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| CAMPUS MINISTRY LENTEN REFLECTION |
What do you Hunger for?
As we journey through Holy Week, we hear from students from the University of Northern Colorado. We encourage you to ponder that question: what are you hungry for?
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What do you hunger or thirst for at the University of Northern Colorado?
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Greetings!
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 The first eucharist at the new Lutheran Center took place on Wednesday, April 9. Guests included a delegation from Highlands Lutheran Church who came to give thanks for the beautiful worship furnishings created by Rick Wittkop, Highlands member. The furnishings were provided through gifts given to the "Shine God's Future" campaign.
We are [slowly] settling into the new RMS Lutheran Center | Centro Luterano
The last month has been a challenging one! We started packing about a month ago, and then the move date was delayed several days to March 31. The move took place that day, but some extremely minor issues resulted in Adams County not issuing the Certificate of Occupancy permit until April 8. We are still unpacking and getting pictures on the walls. Overall, we are discovering that it is a joy to be in this new place of ministry for the Rocky Mountain Synod, and we look forward to the dedication celebration on Thursday, May 8 at 4:30 p.m.
In all honesty, however, we all remain overwhelmed by the transition and the tasks at hand with the upcoming assembly. Thank you for your patience as we navigate the next several weeks. Several pieces of the pre-assembly packet will be delayed, but you will receive them is soon as we can put the pieces all together. Some materials will be available the end of this week. Watch for details.
2014 Assembly Information
Read more about the 2014 Assembly and register online. A $25 late fee now applies. The schedule is creatively designed with flex start and end times for those traveling long distances and those closer, since travelers need to be on their way by noon on Saturday. View assembly information online.
 May 8
New Lutheran Center Dedication 7375 Samuel Drive, Denver, CO map
Denver, Colorado
Global Mission Dinner Table Hosts Needed For Friday night at Assembly
Friday night of the Assembly will be a Global Mission Dinner. We are looking for people who have global mission experience to act as global mission table hosts and facilitate a conversation around the Rocky Mountain Synod's role in the Global Church.
Have you been on a mission trip to Madagascar or elsewhere? Or does your congregation support a missionary or ministry abroad? We would also love members of our ethnic and international congregations to serve as hosts. Would you be willing to share your stories over dinner? Dinner is Friday, May 9, 5:30-7:30pm at the Denver Tech Center Marriott Hotel. Contact RMS Global Missions Chair Pastor Tim Orlowski if you would be willing to serve as a table host!
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PRAYERS
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There in God's garden
stands the tree of Wisdom,
whose leaves hold forth the healing of the nations:
Tree of all knowledge, Tree of all compassion,
Tree of all beauty.
--Kiraly Imre von Pecselyni, ELW 342
Easter Sunday
April 20 , 2014
Synod Prayer Cycle: Wyoming
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:
4/20
Prince of Peace Gillette, WY
Prince of Peace Casper, WY
Michael Struck
St. John Riverton, WY
Scott Jorgenson
St. Luke's Buffalo, WY
Alena Lamirato
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HEALTH ASSESSMENT
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We Reached our Goal!!!
Thank you to all the rostered leaders who took the Portico Health Assessment. We reached our 65% goal needed by the end of March and will now be the recipients of 2014 Wellness Dollars! We were one of five synods to reach the goal a month BEFORE the final deadline! Thanks for getting it out of the way early!
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WORLD MALARIA DAY
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World Malaria Day is coming up on April 25 and it's another great opportunity to do something big for the ELCA Malaria Campaign. For the last several years, the ELCA observed World Malaria Day by dedicating an entire week to raising funds and awareness for our companions' programs. To date, we have joined hands in 12 African countries to help fight malaria, and we have seen great progress. This year, let's make it 13.
We are looking to you and members of this church to help take the ELCA Malaria Campaign work into the next country - Namibia. If we raise $250,000, we'll have enough to kick start programming in Namibia, the last country in our rollout plan.
Will you join thousands of ELCA members across this church and millions of people around the world in taking action? Please consider observing this day by taking a special offering for the ELCA Malaria Campaign on Sunday, April 27, 2014. Find special World Malaria Day resources that will help you activate your congregation to learn about malaria, the ELCA Malaria Campaign, our work in Namibia and more.
