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Greetings!
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Wednesday, July 31 at 9:00 a.m.
Groundbreaking for new Office of the Bishop renovation & addition
Join us at the new location of the Office of the Bishop on Wednesday, July 31, at 9:00 a.m., for a liturgy of groundbreaking. The time was changed because of the memorial service for Pastor Bruce Hermann at Abiding Hope in Littleton at 11 a.m. Map the location to 7375 Samuel Drive.
The MIF loan is approved and Synod Council is moving ahead with vision!
We are pleased that the ELCA Mission Investment Fund (MIF) will be financing our new Office of the Bishop location. Synod Council has prepared a letter in celebration of our emerging vision for the mission and ministry that will unfold at this new "campus" and how we are partnering with the current congregation leasing the property as they find a new home nearby. Read the letter from Synod Council.
Summer intern prepares video project
We have been pleased to welcome Courtney Williams from Augustana College, Sioux Falls, SD, as our summer communications intern. Her final day with us is on Thursday. She has been preparing the eConnection newsletter, communicating about the Madagascar trip, preparing the fall Lutheran Magazine Supplement, and preparing a video story about the cross at the center of our 2013 Assembly. Please view and enjoy "Be the Piece."
And we extend our gratitude to Courtney as she prepares to journey back to college. "Great job this summer!"
 | | Be the Piece: Holy Cross, Wheat Ridge, CO |
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PRAYERS
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Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost
August 4, 2013
Benevolent God, you are the source, the guide, and the goal of our lives. Teach us to love what is worth loving, to reject what is offensive to you, and to treasure what is precious in your sight, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Synod Prayer Cycle:
North 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.
Remember in prayer this coming Sunday:
8/4
All Saints, Brush, CO
Bethel, Windsor, CO
Kevin Meyer
Bethlehem, Brush, CO
Sherman Gordius
Faith, Eaton, CO
Rich Ajer (interim)
First, Ault, CO
Renee Lier Ordination of Katherine ChullinoCentennial Lutheran Church, Englewood, CO  By the grace of God and the call of the Church Katherine JoChullino will be ordained to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament in Christ's one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church and installed as pastor Saturday, August 3 at 4 p.m. at Centennial Lutheran Church 3595 West Belleview Avenue Englewood, CO 80110 Bishop James Gonia will be presiding. Your prayers and presence are requested. All ordained, consecrated, and commissioned Ministers are invited to process. The color of the day is red. Dinner will be served following the service. R.S.V.P. is required for dinner to 303-798-1424 or centennialelca@myway.com by Wednesday, July 31. Installation of Stephanie Lord Christ the Servant, Louisville, CO
 The Rev. Stephanie Lord will be installed on Sunday, August 4 at 2 p.m. at Christ the Servant, Louisville, CO. All are invited to celebrate with Stephanie and the people of the congregation who are welcoming her. Bishop Gonia will be present for the installation.
Before coming to Christ the Servant, she served a congregation in northern California. Her family includes her husband, Bill, and their two kids, Jonah and Cora. Dirk Robert Stadtlander to be installed King of Kings, Pueblo, CO The Rev. Dirk Robert Stadtlander has been called to serve as the pastor of King of Kings Lutheran Church in Pueblo, CO, and he will be installed on Sunday, August 18, at 3 p.m. by Bishop Jim Gonia. Pastor Stadtlander has recently returned from serving as an ELCA missionary in Se negal with his wife, Sarah, and two daughters. He served as a parish pastor to a Pulaar-speaking congregation, facilitated interfaith immersion programs bringing ELCA members to Senegal to experience life in peaceful harmony within a country where 92% of the population adhere to Islam, and accompanied various development programs with many receiving funding from ELCA World Hunger. The strong relationships that Dirk and Sarah and their daughters developed with colleagues, Muslim neighbors and friends, brothers and sisters in the Christian communities, Peace Corps volunteers, and local authorities is witness to the joy with which their family served in Senegal. They are very excited about this new call to serve with the people of King of Kings.
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RMS LEADERSHIP RETREAT
AND THEOLOGICAL CONFERENCE
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Leadership Retreat
& Theological Conference
September 23-26, 2013
YMCA of the Rockies, Estes Park, CO
Gifted to Grow will be the overarching theme of the 2013-2014 year. We will gather in the prime season of golden aspen, just outside Rocky Mountain National Park, as a time for spiritual renewal, connected community, prayerful worship, and engaging dialogue. We will consider what it means to be a spiritually-vibrant leader within the context of a changing and challenging ecclesiology.
