SYNOD NEWS AND EVENTS - April 9, 2019
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2020 ELCA World Hunger Domestic Hunger Grants
In 2019, ELCA World Hunger is proud to be partnering with 77 ministries across 63 synods and 33 states (plus Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.) through its Domestic Hunger Grants program. Thank you for your role in supporting this incredible group of partners. This year, we are again counting on you to get the word out about Domestic Hunger Grants to groups that are working through and with ELCA congregations to address the root causes of poverty and hunger. Please feel free to share this email with groups that might be interested in applying for a grant.

The application window for 2020 ELCA World Hunger Domestic Hunger Grants will open April 15! Visit ELCA.org/domestichungergrants to learn more about the grants and how to apply. We invite organizations applying for an ELCA grant for the first time to set up an account in ELCA GrantMaker in advance in order to access the application form immediately once the window opens. If your organization has already registered in ELCA GrantMaker, now is a great time to log back in and confirm that the contact information in the account is up to date.

ELCA World Hunger will be hosting two webinars to review granting priorities and cover the basics of applying. To call in, simply click on the link below for the date of your choice.
Rev. Dr. Kathryn Skoglund's Synod Council Report
What has been keeping you up at night? This is a question that the pastors involved in our Leadership for Faithful Innovations project have been asking members of their congregations recently. The question is not rhetorical. The pastors really want to know the answers so they have been providing various formats to gather responses. Some of these formats include a wall in the sanctuary where members can place post it notes that others can read and reflect on, a prayer box in the narthex, discussion opportunities during a council meeting devotion, or encouraging posts on the congregation's Facebook page.

 The pastors and church leaders then work to define the challenges expressed in these responses and experiment with innovative and adaptive ways to address them. For example, let's say one person expressed that what keeps them up at night is a rapidly changing neighborhood as new immigrants move in and discomfort with not knowing any of the people who now live nearby. The defined challenge is that we don't know how to connect with our neighbors, particularly those whose culture is different from our own. The next step is to ask "how might we help bridge the gap between cultures?" and then to brainstorm possibilities and experiments to try.

In Willmar recently one of those experiments was a multi-faith community pot luck where attendees were encouraged to mingle and leave the event with two names and a story, meaning learning the names of two people they didn't know and hearing something about the life of one of those people. Pastors Dane Skillbred and Justin Ask from Vinje helped plan the event and when Pr. Dane shared the experience with other pastors in a Faithful Innovations coaching call he said it pushed people out of their comfort zone but it was a fruitful event in which they hope to participate again in the future.

As we continue to move forward with the Leadership for Faithful Innovation project we will be learning more about how to lead the church more deeply into God's life and love for the world.
Highlighted Synod Assembly Service Project -
Visitation Bags
Visitation Ministry is a part of every community and we do it in a variety of ways. Come and help assemble small bags of goodies to distribute at a visit. This will let members know they are loved and prayed for. Assembled bags will be available to any voting member/congregation that will use them in their community.

This service project will be a collaboration! We ask that voting members and communities help provide items needed to assemble these bags. We have a good start of bulk items to pack but still need help collecting items. If your congregation wishes to help provide bulk items, please contact the synod office at 507-637-3904.
This would also make a great Thrivent Action Team project!

Things to bring:
-Prayer cards
-Prayer beads
-Travel size lotion
-Candy
-Word Finds
-Kleenex
-Deck of cards
-Any small new item that will bring someone joy
2019 Synod Assembly Quick Links! 
Click the links below, or visit the Synod Assembly web-page:  swmnelca.org/synod-assembly/
Retirement Challenge Grant Extension:
Application Closes on April 30
If you increased your personal contribution to retirement for 2019, you will want to fill out the Ministerial Excellence Fund's Retirement Challenge Grant application soon to be reimbursed for some or all of that increase. The application period has been extended and will close on April 30th. If you have not increased your contribution for this year, you can still do so at Portico and then put in an application by the end of the month. Click here for the online application. 

The Retirement Challenge Grant is open to all active rostered leaders in our synod. Any dollars you contribute in 2019 up to $360 will be 100% reimbursed. If you were a 2018 applicant to this grant, you can apply to also receive a 50% reimbursement if you maintained your 2018 increase in 2019. So, for example, if in 2018 you increased your personal contribution by $200 and in 2019 you increased it another $200, you can apply to receive $300 back. This would be all of the 2019 increase and half of the 2018 increase. If you didn't make an increase for 2019, but maintained the 2018 increase, you can still apply also. You have to get the application in by April 30.

The Retirement Challenge Grant was started a couple years ago to encourage rostered leaders to put more money away for retirement. It has made a difference. Portico reports that the percentage of pastors contributing to their retirement account has gone from 49% to 72%. The average amount of the contribution has also risen.

Readiness for retirement is a goal we work towards throughout our working years. Across our society, many are not saving enough for what they hope to be many years of retirement. We are thankful that in the ELCA a minimum of 10% of our salaries is contributed for our retirement savings. Yet, contributing more than 10% will make our retirement funds more sustainable.

If you need help setting up the personal contribution through Portico or completing the application, please call one of the Gifts of Grace (Lilly project) co-directors - Pastor Dwaine Bruns (320-290-7537) or Pastor Andrew Hermodson-Olsen (507-375-3472)
Death Notice - Rev.  Charles Gunderson 
We have recently learned that Rev. Charles Gunderson passed away peacefully on June 21, 2018 at the Northfield Retirement Center with loving family by his side. 
Let us hold the Gunderson family in our prayers as they grieve, mourn, remember and give thanks to God for the promises we know in Christ Jesus. Click here for his obituary. 
NW MN Synod Boundaries Training Workshop
May 9, 2019 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Grace Lutheran Church, Detroit Lakes, MN
A day-long workshop regarding establishing and maintaining appropriate professional boundaries in ministry. In addition to discussing the whole gamut of boundary issues in inter-personal professional relationships, the workshop will help participants understand and navigate boundary issues with social media and internet correspondence.
Click here for more information. 
Seeds Monthly
Seeds for the Parish is the resource of the ELCA. Each issue contains articles that provide congregational leaders with insights, ideas and tools to assist them in a variety of ministries including worship, Christian education, stewardship, evangelism, youth ministries, social ministries, leadership and more.
Click here for the March 2019 online newsletter.
You can sign-up to receive an electronic Seeds Monthly email by clicking here to subscribe.

Southwestern Minnesota Synod, ELCA 
PO Box 499, Redwood Falls, MN 56283
Phone: 507-637-3904