Better late than never! Forms A & C 

These forms are due by February 15, every year. However, it is better late than never, so please complete your congregation's annual report online now! Click here to submit your congregation's Form A & C. If you need your congregation ID (stays the same every year) or your password (unique every year) contact the synod office. We would be happy to help.

Did you know that the information a congregation submits (or does not submit) in reports goes into your congregation's trend report, which is publicly available online? Seekers looking for your congregation can see not only the information you submit but also whether the congregation has submitted Forms A &C. (To view a congregation's trend report on the ELCA website, visit the ELCA directory, click congregations and search a congregation to download their trend report.)

Normally your data will not make the synod's trend report if it is not in by late April. We will spend staff and volunteer time following up to ask you to complete these reports.

Mission Support Thank You

+Bishop Jon V. Anderson

I thought I should share this so you know your Mission Support and all the other forms of giving through our synod and church body are deeply appreciated. 

The synod received our mission support certificate. 

$939,078 was given in Mission Support for the ministries we support together through the churchwide expression of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Thank you for your generous support throughout 2018.
Mission Support dollars make ministry happen.

As you pray about and make plans for what your congregation is called to do in 2019, please share with us your Mission Support budget amount. This will allow us to effectively plan the use of funds given by congregations to support God's work.

Click here for more information on mission support through the SW MN Synod.

Click here to register your 2019 Mission Support.

Godspeed and Prayers

We are excited that one of our pastors has been invited to make a trip to help God's global Church.   "The Reverend Dr. Yolanda Denson-Byers, will travel to Sierra Leone with the Reverend Dr. Andrea Walker of ELCA/Global Mission, to participate in a Stewardship training of area Lutheran pastors. The trip will be from March 21-April 1. Please hold them in your prayers as they teach, learn, and serve on behalf of Christ and The Church."

Dakota Road Church Musician's Workshop

Tripolis Lutheran Church is excited to invite area church musicians to spend an afternoon making music with Hans Peterson & Larry Olson from Dakota Road Music. We will spend our time exploring new music, getting fresh takes on familiar songs, instilling confidence in ourselves as musicians, and having fun being creative in musical experimentation. The workshop is open to all ages and skill levels. The day will end with a worshipful concert that is open to the public, which will include brand new songs from their 2019 release, Here At The Table. A special "Thank You" to the SWMN Synod for funding assistance.

When: Saturday, April 13, 2019

Time: Workshop 1:00pm-5:00pm & Worship (open to public) 7:00pm (Supper provided for participants)

Location: Tripolis Lutheran Church, Kandiyohi, MN

Cost: $50/congregation (limit 6) or
$25/single participant & $10 suggested fee for supper

Click here to register.

Registration Deadline: Friday, March 29, 2019

Contact Info: Megan at 320-894-7844 or davemeg3@gmail.com

U.S. Flooding
Lutheran Disaster Response is responding to U.S. Flooding through congregations, synods and our affiliates across Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin and Missouri.

What you can do:

Pray:

Please pray for the communities that have been affected by or lie in the path of flooding. May God's healing presence give them peace and hope in their time of need. Pray that God will deliver comfort to those mourning the loss of loved ones and strength to those working diligently to care for affected communities.

Give:

Gifts to "U.S. flooding" will be used in full (100 percent) to assist those affected by flooding until the response is complete. Click here to give now.

Learning Opportunities:

School for Lay Ministry Luther Seminary's School for Lay Ministry is open to all people interested in training to more fully serve in a variety of ministry roles in their congregations. Many ELCA synods provide lay schools of ministry that offer lay people certification after training. The courses were designed in partnership with the synods of the ELCA of Northeastern, Northwestern and Southwestern Minnesota, and Eastern and Western North Dakota to fulfill some of the requirements for these synods. Click here for more information and to register. For inexpensive housing availability click here. Tuition: $100 Contact Hours: 10 Class Times: Monday, June 24: 1-4:30p Tuesday, June 25: 8:30a-4p Wednesday, June 26: 8:30a-3:50p Thursday, June 27: 8:30-11a Seminar Leaders: Dwight Zscheile, "Design Thinking in Congregational Life" Terri Elton, "Adaptive Leadership" Michael Binder, "Listening to God, Each Other, and Neighbors" Dawn Alitz, "Growing Discipleship and Leaders through Coaching" Katherine Langston, "Communications and Social Media for Churches" Paul Hanson, "Changing Church, Changing Campus"

Faithful Innovation Summit July 24-26 University of St. Thomas, Minneapolis The church is changing. What is God calling us to do about it? At Luther Seminary's Faithful Innovation Summit, gather with fellow Christian leaders who want to lead the church more deeply into God's life and love for the world. Discover what it means to trust God's leadership in times of disruption, hear real-world stories of innovation from leaders in a variety of ministry settings, and come away with a realistic plan for transformational change. Click here to learn more and register.