News from The Northwest Conference

News from the Northwest Conference

Pastor's Perspective

The rightness of AWE-fullness

By Christine Fossum

For a moment the world stopped as I took in the scene before me one very cold brisk morning not long ago. Every twig, branch and dried leaf before me was covered in thick yet delicate hoar frost, glistening diamond white against the backdrop of an azure blue sky, reflecting sunlight too fresh to have yet melted it away.

Afraid to breathe, lest I destroy the picture my brain was frantically trying to commit to memory, I whispered, "I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of His robe filled the temple."

No wonder many of us escape to nature to find God; for I believe it is in His creation that we most often come face to face, as best we finite human beings can, with His Holiness. And with it, all its mystery. Holy-to be set apart-to be a cut above all else-truly way beyond anything we can imagine. It is God's holiness that makes Him so different from us.

Yet at the same time we are drawn to it. It beckons us, overwhelms us, captures us, terrifies us. We become aware of His AWE-fullness. Unconsciously we sense that when we brush His holiness, it puts us figuratively, if not literally, on our knees facedown-in yet a totally natural posture to accept another attribute of God-His perfect love.

And for a moment in time we know in our "knower" that all will be right with the world as we pray, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name"-sanctified, made holy-so Your kingdom can come here on earth.

'Sticky Faith. Sticky Annual Meeting'

Kara Powell How many students in your church graduate from high school and never look back on their faith? Research suggests that close to 50% of students who are active in a youth group throughout their senior year will fail to stick with their faith in college.

The Northwest Conference invites you to take advantage of the opportunity to hear Kara Powell unpack "Sticky Faith," and gain practical ministry tips for your church at our 2013 Annual Meeting. This is a chance for you to bring both leaders and parents from your church to learn about this critical research and how it affects the current generation.

You are invited to attend one or both of these sessions at no cost. Annual meeting registration is not required, and the invitation to hear Kara Powell is open to anyone interested in this conversation. Kara Powell will speak as part of Friday night's worship service, and will also present a full seminar on Saturday morning.

Schedule:

Friday, April 26, 7:30 p.m. Speaker: Kara Powell, "Sticky Faith Churches; The relationships and worship that benefit all ages"

After worship: dessert gathering and follow-up conversation, Minnehaha Academy Campus Center

Saturday, April 27 10:00 a.m. Speaker: Kara Powell, "Sticky Faith: Practical Ideas to Deepen Your Ministry"

Questions? Contact NWC office.

For more details as they become available, visit our 2013 Annual Meeting page.

You are invited ...

Covenant Trust Company Lunch

Covenant Trust Company (CTC) would like to extend an invitation to pastors, staff and lay leaders of churches in the Northwest Conference to join them for lunch on Thursday, April 25, at 1 p.m., just prior to the start of the Ministerial Association Annual Meeting at Minnehaha Academy.

CTC representatives, Kevin Lawson and Steve Allison will be hosting a catered lunch from Famous Dave's with guest speaker, William Moucka, Director of Investments and New Business Development at Covenant Trust. It will be a great opportunity to hear about the history of CTC and learn about the services offered to individuals, churches and other organizations. A specific focus will be made on the new Endowment Services that are offered through CTC and how your church can utilize the services of CTC to establish and run your own endowment.

CTC values the partnership with the Northwest Conference and the ministries, churches and pastors that are part of it. If you are interested in finding out more about how we can partner with your church or ministry, please contact Kevin Lawson to register for this complimentary lunch and presentation. RSVP to kelawson@covenanttrust.com or 1-877-222-3960. Space is limited, so please register early.

Advocates for Covenant Clergy Women lunch discussion

Julie Jane Capel, ACCW Board Member, invites members of the NWC ministerium to join her during lunch on Friday, April 26, following the Ministerial Association Annual Meeting, for fellowship and the sharing of information on how we can strengthen support and advocacy for women clergy in our conference.

Parish Nurse Commission

Caring for People with Chronic Conditions seminar

April 6 @ Salem Covenant Church, New Brighton, MN

The seminar will focus on the emotional and spiritual care of those experiencing chronic health challenges. Speakers: Joann Wessman, PhD, RN, FCN and Scott Nyegaard, founder of Legacy Group

Parish Nurses observe and interact with patients before, during, and after diagnoses. We will look at the role of the Parish Nurse along the continuum. The Northwest Conference Parish Nurse Commission welcomes you to Salem Covenant and the seminar.

