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                                                                       A Reconciling in Christ synod
RMS in the Neighborhood

Border Servant Corps, a service year ministry in El Paso and Las Cruces, and a ministry of Peace in Las Cruces, NM was BSC was honored with a proclamation from the City of Las Cruces Government, proclaiming 2017 as "Border Servant Corps: Commemorating 20 years of service on the U.S./México border."

We are grateful for the commitment of Border Servant Corps to justice and serving the neighbor for the past 20 years . We are Christ's Church, Better Together!
Bishop Eaton message on Suicide Prevention 
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:
RMS-ELCA News and Events
Follow the Rocky Mountain Synod Assembly all weekend!
Pictures, videos, and updates will be posted throughout the assembly weekend on the Rocky Mountain Synod Facebook page. Portions of the assembly will be streamed through Facebook Live so be sure to "like" the RMS Facebook page to keep up to date!
Roman Catholic & Lutheran Prayer Services to Mark Reformation 500 Years
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

For Your Bulletin
Bulletin Blurbs
Ministry Spotlight: Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp 

The ministry of Sky Ranch is so important in the lives of all who come there, regardless of age. We must continue this journey and touch the lives of our youth. Camp was an important part of my childhood coming from a challenged, dysfunctional family. The counselors and experiences gave me the tools to embrace my faith journey and the strength to embark on anything I thought possible in my life. As a camp nurse, I am often reminded of my past as I encounter a sick camper who brings a whole set of problems from home and watch how they too embrace and absorb the experience over the course of a week. I pray that they too will walk away reinforced with God's love and strength in their life. 

Thanks to our wonderful counselors who nurture our campers and watch them blossom into leaders by the end of a week. Wherever your journey takes you stay steadfast in your faith, love and friendships. Believe in things that are not yet seen. I encourage all of you whether young or old to come to Sky Ranch an see for yourself the Glory of God's Peace!
 
Elaine Beckman, Camp Nurse
Trinity Lutheran Church, Fort Collins, CO
Installations


RMS Prayer Cycle

May 2017
Metro East Conference

Week of May 7 -

Aurora Area Strategy Ministry
Cindy Robles

All Saints - Aurora, CO
John Petty

Augustana - Denver, CO
Ann Hultquist
Caitlin Trussell
Shanna VanderWel

Bethel - Aurora, CO
Barbara Lemke

Christ the Savior - Aurora, CO
Paul Ziegler

Jesus the Good Shepherd
Stained-glass composition by J. Le Breton
(glass studio of Gaudin, Paris), 1933


Join us in daily prayer:
Download  ELCA Prayer Ventures  for daily prayer petitions and resources for Sunday prayers.

Prayer of the Day: Sunday, May 7
O God our shepherd, you know your sheep by name and lead us to safety through the valleys of death. Guide us by your voice, that we may walk in certainty and security to the joyous feast prepared in your house, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Global Church Prayer for May 7

Risen One, who calls to us and we recognize his voice, guide us to witness to your triumph over death in our daily lives. Praise to you for the support of the ELCA in opening two new schools in The Gambia – St. Andrew’s Lutheran Education Center and St. Luke’s Lutheran Education Center. May these schools be places where students can hear your call in their lives and follow you, in the name of your risen Son, our Lord, Jesus the Christ, we pray. Amen.

Download 2017 Global Church Prayer Minutes

Around the Synod
Colorado Council of Churches Ecumenical Church Choir Project
We're looking for people who are interested in spending one Sunday each quarter singing with a choir at a church that belongs to the Colorado Council of Churches. We will designate these churches within our covenanting denominations, and alternate between diverse churches and predominantly white churches.The only caveat: Singers must adhere to the choir rehearsal schedule of the church to which they are assigned. If you are a singer, musician, or music director who would like to participate in this project, please email us  here. Depending on the interest level, we may schedule an organizational meeting. 
“Comfort and Hope on the Journey of Grief” Bereavement Retreat at Highlands Presbyterian Camp & Retreat Center
Highlands Presbyterian Camp and Retreat Center ofAllenspark CO, in partnership with  Faith and Grief Ministries is offering a new program this summer from June 23-25, 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.

Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp hosts Spring and Summer Work Weekend!
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.
Our Life Together
Youth Ministry Training Event at California Lutheran University
August 3 through August 5, 2017
- noon to noon

Full time? Part Time? Volunteer? Paid? If you're a youth director have we got a professional development program for you!

To cover the many aspects of youth ministry, our program offers several unique levels of training. Each track has its own focus. All join together for meals, worship, keynote sessions and socializing. Some topics are engaged in joint sessions.

More information and registration link are here
Lutherans Outdoors in South Dakota hosting Buffalo Roundup and Lakota Culture Retreat
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.

Website for registration and info is  here or email mary@losd.org with questions.
Employment Opportunity at King of Glory in Arvada!
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

Resource Corner
check back each week for a new or featured resource for your congregation
Earth Day series: How the ELCA is addressing the effects of climate change
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

Employment Opportunities
Non-Rostered Positions 

Community Care Coordinator
Faith Lutheran Church - Golden, CO

Faith Community Nurse (Parish Nurse)
Augustana Lutheran Church - Denver, CO

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

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
Office of the Bishop This Week
 
Bishop Gonia
  • Synod Assembly
Pastor Kent Mueller
  • Synod Assembly

Ruth Hoffman, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-NM

  • Synod Assembly

Peter Severson, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-CO

  • Synod Assembly
  • Final week of Legislative Session
Pastor Judith VanOsdol

  • Synod Assembly

Deacon Erin Power

  • Synod Assembly

Pastor Sarah Moening

    • Synod Assembly
    • Immanuel, Bethune, CO

    Andy Sprain

    • Synod Assembly
    Quick Links
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    Erin Power   Assistant to the Bishop
    Rocky Mountain Synod
     
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