Prayers for Pastor Wolfgang Stahlberg, recovering in Germany
Pastor Wolfgang Stahlberg is recovering slowly in Germany after emergency surgery last week for a serious aortic aneurysm. His wife, Pastor Liliana Stahlberg, Highlands Lutheran Church, Denver, CO, is now with him.
Our loving prayers surround Wolfgang and his family, also at the death of his mother last week.
Prayer of the Day
God of the covenant, in the mystery of the cross you promise everlasting life to the world. Gather all peoples into your arms, and shelter us with your mercy, that we may rejoice in the life we share in your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Consecration and Installation February 21
Mary Stoneback will be consecrated and installed as a Diaconal Minister of Faith Formation on Sunday February 21 at 5 pm at Ascension Lutheran Church in Colorado Springs. All ordained, consecrated and commissioned ministers are invited to process. The color of the day is RED.
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| CONGREGATIONS |
RMS Prayer Cycle
BORDER CONFERENCE
2/21
St Mark, Roswell,NM
Lavone Johnson
St Peter, Carlsbad NM
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Bishop Jim Gonia
- Madagascar Consultation
- Strategic Planning Day
- Faith Advocacy Day CO
- St. Paul Peace-Las Vegas NM
- Consecration-Mary Stoneback
- Dean's WebEx
Pastor Ron Roschke
- ELCA Madagascar Consultation
- Synod Strategic Planning
- Adult Forum, St. Paul, Denver
- Lutheran Campus Ministry, Boulder CO
- Western Region Campus Ministry Consultation
- Candidacy Meetings
- Synod Assembly Planning
Pastor Sarah Moening
- Transitions Work
- Conference Coordinators
- Dean's Meeting
Pastor Judith VanOsdol
- Our Savior's-Denver
- Indonesian Church-Aurora
- St. Mark's-Aurora
- All Saints-Aurora
- New Beginnings Prison Ministry
- Synod Strategic Planning
Pastor Kent Mueller
- RMS Administration
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Synod Strategic Planning
- Our Redeemer, Fort Morgan
Erin Power, Diaconal Minister
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry, NM
- Legislative session
- Strategic Planning WebEx
Peter Severson- Lutheran Advocacy Ministry, CO
- Faith Advocacy Day 2016 preparation
- King of Glory, Loveland
- Together CO Lobby day
- Women's Legislative Breakfast
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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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Strategic Planning Process Begins
 In January the Synod Council took steps forward with our strategic planning process. We will be partnering with GSB (Gronlund - Sayther - Brunkow) to clarify our mission and purpose as the Rocky Mountain Synod and to identify key goals for the next several years. This will be a highly participatory process, and I encourage you to let your voice be heard. There will be opportunities to share your perspectives through surveys, Synod Assembly, and invitations to connect with your Synod Council representative and Conference leadership. I am excited by this intentional opportunity to discover how the Spirit is calling us to build connectivity, collaboration, and support for our shared witness to the gospel.
GSB is well placed to accompany us on this journey; they have a wealth of experience and are currently working with six synods.
Please submit council member emails
To gather a wide range of voices, our first task is to obtain names and email addresses of your Congregation Council members. Rostered leaders have been asked to submit that information by February 20.
Check if your congregation has submitted email addresses
Use this link to submit church council emails:
Email addresses will be used for the strategic planning process and for RMS communication. (An unsubscribe button is at the bottom of every email newsletter!)
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PLEASE COMPLETE THESE ASAP!
(deadline was February 15)
Annual Report Resources
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Reprint & share the March 2016 Landscape newsletter
The March 2016 Landscape one-page newsletter was mailed to every congregation. You may also use the electronic version and share the link:
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REGISTER NOW! THIS SATURDAY!
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Colorado Faith Advocacy Day is Saturday, Feb. 20 at Bethany Lutheran Church
Registration NOW OPEN for Colorado Faith Advocacy Day 2016!
This year's topic: "Income Inequality: Who Gets Left Behind?"
