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A Reconciling in Christ synod
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Bishop Gonia: Why Being a GLOCAL Church Matters
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I just returned from Geneva, Switzerland, where I had the profound opportunity to gather with over 75 representatives of member churches of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) to explore how the various parts of our global Lutheran Communion understand and live out the call to participate in God’s mission in the world today. It couldn’t have come at a better time as we in the Rocky Mountain Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America step into our own vision to together proclaim and embody the unconditional love of God for the sake of the world.
I am convinced that one of the distinct gifts we possess as this part of the Body of Christ we call the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is our commitment to understand church as always being GLOCAL – that it to say, globally related and locally relevant.
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Bishop Eaton: I was a stranger and you welcomed me
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I was a stranger and you welcomed me … (Matthew 25:35).
Today there are more than 60 million displaced people in the world, more than at any time since World War II. From Syria, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Somalia, Afghanistan and Colombia, people are fleeing for their lives from war, famine, gang violence, crushing poverty, drought and floods. Parents make the wrenching choice to send their children away with the hope that the possibility of a better life in a new country outweighs the violence of their home countries and the perils of the journey.
It seems the whole world is on the move.
Migration has been part of the story of the people of God from the beginning. Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden, and God sent Abram and Sarai from their homeland to a new land. Joseph’s brothers and father were refugees in Egypt. Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years after God liberated them from oppression and infanticide. The people of God suffered bitter exile in Babylon after they were forced from Judah by war and ethnic cleansing.
The memory of migration, forced exile, of being the stranger stayed with the people of God through the centuries and became part of their confession of faith: “… you shall make this response before the Lord your God: ‘A wandering Aramean was my ancestor; he went down into Egypt and lived there as an alien …” (Deuteronomy 26:5).
The experience of God’s people compelled Israel to give special care to the stranger. “When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:33-34).
Read full article
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Rocky Mountain Synod receives $500,000 grant from Lilly
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We are overflowing with thanksgiving, having received word that the Rocky Mountain Synod has received a $500,000 grant from the Lilly Foundation to address the economic challenges faced by rostered ministers who serve the church as pastors and deacons. Our project is titled, “Educate, Equip, Enact,” or “3E"
Pastor Ron Roschke, now retired, served as the grant project chair. He was most recently an Assistant to the Bishop in the Rocky Mountain Synod. He expertly compiled survey data and crafted a proposal that will provide for ways to increase our financial capacity as the church to support new ministers attending seminary, educate ministers so they are financially astute, and provide grants for ministers with heavy debt loads.
We are in the process of receiving applications for the 3E Project Director. Applications are due November 30 for this 1/2 time position. More information is here: http://rmselca.org/lilly
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Worship Resources from RMS Global Mission Committee
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2017 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: January 18-25, 2017
The 2017 theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has been selected. On the occasion of the 500th anniversary year of the beginnings of the Reformation, the theme: "Reconciliation – The Love of Christ Compels Us" (2 Corinthians 5:14-20) has been chosen. The materials for the 2017 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has two accents: reflection upon the main concerns of the churches marked by Martin Luther's Reformation and secondly recognizing the pain of the subsequent deep divisions which afflicted the unity of the Church. In selecting this theme, it is viewed as an opportunity to take steps toward reconciliation.
Week of Prayer Resources
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Let us pray, God of all compassion, Comfort your sons and daughters who live with HIV. Spread over us all your quilt of mercy, love and peace. Open our eyes to your presence reflected in their faces. Open our ears to your truth echoing in their hearts. Give us the strength to weep with the grieving, to walk with the lonely, to stand with the depressed. May our love mirror your love for those who live in fear, who live under stress and who suffer rejection. Mothering, fathering God grant rest to those who have died and hope to all who live with HIV. God of life, help us to find the cure now and help us to build a world in which no one dies alone and where everyone lives accepted, wanted and loved. We pray in your name. Amen.
World AIDS Day Resources
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Installations
Pastor Bruce Kolasch
Saturday, December 3 at 4:00 p.m.
Elim Lutheran
575 23rd St
Ogden UT 84401
Color of the day: Blue
Rev. Kaila Jo (Hochhalter) Armbruster
Sunday, December 10 at 4:00 p.m.
Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church
3313 F Road
Grand Junction CO 81504
Color of the day: Blue
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RMS Prayer Cycle
RMS BISHOP and STAFF
11/26
James Gonia
Sarah Moening
Judith VanOsdol
Kent Mueller
Ruth Hoffman
Cheryl Almquist
Janice Ladd-Horkey
Erin Power
Peter Severson
Maria Sutton
Andy Sprain
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Generous God,
you brought us into the abundance of our inheritance.
Grant us the faith to be people
blossoming with honor and truth,
so that we may produce bountifully
the firstfruits of justice and compassion,
which are pleasing in your sight. Amen.
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Women of Northern Colorado Advent Service & Fellowship
Sunday, November 27 at 2:00 p.m.
The host congregation is Faith Lutheran Church in Eaton. For more information, please call 970-454-2808.
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Gift giving could also provide a small donation to RMS
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We aren’t encouraging “shopping” as the reason for the season. But giving gifts is meaningful, and if you’re placing an order ANYWAY through Amazon, you might as well support the Rocky Mountain Synod at the same time. Use this link, and your Amazon purchases will provide a small percentage donation to the RMS:
smile.amazon.com/ch/36-3512770
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Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church-Salt Lake City.
We have 43 emerald green choir robes, 41 gold & white stoles that are no longer being used.
We’d like to find a good home for them! If someone wants them, call Connie Degn, at 801-278-1412.
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Pre-schedule Your Gift to Support Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp Through Colorado Gives Day
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Colorado Gives Day
December 6, 2016
Support the ministries of RAINBOW TRAIL LUTHERAN CAMP through the Community First Foundation on Colorado Gives Day, December 6, 2016. You can make a huge difference in this ministry by providing funds for camperships, summer staff salaries, site improvements, and much, much more.
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Resource Corner
check back each week for a new or featured resource for your congregation
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Non-rostered positions available
Secretary/Editorial Assistant
St. Philip Lutheran Church, Littleton CO
Children Youth and Family Ministry Director
All Saints, Albuquerque NM
Seeking a Director of Faith Formation
Christ the Servant Lutheran, Louisville CO
Music Director and Choir Director
St. Luke, Albuquerque NM
Part-time Director
The New Mexico Conference of Churches
3E Project Director
Office of the Bishop, Denver CO
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Office of the Bishop This Week
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Bishop Gonia
- Zion's, Trinidad
- St Paul, Denver
- Deans WebEx
Pastor Kent Mueller
- Lutheran Center Administration
Ruth Hoffman, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-NM
Peter Severson, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-CO
- Vacation
- CU-Boulder El Camino mentoring
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Pastor Judith VanOsdol
Erin Power, Diaconal Minister
- Region 2 Global Mission & World Hunger Gathering
Pastor Sarah Moening
- Vacation
- Preach Ascension, Ogden UT
Andy Sprain
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Maria Sutton
, Communication Assistant
Rocky Mountain Synod
800-525-0462 / 303-777-6700 / fax 303-339-4744
Announcements for eConnection are due before noon on Monday for the issue the following Wednesday. Event announcements are included for about two weeks and should be submitted via the eConnection Submision link above.
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