Retreat leaders and guests are:
The Rev. Louise Johnson, Vice President for Mission Advancement, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, PA.
The Rev. Craig Mueller,
pastor, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church,
Chicago, IL.
Carrie Newcomer, singer/songwriter,
Bloomington, IN.
Tammy Devine,
Diaconal Minister and
ELCA Wellness Manager
The event begins on Monday, September 23 with an optional pre-gathering opportunity with Tammy Devine at 1 p.m. and the start time overall at 4 p.m. The event concludes before lunch on Thursday, September 26.
Pre-Conference:
What are your Strengths?
1 to 3:30 p.m. on Monday, September 23
We have uniquely been blessed with gifts, some we may wish we didn't have, others we covet as did the people of Corinth as recorded in 1 Corinthians 12-13, others believe their gift is the coolest. Paul writes: "Fools, Every godly gift is necessary, and nobody has all the gifts! Everybody gets some gift from God; nobody gets them all." We all have been blessed with gifts to share. Through the use of story, we will listen, share, and identify your most dependable strengths (gifts). Living from our strengths we are most fulfilled and together we complete the Body of Christ.
Who should attend? Rostered leaders most certainly, but also other leaders in the church: leaders of faith formation, youth directors, seminarians.
All are welcome! All are welcome!
more information
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LUTHERAN MEN IN MISSION
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One Year to Live Retreat For Pastors, Camp Directors and Senior Camp Staff
August 27-29, 2013
Camp Santa Maria, Grant, CO
Lutheran Men in Mission is conducting a One Year to Live Retreat for Pastors and Senior Camp Staff from August 27-29, 2013, right here in Colorado at Camp Santa Maria in Grant. The early registration deadline is July 26th. The cost is $225 with an early registration price of $195. This is a boot camp for men's spirituality with follow-on work that builds a community of men who support one another in their journey following Christ. For more information, contact Jim Monkman, (303) 642-1026.
To register, visit www.LutheranMenInMission.org/events/oytl, and download the brochure/registration form.
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LUTHERAN CAMPUS MINISTRY
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Send campus ministry leaders the names of your new college students!
Graduation parties have ended and many of our congregation's young adults are preparing to leave home to find their way at college.
The Lutheran Campus Ministries of the Rocky Mountain Synod work to stay connected with these young people, continuing the good work of your congregations and helping young adults navigate the demands of college life.
If you could provide LCM with the contact information of students who will be attending college in the fall (especially CSU, CU, UNM-CNM, UNC, Wyoming, and Utah State), each student will receive a simple invitation to check out one of our ministries.
Please send names and contact information to Karen Nelson at lcmoffice@colorado.edu to connect your students with LCM!
Thank you for helping to keep your young people connected!
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TO THE POINT
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ANYONE INTERESTED IN A RAINBOW TRAIL REUNION FOR CAMPERS AND COUNSELORS FROM THE 1960's?
My name is Jim Speckmann and I am a member at the Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit. I am trying to determine if there is any interest in a reunion at RTLC for the campers and counselors from the 1960's!. If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact me at jspeckmann@comcast.net. My phone number is 303-722-8957
NEW VIDEO CONFERENCE TEXT STUDY!
Especially for those in "remote" parts of the RMS
Webex, Tuesday mornings at 10:30 a.m.
A new text study is forming especially (but not necessarily only) for those in the more isolated parts of our Synod. The WebEx (online) Text Study meets on Tuesday mornings at 10:30 a.m. MDT to talk about the texts for the coming Sunday, with a focus specifically on preaching. All preachers are invited to this online text study. Please email Pr. Kirsten Sauey Hofmann from Trinty, Hobbs, NM, if you are interested.
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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
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Minister of Children and Families
St. Philip Lutheran Church, Littleton, CO
St. Philip Lutheran Church is excited to be expanding its staff to include a part-time position (15-20 hours per week) of Minister of Children and Families. They are looking for someone who has a passion for ministering to children and their families! A full job description, along with an application form can be found on the St. Philip website at www.stphilip-co.org
The completed application form and your resume can be sent to: St. Philip Lutheran Church, 7531 S. Kendall Blvd., Littleton, CO 80128.
The deadline for receiving applications is August 15
Organist
Grace Lutheran Church, Boulder, CO
Grace Lutheran Church in Boulder, CO, is seeking an Organist. Grace has a strong traditional music program with an emphasis on liturgy. The qualified candidate works with the Pastor and Music Director, leadership and members of Grace Lutheran Church to support the congregation's worship life and the music program of the congregation, which includes weekly staff meetings. The candidate will be responsible for one Sunday service and a weekly choir rehearsal, plus additional services for Advent, Christmas, Lent, Holy Week, and Easter, as well as occasional weddings and funerals.
