A Reconciling in Christ synod
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We Did It - Always Being Made New: The Campaign for the ELCA!
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Through the generosity of members and congregations across this church, ELCA ministries received $250 million - $195 million in cash and multiyear commitments, as well as $55 million in planned gifts - to continue, strengthen and expand their work here at home and with our global companions around the world. Thank you.
The
final impact report will give you a glimpse of the campaign's impact on these crucial ministries.
The generosity of this church shows that, with God's blessing, our vision needs to be broader. Together, we have accomplished more than we ever thought possible - and this is just the beginning. This campaign has opened our imaginations and dreams for what more God is calling us to do in the years ahead.
Thank you for your ongoing support as we continue to mobilize the resources of this church to do God's work in the world. We are so grateful for you.
In Christ,
The Rev. Ronald T. Glusenkamp
Director, The Campaign for the ELCA
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"What does it mean to be a Sanctuary Church" Webinar
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Thursday, October 24th, 5:00pm
Rostered and lay leaders are invited to a Zoom webinar with Bishop Gonia, Peter Severson, and Mary Campbell (ELCA AMMPARO) to continue conversation around the ELCA's decision to declare itself a sanctuary denomination. They share some history of our immigration work, offer updates on current priorities, and address questions regarding sanctuary. Please share with members who would find this forum helpful in their discernment.
Questions will be received in advance. Submit specific questions or topics to
Deacon Erin Power
Resources, videos, and discussion guides can be found on the
RMS website.
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eConnection Spotlight:
RMS in the Neighborhood
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Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp
Grace Race 5K
was a smashing success!
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In the 12th year of this race, participants raised over $9,000 to benefit ELCA World Hunger. Special congratulations go to Cross of Christ Lutheran Church in Broomfield, CO for “Fleetest Flock” (congregation with the most people registered) - over 50 in total!
Thanks to all the volunteers, RTLC staff, runners, walkers, strollers and dogs who made the event a success. See you next year!
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An Urgent Appeal from New Beginnings Worshiping Community
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On November 1st, New Beginnings will be twenty years old. As such, it is the oldest mission congregation in the Rocky Mountain Synod. And it is the only congregation planted
inside the Denver Women's Correctional Facility (DWCF), and the
only congregation of the RMS
inside a prison.
We need your help NOW.
Due to unforeseen circumstances we had to cancel our annual fundraiser, the Chow Hall Gala that usually raises over $20,000 every year. That is how much we are now short.
Please walk with us. Your support is not for the type of big dream you will see as you drive by our place; we realize we are hard to see. This is to help a "big dream come true" that positively impacts and transforms the lives of thousands of women who walk through the gates of the prison. It impacts their children who then have the opportunity to break the generational pattern of incarceration. It impacts the countless visitors who make the trek to Havana Street on a Friday night thinking they're there to help, and leave realizing
their own eyes have been opened.
Please help us in our time of need! You can get more information and make a donation at
newbeginningswc.org,
or by sending donations to us at, c/o The Lutheran Center, 7375 Samuel Drive, Denver, CO 80221. You are welcome to share this
letter of appeal
with anyone who may be able to help.
With our gratitude and thanks,
Pastor Terry Schjang and the Inside and Outside Councils of New Beginnings
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Madagascar 2020
RMS Companion Synod Trip, May 26 - June 10, 2020
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Walk with our siblings in Christ in Madagascar and celebrate God's love around the globe. This trip will start late in May 2020 and travel for 16 days through much of the north of the country.
This is not a sightseeing trip or a service trip but participants will be ambassadors from the Rocky Mountain Synod walking alongside with our friends, building relationships with seminarians, and experiencing the work of the church through our companion synods.
Download the updated and corrected
application [
here
] and return it by October 31. The cost of the trip is estimated to be $5,000 per person. Refer to those listed below if you have questions. This is one of those life-changing opportunities that you should prayerfully consider and take the leap to experience.
