On this Labor Day we give thanks for all workers, but we pay special tribute to those essential workers for their contributions to our country’s well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Click the video link below to hear Presiding Bishop Eaton's Labor Day greeting or click here for her written message.

Our 2020 Synod Assembly on Sept. 25-26 is less than three weeks away! If you are a registered participant, please be vigilant about checking your email and the synod website for important updates and essential assembly details.

All assembly registrants are strongly encouraged to attend one of our digital orientation sessions. These will give you practice joining Zoom and being admitted to a meeting, voting on different types of ballots, "getting in line" to speak and using Zoom functionality. (The content is identical; attend only one.)

For those who are not registered for Synod Assembly, we will be livestreaming the proceedings on the synod's Facebook page on Friday, Sept. 25 (2-5 p.m.) and Saturday, Sept. 26 (9 a.m.-12:45 p.m.). Times are subject to change due to the inherent flexibility of the schedule.

We are grateful for the enthusiastic support with which congregations have responded to the synod's Food Shelf Challenge. We're nearing the $95,000 mark and contributions continue to add up in support for local food shelves and food banks. Learn more at www.spas-elca.org/a-food-shelf-challenge.

Two of our congregations are facing off in a "food fight" as part of the Food Shelf Challenge. Newport Lutheran in Newport has challenged Augustana in West St. Paul to see who can raise the most for their local food shelf. The two congregations are holding a joint drive-in movie night on Friday, Sept. 11, at Augustana (1400 S. Robert St.) with food trucks, a scavenger hunt and music. The fun starts at 6 p.m. with a showing of Matilda at 8 p.m. Bring a donation of supplies or money for either Friends in Need (Newport's recipient) or Neighbors (Augustana's recipient). Social distancing and masks are required. Learn more.

Looking for a special addition to your congregation’s celebration of confirmation this year? Bishop Lull will write a letter to each confirmand, welcoming them to the next chapter in their faith life. If your congregation is interested, contact Anna Marsh (anna.marsh@spas-elca.org) for more details. Please allow two to three weeks before the service of confirmation.

The annual ELCA Youth Leadership Summit will occur over the weekend of Nov. 6-7 with all sessions occurring online during this pandemic season. The Summit brings together two youth and an adult leader from each synod for conversations about the life of the church. The theme verse this year is Proverbs 27:19 As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.

Bishop Lull will be naming the youth, who will represent the Saint Paul Area Synod. Pairs of youth along with an adult leader can submit a 40-word essay by Oct. 1, 2020, to Bishop Lull (patricia.lull@spas-elca.org) on why they would make the best team to represent this synod in 2020. The team selected to participate in the 2020 Youth Leadership Summit will be announced by Oct. 8. The synod will take care of registration and there is no cost for those chosen to participate. Questions? Please contact Bishop Lull.

Don't forget that our synod has grant money available to congregations for mental health training! (Only one application has been submitted so far.) Clergy are often the first point of contact in situations involving mental health crises; our synod is pleased to receive a grant from ELCA Disability Ministries to expand access to educational opportunities for our rostered ministers around mental health!

This grant creates a resource pool for mini-grants that centers on these learning goals:

We invite rostered ministers to propose a mental health training opportunity within their own congregations for grant funding up to $500. You might have leaders attend a workshop, contract with an organization or professional to bring a workshop or series of Zoom conversations to your congregation, host a book study, etc. Click the button below to learn more, find resources and apply.

Looking for a way to connect with other leaders in engaging conversation and fulfill your boundaries requirement at the same time? Join this book group! Pre-reading and attendance at both meetings are expected to meet the requirement. This book group is only open to rostered ministers; please no lay leaders or interns. Hosted by Deacon Krista Lind.

We will be reading The Integrity of the Body of Christ: Boundary Keeping as Shared Responsibility by Arden Mahlberg and Craig Nessan. Pre-reading and attendance at both meetings is necessary to meet the requirement. There is no cost, but participants are expected to purchase the book themselves. Boundaries education is required for all rostered ministers in the Saint Paul Area Synod every three years.

