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Together we proclaim and embody God's unconditional love for the sake of the world.




DECEMBER 8, 2021

A RECONCILING IN CHRIST SYNOD

VIEW THIS EMAIL IN YOUR BROWSER

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2022 Theological Conference to be in Park City, Utah!

September 19-22, 2022


Save the date for the 2022 Theological Conference which will take place in Park City, Utah, for the first time ever! We will be gathering at the Doubletree Hotel. This annual gathering is for pastors, deacons, and other church leaders.


Begins Monday, September 19, at 4 p.m.

Concludes Thursday, September 22, at 11 a.m.


Watch for details as they are available. Questions? Contact Deacon Sarah Bjornebo.

reviewing 2021, anticipating 2022

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TOGETHER IN 2021

the stories we are telling


We are telling stories of faithful, resilient, and courageous leaders.

We are telling stories of adaptability.

We are telling stories of recalibration.

We are telling stories of incredible generosity.

We are telling stories of Church Becoming.


As we are Christ's Church, Better Together, we are taking a look at our life together and reminding you of all the ways that we are connected together as the Rocky Mountain Synod. Download and read this end-of-the year recap brochure.

2022 Fiscal Plan Preview

View our new comprehensive pie charts


The Synod Council has adopted a preliminary fiscal plan for 2022. Our treasurer, Kris Adams, our financial manager, Jon Johnson, Kent Mueller, assistant to the bishop, and Tina Kvitek, development director, have all been working to develop a comprehensive snapshot of our financial life together.


For the first time, a new pie-chart details all of our sources of income, along with a pie chart that details all of our uses of those resources. We trust that you will find these new resources insightful.


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RMS & ELCA news and events

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Messiah Mountain Retreat Center:

Lodge ceiling demolition kicks off renovations


Because of generous gifts given to our Next Faithful Step Campaign we are able to begin renovations to the Messiah Mountain Retreat Center lodge in the new year! The first project is to remove old ceiling tiles from the kitchen and to demolish the drop ceiling in the fireplace gathering area. Demo Day will be Saturday January 22, 2022, at 9 a.m.


We invite your volunteer help to accomplish this project! We will next be installing a more attractive ceiling in the gathering area, painting cupboards in the kitchen, painting walls, installing a new floor, and more.


Messiah Mountain Retreat Center is a gift given from Messiah Community Church, ELCA. The retreat center is in Indian Hills, CO, just west of metro Denver. Learn more about Messiah Mountain.


If you would enjoy some light duty demolition, please contact Pastor Kent Mueller.


MESSIAH MOUNTAIN RETREAT CENTER LOCATION:

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2022 Synod Assembly in El Paso, TX

April 28-30, 2022


vaccines required to attend


Begin planning now for the 2022 Rocky Mountain Synod Assembly which will take place in El Paso, TX.


Begins Thursday, April 28 at 4 p.m.

Concludes Saturday, April 30 at 11 a.m.


The assembly will feature all-day immersion experiences on Friday, April 29. Those who will be traveling into Mexico must have a valid passport. Check your passport expiration date, and start that process ASAP if you need an update.


Registration cost per person for voting members will be $300 which covers meals/breaks and all program costs. Hotel in El Paso will be $129 per night. Questions? Contact Deacon Sarah Bjornebo.

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Veteran Servant Corps Project

Calendar of Events


April 22-24, 2022 – VSCP first Veterans Couples retreat at Rainbow Trail Lutheran camp. This retreat is free for any/all Veteran couples. Interested in participating? Contact Vicky Daub.


Share the new Veterans Servant Corps Project brochure! Get it here.

Have Veterans events at your church/community that you would like to publicize; want Vicky or another VSCP board member to visit your church/community? Contact Vicky Daub at director@veteranservantcorps.org.

