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God's Work Our Hands Sunday, Concordia, Duluth
On Sunday, September 11 around forty people from Concordia Lutheran and the Islamic Center of the Twin Ports spent the afternoon together for community building and service. The afternoon began with a potluck meal, then we divided up for projects. Some worked on the indoor and outdoor painting projects and yard work at the Islamic Center. Others tied fleece blankets for Camp Noah. As we gathered in this interfaith event we noted connects that people had with each other in other contexts -classmates in school, master gardeners, and colleagues at work. Participants from both communities were eager to explore more ways the two groups can enrich their relationship.
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Mission Interpreters
Last month I attended the annual Mission Interpreters Conference in South Dakota, along with Julie Lepisto, the newest mission interpreter in our synod. I know many people may not have heard of Mission Interpreters. I am the coordinator for the synod and have been visiting various groups around the area, sharing stories of what the ELCA does through our contributions of "time, talent and treasures".
At our conference, we met with other Mission Interpreters from around the country to learn how to better carry out this ministry. We learned firsthand about local ministries in South Dakota that care for those less fortunate than us. We also shared our own experiences in our churches and synods in being Christ's presence in the world.
In the next few months, I would like to share some of these stories and thank you personally for making a difference in your church and community, in the Northeastern Minnesota Synod and in the world. Let me know if you would like me to come to your church, council, mission groups, youth or women's organizations to speak and also to meet others who have a passion for both telling the stories and for thanking & encouraging all who share in spreading the good news about our faith. Email me at: interpretnemnsynod@gmail.com
Michelle Plagman
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Politics in the Church
As we head into another hotly-contested election season, we tend to see a rise in questions about permissible versus impermissible political activities. We have some helpful resources available through our resources page:
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Bishop's Visitation to Confirmation Students and their parents
Bishop Aitken invites you to request him for a Bishop's Visitation to your Confirmation Class. What works best for his schedule is to do these Visitations to clusters of congregations. He encourages parents to come that night as well so he can meet them and include them in the teaching time. He will teach the gospel, talk 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.
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Does your congregation have a LSS Ambassador?
Lutheran Social Service of MN will host a meeting to kick off this LSS Ambassador year October 8th at First Lutheran Church in Duluth, from 10:00am-noon.
The purpose of our meeting will be to define the Ambassador role with continuing and new Ambassador members, as well as share LSS updates and hear from Ambassadors. We will take some time to look ahead into the next year to see what service projects/programs the group is interested in engaging their congregations to support and learn about.
With program needs in mind, we hope partnering congregations will participate in our diaper drive for the Crisis Nursery in November and December 2016. At our meeting we will come up with ideas for service projects for February-March. Our NE MN Youth Services luncheon will be May 11th, 2017. And, in June/July we will have a grand opening/service project focusing on the Center for Changing Lives, Duluth.
We would love for all NE MN Ambassadors to attend the October training, and we welcome a second or third Ambassador from each congregation to join us as well!
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Events Around the Synod
We have recently changed the policy regarding the inclusion of congregational fundraising events in the Online Reflections. If you would like to have your event included, please send a brief press release, including the Who, What, Where, When & Why of your event, in an email to anne@lolbaxter.org. No PDF flyers please
. Only the text information will be included.
Our Savior's, Pequot Lakes Annual Lutefisk & Meatball Supper
Saturday, September 24th, beginning at 3:00 p.m. Traditional Dinner with Lefse and all the trimmings. Everyone is welcome and cordially invited. Adults: $15, Children 5-12: $6, Children 4 and under: Free. No Advance Sales. Our Savior's is located at Main and Brown Streets in Pequot Lakes, MN
First Lutheran Church of Little Falls celebrates its 125th Anniversary.
Musicians from the congregation will present a concert on Saturday, September 24 at 7:00 p.m., no charge, dessert to follow. Celebration Worship is Sunday, September 25 at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. followed by a celebration meal at 12:00 noon. All are welcome!
Concerts with Hans Peterson
Saturday, September 24, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Elim Lutheran Church of Blackhoof
2077 County Rd 6, Barnum MN 55707
With a soothing voice like John Denver, driving acoustic guitar, and creative piano playing, Hans draws an audience in with honest story telling in his songs. Come and enjoy listening and singing along with singer/songwriter Hans Peterson. A free-will offering will be received.
Sunday, September 25, 9:00am
Elim Lutheran Church of Blackhoof
2077 County Rd 6, Barnum MN 55707
Hans will lead our Sunday worship, followed by a meet and greet during coffee hour.
Fall Festival at First, Brainerd
First Lutheran Church of Brainerd is having a Fall Festival on Saturday, October 1, 5 -7 pm. Menu: Beef stew, homemade dinner rolls, coleslaw, apple crisp, ice cream and beverage. Entertainment by Shaffer's Lost 40 Blue Grass Band. There will be a silent auction, marketplace table and face painting. Tickets: $10.00/adults and $5.00/children 5-12. Nursery care will be provided. Proceeds will benefit ELCA World Hunger and Lutheran Social Services. Sponsored by Thrivent.
Bethany Lutheran, Cushing to host Chicken Dinner
The annual chicken dinner at Bethany Lutheran Church of Cushing will be Saturday, Oct. 1, with serving from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dinner will include baked chicken with all the fixings, vegetables, beverages and dessert. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Bethany is located at 25430 Bison Road (County Road 11) just south of Highway 10 at Cushing.
Entertainment throughout the night will be provided by The Woodland Strings with folk, bluegrass and spiritual music in the church sanctuary.