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MISSION CONGREGATION GIFTS
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GIFTED TO GROW!
Do you remember the Tree at last year's assembly? Well it will be back again this year! As a way to live out our theme "Gifted To Grow" congregations and assembly participants are invited to bring gifts that will be shared with our Mission Partner Congregations:
- gift cards for supplies or for gas/groceries (for pastor's discretionary funds for people in need)
- Gluten free communion wafer
- Regular communion wafers
- Veggie Tales movies
- white computer paper
- pens and pencils
- colored pencils and crayons
- musical instruments for kids (maracas, tambourines, shaker eggs, etc)
- coffee
Gifts brought to the assembly and placed under the tree will be shared with :
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TO THE POINT
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2014 Global Church Directory Now Available!
Our Global Church is the annual directory highlighting ELCA missionaries, scholarships and ministries.
It provides a wonderful overview of our church's global engagement, including new projects that will be funded through Always Being Made New: The Campaign for the ELCA.
Request one free copy (no shipping and handling) at 800-638-3522 or RIS@elca.org. Order two or more free copies at
Office of the Bishop Eucharist is Second Wednesday
We invite you to join us the second Wednesday of each month for a staff/community Eucharist Service at 11:30am at the Office of the Bishop. Email Erin Power if you are interested in leading worship! There will be no worship service in May since it would fall around the same time as the Assembly. Join us on June 11!
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Bishop Jim Gonia
- In-Office Appointments
- Bethany Lutheran, Denver, CO
- Holy Cross, Wheat Ridge, CO
- First Lutheran, Gypsum, CO
Pastor Sarah Moening
- Lutheran Church of the Servant, Santa Fe, NM
- Bethany Lutheran, Denver, CO
- In Office Appointments
Pastor Stephanie Quick Espinoza
- First Lutheran, Gypsum, CO
Pastor Kent Mueller
- Synod Assembly Planning
- Holy Cross, Wheat Ridge, CO
Ruth Hoffman
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry NM
Becky Jones (interim)
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry, CO
Kim Williams
- Deepened Discipleship Projects
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| ELCA GLOBAL LINKS | |
South Africa: What it means to walk and serve 'hand in hand'
"The job of the 60 YAGM scattered across the globe is to accompany - to walk with the people in our new communities, to share their sorrows, their victories, their lives for the short time we cross paths," says Rachel Swenson, who is serving for a year in South Africa with the ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission program. Read 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 2014
MAY 8-10
2014 Synod Assembly
Marriott Tech Center
Denver, Colorado
SEPTEMBER 7
2014 God's Work Our Hands Sunday
SEPTEMBER 22-25
2014 Theological Conference
Marriott Hotel
Colorado Springs, Colorado
NOVEMBER 21-23
2014 Senior High Youth Gathering
YMCA of the Rockies
Estes Park, Colorado
2015
JANUARY 16-18
2015 Middle School
Youth Gathering
Elegante Hotel & Conference Center
Colorado Springs, Colorado
MAY 1-3
2015 Synod Assembly
Sheraton Hotel
Salt Lake City, Utah
SEPTEMBER 21-24
2015 Theological Conference
YMCA of the Rockies
Estes Park, Colorado
NOVEMBER 20-22
2015 Senior High Youth Gathering
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WYOMING
| submit Wyoming news or photos
Strawberry Festival Benefit
Saturday, May 17
9:00 am- 3:00 pm
Prince of Peace, Casper, WY
Join Prince of Peace for a day of great food, music, local crafts, bake sale, kids carnival, and lots MORE! Proceeds will benefit Habitat for Humanity, Boys & Girls Club, Pilots for Christ, and POP Community Service Projects.
