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A Reconciling in Christ synod
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RMS in the Neighborhood
Every visitor to Joy Lutheran Church in Parker, CO receives a goodie bag with treats, fun notes, and information about the church. Visiting children receive a seek & find game to encourage them to explore the church with their parents and visit Sunday School.
How does your congregation welcome and follow-up with visitors?
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Deniese Estrada joins the RMS staff as Financial Administrator
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With the retirement of Cheryl Almquist on June 1, Deniese Estrada will become our new Financial Administrator. She comes to the Office of the Bishop staff having most recently worked with Church World Service, an ecumenical relief and development agency addressing hunger and poverty in the United States and around the world. Prior to that, she was the Parish Secretary at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in downtown Denver and volunteered for many years as a probation officer in Aurora and Denver.
Her husband is Anthony and they have two sons and four grandchildren (are all Colorado natives). She is a life-long Lutheran. "I look forward to joining the staff and the opportunity to meet folks in congregations throughout the Rocky Mountain region!” Deniese said. We look forward to welcoming her at our upcoming assembly.
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Bishop Eaton message on Suicide Prevention
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May is Mental Health Month, which is just around the corner. Mental Health Month was created in 1949 to raise awareness about mental health conditions and the importance of mental wellness for all. In the spirit of the month, the ELCA recommends that all congregational and community leaders create and encourage a dialogue with congregation and community members about mental health awareness and the destigmatizing of mental illness.
More information and resources:
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Packet-stuffing volunteers needed!
Join us at the Office of the Bishop Monday, May 1 from
10-1:30 (Lunch Provided) to help prepare the packets for Synod Assembly. Three additional volunteers are still needed. Email Erin Power or call the office 303-777-6700 if you are able to help!
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Worship Resources for Congregations
Over 450 voting members, visitors and partners in ministry will be at our Synod Assembly over the weekend of May 6-7. Since most of our rostered ministers will also be in attendance, we invite all congregations of the Rocky Mountain Synod to use these resources for a shared worship -- as Church Together.
This sermon by Deacon Ro Fesser, and an accompanying liturgy will mirror the Sunday morning worship taking place at Synod Assembly, a worship that will feature the ministry of ELCA deacons who serve our church in the newly re-formed Word & Service roster and on our call to be church for the sake of the world.
- Sermon by Deacon Ro Fesser, Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center
Assembly Reports
Synod Assembly Website
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Roman Catholic & Lutheran Prayer Services to Mark Reformation 500 Years
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Roman Catholics and Lutherans are joining together in prayer 500 years after Martin Luther’s 95 theses triggered the Reformation in 1517.
Bishop Jim Gonia will be present at seven Services of Common Prayer in conjunction with seven Roman Catholic Diocese. The aim is to express the gifts of the Reformation and ask forgiveness for the division perpetuated by Christians from the two traditions.
There are two remaining services:
Sunday, May 21, 2017, 3 p.m.
Sacred Heart Cathedral
Pueblo, CO
Sunday, October 8, 2017, 3 p.m.
Salt Lake City, UT
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Installations
Pastor Garrett Struessel
Sunday, April 30, 2017, 4 p.m.
First Lutheran Church
Longmont, CO
Color of the Day: White
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RMS Prayer Cycle
Rocky Mountain Synod Council
The Rev. James Gonia - Bishop
Ms. Earline Bohling - Vice President
Ms. Jody Hoelter - Secretary
Mr. Dennis Reynolds - Treasurer
Diana Biggs
Debra Elstad
Jerry Ethridge
Joan Jacobson
Susan Mitchell
Betty Pepin
Terry Cole
Todd Herreid
Melanie Ferraro
Maggie Nieberger
Hendrik Dapot Samosir
Jay Voth
The Rev. Julie Brooks
The Rev. Sara Wirth
The Rev. Dana Peterson
The Rev. Larry Davis
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Supper at Emmaus
1618 -
Diego Velázquez
Join us in daily prayer:
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Prayer of the Day: Sunday, April 30
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O God, your Son makes himself known to all his disciples in the breaking of bread. Open the eyes of our faith, that we may see him in his redeeming work, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Global Church Prayer for April 30
Risen One, who meets us along the roadways and in the locked rooms of our lives, guide us to witness to your triumph over death in our daily lives. Send your Spirit of life and strength to be present with the women studying at ELCA colleges and institutions through the International Women Leaders program. Through your grace, guide them into all good work, in the name of your risen Son, our Lord, Jesus the Christ, we pray. Amen.
Download 2017 Global Church Prayer Minutes
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First Lutheran, Longmont, Welcomes Pastor Garrett Struessel
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All are invited to join the people of
First Lutheran Church in welcoming Pastor Garrett Struessel as their new pastor on
Sunday, April 30 at 4 p.m. They are a congregation of the Boulder/Broomfield conference. The installation is followed by a celebration Taco Bar! Bishop Jim Gonia will be presiding at the installation liturgy.
