A Reconciling in Christ synod
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...sharing our Synod Assembly Keynote message
The Rev. Jason Chesnut on ministry and worship in our digital world
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Using meditative reflections and videos Rev. Chesnut explores our search for a balance between the world we knew "before" as we move into a new digital, interactive world, and expand Jesus' presence beyond "in the flesh, face-to-face interactions."
The Rev. Jason Chesnut, ordained in the ELCA, created and developed
The Slate Project
, an innovative Christian worshiping community that has been gathering online and face-to-face in Baltimore, Maryland every Thursday since 2014. He is a videographer, mission developer, and ABS-certified biblical storyteller who recently founded
ANKOSfilms, a company dedicated to (a) (n)ew (k)ind (o)f (s)torytelling. A native of San Marcos, Texas, Jason graduated from Texas Lutheran University and the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. He loves riding motorcycles and watching movies when he...umm...has time?
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...from LIRS - Church in a Time of Crisis
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“Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind.”
— 1 Peter 3:8
In this time of crisis, we as the body of Christ continue to demonstrate love for our neighbors.
The global Lutheran church is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic — hosting virtual services, educating communities, mobilizing prayer and providing aid. See what our companion churches around the world are doing, and may we all continue to love our neighbors from a distance.
View the interactive presentation from Lutheran Disaster Response here.
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eConnection Spotlight:
RMS in the Neighborhood
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Celebrating our female/femme Ministers of Word & Sacrament
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From our Synod Assembly Worship:
"In 2020, we celebrate 50 years of ordaining women into ministry in the ELCA and its predecessor bodies. We celebrate 40 years of ordaining women of color and 10 years of LGBTQIA+ colleagues being able to serve freely.
As part of this 50-40-10 anniversary year, we lament that women, women of color, and LGBTQIA+ individuals were barred from serving, and were bullied, dismissed and excluded. And we acknowledge that we have so much more work to do!
Today, we celebrate that we have come this far by faith, and we look to the future of professional leadership knowing that we are becoming the church in a whole new culture and context.
At our RMS Theological Conference in October 2019, we celebrated our LGBTQIA+ colleagues with stories, blessings, and worship. Today, we honor our female/femme colleagues in ministry and commemorate fifty years of faithful ministry."
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RMS & ELCA News and Events
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All synod assembly reports and videos can be found on the
Assembly Resource Page. If you did not receive your assembly packet, our would like to request additional printed materials for your congregation or ministry, please contact Deacon Erin Power
Financial Reports
Ministry Magazine
Churchwide Assembly Resources
Assembly Worship Videos
Links for Videos from the Assembly (
PDF
)
For use of recorded hymns, please contact Deacon Erin Power.
Ministry Partner Videos
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Campus Ministry "Guest Preacher" on May 24
Connect with our ministry partners in digital worship
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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.
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Feedback Requested for
“A Draft Social Message on Government and Civic Engagement: Discipleship in a Democracy”
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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.
You are invited to 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
, which features “
Frequently Asked Questions.
"
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Weekly Conversation for Ministry Leaders
Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m
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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.
Meeting ID: 917 853 401
Phone +1 669 900 6833 US
Wednesday, May 6, 3:30pm
This week we will hear from our outdoor ministries and campus ministries. They will be with us to share how their ministries have been impacted by the pandemic, changes and challenges, and how we can support them.
Wednesday, May 13, 3:30pm
We are excited to welcome the CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service Krish Vignarajah to share about the their work of accompanying migrants and refugees during this pandemic.
Wednesday, May 20, 3:30pm
Join us May 20 to hear from our partners at Urban Servant Corps, Border Servant Corps, Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center, and Lutheran Family Services.
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RMS Prayer Cycle
MAY 2020
METRO EAST CONFERENCE
- Week of May 10 -
Christ the Savior - Aurora, CO
Paul Ziegler
Cross of Glory - Denver, CO
Mike Lemke
Peace in Christ - Elizabeth, CO
Alena Lamirato
Epiphany - Denver, CO
Elizabeth Reinking
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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, May 10
Fifth Sunday of Easter
Prayer of the Day
Almighty God, your Son Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. Give us grace to love one another, to follow in the way of his commandments, and to share his risen life with all the world, for he 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
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You are invited to Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains'
First VIRTUAL Gala!?
Sunday, May 17 at 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. (log in beginning at 6:45 p.m.)
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Tickets:
$25 Early Bird
$35 General (after May 13)
$100 Patron
In light of COVID-19, this year we will be throwing a party you can enjoy from the comfort of your living room!
