House of Grace Opening worship!

You are invited to come and support House of Grace, our synod's newest congregation, as they have their first official worship service on Sunday, September 28 at 5:30 p.m. at the United Methodist Church, 230 Center Ave, Montrose, MN.

Rev. Dr. Kimberly A. Swanson-Buffie is on a mission and she did not have to go far to find it.

Swanson-Buffie has been a Doctor of Chiropractic for 23 years, practicing at Buffie Chiropractic Clinic in Rockford along with her husband Perry.

She now has a second calling as Pastor and mission developer for House of Grace, a new Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) congregation in nearby Montrose.

Pastor Kimberly notes how a woman contacted her on Facebook to ask when are you starting the church and was told September...read more.

If you would like to make a birthing gift please send your gift to:

SW MN Synod

Attn: House of Grace

PO Box 499, Redwood Falls, MN 56284.

• Friday, September 12
  Last day to register for the Fall Theological Conference
  Click here. 
• Monday, September 29
  Last day to register for the Fall Youth Workers Retreat
  Click here. 

Septmber 26, 2014
St. Matthew's Lutheran, Wabasso
Join people from across our synod for some wonderful fellowship, good food and a time of learning about partnership!

St. Matthew congregation in Wabasso will be hosting a gathering to welcome 7 visitors from our companion Diocese, the Southeastern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa. Visitors to our whole synod include the Diocesan Partnership Chairperson Skhumbuzo Mntambo, his wife, Anele and their son, Abongwe. Other South African partners present will be Scenic Valley Conference guests Rev. Eric Ntuli and Rev. Thulani Mabaso from their companion circuit, Umvoti, and Watonwan River Conference guests, Rev. Thabani Duma and his wife, Balungile from their companion circuit, Shiyane.

The Southwestern Minnesota Synod Partnership Committee would be grateful if you would add this invitation to your church bulletins!
To learn more about our companion synod click here. 

Lively Engagement in Faith & Life

Looking for a good read? Living Lutheran is a website by the ELCA that shares photos, stories, blogs and questions about what it means to live as a Lutheran. 

Blog Post from LivingLutheran - 

Do we miss hell?

By David Lose

Every once in a while when I served as a parish pastor, I would joke with colleagues or parishioners that stewardship would be a lot easier had it not been for Martin Luther. When they gave me a slightly confused look, I would say that I just thought it would be easier to raise money if I could threaten my people with hell, or at least with purgatory, rather than assure them they were justified by faith rather than their good works.

Just to be clear, it really was a joke in that I am regularly and incredibly grateful for the Lutheran witness to God's grace and the promise that we are, indeed, justified by grace through faith rather than through our own accomplishments. But ... read more.

ELCA young adults begin year-long journey of global service

ELCA New Release

Sixty-three young adults from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) have begun a year-long journey in which they will "live and learn and serve" with ELCA companion churches and partner organizations around the world. The young adults are participants in the ELCA's Young Adults in Global Mission program - an international mission opportunity for young people from the ages of 21 to 29.

"The Young Adults in Global Mission program is, for me, among the clearest examples of why it matters that we are church together," said the Rev. Heidi Torgerson-Martinez, program director for the ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission. 
 
"Our Young Adults in Global Mission volunteers often find themselves deeply humbled by the ways that the ELCA rises up around them as they prepare to deploy for service... Read more.
 

  Connect with YAGM's! 
 

SW MN Synod YAGM Blogs

- Britt in South Africa, Brittani Lamb-SW MN Synod
- 10,000 Lakes for a Thousand Hills, Sarah Brock-SW MN Synod

Please email Kristin.bakeberg@swmnelca.org if you are aware of any more YAGM bloggers from SW MN Synod. 

Framing Youth Ministry - Reflecting God's Story

Fall Youth Workers Retreat

Shetek Lutheran Ministries, Slayton

"Frames are important. A picture frame gives perspective and focus to the picture within. The frame of a house gives a foundation from which rooms

can be built and decorated. Frames give understanding. Frames help us expand our understanding. Frames give purpose. In life and ministry, there is an overwhelming volume of information that competes for our attention and time. We can't be experts in everything, but framing youth ministry in a way that reflects God's story into our story is central to our youth ministry callings. 

At this Youth Worker Retreat we'll explore:

• "Framing Life Biblically"
• "Framing Youth"
• "Framing the Vision: Seeing Things New"
• "Framing the Path: Practicing Things New"
• "Framing Failure with Forgiveness"

Click here to register!     

SAVE-THE-DATE!

These events are coming soon!

Mark your calendar, more information to come.

October 23, 2014

Gloria Dei Lutheran, Redwood Falls

Elderberry Retreat - Wellness and Mindfulness

October 23-24, 2014

Green Lake Lutheran Ministries, Spicer

NW & SW Synod Clergy Spouse Retreat - Listening to God, Listening to Our Lives, Listening to Another

November 7-9, 2014

Luther Crest Bible Camp, Alexandria