News and Events

News and Events

Saint Paul Area Synod
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Memorial Day

May 27, 2013

Join Lutheran Disaster Response to support tornado relief

Our neighbors have had their communities destroyed as tornadoes have ripped through Okla., Kan., Ill., Iowa and Texas claiming many lives and damaging hundreds of homes.
A two-mile-wide tornado ripped through Moore, Okla., claiming lives and leaving behind a devastating trail of destruction.

In addition to your prayers of support, join Lutheran Disaster Response and help provide the type of immediate and long-lasting support that is already underway in the affected regions.

For worship resources and additional information about how you and your congregation can support relief efforts, visit blogs.elca.org/disasterresponse/post/tornados-in-may-21

Remarks on Same-Gender Marriage Legislation
Originally presented to the Saint Paul Area Synod Assembly on May 18, 2013 by Bishop Peter Rogness

Resolution 2-2013 called on us to deliberate over the issue that is now moot: same-gender marriage will now be legal in Minnesota. As I said in the brief e-letter sent Wednesday, since marriages happen in congregations with pastors officiating, the question is now before us--what does this this mean for us?

Continue reading at www.spas-elca.org.

Practice Discipleship Training
Westwood, St. Louis Park. This event offers a series of interactive presentations that will help those in Children, Youth and Family leadership understand the current landscape of religion in America and learn skills that will help congregations adapt to the changes of this missional age.

This is free training put on by the Minneapolis and Saint Paul Area Synods as part of the Practice Discipleship Initiative of the ELCA.

Register by May 28 by sending an email to Chris Okey at cokey@woodlakechurch.org or calling 612.866.8449.

Iringa Hope Garden Party Fundraiser
Join Tom and Sandra Hendrickson as they host a garden party and ice cream social to benefit

Iringa Hope, the microfinance group in Tanzania. Admission is free, but your generous contribution to Iringa Hope Microfinance in rural Tanzania is encouraged and appreciated.

See the flyer (JPEG) for addtional information.

Does your congregation worship somewhere other than a sanctuary?

We want to hear about it! From parks, movie theaters, pubs and more, our synod is full of stories of creating sacred spaces in unconventional places. The July issue of FaithLink would like to feature stories about some of these creative worship spaces and the process that goes into making them sacred.

If you are interested in sharing your story, contact Christine Fifield at christine.fifield@spas-elca.org or 651.224.4313.

Blessing jars for your summer programs

At this year's assembly, participants were invited to write down their blessings and place them in hand painted jars at their tables.

We have about 60 of these blessing jars left over from this year's assembly. If you would like to take and use these jars for an event or summer program at your congregation, call the synod office at 651.224.4313.

Office hours this week

The synod office is closed today for Memorial Day. Regular office hours (M-F 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) will resume tomorrow.

In This Issue