A Reconciling in Christ synod
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Saturday marked the 20th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting. We remember, we mourn, and we pray for peace in the face of violence.
O God, it is your will to hold both heaven and earth in a single peace. Let the design of your great love shine on the waste of our wraths and sorrows, and give peace to your people, peace among nations, peace in our schools, and peace in our hearts; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
-ELW Occasional Services for the Assembly, adapted
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Welcome and Respite in Albuquerque
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From Jim Barclay, Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountain:
As you may already know, Albuquerque has recently been welcoming families that have been released from detention by federal immigration authorities.
This is very similar to the work that Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains (LFSRM) was engaged in last summer in partnership with the City of Albuquerque and many other dedicated organizations. This program is currently being provided as an extension of the Annunciation House network that until recently was made up of welcome sites in El Paso and Las Cruces. That effort has now expanded to include sites in Albuquerque, due to overwhelming numbers of detainees being released in El Paso and Las Cruces.
LFSRM joined a broad collaborative of caring community organizations and congregations in welcoming 50 of nearly 350 family members to Albuquerque beginning March 16, 2019.
We were able to provide food, clothing, lodging, travel arrangements, and a short respite for families to join their sponsoring relatives elsewhere in the country. Since then, LFSRM has continued to welcome additional families (45-50 persons) once each week, and due to increasing demand, we have agreed to welcome 100 persons next week, with the hope that we can continue to welcome large numbers going forward. We expect that our “Welcome and Respite” program will extend well into the summer, or as long as federal policies/procedures and private funding allow. We may also need to expand the program to additional communities in New Mexico and perhaps Colorado, but there are no such plans underway at this time.
LFSRM feels incredibly fortunate to have had strong partners assisting us ever since the first group arrived.
Partners at the LFSRM welcome site include: the City of Albuquerque; Annunciation House; St. Timothy’s Lutheran Church; First Presbyterian Church; The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints; The Rocky Mountain Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service; Community of Joy Lutheran Church; All Saints Lutheran Church; Luther House; Albuquerque Mennonite Church; and volunteers from throughout the community.
LFSRM and all of our partners are stretched thin but are continuing to do heroic and holy work
in welcoming the stranger and reunifying them with extended families across the country. We are honored to be able to do so and very grateful to work shoulder to shoulder with truly inspiring people and organizations in the communities of Albuquerque, El Paso and Las Cruces.
At this time, we are in need of additional congregational and individual involvement
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eConnection Spotlight:
RMS in the Neighborhood
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Easter Sunrise Service at Red Rocks
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Father Quirino Cornejo (ECUSA), pastor at Latino Ministry West Denver (far right), preached at the annual Easter Sunrise Service at Red Rocks, hosted by the Colorado Council of Churches.
Watch the service, Father Q's sermon, and see other photos
HERE
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Service of Holy Closure: Christ, Cheyenne, WY
May 15th, 5:30 p.m.
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We invite your prayers for the community of Christ Lutheran in Cheyenne, WY as they journey toward Holy Closure.
Members of the RMS are invited to join the service of
Holy Closure on Friday, May 17th at 5:30 p.m. A dinner will follow worship at the American Legion. Please RSVP by May 15th to council president Sandy Arnold:
Arnoldsandi@charter.net
For this congregation’s ministries throughout its life, its gatherings for praise and prayer, its faithful use of the means of grace, and its study of the scriptures, we give our thanks and praise. For the work of mission this congregation has supported and for all the lives that have been affected by God’s work through them, we give our thanks and praise.
ELW Occasional Service for the Assembly
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Assembly Collection for Border Hospitality
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FoCoLu Youth Ministry Network in Fort Collins is
collecting items needed by our Border Hospitality Ministries
and is inviting other congregations to join their efforts. Congregations and ministries can
bring items to Synod Assembly
and will be transported back to the Border. Requested Items are listed
HERE
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RMS Excellence in Leadership
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“It’s not easy to be the church these days”. This is a common sentiment in mainline Christian denominations, and the ELCA is no exception. We know there is a need for hope and grace and the power of the gospel, but the ways of communicating that and the ways of being church in the world are shifting beneath our feet. We know this.
