This October, as we observe the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, join us for  Global Church Sunday by celebrating and supporting our church’s missionaries! No matter who they are or where they serve, every missionary needs your prayers, support and gifts to live out their ministry. 

Each year, more than 225 ELCA missionaries, including Young Adults in Global Mission, serve in more than 40 countries around the world. They are sent by the ELCA in response to invitations from our companion churches and serve in a variety of roles, working alongside our companions to proclaim the gospel, raise up leaders, care for those in need and develop new ways of being church together. 

If each of the ELCA’s 9,300 congregations made a gift of $500 or more to  Missionaries and Young Adults in Global Mission in commemoration of the 500th anniversary, we could raise nearly $5 million for these life-changing ministries. This is a historic milestone for the Lutheran church and an exciting opportunity to participate in the ongoing Reformation. Will you join us?  

Your congregation received a packet with a Global Church Sunday booklet and other materials earlier this month. View the  Global Church Sunday booklet,  poster and  bulletin insert to get started today! 

Who: Rostered Ministers, Congregational Councils, Visioning teams, other interested leaders
What: Day of Shared Gifts and Learning
When: Friday, August 25 from 8:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.
Where: Bethany Lutheran Church, 4500 E. Hampden Avenue Cherry Hills Village, CO
How much: $20.00 per person to offset cost of lunch and materials

The Domestic Mission unit of our Churchwide Expression hosts a Congregational Development training conference twice per year for Rostered ministers and other leaders of new mission starts, specialized ministries and renewing congregations. In August the training event will be hosted by the Rocky Mountain Synod at Bethany Lutheran Church in Cherry Hills Village (South Denver). The Friday of that week will be open to ALL interested leaders to attend the gathering and participate in various workshops. 

These workshops highlight our call toward healthy, vital congregations and feature number of leaders, including our own Bishop Jim Gonia on "Claiming our Gifts," together with other gifted leaders working with Congregational Vitality, Church Development Institute (CDI) among other offerings. 

You are invited and encouraged to register as a group from your congregation. We are asking for a $20. registration fee per person to offset the cost of lunch and materials. 

Here is the registration link for participants who want to attend the Congregational Development Training Conference on Friday, August 25 from 8:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church. Please make arrangements for each event participant to complete and submit the registration form. If you would like to make any changes you can contact Marta.Rorata@elca.org. 

Looking forward to a great gathering! 

Living Lutheran Magazine Supplement

4 times per year, Living Lutheran offers a supplement insert with Rocky Mountain Synod news and stories. The current insert is available as a pdf. for congregation newsletters and bulletin inserts. 

August 2017 Insert - print  or web version

Risen Lord Lutheran Church in Conifer, CO has moved to a new location! To celebrate this ecumenical endeavour of sharing space with St. Laurence Episcopal Church, please join us for our Joint Celebration Service this Sunday, followed by a potluck BBQ (meat provided) at 26812 Barkley Road, Conifer. 

We will be blessed by Bishop Gonia's presence and preaching.

A large collection of art & craft supplies will be for sale... including beads, jewelry parts, doll making, imitation flowers, macrame, hat making, Christmas decorations, yarn, and many more categories. There will be bargains the likes of which have not been seen in decades!

All proceeds will go to Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp. Doors open on Friday, August 11 at noon until 8:00 p.m. and continues on Saturday, August 12 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Fellowship Hall of Atonement Lutheran Church, 6281 West Yale Ave., Lakewood, CO.

Lutheran Campus Ministry is just a short distance away and offering great parking and tailgating spots. At $100 a stall for the whole season the campus ministry offers a warm building, bathrooms, back deck and a gas grill. Get two stalls and have room for your canopy, table, or grill. Email Campus Pastor Paul Judson at pastor@lcmcsu.org for details and a contract.

Hosted by the Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb and the Diyar Consortium, inviting pastors, church leaders, educators, and other professionals committed to the struggle for a just peace in Israel/Palestine to participate in this leadership experience. The aim of this program is to gain a deeper understanding of the current realities in Israel/Palestine as well as to view the Holy Land through a new, biblical/theological lens. This opportunity is open for people already interested in the region, who are committed to making a difference and investing in hope.

The study tour will explore the question: Where do we go from here on the journey toward peace, human rights and building bridges of understanding? 

Cost $3999, including airfare from DC.  Program details, registration info, and day-by-day itinerary is available in this brochure. 

Sky Ranch will once again be offering a bus package transportation to the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering. Tentative plans include leaving on Sunday, June 24, and will include housing, meals, transportation and service and fellowship opportunities. Details are still coming together. 

Rocky Mountain Synod will be offering a Hospitality Package for 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering that can include airport transportation, catered meals, synod t-shirts, first aid personnel and hospitality vans for our day of service.

For more information, please contact Beth Rogers, Gathering Synod Coordinator
If you are serving as a contact person for your congregation, please send your contact information to Beth Rogers at beth@lchope.org. 

California Lutheran University is offering a week of continuing education with faculty from the School of Management. In the complex environment of congregational management, we all can use new tools for ministry. This continuing education event for pastors will explore how concepts from a MBA program can be applied to the arena of congregational life. Each day, we will explore a different theme.

This event is hosted in two different locations at two different times of the year. 

• January 8-12, 2018 at Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center, Carefree, AZ. Details (information, pricing, and registration) available here.

• July 16-20, 2018 at  the Cal Lutheran Campus in Thousand Oaks, CA. Details here, and below.
  

Level 1 and Level 2 run at the same time. This is due to our desire to create synergies between the participants as they join together in housing, meals and breaks while participating in different classes. Level 1 is the prerequisite to Level 2. 

(Class content is subject to change.)
Level One:
Finance; Marketing; Leadership; Information Technology; Entrepreneurship; Strategic Questions
Level Two:
The Customer Experience; Organizational Development; Advanced Leadership Skills; Vision and Mission.

This dynamic continuing education event is limited to 20 registrants for each level. Participants will be invited to bring a particular project or issue that they will focus on during the week. Through lectures, group work, and one-on-one learning participants will gain valuable and needed skills for their work as pastors in congregational settings. The participants will live, learn, worship, and work together throughout the week.

Cost (subject to slight change): $799.00 (includes classes, materials, room and board)
Cost Commuter fee: $625.00 (includes classes, materials, snacks and lunches) Will include dinner if evening sessions are scheduled.
Time: The event will begin on Monday and concludes at noon on Friday.
Travel: For those who are traveling, housing may be arranged for the nights of Sunday, and Friday. Cost is $20 per night and can be reserved through registration.

Highlands Lutheran Church is an active neighborhood church in northwest Denver. We are seeking an individual with strong musical leadership to play piano and/or organ and to possibly direct our small, but mighty choir which sings for selected services. We are in search of someone who is ready and willing to bring their creativity to worship through music and to collaborate in planning.

Job responsibilities/experience:
• Piano/organ accompaniment for weekly services
• Attend monthly Worship & Music team meeting (1.5 hr.)
• Lead choir rehearsal once a week September through May (negotiable)
• Work closely with the pastor to assure a smoothly running Sunday worship
• Love of God, worship, and music

12 month, part-time, Sunday services 10:00-11:30 am - increased time demands around the religious holidays. Salary: negotiable. Job description and details here.

Please send your resume and a cover letter with “ATTN Music Director Search” in the Subject line to office@highlandslutheran.comcastbiz.net.