Below is a list of all the upcoming synod events. Visit the synod events webpage for more information.

JANUARY

Week of Prayer for Christian

Unity Service

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February 28 - Willmar 

Sr. High Youth Gathering 

March 6-7 - Mankato

LMM Retreat 

March 14 -  New London

PSST Retreat

April 16-17 - Spicer

First Call Retreat

April 27-29 - Location TBA

SW MN Synod Assembly

June 12-14 - St. Peter 

Bethany Lutheran, Storden

5:00pm - Dinner

6:30pm - Concert

Click here for more information. 

A wonderful evening for all ages with food, fellowship and music that you will not want to miss!

Lay School Classes
Register now for 2014-2015 classes. The Lay School curriculum includes a wide variety of courses on biblical topics from both the Old and New Testaments, ecology, the Middle East and more. This year we are also introducing a series on Lutheran Theology and the Lutheran church designed to prepare you for the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation in 2017. Classes in this series will be noted with a 500 following the title.

- Come and See: Discipleship According to the Gospel of John (webcast available) (evening)
- Following Jesus in an Ecological Age (evening)
- The Parables: Illustrations of Jesus' Good but Strange News (noon)
Click here for more information on lay school courses. 

Start Checking off your To Do List

Below are four really important tasks we hope you take the time to fill out. All of these help grow our ministry. 
 

	Mission Support Intents As your congregation prepares a budget for 2015, please share with us your Mission Support Intent amount for the Southwestern Minnesota Synod by clicking here. As of today we have heard from 12 of our 248 congregations.
	Forms A & C (Parochial Reports) Please fill out your 2015 ELCA congregation report forms A & C by clicking here. For general instruction click here. If you do not know your congregation ID or password please call the synod office at 507-637-3904. Forms A & C should be completed by February 15, 2015.
	Rostered Leader Reports Forms are up and ready for your attention. We ask that you use the links below to share your responses. Thank you for sharing a snapshot of your ministry and life with us.  Click the form that pertains to your ministry. The online form below will be submitted electronically to Bishop Jon Anderson. - Rostered Leader Under Call from a Congregation - Rostered Leader Not Under a Call  - Rostered Leader Retired - Specialized Call If you choose or have filled out the ELCA roster forms (Click on the Synod tab) you do not need to fill out these forms above again. Bishop Jon will receive them through churchwide. But if you have not filled out either report we prefer you to fill out the one above.
	Health Assessment (HA) Portico health plan members and eligible spouses, simply sign in to myPortico to access the new Mayo Clinic Healthy Living online and take your health assessment. ELCA-Primary members, start earning wellness dollars by taking the Health Assessment by clicking here. AFTER you take the HA click here to enter into a $100 drawing.

Thanks, Mildred Basballe

+Bishop Jon V. Anderson

We are thankful that Mildred Basballe of Sleepy Eye and formerly of rural Morgan shared a gift with your synod from her estate. She was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church of rural Morgan.

Mildred Basballe

From a life insurance policy Mildred gave your synod $25,000 to add to our Fund for Leaders Debt Relief Endowment Fund with particular concern for the pastors of the Scenic Valley Conference.

Members of our staff knew and appreciated Mildred. Pastors who receive educational debt relief payments in the future will be thankful. Congregations will be thankful for pastors who will have less indebtedness and will be able to serve with greater joy and longer tenure in their calls because of her generosity. As pastors are freed to lead in teaching stewardship by the example of Mildred and other generous donors, they will encourage people to share generously to support the mission of Jesus and God's work in our communities, region, country and world.  Her gift will keep giving in our endowment fund.

Click here for Mildred's obituary so you might learn more about this generous servant of God.  Here is the line that stood out for me.  "Everyone who came in contact with Mildred in her living and in her death marveled at her wisdom and her living example of faith in Jesus Christ, her Savior."

 

If you would like to know more about how to give a gift as part of your estate, you can contact your synod's Planned Giving Director, Amy Bigot who can help you in finding ways to make your resources continue to move forward your values after your death. Amy's contact information is amy.bigot@elca.org or (763) 443-3750.

Your synod staff is also willing to help you connect with Amy.

Saturday, February 28, 2015

8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. 

on elca.org up to date? 

The ELCA website features a "Find a Congregation" page, click here. where people can locate congregations by synod, state, zip code or name. The congregational listings include contact information, rostered leaders' names, membership statistics, and links. Each listing also features a photo of the church (if one has been submitted). Congregational leaders are encouraged to visit their listings and submit needed information by clicking here.

Please note: To make other updates to your congregation profile for the synod office (office email, new council members, etc.) please contact the synod office or fill out the synod's online form.