Southwestern Minnesota Synod

News & Events - July 1, 2014

The Southwestern Minnesota Synod office will be closed July 4, 2014.

Have a safe and joyful 4th of July.

The Listening Project: The Landscape

+Bishop Jon V. Anderson

In this summertime we want to encourage you to join us in the Three Great Listenings.
We are called to continuously

listen to God,

listen to one another inside our communities of faith and

listen to our mission field or context.

The Listening Project Coming - In August, we are going to engage in a deep listening project as a synod. Our goal is to invite over 700 leaders to take our survey called The Landscape. The survey will be done online and take you about fifteen minutes. It will give us a deep look into the life of our synod and our mission field. There are multiple other layers of The Listening Project that have begun or are coming, but our next step will be this survey of leaders across our synod.

Getting Ready - One way you can help us get ready is to update your congregational data online by clicking here. The emails provided will receive the link to do the survey, The Landscape. This is especially important if you have not yet completed a congregational data form this year. We use your congregational information during the call process when administering Minnesota Statute 604.20 Background Checks on pastors. Out of date information can make the call process longer.

Another way you can help us is by submitting your own email. By providing your email you will be sent a survey mid-summer 2014 to add your input. Click here to submit your email.

Listening to God - Listening to God takes all kinds of forms. For me it happens in my morning prayer, reading devotions, listening to and pondering on scripture. In public worship, it happens in prayers, hymns, silence and the proclamation of Word and sacrament. It happens in the mutual conversation and consolation of the sinner/saints of the community of faith whether that is in a church basement table, at a caf� table or around a family table. It happens on mountain tops or as you are driving across the prairie. It happens in the quiet or in the noise of a busy place when you overhear the truth. Keep listening to God who speaks most clearly in Jesus our Lord and especially through his passion on the cross and resurrection.

And, I invite you to pray for and about your synod and what God is calling us to do and be on our local mission fields.

Thank You Borghild Krueger

+ Bishop Jon V. Anderson

We received a gift from a charitable gift annuity from Borghild's estate. We give thanks to God for her life and for this generosity. If you are interested in learning more about planned giving, we will soon be announcing our new staff member. Please drop me a note in the meantime, I will pass on your interest to our new staff member who will begin in August. jon.anderson@swmnelca.org

Commissioning Delegates to the
Ninth Triennial Convention of Women of The ELCA

On Sunday, July 20, 2014, delegates may be commissioned in their individual congregations for service to the Ninth Triennial Convention of Women of the ELCA. Click here for litany.

The Ninth Triennial Convention of Women of the ELCA will be held July 22-24, 2014, in Charlotte, N.C. The triennial convention is the highest legislative authority within the organization. Women are elected in each of the 64 synodical women's organizations to serve as delegates.

Statistical Reports

+ Bishop Jon V. Anderson

I want to thank you for helping us see into the life of our synod through your statistical reports submitted to our churchwide organization.

I was thankful 213 of 247 congregations completed Form A. This equals 86% of form A.
Form C was completed by fewer congregations. 205 of 247 = 83%.

Next year we hope to do even better. This was an improvement from last year. Our target next year is 95%. Thanks synod council and staff members as well for this work.

Stories that Should Be Told - (Ketchup) Catch-up Sunday

+ Bishop Jon V. Anderson and Pr. Joyce Graue

We know that many congregations lost Sundays this past winter. St. John's in Raymond not only invited people to Catch-up playfully earlier this month, they also invited people to look forward into the summer and note the Sunday's their family would be absent from worship. For these Sundays people were encouraged to give in advance. The results are shared by Pr. Joyce. If you want to learn more, please contact her at elcapastorjoyce@gmail.com.

June 8th was the Sunday our council marked as Ketchup Catch-up Sunday. During the month beforehand little packets were given out with a label on them about just as ketchup spices up burgers & hotdogs, Catch-up Sunday will spice up our budget and allow us to keep bills paid and continue our ministry and mission.

Hamburgers & hotdogs with ketchup (of course!) and mustard, pickles, etc were served after worship by Council with potato salad, potato chips and bars.

The offering last Sunday -- which has been running around $1500 many Sundays at best -- jumped to over $7500! Attendance was 80 (which is about our average these days). Folks also had been encouraged to 'pay it forward' if they were going to be away.

...I'm thankful for a council here who was willing to host a meal after ... and an Admin Assistant who had fun coming up with a variety of sayings to put on the little ketchup packets.
- Pr. Joyce Graue

Mission Start in Montrose, MN

House of Grace is a church under development with worship services tentatively scheduled to begin in the fall of 2014.

Pr. Kimberly Swanson-Buffie, mission developer wrote to the nearby congregations in the Montrose area. Click here to read.

House of Grace, A New ELCA Mission Start in Montrose, MN

Job Openings

Preschool Director/Teacher

St. Stephen Lutheran Preschool is seeking a preschool director/teacher to instruct children aged 3-5 in the growth needed for primary school while exhibiting a Christian and caring attitude. Starting 2014-2015 school year. Monday - Friday mornings, 25-30 hours per week. Bachelor's degree in education and current licensure preferred. Send current resume by July 14 to St. Stephen Lutheran Church, 1301 S 4th St. Marshall. Position Description available upon request.

ststephenmarshall.org

Director for Budget Planning

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) seeks an experienced leader and budget manager to serve as its next Director for Budget Planning.

Located at the ELCA churchwide organization in Chicago, IL, the Director for Budget Planning is responsible for assisting the Treasurer and Executive for Administration in the development and management of the churchwide organization budgets. This includes income and expense analysis. This senior leader will supervise and direct the activities of staff servicing the units of this church in their budgeting and accounting responsibilities.

A copy of the Position Profile is attached and can also be found by click here.

Resumes, cover letters, and question, can be emailed to Gaye Lindfors, the consultant assisting with the search: Gaye@SignificantSolutionsInc.com.

Gaye can also be reached at 651-490-9550.

Click here to view job openings that were posted in last week's enews.

20th Lutheran Men in Mission Annual Golf Tournament

Friday, July 25, 2014

Redwood Falls Golf Club, Redwood Falls, MN

Online Registration Open!

Registration fee $60 per golfer includes:green fees, golf cart, meal, prizes and
a donation to LMM. Teams will be 4 or 5 members. If you do not have a full team,
ad hoc teams will be formed at the golf tournament.

Mark Your Calendar!

Below is a list of all the upcoming synod events. For more details click here.

JULY

First Call Family Camp - July 27 - August 1

Lutheran Men in Mission Golf Tournament - July 25

AUGUST

Full bodied Stewardship - August 12 & 13

SEPTEMBER

Church Staff Workers Retreat - September 16

Fall Theological Conference - September 21-24

OCTOBER

Elderberry Retreat - October 23-24

NOVEMBER

NW & SW MN Synod Clergy Spouse Retreat - November 7-9

Stay Connected

175 East Bridge St. PO Box 499

507-637-3904

www.swmnelca.org