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SYNOD NEWS AND EVENTS - October 11, 2019
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A Fond Farewell
by Carla Klawitter
September 30, 2019 - It's just another Monday on the calendar, I suppose, but this was my last day as an employee at the Southwestern Minnesota Synod Office.
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Synod staff at Carla's retirement dinner.
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My official hire date was October 1, 2000. I had just gotten our youngest off to college; two others, one of them recently engaged, were also college students; and our oldest was married and expecting our first grandchild.
The core staff at that time included Bishop Stan Olson; Synod Ministers Larry Wohlrabe, Stephanie Frey, and Marcus Kunz; Support Staffers Donna Ihrke, Marlis Jacobsen, and Linda Fixsen; and Resource Service Center Coordinator Nancy Olson. Sarah Hausken joined the staff that November. What a wonderful start!
I've been blessed to work with a very long list of terrific people over the years, including pastoral and support staff members, rostered ministers in the call process, seminary students, interim ministers, volunteers, interns, congregation leaders, and others. As I remember each one, I smile.
My work has changed from being in one of four cubicles in the front office space to having my own office off the hallway; from transcribing Dictaphone recordings to communicating with SmartPhones; from organizing meetings of the Synod Call Committee to electronic tracking of mobility through web portals; from typed notes routed to staff to Yammer and group emails; from bags, trays, and bins of bulk mailings to ConstantContact and websites; from a staffed Resource Service Center to a book-lined meeting room; from setting up many in-person events to scheduling Zoom meetings; from Corel's WordPerfect and Revelations to Windows10 and QuickBooks in the cloud.
My own family has seen many changes, too. Marriages. Eleven grandchildren born. Serious accidents. Various celebrations. My husband's retirement. Medical crises. Deaths. Through all of these, my coworkers - and all of you - have supported me, cheered with me, prayed with me, laughed with me, and cried with me.
I've been blessed to work here, but as I told Bishop Jon, it's time. Thank you, thank you for everything. I hope to see you again soon and often!
"There's an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth."
- Ecclesiastes 3:1 The Message
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Another SW MN Synod Intern,
Meet Sarah Larson!
My name is Sarah Larson, and I'm currently interning at Living Waters Lutheran Church in Sauk Rapids, MN. I began my internship last September and am amazed at how fast a year went by. I've grown so much with this amazing congregation and am so thankful for the guidance of my supervisor, Pr. Todd Mattson. I continue to learn a ton from him and Pr. Denise Hanson and feel incredibly blessed to be a part of this ministry team!
I've been a student at Luther Seminary for quite some time and will be graduating with my MDiv degree in May 2020. (Thankfully, God is very, very patient!) I am blessed to have two amazing kiddos who continue to inspire me each day. Some of my favorite things to do include spending time with family, playing basketball and making homemade pasta with my kids, listening to music, playing piano, watching Hallmark Christmas movies, and participating in 5Ks.
I've been so thankful for the opportunity to learn and grow at Living Waters and look forward to finishing this home stretch with them!
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Jr. High Youth Gathering
Location: Willmar Conference Center, Willmar MN
Dates: Friday, Nov. 22 - Saturday, Nov. 23 & Saturday, Nov. 23 - Sunday, Nov. 24
Registration Deadlines:
Oct. 14 - Oct. 25 - Early Bird Registration, $45 early bird rate!
(Opens at NOON on the 14th)
Oct. 26 - Nov. 11 - Registration continues, $50 registration rate
(Closes at NOON on the 11th)
Nov. 11 @ NOON - Registration Closed.
Click here to view and download the registration information guide.
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Leading Worship: A Skills Workshop
Saturday, November 16, 2019
Cross of Calvary Lutheran Church, Olivia, MN
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Gathering for worship is at the core of what the church is and how we grow everyday spirituality. This day will build skills in three key aspects of vibrant and effective worship:
- Leading Worship - how to be effective when the church assembles for worship - reading, movement, praying, officiating
- Planning Worship - resources and best practices over the course of the year
- Music - new ideas and approaches to enhance the assembly's song
Each workshop will be 90 minutes long and will be repeated twice so participants will have their choice of two workshops to attend.
Worship committee members, church musicians, assisting ministers, and people serving in Synodically Authorized Ministry sites are especially encouraged to attend.
Leaders will include:
From the ELCA Worship Office:
Deacon John Weit, Program Director for Music
Deacon Jennifer Baker-Trinity, Program Director
for Resource Development
From the Southwestern Minnesota Synod:
Jullian Euteneuer, Director of Music,
Peace Lutheran, New London MN
Pastor Ellen Munter, Bethel Lutheran, Porter MN
Pastor Debra Dawson, Zion Lutheran, Arlington MN
Jane Oxton, Arts Educator
Bishop Jon Anderson, Southwestern Minnesota Synod
Registration:
Registration will close if we reach maximum capacity of 50 participants.
Registration fee is $10 per participant.
Complete the online registration and mail registration fee prior to the event.
Mail to: SW MN Synod
PO Box 499
Redwood Falls, MN 56283
Make checks payable to: SW MN Synod
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Always Being Made New Impact Report
+Bishop Jon Anderson
We are thankful to all our donors and the donors around our country.
Click here to read a booklet full of stories of the difference we have made together in Jesus name. |
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Save the Date!
2020 Fall Theological Conference
October 11-13, 2020 at Luther Crest Bible Camp
Thanks for all who participated in and made our Fall Theological Conference unfold. Particularly I want to thank Pr. Kathryn Skoglund, Kristin Bakeberg and the rest of our office team. Next, I want to thank our many people who shared about their ministry and learning. Finally, I want to express gratitude to the Sisters at the Benedictine Monastery and the College of St. Benedict.
We are working on our plans for next year. Dr. Andy Root has agreed to be with us to help us think about serving in ministry in a time of increasing secularism. |
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Synod Events
NOVEMBER
November 2, 2019
First Lutheran, Marshall MN
November 5, 2019
Faith Lutheran, Spicer
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DECEMBER
JANUARY
January 11, 2020
St. Stephen Lutheran, Marshall MN
FEBRUARY
2020 Equipping Congregations Day
February 29, 2020
Willmar, MN
SAVE THE DATE
SW MN Synod Assembly
Gustavus Adolphus College
St. Peter, MN
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Southwestern Minnesota Synod, ELCA
PO Box 499, Redwood Falls, MN 56283
Phone: 507-637-3904
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