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Greetings!
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Lutheran Disaster Response invites gifts for wildfire recovery
 The Black Forest Fire, the most destructive fire in Colorado's history in terms of over 500 homes lost as well as two deaths, is now 75% contained. The Royal Gorge Fire and Big Meadows Fire are also mostly contained. We extend prayers of gratitude to the fire fighters who risk their lives in their vocation to protect lives and property. This is an especially traumatic time in Colorado Springs, with the Black Forest Fire occurring just one year after the devastating Waldo Canyon Fire.
Pastors and ELCA church members are reaching out in prayer, support and compassion. Following any major disaster, recovery is a long-term process, and your prayers and gifts are needed to assist those impacted by the fire to rebuild their lives.
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LFS Disaster Response Program
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Pastor Ron Roschke, the Synod Minister for Shared Ministries of the Rocky Mountain Synod, attended a prayer service at Christ the King Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, on behalf of the entire Rocky Mountain Synod. He spoke movingly of the experience of the prayer service and highlighted the deep connectedness between individuals and communities in times of crisis and recovery as a source of God's grace. "In disasters people feel alone. But when we can find ways to let people know that they are not alone, people can find strengths to deal with their challenges," he said. Read more on the LDR blog.
Donations from people like you allow the ELCA to respond with flexibility to those in need.
Prayer and blessings for those departing for Madagascar June 29
Our twenty-person team to Madagascar departs June 29. You are invited to use this petition in your prayers this Sunday and for the three following Sundays while they are on their trip, representing all of us in the Rocky Mountain Synod:
You blessed your people through all generations and guided them in life and death: Abraham and Sarah; Moses and Miriam; Peter, James, John and all the apostles; and all the witnesses in ages past, in whom your Spirit spoke and moved. Be with our sisters and brothers who represent all of us in our companion synods in Madagascar. Guide and protect them, and bring them back to us with new eyes to see the partnerships we enjoy in the Body of Christ.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
The group's itinerary and daily devotions will be available on the RMS website so that you can follow and share in their journey. Reports and video uplinks will appear on the synod Facebook page at facebook.com/rmselca. You are encouraged to "like" the rmselca Facebook page so you will see these updates regularly.
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PRAYERS
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Fifth Sunday After Pentecost
June 23, 2013
O Lord God, we bring before you the cries of a sorrowing world. In your mercy set us free from the chains that bind us, and defend us from everything that is evil, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Synod Prayer Cycle:
Southeast Colorado Conference
You are encouraged to include the listed leaders in your Sunday prayers of the people. Many congregations print the listing in the Sunday bulletin and/or monthly newsletter. The prayer list for upcoming months is available.
Remember in prayer this coming Sunday:
6/23
Shepherd of the Hills
Canon City, CO Robert Kippley
St. Paul Calhan, CO
Tim Bettger
St. Paul's Sugar City, CO
Tabor Pueblo, CO
Cindy Josephson
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OUR LIFE TOGETHER
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People
Pastor Justin Nickel, Centennial Lutheran Church, Englewood, CO, will be pursuing a PhD in Religion in Society at Princeton Theological Seminary, where he received a 5-year scholarship. June 30 at 10:30 a.m. is a farewell celebration at Centennial. Congratulations, Justin, and farewell!
Ryan Steinmetz is concluding almost 12 years as the director of the Border Servant Corps, Las Cruces, NM. We express our gratitude to him for his dedication and vision. Read his farewell letter.