The Rocky Mountain Synod is rising to meet this changing paradigm with a new leadership training program –
Excellence in Leadership
. Beginning this fall, we will be offering a program grounded in authentically claiming our identity as individuals and as church. By engaging deeply in the studies of adaptive leadership, vulnerability, emotional intelligence, family systems, and spiritual practices, we will be stepping forward to meet the future boldly. We don't know exactly what the future holds, but we do know that it begins with each personal journey toward emotional and spiritual wholeness. Let’s embark on this journey together.
Stay tuned for more information in the weeks to come.
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ELCA Domestic Hunger Grant application opens April 15!
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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.
Application Timeline
- Registration open: April 1-May 31, 2019
- Application open: April 15-June 17, 2019
- Application review: July-September 2019
- Awards announced: November 2019
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RMS Prayer Cycle
Week of April 28
Rocky Mountain Synod Council
The Rev. James Gonia - Bishop
Ms. Earline Bohling - Vice President
Ms. Jody Hoelter - Secretary
Mr. Dennis Reynolds - Treasurer
Diana Biggs
Ray Ferry
Susan Mitchell
Terry Cole
Todd Herreid
Amelia Decker
Bunga Manurung
Jay Voth
Debra Frank Dew
Jeff Fairfax
The Rev. Julie Brooks
The Rev. Sara Wirth
The Rev. Matthew Weber
The Rev. Terry Schjang
The Rev. Reba Kiger-Kolasch
The Rev. Dave Palma-Rue
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Pontormo, Jacopo da, 1494-1556. Resurrection, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville,
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, April 28
Second Sunday of Easter
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Prayer of the Day
Almighty and eternal God, the strength of those who believe and the hope of those who doubt, may we, who have not seen, have faith in you and receive the fullness of Christ’s blessing, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
In God's Hands: Ecumenical Prayer Cycle from the World Council of Churches
28 April - 04 May
: Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
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Intercessions and Prayers
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Mental Health Sunday, Atonement, Boulder, CO
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Colorado Women’s Chorale: Carnegie Hall Masterworks
Saturday May 11, 2019 at 7:30 p.m.
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Celebrate the homecoming of Colorado Women's Choir tour from the
Carnegie Festival for Treble Voices in New York City this spring.
Selections include masterworks of Brahms, Holst, Elgar, and more. Plus an exhilarating finale joined by the Colorado Men’s Chorale for Martin Palmeri’s
Misa Tango, a brilliant orchestral work that celebrates the beauty, joy, and passion of Argentina.
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Bible as our Book of Faith
October 19, 9:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.
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Dr. Mark Allan Powell will be at
First Lutheran Church, the weekend of Oct 19. He will be presenting the “Bible as our Book of Faith” as well as preaching on the 20.
Mark Allan is a Professor of of New Testament at
Trinity Lutheran Seminary and intentionally known biblical scholar. He is editor of the Harper Collins Bible Dictionary and author of more than 30 books on the Bible and religion, including the widely used textbook, introducing the New Testament (Baker Academic).
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Camino de Vida invites you to a Multicultural Party
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Hispanic Ministry / Latin Way Of Life
3907 Isleta Boulevard Southwest
Albuquerque, NM 87105 (
map
)
You are all invited to attend the Multicultural Festival, which will be full of cultural diversity - on
Saturday, May 4.
We will have music, dance, food, games, and community organizations all day to stay and enjoy with family and friends.
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Easter Alert 2019 from Kairos Palestine
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Easter and Holy Week message from Palestine---Easter Blessings!
Get yours here.
Thank you for accompanying us in this journey to the cross.
The purpose of the annual Kairos alert is to shed light on the reality on the ground and provide a Christian commentary and analysis to this reality. Indeed, you have heard from voices on the ground and international activists on what it means to live as Palestinians and Palestinian Christians under systemic injustice and discrimination. Political pressure, collective punishment, restriction of movement, or the denial of entry to holy sites--all point to the severity of the situation.