Questions can be directed to the 2020 Madagascar Trip Planning Team:
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Rocky Mountain Synod Middle and High School Youth Gathering
Saturday, January 18 - Monday, January 20, 2020
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YMCA of the Rockies, Estes Park, CO
Saturday, January 18, 5:00 p.m. to Monday, January 20, 11:00 a.m.
Get ready for a fun and faith-filled weekend as we delve into the transforming love of God and what it means to take that love into our everyday lives.
Get more information and register
here. Get $10 off when your group registers by Oct 1.
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Installation
Rev. Tory Moir
House for All Sinners and Saints,
Denver, CO
5:00 p.m. Sunday, October 13
Color of the day: Green
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RMS Prayer Cycle
- Week of October 13 -
OUTDOOR MINISTRIES
Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp
Brad Abbott
Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp
Dave Jarvis
HOSPICE and CARE CENTERS
Frazier Meadows - Boulder, CO
Robert Ritzen
HopeWest Hospice Care Center - Grand Junction, CO
Gail Britt
Ambercare- Santa Fe, NM
Rick Green
St. Anthony Summit Medical Center- Frisco, CO
Lydia Wittman
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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, October 13
Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
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Prayer of the Day
Almighty and most merciful God, your bountiful goodness fills all creation. Keep us safe from all that may hurt us, that, whole and well in body and spirit, we may with grateful hearts accomplish all that you would have us do, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
In God's Hands: Ecumenical Prayer Cycle from the World Council of Churches
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The Urban Servant Corps invites you to...
LET'S EAT!
+ 10th Anniversary of Executive Director, Krista Kilgus
Thursday, October 10 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
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Roof Top Garden at The Gathering Place
1535 High St.
At Urban Servant Corps, we believe that people need people – and it is in community that we are able to live more simple, faithful lives that are in service to others. As a way of expressing our mission and a human tendency to gather around food, we invite you to our LET’S EAT event!
You will have the opportunity to bid on specially-themed dinner parties and sample bites from the menus for you to EAT!
And a handful of restaurant gift cards will be available for bidding at the event. Our goal is to raise the budgeted amount our full-time volunteers are given for groceries for a year so they can EAT!
Also, it’s the 10th Anniversary of Krista Kilgus serving as USC’s Executive Director. Let’s celebrate (and EAT)!
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Dr. Mark Allan Powell, presents
Something to Savor: The Bible as our Book of Faith
Saturday October 19 at 9:00 a.m.
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3rd Ave and Terry St, Longmont CO (
map
)
Mark Allan Powell is a professor of New Testament Studies at Trinity Lutheran Seminary, and theologian widely recognized for his work in spiritual formation, congregational ministries and author of 20 books. He will present on
"Something to Savor: The Bible as our Book of Faith."
This Saturday event is free, a light lunch will be provided. Please let Maria Sutton know if you are able to attend (for a lunch count) at 303-776-2800 or email at
maria.sutton@firstluth.org.
Mark will follow up by preaching Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and again on Sunday, October 20 at 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
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Augustana Arts presents...
Tell Me A Story
- Eric Whitacre & More
Saturday, October 26 at 7:30 p.m.
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Augustana Lutheran Church
5000 E. Alameda Ave., Denver, CO
Music is one of the most unique tools we have for storytelling and communication. Join the Chorales for this beautiful exploration of plot, texture, humor, and literary devices in some of the most exciting choral music ever composed. The choirs will take on the breathtaking masterpiece,
Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine and Daniel Pinkham’s beloved
Wedding Cantata, along with familiar folk songs and spirituals that will make this a stunning opening concert for the Chorales’ 2019-2020 season. For more info and tickets, go to
augustanaarts.org.
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Global Gift Fair!
November 2 and 3 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
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Shop for unique items for yourself, your friends and your family and support artisans around the world and around the corner.