Visit the Parish Nurse Ministry page for more details.

Covenant Trust Company

Tax help from your Traditional IRA

Traditional IRAs help you save for retirement, but they can come in handy during tax season too. Contributing money to a Traditional IRA lowers Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) which determines many important tax factors, including: tax bracket; itemized deductions; child care and other credits; and eligibility for the Alternative Minimum Tax.

As such, using Traditional IRA contributions to lower your AGI can help you qualify for more credits and deductions, and perhaps even avoid a higher tax bracket. And even though it's already March 2013, it's not too late to lower your 2012 AGI: you can make contributions to your Traditional IRA for the year 2012 until April 15, 2013.

Once you reach 70 ½, you have to take a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD). But if you don't need that income, you can have some or all of your RMD withheld to pay for estimated taxes instead. This can be more convenient than making quarterly payments, and since the taxes aren't paid out until the end of the year, it gives the money in your IRA some extra time to grow.

These benefits can help you save some money during the tax season and serve as a nice incentive to save for retirement. For more information on IRAs and retirement planning, please contact one of our local Financial Service Representative below. And as always, please consult your tax advisor for information on how these ideas pertain to your situation.

Kevin Lawson, CFP®, 1-877-222-3960 or kelawson@CovenantTrust.com
Steve Allison, ChFC, 1-877-768-1766 or srallison@CovenantTrust.com

To read more, please visit http://www.covenanttrust.com/news/

To request information, please visit http://www.covenanttrust.com/info/

The Global Leadership Summit 2013

Northern Districts: Oak Hills to host Willow Creek Leadership Summit

August 8-9 @ Oak Hills Christian College, Bemidji, MN

Oak Hills Christian College is hosting a videocast of the Willow Creek 2013 Global Leadership Summit.

"Three words would describe my experience at the Global Leadership Summit held at OHCC. Encouraged, Inspired, Challenged. I am looking forward to attending this event in 2013!" - Doug Giese, Family Life Pastor, Evangelical Covenant Church of Bemidji

Download the Event Flyer, register to attend the summit at www.willowcreek.com/summit, or contact Jim Hodgson at Oak Hills for more information.

NWC Website
Church Resource Bank

Our website features a great tool for churches requesting or giving away materials and resources. On the Church Resource Bank page, you can browse available requests or give-aways, and submit a new resource to share with churches in need.

NWC Ministry Priorities series
View, embed and share our new videos on Vimeo

Our 2012 Annual Meeting included the debut of three new videos highlighting the Ministry Priorities of the Northwest Conference. Each video features interview segments with church staff, lay leaders and pastors, intermixed with animations of statistics and key statements designed to help explain each priority.

The videos are designed for use throughout the year in church new member classes, services and other adult education opportunities to help congregations better understand and engage the work of the NWC. The delegates from each church left with a DVD copy of the videos, and the series is available on the NWC web site's video page (www.nwc-cov.org/resources/videos) and Vimeo Channel (http://vimeo.com/channels/northwest).

March 6, 2013

IN THIS ISSUE

Pastor's Perspective

Kara Powell at 2013 NWC Annual Meeting

Parish Nurse Seminar

Covenant Trust Company

The Global Leadership Summit 2013

Church Resource Bank

NWC cal icon tan

March 22-23

Women's Renewal Conference - First Covenant Church, Willmar, MN

April 12-13

MOVE - First Covenant Church, Minneapolis, MN

April 25-27

NWC Annual Meeting - Minnehaha Academy, Minneapolis, MN

April 27

Minnehaha Academy Centennial Mission Project - Minneapolis, MN

April 28

Minnehaha Academy Centennial Celebration - MA North Campus, Minneapolis, MN

June 15-22

Adventures in Leadership - Adventurous Christians, Grand Marais, MN

June 27-29

ECC Annual Meeting - Detroit, MI

August 15-17

MUUUCE - Crossroads Church, Woodbury, MN

August 15-18

ECC Triennial - San Diego, CA

August 23-25

Emerge High School Leadership Retreat - Lake Beauty Bible Camp, Long Prairie, MN

September 14

CONVERGE South

September 28

CONVERGE North

September 29-30

Town & Country Workshop -Grand Rapids, MN

September 30 - October 2

Ministerial Association Retreat - Grand Rapids, MN

NWC Job Postings Page

Pastors and ministry leaders, if you have people in your congregation who are exploring ministry, on a part- or full-time basis, please refer them to our job postings page.