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A Reconciling in Christ synod
Ash Wednesday reflections from Bishop Eaton
This year Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day fall on the same date. It seems like an odd pairing—Ash Wednesday, a day of solemn repentance and honest reckoning of our brokenness, and Valentine’s Day, a lighthearted celebration of love. Do we fast and pray and commit to rigorous spiritual disciplines, or do we dive in to Champagne and chocolate? Is it a day of contrition or of abandon? Do we abstain or do we indulge?

It’s strange how our culture divides up human experience and the way it puts a premium on happiness, self-fulfillment and conflict avoidance, particularly in personal relationships. 

Read the full article at Living Lutheran ( Spanish )
Or download the Word or PDF versions
eConnection Spotlight: RMS in the Neighborhood
Celebrate Campus Ministry Sunday, February 11
This Sunday across the Rocky Mountain Synod, nearly 20 pulpits will be filled by students from one of seven campus ministries!

Missing a student in your pulpit? Share this video during worship or Adult education to learn about campus ministry and ministry with young adults!
RMS-ELCA News and Events
There will be no Office of the Bishop Eucharist on February 14
In observance of Ash Wednesday, February 14, there will be no Office of the Bishop Eucharist in February.
Synod Assembly Registration is now LIVE!
Register now for the 2018 Synod Assembly and join us in Westminster this May! Assembly Highlights this year include:

  • Keynote Speaker- Dr. Cynthia Moe-Lobeda
  • House Band- Tangled Blue
  • Bishop Election
  • ELCA Vice President- Bill Horne
  • Ecumenical and interfaith worship and prayer services
  • Continued conversation about the Doctrine of Discovery

Take a sneak peak at the tentative assembly agenda!

Assembly Voting Members will be commissioned to serve as Church Together Ambassadors in their congregation upon returning from assembly. Read more about the assembly ambassadors and registration information.

Other important information and Deadlines:

Scholarship assistance: complete the scholarship request HERE

Exhibitor and Display Information: Requests are due March 1

Resolution and Memorial Information: Intents are due February 23


Contact Deacon Erin Power for additional questions and concerns!
Register NOW for Lutheran Day at the Legislature 2018
February 15, 2018 at 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Registration is now open for Colorado Lutheran Day at the Legislature ! Join advocates and community leaders for a morning of learning and action. Build relationships with your elected officials, learn from experienced pros, and get the latest updates on our work at the state capitol. You'll get the tools you need to meet and engage your elected officials. A hot breakfast will be served and scholarships are available. Go to the registration website for more information. Don't delay, register today!

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-Colorado is a ministry of the Rocky Mountain Synod.
For Your Bulletin
February 11 is Campus Ministry Sunday! 
We look forward to hearing student preachers in pulpits around the synod! Please include this flyer in your bulletins or newsletters, and remember our seven campus ministries in your prayers to share about this ministry.

  • Boulder, CO ~ Pastor Zach Parris
  • Greeley, CO ~ Pastor Deb Abbott
  • Fort Collins, CO ~ Pastor Paul Judson
  • Albuquerque, NM ~ Pastor Bre Roberts
  • Las Cruces, NM ~ Pastor Jared Carson
  • Logan, UT ~ Pastor Scott Thalaker
  • Laramie, WY ~ Pastor Nathan Keith
Installations

Rev. Wayne Nieminen
Rev. Christa von Zychlin
Trinity, Las Cruces, NM
Sunday, February 11, 3:00pm
Color of the Day: Green
RMS Prayer Cycle

 FEBRUARY 2018:
BORDER CONFERENCE

Week of February 11

 Our Savior - Alamogordo, NM
Kristi Koppel

Peace - Las Cruces, NM
Jared Carson
Laura Carson

Peace - El Paso, TX
Diana Linden-Johnson
Join us in daily prayer:
Download  ELCA Prayer Ventures  for daily guides to prayer for the global, social and outreach ministries of the ELCA, as well as for the needs and circumstances of our neighbors, communities and world. 
Sunday, February 11
Transfiguration Sunday 
Prayer of the Day
Almighty God, the resplendent light of your truth shines from the mountaintop into our hearts. Transfigure us by your beloved Son, and illumine the world with your image, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

