News from the Northwest Conference

Imagine: A day for Children & Family Ministry leaders

Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015

Crossroads Church, Forest Lake MN

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Cost: FREE

With more behavior-challenged children in our churches, kids often find overwhelmed teachers and youth workers that unintentionally communicate, "you are a problem in my group." In this workshop you'll learn how to interact with kids and equip others to communicate four grace-filled, powerful messages to their students.

Jim and Lynne Jackson, parent educators, authors and founders of Connected Families, will teach a new "lens" and practical tools for communicating messages of grace and truth in the midst of classroom challenges.

Click here for downloads, including bulletin insert, flier and logo.

Please RSVP to Jessa Anderson by Monday morning, Oct. 5.

Space still available for Sept. 21-22 Mini-Retreat at Covenant Pines

TITLE: God's Word Runs Swiftly .... (Psalm 147:15)

PARTICIPANTS: Covenant pastors and ministry staff

Confirm your reservation with Judy Swanberg at judy@northwestconference.org or find more information online.

Jonna Fantz to speak at new Mini-Retreat Nov. 2-3 at Lake Beauty Bible Camp

TITLE: Minding Christ

PARTICIPANTS: Credentialed Clergywomen

Confirm your reservation with Judy Swanberg by Monday, Oct. 19 - judy@northwestconference.org or find more information online.

Registration deadline is Sept. 15

Oct. 5-7, Chase on the Lake, Walker, MN

The NWC Ministerial Association Retreat for pastors, church ministry staff and spouses, is fast approaching.

This year Keith Meyer will lead us through a retreat experience centered on the theme of "Transformation: Becoming the Change Your Church Needs." The retreat will also include a Ministry Spouse Support Breakout Session on Thursday morning.

Registration materials are available for download on our Ministerial Association Retreat event page.

New one-day Connection event for NWC chaplains

DATE: Friday, Nov. 6
TIME: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
LOCATION: Restoration Ministries, 7975 Stone Creek Drive, Suite 130, Chanhassen, MN

FACILITATOR: Rev. Judy Swanberg, Associate Director of Pastoral Care and Development
GOALS: Connect - Listen - Encourage - Plan
FEE: $10 per participant. Beverages, snacks, and lunch will be provided. The cost of this event is being supplemented by the NWC Ministerial Association.

REGISTER: RSVP by Friday, Oct. 23, to Judy Swanberg or find more information online

BRING: Bible, journal, and shoes suitable for walking (paved trail)

The Sanctuary Covenant Church will host Dr. Soong Chan Rah of North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago as featured speaker to their upcoming Conversations in Reconciliation Series. The event, titled "Lamentations in Justice," will take place on Saturday, Oct. 3 at the Capri Theater in Minneapolis, MN.

All are welcome and encouraged to participate in this great event as Dr. Rah discusses the theme of his latest book, "Prophetic Lament: A Call for Justice in Troubled Times," and opens up the discussion for questions. This event will also feature music from the local artist Jayanthi Kyle and Gospel Machine.

Click here for more information.

To enhance connections among those serving in NWC churches and other types of ministry, we are initiating this Life Events feature. Pastors and ministry staff are encouraged to send news of births, adoptions, weddings, and deaths (immediate family only) to Judy Swanberg, Associate Director of Pastoral Care & Development.

Weddings

Laura Anderson & Jacob Van Norman

Laura Anderson & Jacob Van Norman will be married Sept. 19, 2015. Laura is pastoral associate at Abbey Way Covenant Church in Minneapolis.

SAVE THE DATE - Nov. 14, 2015, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Maple Grove Covenant Church

An all-day learning opportunity for pastors, ministry staff, and key lay leaders w/Bill Henson

This is part of our ongoing effort to resource our pastors and churches in living faithfully and graciously into our Covenant position on human sexuality. Henson presented to 140 of our pastors in May and his presentation was well-received by those attending the event. He is founder of Lead Them Home, an organization that consults church leaders on building a biblically orthodox, missiological framework for church mission and ministry with LGBTQ persons, with a specialization in sharing Christ with non-heterosexual persons.

Henson has developed a framework for conversation and learning called Posture Shift, a national model reaching over 5,000 church leaders in recent years. His work has been featured in Leadership Journal and it has been incorporated as teaching curricula at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Gordon College. The board of trustees of Lead Them Home is chaired by Dr. Raymond Pendleton, professor of pastoral psychology, at Gordon-Conwell.

Henson is now coming back for training of both pastors and lay leaders. More details coming soon.

In addition:

Pastors,

We have scheduled two small group sessions at the Fall Retreat (one Monday afternoon, one Tuesday morning) with Dr. Gary Strauss around this same topic. These sessions are for those who have not already had the opportunity to sit in a group like this.

September 9, 2015

IN THIS ISSUE

Imagine: A day for Children & Family Ministry leaders

NWC Mini-Retreats

2015 Ministerial Association Retreat

Chaplains Connection

The Sanctuary to host Lamentations in Justice with Dr. Soong Chan Rah

Life Events

SAVE THE DATE - Nov. 14, 2015

September 9-11

CRIM Retreat - Covenant Pines Bible Camp, McGregor, MN

September 21-22

Mini Retreat for Pastors/Staff - Covenant Pines Bible Camp, McGregor, MN

October 5-7

Ministerial Association Retreat - Chase on the Lake, Walker, MN

October 10

Imagine - Crossroads Church, Forest Lake, MN

October 20-21

Faith Community Nurse Retreat - Covenant Pines Bible Camp, McGregor, MN

October 26-27

Spiritual Directors Retreat

- St John's Abbey, Collegeville, MN

November 2-3

Mini-Retreat for Clergywomen

- Lake Beauty Bible Camp

November 6

Chaplains Connection

- Restoration Ministries, Chanhassen, 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.