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SYNOD NEWS AND EVENTS - July 31, 2019
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As the ELCA enters its final weeks before the Churchwide Assembly in Milwaukee, the ELCA offers a prayer petition for 6 weeks for congregations to consider using within their prayers on Sunday morning.
Week 5 (July 28)
By your word, eternal God, your creation sprang forth, and we were given the breath of life. By your word, eternal God, death is overcome, Christ is raised from the tomb, and we are given new life in the power of your Spirit. May we boldly proclaim this good news in our words and our deeds, rejoicing always in your powerful presence. Direct the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America by your Word, as this church prepares to gather in assembly. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer
Voting members from our Synod will be traveling to Milwaukee this weekend and we invite you to lift them up in prayer.
Southwestern Minnesota Synod Voting Members:
Bp. Jon Anderson
Gwen Arneson
Pr. Mark Astrup
Cheryl Astrup
Pr. Bruce Berg
Patricia Branstad
Jim Branstad
Andrew T. Busman
Pr. Mindy Czycalla
Pr. Nikoli Falenschek
Pr. Denise Fossen
Ashley Gilbertson
Ian Graue
Pr. Joyce Graue
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Carla Klawitter
Pr. Janel Kuester
Quentin Markfort
Julius Miller
Christina Nelson
Bergen Nelson
Mark L. Nelson
Pr. Ronald Nichols
Pr. Erik Rundquist
Pr. Sarah Taylor
Pr. Shannon Wachter
Bruce Wornson
Arielle Yahnke
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Congratulations, Lydia!
On June 30, Lydia Svenulski was consecrated as a Deacon. Lydia did her candidacy through the Southwestern Minnesota Synod. Thanks for the Candidacy Committee's support for Lydia and the financial support that came from many hands to provide scholarships. She will serve at Word of Peace as the Director of Adult Ministry. She is the daughter of Pr. Dale and Leslie Svendsen. Her stole was designed and made by her mother. We give thanks to God for her ministry and all who helped her to prepare to serve as a Deacon in our church.
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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.
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Hear My Voice: A Prison Prayer Book
This grace-filled prayer book invites people who are incarcerated to spend time in prayer, trusting in God's never-failing love for them and the whole world. Others who accompany and care for them, such as family, friends, and chaplains, will also find comfort and encouragement in this resource. This is a much-needed prayer resource authored by a number of writers with diverse connections to the criminal justice system including writers who are currently incarcerated, formerly incarcerated, or working in prison ministry or re-entry. I hope it will be a blessing to those in your synod who need it most.
Hear My Voice is a collaborative effort sponsored by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and Augsburg Fortress. This enduring and conveniently sized book is enhanced with beautiful color artwork and provides prayers for many times and circumstances.
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FREE TO A GOOD HOME!
American Lutheran Church in Worthington has around 200 With One Voice (WOV) worship books in excellent condition to give away. Small congregations, long-term care facilities, missions of the church, etc. will find these to be an excellent source for worship, praise time, or even devotional times. Contact the church at (507) 376-5264.
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Boundaries Training
Sexual misconduct by rostered and other religious leaders is one of the most serious challenges faced by the church today. Violation of the sacred trust between church members and their leaders brings deep pain to all who are affected: victims, offenders, family members, friends, and the congregation itself.
In response to this challenge, the Southwestern Minnesota Synod bylaws include the following provisions (S14.25.01. and S14.47.01.):
"Within twelve months of assuming office all ministers of Word and Sacrament under call shall demonstrate completion of at least six contact hours of continuing education in the prevention of sexual boundary violations."
Our synod council has a continuing resolution encouraging all of our rostered leaders to have continued work on appropriate boundaries of all kinds, but especially sexual boundaries, every three years.
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Save the Date
Our synod's Boundaries Training:
Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019
Faith Lutheran, Spicer
You can attend the following events and receive credit
by emailing the synod office.
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Portico Summer Shape Up Challenge
Portico has put together a four-week healthy living challenge and invites church staff to consider participating.
Cultivating a habit of regular physical activity is about more than just physical health. Through this four-week challenge, Portico invites participants to track daily activity - whether manually or by syncing a device - and take the time to invest in spiritual and emotional well-being along the way. Plus, if you are an ELCA primary health plan member, you can earn wellness dollars toward your Health Savings Account or personal wellness account. $10 wellness dollars every 5 days, up to $120 total-for tracking in the 2019 Live Well Tool.
Join The Swimmin' (SWMN) Synod Team!
Login to your
2019 Live Well Tool and scroll down to the Summer Shape-Up Challenge and click
Join the Challenge.
Be sure to search for the
Swimmin' (SWMN) Synod Team
! Click here to read more about the Summer Shape-Up Challenge
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EcoFaith Network Vision:
As creatures of God, Eco Faith Network, SW MN, seeks to promote and share resources that protect and celebrate God's creation for God's sake and the benefit of our neighbors.
In support of that vision we encourage and support individuals and groups from ELCA congregations in the SW MN Synod who seek to honor the Creator by caring for creation.
Click here to join the Facebook Group for great information and conversation.
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Systems Study & Coaching Group: a resource for clearer, calmer leadership
We are all in relationships - and relationships can be difficult. Congregations, families and society all reflect the anxiety of the time and either intensify it or manage it. That is what emotional systems do. By learning how emotional systems operate, and how we operate in them, anyone can become calmer and clearer in our thinking and actions.
The Systems Study & Coaching Group meets monthly for leaders to develop new ways of thinking about how we function in relationships and how we might manage more effectively in anxious relationships. It is open to all people - rostered and lay alike - who want to grow their repertoire of responses in challenging situations.
We work within Natural Family Systems Theory, first developed by Dr. Murry Bowen and extended by Edwin Friedman, Peter Steinke, Larry Foster and others. Through reading and study between meetings, and discussions of practical application through case presentations, participants reflect on their own functioning when relationships "heat up."
The Systems Study & Coaching Group meets on the first Thursday of each month from 1:30 - 4 pm at the Synod Office in Redwood Falls, starting September 5, 2019. If you are interested, contact Pastor Steve Cook at (320) 310-8851 or Stephen.cook@swmnelca.org. |
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Synod Events
Below is a list of all the upcoming synod events. Visit the synod events webpage for more information.
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AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
Elderberry Retreat
September 16-17, 2019
Green Lake Bible Camp, Spicer and the
New London/Spicer area
Retirement Anniversary Celebration
September 17, 2019
New London/Spicer area
September 28, 2019
St. Stephen Lutheran, Marshall, MN
OCTOBER
Fall Theological Conference
October 6-8, 2019
College of Saint Benedict. St. Joseph MN
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NOVEMBER
November 2, 2019
First Lutheran, Marshall MN
SW MN Synod Boundaries Workshop
November 5, 2019
Jr. High Youth Gathering
November 22-23 & 23-24, 2019
Best Western and Conference Center, Willmar, MN
Leading Worship: A Skills Workshop
November 16, 2019
Cross of Calvary, Olivia, MN
DECEMBER
JANUARY
January 11, 2020
St. Stephen Lutheran, Marshall MN
FEBRUARY
2020 Equipping Congregations Day
February 29, 2020
Willmar, MN
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Southwestern Minnesota Synod, ELCA
PO Box 499, Redwood Falls, MN 56283
Phone: 507-637-3904
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