In God's Hands: Ecumenical Prayer Cycle from the World Council of Churches
February 11 - February 17:  Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland

Pray for:
  • The leadership, institutions and volunteers for which assisting and helping asylum seekers and refugees is a cornerstone of the humanitarian tradition in their countries.
  • Diplomats brokering truce and peace agreements and serving as mediators in conflicts.
  • Those involved in banking and finance, tourism, and casinos, that they engage in these activities with integrity and fiscal responsibility.
  • Christian communities in the region, both laity and clergy, that their witness may remain vital and their faith communities strong amidst materialism and secularization.
  • Those who struggle with poverty, even in the midst of such great wealth, particularly immigrants, workers in the tourist industry, and expatriates.
  • Young people who have lots of material resources but lose hope of having a meaningful life.

Around the Synod
Join Saint Peter for  Holden Evening Prayer Around the World
Wednesday, February 7 at 7:00 p.m.

Holden Village , a popular Lutheran retreat center located far back into the Cascade Mountains of Washington State, is promoting Holden Evening Prayer Around the World (HEPAW) . Congregations and other faith organizations will be gathering for evening prayer on Wednesday, February 7. Saint Peter is currently the only congregation in Colorado planning to host this event. The 7:00 p.m. worship service will be followed by a time of theological conversation (with refreshments provided).
For more information, visit  www.StPLC.org .
Journey Into Faith:
Welcoming New Members and Renewing Your Faith Community
Friday, March 2, 6:00 p.m. to Sunday, March 4, 12:00 noon
How do you welcome seekers to your congregation and encourage long-time members in their journey of faithful discipleship?   In the early Church, disciples of Jesus were formed in the Christian Way through an intensive apprenticeship in faith. Through scripture study, common worship and acts of charity and mercy, inquirers where introduced into a way of living that demonstrated the marks of a Christian.


Who should attend? Clergy and 3 or more members of the congregation
When : Friday, March 2, 6:00 p.m. to Sunday, March 4, 12:00 noon

This event is sponsored by the Front Range Region of the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado, the Rocky Mountain Synod, and Journey to Baptismal Living. Download brochure here. More details and registration are available here.
The Gallery of Living Art
Friday, March 16 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 17 at 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 18 at 3:00 p.m.
First Lutheran Church

Join First Lutheran in celebrating the 24th year of the Gallery of Living Art. As the audience sits in the sanctuary, the story of Christ’s Passion and Resurrection unfolds through live reproductions of 14 sacred works of art staged by a 75-member cast, narrative scripture, and music sung by First Lutheran choir. The art includes the well-known Christ in Gethsemane by Heinrich Hofmann, The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo’s Pieta

The public is cordially invited to attend this inspirational presentation of Christ’s Passion and Resurrection. Admission is free and childcare is provided. For questions, contact, Joan Kuehn, First Lutheran Church, at 719-632-8836.
Our Life Together
Ecopalms available through Lutheran World Relief
Join Lutheran World Relief on Palm Sunday to wave palms and deliver hope for the hands that harvested them with Eco-Palms! The farmers who harvest, sort and package Eco-Palms are paid fairly for their work and use methods that protect the environment and their future livelihoods. Visit lwr.org/palms, orders are due by March 11, online or call 651-487-7189

Sky Ranch Annual Meeting
Sunday, February 25, 3:30-5:00 p.m.
Sky Ranch will host its Annual meeting
Sunday February 25th from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Breaker's Bar and Grill in Longmont. Join us for an opportunity to reflect on the blessings of 2017 and look forward to the adventure of 2018!


