Northeastern Minnesota Synod
Online Reflections
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week of January 22, 2017
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.

  • Kenwood Lutheran, Duluth
  • Our Savior's Lutheran, Duluth
  • Pastor Paul Hammar, retired
  • Pastor Richard Hane, retired
  • Pastor Bruce Hannem
  • Pastor Fredrick Hanson
Bishop Aitken's Reflections 

Our Synod-Wide Reformation 500 Kick Off this past weekend went extremely well! There were 208 participants between the Saturday and Sunday event! Thanks go to key note speaker +Bishop David Zellmer who started us out with how we got to the Reformation, and to our 12 Workshop Presenters who crafted their workshops with an eye to what it means to be Lutheran Christians today.
 

As you plan events in your own congregations this year to observe the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation, I urge you to lift up the legacy of Martin Luther's wonderfully stubborn focus on Jesus Christ and God's love that sets us free. Luther's message in his sermons, in public witness, in dialogs and in his writings point us to God who saves us from ourselves with a love that transforms us. God loves you, period. God always will. And God in Christ has brought you salvation, without any merit or working for it on your part. When all the plans we dream up to please God, get on God's good side, work a deal with God or demonstrate our worthiness to be loved are revealed to be unnecessary, we can take that energy and use it instead to serve our neighbor! And we don't have to worry that we have to do this perfectly. We just walk into the salvation, grace and strength God has already provided for us and live out that same love for the sake of the world.
 
In our world right now - what else is needed more?
 
+Bishop Aitken
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
In This Issue
Bishop Aitken's Reflections

Youth Ministry Events

Bible and Brew Study Retreats

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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
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FAX: 218.724.4393    
Online Reflections Editor

Anne Laechel
218-851-2214

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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