ENGAGE is a public witness work group of the Saint Paul Area Synod. Its mission is to meditate on, educate about, and advocate for gun violence prevention (GVP) in the nonviolent Spirit of Jesus Christ. In the past year, St. Paul has experienced a 100% increase in gun deaths. In Minnesota, gun deaths increased to 470 victims. Reports of domestic violence have increased and unintentional child shootings happen too often. Gun dealers report record sales. Meanwhile, two gun violence prevention bills, (Universal Background Checks and Extreme Risk Protection Orders) languish in the State Senate.

As you plan your annual education/advocacy calendar, ENGAGE offers the following options for congregations to address GVP:

For more information contact the Rev. Dr. Ron Letnes at ronletnes@hotmail.com.

Abide is a small group ministry hosted by ELCA Young Adults. Young adults (18-35) can register to be placed into a weekly, virtual small group led by a young adult Small Group Leader. Groups meet via video call for approximately an hour over the course of an Abide season (usually seven to nine weeks). Groups meet to reflect on the Abide video series that is released weekly. Registration is open for Fall Groups. Encourage young adults in your congregations to apply here. 

This Sunday, Sept. 13, many ELCA congregations will observe “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday. As church, we are guided by our life in Christ to share the love of Jesus and serve our neighbors — even if such acts of service look different this year. Physical distancing has changed the way we worship and serve. But the need is great, and God’s church is at work. We encourage you to plan your day of service in compliance with local health guidelines. The safety and well-being of your volunteers and those you serve is a top priority. Follow all local guidance regarding physical distancing, mask-wearing, maximum gathering size and building capacity limits.

Acts of service can happen anywhere: you might contribute to an online project from your home or volunteer in person keeping a safe physical distance and wearing a mask. To help you plan for “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday, we invite you to visit ELCA.org/DayofService for resources. If your congregation cannot participate on Sept. 13, please consider another day for your service activities.

P.S. Share your congregation’s participation with the ELCA! Send your stories and photos to livingLutheran@elca.org. And don't forget to tag your activities on social media using #GodsWorkOurHands. 

We are in a historic moment, facing a once-in-a-century pandemic and a global change in hunger unlike anything we have seen in our lifetimes. Domestically and internationally, hunger is increasing at alarming rates. At this event, you will learn about the unique ways ELCA World Hunger is responding. Our hosts will also discuss the ongoing root causes of hunger and poverty addressed in Rick Steves’ recent special Hunger and Hope: Lessons From Ethiopia and Guatemala. And you will hear from ELCA World Hunger partners on the front lines of the current hunger crisis, who will tell you firsthand how your gifts make a difference. Register now. 

The synod office is now open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. A limited number of staff will be on-site each day. You may continue to reach all staff members by phone (651-224-4313) or by email.

Rostered and lay leaders alike are invited to a weekly gathering of topical presentations designed to provide encouragement and support for ELCA leaders. On Sept. 9, we hear from Sarah Jackson, who transformed her life and the lives of thousands when she asked herself, "What if I said yes?" After she visited the U.S./Mexico border in 2012, she couldn't get over how she saw families being torn apart so she founded Casa de Paz (House of Peace) which offers visits, shelter, meals, transportation and emotional support to immigrants in detention and their families. Sarah is also the author of The House That Love Built. This is an opportunity to be in small group discussions with an ELCA group coach facilitating the conversation. Recordings of past sessions with supporting documents are available at www.elcacoaching.org/podcasts/media. You may find upcoming topics and presenters at www.elcacoaching.org/.

or by phone: +1 312 626 6799

During this pandemic, clergy have been faced with numerous challenges impacting pastoral care, worship, community and justice work and finances, among others. The folks at LeaderWise want to support you by offering clergy consultation groups to share wisdom, exchange ideas, and process experiences of ministry during the pandemic. Groups will be facilitated by experienced LeaderWise staff and will meet for eight sessions either weekly, every other week, or monthly.

Participants are encouraged to bring forward their challenges to get input from the group and facilitators. Discussion topics will also be provided by LeaderWise facilitators. The groups will begin as soon as four participants are registered. No more than six participants will be in each group. Each session will last 90 minutes and be conducted via Zoom. The cost for eight sessions is $600. Learn more.

Lutheran Social Services invites you to is first-ever virtual gala, the 2020 Celebration for Changing Lives! The event begins at 6:45 p.m. with a virtual reception and continues at 7:30 p.m. with a livestream. Learn more at www.lssmn.org/celebration or watch the video invitation below:

www.spas-elca.org | 651.224.4313