Prayer of the Day
Lord God, source of every blessing, you showed forth your glory and led many to faith by the works of your Son, who brought gladness and salvation to his people. Transform us by the Spirit of his love, that we may find our life together in him, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen
Deborah Ann Cot� ordination will be
January 23
At 10 am with reception to follow at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 111 Del Mar Circle
Aurora, Colorado, 80011.
All rostered leaders are invited to process. The color of the day is red.
Deborah has been called to serve the people of God
at Iglesia Luterana Jes�s de Nazaret in Aurora, Colorado.
Installation of Pastor Margot Wright is January 31
Pastor Margot Wright has been called to serve as the pastor of Lord of the Hills Lutheran Church. Installation is 3 p.m. on January 31, 2016, 21755 E Smoky Hill Rd, Aurora, CO 80015. Website.
Rostered leaders are invited to vest and process. The color of the day is green. A fellowship reception will follow.
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| CONGREGATIONS |
RMS Prayer Cycle
METRO WEST CONFERENCE
1/24
Lord of the Valley Granby,CO
Brian Bergum
St Mark's Church of Grace Episcopal Lutheran Ministry, Craig, CO
Bain White (ECUSA)
Mount of the Holy Cross Vail, CO
Scott Beebe
Shepherd of the Valley, Grand Junction,CO
Scott Stein (interim)
St Andrew, Arvada, CO
Bev Piro (interim)
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Bishop Jim Gonia
- All Staff Meeting
- Deb Cot� Ordination
- Executive Committee WebEx
- First Lutheran Ault, CO
- Boulder Broomfield Conference Retreat
Pastor Ron Roschke
- All Staff Meeting
- Offer Invocation at Colorado State Legislature
- Deb Cot� Ordination
- El Camino Colorado (Lutheran Campus Ministry at CU-Boulder)
- Campus Ministry at UNM/CNM, Board meeting, Albuquerque NM
Pastor Sarah Moening
- All Staff Meeting
- Transitions Work
- Trinity, Las Cruces, NM
Pastor Judith VanOsdol
- All Staff Meeting
- St Matthew"s Aurora CO
- Our Savior's Denver CO
- Camino de Vida, Albuquerque, NM
- St Paul's Albuquerque, NM
- Mustard Seed, Fort Collins, CO
Pastor Kent Mueller
- All Staff Meeting
- RMS Administration
- Transitions Work
Erin Power, Diaconal Minister
- All Staff Meeting
- Assembly Planning
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry, NM
- Legislative session begins
- All Staff meeting, Denver
- NM Conference of Churches Dinner
Peter Severson- Lutheran Advocacy Ministry, CO
- All Staff Meeting
- Opening Prayer at Colorado State House
- Augustana, Denver
- Together CO Gathering on Racial Justice
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| CALENDAR |
2016
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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We are "Better Together" and we are seeking some key ministry partners at the Lutheran Center
We are always looking ahead with new opportunities for volunteers and partners to share in ministry at the Rocky Mountain Synod Lutheran Center, located at 7375 Samuel Drive, 80221. Email Pastor Kent Mueller to partner with these opportunities:
LUTHERAN CENTER GARDEN
Four raised beds are in place ready to be prepared, planted, and tended throughout the growing season. The produce would be donated to the Growing Home ministry and food pantry. Could be a fun season-long opportunity for volunteers to take turns tending the garden.
MICROSOFT EXCHANGE / OUTLOOK EXPERTISE
It's time for us to look into moving the RMS exchange server to "the crowd" using the Office 365 non-for-profit plan we already have in place. If you have expertise to share, please let us know.
GROWING HOME OVERNIGHT HOSTS
The basement at the RMS Lutheran Center serves periodically as a site for the Growing Home ministry for homeless families. It's now possible for a congregation to provide volunteers for meals and overnight housing for one or more nights at a time. If your congregation is seeking new ways to share the Love of Christ, please inquire how you can be of service.
PAINTING A VERY LONG FENCE
Looking for a youth or congregation service project? The west fence at the Lutheran Center will look better if it's not red! This would be a great Thrivent Action Grant project. Let me know if you can bring a group this spring and we'll get the funds for the paint!
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Learn about ELCA Hunger
January 21 at Bethany at 6:30 p.m.
