Prayer of the Day
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. With your abundant grace and might, free us from the sin
that binds us, that we may receive you in joy and serve you always, for you live and reign with
the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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| CONGREGATIONS |
RMS Prayer Cycle
UTAH CONFERENCE
12/20
Our Saviour's
Salt Lake City, UT
Jeff Beebe
Prince of Peace
Logan, UT
Scott Thalacker
Shepherd of the Mountains
Park City, UT
Steve Leiser
12/27
St. Matthew's
Salt Lake City, UT
Christine Higuerra-Street
Zion Salt Lake City, UT
Steve Klemz
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Bishop Jim Gonia
- All Staff meeting
- Alison George Installation
Pastor Ron Roschke
- All Staff meeting
- Year-end tasks for shared Ministries
- Web updates
Pastor Sarah Moening
- All Staff meeting
- Prince of Peace-Gillette, WY
- Conference Coordinator WebEx
Pastor Judith VanOsdol
- All Staff meeting
- Well of Hope
- Christ the King, Denver CO
- Mt. Hope, El Paso TX
- Cristo Rey, El Paso TX
Pastor Kent Mueller
- All Staff meeting
- Administration matters
Erin Power, Diaconal Minister
- All Staff meeting
- Middle School Youth Gathering Planning
- Assembly Planning
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry, NM
- Revenue Stabilization & Tax Policy Committee
- All Staff meeting
- Albuquerque Religious & Clergy United Breakfast
Peter Severson- Lutheran Advocacy Ministry, CO
- All Staff meeting
- Vacation
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| CALENDAR |
2016
JANUARY 15-17
Middle School Youth Gathering
Hotel Elegante
Colorado Springs, CO
APRIL 28-30
2016 Synod Assembly
Embassy Suites
Loveland, CO
SEPTEMBER 19-22
2016 Theological Conference
Little America
Cheyenne, WY
2017
MAY 5-7
2017 Synod Assembly
Antlers Hilton Hotel
Colorado Springs, CO
SEPTEMBER 18-21
2017 Theological Conference
2018
MAY 3-5
2018 Synod Assembly
Westin Hotel
Westminster, CO
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Office of the Bishop is closed Dec. 23 - Jan. 3
Because of the holidays and the staff taking vacation days between Christmas and New Years, the Office of the Bishop will be closed Dec. 23 through Jan. 3.
Note that phone messages left for staff members are delivered directly to their email. Staff members will be checking email periodically.
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Advent greetings from the
RMS Office of the Bishop staff
The staff of the Office of the Bishop had a little Christmas fun last evening via an Ugly Sweater Mystery Dinner!
We share with you our warmest wishes for a blessed holiday as we give thanks for your partnership in mission and ministry. As you know, "we are church, better together!" Thank you for being a part of the Rocky Mountain Synod "team!"
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Visit the new rmselca.org!
The Rocky Mountain Synod has unveil a new dynamic website that will work as well on a mobile phone as on a computer screen.
On the new site, the same information is presented in different formats depending on the size of the screen, so the experience on a mobile phone is much improved.
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 REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS
EXTENDED TO TODAY!
Middle School
Youth Gathering
January 15 - 17, 2016
Hotel Elegant�
& Conference Center
Colorado Springs, Colorado
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Resources on Refugees
Please select a Sunday in Advent to use the
Litany for Refugees, Immigrants, and Asylees. The Litany can be customized for the specific day in which you use it. Sentences for the day, linked to the propers from the Revised Common Lectionary and Narrative Lectionary, are provided in the document.
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2016 Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-NM Bishop's Legislative Luncheon & Issues Briefing on Thursday, February 4
The Bishop's Legislative Luncheon will be at 12:30 pm in La Terraza at La Fonda Hotel (100 East San Francisco) on Thursday, February 4.
In order to help meet our growing expenses for this event, the cost of the luncheon has been increased to $35 per person. The cost is reduced to $30 when 4 or more people attend from your congregation or group. If you are only able to attend the morning Issues Briefing, the cost is $10. Deadline for reservations is January 31.
Please make reservations by calling the Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-NM office at 505.984.8005 or sending an email to info@lutheranadvocacynm.org . More details in the NM section below.