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Luther Academy of the Rockies 50th Anniversary
June 18 - June 28, 2019
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Wartburg Theological Seminary invites
YOU to join with us for 10 days of learning, recreation, and renewal for ministry at our annual
LUTHER ACADEMY OF THE ROCKIES.
In keeping with Wartburg Theological Seminary's emphasis on daily worship, each day begins with opening devotions. In addition to educational programs for the adults, age-appropriate daily programs are provided for children and teens (age 4 - 18), as well as childcare for children 3 and under.
Come join us for 10 days in the beautiful Rockies with renowned speakers sharing their wisdom at an incredibly reasonable price! This opportunity is too great to miss!!!
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Resource Corner
check back each week for a new or featured resource for your congregation
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Here is the Stewardship Toolkit for Congregations - May 2019
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This month's emphasis is
Stewardship of community, brought to you by Rev. Rob Blezard, Assistant to the Bishop
Lower Susquehanna Synod.
Good, thoughtful, consistent communication, education and action can help your congregation develop a healthy culture of stewardship and generosity. This kit can help get you there! Use the resources of this kit by themselves to educate and encourage stewardship, but they would be more effective as a monthly emphasis about a different aspect of stewardship. You could plan bible studies, temple talks, a preaching series and other activities.
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Items for sale
Monday, April 22 through Friday, May 17, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day
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Bethany Lutheran
4500 E Hampden Ave.
Cherry Hills Village, CO 80113
We have several items available for sale; glass tea plates (approx. 80), small glass vases (approx. 10), communion wine glass trays (approx. 15), and many other communion pieces. Please
contact Sarah for photos and information.
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All
Non-Rostered Listings
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Assistant Preschool Director (part-time)
Christ Lutheran Church - Highlands Ranch, CO
Music Director
St. Barnabas Episcopal Church - 1280 Vine St, Denver CO
Community Life Coordinator
Urban Servant Corps - 1660 Ogden Street, Denver, CO
Organist/Accompanist (part-time)
St. Andrew - Arvada, CO
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Office of the Bishop This Week
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Bishop Jim Gonia
- In-office Assembly Prep
- Conference Deans
- Staff Meeting
- LFS Gala
- First St. Paul, Burlington, CO
- Latino Ministry West Denver
- ELCA Advocacy Convening
ELCA DIRECTOR FOR EVANGELICAL MISSION
Pastor Matt Barnhouse
- Denver Office April 23
- Staff Meeting
- Mount Calvary, Boulder, CO
- Rejoice, Erie, CO
LUTHERAN ADVOCACY MINISTRY NEW MEXICO
Ruth Hoffman
- Staff meeting
- Advocacy Convening, Washington DC
LUTHERAN ADVOCACY MINISTRY COLORADO
Peter Severson
- Faithful Tuesdays
- Staff Meeting
- Mockingbird Ministries Conference
- ELCA Advocacy Convening
ELCA REGIONAL GIFT PLANNER
Tina Kvitek
- 1-1 Meetings
- Staff Meeting
- CU Boulder Campus Ministry
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ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP FOR CONGREGATIONAL LIFE
Pastor Sarah Moening
- Conference Deans
- Staff Meeting
- Congregation Transition
- St. Phillip, Littleton, CO
- Rejoice, Erie, CO
ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP FOR LEADERSHIP SUPPORT
Pastor Kent Mueller (1/2 time)
- Synod Assembly Prep
- Staff Meeting
- Conference Deans
ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP FOR SYNODICAL LIFE
Deacon Erin Power
- Synod Assembly Prep
- Staff Meeting
- Conference Deans
ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP FOR FAITH FORMATION & CANDIDACY
Pastor Leslie Welton
- Staff Meeting
- Eben Ezer, Brush, CO
- Synod Assembly Prep
- In-office appointments
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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
Submissions
are due noon Monday each week and will run for about two weeks.
Past issues of eConnection may be found
here
.
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