Come to Faith Advocacy Day to hear from legislators, policy experts and human services providers talk about what income inequality looks like in Colorado, and how citizens and people of faith are called to respond! Featuring keynote speaker Rep. Faith Winter, House District 32, and panelists from 9to5, Family Promise of Greater Denver, and the Colorado Fiscal Institute.
When: Saturday, February 20, 2016, 8:30am-2:30pm
Where: Bethany Lutheran Church, 4500 E Hampden Ave
Cost: $30 regular, $15 student/low-income rate
Breakfast and lunch are included, and childcare is available. Registration table opens at 8:00am on the day of the event.
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Assembly Registration
Deadline is March 16
NOMINATIONS
SYNOD COUNCIL:
(4 year term unless otherwise noted)
Border (Vote for 1)
Lay Female
Boulder/Broomfield (Vote for 1)
Clergy
Metro West - (Vote for 1)
Lay Male
Southeast Colorado (Vote for 1)
Lay Female
Wyoming (Vote for 1)
Lay Male
at Large Clergy (Vote for 1)
Clergy
Youth 2 year term (Age 15-17)(Vote for 1)
Male or Female
BOARDS AND COMMITTEES:
CONGREGATIONAL MINISTRIES BOARD
(4 year term unless otherwise noted)
Utah Lay or Clergy (Vote for 1)
at Large Lay or Clergy (Vote for 1)
COMMITTEE ON DISCIPLINE
(6 year term unless otherwise noted)
at Large Lay Female (Vote for 2)
at Large Lay Male (Vote for 2)
at Large Clergy (Vote for 2)
CONSULTATION COMMITTEE
(6 year term unless otherwise noted)
at Large Lay (Vote for 2)
at Large Clergy (Vote for 2)
RESOLUTIONS AND MEMORIALS
DISPLAYS, MINISTRY MAGAZINE, CENTERPIECE
The deadline is March 18 for signed up for a display table, a ministry magazine page, and something new: a ministry-theme centerpiece! Sign up now! Each organization or ministry is invited to create a ready-to-use page, submitted as a .pdf ideally, or Word document. The page should "tell a story" and include photos and graphics.
ASSEMBLY INFORMATION PACKET
ASSEMBLY VIDEO PROJECT
We will be weaving together submitted videos of people throughout the Rocky Mountain Synod singing the song: "Oh Sing to the Lord." A link to a piano version of the song is posted at http://rmselca.org/assembly-video-project so you may hear it to get the melody and tempo. It's hymn 822 in ELW. Metronome tempo of 70 beats per minute.
Go to http://www.webmetronome.com for metronome tempo. Be creative with the song as you sing it. Feel free to submit just a couple verses, or the whole thing, in English, or Spanish! Submit your videos in one of two ways. Upload them to a Dropbox account and send a share link to Kent (kmueller@rmselca.org) or send on a flash drive or disk to Kent at RMS, 7375 Samuel Drive, Denver 80221. We will return your flash drive. Deadline is April 1 for video submissions.
ASSEMBLY REGISTRATION VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
We are in need of 5-6 volunteers to assist with registration. Volunteers will need to be able to meet 1 week prior to assembly to help assemble registration materials (at the Office of the Bishop) and then be present on Thursday, April 28th from 10am- 4pm (Embassy Suites Loveland). If available your presence would be a welcomed gift on Friday as well. Please contact Erin Power if you are interested in serving in this way.
ASSEMBLY CHILD CARE TEAM NEEDED
We are looking for at least 2 people to provide child care Thursday-Saturday of the assembly. Assembly begins at 2pm on Thursday and ends by noon on Saturday. Interested people should meet Safe Haven.
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Concurrent with the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, come to the GRACE GATHERING August 10-13 in New Orleans
People from across the ELCA will see the assembly in action, participate in bible study and service learning with the voting members, see the work we do together as the ELCA, and worship with thousands of Lutherans.
The Grace Gathering begins at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, August 10 and concludes at 10:30 on Saturday, August 13. Participants will join with voting members for plenary sessions and worship as well as have their own workshops and events.
