News from the Northwest Conference

2014 Annual Meeting

It's time to start selecting delegates for the 2014 NWC Annual Meeting

We are putting the finishing touches on plans for the 2014 NWC Annual Meeting-which will take place May 1-3 at Rochester Covenant Church, Rochester, MN-and we've got great speakers and events lined up this year! Here's a few highlights:

Theme

The Northwest Conference is on the move! And part of that movement involves planting new churches as an expression of our desire to advance the Kingdom of God, as well as reflect our love for both God and those for whom Christ died and rose again.

It is also a reflection of our willingness to live in obedience to our Lord's admonition to share His love in both word and deed. More will be shared at the Annual Meeting on how we intend to do just that ...

Speaker

John Teter is the Church Planting Team Leader for the Evangelical Covenant Church. Teter also serves as Senior Pastor of Fountain of Life Covenant Church in Long Beach, CA, which he and his wife, Becky, planted in 2007.

A Bible expositor, Teter has written two books, "Get the Word Out" and "Jesus & the Hip Hop Prophets," co-authored with Alex Gee.

Ministry Fair

The Friday Business Session will conclude with the "Celebration of Mission" Ministry Fair. Delegates and attendees will have an opportunity to learn about and interact with a whole host of conference-related ministries including representatives from our camps, Women Ministries, Town & Country Ministries, Covenant Trust Company, CHET and many more.

It's not too early to start selecting delegates and making plans to attend this year's meeting. For more details as they become available, and to register online, visit our 2014 Annual Meeting page.

Youth Ministry

MOVE 2014 registration is open!

Friday, April 4 to Saturday, April 5 @ First Covenant Church in Minneapolis

Whether your group is one student or 100 students, join us for this annual high school service and mission weekend. It's a great experience for students who are looking to put their faith into action.

MOVE is not about entertainment. It's about having your worldview expanded, to be inspired as God's Kingdom workforce in the world, and to have the opportunity to extend the hope and love of Christ with those experiencing unmet needs.

The theme is "Lose Yourself." Our speaker is Tim King. Tim's the chief strategy officer at Sojourners and a former Covenant youth group guy and North Park University graduate. There also will be multi-sensory creative worship experience designed by Lilly Lewin. She's designed space at the National Youth Workers Conventions and Wild Goose festival and is the author, along with Dan Kimball, of "Sacred Space: A Hands-On Guide to Creating Multi-sensory Worship Experiences."

Registration and promotional materials can be downloaded at northwestconference.org/children-youth-family/move

Adventures in Leadership promo materials available online

Adventures In Leadership (AIL) promotional and application materials are now posted on our AIL page.

We hope you will consider nominating 1 or 2 of your students (current 9-11th graders) to apply for this transformational experience in leadership this summer, June 21-28.

Please go to the Northwest Conference website for more information and to download all related materials.

If you have questions or would want the conference to provide hard copies of any of the AIL materials please alert Jon Kramka.

Children & Family Ministry
Sabbath retreat for children, youth and family ministry leaders

Feb. 26-28 / Covenant Pines Bible Camp

"Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, 'Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.'" Mark 6:31

In partnership with Covenant Pines and the Department of Christian Formation, the Northwest Conference is offering a Sabbath retreat for children, youth and family ministry leaders at Covenant Pines, Feb. 26-28. You will have a room to yourself, opportunities for spiritual direction with Judy Swanberg, Associate Director of Pastoral Care & Development, and guided reflection time led by Steve Burger, Director of Christian Formation for the Evangelical Covenant Church.

We know that you work tirelessly, investing in young people and their families. Your work is appreciated, valued, and important. We also know that fruitful ministry comes from those who experience a vibrant walk with Christ. We are excited to offer this opportunity for you to focus on your own spiritual health.

You are invited to camp anytime after dinner on Wednesday, Feb. 26 and can stay through breakfast on Friday, Feb. 28. Suggested donation of $20 (made out to the Northwest Conference) will help cover expenses.

RSVP to kara@northwestconference.org or 612-721-4893 by Sunday, Feb. 23.

NWC Family GO: Serve

Who: NWC Families
When: April 26, 2014
Where: Redeemer Covenant Church, Brooklyn Park
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This is a new NWC Family event, intended to bring Northwest Conference families together for a shared learning and outreach opportunity.

This NWC Family event is targeted to families with children in pre-K through upper elementary school. Go: Serve is an opportunity for families to learn and grow together, in a family-friendly, yet stretching, environment suitable for younger children. Families can expect to have their worldview expanded, to be inspired by God's kingdom workforce in the world, and to have opportunity to extend the hope and love of Christ with those experiencing unmet needs.

Registration packets were mailed to churches recently, and can also be downloaded HERE. Please register as a family by mail, email or phone directly with the Northwest Conference office by Monday, April 14.

612-721-4893 or cheryl@northwestconference.org

The Spiritual Formation of Youth in Today's Culture

According to James K.A. Smith, "We absorb Christian faith ... not primarily by the didactic dissemination of content, but rather through our immersion in an ethos and an environment where the Story is in the air we breathe and the water in which we swim" ("Imagining the Kingdom: How Worship Works").

Are our children and young people immersed in an ethos and environment from which they will absorb Christian faith? If, instead, they are immersed in the mall, movies and social media, what faith are they absorbing? And what can pastors do about it?

