A Reconciling in Christ synod
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Update: Church Together accompanying families reunified
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Overnight they organized the team in their Albuquerque office and sent additional help from their Denver office so they could begin receiving families today. They expect to receive 50 adults and children per day through July 27th. They need your help.
They were called upon on short notice because of their reputation in resettling refugees, expertise working with children and families who have experienced trauma. Rev. Judith VanOsdal from the Office of the Bishop as well as local Spanish-speaking clergy from the Albuquerque area, are working with LFS staff to offer pastoral care for families.
They are in the care of LFS for only a brief time (24-36 hours), and their staff are meeting immediate needs that include temporary housing, food, clothing, legal/health referrals, and transportation to their final destination with family and friends in the U.S.
This work in Albuquerque is in addition to the hospitality being offered by Cristo Rey, Peace, and Border Servant Corps in El Paso and Las Cruces.
Through our recently established Border Emergency Fund, the Rocky Mountain Synod Council has sent $2500 each to Peace, Las Cruces, Cristo Rey, El Paso, and Lutheran Family Services.
This was made possible through your generosity! As of July 24, we have received over $11,000 in gifts to the Border Emergency Fund.
We also know that many congregations have sent gifts directly to these ministries. Help us tell the full story of our synod's generosity by letting us know if you are or have given directly to our partners by
emailing Deacon Erin Power
Continued generosity is needed, either directly to LFS or to our Border fund, which will be allocated to ministries as needs emerge.
Give to the Border Emergency Fund
HERE
(select the give now button on the bottom right corner of the website)
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eConnection Spotlight:
RMS in the Neighborhood
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An Albuquerque Firehouse offered their space as headquarters for receiving donations needed for the reunified families. Within 24 hours, their house was filled to capacity!
From the NM Coalition for Immigrant Justice:
We had an enormous response to the call out for donations for the 300 parents and children being reunited in Albuquerque. Within 24 hours, the fire station hosting the donations had been filled beyond capacity. People arrived almost by the minute to drop off donations. Folks from Santa Fe and Taos sent donations in carpools. We have filled enough backpacks with food, water, toiletries, toys, clothing and shoes for all 300 people.
THANK YOU everyone who showed up quickly with donations! Every bag I packed I thought of the father or child who would be carrying it with them on the next part of this difficult journey. Most are arriving with nothing but the clothes on their back but because of the generosity of people in NM, they have something more.
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Tithe.ly Recorded Webinar and Follow-up Resources
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Are you curious about online and mobile giving but missed the recent webinar?
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As Rev. Judith VanOsdol prepares to leave for her new call, she is cleaning out her bookshelves. You are invited to stop by the Office of the Bishop and look to see if any of them are on your reading list.
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Theological Conference Updated Schedule
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Registration deadline is August 17.
Conference Highlights this year:
- Book exchange
- Bible Study Breakout tracks
- Morning prayer with camp staff
- Art Gallery/interactive learning center
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Installations
Rev. Daniel Tisdel
St. Mark's, Roswell, NM
Saturday, July 28, 11:00 a.m.
Color of the Day: Green
Rev. Matthew A. Powell
Holy Cross, Albuquerque, NM
Saturday, July 28, 5:30 p.m.
Color of the Day: Green
Rev. Nicole' Ferry
Rev. Scott Thalacker
Bethlehem, Los Alamos, NM
Sunday, July 29, 3:00 p.m.
Color of the day: Green
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RMS Prayer Cycle
JULY 2018
Week of July 29
Companion Synods in Madagascar
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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.
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Sunday, July 29
Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
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Prayer of the Day
Gracious God, you have placed within the hearts of all your children a longing for your word and a hunger for your truth. Grant that we may know your Son to be the true bread of heaven and share this bread with all the world, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
In God's Hands: Ecumenical Prayer Cycle from the World Council of Churches
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Mental Health First Aid
Sundays, August 5 and 12, 10:50 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
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Where can you learn the risk factors and warning signs for a mental health and addiction challenge, strategies to help someone in crisis and non-crisis situations, and know where to turn for help? These are addressed in Mental Health First Aid; it is like a CPR course for mental health.Topics include: depression, anxiety disorders, psychosis, substance use disorders, eating disorders, mood disorders and suicide.
The Mental Health Ministry Team hosts and subsidizes this national program. Cost is $20 for both sessions with lunch. You must register with Alan Johnson,
revalan2004@comcast.net or 720-304-6918. (Maximum of 30 participants.)
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Hearing for the draft social statement "Women and Justice: One in Christ"
Wednesday, August 15, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
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A hearing on the
“Women and Justice: One in Christ” Draft Social Statement will be held on
Zoom for anyone who cannot attend an in-person hearing, on Wednesday, August 15 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. You will need a computer with a camera, microphone and speakers to fully participate. You can join the hearing from a PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android by going to this link:
https://zoom.us/j/203565131 Or by telephone: US: +1 669 900 6833 or +1 646 558 8656. Please use meeting ID:
203 565 131. If you have never used Zoom, please allow time to download the app, or to get your system set up.
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Ken Caryl Concerts presents "Rags to Rock"
Saturday, August 18, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.
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Saint Philip Lutheran Church
This free and family friendly event will include an eclectic mix of tunes from Scott Joplin to Chris Martin (Coldplay) performed by a variety of artists including Joseph Harkins and Chappel Kingsland from the University of Denver Lamont School of Music.
Donations collected at this performance will benefit Mosaic. Refreshments will be served following the performance. More information
here.