Many of the workshops have to do with Reformation history and relevance, planning local Reformation observances as well as Lutheranism today.
This is an important component of the ELCA Reformation observance. Share the word of invitation with others!
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Nicaragua trip needs Spanish translators
Lord of the Valley Lutheran Church in Granby, Colorado is in need of volunteers for their Mission Nicaragua Team which will travel to Somoto, Nicaragua in late June for 10 days. They are looking for 2-3 people who have fluency in Spanish and could serve as translators. One will work with a children's ministry. The other(s) would work in one of the medical/dental clinics. The cost is $1500 (travel, meals, lodging) and scholarships may be available. If interested, or for more information contact Carmen Covington, RN, at 970-531-2857 or email her at carmenandraymond@gmail.com
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Ski Days for RMS Rostered Leaders:
Feb 25 and Mar 10
Two opportunities for winter fellowship on the slopes are offered for RMS Rostered Leaders. Thursday, February 25 at Vail and Thursday, March 10 at Winter Park. Contact Scott Beebe, skbeebe@vail.net or Brian Bergum, pastorb@lordofthevalley.org if you are interested in either of these gatherings.
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ELCA stewardCast: Why Mission and Giving Saturday, February 27, 2016
As church together we face the challenges of current culture and world issues while striving for a deeper understanding of what the resurrection of Jesus Christ means today. Addressing these circumstances is not a financial issue, but spiritual. We are energized by the opportunity to engage in lively conversation about our faith and life, both individually and as a community of believers.
This online event invites and encourages us to do so in our role as stewards. The webcast will inspire and connect current and new steward leaders with fresh perspectives and skills.
Begins at 9 a.m. and continues until 4 p.m.
You can register online, and the deadline has been extended to midnight on Tuesday, February 23. z
Shortly before the event a link will be emailed to participants.
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Our 2016 Synod Assembly will take place April 28-30 at the Embassy Suites in Loveland, Colorado. The packet was sent in the mail to every congregation president several weeks ago. The most important deadline for registration, nominations, resolutions, and more is MARCH 18. Additional informaiton about these areas will be posted in the near future.
Sign up for an assembly display table, ministry magazine page, or assembly table centerpiece
The deadline is March 18 for signed up for a display table, a ministry magazine page, and something new: a ministry-theme centerpiece! Sign up now!
ASSEMBLY OPPORTUNITIES
Assembly Video Project!
We will be weaving together submitted videos of people throughout the Rocky Mountain Synod singing the song: "Oh Sing to the Lord." A link to a piano version of the song is posted at http://rmselca.org/assembly so you may hear it to get the melody and tempo. It's hymn 822 in ELW. Metronome tempo of 70 beats per minute. Go to http://www.webmetronome.com for metronome tempo. Be creative with the song as you sing it. Feel free to submit just a couple verses, or the whole thing, in English, or Spanish! Submit your videos in one of two ways. Upload them to a Dropbox account and send a share link to Kent (kmueller@rmselca.org) or send on a flash drive or disk to Kent at RMS, 7375 Samuel Drive, Denver 80221. We will return your flash drive. Deadline is April 1 for video submissions.
Assembly Registration Team needed!
We are in need of 5-6 volunteers to assist with registration. Volunteers will need to be able to meet 1 week prior to assembly to help assemble registration materials (at the Office of the Bishop) and then be present on Thursday, April 28th from 10am- 4pm (Embassy Suites Loveland). If available your presence would be a welcomed gift on Friday as well. Please contact Erin Power if you are interested in serving in this way.
Assembly Child Care Team needed
We are looking for at least 2 people to provide child care Thursday-Saturday of the assembly. Assembly begins at 2pm on Thursday and ends by noon on Saturday. Interested people should meet Safe Haven
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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!
As of February 1, 37 rostered leaders with Portico medical insurance have taken the 2016 Health Assessment! Thank you! Just 109 more to reach our goal resulting in a 1% discount on medical costs. And YOU receive free money!
