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SYNOD NEWS AND EVENTS - September 11, 2019
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Pray with us as we remember September 11th 18 years ago.
Peace.
O God, it is your will to hold both heaven and earth in a single peace. Let the design of your great love shine on the waste of our wraths and sorrows, and give peace to your church, peace among nations, peace in our homes, and peace in our hearts; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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- Prayer from the Evangelical Lutheran Worship, Prayer Book for the Armed Services.
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Do you intend to continue in the covenant God made with you in holy baptism:
PROCLAIM the Good News of
God In Christ Through Word and Deed
And every day in the temple and at home they did not cease to teach and proclaim Jesus as the Messiah. (Acts 5:43)
Think about proclaiming the good news. It's easy to envision a pastor in the pulpit on Sunday morning bringing the Word of God to the gathered people. But through our baptismal covenant, we all are called to proclaim the good news of God in Christ. Not just the pastor, but every one of us. And not just once, or once in a while. We are called to proclaim the good news day after day, never ceasing, just as the disciples did in the passage above.
What does it mean to proclaim the good news of God in Christ? As the Church, acting together and as individuals, we have a story to tell. We have the story of God's movement in our lives through the saving actions of Jesus Christ. The life, death and resurrection of Jesus is not simply a story in the Bible. Rather it's the story of our lives and the story of what brings us life. We simply share with others how God is working in our lives. We share the story that shapes our story.
We are living out the story of Christ in us. We are proclaiming the story of God's saving grace in our lives when we:
- Invite others to the church where Christ is proclaimed
- Confess our faith through song and word in worship
- Offer encouragement to a friend and others who are ill or in need
- Show Christ through our daily lives and work, which express thanks to God and care for the common good
- Talk about our faith in our homes and with others
- Live prepared to give a reason for the hope within us
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Call Process
One of the ways your synod staff supports congregations is through the call process. The synod staff is here to guide your congregation through the steps of a pastoral transition.
Synod Ministers, Kathryn and Steve, talk through the call process in this
"Our pastor is leaving...now what?" video.
Your congregation may or may not be going through the call process but knowing how the synod staff helps congregations navigate change can be helpful in many ways. Click here to view the call Process webpage. |
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Congregational Mission Grants for 2020 awarded
The Southwestern Minnesota Synod ELCA Endowment Fund has announced the recipients for the first Congregational Mission Grants. This represents a new focus for the Fund to focus its support on the work of congregations and campus ministries.
In this first year of this new initiative a total $15,400 was awarded, the maximum amount available, to
eight projects. 20 grant applications were made, but unfortunately, many worthy proposals could not be funded with the resources available.
The Endowment Fund Committee plans to make a similar grant program available next year. The focus, criterion and deadlines for applications will be released in early 2020.
In 2020 grant awards were made to:
Evangelical Lutheran Church, Heron Lake
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Worship at Lakeview Nursing home
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| First Lutheran Church, Morris |
Community Youth Ministry
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| First Lutheran Church, Worthington |
Kids for Christ |
| Lutheran Campus Ministry, Morris |
Weekly Dollar Dinners
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| Lutheran Campus Ministry, Willmar |
Tues/Wed Free Lunch
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| Watonwan River Conference |
Conference Youth Event |
| Waverly Lutheran Church, Welcome |
Harvest Festival |
| Conference Mission Grants |
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For further information on the Endowment Fund Mission Grants of the Southwestern Minnesota Synod, ELCA contact Pr. Stephen Cook at
stephen.cook@swmnelca.org.
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Leading Worship: A Skills Workshop
Saturday, November 16, 2019
Cross of Calvary Lutheran Church, Olivia, MN
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Gathering for worship is at the core of what the church is and how we grow Everyday Spirituality. This day will build skills in three key aspects of vibrant and effective worship:
- Leading Worship
How to be effective when the church assembles for worship - reading, movement, praying, officiating.
- Planning Worship
Resources and best practices over the course of the year.
- Music
New ideas and approaches to enhance the assembly's song.
Each workshop will be 90 minutes long and will be repeated twice so participants will have their choice of two workshops to attend.
Worship committee members, church musicians, assisting ministers, and people serving in Synodically Authorized Ministry sites are especially encouraged to attend.
Leaders will include:
From the ELCA Worship Office:
Deacon John Weit, Program Director for Music
Deacon Jennifer Baker-Trinity, Program Director
for Resource Development
From the Southwestern Minnesota Synod:
Jullian Euteneuer, Director of Music,
Peace Lutheran, New London MN
Pastor Ellen Munter, Bethel Lutheran, Porter MN
Pastor Debra Dawson, Zion Lutheran, Arlington MN
Jane Wolle, Speech Coach
Bishop Jon Anderson, Southwestern Minnesota Synod
Registration:
Registration will close if we reach maximum capacity of 50 participants.
Registration fee is $10 per participant.
Complete the online registration and mail registration fee prior to the event.
Mail to: SW MN Synod
PO Box 499
Redwood Falls, MN 56283
Make checks payable to: SW MN Synod
Click here to register.
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 The Annual Elderberry Retreat -and-
New Retirement/Anniversary Luncheon
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
New this year: A celebration luncheon for newly retired rostered ministers and retired rostered ministers with a special anniversary. The luncheon is a part of the Elderberry Retreat on Tuesday, September 17 at 12:00 p.m. at the Model Citizen restaurant.
RSVP by mailing back the bottom portion of the registration sheet or RSVP to Kristin Bakeberg at 507-637-3904 or kristin.bakeberg@swmnelca.org
Register for the Elderberry Retreat and enjoy a full day of Bible study, music, food, laughter, and relaxation. Spouses are invited and encouraged to attend.
Deacon Terri Endres from Portico Benefit Services will have a presentation after lunch and will be available to meet with rostered ministers. Please indicate if you would like to meet with her when you RSVP or register for the retreat.
Retreat options:
- Overnight retreat: Informal gathering at Green Lake Bible Camp the evening of Monday, September 16. Gathering at 7:30 p.m. with Worship at 8:30. The cost for lodging at Green Lake Bible Camp will be $ 69.50. Please make your lodging accommodations with Green Lake Bible Camp at (320) 796-2181.
- Day retreat: Enjoy a full day of Bible study, music, food, laughter, and relaxing. The cost is FREE! Location: in the New London/Spicer area.
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Upcoming Event
Pediatric end of life series by CentraCare
Shared Decision Making - When there's more than one choice
October 21 and October 22, 2019
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Synod Events
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AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
September 16-17, 2019
Green Lake Bible Camp, Spicer and the
New London/Spicer area
New London/Spicer area
September 28, 2019
St. Stephen Lutheran, Marshall, MN
OCTOBER
October 6-8, 2019
College of Saint Benedict. St. Joseph MN
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NOVEMBER
November 2, 2019
First Lutheran, Marshall MN
November 5, 2019
Faith Lutheran, Spicer
DECEMBER
JANUARY
January 11, 2020
St. Stephen Lutheran, Marshall MN
FEBRUARY
2020 Equipping Congregations Day
February 29, 2020
Willmar, MN
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Southwestern Minnesota Synod, ELCA
PO Box 499, Redwood Falls, MN 56283
Phone: 507-637-3904
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