2018 SYNOD ASSEMBLY
June 8-9, 2018
Redwood Area Community Center (RACC), Redwood Falls, MN

"Do Not Be Afraid.  It is I.  Come..."
We are excited to be back in Redwood Falls this year and are looking forward to the many exciting changes that come along with a new venue. We will be opening our assembly on Friday morning with learning opportunities and a chance for us to do several service projects together as a community. Everyone is welcome!
Important Dates
Last Day of Early Assembly Registration
 May 18
Assembly Display Request Closes
 May 31

The Pre-Assembly Reports and Proposals to the Congregations book will be available for download here, on our website and via our Guidebook to rostered persons and lay voting members who are registered for the assembly the week of May 1 or thereafter for late registrants. If you would like this information printed out and sent to you, please check the additional printed materials box upon registration and we will do that for an additional charge of $25. Thank you.

We encourage taking advantage of the early bird registration fee. Registering by May 18 not only means that you pay a considerably lower registration rate, but it also assures that your voting members will have ample time to review the Pre-Assembly Reports and Proposals to the Congregations. These reports and resolutions will form the basis for discussion and decisions at the assembly.
Registration Information
The assembly registration is open! 
The registration link will be posted on the Synod Assembly webpage - swmnelca.org/synod-assembly and is only available online. Click here to download the registration information. 


How can our congregation save money?
There are two ways your congregation can save significant monies. First, when you register your voting members prior to  May 18,  you save $50 per registration.  Registrations received after May 18 will be charged the regular rate. Additionally, if you register a lay young adult under the age of 35, you will receive $50 off his/her registration.
NEW THIS YEAR!

This year's assembly will kick off with learning opportunities and workshops. We are asking all participates to sign-up for the activities you wish to attend. These workshops are open to the community! Therefore, if you invite others to attend, please sign-up online by clicking here. This is to give us a general idea how many people may be attending each workshop.

Lunch for $9 per person will be available on-site from 12:00-1:00 p.m. on Friday, June 8. Friday dinner, Saturday lunch, coffee and snacks are included in your assembly registration price. Assembly voting members have the option to purchase a lunch ticket on their assembly registration. There will be a limited number of tickets available for purchase on-site.


Workshop Session #1:   10:00-11:00 a.m.
Healing Veterans' Moral Injuries, Chaplain Jeffrey Zust
Capital Campaign--Ready or Not?, Paula Kitt
Music--A Language That Speaks Volumes, Glocal Music Educators
The Community of Jesus in a World Where People Hunger, Rev. Daniel Rift
Congregational Memory: A Powerful Tool in Mission Planning, Paul Daniels
Natural Death through Comfort Care: Trusting God's Timing, Rev. Chris Wheatley
Hunger Issues in SW Minnesota
The Women and Social Justice Statement: Your Voice in the Process, Rev. Bruce Berg

Workshop Session #2:   11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Healing Veterans' Moral Injuries, Chaplain Jeffrey Zust
Public Mission: Social Action and Advocacy, Glocal Music Educators
Music--A Language That Speaks Volumes, Glocal Music Educators
The Community of Jesus in a World Where People Hunger, Rev. Daniel Rift
Natural Death through Comfort Care: Trusting God's Timing, Rev. Chris Wheatley
Congregational Memory: A Powerful Tool in Mission Planning, Paul Daniels
Hunger Issues in SW Minnesota
The Women and Social Justice Statement: Your Voice in the Process, Rev. Bruce Berg

Community Service Projects:
Better Together Redwood Falls Food Packing Event (9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.)
Women of the ELCA Fleece Blankets (Friday 10:00 a.m. -Saturday 12:00 p.m.)
Lutheran Social Service Baby Kits (10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.)
Schedule
Below is a brief draft schedule to help you plan.
Closer to the assembly we will be posting a full detailed schedule.

Friday, June 8
 
8:00 a.m. Registration: located in The Link
10:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m. Service Projects: various locations
10:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m. Workshops #1: various locations
11:15 a.m. -12:15 p.m. Workshops #2: various locations
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Lunch (on-site if reserved)
1:00 p.m. Orientation: Field House
1:30 p.m. Opening Worship: Performing Arts Center (PAC)
2:45 p.m. Sliding into Plenary: Field House
6:05 p.m. Dinner: Field House
7:30 p.m. Banquet: Glocal Musician-Educators
Saturday, June 9  
7:00 - 7:30 a.m. Taize Worship: Performing Arts Center (PAC)
8:30 a.m. Sliding into Plenary: Field House
11:45 a.m. Lunch: Field House
2:45 p.m. Closing Worship: Performing Arts Center (PAC)
Display Information 
The display request form is now open! If you would like to have a display at the assembly, you must complete the online display request form by clicking here.

The RACC offers more space for displays. This is a great opportunity for vendors  who share and support our work of the church.

The SW MN Synod Assembly encourages openness and freedom of expressing varying ideas that relate to the purpose and mission of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America as set forth in the constitution and bylaws of the SW MN Synod.

Guidelines to secure display space are as follows:
  1.  Priority display space is available to all synod boards, committees, task forces, agencies of the ELCA based on the number of spaces available on a policy of first serve/paid request.
  2.  Other religious agencies that support the work of the ELCA and ecumenical agencies are accepted next if space is available.
  3.  Third priority will be given to for-profit displays. However, no commercial displays or for-profit booths are permitted without approval from the Synod Assembly Planning Committee. Additionally, all items that are sold must have prior approval from the Synod Assembly Planning Committee.
  4.  A display that does not relate to the mission and purpose of the synod or is considered offensive will be removed. The decision of the Synod Assembly Planning Chair and Bishop will be final.
  5.  The SW MN Synod and the Redwood Area Community Center will not be responsible for loss, theft, or damage to display items. All shipping costs related to a display are the responsibility of the display host.
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 507-637-3904