 |
|
SYNOD NEWS AND EVENTS - September 6, 2019
|
|
Everyday Sacramental Spirituality
"Hear God's Word...."
ELCA.ORG - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
In our baptismal promises we are asked if we will....
HEAR the Word of God and Share in the Lord's Supper.
For as often as we eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11:26 NRSV)
God gives the word and the sacraments to the church and by the power of the Spirit thereby creates and sustains the church among us. (The Use of the Means of Grace: A Statement on the Practice of Word and Sacrament, Principle 2, page 7.)
We listen deeply as we hear, read and study God's word. As God's word speaks to us, it comes both as command and promise. We listen to see how the message challenges us and encourages us in our lives. We listen for God's call and God's guidance. And we listen to the words of the Lord's Supper to remind us that the body of Christ was given for us and the blood of Christ was shed for us.
The Lord's Supper stands at the center of our lives as Christians. In that meal, we received Jesus' presence into our very bodies. We receive God's gifts of forgiveness of sin, new life and salvation. At the same time, as a community God makes us into the body of Christ, one with all in every time and place who share this holy meal. We become the body of Christ for the sake of the world. That is, we participate in God's mission. Having been showered with God's gifts, God sends us forth to take that love and compassion out into the world to the lonely, the oppressed, the poor, the hungry, the imprisoned, the angry, and those suffering in mind, body and spirit.
There are many ways we hear God's Word:
- The public reading of Scripture
- Preaching
- Bible study, devotional reading and retreats
- Sacraments
- Experiencing the Arts
- Forgiveness of sin
- All aspects of a congregation's educational ministry
- Continue the fellowship of the Lord's Supper through meal time prayer at the dinner table
|
|
Your synod has five interns:
JoHanna Buschholz - Grace Lutheran, Dawson
Anna Wolf - Redwood Central Parish, Milroy, Lucan, Wabasso, Springfield
Miranda Joebgen - First Lutheran, St Peter
Susan Christianson - Christ, Glencoe
Dr. David Severtson - Calvary, Willmar
 Meet Miranda Joebgen
Miranda grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago and attended Valparaiso University, where she graduated in 2016 with a B.A. in Theology and Global Service. After graduation, she became a long-term volunteer at Holden Village, where she served as the Education and Program Associate. She left Holden Village in August of 2017 and moved to St. Paul, MN to begin the M Div. Program at Luther Seminary. She has spent the last two years immersing herself in a wide variety of classes at Luther, and she is looking forward to having the opportunity to jump head-first into internship duties this year!
Miranda has a fiancée named Jenni, who works as a Librarian for Capella University, and a 12 year-old Border Collie named Cayenne. She loves running, hiking, and exploring the many parks, trails, and lakes of Minnesota. In her spare time, Miranda also loves to knit and bake (especially Sourdough Bread!). She is thrilled to have the opportunity to become a part of the community of First Lutheran Church in St. Peter, MN!
|
|
Director for Evangelical Mission: Rev. Dr. Dee Pederson
We want to share with you that Pr. Dee Pederson will be starting September 1
6. This date has changed from our first announcement. Pr. Dee's mother died last week. We lift Dee and her family up in prayer as they prepare funeral arrangements, grieve, and remember God's promise of eternal life.
This loss has also impacted her departure from Bethlehem in St. Cloud. We renegotiated Pr. Dee's start date to create space for Pr. Dee.
|
 The Annual Elderberry Retreat -and-
New Retirement/Anniversary Luncheon
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
New this year: A celebration luncheon for newly retired rostered ministers and retired rostered ministers with a special anniversary. The luncheon is a part of the Elderberry Retreat on Tuesday, September 17 at 12:00 p.m. at the Model Citizen restaurant.
RSVP by mailing back the bottom portion of the registration sheet or RSVP to Kristin Bakeberg at 507-637-3904 or kristin.bakeberg@swmnelca.org
Register for the Elderberry Retreat and enjoy a full day of Bible study, music, food, laughter, and relaxation. Spouses are invited and encouraged to attend.
