader to have their picture taken (free of charge) for an updated Synod Directory. It's been seven years since the last one and we are overdue.
 
The Synod Pictorial Directory helps us all stay connected. Plan on taking a few minutes and getting your picture taken. Collars on pastors are encouraged.
 
Lifetouch Studios will be holding 2 photo sessions during the Synod Assembly. Friday from 2pm-5pm in the Pelican Room.Saturday 8am-6pm in the Pelican Room.
 
Please stop by and have your photo taken. You will receive afree 8x10 photo. No Appointment Necessary. Take a 5 minute break and get your photo taken.
 
What do we need from you? Your smiling face of course! Also, the name, location and address where you serve, phone number and email. We will have a list on hand, you will need to verify for accuracy.
Year-End Report Time!

Annual Rostered Leaders to the Bishop

Congregation/Parochial Report
Congregation ID and Password are found on the paper form sent by the ELCA

Bulletin Board

Honduras Trip Openings
The next synod-sponsored Companion Trip to Honduras will be May 25-June 2, 2016. This team of 8 people will be representing NE MN at the ordination of Rolando Martinez and visiting some of the congregations of the Iglesia Cristiana Luterana de Honduras as well as the Lutheran kindergarten in La Canada. Also on the agenda are home visits to some of the congregation members and the distribution of water filters. Cost of the trip is $1,600 which includes airfare, housing, transportation and meals while in Honduras. For more information or an application form, contact Brenda Wagner at
[email protected]or 218-341-1831. An initial deposit of $100 is due with the application. We'd like to have commitments from team members by March 31.

Immanuel in Brunswick is spring cleaning! 
We have found a supply of hymn books. We hate to recycle them if someone could use - we realize that getting to a new location is costly but we are willing to work with them. Available hymnals:
*Hard brown cover - The Hymnal - about 36 copies
*Hard red cover - Favorite Hymns of Praise - about 40 copies
*Soft burgundy cover - Christian Hymns - about 40 copies
*Soft purple cover - Maranatha Music Praise Chorus Book - 100 copies
*Hard green cover - Lutheran Book of Worship - 50 - 55 copies
Please let us know by April 1st if you would like any of these books. Contact Gladys Nelson at Immanuel of Brunswick at[email protected] or 320-679-2015
 
Peace Not Walls 
NE MN Synod Young Adults Justice Pilgrimage to the Holy Land
July 7-17, 2016
This is a Pilgrimage - one that will be move beyond merely "sightseeing" and "tourism." It will be powerfully spiritual and deeply meaningful to your own life as you discern how faith, love, peace and justice belong together. It will renew your faith and enlarge your understanding of God's love for all people. For more information, click on the links below. Registration Deadline is April 15th. Questions may be directed to Laura or Bjorn Anderson at 

Employment Opportunities

Music & Worship Director
Full-Time Music and Worship Director wanted for Zion Lutheran Church of Grand Rapids. Searching for candidates with music degree and training/experience in pipe organ, piano, conducting and music writing software programs. Can you 'play well with others,' and enhance our faith journeys through exceptional music and worship experiences? Zion offers a competitive salary and benefits package. For position description and application information, contact Pastor Paul Leslie - [email protected]. May 23, 2016 application deadline.
Shepherds Wanted
Ever thought about serving those who serve?  The US Navy is looking for exceptional men and women for full time (active duty) or part time (reserve duty) in the Navy Chaplain Corps.  Training, travel, and mentoring provided, along with outstanding military benefits.  Navy Chaplains not only serve the sailors of the US Navy, but also the Marine Corps and the Coast Guard.  This is a rewarding mission, as the fields are white with harvest.  With max age recently changed to 58, you may now be eligible to apply. Sound interesting?  Then we should talk.   Call, text, or email at the contact info below, with no obligation or hard sell. LT Dayton Nelson, Officer Recruiting, US Navy 
5905 34th Ave S. - Minneapolis, MN 55450
[email protected] - Cell: 612-749-1545
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Staff Listing
Phone: 218.724.4424
 

  Bishop

Brenda Tibbetts, AiM - 122

  Assistant to the Bishop

Pastor John Dietz - 125

   Director for Evangelical Mission

   Assistant to the Bishop

   Candidacy 

   Youth Ministry 

   Communications/Admin.

   Bookkeeper/Receptionist

   

NE MN Synod, ELCA

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FAX: 218.724.4393    

Online Reflections Editor

Anne Laechel
218-828-9374

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