May 20, 2020
A Reconciling in Christ synod
A Ministry of Encouragement
From Rev. Kay Huggins
New Mexico Conference of Churches

Two months ago churches entered a new phase of ministry. As congregations and as individuals, we offered creative and engaging spiritual practices for "the church scattered." We learned new ways to love God while worshiping in our homes. Churches also found new ways to extend Christ's love to the neighbor in need. One change was simple: the realization that offerings are needed even when gathering for worship is impossible! Generosity found new on- line forms and old-fashioned checks filled up mailboxes. We did all this to maintain the churches we loved, even as we longed to return to them. Yesterday's news means churches will operate in this scattered manner for quite a while.

For most of us, church life is secured by physical connections. We love being together. As we settle into months of separation (longer for the vulnerable*), we face a new challenge. We've learned to worship God in homes; we've continued to serve our neighbors in need; now, we need to cultivate the early church ministry of encouragement.

To a congregation under persecution, Paul wrote, Therefore, encourage one another and buildup each other, as indeed you are doing. ( I Thessalonians 5:11).

Perhaps, for such a time as this, the church will be a loud and lovely source of encouragement in a world weary of restrictions and sorrow. Therefore, encourage one another and buildup each other, by encouraging someone...a family member, a neighbor, a far flung friend, your pastor...today, and then, do so again, tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow, until Christ's encouragement fills the land. 
ELCA presiding bishop issues pastoral message on COVID-19 racism and white supremacy
Dear church,
 
...This is a trying time for us all. At the same time, we know that a disproportionate burden of illness, death, discrimination and harassment falls on communities of color. This pandemic has exacerbated racism and racial inequities deeply entrenched in society and across the church. We see this in the growing anti-Asian racism and the disproportionate number of deaths in black, American Indian and Latinx communities.
 
I have been learning from the leaders of the ELCA’s ethnic associations how the data we see on the news is experienced in real life. I have listened to leaders of color share the impact of this pandemic on their communities — on their lives and on their ministries. These stories are difficult but important, so we are launching a special series on LivingLutheran.org to lift up these voices for us all to hear. We also seek to ensure that our COVID-19 response more effectively tends to the realities of racism and racial inequality. We are church together...
 
eConnection Spotlight:
RMS in the Neighborhood
Little Free Pantry at St. Paul's in Cheyenne
The Little Free Pantry (Pantry) at St. Paul's Lutheran in Cheyenne was built by St. Mark's Episcopal through a grant. Four Little Free Pantries were built by members of St. Marks and given to St. Paul's, Ascension Lutheran, Grace Methodist and St. Mark's. Members of our Property Committee installed the Pantry. Download instructions here that include Pantry dimensions so can make one for your community, too!

The Pantry is filled daily with donations from the congregation and the community. It serves the neighborhood and homeless with food, cold weather gear, personal care items, water, detergent and some times pet food. Funds have also been donated and grants received to provide items needed that have not been donated. The door of the Pantry states the focus of the program, "Take what you need, give what you can."
All Saints, Albuquerque - Supporting Health Care Workers in NM
All Saints Lutheran Church in Albuquerque is providing space for NM Makers United , an initiative formed by New Mexico manufacturers, producers, and volunteers to help address the supply gap of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using 3D printing technology, they are producing medical face shields for healthcare workers across the state in the hopes that they will be better protected from the spread of this virus. With the combined efforts of over 10 makers, local businesses, and volunteers, they have been able to donate almost 3,000 shields to healthcare workers in just 5 short weeks. The majority of donations have gone to home healthcare, homeless healthcare, assisted living communities, dialysis centers, medical facilities, and other non-profits. These organizations are located in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Farmington, and Edgewood.

Makers United is using the fellowship hall at All Saints to assemble the masks and prepare them for delivery. In addition, All Saints and NM Makers United have sent 150 masks to the Navajo Nation for health workers there. We are grateful to be part of this amazing outreach! If you’re interested in learning more, or to financially support this initiative, you can visit their website: nmmakersunited.com.
RMS & ELCA News and Events
SAVE THE DATE!
Holy Trinity Sunday, June 7
Presiding Bishop Eaton will be providing a video sermon and Service of the Word liturgy for Holy Trinity Sunday, J une 7. The texts for that Sunday are: Genesis 1:1-2:4a, Psalm 8, II Corinthians 13:11-13, and Matthew 28:16-20.
A Time to Mourn: An Ecumenical Memorial Service for Lives Lost to COVID-19
Sunday, May 24, 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time
From Bishop Gonia: Please join me in participating in this National Council of Churches Prayer Service for those lost to COVID-19.
Christ's Church, Better Together!

