SYNOD NEWS AND EVENTS - JAN. 12, 2018
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IMPORTANT DATES!
Start checking off your to do list. At the beginning of every year we always ask you to share your congregation's information in many ways. These really important tasks help grow our ministry. Please take the time to fill out the following: 


Mission Support Intents
As your congregation prepares a budget for 2017, please share with us your Mission Support Intent amount for the Southwestern Minnesota Synod by  clicking here.
Deadline: ASAP

Update Your Congregational Leadership Data
The synod office uses this information for the call process, giving statements, and getting helpful resources to the correct person. 
Click here to update now.
Deadline: ASAP

Forms A & C (Parochial Reports)
Please fill out your 2016 ELCA congregation report forms A & C by 
clicking here. If you do not know your congregation ID or password please call the synod office at 507-637-3904. 
Deadline: February 15th.

Equipping Congregations Day 
Please keep in mind the 2018 ECD is two weeks earlier than last year's 2017 ECD. AND Presiding Bishop Eaton is our keynote speaker. Registration is filling up fast! Click here for more information. 
Registration will close if we reach maximum capacity or Thursday, February 1, 2018.



Bishop Jon Anderson's 2017-18 Annual Report
Bishop Jon's report is available to print and download. Click here.
God's continues to reform. God works on you and me.  God is not done reforming God's people and the congregations of this synod. God continues to reform this world and the many Lutheran institutions that seek to serve our mission field and the world. God's reforming and saving grace continues to be poured out upon us.
Click here to read more.
The Listening Project 2.0
Southwestern Minnesota Synod Survey
+ Bishop Jon V. Anderson 
We are beginning another Listening Project. We will be making time to listen to God, listen to our communities/context and listen to one another in the coming months.

You can help your leadership listen to our synod by completing this survey.

Secondly, we ask that you would share it with your staff and lay leadership (council and committees) by forwarding this email to them for their completion as well.

We appreciate knowing what you think and we hope that you will take a few minutes to fill out this brief survey. There are no right or wrong answers so please be candid.
Thank you for helping us by sharing your opinions!

We are called by Christ to be synod - on the road together.
Thanks for all the ways you and your congregation are building up God's Church and serving as faithful stewards of the Good News we know in Jesus our Lord.
Like us on Facebook  Book of the Month Facebook Group
The next book will be Beyond the Offering Plate: A Holistic Approach to Stewardship by Adam J. Copeland. If you purchase the book, you can get the cost reimbursed from our Lilly funds by emailing your receipt to Carla Klawitter at [email protected].

Click here to join the Facebook Group!
Pr. Erik Karlson Will be our Facebook facilitator.

Click here to watch a video from Adam Copeland answers the question, "Why did you write this book?" More videos from Adam will be posted in the Facebook group.
Join us!
"Hand of God" from Our Lady of the Lake Church, Pocono Pines, PA

2018 Prayer Service for Christian Unity 
Sunday, January 21, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.
Calvary Lutheran Church
302 Olena Ave. SW, Willmar, MN 56201

Individuals and congregations, representing several Christian denominations in southwest and west-central Minnesota, will gather together for an Ecumenical Celebration of the Word of God.
The service is held as part of the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. 
Bishop Jon V. Anderson will be preaching. Area churches supportive of ecumenism are welcome to attend, pastors wanting to be a part of the procession may robe in green.

All are invited to attend.
Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power
-Exodus 15:6
Church Speak.
In her January column for Living Lutheran, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reminds us that people who have no experience with the church don't speak our language or know our stories. She says we need to find a new language to commend the faith clearly and genuinely. 
Click here to read her column in English.
Click here to read her column in Spanish. 
Synod Events
Below is a list of all the upcoming synod events. Visit the synod events webpage for more information.
JANUARY 
January 13, 2018 - POSTPONED
New Date: March 10th
SMSU, Marshall or Livestream!

Ecumenical Service
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
January 21, 2018 @ 2:00 p.m. 
Calvary Lutheran Church, Willmar, MN 

FEBRUARY
February 10, 2018
Willmar, MN

MARCH
March 9-10, 2018
Lake Geneva Christian Center, Alexandria

March 10, 2018
SMSU, Marshall or Livestream!

S AVE THE DATE
2018 Synod Assembly 
June 8-9, 2018
Redwood Falls, MN 

2018 Fall Theological Conference 
October 7-9, 2018
Alexandria, MN

Southwestern Minnesota Synod, ELCA 
PO Box 499, Redwood Falls, MN 56283
Phone: 507-637-3904