Join in on the fun, featuring exciting updates about how we continue to work during a pandemic, a silent auction, and our paddle raise. Wear your gala attire, pour yourself a glass of champagne, and support us from home!
Congratulations to Mariela Ruiz-Angel!
Winner of our Eagles Wings Award, as our Distinguished Community Partner of the Year, which will be presented by Pastor Rachael Powell of St Timothy’s Lutheran Church in Albuquerque. Mariela Ruiz-Angel has been a trusted partner of LFSRM for at least 3 years. Her work with the Mayor’s Office of Albuquerque is instrumental in facilitating collaboration and innovation among service providers. She is also unique in her ability to uplift refugee’s voices in local conversations. Mariela’s leadership as a convener, organizer, and in generating resources during the Respite and Welcome work has been invaluable to LFSRM.
Bid in the Silent Auction
Featuring goods, services, and unforgettable packages- from baskets to keep you busy during quarantine, to fun family activities to celebrate once we can be out and about again. The silent auction will open one week before the event and run through the night of May 17
th
Hear Our Stories
LFRRM has served vulnerable people for more than 70 years and our program staff remain on the front lines ensuring that the populations we serve continue to access important services during COVID-19. Tune in for updates from the field and an inside look into what the "new normal" looks like at LFSRM.
Participate in a Real Time Paddle Raise
Join in on the excitement and support our work in real time, alongside other attendees.
What is a Patron Ticket?
This year, we wanted to make our virtual event as accessible as possible to promote community, learning, and support during this time. A patron ticket is closer to the normal price of a ticket to our annual gala. Purchasing a patron ticket says that you believe in our work and are in a place where you can give extra to our mission. We love our patrons!
If you are unable to participate but would still like to donate, click
here
.
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Navigating Seasons of Grief and Change--A Mindful Approach
Conversations about Mental Health
Thursday, May 7, 7:00 .pm.- 8:00 p.m.
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COVID-19 has provoked a strange mix of emotions for most of us: waves of depression, anxiety, grief, and maybe for some, a feeling of relief, to work from home and avoid long commutes or exhausting work travel.
How do we mindfully navigate of the strange, unfamiliar emotions that may be greeting us as our world tries to transition "back to life."
Join us in this conversation as we explore personal and collective grief and how to greet the transition with courage and compassion for oneself and for others.
Christine Ruth, M.Div., MS, LMFT is an ordained pastor, teacher, and licensed marriage and family therapist. She founded Niwot Counseling Center in Niwot, Colorado.
Call-in: 346-248-7799, ID7597395846#; Password: 930794.
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Cal Lutheran and PLTS Cares Day
May 6, 2020
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On May 6, we will share stories that reveal the many ways in which our students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents and friends care for the community, and we hope you will join us for Cal Lutheran Cares Day by sharing your story with us, too! Go to
Cal Lutheran Cares Day!
In addition, your generosity to Cal Lutheran’s Ministry & Leadership programs and PLTS during Cal Lutheran Cares Day will ensure our students have the resources to stay safe and well while continuing to pursue calls and vocations of service in the church and world. No matter our location, a spirit of compassion and resiliency binds the Cal Lutheran community, including PLTS. Thank you for all that you do to keep the university and seminary strong, and for your continued support during this unprecedented time.
#CalLutheranCares #PLTSofCLU
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Discussion of the Caring for Creation Social Statement
Saturday, May 9, 2020, at 10:00 a.m.
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Women of the ELCA Executive board postpones
Eleventh Triennial Convention, Gathering until August 2021
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With no Covid-19 vaccine on the horizon, Women of the ELCA’s executive board voted to postpone the organization’s convention and gathering until August 2021.
The executive board met by video on April 25.
“We are postponing not canceling,” said Linda Post Bushkofsky, executive director of Women of the ELCA.
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Peace Not Walls (PNW) 2020 Virtual Series
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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.
Two of the Saturdays have already passed. The first focused on Augusta Victoria Hospital on the Mount of Olives, the second focused on the church itself with sharing from Bishop Azar and two other Palestinian pastors. There are still 5 more Saturdays in the series.
You can watch the first two seminars which were recorded at the same links that you would have used to join the live event.
All links for past and future PNW 2020 Virtual Series can be found
here.
Join us Saturday May 9 for Session 3 which will focus on the ELCJHL schools. (9-10am PT / 10-11amMT / 11-12amCT / 12-1pm ET)
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A beautiful Saddle for sale to benefit the ministry of Peace Lutheran, El Paso TX
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Arlen Bowden, owner of
Bowden Leather Co.
and member of Peace Lutheran Church in El Paso, TX has generously offered to donate the full sale price of his nicest saddle to help support the mission and ministry of Peace. If you, or someone you know, would like to purchase
this saddle, please contact Arlen at 915-373-6614 or
info@bowdenleather.com. Thank you!