Sunday, May 24, 6:00 p.m. ET

 
Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, and other faith leaders will join in remembering those who have died in global pandemic

The National Council of Churches USA (NCC) will hold a public online memorial service on Sunday, May 24, 2020 to mourn the more than 300,000 people worldwide who have lost their lives to the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 90,000 of whom were in the United States. The NCC is comprised of 38 member communions ranging from mainline Protestant to historic African American and Orthodox churches.

> More information here .
CAMPUS MINISTRY ALL SUMMER LONG!
LuMin-CSU (Lutheran Campus Ministry in Fort Collins, CO) continues all summer long.  Every summer, but especially this summer LuMin will be meeting up weekly with young adults electronically. From your parent’s basement, your apartment, or wherever you reside, connect with others from Pennsylvania to Arizona to Madagascar. Just out of high school and going to college in the future… get connected. Going to college somewhere else in the world… more than welcome. Not going to college but want to hang out with some other young adults… all are welcome! Not a young adult but know someone who is (whether in your basement or not)… give them this invitation. Camp worship, celebrating your half-birthday, faith conversations, electronic service events, compare “Avenue 5” with real pandemic life, a game of global ultimate spoons… we are dedicated to expanding the possibilities of staring at a screen all summer. 
Text “summer” and your name to 970-482-2160 and Campus Pastor Paul Judson will get right back to you! Text or call that number if you have questions.
Campus Ministry "Guest Preacher" on May 24
Connect with our ministry partners in digital worship
This time of digital worship is a great opportunity to invite staff from one or more of our synod ministry partners to join your congregation for worship, coffee hour, or other digital hangouts. We encourage you to invite staff from our mission developers, campus ministries, outdoor ministries, and our social ministry organizations like LFS, Urban Servant, Corps, and Border Servant Corps! Our ministry partners would love to make digital connections with parts of the synod they don’t usually get to connect with! 

To kick things off, invite Pastor Bre Roberts, campus pastor at UNM in Albuquerque, NM to be your guest preacher on May 24! A video and transcript of her sermon will be posted by May 19 . Pastor Bre will be using the lectionary texts for that Sunday.

These and other video resources can be found on our RMS Vimeo Channel
BBQ and Bluegrass Fundraiser Benefiting Sky Ranch
Sunday, June 14, 2020 at 2:00 p.m.
Join us for our first online fundraiser, where BBQ & Bluegrass can reach everyone!
Enjoy a live auction, meet the 2020 summer staff and enjoy music from Jerusalem Road.
Follow our website, Facebook and/or Twitter accounts to find out more details about the event!
Feedback Requested for “A Draft Social Message on Government and Civic Engagement: Discipleship in a Democracy”
What does the ELCA teach about the nature and function of government in relation to God’s purposes? What is a faithful Lutheran response regarding citizenship and civic engagement? To help guide our church on these questions, the 2019 Churchwide Assembly asked for the preparation of a social message. At this time, the message is in draft form. Through May 27, you are invited to provide feedback on how to strengthen the message. 

Click  here  to read “A Draft Social Message on Government and Civic Engagement: Discipleship in a Democracy.” To offer feedback, please fill out the  survey . You may also choose to email comments to  draftsocialmessage@elca.org . The comment period ends May 27.
To learn more about this social message and the process of its creation, please visit its  webpage and its “ Frequently Asked Questions. "

To learn more about what social messages are, go to www.elca.org/socialmessages .
Weekly Conversation for Ministry Leaders
Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m
Our focus for May will be our ministry partners and how they are navigating the pandemic and continuing their ministry. Please join us to learn how we can continue to support them!

This will be a weekly conversation, with a new topic each week.
https://zoom.us/j/917853401 Meeting ID : 917 853 401
Phone : +1 669 900 6833 US

Wednesday, May 20, 3:30pm
Join us to hear from our partners at Urban Servant Corps, Border Servant Corps, Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center, and Lutheran Family Services.

Wednesday, May 27, 3:30pm
Finding Jobs Where None Seem to Exist: A Field Guide for Part-Time Ministers Seeking Additional Employment
Many of our pastors, deacons, and lay ministers are serving in part time positions and are seeking additional employment. This program describes the tools and the tactics for uncovering job opportunities that are not public knowledge.  Presented by Packard Brown, who provides career guidance to ministers and church members through his Theology Careers Initiative.
Our Life as Church Becoming and In-person Gatherings
SAVE-THE-DATE: ZOOM CONVERSATION on FRIDAY, MAY 22, 10 to 11:30 a.m.
 