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Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp Confirmation Retreat
October 19-21, 2018
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Join us in the mountains for a weekend with your confirmands! The annual RTLC Confirmation Retreat offers time for songs, s'mores, group learning, and LOTS of play. Our theme for this year, led by Pr. Jay Gamelin, is
"Blessed and Broken". With this theme, youth will explore the act of communion and what it is calling us to be in the world.
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No Way to Treat a Child - WHAT CAN WE DO?
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2018 Synod Assembly Resolution
“Protecting the Human Rights of Palestinian Children Living Under Israeli Military Occupation”
Each year Israel arrests and prosecutes around 700 Palestinian children. Since 1967, Israel has operated two separate legal systems in the occupied West Bank – Israeli settlers are subject to the civilian and criminal legal system whereas Palestinians live under military law. What can you do?! Visit
Peace Not Walls for these and more suggestions!
- Read the resolution and fact sheet
- Watch “Detaining Dreams” documentary about the arrests of children
- Contact your Representative
- Do a presentation in your church on the situation of Palestinian children
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Germany 2020: Study Tour and Oberammergau Passion Play
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Pastor Jared Carson from
Peace Lutheran Church, Las Cruces is organizing a study tour to Germany in June 2020. This trip will include the Oberammergau Passion Play, which occurs every 10 years, because of its popularity we are asking people to reserve their spot for the study tour now. The bulk of the tour will highlight Lutheran Reformation sites. Don’t miss this chance to dive into reformation history first hand! If you are interested in the trip, brochures and more information is available online:
http://peacelutheranlc.com/germany-2020-study-tour/ . Or contact Pr. Jared at
carsonj@peacelutheranlc.com, 575-522-7119, ext 12.
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Xulon Press Announces the Release of
"Bible Stories According to Tuffy Turtle," by Joan Ellen McNamara
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If God can speak through a donkey in the Bible, He can certainly communicate through a turtle.
“This family of Spiriturtleluses have been given the gift of faith from the time of Creation which they are to share with all the animals throughout time,” Joni McNamara says. “There is only one so-called problem by the name of J.R. Rabbit who just can not get the idea of faith in a God. He can not see or touch. His family of skeptics, the Skeptirabbituses, follows all the Tuffy Turtles throughout the history of the Old Testament, and create and share some interesting and insightful discussions on the meaning of faith and trust in God.”
Joni McNamara is a retired professional puppeteer. A graduate of Valparaiso University with a degree in theology, she has worked in various churches as a Christian education director, small group minister, director of youth and family ministries, and director of puppet ministries. She lives in Casper, Wyoming, with her husband (a Victim’s Advocate for the police department and retired pastor of Our Savior's Lutheran).
Joni is working to set up a fall Book Tour and if your congregation would be interested in helping her to get information out in the Denver area, southern Colorado, and southern Wyoming please contact her at
jonilmcnamara@icloud.com
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The book may be ordered directly from Joni through her web page,
jonimcnamara.com
.
Xulon Press, a division of Salem Media Group, is the world’s largest Christian self-publisher, with more than 12,000 titles published to date. Retailers may order
Bible Stories According to Tuffy Turtle through Ingram Book Company and/or Spring Arbor Book Distributors. The book is available online through xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com.
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Resource Corner
check back each week for a new or featured resource for your congregation
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Three Sides Podcast - Living Lutheran
Three Sides is a monthly podcast featuring stories from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). As a church that believes God is calling us into the world - together, Three Sides will present diverse voices from across the ELCA. Listen ...
Read more
www.livinglutheran.org
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Beautiful Everett upright piano with walnut finish is free to a good home and/or congregation. Dimensions are: height: 44 inches, width: 56 ½ inches; depth: 24 ½ inches. You will need to move it. Owner is moving. Inquire at RMS Bishop's office 303-777-6700.
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All Non-Rostered Positions
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Early Childhood Teacher (part-time)
Joy Lutheran Church - Parker, CO
Early Childhood Enrichment Teacher (part-time)
Joy Lutheran Church - Parker, CO
Early Childhood Assistant Teacher (part-time)
Joy Lutheran Church - Parker, CO
Organist/Pianist
St. Philip Lutheran Church - Littleton, CO
Praise Singers Director (part-time)
Faith Lutheran Church - Golden, CO
Music Director (part-time)
St. Paul Lutheran Church - Albuquerque, NM
Organist/Pianist
Trinity Lutheran Church - Laramie, WY
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Office of the Bishop This Week
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Bishop Gonia
- In-office Appointments
- Installation, Rev. Daniel Tisdel, Roswell, NM
- Installation, Rev. Matt Powell, Holy Cross, Albuquerque, NM
- All Saints, Albuquerque, NM
- Installation, Rev. Scott Thalacker & Rev. Nicole' Ferry, Bethlehem, Los Alamos, NM
Pastor Kent Mueller (1/2 time)
- Lutheran Center Administration
- RMS Finance Task Force
Ruth Hoffman
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-NM
- NM Association of Food Banks
- Holy Cross installation
- Bethlehem installation
- Medicaid
Peter Severson
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-CO
- Colorado Coalition for the Homeless
- In-office appointments
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Pastor Judith VanOsdol
- LFS Family Reunification Support, Albuquerque, NM
- In-office appointments
- Rejoicing Spirits, Bethany, Denver, CO
- Stewardship for All Seasons
Deacon Erin Power
- Global Church Network
- Vacation
Pastor Sarah Moening
- Sabbatical until August 14
Pastor Leslie Welton
- In-office appointments
- Evergreen, Evergreen, CO
- Rainbow Trail
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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.
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