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Saint Paul, Denver, hosting Ars Nova Singers Concert
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Friday, April 28, at 7:30 p.m.
The Boulder-based Ars Nova Singers will present the Russian Orthodox version of a Roman Catholic Mass setting, the magnificent "
Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom" by Sergei Rachmaninoff, under the leadership of Artistic Director Thomas Edward Morgan. Visit
www.arsnovasingers.com for more information.
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Ken Caryl Concerts Presents "Springtime in the Rockies"
Saturday, April 29 at 7:30 p.m.
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Ken Caryl Concerts of St Philip Lutheran Church is gearing up for its first concert of the season – “Springtime in the Rockies” on Saturday, April 29 at 7:30 p.m. You won’t want to miss this program featuring St Philip’s Bluegrass Group, Safonia Women’s Choir, R Michael Rhodes Acoustic Duo and more.
The concert series was created by a group of St. Philip musicians as an outreach mission of the church in the hopes to entertain, educate, inspire and extend a warm welcome to the community. The series offers 3-4 concerts per year featuring a wide variety of musical talents from the church family and the surrounding community including sacred and secular music of all genres. All concerts are free of charge and open to all ages.
2017 offerings include:
“
Springtime in the Rockies” on April 29 at 7:30 p.m.
“
Music from the Movies” on July 16 at 2:30 p.m.
“
Mostly Mozart” on September, 30 at 7:30 p.m.
“
Christmas Classics” on December 3 at 2:30 p.m.
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Iglesia Luterana Cristo Rey, El Paso, holding open border immersion Event
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Saturday, April 29 in the afternoon through Friday, May 5 early morning
Iglesia Luterana Cristo Rey in El Paso, Texas, invites its companions all over the Rocky Mountain Synod to come to El Paso for a week to walk in community with Lutherans on the border and to come face-to-face with the immigration system and the border today, to see how these structures shape the lives of the people who live here, and to wrestle with the question of how our faith calls us to respond to these realities.
Participants will stay at Cristo Rey and share in worship with the church community, while venturing out to visit Juarez, Mexico, to explore El Paso, to hear personal stories from individuals on both sides of the border, and to learn baout the system firsthand through meeting with attorneys, judges, Border Patrol, ICE Detention officials and more.
Cost is $420 for the whole week, which includes lodging, all transportation except travel to/from El Paso, and six full meals provided by church community members. Regular programming for the border immersion will end the night of Thursday, May 4 to allow for travel to the Synod Assembly. Questions, send email to
borderimmersion@gmail.com.
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Lutherans Outdoors in South Dakota hosting
Buffalo Roundup and Lakota Culture Retreat
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September 25-30, 2017
Monday 4:00 p.m. through Saturday breakfast.
Outlaw Ranch, Custer, SD
Enjoy a week in the Black Hills of South Dakota learning about buffalo and their importance to the Native American culture. Hear from Lakota people about life on the reservation. Pastor Larry Peterson, a retired pastor who has spent many years on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, will join us for the week as worship leader and program staff. In addition to programmed activities, there will also be time for relaxing, shopping, and sight-seeing.
This week includes a visit to Mt. Rushmore National Monument and a drive on the spectacular Needles Highway.
Stay at Outlaw Ranch in the Vision Quest Lodge or the Barn Retreat Center, surrounded by ponderosa pine forests and the peaks of the Black Hills. Delicious home-cooked meals are served in the dining hall.
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“Comfort and Hope on the Journey of Grief” Bereavement Retreat at Highlands Presbyterian Camp & Retreat Center
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Highlands Presbyterian Camp and Retreat Center, in partnership with Faith and Grief Ministries is offering a new program this summer for those who have experienced the death of a spouse, child, parent, sibling, or friends.
As summer approaches, we may find ourselves reflecting on how we have spent fun-filled summers in the past with loved ones and friends. For many who have lost a spouse, parent, sibling, child or friend, these memories can be painful.
Highlands and Faith & Grief Ministries are combining their respective gifts to make this retreat available, providing you a safe venue to wrestle with the dynamics of grief and to experience significant measures of hope and encouragement. Whether you are standing in raw grief, navigating the chaos of grief’s confusion, or recovering from a recent ambush of grief, this retreat is designed for you. Plan to experience comfort through scripture, spiritual practices, and interaction within a compassionate community of men and women who “get it”—get the heartache, get the lingering sorrow, get the continual yearning to be with your loved one, and get the longing for peace.
Scholarships are available. Here are links to a brochure, and costs and registration information. Please contact Steven Bohn, Registrar for questions.
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Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp hosts Spring and Summer Work Weekends!
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Friday, April 28 through Sunday, April 30
and
Friday, May 26 through Monday, May 29
Volunteer at
Sky Ranch! The
Leave A Trace program provides opportunities for groups and individuals to give their time and skills to Sky Ranch as we work to keep our facilities safe and welcoming. We have the plans, you have the hands. Together, with your help, we can make a huge impact on Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp! Food and lodging provided for the weekend.