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Resource Corner
check back each week for a new or featured resource for your congregation
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The Journal of Lutheran Ethics, Special May Issue 2020, COVID-19
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The Journal of Lutheran Ethics aims at connecting academics, clergy, and congregations in thoughtful dialogue on contemporary ethical issues.
One goal of the journal is to present and encourage constructive theological thinking at the moment in which it is most needed. To that end, we have put together a special issue of JLE for May, 2020 in response to the current pandemic and quarantine. This issue includes an essay by Rev. Aaron Klink that responds to this current pandemic, as well as links to articles from past JLE issues that provide thoughtful insights on topics relevant to the crisis.
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Returning to Church – Ministry during the COVID-19 outbreak
from The Wisconsin Council of Churches
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Though in the beginning many of us had mental images of all returning at once to our churches in celebration, we are now recognizing that returning to church will have to happen in phases. Gov. Tony Evers and the WI Department of Health Services have released the Badger Bounce Back, a plan to reopen Wisconsin.
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Resources to help churches re-open
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Coordinator of Children/Youth Faith Formation
Broadmoor Community Church, UCC- Colorado Springs, CO
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Do you have a passion for guiding children & youth on their journey to become faithful and thoughtful adults?
Are you a person of faith who exhibits a commitment to Christ's Church and nurturing the spiritual needs of children and youth?
Do you hold an inclusive faith & justice outlook? Are you capable of strong leadership; and do you hold organizational and communication skills (written and verbal)l? Do you have both education and experience in education leadership roles?
You might be the person we are praying for! This is a part-time staff position (20-25 hrs/wk August-May w/reduced hours the remainder of the summer)--includes Sunday mornings and some evenings. Reports to the Sr. Pastor. For more information visit
https://broadmoorchurch.org/ or contact Rev. Anne Cubbage, Lead Pastor, at
acubbage@broadmoorchurch.org.
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Faith Formation Interim Director
Bethlehem Lutheran Church - Longmont, CO
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Bethlehem Lutheran Church - Longmont, CO is seeking an individual (lay or rostered) to serve as Faith Formation Interim Director to serve as the staff person for Faith Formation Ministry. This staff person will work with our current staff and volunteers as detailed in the job description which can be downloaded below. To apply, please review the complete job description below and submit a letter of interest, three references, and a BLC employment application to Pastor Katie (
pastor@bethlehem-lutheran.net) and/or to our council president, Greg Schumann (
president@bethlehem-lutheran.net) now through May 10 (or until a candidate is chosen).
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Organist
All Saints Lutheran Church - Albuquerque, NM
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All Saints Lutheran Church on Albuquerque’s west side is hiring an organist/choir accompanist. This is an 10-month interim position beginning August 1, 2020, with the possibility of renewing month-by-month or becoming a permanent position in Summer 2021. We are looking for someone with the flexibility to play various kinds of music on organ and piano, including hymns, liturgy, solo pieces, and accompanying the choir anthem. This person will play for one or two services each week, for a total of 6 to 8 services a month, and a weekly choir rehearsal on Wednesday evenings. Familiarity with church music and liturgy is preferred. For a job description contact All Saints at
office@allsaintsabq.org
, or 505-898-3932; more information at our website
AllSaintsAbq.org
.
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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
Organist
All Saints Lutheran Church - Albuquerque, NM
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
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Office of the Bishop This Week
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Bishop Jim Gonia
- RMS Campaign Meeting
- CLU Webinar Series
- 1-1 appointment
- Available by email: jgonia@rmselca.org
ELCA DIRECTOR FOR EVANGELICAL MISSION
Pastor Dana Peterson
(3/4 time)
LUTHERAN ADVOCACY MINISTRY NEW MEXICO
Kurt Rager
LUTHERAN ADVOCACY MINISTRY COLORADO
Peter Severson
ELCA REGIONAL GIFT PLANNER
Tina Kvitek
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ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP FOR CONGREGATIONAL LIFE
Pastor Sarah Moening
ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP FOR LEADERSHIP SUPPORT
Pastor Kent Mueller
(1/2 time)
ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP FOR SYNODICAL LIFE
Deacon Erin Power
- RMS Campaign Meeting
- RMS Weekly Webinar
- CLU Webinar series
- Available by email: epower@rmselca.org
ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP FOR FAITH FORMATION & CANDIDACY
Pastor Leslie O'Callaghan
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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
303-733-0750
Submissions
are due noon Monday each week's issue.
Past issues of eConnection may be found
here.
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