"Grandma's Pantry" will be back this year, with the Women of Bethany bringing baked goods and many other items for sale. There will be raffle tickets also with prizes including the Grand Prize of an "Up North" 85 by 90 inch professionally quilted quilt, plus two walking sticks, a wooden stool with handle and many other prizes.
WELCA Fall Gatherings
Living Waters - Saturday, Oct. 1, Zion, Grand Rapids
Kettle River - Thursday, Oct. 6th, Immanuel, Brunswick (near Mora)
Laurentian - Saturday, Oct. 8th, Grace, Ely
Lake Superior -Saturday, Oct. 15th, Elim, West Duluth
Heartland - Saturday, Oct. 22nd, Lord of Life, Baxter
50 SHADES ON THE RANGE: Getting Excited about Mental Illness/Mental Health Diversity Informational Forum - Sunday, October 2nd. 1:30 p.m., Messiah Lutheran Church, Mountain Iron, MN
Did you know that one out of every one hundred people has schizophrenia or that three to five percent of all adults have depression? Chances are that you or someone you know has a mental illness. Oftentimes we don't know how to react or what to say to someone when they have a mental illness. The first step in helping others is with education and respectful listening, which lead to understanding and compassion. The guest speaker will be Sue Abderholden, Executive Director for NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), Minnesota. The forum will also include a panel of people sharing their own experience of mental illness. The forum is sponsored by Messiah Lutheran Church's Health Ministry Team, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), Range Mental Health Center, Essentia Health, and S.A.F.E (Supporting Allies, Families, Friends + LGBTQ for Equality). This free two-hour event is open to everyone. Come get excited along with us! Refreshments will be served. Messiah Lutheran Church, ELCA, is located south of Highway 169 on 8590 Enterprise Drive South in Mountain Iron. For more information, call 218-741-7057.
German Supper at Immanuel, Princeton
Monday, October 3, 2016 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 401 So. 8th Ave., Princeton, MN. Craft & Bake Sale also. Adults $10.00, Children 10 & under $5.00. Menu: Roast pork, Spaetzle, German potato salad, homemade sauerkraut, dark breads, apple dessert. Serving times: 5:00, 5:15, 5:45, 6:00, 6:15, 6:30. Live music. For more information, call 763-389-1420
Fall Harvest Potluck at Lutheran Church of the Cross, Nisswa
The Creation Care Team at Lutheran Church of the Cross, Nisswa, invites everyone to attend their Fall Harvest Potluck on October 4th at 6 pm in the church Celebration Center. Prairie Bay Restaurant is catering the main entrée of provolone stuffed organic chicken with mushroom cream sauce. If possible, please bring a dish to share using locally grown fruits and vegetables.
Following the potluck there will be a presentation by Seth Goreham, MN Army National Guard Environmental Program Director regarding Camp Ripley's recent energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives including energy (solar, geothermal), water reuse and capture, waste, organic composting, and recycling.Their goal is to achieve net-zero waste at Camp Ripley, fulfilling the U.S. Military's stance on the environment being a national defense issue.
Don't miss out on this presentation, the many door prizes from local artists that will be offered throughout the evening and the potluck! This also will also be the first opportunity to sign up for a 2017 plot in the LCC Community Garden.
Please plan now to join us for this Fall Harvest event!
Church Basement Hot Dish Dinner, Our Savior's, Duluth
Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 4831 Grand Ave. Duluth, MN 218-624-3648 - Three hot dishes, rolls, jello, relish tray and dessert. Thursday, October 6th from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm. Tickets: Adults: $10:00; Children 6-12 years: $5.00
499th Anniversary of the Reformation
The following Brainerd Lakes Area Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) congregations will gather for worship to celebrate the 499th Anniversary of the Reformation at 11:00 am on Sunday, October 16th at Tornstrom Auditorium in Brainerd: Bethlehem (Brainerd), First (Brainerd), Trinity (Brainerd), Lord of Life (Baxter), Lutheran Church of the Cross (Nisswa), and Cross Lake Lutheran (Cross Lake). Bishop Tom Aitken (ELCA Bishop of the Northeastern Minnesota Synod) will be present to preach and preside during communion. The service will include a mass choir from members of the six congregations under the direction of Marcus Aulie, the Trinity Lutheran bell choir, and a joint procession of retired and active clergy along with other lay leaders. We give God thanks and praise as we celebrate and seek to engage God's ongoing mission in the world through Jesus Christ in the power and promise of the Holy Spirit.
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Employment Opportunities
NE MN Synod's School of Lay Ministry Coordinator
The Northeastern MN Synod's School of Lay Ministry Advisory Board is now accepting applications for the position of SLM Coordinator. Requirements: Must have completed the 2 year SLM program, good organizational & communication skills,work with the Advisory Board and attend 2 Advisory Board meetings, plan & host 2 yearly retreats, keep track of student progress & payments, order materials, promote & recruit students for the School of Lay Ministry at various Synod events. Modest stipend. Interested persons may send a Letter of Intent along with a resume to Brenda Tibbetts, Assistant to the Bishop, 1105 E. Superior St., Duluth, MN 55802. Please include the date of completion of the SLM program.
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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!
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Staff Listing
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Phone: 218.724.4424
Bishop
Assistant to the Bishop
Call process
Director for Evangelical Mission
Assistant to the Bishop
Candidacy
Youth Ministry
Communications/Office Support
NE MN Synod, ELCA
1105 E. Superior St.,
Upper Suite
Duluth, MN 55802
FAX: 218.724.4393
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Online Reflections Editor
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Anne Laechel
218-828-9374
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