CO Faith Advocacy Day is Saturday, Feb. 20
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-Colorado invites everyone to join us for Colorado Faith Advocacy Day 2016 on Saturday, February 20, at Bethany Lutheran Church. Mark your calendars now! More details will be announced this month and registration will open in early January.
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Cristo Rey-El Paso seeks donations for annual Christmas Basket project
Iglesia Luterana Cristo Rey and CEPCO (Central El Paso Community Organization) are putting together 90 Christmas food baskets for the families in the After School Program, our church, and families of the surrounding community that need assistance to enjoy this holiday season when work is scarce.
We are also planning our Biggest Christmas Celebration for our Community: "The Posadas"  on December 19th at 5:00 where 200 to 300 people come to reenact the journey of Mary and Joseph and later celebrate with Mariachis, the traditional Mexican Christmas meal, the Pi�ata for the kids and more. Finally we are collecting gifts or gift cards to buy present for the kids in the After School Program and our church community.
We need your support for these Christmas projects as Cristo Rey wishes to bless our community during the holidays. Please send your donation or gift cards to Iglesia Luterana Cristo Rey and put in the memo: "Christmas Projects." We will use your money where most needed for the projects. Our address is 1010 East Yandell Drive El Paso, TX 79902
Thank You for any assistance you can provide! If you have any questions please contact Rev. Rose Mary S�nchez-Guzm�n at 915.422-6545 (Pastor), Ceci Herrera (Director for Central El Paso Community Organization) at 915.544-6545, or Hannah Drewes at 915.584-1383.
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If you're shopping anyway...
We certainly aren't encouraging you to focus on the commercial aspect of Christmas... but if you're likely to purchase some items online from Amazon anyway, a small percentage will be donated by Amazon to the Rocky Mountain Synod if you use this link as your entry point to Amazon.
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Consider an end-of-the-year gift
to the Better Together Fund
The Scriptures remind us that we are the Body of Christ, woven together for the sake of our witness to God's love and grace. As members of the ELCA we claim the power of being Christ's Church-Better Together.
At our Rocky Mountain Synod Assembly in May the Synod Council announced the Better Together Fund, an opportunity for those passionate about our shared ministry as a synod and as a global church to set aside one dollar a day (or more) for the foundational work we do together. Currently the amount raised is over $36,000!
Gifts may be given online, or send in a check made out to Rocky Mountain Synod. Gifts of appreciated stock are also welcome, providing a smart gifting strategy. Send an email to Kent Mueller to receive information about giving a gift of stock.
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Write a card to an immigrant in detention
Share Advent hope this season - write a card to an immigrant in detention. See this link from Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services:
Rostered leader transitions and openings
Rostered leaders include pastors, diaconal ministers, associates in ministry, and deaconesses. View the list of congregations in transition at this link on the new RMS website:
Visit the RMS Global Missions Facebook Page
The Global Mission Committee has a Face Book page. You are invited to visit and like the page to get the latest information on our ministry and mission we are doing together all around the world.
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Eucharist is second Wednesday of each month
We invite you to join us the second Wednesday of each month for a staff/community Eucharist Service at 11:30 am at the Office of the Bishop. Email Maria Sutton if you are interested in leading worship!
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Non-rostered positions available
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LUTHERAN ADVOCACY MINISTRY NEW MEXICO
2016 Bishop's Luncheon &
Issues Briefing: February 4
You are invited and urged to attend the 2016 Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-NM Bishop's Legislative Luncheon & Issues Briefing on Thursday, February 4.
PLEASE NOTE: This year, the morning Issues Briefing will be at the United Church (1804 Arroyo Chamiso, which is near Christ LutheranChurch). Registration and refreshments will begin at 9:00 am.
The Bishop's Legislative Luncheon will be at 12:30 pm in La Terraza at La Fonda Hotel (100 East San Francisco). In order to help meet our growing expenses for this event, the cost of the luncheon has been increased to $35 per person. The cost is reduced to $30 when 4 or more people attend from your congregation or group. If you are only able to attend the morning Issues Briefing, the cost is $10. Deadline for reservations is January 31. Please make reservations by calling the Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-NM office at 505.984.8005 or sending an email to info@lutheranadvocacynm.org. After the luncheon, there will be a chance to visit the Roundhouse, contact your legislators and get acquainted with the capitol. Those who can join us for this opportunity will meetafter the luncheon at about 2:15 in the east lobby of the Roundhouse. See you on February 4!