Visit the VSCP web page
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Excellence in Leadership Launches a Podcast


As the needs of our communities and churches change and adapt, so too does the Excellence in Leadership initiative. We are seeking to provide resources and opportunities to you which meet you where you are at this moment. In light of this, we have created a topical podcast which addresses a variety of topics relevant to the current climate in our congregations and world.


There are currently two podcasts available on “Resiliency” and “Leadership." They can both be found on Spotify under Excellence in Leadership. Look for more podcasts coming soon!

Excellence in Leadership website

for your bulletin

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Third Sunday in Advent

December 12, 2021


Prayer of the Day

Stir up the wills of your faithful people, Lord God, and open our ears to the preaching of John, that, rejoicing in your salvation, we may bring forth the fruits of repentance; 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

12 - 18 December : Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam

Intercessions and Prayers


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.

ELCA Prayer Ventures

RMS Prayer Cycle

December 2021

UTAH CONFERENCE

Week of December 12


Mount Tabor Lutheran Church

Salt Lake City, UT

Rev. David Nichols

Rev. Dana Lee Simon

 

Our Saviour's Evangelical Lutheran Church

Holladay, UT

Rev. Brigette Weier

 

Prince Of Peace Lutheran Church

Logan, UT

Rev. Emily Kuenker



ORDINATIONS


Courtney Alvarado

Hebron Lutheran Church

Madisonville, VA

Saturday, December 11, 10amEST/8amMST

Color of the Day: Red

Courtney is called to serve as an Army Chaplain

Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/99434620009

Meeting ID: 99434620009

Password: 1717


Joshua Krentz

Christ Lutheran Church

Santa Fe, NM

Friday, December 17, 4:30pm

Color of the Day: Red

Joshua is called to serve Shepherd Lutheran Church in Conneaut, OH

Monthly Prayer Cycle

around the synod

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ONLINE EVENT

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE: Advocate for Mental Health

Colorado Representative Judy Amabile

December 9, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.


Decades ago, our society shifted away from treating serious mental illness and instead criminalized it. This was a mistake, and the repercussions of untreated mental illness have reached crisis levels across our communities. Our jails and streets are filled with people suffering from substance use disorders and high acuity mental illnesses. None of this will fixed by more policing and incarceration.


There is hope. With the right treatment and a comprehensive approach, people can and do recover from serious mental illnesses. It’s time for our society to shift back to a proven,evidence-based care model. You can make a difference by understanding what’s needed, and advocating for change. Join Representative Judy Amabile and a panel of change leaders to learn more and discuss the way forward.

Register for Zoom webinar
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ADVENT, WESTMINSTER, CO

Old Time Radio Christmas Plays

Sunday, December 12, 1:00 p.m.


The Advent Radio Players will be presenting A Fibber McGee and Molly Comedy, "Fibber Paints a Christmas Tree White" and A Dragnet Drama, "The Big Little Jesus." Each play will be performed using the original scripts and sounds just as they were broadcast on the air in 1945 and 1953 using several microphones and including lighted applause and on the air signs.


These fabulous plays will be performed live at Advent Lutheran Church, 7979 Meade St, Westminster, CO 80030.

Online Facebook Stream

CAÑON CITY, CO

Shepherd of the Hills Choir Christmas Concert with Royal Gorge Philharmonic

Saturday, December 18 at 3:00 p.m.


Shepherd of the Hills in Cañon City, CO will be performing with the Royal Gorge Philharmonic for a Christmas concert at the Steeple Event Center, 701 Macon Ave., Canon City.


Shepherd of the Hills' choir director, Gerald Willis wrote and will be conducting the Oratorio. Help was provided with a grant from the Music Performance Trust Fund in New York.

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our life together

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ONLINE EVENT

Intentional Gift Giving

Wednesdays in Advent at noon


After a year of service, Urban Servant Corps alumni journey into their next faithful step in becoming community leaders, teachers, pastors, parents, authors, yoga instructors and more!