Please email office@graceboulder.org for more information or to submit a resume.
Urban Servant Corps Volunteers
Denver, Colorado
Urban Servant Corps is closing in on the application process and have some newly available positions for USC volunteers for this upcoming year of service (Warren Village, Focus Points, Urban Peak, Cooking Matters St. Francis Center). Who do you know that would be a great fit, but might need a little extra nudge to consider it?
- USC is a Lutheran-affiliated full-time, year-long volunteer program. The program provides food, housing, health insurance and a modest monthly stipend as well as personal growth and development funds throughout the year.
- Volunteers live in intentional community and uphold tenets of service, simplicity, spirituality and intentional community.
- Each individual is placed at a non-profit organization, where he/she works 40 hours per week as a full time volunteer.
- USCers may be eligible for an AmeriCorps Education Award upon completion of the program -- $5500 to be used to pay off school loans or can be utilized for future education (grad school, seminary, etc.).
- The program begins on August 25 and ends the first week in August 2014.
- Visit http://www.urbanservantcorps.org/ to find the application under the "Become a Volunteer" tab.
Job openings can be found on
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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
- Groundbreaking!
- Four Winds Meeting
- Katie Chullino Ordination & Installation
- Stephanie Lord Installation
Pastor Ron Roschke
- Groundbreaking!
- Prince of Peace, Colorado Springs, CO
- Groundbreaking at Valley
- Missional Gathering Planning
- Four Winds
Pastor Sarah Moening
- Groundbreaking!
- Faith Lutheran, Eaton, CO
- Evergreen Lutheran, Evergreen, CO
- Council Retreat, Peace, Sterling, CO
Pastor Stephanie Quick Espinoza
- Stewardship for Young Adults at Luther Seminary
- Four Winds Meeting
- St. Mark's, Aurora, CO
Brad Wood
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry CO
- Groundbreaking!
- EOPR Work Group
- EOPR Taskforce Meeting
Ruth Hoffman
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry - NM
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| ELCA GLOBAL LINKS | |
Central African Republic: School program fills a void
The Village School Program is a grass-roots initiative of the Lutheran church to provide accessible education through 20 primary schools for children. ELCA missionary Susan Smith provides support to this educational program, and the ELCA provides some funds to construct new school buildings.
See
www.ELCA.org/CAR-schools .
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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
Judaism Presentation
Zion Lutheran Church, Salt Lake City, UT
All are welcome to hear Rabbi Ilana Schwartzman speak at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church,  following worship on Sunday, August 18. A light lunch will be served for this special presentation, beginning at 11:15. She will lead us in Bible study on Genesis, enlighten us about Jewish festivals, and share God's presence and promise in Judaism.
Ilana Schwartzman is an engaging speaker with a gregarious personality. She is a third generation rabbi currently serving as the senior Rabbi for Congregation Kol Ami.
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NEW MEXICO and EL PASO, TEXAS
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Border Servant Corps 2013-2014 Service Year:
Positions Available!
Border Servant Corps is seeking individuals that are interested in living and serving on the U.S./Mexico border for the 2013-2014 service year (August 19, 2013 - August 8, 2014)!
BSC is a domestic full time volunteer program that hosts 15-25 full-time volunteers that live in intentional community, learn about living simply, work for social justice, and explore spirituality. Volunteers work with issues such as poverty, immigration, domestic violence, education, and health care with opportunities to work in churches, shelters, legal centers, after-school programs, clinics, and other social service agencies within the unique context of the border region.
Positions currently available*:
*All positions are eligible for a full-time AmeriCorps Education Award.
