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A Reconciling in Christ synod
LWF Called to use Communication for Communion Building
Communicators of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) member churches across Europe wrapped up their first joint meeting with a commitment to explore further how communication can be used for communion building in Europe.

Representing more than 20 churches across Europe, the communicators met in Riga, Latvia, hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia, to discuss ways of using communication as a means of building and nourishing the communion and of better communicating the work of European LWF churches as a region.

By coming together, the communicators promoted both the exchange and strengthening of communion building within the LWF throughout Europe. A focus of their discussion was the current social and political environment. In the information and post-truth society, with increasing secularization or lack of church affiliation, and in a changing European landscape, the big challenges are: How can churches be a church? How can churches be a Lutheran communion? How can the church contribute to the fight against manipulation and lies? How can the church communicate the over 2000-year-old message of love and be a guide in the critical reading of news and consumption of information?

Bishop Eaton: So now what?
Last year it was all Reformation all the time. On this 501st anniversary of the Reformation, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton uses her October Living Lutheran column to call on us to "refocus our attention on the gospel of our freedom, forgiveness and reconciliation given to us through God's indescribable act of love in Christ's death and resurrection."

Read her column in English at and in Spanish, or download in Word/ PDF.
eConnection Spotlight:
ELCA in the Neighborhood
Common Room: A Story of One Worship Space's Transformation
This is my testimony to you: it feels good to worship in a sanctuary in which the seating is more than twenty percent filled. The singing is fabulous when the community worships close together. Need space for a baptism and six confirmations at an Easter Vigil? Just make the open space between the font and the chairs larger. Need space for piano, string bass, and drums for Jazz Vespers, our monthly evening prayer? Just move the altar table back a few feet.

Because nothing is nailed down, Zion Lutheran Church has been able to host public concerts, theater rehearsals, interviews, annual meetings, farmers markets, community dinners, and events for children and youth. In our first year, over twelve thousand people have walked through our doors for worship or a community event in our Common Room, the name for our sanctuary.

RMS-ELCA News and Events
Rocky Mountain Synod 2019 Youth Gathering
This year's gathering will focus on each participant as a uniquely created child of God called to live out baptismal promises in unique and various ways. We will look at themes of spiritual gifts, vocation, community, and service as we gather and are then sent to boldly share the love of God in this world.

The YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park will also let us explore creation and relaxation in the mountains as we enjoy fellowship with middle and high school students from all parts of the Rocky Mountain Synod. While all students will gather for some large group worship time, separate tracks for Middle and High School students will allow each group to participate in age-appropriate conversation and activity based learning.
Register HERE! Visit the synod's webpage for complete information.

   Middle School Adult Leader – $180.00
   Middle School Youth – $180.00
   Sr High Adult Leader – $180.00
   Staff and Speakers

Registration closes Dec 1, 2019.
Scholarships are available, apply here by October 31.

Gathering and registration questions can be directed to Rev. Leslie Welton at lwelton@rmselca.org.
Building an Inclusive Church - National Training comes to RMSELCA
Friday, November 9, 2018 at 5:30 p.m. through Saturday, November 10, 2018 at 5:00 p.m.
American Lutheran Church in Grand Junction is excited to host this nationally-recognized program here on the Western Slope of Colorado! A "Building an Inclusive Church" (BIC) training helps you design and implement a journey for your faith community to publicly and intentionally welcome people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. Building an Inclusive Church equips you with ways to create dialogue, deepening relationships throughout your faith community rather than sparking debate and division.

The registration fee of $100 includes training, materials, refreshments, and lunch. Registration deadline is November 7, 2018. Register online at https://www.reconcilingworks.org/bic/register/ Reduced income registrations are available.
For Your Bulletin
Installations

Rev. Barbara Berry-Bailey
St. Paul, Denver, CO
Sunday, October, 28, 3:00 p.m.
Color of the Day: Red
RMS Prayer Cycle

OCTOBER 2018
HOSPITAL and MILITARY CHAPLAINS
 Week of October 21

U.S. Air Force - Columbia, SC
Kristoffer Cox

U.S. Air Force - Fort Belvoir, VA

U.S. Army - Lawton, KS
Christian Nisonger

Presbyterian Health Care - Albuquerque, NM
Janet Morse

Sky Ridge Medical Center - Centennial, CO
Laurie Jeddeloh

Exempla Good Samaritan Medical Center - Lafayette, CO
Jennifer LaVie

Mercy Regional Medical Center - Durango, CO
Josh Magyar
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. 
Sunday, October 21
Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost
Prayer of the Day

Sovereign God, you turn your greatness into goodness for all the peoples on earth. Shape us into willing servants of your kingdom, and make us desire always and only your will, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

In God's Hands: Ecumenical Prayer Cycle from the World Council of Churches

21 - 27 October 2018 :  The Caribbean: Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Sint Maarten, St Kitts-Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago - Intercessions and Prayers
Around the Synod
New Beginnings Chow Hall Gala
Friday, October 19, 5:00 p.m.
Bethany Lutheran Church
4500 E Hampden Ave.
Cherry Hills Village, CO ( map )

