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SYNOD NEWS AND EVENTS - JUNE 21, 2017
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Synod Office Summer Hours: Monday-Thursday 8am - 5pm and Friday 8am - 3pm.
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"Think about the mission field God has placed"
Watch this video about Congregational Vitality. This is one of the four videos shown at Synod Assembly about Embrace God's Mission + Equip God's People funding initiative.
Cultural change is the only constant. For followers of Jesus, it means a swiftly changing mission field in which to proclaim the Good News. Our synod stands at a pivotal moment to address that change! We are called to be embraced by God's vision and sent to equip people to serve this current mission field.
After deep listening among congregations, lay and pastoral leaders, our 2016 Synod Assembly voted overwhelmingly to support three areas to focus our energy for growth;
Deepen Congregational Vitality, Enhance Local and Global Mission, and Develop Servant Leaders.
All three areas equip God's people to embrace the future with courage.
We, the people of our SW MN Synod, are moving forward with hopefulness and expectation. We are acting today and preparing for the future. Your support is invited to create healthier congregations and leaders in these congregations who do God's work locally and globally.
Click here for more funding initiative resources.
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 Charged times.
In her June column for Living Lutheran, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reflects on serving the neighbor in politically charged times. She reminds us that "active participation in public life and the duty of government to care for its people, especially the most vulnerable, have been part of the Lutheran movement since its beginning." Click here to read her column.
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Wellness Dollars from SW MN Synod
Wellness grants are available for up to a maximum of $250 per eligible person each fiscal year for the purpose of encouraging activities that focus on health and wellness. Grant funds are limited and are not automatically awarded, except for the specific items that are listed as examples. Each person who is rostered in the SW MN Synod and serves as a non-retired, rostered leader in a part-time or full-time call in the synod is eligible for the grants. Paid, non-rostered staff members who serve in a congregation or synodical office setting in the synod AND who have Portico Benefit Services health insurance are also eligible. All rostered leaders must have completed this year's Annual Rostered Leader Report to the Bishop.
Wellness grants are available to be used for a variety of ways of stewarding your health as leaders:
- Spiritual (spiritual direction sessions, attend a spiritual-centered retreat)
- Vocational (vocational building books for staff/council, staff development retreat and/or facilitator expenses, sabbatical support)
- Intellectual (attending a formal continuing education event-tuition, housing, mileage, travel)
- Emotional (counseling sessions, life coach sessions, attend a retreat for renewal)
- Physical (exercise equipment for home gym or church group, exercise classes, resources or programs)
- Social (Pastor-2-Pastor, Family Camp)
$400 Wellness Dollars Incentives for ELCA-Primary Health Plan Members
Login to your MyPortico account to earn up to $400 in Wellness Dollars, which will be deposited into your personal wellness account, legally a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA), or a health savings account (HSA).
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Reform, Repent, Reconcile
+Rev. Peter Lundholm
This spring, I was invited to serve as the LEIRN (Lutheran Ecumenical & Inter-Religious Representatives Network) representative from the SW Minnesota Synod. As such, I was able to participate in the National Workshop on Christian Unity that took place in Minneapolis in May.
There were representatives from similar groups, representing many Christian traditions, from The U. S. and Canada. There was a wonderful focus on this 2017 Reformation Anniversary and Commemoration. LEIRN was able to meet with CADEIO, the Roman Catholic counterpart. One particular element of our conversation was a renewed effort to deal pastorally with participation in the Eucharist in the context of weddings and funerals. This "window" may help to further possibilities for participation. I found this to be a hopeful sign.
I was also struck by the shared concern and work by these many traditions for refugees, the environment and social justice. These shared efforts appear to be model and further develop ecumenical and interfaith relationships among us all. I think here of Mandy France's efforts in our synod, the joint VBS efforts, especially between Catholics and Lutherans in rural SW Minnesota and shared efforts with Habitat for Humanity in our communities.
As one who has served as a Lutheran representative on the Diocesan Ecumenical and Interfaith Commission (Catholic) for several years, I also had the privilege of sharing this Workshop experience with a Father Edward Vebelun, OSB, who is a priest near Albany and also serves on the Diocesan Commission.
I thank you for this opportunity as your representative.
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Seeds for the Parish
Seeds for the Parish is the resource newspaper of the ELCA. Each issue contains articles that provide congregational leaders with insights, ideas and tools to assist them in a variety of ministries including worship, Christian education, stewardship, evangelism, youth ministries, social ministries, leadership and more.
To subscribe or get more information
click here.
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Synod Events
Below is a list of all the upcoming synod events. Visit the synod events webpage for more information.
JUNE
First-Call Family Camp
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AUGUST
"Brats and Beverages with the Bishop"
August 1, 2017
Talking Waters Brewery, Montevideo
Equipping Men for Ministry
August 12, 2017
Grace Lutheran, Westbrook
Equipping Men for Ministry
August 19, 2017
Paynesville Lutheran, Paynesville
SEPTEMBER
Church Staff Workers Retreat
September 19, 2017
Gloria Dei Lutheran, Redwood Falls
Fall Theological Conference
September 24-26, 2017
Arrowwood Resort, Okoboji, IA
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Other great events
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Exploring Religious Questions - Fall 2017
Join us at Gustavus Adolphus College in October for another in-depth mini-course series! Series is scheduled Monday nights, October 9-30, 2017.
Click here for more information.
- Contemporary Perspectives on Luther
Luther Seminary is holding a conference on August 18-19, 2017 in honor of the Reformation commemoration this year. The conference is sponsored by Luther Seminary and United Theological Seminary and is funded by the Minnesota Consortium of Theological Schools. It is free and open to the public.
Click here for more information.
- Music Workshops at the Reformation Festival
When we gather together at Luther Seminary on Oct. 27-28, 2017 to celebrate and commemorate 500 years of Reformation history, there will be 24 exciting workshops to engage everyone - from pastors to lay people. Many of these focus on music and include:
* Marty Haugen, composer of contemporary hymns and liturgical music, presenting on The Assembly Singing as Instrument.
* Susan Palo Cherwien, freelance writer and musician, giving a workshop on Words Matter: The Songs We Sing.
* Sowah Mensah, music professor at Macalester College and the University of St. Thomas, presenting on African Drumming.
* Dona Peña, composer and performer, giving a workshop on Latino Music.
These are just a taste of the music workshops available at the Reformation Festival. To find out what else is available, visit the workshop webpage.
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Southwestern Minnesota Synod, ELCA
PO Box 499, Redwood Falls, MN 56283
Phone: 507-637-3904
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