Roster
Because the assembly issue of "Landscape" did not include roster changes, they have not been publicized in several months. Below are the roster changes since Februrary:
FEBRUARY 2013
The Rev. George Meister from US Air Force Military Chaplain to retired 2/1/2013
The Rev. Caitlin Trussell Ordained 2/2/2013 called to Augustana Lutheran Church, Denver, CO as Pastor
The Rev. Kimberly Gonia from On Leave From Call to Pastor Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Denver, CO 2/6/2013
The Rev. Patrick Boots deceased 2/10/2013
MARCH 2013
The Rev. Carlos Schneider pastor retired from Nebraska Synod to Rocky Mountain Synod 3/11/2013
The Rev. Judith Wascher pastor retired from Minneapolis Area Synod to Rocky Mountain Synod 3/19/2013
Mr. Calvin Ammerman, Associate in Ministry retired deceased 3/28/2013
APRIL 2013
The Rev. Jerry Reynolds from Southeastern Synod to Pastor Trinity Lutheran Church, Las Cruces, NM 4/1/2013
The Rev. Bruce Freeman from Interim pastor Trinity Lutheran Church, Las Cruces to Central States Synod 4/5/2013
The Rev. Emily Cardin from On Leave From Call to Interim Pastor Lord of the Hills Lutheran Church, Centennial, CO 4/8/2013
The Rev. O.S. Chet Evenson Pastor retired from Rocky Mountain Synod to Oregon Synod 4/16/2013
MAY 2013
The Rev. Constance Grogan from On Leave From Call to retired 5/1/2013
The Rev. Tom Renquist from Pastor Lord of the Hills Lutheran Church, Centennial, CO to retired 5/1/2013
The Rev. Randal Pabst (retired) from Sierra Pacific Synod to Rocky Mountain Synod 5/1/2013
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TO THE POINT
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 "GOD'S WORK. OUR HANDS." SUNDAY IS SEPTEMBER 8
Are you preparing for the ELCA's dedicated day of service? Let's clean up neighborhoods, deliver meals, collect supplies for refugees overseas, help a child learn to read, and dozens of other acts of ministry and compassion on September 8. Download the Sunday toolkit, use the bulletin inserts, and order t-shirts to help prepare for your congregation's dedicated day of service!
"WHAT NOW, GOD?"
Those in midlife who have hints of a vague calling to something new and unknown are invited to a retreat for discernment with others. PLTS and the Sierra Pacific Synod are co-sponsoring the retreat July 22 and 23 in Citrus Heights, CA. More information.
Thank you Rocky Mountain Synod! So far we have raised $246,154.01 for the ELCA Malaria Campaign. The Campaign has now surpassed $8 million and we are an important part of that. If your congregation or ministry has not gotten involved yet please check out www.elca.org/malaria for resources like posters, brochures, bulletin inserts, videos, country profiles and many activities for children, youth and adults and more.
SEND A COPY OF YOUR WORSHIP BULLETIN
for use in a workshop at the National Association of Lutheran Church Musicians (ALCM) biennial gathering June 30-July 3. Send to: Valerie Hess, Trinity Lutheran Church, 2200 Broadway, Boulder, CO, 80302. She needs them this week, and appreciates those who have sent a copy to her.
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SLC / ALBUQUERQUE JOURNEY TOGETHER
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Justice Journey 2013
From June 10-14, seventeen Albuquerque and Salt Lake City high school youth came together at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Salt Lake City, UT, to experience Justice Journey: The Art of Storytelling. The five caring adults were joined by two staff members from Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp. It was an amazing, life-changing experience for all.
After a kick-off day with a suicide prevention workshop, low ropes, and downtown scavenger hunt, the group then participated in three days of intensive community service: working on an urban farm, helping at Crossroads, serving lunch at Good Samaritan, serving meals and working at the Homeless Youth Resource Center, interviewing veterans for a Library of Congress project, playing with children at a day center for refugees, and delivering meals to homebound seniors.
They wrapped up the week with a trip to Park City to learn more about the Winter Olympics. Every day began and ended with worship, discussion and reflection, as well as fellowship. It was wonderful to see two groups join together to be God's hands in the world, not only with those they served, but with each other as well. For more details, please visit the trip blog:JusticeJourneySLC.blogspot.com
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JUNE 23 MIDSUMMER FESTIVAL
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Oldest Congregation in the Rocky Mountain Synod Celebrates 135 Years
 The pioneer church, Ryssby, is the founding church that became First Lutheran in Longmont with the merger of Ryssby and Elim congregations. Ryssby was organized January 3, 1878. Located several miles southwest of Longmont, CO, the church is now a Historical Site of Colorado's State Historical Society.
