You can also give directly to the Rocky Mountain Synod by designating your contribution for 2013 Flood Assistance. 

These donations will help to mitigate damage suffered by congregations and rostered leaders who have been affected by the floods. There will probably be other needs which come to light over the next several weeks, and these funds will provide seed money for additional projects.

Mark your calendar for this year's Conference Gatherings

Gifted to Grow

God is on a mission of grace, compassion, forgiveness, and justice in the world. As the body of Christ, the church has been invited and gifted by our Creator and empowered by the Holy Spirit to join that work. During this year's Conference Gatherings, Gifted to Grow, we will discover together how we can join in that work by ministry from a gift based approach through asset mapping.

Please bring 6-8 people from your congregation to the missional gathering for your conference. We strongly encourage a diverse group of participants to represent each church, especially middle and high school youth. Your presence is important as we gather to be church together.

Join Bishop Gonia and our new Vice President, Earline Bohling, for conversation and connection around the theme, "Gifted to Grow." 

Online registration is now available for the events through November 3.  Please register at least 5 days prior to each event so arrangements may be made for meals or snacks. 

SAT OCT 19 Mountain West from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Good Shepherd, Glenwood Springs

SAT OCT 26 Southeast Colorado from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

First, Colorado Springs (bring $7 for lunch)

SAT NOV 2 Metro West from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Holy Cross, Wheat Ridge

SUN NOV 3 Metro East from 2 to 5 p.m. 

Christ the Savior, Aurora

SAT NOV 9 Border
New Hope, El Paso

SAT NOV 16 Utah

SAT DEC 7 Wyoming from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

SAT JAN 11 Boulder Broomfield from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Lutheran Church of Hope, Broomfield  

SAT FEB 1 North Colorado 

Now available are the 2013 ELCA Churchwide Assembly approved Amendments to the Model Constitution for Congregations. These amendments can be inserted into your congregation's constitution approved by the congregation by a simply majority vote of voting members present and voting at any legally called meeting of the congregation without presentation at a prior meeting of the congregation, provided that the Congregation Council has submitted notice by mail and/or electronic means to the congregation of such amendments, together with the council's recommendations, at least 30 days prior to the meeting.  See *17.04. in your congregation's constitution for more information.

A reminder that all (*) provisions in the Model Constitution for Congregations and in the 2013 ELCA Churchwide approved amendments for the Model Constitution for Congregations may not be altered, revised, or changed in any way.  Provisions that do not have a (*) may be edited per each congregational context.

Please do not be hesitant to contact Synod Secretary, Pastor Scott McAnally at pscott@lchope.org for guidance, questions, or more information.

.pdf and MS Word files of the 2013 Model Constitution

Clergy who are veterans of the military (not just those who were or are military chaplains), are invited to a gathering on Monday, November 4 in Westminster at 1000 hours at Covenant Village of Colorado, 9153 Yarrow Street.

The Reverend Canon Carl Andrews, Episcopal Diocese of Colorado, and Pastor Dean Smith, Peace In Christ ELM Elizabeth, CO, have formed the group. The first gathering had over 30 attend and shared stories of how their military service helps them as clergy in the Church today.  "We believe that our military experience enables us to bring special gifts of service and leadership to our ministry," said Pastor Smith.

The Reverend George Meister (ELCA and retired Air Force) is the Executive Director of Covenant Village.  He has offered to provide lunch, but he needs to know numbers attending.  Please let George (303-515-6342) or Dean Smith (303-957-8068) know if you can attend. This group is for current and retired clergy.  Although any clergy are invited, we realize that states other than Colorado may wish to form their own groups with partner denominations.

Bridging Borders, a service-based mission ministry through Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp, is going to Anapra, Mexico; New York City; Ecuador; and now Boulder, Colorado in the summer of 2014.  Each trip provides a unique and exciting experience for all involved as well as a tangible example of what it means to be the hands and feet of God in the world.  

Rainbow Trail is now taking requests for summer 2014 reservations.  Dates will fill fast, so if you want to reserve a date or need more information, contact Ben Jarvis, Director of On-Site and Bridging Borders.  For additional information, visit the Rainbow Trail website. 

Participate in an experiential learning trip to Israel Palestine with other young adults for the purpose of learning how to lead trips to the Holy Land for young adults in the future. The trip takes place January 3-17, 2014. Sponsored jointly by the Peace Not Walls campaign and young adult ministry in the ELCA. 