Bethany Lutheran Church in Cherry Hills Village, CO, and King of Glory Lutheran Church in Loveland, CO, have each pledged to raise $10,000 during Lent towards a $2 million Lent Campaign goal. We are kicking off the campaign with a visit from Rev. Dan Rift, the ELCA's Program Director for the ELCA Hunger and Disaster Appeals. Come to Bethany on Thursday, January 21 at 6:30pm to hear about the campaign and the good work that these appeals support. Contact Sarah at 303-758-2820 or Sarah@bethany-denver.org with any questions.
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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.
Colorado Faith Advocacy Day is Saturday, Feb. 20 at Bethany Lutheran Church
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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RMS Earth Stewards encourages
study of climate change
 The RMS Earth Stewards Team recently heard a presentation from the Citizens' Climate Lobby (CCL), http://citizensclimatelobby.org/about-ccl/ . CCL is requesting the Synod endorse two of CCL's position statements on climate change. The Earth Stewards Team believes the request is worthy of consideration, and plans to bring a resolution to the Assembly next April. We therefor are providing this information and encourage congregations to investigate further.
The Request: CCL is asking the Rocky Mountain Synod to endorse two statements: One focuses on the need for national legislation to address the climate crisis and the other for Congress to adopt the CCL policy proposal.
As preparation for discussion of this request at Assembly, churches are encouraged to arrange presentations from CCL volunteers regarding their work. Requests for presentations may be submitted to Denver CCL Volunteer, Kathleen Wells (kathleen.wells@case.edu), who will relay them to chapters throughout the region.
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JOURNEY INTO A DEEPER FAITH WALK
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"Sing a New Song" discipleship event in Albuquerque is June 28-30
Learn more about how to create and sustain a discipleship congregation using the ancient faith formation process known as the Catechumenate.
Rediscovered by many Protestant and Roman Catholic congregations, it is a journey into a deeper faith walk and baptismal living. The North American Association for the Catechumenate (NAAC) is an ecumenical organization that partners with a variety of denominations in North America to provide faith formation resources and training for congregational leaders.
Upcoming events in 2016 include the Annual Gathering featuring Marty Haugen, Dan Benedict, and Lizette Larson-Miller speaking on the theme "Sing a New Song: Unpacking the Mystery of Faith." The event will be held June 28-30, 2016 at the Bosque Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Also planned is a Catechumenate Training Institute for congregational leaders that will be offered Sept. 29-Oct. 1, at the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Scholarships for seminarians and first-call pastors are available for both events. Contact registrar Devra Betts at devrabetts@gmail.com. For more information and online registration, check out the NAAC website http://www.catechumenate.org .
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IT'S HEALTH ASSESSMENT SEASON
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Rostered Leaders (and applicable spouses): Time to take the annual health assessment!
The start of a new year reminds Portico health plan members and spouses to take their health assessments by logging into their My Portico accounts. Completion of the assessment earns you $150 in wellness dollars, with the opportunity to earn $250 more in follow up activities. Taking the assessment also helps the synod reach its 65% participation goal, saving your congregation 1% in health contributions. When you have taken the assessment, log it here. If applicable, have your spouse take it and log it, too!
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MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH GATHERING
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Middle School Youth Gathering Wrap Up
The Middle School Youth Gathering was an outstanding event! Follow-up Devotion is posted on the MSYG webpage to continue conversation with your youth! A link to the evaluation is also posted on the webpage. Please take a few moments to share about your experience! Visit the MSYG webpage.
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Consider a fiscal year-end 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.
The RMS fiscal years ends January 31, so it's a great time to give!
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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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:
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No RMS Eucharist on Ash Wednesday
The RMS staff will be attending worship at a neighboring congregation on Ash Wednesday. Thus, no worship will take place at the Lutheran Center that Wednesday.
Other months, 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
ORGANIST / ACCOMPANIST (part time)
Grace Lutheran Church, 1001 13th Street, Boulder, CO 80302
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Wyoming Junior High Retreat is March 11-13
All Wyoming Conference congregations are invited to participate in the 2nd annual Wyoming Conference Jr. High Retreat to be held March 11-13, 2016.
The retreat will be at Grace Lutheran in Casper. If you are interested in bringing your youth, contact Pastor Brenda at 307-258-6149. We will work together to plan our theme and schedule
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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!
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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.
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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