December 1 - Ellie Roscher

Ellie is the author of 12 Tiny Things, Play Like a Girl and How Coffee Saved My Life. Her writing also appears in the Baltimore Review, Inscape Magazine, Bookology Magazine, Church Anew and elsewhere. Ellie hosts the Unlikely Conversations podcast, teaches yoga at Up Yoga and teaches writing at The Loft Literary Center and the Minnesota Writing Project. Ellie holds an MFA in Writing from Sarah Lawrence College and an MA in Theology from Luther Seminary. She lives in Minneapolis with her spouse and sons. Follow her at @ellieroscher and find out more at ellieroscher.com.



Click here for a video greeting from Ellie!


Click for Zoom

Meeting ID: 860 2866 5432

Passcode: 654714


December 15—Rachel Bass Guennewig, Daily Bread Yoga — All Together Now

December 22—USC volunteers and their service sites

resource center

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The Journal of Lutheran Ethics:

2020-2021, A Retrospective


As the secular year draws to a close and the new church year opens into the season of Advent it seems a fitting moment to take a pause and to reflect on the turbulent last two years. This issue of JLE, therefore, is not introducing a new topic but is instead drawing together some of the articles previously published on three issues that loom large this December: Climate Change, COVID 19, and Possibilities for Dialogue. Read more.

In addition, check out our new 2022 Call for Papers here.

Read the current issue
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Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Sunday Worship Resource


This year, Made in God's Image: God's Boundless Diversity is the theme for RIC Sunday 2022. This worship resource is centered in the spirit of youth and the voices of our young people, centered on and created for LGBTQIA+ and ally youth!

RIC Resource Download

office of the bishop this week

Bishop Jim Gonia

  • Region 2 Consultation Zoom
  • Regional Mobility Conference
  • Ordination of Courtney Alvarado, Madison, VA 


ELCA DIRECTOR FOR EVANGELICAL MISSION

Pastor Dana Peterson

  • Cristo Rey, Denver
  • Border/NNM text study


LUTHERAN ADVOCACY MINISTRY NEW MEXICO

Kurt Rager

  • NM Fair Lending Coalition
  • NM Medicaid Coalition
  • NM Ethics Coalition
  • NM Fairness Project

LUTHERAN ADVOCACY MINISTRY COLORADO

Peter Severson

  • TANF Coalition
  • Lutheran Family Services board meeting


DIRECTOR FOR CONGREGATIONAL TRANSITION

Pastor Sarah Moening

  • Excellence in Leadership Admin
  • Transitions Work


ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP FOR ADMIN & COMMUNICATION

Pastor Kent Mueller

  • RMS Campaign
  • Administration & Communication


DIRECTOR FOR DEVELOPMENT/LUTHERAN CENTER

Tina Kvitek

  • 3E Stewardship Strategy Meeting
  • RMS Donor Meetings
  • Excellence in Leadership Innovations
  • Wyoming Conference Meeting
  • ELCA World Hunger
Staff Contact Information

employment opportunities

Office Coordinator (shared, part-time)

Epiphany Lutheran Church - Denver, CO

and Messiah Community Church


Staff Chaplain

Denver Health - Denver, CO


Youth Director (part-time)

Trinity Lutheran Church - Boulder, CO

Director of Music Ministries

Messiah Community Church - Denver, CO


Minister of Music

Saint Peter Lutheran Church - Greenwood Village, CO


Music Director

Epiphany Lutheran Church - Denver, CO

View RMS Employment Opportunities

quick links

Submit eConnection article or job ad


Subscribe to eConnection


Find a Congregation


Rocky Mountain Synod Website

Congregations in Transition


Excellence in Leadership


Better Together Campaign


Give a contribution

Kent Mueller, Assistant to the Bishop for Administration and Communication

Andrew Nakatani, Communications Assistant


Contact Andrew Nakatani or Kent Mueller with questions and comments about eConnection and our website! Submit eConnection items here.


Rocky Mountain Synod

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

800-525-0462 / 303-777-6700 / fax 303-733-0750

rmselca.org

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