Deutscher Weihnachtsgottesdienst  Service in German with Traditional Christmas Hymns Sunday, December 20, 2015, 5:00 p.m. A German language Christmas Service will be at Community of Joy Lutheran Church in Rio Rancho, New Mexico on Sunday, December 20, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. The Rev. Michael Bastian, German born Pastor at Community of Joy, will deliver the sermon and lead through the service in the German language. Traditional Christmas hymns and music will be provided. We welcome all visitors to our church for this special event and fellowship after the service. Invite your parents, bring your children. Spread the word to any of your friends who have connections to Germany and the German language and join us for this wonderful Christmas celebration. |
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Lord of the Hills, Centennial, to hold Christmas Day worship
Many congregations do not have a Christmas Day worship. Lord of the Hills, Centennial, invites you to join them Christmas Day at 10 a.m. They are located at 21755 E. Smoky Hill Road, Centennial, CO 80015. Pastor Dan Bollman is the interim pastor serving Lord of the Hills.
Frohe Weihnachten!
�kumenischer Weihnachtsgottesdienst in deutscher Sprache
(Ecumenical Worship in the German language)
20. Dezember 2015 um 17 Uhr
Messiah Community Church, ELCA
Denver, Colorado
HOUSE FOR All SINNERS AND SAINTS
Beer and Carols is December 18 at 6:30 p.m.
 House for all Sinners and Saints will host its annual Beer and Carols, a pub sing-along of your favorite Christmas carols, on Friday, December 18th from 6:30-8:00 PM at the Blake Street Tavern. Why go caroling out in the snow, when you can sing Christmas carols, drink beer and stay warm indoors at the same time? The choice is simple! The event is free and open to all (21+). There is no cover charge. So, don your Santa hats and elf ears, and join us at 6:30 PM on Friday, December 18th for Beer and Carols! House for All Sinners and Saints' Annual Beer and Carols @ The Blake Street Tavern 2301 Blake Street Denver, CO 80205 See our Facebook event for more information:
Piano Concert in Loveland is Jan 29
Gary Schmidt is the church musician at Bethel Lutheran Church, Windsor, Colorado. He is presenting an "Evening with the Classics" on Friday, January 29 at 7:30 p.m. at the Rialto Theatre, 228 E. 4th Street, Loveland.
The concert will feature well-loved piano classics by Bach, Chopin, Debussy, Rachmaninoff and other. Tickets are $15, ($12 seniors/students). Available from the box office at 970-962-2120.
Flute Recital in Denver is December 30 at St. Paul's
 Saint Paul Lutheran Church invites you to a concert during the 12 days of Christmas. The free recital is Wednesday, December 30 at 7:30 p.m.at Saint Paul, 1600 Grant Street, Denver, CO. The flute and piano recital will feature works by Prokofiev, Copland, and more.
The flutist is Cora Crisman. Following her studies at Ithaca College, Cora pursued a Master of Arts at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Most recently she has enjoyed playing with the Colorado Ballet Orchestra, the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, and the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra in Texas. All are invited.
Beyond Divorce: Seminar series begins January 14
Rebuilding When Your Relationship Ends, begins on Thursday, January 14, 2016, at St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Highlands Ranch. The 10 week seminar is from 6:30 to 8:30 PM each Thursday, and promotes healing for those who are going through a divorce or the ending of a love relationship. Education, support and optional social activities are provided. Complementary child care is available. For more information please contact Beth Walker at 720-352-9915 or bethdwalker@gmail.com
Tool for premarital and married couples: Enrich
Prepare/Enrich Facilitator Training is being offered on Friday, January 29, 2016, at Bethany Lutheran Church, 4500 E. Hampden Avenue, in Cherry Hills Village. The workshop is designed to teach facilitators to utilize this tool to assist both premarital and married couples in understanding and improving their relationship. For more information or to register, please contact Beth Walker at bethdwalker@gmail.com or 720-352-9915.
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