Twin Cities pastors and church leaders are invited to explore answers to those knotty questions in light of Dr. Smith's contention that our lives derive their direction not, first of all, from what we believe, but from what we desire.

Topic: The Spiritual Formation of Youth in Today's Culture
Featuring: James K.A. Smith and a panel including Jason Meyer, Pastor of Preaching and Vision, Bethlehem Baptist Church, and Alex Grahmann, Senior High Teaching Pastor, Eagle Brook Church.
Location: Nazareth Hall Blue Room, University of Northwestern St. Paul
Date: Thursday, March 6, 3 to 5 p.m.
Sponsor: Twin Cities Christian Schools Partnership

Dr. Smith is a college professor, sought-after speaker, and award-winning author of a number of influential books, including "Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview, and Cultural Formation," and "Imagining the Kingdom: How Worship Works." He is at work on the final volume of his "Cultural Liturgies" trilogy, "Embodying the Kingdom."

Please join us for what's sure to be a thought-provoking discussion. To help us plan for set-up and refreshments, please register at http://tinyurl.com/JKASmithForum or call 952-927-5304.

We look forward to exploring this important topic with you on March 6!

Sincerely,

Donna Harris, Ed.D.

Minnehaha Academy

Ask the Lord of the Harvest

2014 materials available now

It is our annual tradition to celebrate our intentional evangelism efforts at the Northwest Conference and Evangelical Covenant Church annual meetings. "Ask the Lord of the Harvest" (formerly "Bringing My World To Christ" and "What's Your One Step?") encourages us to keep praying for those we know and love who need Jesus.

To participate:

READ the letter from the ECC.
PLAN an "Ask the Lord of the Harvest" Sunday. The denomination has suggested March 16. If that Sunday does not work for your church, choose a Sunday between now and April 27.
ORDER "Ask the Lord of the Harvest" brochures from the Covenant Bookstore (covchurch.org/resources/72-evangelism-training) or DOWNLOAD the brochure for copying from the Northwest Conference website (northwestconference.org/sites/default/files/documents/Ask_brochure-2014.pdf).
COLLECT the completed prayer cards during the worship service on your "Ask the Lord of the Harvest" Sunday.
BRING the prayer cards with you to the Northwest Conference annual meeting (prayer cards can also be mailed to the Northwest Conference office).

Materials are also being mailed to each NWC church related to this initiative.

Covenant Trust Company

Considerations for Your Will

A will is an essential estate planning document. However, a 2013 survey reported that 61% of Americans don't have a will. If you are interested in creating a will, here are a few things to consider.

Who will be guardians of your children?

Decide who you would like to care for your children should you and your spouse pass. By naming guardians (and alternate guardians) in a will, you can ensure that your children are cared for by the people you trust most.

Who will be in charge of managing your estate?

The executor of a will is the person in charge of the management and distribution of an estate. A successor executor should also be named should the first executor not be able to perform the duty for any reason.

Who will receive your assets?

Have the names and current contact information of the people to whom you plan on leaving your assets. Also be sure to include any Covenant ministries like The Northwest Conference or your local church that you would like to support through your will.

Do the beneficiaries of financial accounts and investments correspond with the beneficiaries in your will?

To ensure that your assets are passed along according to your wishes, coordinate the beneficiaries on your financial accounts and investments with your estate plans.

Who should have a will?

In a word: everyone! No matter where you are in your life journey, it's important to plan ahead, be prepared and build a legacy. Contact one of our local Financial Representatives at the numbers below to learn more about wills and discuss all your estate planning options.

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 covenanttrust.com/news/

North Park University Choir Tour coming to Minnesota

Sing a New Song / March 7-12, 2014

The North Park University Choir and Chamber Singers, under the direction of Dr. Julia Davids, will tour Minnesota, with stops at several NWC churches, in early March.

The tour webpage reads: "Come enjoy a concert repertoire that includes both sacred and secular music, guided by the theme 'Sing a New Song,' and learn more about the School of Music as well as other exciting developments happening on campus at North Park.

Admission to each concert is free and open to the public. For details and dates, click here.

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.

February 19, 2014

IN THIS ISSUE

2014 Annual Meeting

Youth Ministry Events: MOVE and AIL

Children & Family Ministry Events: Sabbath Retreat and GO: Serve

Minnehaha Academy sponsoring event for pastors

Ask the Lord of the Harvest

Covenant Trust Company

North Park University choir tour

NWC cal icon tan

March 14-15, 2014

NWC Women Ministries Renewal Conference - Buffalo Covenant Church, Buffalo, MN

April 4-5, 2014

MOVE - First Covenant Church, Minneapolis, MN

April 26, 2014

Go:Serve - Redeemer Covenant Church, Brooklyn Park, MN

May 1-2, 2014

Ministerial Association Annual Meeting - Rochester Covenant Church, Rochester, MN

May 2-3, 2014

NWC Annual Meeting - Rochester Covenant Church, Rochester, MN

June 21-28, 2014

Adventures in Leadership - Adventurous Christians, Grand Marais, MN

August 7-9, 2014

MUUUCE - Crossroads Church, Woodbury, MN

September 3-5, 2014

CRIM (Covenanters Retired in Ministry) Retreat - Covenant Pines Bible Camp

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.