Rostered Leaders: Have you registered for 2014 Winter Theological Event?

It's only a few weeks away! Join Bishop Rick Hoyme and the synod staff February 9-10 at the Metropolis Resort and Conference Center in Eau Claire. 

Mary Sue Drier, associate professor of pastoral care and missional leadership at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, South Carolina, will be our main speaker. 

Dick Bruesehoff will also be on hand to answer questions you may have for Portico. 

View brochure and register soon!

 CORRECTION: Last week, one of the pastors in the "W" photo was incorrectly identified as Rev. Kari Jonas. The pastor was actually Rev. Kathy Ulrich, chaplain at Sacred Heart hospital in Eau Claire. 

Global Relationships

ELCA Malaria Campaign

Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) have contributed $10 million to support the ELCA Malaria Campaign in their effort to raise $15 million by the end of 2015. Through the campaign, ELCA members have joined with companion Lutheran churches and partners in 13 African countries to prevent and treat malaria, educate communities about the disease and more. You have probably heard about the ELCA Malaria Campaign; perhaps you have even helped raise funds to donate to this worthwhile cause. But how much do you know about the work being done?

Did you know?

The ELCA Malaria Campaign funds programs of companion churches and Lutheran partners in education, prevention and treatment of malaria by:  

• providing life-saving health care, including medicine to treat malaria
• training pastors, church volunteers and health care providers to diagnose and treat malaria
• teaching people how to protect themselves from the mosquitoes that spread malaria, recognize symptoms and seek treatment
• distributing insecticide-treated mosquito nets and providing training on proper use
• providing preventative medication to protect pregnant women and their babies
• encouraging governments to provide adequate health care and engage in malaria prevention activities
• supporting community projects to control the environments where mosquitoes breed
• promoting sustainable livelihoods through participation in village savings and loans groups so that community members can afford mosquito nets, transport and health care
• gathering people together to discuss the importance of malaria prevention and control

Installation News

Pastor Mary Ann Bowman will be installed by Bishop Rick Hoyme at Peace Lutheran of Pigeon Falls on Sunday, January 26 at 3 p.m. All clergy are asked to vest and to arrive 20 minutes prior to the service for the processional. The color is green. View invitation. 

Trinity Lutheran Seeking Children's Ministry Staff Persons

Trinity Lutheran of Eau Claire is actively seeking dynamic candidates with a sense of call and passion for ministry with children to fill three positions on their Children's Ministry leadership team:

* Director of Children's Ministries: salaried 25 hours/week, with primary responsibilities in Sunday School and Wednesday night programming with children birth - grade six. Start date: May 2014

* Coordinator of Day Camp Ministries: salaried 20 hours/week, with responsibility to oversee and lead summer/school-year day camp ministry for children birth - grade six, including Vacation Bible School. Start Date: April 2014

* Administrative Assistant for Children's Ministries: 10 hours/week hourly wage, working with the Children's Ministry Leadership team to provide administrative, communication, and technological support. Start Date: May 2014

Full job descriptions at http://www.trinity-ec.org.  Cover letter and resume can be sent to Pr. Sarah Semmler Smith at sarah@trinity-ec.org or call 715-832-6601 for more information. Application Deadline: January 31, 2014.

Administrative Assistant Opening in Prescott

Joy Lutheran Church located in Prescott WI, has an opening for an Administrative Assistant. The position is approximately 15-20 hours per week and requires a HS Diploma/GED, 2-3 years of administrative support experience, excellent oral and written communication skills, and strong proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and Power Point required. Wage will be dependent on experience. Please submit a resume and cover letter to: Joy Lutheran Church, 1435 St. Croix St, Prescott, WI  54021 or email to joyofficeassistant@joy-church.org.  Deadline to apply is Friday, January 31, 2014.

Summer Internship in Youth and Family Ministry

Our Savior's Lutheran Church (ELCA) has an opportunity for a college-age student to participate in a paid summer internship (in Youth and Family ministry) at our church in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. View the job description and application. 

From Spirit in the Desert

Looking to warm up from the Arctic Freeze? Take advantage of the airfare specials and get yourself out to Spirit in the Desert in Carefree AZ-here's a lineup of events that may interest you: Lutherhostel week retreat, March 9-14 and March 16-21, come for one or both weeks for this "elder-hostel" styled event that is our signature program which sells out every year. We still have a few rooms left! Courage to Live Authentically is a Parker Palmer Course given on March 24-26, a great workshop for those seeking renewal of personal identity, professional integrity and vocational vitality! Life Long Learning Partners is on March 31-April 3, a great opportunity for extended learning, networking, and spiritual growth. Post-Easter Spiritual Wellbeing Retreat on April 28 - May 1 - designed for clergy, full-time church workers and their spouses/partners! For those who work tirelessly in the church whether it is a paid position or not, this is an opportunity to let the life-giving message of Easter minister to YOU!  Full details of all these programs, plus biographies of presenters, costs and registration can be found on our website: www.spiritinthedesert.org  We hope to see you soon!

The Right Reverends would like to sing for you

A quartet of reverends, we have sung for many occasions--including church gatherings of all kinds--for 13 years. We sing a variety of songs including gospel, spiritual, barbershop and anthems. We do not charge. Any offerings we receive go to providing food for Malawi feeding stations for children. We have raised $6000 so far for the feeding stations. If interested, contact Paul Tobiason at jptoby@tcc.coop

or 715 205 8623.

Building Men for Christ, a workshop sponsored by Lutheran Men in Mission will be held at St. John's Lutheran, Eau Claire, Janaury 25. This is a one-day workshop to help church leaders develop a life-changing men's ministry in their congregations. Don't miss this opportunity to revitalize your men's ministry! Learn more about it . . . .

Wartburg Theological Seminary's Rural Ministry Conference - Save the Dates!