A Reconciling in Christ synod
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Gracious God, out of your love and mercy you breathed into dust the breath of life, creating us to serve you and our neighbors. Call forth our prayers and acts of kindness, and strengthen us to face our mortality with confidence in the mercy of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever
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Bishop Eaton Statement on Dreamers
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Immigration is an ever-present topic at our dinner tables and in our congregations as Congress continues to discuss long-overdue protection for thousands of our community members who lack permanent legal status. Scripture calls us to welcome the sojourner. God commanded of the Israelites: “The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the stranger as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:34).
As Lutherans, we live out our biblical calling by serving in ministries with migrants and refugees in our communities and advocating for laws that reflect this commitment. I am troubled that policies under consideration will protect some of our community members while, at the same time, harming others. While recognizing the right of all countries to control their borders, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) social teaching affirms that “border policies should always respect the human dignity of all persons.” I’m especially troubled by policy proposals that harm:
I encourage policymakers to reflect upon Martin Luther’s challenge: “How do we know that the love of God dwells in us? If we take upon ourselves the need of our neighbor.” I also call upon Lutherans throughout the country to lift our voices through our
Advocacy network
and
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service
to urgently call for legislation that provides a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers without harming others.
“As we journey together through the time God has given us, may God give us the grace of a welcoming heart and an overflowing love for the new neighbors among us” (
“Message on Immigration
,” 1998
).
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eConnection Spotlight:
RMS in the Neighborhood
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God's Work. Our Little Hands.
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Highlands, Denver is a community collection location for their neighborhood food bank. Each week during the children's message, the kids bless the food before volunteers deliver it!
God's Work, Our Hands indeed!
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Synod Assembly Registration is now LIVE!
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Register now for the 2018 Synod Assembly and join us in Westminster this May! Assembly Highlights this year include:
- Keynote Speaker- Dr. Cynthia Moe-Lobeda
- House Band- Tangled Blue
- Bishop Election
- ELCA Vice President- Bill Horne
- Ecumenical and interfaith worship and prayer services
- Continued conversation about the Doctrine of Discovery
Other important information and Deadlines:
Scholarship assistance: complete the scholarship request
HERE
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The
March 2018
issue of
Connection is a reproducible one-sheet newsletter for congregation members. It is designed to print both sides, letter-size paper, and used flat or folded. Share with your congregations and help tell our stories of God's work in the world! Download it now,
PDF color or
PDF b/w!
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Ordinations
Kimberlee Law
First, Gypsum, CO
Sunday, February 18, 9:00 a.m.
Color of the Day:
Red
* called to serve Grace St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Tucson, AZ
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RMS Prayer Cycle
FEBRUARY 2018:
BORDER CONFERENCE
Week of February 18
St. Mark - Roswell, NM
St. Peter - Carlsbad, NM
Martha Singletary (UMC)
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Join us in daily prayer:
Download
ELCA Prayer Ventures
for daily guides to prayer for the global, social and outreach ministries of the ELCA, as well as for the needs and circumstances of our neighbors, communities and world.
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Sunday, February 18
First Sunday in Lent
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Prayer of the Day
Holy God, heavenly Father, in the waters of the flood you saved the chosen, and in the wilderness of temptation you protected your Son from sin. Renew us in the gift of baptism. May your holy angels be with us, that the wicked foe may have no power over us, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
In God's Hands: Ecumenical Prayer Cycle from the World Council of Churches
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Prepare Enrich Facilitator Training
Friday, February 23, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
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Bethany Lutheran Church
4500 E. Hampden Avenue, Cherry Hills Village
Training prepares one to use the Prepare Enrich Tool to assist couples in understanding and strengthening their relationship. Can be used in premarital work or marriage enrichment programs.
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Question, Persuade, Refer - Teen Suicide Prevention
Wednesday, February 28, 7:00-8:00 p.m.