Atonement Lutheran Church
6281 W. Yale Ave, Lakewood, CO (
map)
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Prepare Enrich Facilitator Training
Thursday, November 7 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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Prepare Enrich Facilitator Training is being offered on November 7, 2019 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church, 4500 E. Hampden Avenue, in Cherry Hills Village (
map
).
The workshop is designed to teach clergy, counseling professionals and mentor couples to utilize this tool to assist both premarital and married couples in understanding and improving their relationship.
For more information or to register, please contact Beth Walker at
bethdwalker@gmail.com or 720.352.9915.
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Augustana Arts presents...
Danza!
Beguiling the Dance Immersive Concert with Harpist, Dani Bash
Friday, Nov. 15, 2019 at 7:30 p.m (Immersive Seating)
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1st Plymouth Congregational Church
3501 S. Colorado Blvd., Denver (
map
)
Join us for an evening of great music inspired by dance in Stratus’s signature immersive format where the audience sits within the orchestra, next to the musicians, enveloped in sound.
Appalachian Spring, Aaron Copland’s iconic homage to Americana, Debussy’s light and beautiful
Sacred and Profane Dances, and sultry tangos are evening highlights.
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Selling Pumpkins - Annually with a Purpose for 15 Years!
Open daily: October 5 - October 31
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St. Peter (Carlsbad, NM) is celebrating its 15th year of being in the "pumpkin business." The St. Peter Pumpkin Patch is an annual charitable fundraiser and this year ALL proceeds will be distributed to
Packs for Hunger (a local, non-profit organization that is feeding over 200 children each week) and
Iglesia Luterana Cristo Rey, ELCA, (mission partner congregation in El Paso TX).
The St. Peter Pumpkin Patch (
map) is open daily, October 5-31. Hours: Monday-Friday, 3:00-6:30 p.m., Saturday, 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. and Sunday, 1:00-5:00 p.m. Admission is FREE. Pumpkin prices are based on size.
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2019 LAM-NM Advocacy Conference
Saturday, November 16, 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
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St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church
601 Montaño NW
This conference is open to everyone interested in learning more about advocating on public policies impacting our many neighbors living in poverty and experiencing hunger.
Breakout session topics will include advocacy basics as well as issues related to our Advocacy Agenda which are expected to come up during the 2020 New Mexico state legislative session.
Our keynote speaker is Dr. Larry Rasmussen, a resident of Santa Fe. He is the Reinhold Niebuhr Professor of Social Ethics Emeritus at Union Theological Seminary. He is author of
Earth-honoring Faith: Religious Ethics in a New Key(2013) and
Earth Community, Earth Ethics (1996) and coauthor of
Bible and Ethics in the Christian Life (1976, 1989, 2018).
$15 per person, including materials and lunch.
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Foster Care Informational Meetings
Lutheran Family Services - Rocky Mountains
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Each year in Colorado, thousands of kids are unable to live with their biological parents because of abuse or neglect.
Lutheran Family Services needs families who can provide temporary care until children reunify with their parent, as well as families willing to adopt children and teens if they can't return to their families.
No-cost, no-obligation, informational meetings are held throughout the Denver Metro area. Come find out if foster care is the right path for your family!
Please register with Nicole at
nicole.brown@lfsrm.org
or 303-217-5852. One-on-one meetings can also be arranged to work around your busy schedule.
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Wednesday October 9
Two sessions!
12:30 - 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Lutheran Family Services
363 S. Harlan Street Suite 105
Tuesday October 15
6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Koelbel Library
5955 S. Holly St.
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Monday October 21
5:30 p.m - 7:00 p.m.
Central Recreation Center
18150 E. Vassar Pl.
Tuesday October 29
5:45 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Woodbury Library
3265 Federal Blvd
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Pastor Jared Carson from Peace Lutheran, Las Cruces NM has organized a trip to Lutheran Reformation sites, like Wittenberg, Eisleben, Erfert, Eisenach, Coburg, Augsburg, and the Oberammergau Passion Play for June of 2020.