Come and learn about and celebrate the ministry of New Beginnings, a Congregation Under Development that worships inside the walls of the Denver Women's Correctional Facility. Hear stories from the women of New Beginnings, learn more about our Rocky Mountain Synod prison ministry, and help support the ministry through a live and silent auction. Visit http://www.newbeginningswc.org/ to purchase tickets or to learn more.
Celebration of the life of Pastor Wolfgang Stahlberg
Sunday, Oct 21, 10:30 a.m.
Lord of the Mountains Lutheran Church
6 Highway 6
Dillon, CO ( map)

Join us to celebrate and remember the late, beloved Pastor Wolfgang Stahlberg as we mark the first year anniversary of his passing. Come, share a story, a memory and join in a pot luck meal. Questions-- contact lotm@lordofthemountains.org or call 970-468-6809.
Urban Servant Corps Fall Festival
Thursday, October 25 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Join us at the Posner Center for International Development, 1031 33rd St, Denver, CO ( map) to celebrate a Fall Festival with Urban Servant Corps!

Be inspired by a commitment to service! Engage with members of our intentional community! Take action in response to your spirituality! Learn more about a life of simplicity! Please join the Urban Servant Corps community for an evening of supporting our full-time volunteers by attending the silent auction event. All the while, you'll also enjoy HOMEBREW BEER and FOOD CATERED FROM PARTNER ORGANIZATION SAME CAFE. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased here.

Metro Denver Sanctuary Coalition Meetings
Saturday, November 3, noon - 5:00 p.m.
The Metro Denver Sanctuary Coalition is inviting ELCA Churches interested in the Sanctuary movement and defending immigrant rights to join in our all-coalition meetings. If you have any questions or want to discuss one-on-one, contact Joshua Stallings at joshstallings@yahoo.com or Jennifer Piper at jpiper@afsc.org.

Metro Denver Sanctuary ALL Coalition meeting
Putting in place the steps to transition into our vision – this meeting will focus on the process of getting us where we want to go by identifying the resources and the steps we need to grow
5th Annual Veterans Dinner, Silent Auction and Concert
Saturday, November 3, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Bethany’s Operation One Nation (OON) team will honor Veterans with a catered pasta dinner by Romano’s Italian restaurant, music by the Dakota Blonde band and a silent auction intended to raise funds to support Veterans and military families. These funds enable OON to provide material support for many organizations. OON has been a conduit through which lives have been saved from the scourge of suicide. The OON team feels blessed to have been able to connect individuals in need with helping agencies that provide comfort and care.

Food will be served in the Fellowship Hall from 5 p.m. to 6:20 p.m. with a suggested donation of $10. Kids under 10 and veterans eat free. The silent auction will be set up in the Narthex and available for bidding from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Last year, the Dakota Blonde band was very well received and we look forward to enjoying their music again this year! The concert will take place from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the sanctuary.

If you have questions, items to donate for the silent auction, or would like to RSVP for the dinner, please contact Janet Mortinsen at janet@bethany-denver.org. Operation One Nation hopes you will be a part of this fun tradition with a purpose in celebrating and supporting our military!
Ken Caryl Concerts presents Harvest Hoedown!
Sunday, November 4, 2018 2:30 p.m.
Saint Philip Lutheran Church
7531 S Kendall Blvd, Littleton, CO ( map )

Join us for a “Harvest Hoedown” with a concert at 2:30 pm featuring our Bluegrass Band, and various soloists and small groups performing “Americana” tunes, followed by festive fun for all ages including free games, a petting zoo, face painting and food provided by Saucy Buns BBQ. Donations will be collected to benefit Ralston House Child Advocacy Center.

For more information go to: http://www.stphilip-co.org/concerts/.
Pumpkins with a Purpose!
4th Annual St. Peter Pumpkin Patch
Open Daily: October 6 - October 31
4th Annual St. Peter Pumpkin Patch, located at 1302 W. Pierce St, Carlsbad NM ( map )

  • Monday-Friday: 3:00 - 6:30 p.m.
  • Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
  • Sunday: 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Admission is FREE!
ALL sales proceeds to benefit: Packs for Hunger, Children's Advocacy Center-Buddies Program and Iglesia Luterana Cristo Rey. More info at stpeter@splcnm.com or www.splcnm.com.
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-NM
2018 Advocacy Conference - Registration is now OPEN!
Saturday, November 17, 2018 at 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Save the Date!

Keynote speaker:
The Rev. Amy Reumann, Director of ELCA Advocacy

St. Paul Lutheran Church
Albuquerque, NM
8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
$15 per person
(materials & lunch included)

Registration is now open, go HERE !
Our Life Together
2018 RTLC Senior High Retreat
November 16-18, 2018
What if we believed that the Church, and we as people of faith, had something radically relevant to offer to the world? What would it look like if we lived our lives believing that? Together we will explore and claim the gifts we as individuals and communities of faith have to offer for the sake of a world in need of love, grace, and healing.

