Northeastern Minnesota Synod
Online Reflections
synod logo

week of November 27, 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.

  • Bear River Lutheran, Cook
  • Trinity Lutheran, Cook
  • Pastor Bruce Dissell, retired
  • Pastor Mark Ditmanson
  • Pastor Charles Dyrhaug
  • Pastor Gerald Eisele, retired
Bishop Aitken's Reflection
 
Preparing and Waiting as we Work
 
Yesterday Beckie and I worshipped at New Hope Lutheran in Baltimore, Maryland where our daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter worship. A woman of the Diaconal Roster - soon to be called the Deacon Roster) gave the sermon based on Isaiah. This congregation will hear sermons based on Isaiah all through Advent. She reminded us through personal anecdotes and the current historical reality we are living in - that we live in the "now and not yet" of God's reign. The Prophets were truth tellers, both the truth that bring hope and the truth that hurts, including accountability for sin and selfishness, both personal and corporate.
 
Not everything is "all right" just because it is a slice of life. And not everything that is now "bad" will define everything about the future. God is at work, all the time, whether we recognize it at first or not. Swords will be beat into plowshares, spears will be bent into pruning hooks, nations will not learn war anymore. That's what the Reign of God looks like and it will come about at the right time. With us and without us. But the good news is this: God wants us a part of this powerful, just and loving Reign that is coming and will come. New Hope, with energy and joy, visits those in jail, organizes meals on wheels, prepares meals for a men's shelter each week, and opens their building for homeless people once a week, among other things.
 
As we wait for our Lord's final reconciling of all things, (sometimes called the "2nd Coming") we work. And we all know there is good and salutary work to do right now in our families, congregations, Nation and world.
 
Peace and encouragement to you in your Advent preparations for our Lord and his coming.
 
+Bishop Aitken


Reformation 500 Kick-off

The 500th Anniversary year is coming soon!

The Northeastern Minnesota Synod is hosting a Bishop's Convocation to commemorate this special anniversary year: on Saturday January 21stfrom 1:00-4:00 pm at Our Savior's in Hibbing and on Sunday January 22nd from 2:00-5:00 pm at First Lutheran in Aitkin.
 
We will offer several options for workshops (pick 2) and Bishop David Zellmer from the South Dakota Synod will speak about "How the Heck Did We Get to the Reformation?"

It promises to be a great time! The event is free and all are welcome. We do require registration to allow for the number of materials and refreshments needed. Please sign up at: https://2017nemnconvo.eventbrite.com or call the Synod office to register. 218.724.4424 x127

Solar for Phebe

This Christmas, as we celebrate the LIGHT OF CHRIST coming into the world, we invite your congregation to join the challenge to give a $100 Congregational Gift to Solar Power for Phebe in response to the National Geographic Matching Grant received by Rural Renewable Energy Alliance (RREAL) Challenges will be accepted electronically (church or personal credit cards are accepted). Go to RREAL's homepage (www.rreal.org) and click the Phebe100DONATE button at the BOTTOM RIGHT OF THE PAGE or go to https://my.rreal.org/Phebe100 to accept the Phebe $100 Christmas Challenge. Thank you in advance for accepting this monetary challenge to meet the needs of God's people in another land.
Cardia Deo
March 3-5, 2017 Cardia Deo Logo
Big Sandy Camp, McGregor
 
It's not too early to start inviting youth in grades 9-12 to Cardia Deo! This weekend retreat is led by the NE MN Synod LYO Board, and includes small group Bible studies, service learning, mystery event, worship, camp life and much more. Find out more at www.nemnsynod.org/CD
Bishop Aitken
Bible and Brew Study Retreats
Believing and Having Faith
 
Bishop Aitken is open to leading a Bible and Faith Study for men's, women's or mixed men and women's Retreats around the theme Belief and Faith. He uses the Gospels as well as other Biblical texts around the meanings of trust, fidelity, faith and believing. You could arrange with one of our Camps (where he has done these already) or at a location of your choosing. He presents a Biblical understanding of what faith and belief really are, and in particular, as a Lutheran Christian.
 
You may contact the synod office to make arrangements with him.
 
+Bishop Thomas M. Aitken
Northeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA
Online Pictorial Directory
 
Things are changing, as they often do. You may have found it difficult, in the past, to find a church, Pastor or Dean, you want to contact. We have a great new section on our website. It is under the heading of pictorial directory. On that page is a listing of the congregations in our synod by conference. The conference deans are listed first followed by the congregations, alphabetical by city. Most have their photos there too. We would like all to have all the leaders photos listed, so if you have not already submitted a photo, a placeholder is there in the form of the synod logo. Here is the link http://www.nemnsynod.org/pictorial-directory.html
 
In His Service, Tammy Segel-Crilly 
Communications/Office Support NEMN Synod
Recharge!
February 11, 2017
Duluth, MN
 
Recharge is a multi-denominational, one day conference to inspire and equip church and staff and their volunteers serving in children, youth and family ministry. This conference has volunteers as its primary audience, and shares practical tips and tools for ministry that you can take home and begin using immediately. The Super Early Bird Rate ends December 15th! Start inviting leaders today!
 
More Info at www.ministryrecharge.com
In This Issue
Quick Links
Join Our Mailing List
Northeastern Minnesota
Synod, ELCA

synod logo

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
Pastor Amy Odgren - 125
    Director for Evangelical Mission
    Assistant to the Bishop
Deacon Brenda Tibbetts - 122
   Assistant to the Bishop
   Call process
   Youth Ministry 
    Office Administrator
    Communications/Office Support

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

FAX: 218.724.4393    
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.

Latest Youth E-Chat