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303-469-4004
Like CPR, QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) is an emergency response to someone in a suicide crisis. Also, like CPR in a life-threatening medical crisis, QPR teaches early recognition of warning signs, early intervention and early professional assessment and care which can save lives. This 60-minute interactive presentation will be led by
Jean Rosmarin, PhD, a clinical psychologist and trainer at
Mental Health Partners.
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The Gallery of Living Art
Friday, March 16 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 17 at 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 18 at 3:00 p.m.
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First Lutheran Church
Join First Lutheran in celebrating the 24th year of the Gallery of Living Art. As the audience sits in the sanctuary, the story of Christ’s Passion and Resurrection unfolds through live reproductions of 14 sacred works of art staged by a 75-member cast, narrative scripture, and music sung by First Lutheran choir. The art includes the well-known
Christ in Gethsemane by Heinrich Hofmann,
The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo’s
Pieta.
The public is cordially invited to attend this inspirational presentation of Christ’s Passion and Resurrection. Admission is free and childcare is provided. For questions, contact, Joan Kuehn, First Lutheran Church, at 719-632-8836.
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Join the Red Rocks Easter Sunrise Service Choir!
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To find out more, click
here or contact Dr. Gonzalez by
email. We'd like to have 70 people in this choir, so please spread the word to others.
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Save the date! Rostered Ministry Discernment Retreat Day
March 9, 2018 - 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
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Are you feeling a nudge from the Spirit to consider rostered ministry in the ELCA? Come join local leaders, synod staff, and other conversation partners for a day of discernment. Our day of retreat will include worship, information on the candidacy process, prayer and reflection time with others in various stages of discernment.
This retreat will take place in the Las Cruces, NM area. Exact location to be announced. Cost is $15 to cover cost of lunch. Please RSVP by March 3 to Rev. Leslie Welton at
lwelton@rmselca.org.
If you are unable to join us at this time, future discernment retreat days will be scheduled in Denver Metro, and other areas of the synod.
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Ecopalms available through Lutheran World Relief
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Join
Lutheran World Relief on Palm Sunday to wave palms and deliver hope for the hands that harvested them with
Eco-Palms! The farmers who harvest, sort and package Eco-Palms are paid fairly for their work and use methods that protect the environment and their future livelihoods. Visit
lwr.org/palms, orders are due by March 11,
online or call
651-487-7189.
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Sky Ranch Annual Meeting - location correction!
Sunday, February 25, 3:30-5:00 p.m.
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Sky Ranch will host its Annual meeting on Sunday February 25th from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Dickens Tavern in Longmont. Join us for an opportunity to reflect on the blessings of 2017 and look forward to the adventure of 2018!
Last week's article had the wrong meeting location; it should have been Dickens Tavern!
For questions please contact the office at 970-493-5258 or by e-mail at
ally@skyranchcolorado.org
.
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The ELCA AMMPARO Guardian Angel Program - Training Session
Friday, March 23, 4:00 - 6:30 p.m.
Lutheran Center, 7375 Samuel Drive, Denver CO
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AMMPARO is a holistic, whole church commitment by the ELCA, as a church in the world, to accompany children today and in the future.
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2018 Israel Trip with Instructor, Dr. Monte Luker, (O.T. Prof. at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary) and Group Leader Pastor Dave Pederson, Bethel Lutheran, Windsor, CO
September 28 through October 11, 2018
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You will deepen your understanding and perspective of the Bible by actually being where it all happened. Visit Bethlehem, the Shepherds field, Church of the Nativity, Armageddon, Sepphoris, the Sea of Galilee, Bethsaida, Capernaum, the traditional site of the feeding of the 5,000, the Mount of Transfiguration, 1st century Nazareth village, Jordan, Nebo where Moses overlooked Jericho, Petra, Eilat, Timnah, 2 nights in a Kibbutz at En Gedi, Dead Sea, cave David hid in away from Saul, Mt. of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus' birth place and more. Plus we will tour a Jewish settlement and talk to a Jewish leader and tour a Palestinian school and talk with Archbishop Elias Chacour its founder.