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NEW MEXICO and EL PASO, TEXAS
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Maundy Thursday Worship
With Elements of a Seder
April 17, 2014 ~ 6:30-8:00 pm
Community of Joy, Rio Rancho, NM
 Passover is the meal that Jesus was observing the night before his death, and that Jews across the world still observe as a high holy day every year. On this night, the story of the exodus is retold. It is a meal and worship service all wrapped into one. At Community of Joy Lutheran Church, we will remember how Jesus took this tradition and re-shaped it when he instituted the Lord's Supper. Our celebration will include Christian and Jewish elements, including Holy Communion. A simple sampling of traditional foods from a Passover will be served. Call 505-896-2543 to reserve a space.
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COLORADO
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LUTHERAN FAMILY SERVICES ROCKY MOUNTAINS
YOUTH AMBASSADOR PROGRAM
"Learning through leading while
enriching the community!"
Do you know a sophomore or junior in high school who has a passion for non-profit work? Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains (LFS) is starting a new program called the Youth Ambassador Program, which is designed to educate high school sophomores and juniors about the non-profit world.
Through the program, youth will get a firsthand look at the programs offered by LFS, as well as grow their leadership skills, gain job and life skills, and build confidence. While learning about meeting the needs of the vulnerable, youth will become an ambassador for LFS in their church and other communities. Also, in line with LFS' mission statement "Inspired by the compassionate love of Christ, LFS walks with the vulnerable through services that heal, strengthen and provide hope," youth will impact our community with their service through this program.
The Youth Ambassador Program will last four months throughout the summer. During this time, there will be 3-4 meetings, approximately two hours each. Since this is the first year, we are asking Youth Leaders and/or Pastors to nominate a youth or two from your congregation. Once we have a nomination form, we will send a letter explaining the purpose and commitment of the program to the youth and his/her family.
If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Becca Sager at becca.sager@lfsrm.org
or at 303.217.5841.
Artist paints The Passion of Our Lord
at Augustana's Good Friday worship Good Friday, April 18, noon and 7 p.m.,
Sanctuary, Augustana Lutheran Church
 Good Friday worship on April 18 at noon and at 7 p.m. at Augustana Lutheran Church (5000 E. Alameda Ave., Denver) will offer a unique worship experience through "Drawn to the Word." Paul Oman, artist and pastor, will paint larger-than-life sized murals depicting The Passion of Our Lord before your eyes. This story will unfold artistically, musically, narratively, and scripturally during worship. The paintings will then become part of Augustana's art collection.
Paul Oman, pastor and artist, seeks to give new vision to God's Word by using the process of painting to captivate audiences in our visually-oriented culture. To see murals and video go to: www.PaulOmanFineArt.com.
Please join us on Good Friday as we journey together toward the cross and in the promise of salvation. Special thanks to Augustana's Music Ministry and the Augustana Foundation for financial gifts for this worship event.
St. Swisem's Day Dinner: Men Can Cook Too, Two Dinner
April 26
Holy Love Lutheran Church
Aurora, CO
Holy Love is hosting a benefit dinner on Saturday, April 26 at 6:00pm to benefit an area family who has a child with severe health issues. Learn about the family here. How can your congregation help? What would it look like if every congregation in the area joined together to do "God's Work, Our Hands"? Download the flyer for more information
Prepare/Enrich Certification Training
is being offered Thursday, April 24, 2014, at Bethany Lutheran Church, 4500 E. Hampden Avenue, in Cherry Hills Village. The workshop is designed to teach facilitators to administer and provide helpful feedback to premarital and married couples. For more information, or to register, please call Beth Walker at 720.352.9915 or bethdwalker@gmail.com.
Beyond Divorce: Rebuilding When Your Relationship Ends
begins on Thursday, May 1, 2014, at St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Highlands Ranch. The seminar is from 6:30 to 8:30 PM each Thursday for 10 weeks, ending on July 10, 2014. Complementary child care is available. For more information please contact Beth Walker at 720.352.9915 or bethdwalker@gmail.com .
6th Annual Selian Lutheran Hospital 5K Run/Walk
1K Fun Run for the Kids!
 Saturday, May 31, 9 a.m. To Benefit Selian Lutheran Hospital in Arusha, Tanzania
Location: St. Peter Lutheran Church
9300 E. Belleview
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
303-770-9300
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Synod Minister for Connected Community
Rocky Mountain Synod
800-525-0462 / 303-777-6700 / fax 303-339-4744
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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