Congregational Vitality Series to Begin August 17The New Mexico Conference of Churches and Called Back to the WellThe New Mexico Conference of Churches and Called Back to the Well are excited to announce the Congregational Vitality Series! This series will begin on Sat. Aug. 17th with Nadia Bolz-Weber. Nadia is an ELCA pastor who is really connecting with people by inviting them to think theologically and outside the box. She will spend a day with us on Aug 17th. We will follow that gathering with reading, reflection, and practices that we design together. On Aug. 1st at 10 am, I am meeting with interested folks at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church to dream about what practices and forms would be helpful for us in the coming year. This is an AMAZING opportunity for area clergy and lay leaders (all are welcome) to come together with innovative, yet grounded speakers and then to gather in the months between to integrate what we are learning into congregational life. If you are interested, we would love to have you join us. To register or for more information, contact Wanda Tuck at wjtuck2000@gmail.com or register on-line at http://www.nmchurches.org St. Peter, Carlsbad, NM, children do VBS mission projects  During this year's Vacation Bible School the children of St. Peter Lutheran in Carlsbad, NM participated in a mission project we called "Kids for Kids" to supply items for the children of Crossroads. Crossroads is an adult female residential drug rehabilitation facility in Carlsbad; young children are allowed to accompany their mothers. Each day our kids were asked to bring in various items for these young children, and as a craft project they decorated pillowcases with sayings such as, "Jesus Loves Me, This I Know" to serve as a sack for the collected items. Monetary donations were also collected to help fund the construction of a sandbox and other playground enhancements. By the end of the week, we had filled 24 "sacks" with toothbrushes, toothpaste, kids soap, socks, flip-flops, small toys and stuffed animals, and beach towels; and they raised $324.00. For many years St. Peter has shared our Vacation Bible School with ecumenical partners: 1st Christian (Disciples of Christ),1st Presbyterian, Grace Episcopal, and the Carlsbad Mennonite. |
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COLORADO
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Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains
20th Annual Golf Classic - Tee Off for Hope
Monday, August 12
Hiwan Golf Club
30671 Clubhouse Lane, Evergreen, CO 80439
6:30-7:15am Registration and Breakfast
7:30am Shotgun Start
1:00pm Luncheon & Awards
A Great Game of Golf for a Great Cause! Don't Miss It!
Click Here to Register
Prepare/Enrich Facilitator Training
Bethany Lutheran Church, Cherry Hills Village, CO
4500 E. Hampden Avenue
Prepare and Enrich Facilitator Training is being offered Thursday, August 22, 2013, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Cherry Hills Village. The workshop is designed to teach facilitators to administer and provide feedback to premarital and married couples to enhance their relationship. For more information, or to register, please call Beth Walker at 720.352.9915, or go to prepare-enrich.com.
Day Camp 2013: Blessed to Be a Blessing
August 5-8, 2013
St. Peter Lutheran Church, Greenwood Village, CO
9300 East Belleview Avenue
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
303-770-9300
For more information visit us at www.stplc.org
Download Registration Forms
Young people 3-years-old through those entering sixth grade are invited to register as participants. Middle School and High School students are invited to join the Day Camp Staff of Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp for the week.
The program begins at 9:00 a.m. and concludes at 3:00 p.m. each day, (the preschool program ends at 11:30 a.m.). Thursday night, August 8, we will wrap up camp with a family picnic and program beginning at 5:30 p.m.
The cost for the week is only $55.00/child, $45.00/each additional child, and $35.00/preschooler. Snacks and water bottles will be provided, but campers will need to bring their own lunches. (Preschoolers do not eat lunch at camp.)
For more information on this year's Day Camp, to volunteer as part of our staff, or to offer other support for this ministry, please contact the church office at 303-770-9300.
Join us this August at Saint Peter Lutheran Church, as we consider what it means to be
Blessed to Be a Blessing - it is guaranteed to touch your hearts!
Celebrating 15 Years: Ministry Behind Bars
taking place at Holy Cross Lutheran Church
Wheat Ridge, CO
Join us for a dinner and silent auction celebrating 15 years of ministry behind bars at New Beginnings Church on September 28, at 5:30 p.m., at Holy Cross Lutheran Church. There will be a freewill offering for the cost of the buffet dinner, and music by Apostles Creed. Thrivent has committed to match the funds raised in the auction.
Please RSVP to Kathy Melies at 303-831-7023 or by email at oslc915@juno.com
Holy Cross is located at 4500 Wadsworth Blvd, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
Urban Servant Corps Update Alumni: Paint Your Old Room! at USC Homes Saturday, August 17: 9am-2pm Are you missing your old USC sleeping space? Or perhaps you are looking for a fun, productive way to gather with your former housemates?!? This day of service will not disappoint! There are a number of projects that will be tackled in preparation for the August-arriving volunteers! Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Spread the word! Brought to you in partnership with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and the USC Alumni Affinity Group. Closing BBQ 835 32nd St. (USC 5&9 House) Monday, July 29: 5:30pm So long! Adios! Au revoir! Believe it or not, it's time to offer a departing blessing on the 2012-2013 USC volunteers. Please help celebrate this year of service! Main dish will be provided -- bring a side to share, if you are able! For more Urban Servant Corps news, visit www.urbanservantcorps.org
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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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