Bishop Jim Gonia is convening a Zoom conversation for pastors, deacons, and other ministry leaders regarding worship, ministry, and in-person gatherings on Friday, May 22 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. The following .pdf document provides important considerations and resources:
 

For Your Bulletin
RMS Prayer Cycle

MAY 2020
METRO EAST CONFERENCE

- Week of May 24-

Lord of the Hills - Centennial, CO
Margot Wright

Messiah Community - Denver, CO
Inga Oyan Longbrake

Our Savior’s - Denver, CO
Martin Lettow
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. 
Sunday, May 24
Seventh Sunday of Easter

Prayer of the Day

O God of glory, your Son Jesus Christ suffered for us and ascended to your right hand. Unite us with Christ and each other in suffering and in joy, that all the world may be drawn into your bountiful presence, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, 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

24 - 30 May :  Angola, Mozambique - Intercessions and Prayers
Around the Synod
Living in the Midst of these Days: Situational Depression, Grief/Loss
Thursday, May 21, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Hearing the definition of situational depression, we will learn about the resources, the tools and ideas of how to address depression. Connecting with each other can allow a conversation about grief and loss, especially as we are living in the midst of Covid-19. Our facilitator, Ann Price, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has focused on community mental health, non-profit counseling agencies, and Hospice care. Ann's specialties include: working with adult trauma survivors, grief/loss, senior/geriatric work, end-of-life issues, relationship issues, life transitions, self-esteem, stress management, anxiety, depression, and spiritual direction. Ann's approach to therapy is holistic in nature and follows the premise that we as human beings are whole at our core.

Call-in: 346-248-7799, ID7597395846#; Password: 930794
Our Life Together
Braiding Sweetgrass Discussion
Saturday July 11, 10:00 a.m. - noon
Join the the monthly Lutherans Restoring Creation in the Rocky Mountain Synod meeting to discuss Robin Wall Kimmerer's book "Braiding Sweetrgrass."

Lutherans Restoring Creation Rocky Mountain Synod
Monthly Support Group Meeting
Second Saturday of each month 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Anyone in the Rocky Mountain Synod who is concerned about Creation is invited to a monthly support group meeting where we share ideas, prayers, and news concerning the care of our natural environment. Join the meeting on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83008940316
Questions? Contact Pastor Alena Lamirato at pastoralena@yahoo.com
Join the 75,000 More! Face Mask Challenge
Response was tremendous and Lutheran World Relief met its 75,000 Face Mask Challenge. To reach even more people, they’re collecting 75,000 more masks! How many will you make to help stop the spread of COVID-19? Sign up for more info:  www.lwr.org/masks
Clergy Familiarization Pilgrimage to the Holy Land
January 11-19, 2021
International travel is probably the furthest thing on many of our minds right now, but as of now a pilgrimage for rostered leaders with Elias Nawawieh and friends in Palestine and Israel is still scheduled for January 11-19, 2021. Obviously, there is a lot about the future, and specifically about travel, that we do not know, but we assume we will know more by mid- to late-summer. If you are interested, rest assured that there is no cancellation fee so you should not worry about that. If the trip does end up being cancelled, you will receive a full refund. Additionally, if it turns out that January is not a good or right time for travel but you are looking forward to this incredible opportunity, we will postpone the trip and not cancel if you want to keep on the priority list for registration.

Designed for rostered leaders who have not recently been to the Holy Land, this opportunity comes at an incredibly low cost to make it affordable for you. The all-inclusive price for rostered leaders is only $1,990 from Chicago, and spouses are invited to come along for $2,790. It really is an incredible opportunity to be able to spend just over a week in the Holy Land for around $2,000, but it is also a life-giving experience that will change your perspective both on the biblical narrative and on the diverse people and experiences in the land today.

Brochure and application available here. If you are interested in receiving more information or have questions about the opportunity, contact Joel Pancoast at pastorjoel@zionloveland.com or Elias Nawawieh at elias.nawawieh@gmail.com.
Peace Not Walls (PNW) 2020 Virtual Series
Colleagues form our Global Mission Area Desk for the Middle East are in the midst of hosting a webinar that exposes attendees to voices from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land. Karin Brown, who leads our Peace Not Walls effort, is host of this “PNW 2020 Virtual Series.”  The series is being held every Saturday at noon (Eastern Time) , each session is 1 to 1½ hours long. 


