Synod News & Events 
August 8, 2014
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Synod Events 
Below is a list of all the upcoming synod events.

AUGUST 
Full Bodied Stewardship
August 12, 2014
Trinity Lutheran,
Sleepy Eye
Full Bodied Stewardship
August 13, 2014
Peace Lutheran,
New London
Region 3 Practice Discipleship Retreat
August 24-26, 2014
Lutheran Crest Bible Camp, Alexandria

SEPTEMBER 
September 16, 2014
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Redwood Falls
Fall Theological Conference
September 21-24, 2014
Mount Carmel & Luther Crest Ministries, Alexandria

OCTOBER 
Elderberry Retreat
October 23-24, 2014
Green Lake Lutheran Ministries, Spicer

NOVEMBER 
NW & SW MN Synod Clergy Spouse Retreat
November 7-9, 2014
Luther Crest Bible Camp, Alexandria
Jr High Youth Gathering
November 21-23, 2014
Willmar

SAVE THE DATE 
All Conference Assemblies
February 8, 2015

Women of the ELCA, Charlotte, NC
Pastor Linda Pedersen
The story of the 2014 Women of the ELCA Ninth Triennial Gathering begins with the theme, "of many generations." At the opening worshiping service in Charlotte, NC, local Bishop Claire Burkat counted the generations in the room full of women and a few men. Starting with the youngest unnamed generation, 1,2,3,4,5 and finally 6 generations as the cameras searched the gathering for those over 90. A gathering of six generations of women, and maybe never before had such an event taken place in our Church.

Rooted in Isaiah 58:12, "You shall raise up the foundations of many generations, you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in." Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reminded us that we are a Church that is not defined by what we are against, but defined by the fact we are for God and God's presence in the world. Together there were times to laugh and cry, with inspiring speakers and to celebrate what God has been doing through the generous ministry and service of the Women of the ELCA...read more. 

Click here to view photos of the WELCA Ninth Triennial Gathering.

Another great article about the Ninth Triennial Gathering-
Full Bodied Stewardship
Have you signed up for the Full Bodied Stewardship event yet?
These events are only a week away, register today!

Tuesday, August 12
Trinity Lutheran, Sleepy Eye

Wednesday, August 13
Peace Lutheran, New London

The Landscape
+Bishop Jon V. Anderson
We want to expand and deepen this "season of listening" by inviting leaders from across the synod who have some experience with our synod's life, particularly all former and current elected council members, staff and rostered leaders, to offer their insights and perspectives. We will do this through the on-line assessment tool, Landscape, developed by Holy Cow Consulting.

Landscape is the only benchmarked, reliable instrument designed especially for the strategic review of synods and other middle judicatories. This tool will help us:
  • Measure the level of satisfaction and energy within our synod.
  • Identify critical success factors for improving synodical climate.
  • Discover where we are yearning to go together in the future.
  • Gauge our readiness for needed change.
Help give shape to a future vision for our shared mission and ministry.
Through this process we hope to give a critical voice to every congregation in our synod. This work, combined with additional strategic conversations led by our partner Kairos and Associates, will lead us to a greater understanding of where the Spirit is leading our synod. A full report of this listening process will be shared with the Synod Council in November and all congregational leaders in early 2015.

Participation is easy. Simply click here and complete the Landscape. If you are the pastor or president, we would ask that you forward this to your staff, council leadership, and other leaders who have participated in our synod's life.

Next week we will share our progress toward our Landscape goal.
Thanks for the Generosity - Seminarian Scholarships
+Bishop Jon Anderson
We want to say thanks to our past donors to our ELCA Fund for Leaders scholarship funds. They allowed scholarships from the ELCA in 2012-3 for Bailey Fossum, Lowell Krogstad and Andrew Yackel Juleen.

Our Lutheran Men in Mission: Southwestern Minnesota Synod Fund for Leaders provided partial scholarships for Lowell Krogstad and Kent Krumwiede in 2012-13. In 2013-14 they are providing significant scholarships for Linda Estling and Kent Krumwiede.

Our Southwestern Minnesota Fund for Leaders Scholarship endowment provided significant scholarships in 2013-14 for Alex Becker - Junior at Luther, Donna McGraw -- Middler at Luther, John Nelson - Middler at Philadelphia.

We give thanks for each of our seminarians. If you are interested in exploring serving God's church in an ordained ministry please talk to any synod staff.

We also give thanks to generous donors who have reduced the financial burdens for these seminarians. We will be introducing our new planned giving leader next week.

We pray God will continue to lift up candidates for ordained ministry and generous donors who help us grow our endowment to the point that none of our seminarians carry seminary debt into their first calls.

Chronic Pain - My Back 

+Bishop Jon V. Anderson

I have been thinking about people who live with chronic pain.

 

Here is a prayer for all of you/them.

Lord Jesus Christ, by your cross and passion you redeemed the world. To all who have long continued suffering grant patience, courage and constant assurance of your love. Strengthen every day and hour, bring healing to their lives, that having endured with you they may also live and reign with you now and forever. Amen

 

I injured my back a few weeks ago during my vacation working on my home. My recovery has been very slow and painful. After two and a half weeks I am beginning to be able to move around with less pain and discomfort. I am working with doctors and physical therapists. When I started I thought it would just take a couple days. But I realize now this is more like a bad ankle sprain. It will take weeks. I will do what I can in this time. But since doing too much will set me back, I am trying to listen to my body and its current limits. Thanks for the patient understanding of those of you who have had to adjust plans due to my illness.

 

May God watch over us and guide us all to be good and careful stewards of our physical health. 

ACS Tip of the week - BONUS WEEK!
Throughout the year we will be teaching leaders how to use AccessACS our online directory/handbook and this week is a bonus week! Not one but two ACS Tips!
How to people search in your conference.
How to define a people search.
How is an online directory helpful?
Our rostered leaders are very relational and it's important for them to be able to connect with one another. Calls change all of the time. Having an online directory helps keep our rostered leaders up-to-date with the movement of their colleagues.
Please contact the synod office if you would like more information.507-637-3904

Long Lake Lutheran Closing

Please keep the congregation of Long Lake Lutheran and Pr. Lowell Asplund in your prayers as they close the church doors for the last time Sunday, August 10. Long Lake Lutheran of rural St. James was a part of United in Faith Parish with Bethlehem of Darfur and First of Butterfield. 

2014 Church Staff Workers Association Retreat
September 16, 2014 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.at
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church

The annual CSWA retreat offers an opportunity for
congregational staff to come together for a day of inspiration,
learning and sharing hopes and concerns.

Join us for speakers, Rev. Dr. Anna Madsen from 
OMG: Center for Theological Conversation and 
Jodi Harpstead, CEO of Lutheran Social Service of MN.
As well as, free chair massages, lunch and time to gather with other church staff workers. 

Recent Ordinations
Pr. Jackie Laske Cook was ordained on August 3 at All Saints, Wales, WI
She is called to serve St Paul Lutheran in Hector.

Kayla (Nelson) Monson will be ordained on September 6 at Oak Knoll Lutheran in Minnetonka
She is called to serve as Associate Pastor of Oak Knoll Lutheran in Minnetonka.
Kayla is a SW MN Synod Candidate.

We welcome Pr. Jackie as she continues her journey in serving God in the Southwestern Minnesota Synod and we send Kayla with blessing as she continues her journey in serving God in the Minneapolis Area Synod.