Northeastern Minnesota Synod
Online Reflections
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week of July 17, 2016  
Prayer Petitions 

Each Wednesday morning the synod staff meets for devotions and prays for the congregations and people of our synod. You are invited to join us.
  • Mrs. Brenda Tibbetts, Assistant to the Bishop
  • Our Savior's, Aurora, Faith, Hoyt Lakes, St. Mark's Palo, and Pastor Eric Thiele
  • Pastor Robert Twiton, retired in Brainerd
  • Pastor Vicki VanderVegt, OLFC
  • Congregation of the Good Shepherd, Keewatin, and Pastor Rene VanDyke
Online Evangelical Mission

"Who is my neighbor?" When I was kid, the answer to that question was easy. My neighbors were the people who lived next door, across the street in front of us, and across the fence behind us. We knew them all by name. We trusted them, we talked to them, we did things with and for them.

When I was still pretty young, I inherited the chore of cutting the grass from my brother. Before my maiden voyage with the Lawn Boy, I remember my dad telling me that when I mow our front yard, I should just keep going and mow Mr. Aster's yard, too. Why? "Because he's our neighbor."

Studying the Bible has broadened my understanding of neighbor. Following Jesus' example, I know that my neighbor is everyone, and especially anyone in need of love, understanding, welcome, justice. This really expands my list of neighbors to include people in my neighborhood, surrounding community, and across the world. This means my neighbor is hungry, imprisoned, sick; unemployed and underemployed; part of the LGBTQIA community; members of no church, a different church, a different religion, or no religion.

"My Neighbor is Muslim" is a 7-week small group study with contributions from Luther College Professor Todd Green and commentary from faculty at Luther Seminary and Lutheran Social Service staff. Their intention in developing and offering this resource is simply that it will open doors, minds, and hearts and dispel stereotypes and myths about Muslim neighbors just enough to start more conversations about what it means to be a good neighbor.

This resource was commended to our use because there are people (Lutherans among them) who do not understand Islam and who may have never met a Muslim. Unfortunately, when we do not know any Muslims or do not understand their religion, we can become distrustful and suspicious of them. This can lead to fear. And fear can lead to discrimination, exclusion, hatred, and violence. Jesus does not call us to fear our neighbor, but to love them. Please consider using this study "My Neighbor is Muslim" with your congregation.

Find the resource link here: http://lssmn.org/WorkArea/linkit.aspx?LinkIdentifier=id&ItemID=12742&libID=12729

Pastor John Dietz
Assistant to the Bishop
Director for Evangelical Mission
Northeastern Minnesota Synod
[email protected]

A service of Prayer and Lament
ELCA Churchwide, Chicago, IL

A Service of Prayer and Lament - July 8, 2016
A Service of Prayer and Lament - July 8, 2016


Service Bulletin
synod logoOnline Evangelical Mission
 
Welcome to the Synod
 
Welcome to the Synod is an opportunity to meet other people who are relatively new to service in the synod, the bishop and the synod staff, your conference dean, and others involved in the mission of the church in the Northeastern Minnesota Synod. Welcome to the Synod is a time for leaders to introduce themselves, their work, and the many ministries of the synod including: outdoor ministries, campus ministries, hunger, justice, rural life, creation care ... and many more! Following lunch, there will be an open house at the synod office across the street from First Lutheran Church: come to take a tour of the building or to sit down with a staff member to begin or continue a conversation!   
 
If you are within the first five years of serving in the synod as a rostered leader; within the first five years of serving as a synodically authorized minister; the dean of your conference; a lay youth and family minister working in a congregation of the synod; or a candidate/ seminarian/ intern in the territory of this synod, then you are invited to the 2016 Welcome to the Synod event!
 
Join us at 9:30 am - 1:30 pm, Tuesday, August 16, 2016 at First Lutheran Church - Duluth (1100 E. Superior St, Duluth, MN 55802). Please call the synod office (218-724-4424) or email Pastor John Dietz at [email protected] to let us know we will be seeing you there! (Please RSVP by August 7 so we can order food - and let us know of any dietary restrictions at that time!)
 
Find more information on this link: http://tinyurl.com/NEMNWelcome
 
Pastor John Dietz
Assistant to the Bishop
Director for Evangelical Mission
In This Issue
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Northeastern Minnesota
Synod, ELCA

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The purpose of our

synod is to nurture a

Christ-centered climate

conducive to healthy,

mission-focused

congregations and

their ministries

throughout the world!

Staff Listing
Phone: 218.724.4424
 
   Bishop
Brenda Tibbetts, AiM - 122
   Assistant to the Bishop
   Call process
   Director for Evangelical Mission
   Assistant to the Bishop
   Candidacy 
   Youth Ministry 
    Bookkeeper/Receptionist
    Communications/Office Support

   NE MN Synod, ELCA
1105 E. Superior St.,
Upper Suite
Duluth, MN  55802

FAX: 218.724.4393    
Summer Office Hours

This summer the synod office will have amended hours to accommodate the overlap of staff vacations. Staff will still fulfill their designated hours June-August, however, the phone will be answered by voicemail, and the office will be closed to meetings and drop-in visits on Fridays.

Online Reflections Editor

Anne Laechel
218-828-9374

Online Reflections is a semi-weekly e-newsletter from the Northeastern Minnesota Synod.

Online Reflections Part 1 is published on Monday of each week and contains articles from Bishop Thomas Aitken, Synod Staff, and information from the ELCA.

Online Reflections Part 2 is published on Thursday of each week and contains late breaking news, information about events occurring in the congregations of the NE MN Synod, and job postings.

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