A celebration of 135 years takes place at Ryssby at this year's Annual Ryssby Midsummer Festival on Sunday, June 23. A worship service will take place at 11 a.m. followed by a catered lunch. Lunch reservations needed by June 19. Call 303-776-2704. Afternoon activites include the Lindsborg Dancers, carnival games, and more. Map.
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ASSEMBLY 2013
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Follow-Up Information
Available
Videos of the assembly will be posted for online viewing soon.
ASSEMBLY PHOTOS ARE POSTED
SUMMARY "LANDSCAPE NEWSLETTER
TAKE THE POST-ASSEMBLY FRUIT CHALLENGE
Tara Smith, our tree artist, invites you to "bear fruit" in your community or context. Download and share.
TEXT OF THE ADOPTED RESOLUTIONS
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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
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Choir Director
St Andrew Lutheran Church
Arvada, CO
St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Arvada (ELCA) is seeking a part-time choir director. Duties include selecting choir anthems in collaboration with the pastor and organist, conducting weekly choir rehearsals from September through May, arranging for special music during the summer months and attending monthly staff meetings. Interested candidates may submit a cover letter and resume to St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 6774 W. 66th Avenue, Arvada, Colorado, 80003 or email to office@standrewarvada.org . Questions? Call the church office at 303-421-5197.
Preschool / Kindergarten Director
St. Luke Lutheran Church
Albuquerque, NM
Director needed to lead faith based program, for school year starting August 5, 2013. It is a year-round National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Accredited program with Before and After Care for all children. More information. Send resume by June 25 at 5 p.m. to
director815@gmail.com.
Administrative Assistant
St. Paul Lutheran Church - Denver
Organist/Pianist and Accompanist
King of Glory Lutheran Church - Arvada
Job openings can be found on the Rocky Mountain Synod's website.
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CELEBRATING OUR 25 YEARS TOGETHER
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September 8, 2013, is ELCA-wide "God's work. Our hands." Sunday!
September 8, 2013, is "God's work. Our hands." Sunday, an opportunity to celebrate our 25th anniversary as the ELCA! Since we are a church that "rolls up our sleeves and gets to work," join together for a dedicated day of service as 4 million ELCA members and nearly 10,000 congregations. You can order personalized T-shirts to wear that Sunday, as well as bulletin inserts, flyers, and other resources to promote the day.
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Bishop Jim Gonia
- Staff Meeting
- Centennial, Englewood, CO
- Lord of the Mountains, Dillon, CO
- Vacation
Pastor Ron Roschke
- Staff Meeting
- Madagascar Trip Final Preparations
Pastor Sarah Moening
- Staff Meeting
- Faith, Eaton, CO
- Deepened Discipleship Team
Pastor Stephanie Quick Espinoza
- Staff Meeting
- Camino de Vida, Albuquerque, NM
- Christ, Santa Fe, NM
- Latino Pastors Retreat
Pastor Kent Mueller
- Staff Meeting
- Office location meetings
- Communications & Connected Community
Brad Wood
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry CO
- Staff meeting
- Rally on Prison Reform
- Interfaith Roundtable
- DenUm Summer Event
Ruth Hoffman
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry - NM
- Staff Meeting
- The High Cost of Being Poor: Issue Think Tank
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| ELCA GLOBAL LINKS | |
Uganda: The lifesaving power of goats
Sentongo Abdul and his younger brother and sister struggled to survive after their parents died of AIDS. Their lives are better today because ELCA World Hunger helped provide them with several goats and the training to care for them. More.
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QUICK LINKS
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SOCIAL SERVICES
HEALTH CARE MINISTRY
SERVANT CORPS OUTDOOR MINISTRY
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| CALENDAR |
website calendar 2013 SEPTEMBER 23-26 Leadership Retreat / Theological Conference YMCA of the Rockies
Estes Park, Colorado
NOVEMBER 22-24
Senior High Youth Gathering
YMCA of the Rockies
Estes Park, Colorado
2014
JANUARY 17-19
Middle School Youth Gathering
Elegante Hotel & Conference Center
(new name for the Crowne Plaza!)
