SYNOD NEWS AND EVENTS - March 3, 2016
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We Are Thankful - Scholarships Granted
+Bishop Jon V. Anderson
Thanks to our endowment funds and a significant donor we have been able to grant scholarships to free our seminarians to lead when they are done with school.

Our deep dream is that all our seminarians preparing to serve as pastors in our church would graduate without any theological educational costs covered by loans.  
We also long to do this for other rostered leaders in the years to come.

The Southwestern Minnesota Fund for Leaders provided $24,236 of tuition support for the 2015-16 academic year for eighteen students. 

The Lutheran Men in Mission Fund for Leaders provided $9,243 in tuition support during the 2015-16 academic year for four students

We particularly want to thank our donors for these gifts being invested in the lives of students.  They are being empowered to speak more boldly about our Generous God who showers us with grace in all kinds of ways. 
 
LMM Logo

Lutheran Men in Mission Spring Retreat
Friday, March 11 & Saturday, March 12, 2016
Green Lake Bible Camp, Spicer MN
Presenter: Roland D. Martinson, Professor Emeritus of Children Youth and Family Ministry,
Luther Seminary

"I spent some time visiting with Dr. Roland Martinson about our upcoming Men's Retreat. I got excited listening to his ideas. So I want to lift this opportunity up. We would love to have men, young and old, join us for this gathering."
      - Bp. Jon Anderson 

Click here to download event schedule.
Click here to register! 
$20 per person for Friday night only
$40 per person for Saturday only
$50 per person for Friday night and Saturday
A person under the age of 26 who registers with a father or grandfather will be FREE

Friday night lodging available. Lodging will be at Green Lake Bible Camp at your own cost. Please call Green Lake Bible Camp at (320)796-2181, ext. 243.

Hunger Grants
+ Bishop Jon Anderson
We are thankful for the many congregations and communities that are engaging local hunger through variations of the Backpack program.

We are thankful to report that two of our congregations starting these programs have received grants from the ELCA World Hunger Program. 

Trinity of Benson made the application for the Benson Area Cares 4 Kids program which is supported by the eight congregations who make up the Benson Area Ministerial Association.  This ecumenical group will provide financial and volunteer support.  Both Our Savior's and Trinity in Benson are a part of the group. They received $3000.

Prairie Five Community Action Council's "Bring it Home Back Pack Program" in Montevideo was also granted support of $1500.  Our local congregations are involved. Salem and Our Savior's in Montevideo are named in particular in the grant application. 

If you are thinking about starting a program to address domestic hunger we will connect you to these leaders who submitted grants this past year, to increase the odds of your community receiving a grant to address issues of hunger where you are. 
2015 CHOICE DOLLARS®EXPIRE SOON
The deadline for assigning your Thrivent Choice Dollars earned in the 2015 year is March 31.  Since 2011, the SW MN Synod has received $7,474 from Thrivent Choice Dollars. We are very grateful for this support of God's mission for the people in this part of God's kingdom.
When you designate your Thrivent Choice Dollars, please consider earmarking these for your local congregation and/or the work of your Synod.  The Synod Council has voted that any such dollars that come to your Synod this year will help us match the recently awarded $250,000 challenge grant from the Lilly Endowment that will help pastors and congregations throughout your Synod.
Click here to direct your Choice Dollars.
  • Why are we, who have experienced the grace of God in Christ (Eph. 1, 2, 3),
    so unlikely to talk about Jesus?  
  • What holds us back?
  • What sets us free?
  • What practical practices might be put into place to offer testimony to others?
In this TED-talk style event we will explore these questions, as well as offer foundations and approaches, to practice "Grace-based evangelizing." 
This event is sponsored by your ELCA's Region 3 Synods.
Congregations may attend the in-person or live stream at no cost.
We invite support through a free-willing offering via the SW MN Synod online donation page, click here.
Registration:
Please register online at www.swmnelca.org, events page.
Registration deadline is April 12, 2016.
Click here to register!
Click here to download event PDF flyer.
Synod Events
Below is a list of all the upcoming synod events. Visit the synod events webpage for more information.
MARCH
March 4-5, 2016
Courtyard by Marriott, Mankato

Lutheran Men in Mission Retreat
March 11-12, 2016
Green Lake Bible Camp, Spicer

APRIL
April 4-6, 2016
Green Lake Bible Camp, Spicer

April 14, 2016
Gustavus, St Peter
& Live-stream

PSST Retreat
April 14-15, 2016
Green Lake Bible Camp, Spicer

SAVE THE DATE 
SW MN Synod Assembly
June 10-11, 2016
Gustavus, St Peter 
 
August 10-13, 216
New Orleans
 
ELCA Churchwide Assembly
August 8-13, 2016
New Orleans  
Other great Resources and Events!  
  • Contemplative Music for Worship - April 23
    The Center for Worship & Music Studies is excited to offer our repertoire class, Contemplative Music for Worship, on Saturday, April 23rd, 2:00-5:00 at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN. Teacher Tom Witt will lead participants in contemplative worship music from a variety of sources including Taizé, and demonstrate ways to integrate this type into services. He will also lead the group through Holden Prayer Around the Cross, the beautiful service that he wrote with Susan Briehl. 
     
  • Communications Workshop -  April 21
    Location: SW MN Synod Office, 175 E. Bridge St, Redwood Falls
    What do you want your community to know about your church? Are you looking for ways to share God's love through social media? Does your church have a well-thought-out communications plan-for both internal and external audiences? Create excitement and energy in your congregation by using simple, but powerful communications tools. You don't have to have a huge budget or a large staff to effectively tell the story of your work inside and outside the church walls.
    Click here for more information.
    Click here to register.

Southwestern Minnesota Synod, ELCA 
PO Box 499, Redwood Falls, MN 56283
Phone: 507-637-3904