Take the 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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Rainbow Tail Confirmation Camp
Just a reminder: deposits for your youth going to one of the Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp Confirmation Camps are due February 15th. Your kids can either register online or you can send in a check with their paper registrations. If you want to check which of your kids are already registered, contact Sara and she can give you your list. If you see there being issues meeting this deadline, please call the Canon City office at
719-276-5233 and ask for Sara. RTLC will work with you, but they need to hear from you! Thanks!
If your congregation is not signed up for a Rainbow Trail Confirmation Camp week but would like to join a week, there is still some space in the July 17-23, 2016 Confirmation week. Contact Sara at 719-276-5233 for details and to reserve your spots!
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Men's Retreat
April 22-24th, 2016
Lutheran Men In Mission - One Year to Live Retreat
Camp Santa Maria, Colorado
Retreats are a time away from our normal activities to spend time getting reacquainted with God, to examine the priorities of life and to make concrete and practical resolutions for improvement.
"One Year to Live is an opportunity for men to explore the difference their Christian faith can make in their lives as they relate to families, people at work and others in the Christian community. "
Contacts for this Retreat:
Herb Hergott 303-588-2856,
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DEATH PENALTY AND THE FAITH PERSPECTIVE
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Death Penalty and the Faith Perspective: New resource for study
The death penalty has been a source of much controversy here in Colorado over the last several years. Now, there is a quality resource for the faith community to study this issue from the faith perspective. A four session presentation /discussion video study featuring among the top faith leaders in Colorado can be downloaded at no cost. Bishop Gonia is one of the faith leaders. Although the presenters are Colorado faith leaders, the study is not Colorado specific.
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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
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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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On Saturday, February 6 , Border Conference Youth and their Adult leaders gathered in Alamogordo for the second annual "The Amazing Race Borderlands." Over 50 people  participated, including eight teams, challenge site leaders, food preparation, and event planning.
The teams drove or walked around Alamogordo, NM and surrounding areas completing challenges that included tasting flavored pistachios, dressing up in vintage clothing, performing in a lip-sync contest, navigating without GPS, being quizzed on White Sands knowledge, and eating very hot wings! Teams also had the opportunity to gain extra minutes (points) by finding certain landmarks or catching other team's drivers without their notebooks.
A big thanks to Pastor Matt Barnhouse who oversaw the plans for this event and to the many other people who helped out. Everyone that participated is ready for Season 3 and have challenged Bishop Jim Gonia to race!! Bishop Gonia, are you ready to race?!
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Invitation to February 23 Caucus
"Columbus Day" may change to "Indigenous Peoples' Day" in Colorado
A bill in Colorado seeks to change "Columbus Day" to "Indigenous Peoples' Day." Columbus Day began in Colorado. Pastor Dena Williams says, "He was not a benign explorer but a cruel and greedy conqueror who thought nothing of slaughtering and enslaving the people he encountered in the 'New World.' A celebration to honor indigenous people and provide educational opportunities for enlightenment regarding their circumstances, then and now, is long overdue."
On Tuesday, Feb. 23, at noon, the regular Democratic Caucus Lunch will hear from speakers regarding this bill. Members of the American Indian Movement invite clergy (wear clerics!) and others to come to the caucus to show support for the bill, sponsored by Rep. Joe Salazar. Lunch is provided. Clergy, members of congregations and others are welcome and encouraged to attend. Those who attend this event will hear American Indian speakers address concerns related to "Columbus Day". This is an unusual opportunity to learn why the issue is so important to American Indians. Clergy or members who would like to speak are also invited to do so. Three minutes are allowed per speaker.