Join Deacon Erin Power, your favorite Rainbow Trail staff, and other senior high youth for a weekend in the mountains! This 3rd Annual Senior High Retreat will offer kids an opportunity to experience their favorite camp activities and learn together how they play a role in, not just faith communities, but the greater world. Register now, spaces are filling up!
2018 Advent Retreat at Sky Ranch
Friday, November 30 through Sunday, December 2
Guests of all ages are invited to join us for the 2018 Advent Retreat! We invite you to take advantage of this important season and grow closer to God with your family through reflection, fellowship, activities and music. Begin this Advent at Sky Ranch in a time of reflection and preparation for the birth of our Savior.
$80/adult, $50/child, max of $250/family

Register here. Questions? Call our office at 970-493-5258.
LFS Denver - Informal Q & A session for Foster Care
November 14 from 12:30-1:30 p.m. and from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Each year in Colorado, thousands of kids are unable to live with their biological parents because of abuse or neglect. We need families who can provide temporary care until children reunify with their parent as well as families willing to adopt children and teens in foster care if they can't return to their families. 

An informal Q & A session for foster care will be held on November 14 from 12:30-1:30 p.m. and from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the LFS Denver Metro office, 363 S. Harlan Street, Suite 105, Denver, 80226 ( map). Please register with Anne at anne.hamilton@lfsrm.org or 303-217-5869. One-on-one meetings can also be arranged to work around your busy schedule.
Resource Corner
check back each week for a new or featured resource for your congregation
November Church Together Toolkit!
New and Renewing Ministries: As the ELCA Rocky Mountain Synod, we support and promote ministries intentionally committed to engaging changing contexts, emerging communities and neighbors on the margins. Together we are proclaiming God’s unconditional love for the sake of the world in new places and in new ways.

Share about our new & renewing ministries through story, prayer, and offering connections!
Here's your Stewardship Toolkit for November!
This month's newsletter article and resource toolkit from the Lower Susquehanna Synod is based on the theme, "Stewardship and Gratitude," and is available here.

The Toolkit also has RCL-based "Stewardship Snippets" for every Sunday bulletin.
Employment Opportunities
New Listings
Director of Volunteers (part-time)
King of Glory Lutheran Church - Arvada, CO
The Director of Volunteers enjoys getting to know people and their gifts, experiences, and their willingness to be a part of something bigger. The DV makes it easier for people to be involved at KOG and is willing to approach individuals personally to encourage them to use their gifts. The DV is organized and diligent in matching people and ministries to do God’s Work with Our Hands. The DV will create maintain and make use of a volunteer database, as well as recruit, remind, and appreciate volunteers. Contact kogpastor@me.com for information or to apply.
Administrative Assistant
All Saints Lutheran Church - Albuquerque, NM
The Administrative Assistant will team with the Pastor, staff and congregational leaders to further the mission of the congregation, as we strive to be a welcoming place where people can grow in faith and serve the community. The Administrative Assistant will play a key role supporting church ministries with administrative, communication and publishing services. This is a full time position, 35-40 hours/wk.

For further information on the position, contact Pastor Kristin Schultz at pastor_aslc@comcast.net. To apply, submit a cover letter and resume to Pastor Kristin.
All Non-Rostered Positions 
Director of Volunteers (part-time)
King of Glory Lutheran Church - Arvada, CO

Administrative Assistant
All Saints Lutheran Church - Albuquerque, NM

Choir Director (part-time)
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church - Fort Collins, CO

Parish Administrative Assistant (part-time)
Our Saviour's Lutheran Church - Salt Lake City, Utah
Office of the Bishop This Week
 
Bishop Gonia
  • Mt, Calvary, Boulder, CO
  • California Lutheran University Convocation
  • Border Conference Gathering, Peace, Las Cruces, NM
  • North Colorado Conference Gathering, Our Savior's Greeley, CO
  • UNC Campus ministry
  • Metro West Conference Retreat

Pastor Kent Mueller (1/2 time)
  • Lutheran Center Administration
  • Joy, Parker, CO
  • Conference Dean's Zoom Meeting

Ruth Hoffman
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-NM
  • Interim legislative work
  • Conference planning

Peter Severson
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-CO
  • RMS Immigration Task Force
  • World Hunger Domestic Hunger Grants Task Force
  • Colorado Social Legislation Committee
  • New Beginnings Gala
  • Together Colorado Meeting

Deacon Erin Power
  • Global Mission Committee
  • RMS Immigration Task Force
  • ELCA Domestic Hunger Grants Review
  • Guardian Angel Training, Bethany, Denver
  • Dean's Meeting
  • Metro West Conference Retreat

Pastor Sarah Moening
  • In-office appointments
  • Excellence in Leadership Planning
  • First, Longmont, CO

Pastor Leslie Welton
  • California Lutheran University Convocation
  • North Colorado Conference Gathering
  • Candidacy Manual Training, Chicago, IL

Pastor Matt Barnhouse
  • Border Conference Gathering
  • Peace, El Paso, TX
  • Working from El Paso, available via email
Quick Links
Share the News
Erin Power ,   Assistant to the Bishop
You are welcome to directly contact Andrew Nakatan i , Communications Assistant, with questions, comments, or concerns you may have about eConnection or our website!

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.