Session 5 - May 23 (Saturday): 7pm Jerusalem time (9am PT/10amMT/11amCT/12pm ET) (1 hour)
Session 5 will be a conversation with Pastor Imad Haddad (Amman) and Pastor Fursan Zumot (Jerusalem) about the impact of the pandemic on the church and the wider community and their response.

Links for all past and future PNW 2020 Virtual Series can be found here.
Resource Corner
check back each week for a new or featured resource for your congregation
Cal Lutheran Fifty and Better Program: Summer Session 1! "Fifty and Better"
"Fifty and Better" is designed for members of our community who are 50 years of age and older and want to continue learning - just for the enjoyment and stimulation of pursuing knowledge and social engagement through interactive courses and extracurricular activities. The summer session will be held virtually via Zoom. Registration opens on Thursday (May 14) at 10am PST. Registration closes on May 27. Flier here, to register and learn more, click here.
from the May 2020 Issue of Administration Matters
COVID-19 resources for ELCA congregations and members
With the outbreaks of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the United States and around the world, our church and its leaders continue to minister to its members, to those who are hurting and searching for peace, and to those in need. Resources are available to help congregations and members stay connected and resilient during this crisis. Visit ELCA.org/publichealth for online worship best practices, FAQs regarding government assistance programs, video messages from ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton and resources to help you practice your faith at home.

Online giving helps sustain ministry while congregation’s members worship from home
This past year, ELCA congregations received more than $100 million in electronic giving through a combination of mobile, web, text and kiosk. During the COVID-19 pandemic, most congregations are worshiping online and unable to pass the offering plate. As a result, electronic giving is more important than ever to sustain your ministries. The ELCA has two preferred vendors for online giving: Tithe.ly and Vanco . Special pricing accompanies each agreement, and the sign-up process is quick and easy so you can start receiving online gifts within days.
Employment Opportunities
Non-Rostered Listings 
Coordinator of Children/Youth Faith Formation
Broadmoor Community Church, United Church of Christ - Colorado Springs, CO

Faith Formation Interim Director
Bethlehem Lutheran Church - Longmont, CO

Director of Choirs (part-time)
Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church - Los Alamos, NM

Facilities Manager
Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church - Lakewood, CO

Organist/Music Coordinator
Trinity Lutheran Church - Fort Collins, CO

Lead Servant for Financial Resources
Abiding Hope Lutheran Church - Littleton, CO

Office Administrator (part-time)
St. Timothy's Episcopal Church, Centennial, CO

Director of Youth & Family Ministry
Christ Lutheran Church - Highlands Ranch, CO

Minister of Music (full-time)
Augustana Lutheran Church - Denver, CO

Missional Youth MInistry Leader (part-time)
Faith Lutheran Church - Golden, CO
Office of the Bishop This Week
  Bishop Jim Gonia
  • 1-1 Appointments
  • Weekly Webinar
  • Re-opening Ministry Conversation
  • All Saints, Albuquerque, NM
  • Conference Deans Meeting
  • Available by email: jgonia@rmselca.org

ELCA DIRECTOR FOR EVANGELICAL MISSION
Pastor Dana Peterson
  • Global Mission Committee
  • Excellence in Leadership
  • St. Tim's, Albuquerque, NM
  • Conference Dean's Meeting
  • Available by email: dpeterson@rmselca.org

LUTHERAN ADVOCACY MINISTRY NEW MEXICO
Kurt Rager

LUTHERAN ADVOCACY MINISTRY COLORADO
Peter Severson
  • FAMLI Coalition
  • Recover CO Task Force
  • Financial Equity Coalition
  • Re-opening ministry conversation
  • Available by email: pseverson@rmselca.org

ELCA REGIONAL GIFT PLANNER
Tina Kvite
ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP FOR CONGREGATIONAL LIFE
Pastor Sarah Moening
  • Congregational Transition
  • Excellence in Leadership
  • Re-opening ministry conversation
  • Available by email: smoening@rmselca.org

ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP FOR LEADERSHIP SUPPORT
Pastor Kent Mueller (1/2 time)

ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP FOR SYNODICAL LIFE
Deacon Erin Power
  • RMS Weekly Webinar
  • Theological Conference Planning
  • Re-opening ministry conversation
  • Available by email: epower@rmselca.org

ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP FOR FAITH FORMATION & CANDIDACY
Pastor Leslie O'Callaghan
  • Weekly Faith Formation Check-in
  • Candidacy Appointments
  • Re-opening ministry conversation
  • Available by email: locallaghan@rmselca.org
Quick Links
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Rocky Mountain Synod  
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
800-525-0462 / 303-777-6700 / fax  303-733-0750

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