For questions about the meeting please contact the office at 970-493-5258 or by e-mail at ally@skyranchcolorado.org .
AMMPARO Guardian Angel Program - We have our volunteers !
However, more volunteers are always welcome   to be part of our  Guardian Angel Program in supporting unaccompanied migrant children and single parent families through their immigration court process in Denver.

There will be a volunteer training session with Mary Campbell from ELCA Churchwide AMMPARO on Friday, March 23, from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. at the Lutheran Center, 7375 Samuel Drive, Denver CO.

Here is a broad overview of the ELCA Guardian Angel Program for Unaccompanied and Migrant Children. If you have questions, please contact Alena Lamirato at  pastoralena@yahoo.com   or 720-256-3007.
Resource Corner
check back each week for a new or featured resource for your congregation
New Resources for Lent from LEAD
FREE print-ready resources for worship & reflection. Using texts from the Revised Common Lectionary, the resources include:

  • Weekly bulletins with liturgy and prayers (in both color and black & white versions)
  • Weekly images to color
  • Weekly guided spiritual practices 
Lent Resources: North American Anglican and Lutheran...

Posted on: February 1, 2018 4:08 PM The Presiding Bishop of the US-based Episcopal Church, Michael Curry, and Archbishop Fred Hiltz of the Anglican Church of Canada, have joined with their Lutheran colleagues to offer a series of Lenten reflections.

Read more
www.anglicannews.org
ELCA Administration Matters - January 2018
Armed intruder
While it may never happen to you, it is important to prepare for an armed intruder situation just as you prepare for other types of emergencies. These situations evolve very rapidly and require individuals to make decisions very quickly. This resource kit will give you some tools to prepare for this type of emergency. > More
Classified Ads

Pews for Sale!

We have 10 pews that need a new home! They have reversible backs, eight are 78" long, and two small ones are 48". For more information please call the church office at 303-776-2800.
Employment Opportunities
All Non-Rostered Positions 
Head of School
Rwanda School Project - Rwamagana, Rwanda

Faith Formation Director of Youth
Bethany Lutheran Church - Cherry Hills Village, CO
Office of the Bishop This Week
 
Bishop Gonia
  • Global Mission Committee
  • Synod Council Executive Commitee
  • Staff meeting
  • Border Conference Amazing Race
  • Peace, Las Cruces, NM
  • Installation of Rev. Wayne Nieminen & Rev. Christa von Zychlin

Pastor Kent Mueller (1/2 time)
  • Lutheran Center Administration
  • Staff meeting
  • RMS Finance Task Force
  • Bishop Election Task Force

Ruth Hoffman
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-NM
  • Legislative Session
  • North NM Conference meeting

Peter Severson
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-CO
  • Staff meeting
  • Global Mission Committee
  • Legislative Session
  • Lobby Day Planning
Pastor Judith VanOsdol
  • HKBP (Indonesian Batak)
  • Rejoicing Spirits, Denver
  • Well of Hope, Castle Rock, CP
  • Staff meeting
  • Developer/ Redeveloper Evaluations

Deacon Erin Power
  • Global Mission Committee Retreat
  • Companion Synod Committee
  • Staff Meeting
  • RMS Event Planning

Pastor Sarah Moening
  • Staff meeting
  • Congregational Ministries Board
  • Shepherd of the Hills, Fort Collins, CO

Pastor Leslie Welton
  • Saint Peter, Greenwood Village, CO
  • Faith Formation Network
  • Youth Discipleship Team
Quick Links
Share the News
Erin Power   Assistant to the Bishop
Andrew Nakatan i , Communications Assistant
Rocky Mountain Synod 
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
800-525-0462 / 303-777-6700 / fax 303-339-4744
Articles for eConnection are due noon Monday for the issue the following Wednesday.
Event announcements are included for about two weeks then copied to the Events & News Web Page, and may be submitted via the eConnection Submission link above.