SYNOD NEWS AND EVENTS - July 10, 2015


 

Stay Connected. 
Like us on Facebook  Follow us on Twitter  Visit our blog
Synod Events
Below is a list of all the upcoming synod events. Visit the synod events webpage for more information. 

JULY
ELCA Youth Gathering 
July 15-19 - Detroit, MI
------------------
Lutheran Men in Mission
Golf Tournament
July 24 - Redwood Falls 

AUGUST 
Building a Stewardship House: Tools for a Strong Foundation of Generosity
August 20 - St. Cloud Area
August 27 - Gustavus Adolphus
August 27 - Live Stream 

SEPTEMBER 
God's Work. Our Hands.
September 13
------------------
Church Staff Workers Retreat
September 15
Gloria Dei Lutheran, Redwood Falls 
------------------
Fall Theological Conference
September 27-29
Arrowwood Resort, Okoboji, IA

Other Events & Resources

 

Israel Travels 

Join me, Pastor Tim Wittwer on a dream trip of Israel from top to bottom on February 9-20, 2016. Departure is from MSP for $4,095 including $665 US and Intl. departures taxes/fuel & gratuities of $150, first class hotel accomodations and two meals/day and more. For information and itinerary call Tapestry Tours at 888.868.2660 and ask for Mira or email her at mira@tapestrytours.com. Or call me personally at (320)493-0318. I visited Israel once before but this trip is going to be even better because we will see the whole country from top to bottom.

 

 

The Center for Worship & Music Studies Announces Fall Classes!

The Center for Worship and Music launches its Certificate in Worship and Music Leadership program in the fall of 2015.

With a great variety of courses, the Center will offer a certification program in five areas of study for those deeply engaged in congregational worship and music ministry; individuals can also take single classes of special interest. All classes will be taught face-to-face, but many will also have a distance-learning option for interested students.

 

Registration for the first set of courses will open July 1.
A detailed class list is already available by clicking here.

Leading Well
 www.leadingwell.net

 Questions of leadership in congregations may be among the most pressing concerns we deal with. How can we support grace-filled, faith-filled men and women who lead with joy and confidence? How can we encourage leadership that embodies hope-filled, reconciling responses to facts-on-the-ground? How can we encourage leadership that values and encourages that strengths of others - staff and volunteers alike?
 

For more than twenty years, Leading Well (formerly known as the "ELCA Head of Staff Event") had been responding to these questions Click here to find the Leading Well information for November 2015 and January 2016. 


 

Discover your Calling

Spirit in the Desert

Many new and meaningful programs are scheduled for the Fall & Winter months for continuing education opportunities. Click here for the programming calendar. 


 

 

Giving and Mission Support 

+Bishop Jon V. Anderson
"Why do people give to the church?
In the book, Not Your Parent's Offering Plate,
by J. Clif Christopher, the author reminds us that people give for three reasons:
  1. "they believe in the mission,
  2. they regard good leadership highly,
  3. they want to support an organization that is making a difference in the world. "  

You are in a key place to invite people to support the mission of our larger church. The ELCA is a trustworthy and efficient in proclaiming the Gospel and changing lives." (last paragraph paraphrased) 

- Pr. Margaret Payne - Mission Support Director 

I want to let you know that your mission support makes a significant difference and an amazing ongoing impact. Thanks for your work of sharing in the work of the Gospel in many ways.  One way that happens is in sharing your mission support with your synod and through your synod your churchwide organization.

 

Through 6/30/15 we have received from congregations and individuals to date: $772,603 (42.4% of our mission plan budget for this fiscal year.)

 

We are grateful.  This support is $23,151 more than last year at this time which has us close to being online to hit our mission support target for the year.  But as you know it is not about the budget it is about changing lives by sharing the Good News we know in Jesus and living it. Thanks for all you do through your synod and churchwide support.  Thanks as well for all you are doing locally and in other paths as well.

Non-Profit Renewal Form

+Bishop Jon V. Anderson & ELCA Secretary, Chris Boerger

When Sec. Boerger was with us during our assembly he shared many things. One thing I made a note to lift up was the Annual Renewal of a Non-profit for the State of Minnesota. This link might be helpful to have. Click here for the Minnesota Nonprofit Corporation Forms.  
Lutheran Men in Mission
Golf Tournament 

Friday, July 24, 2015

Redwood Falls Golf Club, Redwood Falls MN 
Registration: 2:30 pm
Shotgun Start: 3:00 pm
PRICE: $65.00 per golfer

Includes GOLF CART, green fees, meal, prizes and
a donation to LMM.


Registration Deadline: Monday, July 20

 

Rural Ministry Scholarships
During 2014-15, the synod's Lutheran Men in Mission (LMM) provided $8,500 for seminary tuition scholarships; $9,730 is available for 2015-16. Recipients will have an openness and commitment to future service in rural settings. The profit from the LMM golf tournament goes into the LMM Rural Ministry Fund to help grow leaders. Besides the proceeds from the golf tournament, LMM also has an ELCA Fund for Leaders Endowment Fund which generates investment income for the scholarships. Since its inception, this endowment has awarded scholarships of $77,825 for seminary tuition. 

Donations to the Rural Ministry Fund are appreciated even if you are not able to participate in the Golf Tournament.

Communication Streams - Facebook Like us on Facebook

+Bishop Jon V. Anderson

Your synod has a Facebook page.  I invite you to like it if you have not already. You do not need a Facebook account to view our page, but Like or follow us to receive our news feed. See what God is up to in our synod life with these links below:

Mission Interpretation Videos

While these videos below were made for the synod assembly, they also were made to be used by congregations. These videos are great for social media material or offering a Mission Minute during congregation announcements.

You can find all the videos by click here. 

 

We are Church Together - Synod Videos:

The videos were made possible by a grant from your synod's endowment in response to requests from leaders and congregations in our synod.