There are still nine spots available for this trip. The Oberammergau Passion Play only occurs every 10 years. Reserve your spot for the study tour now. Don’t miss this chance to experience reformation history first hand! If you are interested-- brochures, registration info, and more are available
online here. Or contact Pr. Jared by
email, or at 575-522-7119, ext 12.
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Resource Corner
check back each week for a new or featured resource for your congregation
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EPA releases booklet,
"Supporting Healthy Houses of Worship"
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In accordance with Children’s Health Month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the release of a new booklet, Supporting Healthy Houses of Worship: Effective, Affordable Measures to Protect the Health of Congregations and Staff. This booklet is designed to provide places of worship with information on actions they can take to reduce environmental health risks, with a special emphasis on children’s health, as children are particularly vulnerable to many environmental risks.
The booklet identifies some of the most common types of environmental health concerns (e.g., lead, mercury, mold/moisture, radon exposures, etc.) found in older facilities and contains voluntary recommendations that maintenance staff may use to limit risks to congregations. It also provides one-stop access to learn some facts about these issues and existing low-cost or no-cost measures to prevent, reduce and resolve each of the highlighted environmental issues.
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Director of Economic Justice
Interfaith Alliance of Colorado, Denver, CO
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The Interfaith Alliance of Colorado is seeking passionate, qualified candidates for Director of Economic Justice. The right candidate will bring an entrepreneurial, asset-based, grassroots spirit to building economic, housing, and racial justice; a strong appreciation for faith communities and the gifts they bring to community transformation; a spirit of collaborative creativity and openness to emergence in a dynamic work environment; and a particular set of skills and passion for developing affordable housing. Primary responsibilities will include the Congregation Land Campaign and managing our Catalyzing Social Change initiatives. Job description, compensation, qualifications, and application process are
available here.
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All
Non-Rostered Listings
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Director of Economic Justice
Interfaith Alliance of Colorado, Denver, CO
Director for Leadership and Candidacy - Domestic Mission Unit
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Sound Production Minister
Lutheran Church of Hope - Broomfield, CO
Musicians for Ministry!
Zion Lutheran Church - Loveland, CO
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Office of the Bishop This Week
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Bishop Jim Gonia
- Theological Conference, Estes Park, CO
- Installation of Rev. Tory Moir, House for All, Denver, CO
- Excellence in Leadership
- Staff Meeting
- Grace, Colorado Springs, CO
ELCA DIRECTOR FOR EVANGELICAL MISSION
Pastor Dana Peterson (Interim)
- Theological Conference, Estes Park, CO
- New & Renewing Congregations
- Excellence in Leadership
- Staff Meeting
LUTHERAN ADVOCACY MINISTRY NEW MEXICO
Ruth Hoffman
- Theological Conference, Estes Park, CO
- NM Conference of Churches
- Staff meeting
LUTHERAN ADVOCACY MINISTRY COLORADO
Peter Severson
- Theological Conference, Estes Park, CO
- National Christian Unity Gathering
- Lutheran Disaster Response Consultation
ELCA REGIONAL GIFT PLANNER
Tina Kvitek
- Theological Conference, Estes Park, CO
- Auraria Campus Ministry
- Excellence in Leadership
- Staff Meeting
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ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP FOR CONGREGATIONAL LIFE
Pastor Sarah Moening
- Theological Conference, Estes Park, CO
- Excellence in Leadership
- Staff Meeting
ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP FOR LEADERSHIP SUPPORT
Pastor Kent Mueller (1/2 time)
ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP FOR SYNODICAL LIFE
Deacon Erin Power
- Theological Conference, Estes Park, CO
- Time off
- Staff Meeting
- Excellence in Leadership
ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP FOR FAITH FORMATION & CANDIDACY
Pastor Leslie Welton
- Theological Conference, Estes Park, CO
- Excellence in Leadership
- Staff Meeting
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Feel free to contact
Andrew Nakatan
i
, Communications Assistant, with your questions and comments about eConnection and 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's issue.
Past issues of eConnection may be found
here.
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