Colorado Springs, Colorado
MAY 8-10
2014 Synod Assembly
Marriott Tech Center
Denver, Colorado
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UTAH
| submit Utah news or photos
5 Steps to Holding Your Family
Together featuring Rich Melheim
Faith5 Workshops at Zion, Salt Lake City
June 20, 2013
1-5 p.m.
register online
The event is geared toward pastors and church leadership. In four hours of challenging systems thinking, you will learn how to challenge, equip, and support parents in the role as primary faith mentors for their children every night. Faith will be incubated every week at church and every night in every home. The evening event will teach parents and children the FAITH5, an easy-to-remember, five-step faith practice that can help you hold your family together in a few minutes each night. Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, is located at 1070 Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84108.
Real, Sacred, Embraces
Eleven members from Mt. Tabor Lutheran Church, Salt Lake City, UT, joined 36 Inter-Faith Groups in support of LGBT people in the Utah Pride Parade, themed: "Real, Sacred, Embraces."
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WYOMING
| submit Wyoming news or photos
Wyoming summer gathering in Buffalo
on Tuesday, July 2 at St. Luke's
Tuesday July 2 all pastors in the area are invited to Buffalo for a potluck lunch, text study, and fellowship at Pr. Alena's at 11:00 a.m. Contact Pr. Alena Lamirato at pastoralena@yahoo.com for more information. St. Luke's ELCA is at 615 N Burritt, Buffalo, WY, 307-684-7872.
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NEW MEXICO and EL PASO, TEXAS
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Border Servant Corp Summer Wine & Cheese
Join Border Servant Corp for their Second Annual Summer Wine & Cheese on Friday, June 28 at 5:57 p.m. It will take place at the offices of Thrivent Financial, 2615 Montana Ave., El Paso, TX 79903. Bring a bottle of your favorite wine or non-alcoholic beverage to share! Join the 2012-2013 volunteers before they continue on their journey and participate in this delicious fundraiser!
Recommended donation: $10.
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COLORADO
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Blessing of the Bicycles
House for All Sinners and Saints will be hosting its fifth annual Blessing of the Bicycles on Sunday, June 23, at 6:30 p.m. at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 2201 Dexter St. in Denver.
Since urban biking is not without peril, House for All acknowledges the inherent goodness of God's gifts of life and health and the humble but elegant bicycle as they conduct this Blessing of the Bicycles for the entire Denver cycling community. This free event is open to all regardless of religious affiliation, race, creed, color, sexual orientation, fat or thin tires, and brand of bike. They even welcome unicyclists and Unitarians!
As they swing the thurible of incense over the Schwinns and Cannondales they do so as a human community seeking God's blessing and protection for all who brave our city streets on two wheels. Group ride, pizza, Fat Tire, and red velvet cake to follow!
Join LFS for the annual ZOO-BQ
Friday, June 28, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Denver Zoo
Tickets:
Adult (13 & up) $30 | Children (3-12) $25 | Children (0-2) Free
Registration includes: Western BBQ Dinner, Old Fashioned Carousel & Train Rides, Face Painting and More. Animal Meet & Greet from 6:30-7:30 p.m. A special opportunity to get nose to snout with some of the Zoo's inhabitants! You must pre-register. For more information, call 303.217.5860 or email.
Annual Mount of the Holy Cross pilgrimage dates set
 Again this year Mount of the Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Vail, CO, will sponsor two pilgrimage hike climbing Notch Mountain (13,237) in order to view the Mount of the Holy Cross (14,005). Because of the popularity of this hike and due to U.S. Forest Service regulations which limit each group to no more than 15 persons at a time, reservations are required.
Dates are Friday, July 26 or Saturday, July 27, 2013. The event will be from approximately 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM each day. This is a fairly strenuous hike and requires good hiking boots and waterproof weather protection. Pre-registration is required. Call Pastor Scott Beebe, (970) 476-6610 or email mtholy@vail.net for a registration form or for more details.
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Synod Minister for Connected Community
Rocky Mountain Synod
800-525-0462 / 303-777-6700
Announcements for eConnection are due before noon on Monday for the issue the following day. Event announcements are included for about two weeks. Please submit your announcement at the time it should appear.
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