To sign up for a work weekend, or to set up a weekend for your group or congregation, please contact the office at 970-493-5258 or email
ally@skyranchcolorado.org.
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Employment Opportunity at King of Glory in Arvada!
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Organist/Pianist and Accompanist (part-time)
King of Glory Lutheran Church in Arvada, CO, announces an opportunity for a part-time Organist/Pianist - Accompanist. The successful candidate will have excellent performance and leadership skills on both organ and piano, and experience as a church musician. A degree in organ performance or church music is preferred, but not required. Applicable knowledge of Lutheran hymnody and liturgies is a plus. Duties include playing for each Sunday morning worship service, special services (Christmas Eve, Holy Week, etc.) and accompanying the Adult Choir at Wednesday evening rehearsals (Sept-May).
A detailed position description is available. Compensation is competitive.
Application deadline is May 5, 2017. Electronic submissions preferred.
For further information or to apply for the position, please contact:
Mike Krueger, Minister of Music at michaeltoddkrueger@comcast.net or
303-828-6683
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Resource Corner
check back each week for a new or featured resource for your congregation
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Earth Day series: How the ELCA is addressing the effects of climate change
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In honor of Earth Day on April 22, Living Lutheran featured a weekly series of blogs exploring different facets of caring for creation throughout the month of April.
In February 2015, Jim Inhofe, a senator from Oklahoma, threw a snowball on the U.S. Senate floor in an effort to prove that global warming is a hoax.
It infuriated scientists like Julie Brigham-Grette, a professor of geology and the department head of geosciences at the University of Massachusetts, who has been studying melting sea ice in the arctic for the last 30 years.
“That’s not what we’re talking about. That’s weather,” Brigham-Grette said. “Climate is what temperature and precipitation [are] doing over decades; it’s the long-term trend.”
Brigham-Grette, a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Amherst, Mass., has been visiting the Chukchi Sea off the coast of northern Alaska since 1978. What she’s seen there confirms the scientific findings of NASA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the United Nations and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The world is getting warmer over time, with 2016 being the warmest year the planet has ever had.
Read full article on Living Lutheran
Earth Day Series: Climate Change and Hunger
Earth Day Series: Climate Change and Migration
ELCA Resources:
Caring For Creation Advocacy Resources
Social Statement: Caring for Creation
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Non-Rostered Positions Available
Custodian
Bethany Lutheran Church - Cherry Hills Village, CO
Communications Manager (part-time)
Bethany Lutheran Church - Cherry Hills Village, CO
Choir Director and Accompanist (part-time)
Highlands Lutheran Church - Denver, CO
Augustana Arts Executive Director
Augustana Lutheran Church - Denver, CO
Administrative Assistant (part-time)
St. Andrew Lutheran Church - Arvada, CO
Building Resources Coordinator (part-time)
Faith Lutheran Church - Golden, CO
Director of Children's Education (part-time)
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church - Fort Collins, CO
Volunteer and Care Coordinator (part-time)
Christ Lutheran Church - Highlands Ranch, CO
Nursery Care Lead (part-time)
Christ Lutheran Church - Highlands Ranch, CO
Organist/Pianist and Accompanist (part-time)
King of Glory - Arvada, CO
Executive Director
Mt. Cross Ministries - Ben Lomond, CA
Manager of Spiritual Integrated Therapy
Tennyson Center for Children - Denver, CO
Accompanist (Pianist)
Intercession Episcopal Church - Thornton, CO
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Office of the Bishop This Week
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Bishop Gonia
- Aurora Area Strategy Ministry
- Staff Meeting
- Mosaic Foundation Dinner
- Lutheran Family Services Gala
- St. Mark's, Aurora, CO
- Installation for Pastor Garrett Struessel, First, Longmont, CO
- Assembly Prep
Pastor Kent Mueller
- Lutheran Center Administration
- RMS Candidacy
- Growing Home Luncheon
- Assembly Prep
Ruth Hoffman, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-NM
- NM Coalition to End Homelessness Retreat
- Hearing on SNAP
- Food Depot agency training
Peter Severson, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-CO
- Legislative Session
- Staff Meeting
- St. Phillip, Littleton, CO
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Pastor Judith VanOsdol
- Better Together Relationship Team
(Stewardship/ Generosity)
- Aurora Area Ministry Strategy
- Potential Mission Site Sterling Ranch
- Staff Meeting
- Planning meeting
Developer/ Redeveloper training
- Churchwide meeting Chicago
Deacon Erin Power
- Synod Assembly Prep
- RMS Communications
- Staff Meeting
- Congregational Ministry Board
- Staff Meeting
- St. Paul's Denver, CO
- Messiah, Denver, CO
Andy Sprain
- Rainbow Trail Summit Retreat
- ELCA Youth Gathering Planning
- Youth Discipleship Team
- CU-Campus Ministry Senior Gala
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Erin Power
,
Assistant to the Bishop
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 Submission link above.
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