SYNOD NEWS AND EVENTS - October 22, 2015

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

Click here for a list of WELCA Fall Conference Gatherings.

OCTOBER
October 22 & 23, 2015
Green Lake Bible Camp, Spicer

October 27
Shores of St. Andrew, New London

NOVEMBER
November 5
Faith Lutheran, Spicer

November 6-8
Luther Crest Bible Camp, Alexandria

Region 3 Gathering of Rostered and Lay Leaders
November 12-14
Ramada Plaza Suites, Fargo, ND

November 20-21
November 21-22
Willmar Conference Center, Willmar
Other News, Events & Resources

Opening Our Networks
ELCA Region 3 Gathering 
November 12-14, 2015
Fargo, ND
 
Four questions that will frame this event:
  • Who do our networks serve?
  • Are the people served by our networks also at the tables of leadership and decision making?
  • Who might our networks serve?
  • How might people not currently engaged in our networks be included at the tables of leadership and decision making?
There will be Networking time to allow for people in various synods to convene around shared interests and concerns. Synod time will provide a similar opportunity for people to gather with others of their own synod. Workshops will offer a time to learn more about other interests and concerns related to the life and mission of the ELCA.

Click here for registration and more event information.

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Men's Ministry Moment
Lutheran Men in Mission
 Brian describes himself, "as a man among men, I am a man of honesty, purpose driven, and can encourage and inspire others! If you know me, then you know it's not about me." He is a machinist by trade, but loves giving his time to ministry. He can be found singing in the choir, studying to be a Men's Ministry Specialist, or riding his green motorcycle through the countryside.
                During the month of May, Brian had what he says, "was a mountaintop and a valley" experiences all within a couple of days. He volunteered to staff a One Year To Live (OYTL) retreat in North Carolina. He had done this several times, and gained something from it every time. It is a reward to be with men as they build their connection with God. After the retreat and while being close to his home state of South Carolina, he took a couple days to visit family. Click here to read more.

Click here to subscribe to LMM, Men's Ministry Moments. 
Job Openings: 

Office Administrator for Atonement Lutheran Church in St. Cloud, MN
(part-time - 34 hours/week):
Serve as Office Administrator in a fast-paced church office. Administer church calendar, schedule building use by internal and external groups. Serve as primary receptionist displaying hospitality to members and guests, and assist them in their personal and public ministries. Manage and process accounts receivable and maintain church membership records. This person is the first contact person for Atonement, whether it is on the phone or in person as they enter the facility. Demonstrated intermediate or advanced proficiency in the use of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Publisher and Outlook. Strong interpersonal skills related to hospitality and respect while juggling a multitude of administrative tasks is essential. For full job description go to www.atonementlutheran.org
Synod Minister Pr. Kathryn Skoglund
+Bishop Jon V. Anderson
We are excited to announce Pr. Kathryn Skoglund has been called to serve as the Engage Rostered Leaders Synod Minister by the Southwestern Minnesota Synod Council.  She has accepted this call to serve on your synod's ministry team. She will join the synod staff team on Nov. 15th.  

Pr. Kathryn has been serving at Trinity Lutheran of Montevideo as a co-pastor. She is graduate of the University of MN with an English Literature major.
She graduated from Luther Seminary. 

Her first call was Trinity of Hector and St. John's of Bird Island. She went on to serve as a chaplain 
at Project Turnabout and Rice Hospice (Montevideo area).   

Pr. Kathryn's family includes her husband John and her adult children Brady and Taylor.  She will continue to reside in rural Montevideo.

She will serve as the synod pastor to several conferences of our synod.  In addition to this work of supporting congregations and leaders, she will also oversee our synod's work of supporting rostered leaders.  She will also support lay leaders serving in synodically authorized ministry. 

Welcome Pr. Kathryn!

A Moving Experience
+Bishop Jon v. Anderson
I normally associate the "God's Work - Our Hands" ELCA tagline with our great day of service each fall.  I am thankful for all the congregations that are learning the joy and gift of serving in Christ's name together to love their neighbors and neighborhood.

I will always remember Arnold and Vannie when I hear that phrase after last Tuesday. Robyn and I moved from New Ulm, our home of nineteen years, to Redwood Falls.  Shawn, Scott, Dave, Joan, Pam, Allison, Laurel and Charles helped us in the packing, cleaning and moving.  A great group of guys from Gloria Dei in Redwood Falls (Kevin, Thor, Jerry, Shawn, Bruce and Keith),  showed up to help us unload as well as staff members. If you have moved recently, you know the amount of energy it requires.  We would not have made it without all of their hands.

Last summer I severely damaged my back and was in bed for most of two weeks. So the day was different for me.  I carried a lot but I did so with fear and awareness of the limits of my aging body.  When Arnold and Vannie, who work for Schaap Moving from Worthington, lifted up one heavy item after the next and packed them carefully into the truck, I found it to be an image of what God does for us.  We believe that through Christ Jesus, God does the heavy lifting for us. 

As I read the texts for that Sunday talking about our call to be servants (Mark 12), I could not help but think of these two people who exemplified, "God's Work - Our Hands."  As they lived out their callings, their vocation as movers, they protected me from injury, coached and guided many and worked at a pace that was amazing as we accomplished this move in one day.

I failed to get pictures of all the friends and colleagues who helped us on that tiring day. But I remember them. As the day went on my gratitude grew with my exhaustion. It still makes me choke up when I think about Vannie and Arnold's skill and service as my hands and back. All the other hands that helped were also a concrete experience of grace - undeserved love.

We are settling into our new place in Redwood Falls, thankful for our synod's support of our boxed move to this town where our synod office is located. We are looking forward to finishing our downsizing or right sizing for this chapter of our life as we unpack boxes and make this house our home.

God's Work - Our Hands.  In our daily baptismal mission trip of living out our faith and life God uses inside the church and in all our many callings to care for this world God loves. We are deeply grateful for the gift of grace from so many that made this transition possible. 
Message from Portico
As you know, congregations and organizations in your synod are now selecting one ELCA-Primary health benefit option to provide in 2016. As part of our annual enrollment process, we require every employer that currently sponsors at least one plan member to select an option by Oct. 30 (even if plan members waive ELCA health benefits).

Currently, only 1/3 of the SW MN Synod's 
congregations, that receive Portico benefits, have made their selection. Thank you to those congregations for completing this step. 

Click here for the annual enrollment center.
Awareness of Boundaries
+Bishop Jon V. Anderson
If you have not attended a professional boundary workshop in the last five years, I would like you to join our training event on Nov. 5 at Faith Lutheran Church in Spicer, MN from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Click here for more information and to register.

People serving in TEEM and Synodically Authorized Ministry placements are required to attend a boundary training event as part of their service.

If you have asked lay people to serve as Christian Education, Youth Ministry or Visitation staff, I would encourage you to have them attend our workshop or one of the other workshops offered in our region in the coming years.

Our goal has to be that no one is hurt because a rostered or paid staff member does not observe wise ministry boundaries.  This training event has speakers from multiple generations and that address multiple dimensions of caring for boundaries in ministry so that we as leaders stay healthy and best serve the Good News that we know in and through Christ Jesus.