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A Reconciling in Christ synod
Bishop Gonia:  Why Being a GLOCAL Church Matters
 
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.

Bishop Eaton:  I was a stranger and you welcomed me

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).

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RMS-ELCA News and Events
Rocky Mountain Synod receives $500,000 grant from Lilly

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

Worship Resources from RMS Global Mission Committee
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

For Your Bulletin
Bulletin Blurb
World AIDS Day Prayer

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 


Offer hope this holiday season by joining LIRS in writing Christmas cards and purchasing gifts for children impacted by immigration detention.

As Lutherans, we are challenged to meet those displaced by violence with God’s love. Never has the call been more urgent or clear.

This Advent season, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) is offering several ways that individuals and Lutheran congregations across the country can stand in solidarity with migrants and refugees in our communities. Give the gift of hope through participating in the following activities:

  1. Offer prayers for migrants and refugees
  2. Organize a Thanksgiving dinner “Breaking Bread and Building Bridges” event
  3. Participate in our holiday card writing campaign and online gift drive to bring joy to the children isolated in family detention facilities in Texas and Pennsylvania
  4. Sign the petition to end family detention

Visit us at http://lirs.org/hopefortheholidays to learn more.  

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
RMS Prayer Cycle

November 2016

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

Prayer of the Day
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.
Around the Synod
Advent Service
  
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.
    

Our Life Together
Gift giving could also provide a small donation to RMS
 
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

Choir Robes Available
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.  


Pre-schedule Your Gift to Support Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp Through Colorado Gives Day

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.

Mark your Calendars: December 6, 2016. 24 hours to Give Where You Live! You can pre-schedule your gift now at Colorado Gives-Rainbow Trail. 
Resource Corner
check back each week for a new or featured resource for your congregation
Worship Resources
Litany of Reconciliation from the Church of England

Litany of Reconciliation offered by Rev. Claire Cassell
Employment Opportunities
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
Office of the Bishop This Week
 
Bishop Gonia
  • Zion's, Trinidad
  • St Paul, Denver
  • Deans WebEx
Pastor Kent Mueller
  • Lutheran Center Administration

Ruth Hoffman, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-NM

  • Vacation

Peter Severson, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-CO

  • Vacation
  • CU-Boulder El Camino mentoring
 
Pastor Judith VanOsdol        

  • Vacation 

Erin Power, Diaconal Minister

  • Region 2 Global Mission & World Hunger Gathering

     Pastor Sarah Moening

    • Vacation
    • Preach Ascension, Ogden UT

    Andy Sprain

    • Work from home
    Quick Links
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    Erin Power   Assistant to the Bishop
    Maria Sutton , Communication Assistant 
    Rocky Mountain Synod
     
    800-525-0462 / 303-777-6700 / fax 303-339-4744

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