Purposes: accompanying local Lutherans and Christians, educating participants about the conflict, sharing religious, political and social history of the region, deepening faith and identity of travelers as they build relationships with global neighbors, preparing participants to engage in issues of peace and justice at home, and practicing the Peace Not Walls emphases of accompaniment, awareness and advocacy. Learn more and see the application form. Deadline, October 15. 

Link to RMS job postings 

Bishop Jim Gonia 

• Conference of Bishops
• Synod Council
• Epiphany, Denver, CO
• All Saints, Aurora, CO
• PLTS

 Cameroon: The reason we're called here  "Every once in a while we get a reminder of the reason God calls us to this place," say June and Philip Nelson, ELCA missionaries in Cameroon. Moussa, 13, recently provided such a reminder. To read this story and others from ELCA missionaries in the global church, download the spring Hand in Hand Newsletter or bulletin inserts at www.ELCA.org/handinhand.

Katie Luther: the Opera 

Friday, October 25 at 7 p.m.  and Sunday, October 27 at 2 p.m.
at Keller Hall, UNM campus next to Popejoy Hall    

In 2017 we will celebrate the 500th anniversary of The Reformation! We are excited to present a musical drama told from the mind of Katharina von Bora-Luther, the woman behind the Reformation.

 

Katie Luther comes across as a warm, genuine, passionate woman who was so moved by the Reformation that she risked severe punishment to escape to a new life of freedom in Wittenburg. This modern opera is performed in English and the music is creative, fresh, and melodic. Composer Dr. Glenn Winters has masterfully woven Lutheran hymnody into the score, which makes for an interesting work of art. Tickets available at www.UNMTickets.com.

 

Dates: Friday, October 25 at 7 p.m.  and Sunday, October 27 at 2 p.m. at Keller Hall, UNM campus next to Popejoy Hall. 

  

 

New Mexico Advocacy Day is October 19

 

The 2013 Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-New Mexico conference will be Saturday, October 19, at All Saints Lutheran Church in Albuquerque (4800 All Saints Rd NW 87120).  The conference will take place from 9:00 am until 1 pm and the cost is $15 per person, including lunch. Session topics will include advocacy basics, hunger and more.  Plan now to attend and learn more about advocating for our many neighbors living in poverty. To register send your name, congregation and contact information to: info@lutheranadvocacynm.org 

Registration deadline: October 11.  

 

The St. Olaf Orchestra

Thursday October 17 at 7 p.m.

Simms Center for the Performing Arts at the Albuquerque Academy. 6400 Wyoming Boulevard NE.  $10 Adults/Seniors. Students free.

  

  

Camino de Vida, Albuquerque, invites your prayers  

Camino de Vida's Advisory Committee is asking that the following devotional prayer be offered in your church services/church bulletins/newsletters for one month. 

 

Camino de Vida is an ecumenical ministry supported mainly by Presbyterian and Lutheran churches that offers community services and spiritual growth opportunities through worship services, Bible study, women's support groups, youth activities, as well as mission projects and social justice awareness projects.  Programs include food distribution, community educational opportunities such as English and computer classes, and community music classes.  We accomplish out mission with Jesus as our guide, showing compassion and love, and by practicing inclusiveness and social justice for all the people of Albuquerque and the world.

 

"Dear Lord, we thank you for the growth and continuous development of Camino de Vida. We ask that you continue to bless this ministry as they answer God's call to worship and to witness in their community.  We pray, Oh Lord, that you will provide a space of their own, where Camino de Vida can worship and can continue to answer God's call to service.  We pray this in Jesus' name, Amen."

 

The St. Olaf Orchestra

Sunday October 13, 7 p.m., at Bethany Lutheran Church, Cherry Hills Village, CO

Monday, October 14, 7:30 p.m. at Macky Auditorium, Boulder, CO

Tuesday, October 15, 7 p.m. at Rocky Mountain High School, Fort Collins, CO

Tickets at www.stolaftickets.com  or at the door.

Group for Progressive Lutherans meets October 14 

A group for progressive Lutheran theological thinkers holds meeting at Messiah Community Church, located at 1750 Colorado Blvd. The group meets once a month for discussions of Bible texts, church events, books, theological developments, and more. The next meeting is scheduled for October 14, 2013, at 9:30 a.m. If you have questions, please contact Pastor Wolfgang Stahlberg by email or phone (303-355-4471). New attendees are always welcome.

Jesus and Paul: Then and Now

more information

Climate Change & Faith Conference