What: Democratic Caucus Lunch
When: Tuesday, February 23, 2016 at Noon
Where: First Baptist Church, 14th and Grant, Basement
Fellowship of Recovering Lutheran Clergy Retreat
A retreat of the Fellowship of Recovering Lutheran Clergy will take place April 25-28, 2016, at the Highlands Presbyterian Camp & Retreat Center. The agenda is a discussion of the Twelve Steps, fellowship, worship, and prayer. Cost depends on the housing arrangements. For information and registration, please contact Bohdan Vadis at 858-560-8688 or email: pastorvadis@sbcglobal.net
Criminal justice speakers available on May 15 for your congregation
One of New Beginnings' Partners in Ministry is Prison Congregations of America (PCA). Their next board meeting will be on May 15 in Denver. The board, that is quite fluent on the subject of Criminal Justice from a faith perspective, has offered themselves to area congregations that Sunday.
There are four ordained pastors, and one lay leader who also can do pulpit supply. Additionally, two lay leaders would be happy to lead an Adult Forum on Criminal Justice, the work of PCA, and how New Beginnings fits into that model in our synod. If you are interested in having one of these as a guest in your congregation on May 15c0j, please email Pastor Terry Schjang at
A Weekend with Walter Brueggemann
February 26, 27, 28, 2016
Join preeminent Hebrew Bible scholar, prolific author, and prophetic theologian, Walter Brueggemann, as he challenges us to consider our culture of fear and anxiety and the ways they break down the practice of neighborliness. Together, we'll explore his new book, Journey to the Common Good, in which he brings together contemporary cultural analysis with challenging biblical insights, and offers a hopeful roadmap for our shared human journey.
SOUTHEAST COLORADO CONFERENCE WOMEN'S GATHERING 2016
Saturday April 16, 2016 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Library 21c
1175 Chapel Hills Drive Colorado Springs, CO
Featuring Pastor Tim Bettger, Linda Slothower, the "Revelators"
Conference materials "The Return of the Prodigal Son: A story of Homecoming"
available for purchase for $5.00
e-mail ralphelen@gmail.com for copy or check out at your local library or book store.
Registration fee of $45 includes two meals.
Women ages 15-30 may attend free when accompanied by a registered guest!
Register by 4/1/16 on line here you could also email carolyngardner@live.com or mail to: Carolyn Gardner, 1055 Golden Street, Calhan, CO 80808
Urban Servant Corps benefits from your food and beverages at Berkeley Untapped in February
During the WHOLE MONTH of February, Berkeley Untapped (4267 Tennyson St.) is dedicated to benefiting Urban Servant Corps! Simply go to eat, drink, and be merry......and be SURE to tell your wait staff/bar tender that you are there to support USC and 20% of your bill will be donated to Urban Servant Corps! Did we mention it's for the WHOLE MONTH of February?! Gather with your co-workers, friends, family, neighbors , church folks any time all month long!
Urban Servant Corps Palm Sunday Prayer Walk
Palm Sunday Prayer Walk and Open House
Sunday, March 20 at 1pm
1660 Ogden St. Denver, CO 80218
 As Holy Week begins, you are invited to gather, learn, pray, and respond! Urban Servant Corps volunteers will lead walking tours around the neighborhood and placement sites where they serve to share more fully about the mission of Urban Servant Corps, a ministry of the Rocky Mountain Synod, ELCA. Please join us!
You are encouraged to ask for "pledges" from friends, family, co-workers for this walk and bring those contributions with you on Palm Sunday! This is an event designed to share about the ministry of Urban Servant Corps and to ask for support in working to fulfill its mission! We are grateful to have Bishop Gonia join us for this event!
Iliff Innovation: Serving the Military
Thursday February 25, 2016 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM MST
Iliff School of Theology, Shattuck Hall
2323 East Iliff Avenue
Denver, CO 80210
Come and learn about this amazing place called Iliff - a place where students studying faith and social justice have been transformed since 1892. Join the Iliff community for an evening of learning about Iliff from students, staff, trustees and faculty members, Zachary Moon and Carrie Doerhing - highlighting Iliff's expanding programs for military chaplains and others serving the military, veterans and their families.
Click on RSVP and complete your response by February 19.
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Registration is now available online for the 2016 Synod Assembly, which is April 28 to 30 at the Embassy Suites in Loveland, Colorado. Please 
