www.swmnelca.org
 

   

Synod Events 

Progress toward our Landscape survey goal.

If you haven't already, please set aside 20-30 minutes to complete the assessment. If you haven't had time to share your experiences and perspectives by participating in this important process, please make it a priority THIS WEEK. 

Just in case you have missed a tip or want to go back and review just visit our website at www.swmnelca.org. On the lower right-hand side under Quick Links you will see ACS Tip of the Week, click on the text to bring you to all the tips. 

ELCA Worship

Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! I'm writing about an important conversation that I need your help to facilitate across our church.

At our ELCA Conference of Bishops meeting in February, we spent considerable time discussing who is welcome and invited to receive Holy Communion in ELCA congregations. While all people are welcome to worship, the recommended practice in our church has been that people who are baptized are invited to receive Holy Communion. Despite what our statement on the practice of word and sacrament, "The Use of the Means of Grace," says, there is wide variety of practice in this church. You may recall that the 2013 ELCA Churchwide Assembly approved an action designed to call ELCA members into a conversation about "The Use of the Means of Grace," particularly on the matter of Holy Communion. The action came as a memorial from the ELCA Northern Illinois Synod.

Following our discussion in February and in conversations with other colleagues in this church, the ELCA Church Council approved the recommendation that we find ways to engage the entire church in conversation about this important matter before determining if there is need to open "The Use of the Means of Grace" for possible revision. The recommendation also suggests that this matter not be studied in isolation from the rest of the statement, but rather we take this opportunity to encourage a renewed study of and conversation about "The Use of the Means of Grace" in our congregations.

As of today, we have received $763 from Thrivent Choice donors who have directed dollars towards your Southwestern Minnesota Synod. We wanted to say thanks to those of you who have made these choices. If you are a Thrivent member and would like to give a gift to your synod we would be thankful.

Amy Bigot has joined the ELCA Foundation as a Regional Gift Planner for the SW MN, NW MN and Eastern ND synods. Her goal as Regional Gift Planner is to help you, your congregation, synod and ELCA related organizations explore the variety of possibilities to give with generosity. Her passion is to help individuals identify and develop a giving plan that brings them great joy.

Amy is a Minnesota native and a lifelong Lutheran. She has been married for 26 years to Tom, her high school sweetheart. Together they have three children: Zachary (23), Cody (21) and Hannah (18). In her free time Amy loves to spend time with her family, work in her flower gardens, run, read, travel and play the harp.

www.elca.org/foundation
amy.bigot@elca.org

Our synod council passed a continuing resolution a few years ago encouraging rostered leaders to attend a boundaries workshop every three years.

To help people accomplish this goal we will be having a Boundaries Refresher Course built into our upcoming Church Staff Workers' Retreat. Beginning at 12:30 this group will engage in a participatory review of best practices and summary reminders about keeping healthy boundaries in our lives as rostered leaders. 

Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Redwood Falls MN
Click here to register!

If you are attending the Church Staff Workers' Retreat that day, there will be no additional cost. If you are not, the cost will be $25 per person. Please arrive at noon to pick up a box lunch. The meeting will start promptly at 12:30. In addition to registering, we would ask that you share one question that you are bringing with you to help our presenters, Rick Loseth LICSW and Pr. Susan Enghom prepare for our event.

The refresher will conclude at 3.00 p.m. when the Church Staff Workers event concludes. This will mean those who participate will not be able to hear our second speaker, Jodi Harpstead from LSS of MN speak.

Join us for speakers, Rev. Dr. Anna Madsen from 

OMG: Center for Theological Conversation and 

+Center for Stewardship Leaders, Luther Seminary

Luther Seminary will host an all day workshop with Darryl Dahlheimer on Saturday, October 4. The workshop audience will include our Luther Seminary coaches, Intern Supervisors and Pastors in Region 3 who have interest. This a training session to help pastors who are working with parishioners who have run into financial crisis issues of debt. Most clergy have not had practical training and do not have a handle on the network of resources to address the challenges. Darryl wants to train pastors who will, in-turn, train others in their congregations to be more literate and able to be supportive to those who have a need.

This deep training is normally quite expensive, but will be shared without cost due to a grant from the Lilly fund. The only cost will be the $10 for lunch. We will register people at 8:30 and begin the session at 9 a.m. - Stub Hall Lounge.

Contact Glenn Taibl if you are interested, have questions and to let him know you will be attending. gtaibl002@luthersem.edu

Center for Stewardship Leaders at Luther Seminary is also live streaming Nathan Dungan To Give Stewardship Lectures.

• Mind Your Money - Aug. 25, 1-2:30 p.m.
• Money, Meaning and Faith: Financial Leadership in Communities of Faith - Sept. 9, 11 a.m.-Noon
  
  
  Click here for more information about these events.
  Click here for the live stream link.