Cost is $4,398 and includes flight from Denver, hotels, bus, breakfast and dinner. Lunch on your own. For questions, contact Pastor David Pederson (
email
) or call 503-999-1443.
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Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains - February Announcements
Silent Auction item donations are needed for the 70th Anniversary Gala
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Silent Auction item donations are needed for the 70th Anniversary Gala, LFS' largest annual fundraiser! Can you donate a gift basket, gift certificate, or item to help raise funds for our human service programs? Individuals and groups are encouraged to put together a donation. All ideas and items are welcome! All contributions are tax deductible.
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Resource Corner
check back each week for a new or featured resource for your congregation
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Lent Resources: North American Anglican and Lutheran...
Posted on: February 1, 2018 4:08 PM The Presiding Bishop of the US-based Episcopal Church, Michael Curry, and Archbishop Fred Hiltz of the Anglican Church of Canada, have joined with their Lutheran colleagues to offer a series of Lenten reflections.
Read more
www.anglicannews.org
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ELCA Administration Matters - January 2018
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Preventing a hostile work environment
A hostile work environment may be defined as a workplace where an employee is subjected to harassment or unfair treatment, creating an environment where the employee feels threatened or intimidated. Prevention is the best means toward a safe and welcoming workplace. >
More
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Office Manager (part-time)
St. Andrew Lutheran Church - Arvada, CO
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The primary role of the Office Manager is to provide administrative support to the pastor and church council, and to efficiently and confidentially oversee and manage the church office as the primary point of contact for members and the larger community. Areas of Responsibility include: general office duties, preparation for Sunday worship and other special services, and other duties as needed to support the pastor and council. Please refer to the job description (here) for a full description of the position. For more information, send email to
mhackbarth@hotmail.com.
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All Non-Rostered Positions
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Office Manager (part-time)
St. Andrew Lutheran Church - Arvada, CO
Head of School
Rwanda School Project - Rwamagana, Rwanda
Faith Formation Director of Youth
Bethany Lutheran Church - Cherry Hills Village, CO
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Office of the Bishop This Week
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Bishop Gonia
- Theatre and Theology
- Lutheran Day at the Legislature, Denver
- Council Retreat First Gypsum, Good Shepherd Glenwood Springs
- Candidacy Assignment Process, Chicago, IL
Pastor Kent Mueller (1/2 time)
- Lutheran Center Administration
- Healthy Leaders Task Force
Ruth Hoffman
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-NM
- Legislative session
- NM Conference of Churches
Peter Severson
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-CO
- Lutheran Day at the Legistlature
- Social Legislation Commitee
- Lutheran Disaster Response Western Region
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Pastor Judith VanOsdol
- Latino Worshiping Community West Denver (former Cristo Rey)
- New Beginnings Prison Ministry Board
- Better Together Relationship Team subgroup
- Camino de Vida, Albuquerque, NM
- Christian African Refugee Mission-potential new mission start, Albuquerque, NM
- St. Timothy's, Albuquerque, NM
- Developer/ Redeveloper evaluations
Deacon Erin Power
- Synod Assembly Planning
- RMS Communications
Pastor Sarah Moening
- St. Paul, Denver
- Council Retreat First Gypsum, Good Shepherd Glenwood Springs
- Messiah, Denver
- In office appointments
Pastor Leslie Welton
- Lutheran Campus Ministry, UNM
- Faith Formation Conference Coordinators
- Campus Ministry Retreat, Rainbow Trail
- Youth Gathering planning meeting
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Rocky Mountain Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
800-525-0462 / 303-777-6700 / fax 303-339-4744
Articles for eConnection are due noon Monday for the issue the following Wednesday.
Event announcements are included for about two weeks then copied to the
Events & News Web Page,
and may be submitted via the eConnection Submission link above.
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