Deacon Terri Endres from Portico Benefit Services will have a presentation after lunch and will be available to meet with rostered ministers. Please indicate if you would like to meet with her when you RSVP or register for the retreat.
Retreat options:
- Overnight retreat: Informal gathering at Green Lake Bible Camp the evening of Monday, September 16. Gathering at 7:30 p.m. with Worship at 8:30. The cost for lodging at Green Lake Bible Camp will be $ 69.50. Please make your lodging accommodations with Green Lake Bible Camp at (320) 796-2181.
- Day retreat: Enjoy a full day of Bible study, music, food, laughter, and relaxing. The cost is FREE! Location: in the New London/Spicer area.
|
WANTED: E.L.W.s
Peace Lutheran / Cold Spring, MN is in need of E.L.W.s. We are wondering if there is anyone wanting to give some away or sell to us for a reasonable cost? We are wanting 125 ELW Hymnal / Worship Books.
|
2019 Hurricane Response
Hurricane Dorian has hit the Bahamas with devastating force, leading to major damage and a growing number of reported deaths. The storm is now moving along the southeastern coast of the United States, threatening our neighbors with dangerous winds and life-threatening storm surge.
Our response:
Lutheran Disaster Response is in communication with the Florida-Bahamas Synod, the South Carolina Synod, the North Carolina Synod, Lutheran Services Carolinas and other partners who are preparing to respond. We are ready to stand by our neighbors as they recover from this hurricane and any others the 2019 season may bring.
What you can do:
Pray
Please pray for people who have been affected by hurricanes. May God's healing presence give them peace and hope in their time of need.
Give
Your gifts designated for "
Hurricane Response" will be used entirely (100 percent) for direct response until it is complete. Together, we can help provide immediate and long-lasting support for those whose lives have been impacted by hurricanes.
Connect:
To learn more about the situation and the ELCA's response:
Use this bulletin insert in your congregation:
Hurricane Dorian.
Sign up to receive Lutheran Disaster Response
alerts.
Check the Lutheran Disaster Response
blog.
Like Lutheran Disaster Response on
Facebook and follow @ELCALDR on
Twitter.
|
Important Message!
If you plan on registering for the CGC seminar, register now. We will be ordering event materials early September.
Click here to register.
|
Cultivating Generous Congregations
in smaller member settings
The Southwestern Minnesota Synod invites you and your ministry team to participate in a three-part seminar experience that will enrich the way you and your congregation approach generosity and giving. Cultivating Generous Congregations (CGC) is an interactive seminar of the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving. CGC demonstrates how pastors, deacons, and ministry leaders can energize congregational generosity.
This is a great opportunity! Your congregation or parish will have personal guidance and coaching throughout and following the CGC seminars.
First gathering:
Saturday, September 28, 2019
9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
St. Stephen Lutheran, Marshall, MN
|
Upcoming Event
Pediatric end of life series by CentraCare
Shared Decision Making - When there's more than one choice
October 21 and October 22, 2019
Click here for more information
|
|
Synod Events
|
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
September 16-17, 2019
Green Lake Bible Camp, Spicer and the
New London/Spicer area
New London/Spicer area
September 28, 2019
St. Stephen Lutheran, Marshall, MN
OCTOBER
October 6-8, 2019
College of Saint Benedict. St. Joseph MN
|
NOVEMBER
November 2, 2019
First Lutheran, Marshall MN
November 5, 2019
Faith Lutheran, Spicer
DECEMBER
JANUARY
January 11, 2020
St. Stephen Lutheran, Marshall MN
FEBRUARY
2020 Equipping Congregations Day
February 29, 2020
Willmar, MN
|
|
Southwestern Minnesota Synod, ELCA
PO Box 499, Redwood Falls, MN 56283
Phone: 507-637-3904
|
|
|
|
|
|
