SEPTEMBER 3, 2019
Minneapolis Area Synod, ELCA Enews
Event Spotlight: God's Work. Our Hands.
Next weekend is the ELCA's scheduled time for "God's Work. Our Hands," a chance to live out our shared calling to be healers of the breach. If your congregation participates, send the synod photos. Send to John Mai.
 Accompanying Migrant Minors Protection, Advocacy, Representation, and Opportunities (AMMPARO)
Welcoming Congregations Panel
1376 Hoyt Avenue West, St. Paul
10:00 a.m.; Saturday, September 7

This panel will provide an opportunity to hear one another’s journey story, to learn how others are cultivating a spirit of hospitality and welcome that embraces diversity and difference, and to reach out to assist the needs of migrant minors in local communities. What difference can one person or congregation make in the face of such large issues? Come and find out.
Between a rock and a healing place
" Early in the 20 th century, photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson complained, “The world is going to pieces and people like [Ansel] Adams and [Edward] Weston are photographing rocks!” In a desperate retort, Adams replied that a rock was more socially significant than a line of the unemployed. Now that’s a bit far perhaps, but I think there’s something in this claim worth exploring – that rocks, in fact, have a lot to say."  
2019 Churchwide Assembly review
Are you interested in "the happenings" at the recent Churchwide Assembly in Milwaukee? Bishop Ann Svennungsen and other voting members will offer insights and answer questions.

122 West Franklin, Suite 600
Wednesday, September 11; 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Storytelling Workshop
Storytelling is sacred. Storytelling engenders empathy and understanding. Storytelling has the power to build community in divisive times. You are invited you to one, two, or all of the workshops in this series of Storytelling Workshops with master storyteller Mark Yaconelli. 

October 3-6
2730 East 31st Street, Minneapolis
Lutheran Social Service in Minnesota Center for Changing Lives Gala
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota 's 2019 Celebration for Changing Lives Gala is an opportunity to recognize the many support services offered by one of Minnesota's most significant nonprofits. Gathering together at Marriott City Center, Minneapolis, on Saturday, September 21, attendees will hear about the impact of this Lutheran agency. One in every 65 Minnesotans have a connection to LSS.

5:30 p.m., reception;
6:30 p.m., dinner and program
Saturday, September 21
Grand Portage Ballroom, 4th floor
30 South 7th Street, Minneapolis
God's Work. Our Hands.
The ELCA is guided by life in Christ to share the love of Jesus and serve the neighbor. Each congregation chooses ways to engage the community as part of "God's Work Our Hands" Sunday. This year the ELCA suggests September 8 as the common Sunday for events.
On "God's work. Our hands." Sunday, congregants join together as one church to help restore and reconcile communities in Jesus' name.
Keeping Faith: Empowering the Faith Community to Recognize and Respond to Child Abuse
This course empowers faith communities to recognize and respond to cases of sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect. Included are discussions detailing the impact of child abuse on a victim's sense of spirituality and offering concrete suggestions for working with medical and mental health professionals to assist a child in coping with maltreatment. 

8:30 a.m., Monday October 7 – 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 8
Jacob Wetterling Resource Center
2021 East Hennepin Avenue, Suite 360, Minneapolis
2019 Fall Retreat of the Evangelical Lutheran Parish Nurse Association  
"Led by Grace: I Am Who I Am"
 
Tammy Devine serves as a coach, retreat facilitator, and consultant, collaborating with thought leaders to facilitate personal and communal growth toward living and leading well. Tammy is a strategic and systemic whole-person promoter of well-being, through education and inspiration. She is a registered nurse, has a Master’s degree in leadership from Luther Seminary, is an ELCA deacon, and has completed the Grace Institute for Spiritual Formation and Coach training through Auburn Theological Seminary. Devine is ICF certified and serves as a coach for health, healing, and wholeness.
Thursday, September 26 -- Friday, September 27
Luther Crest Bible Camp
8231 County Road 11 NE, Alexandria, Minnesota
Bearing Witness
Cello Concert
Under the theme "Bearing Witness," cellist Kirsten Whitson will provide a multi-media event with live music to raise awareness of global and American injustice, with emphasis on Native/Indigenous and African-American communities. This fundraiser will support The Center for the Victims of Torture and AMMPARO , an ELCA ministry for migrant minors.

Thursday, September 12; 7:30-8:30 p.m. (reception at 6:45 p.m.)
700 Snelling Avenue South, St. Paul
Change (Almost) Everything
Rozella Haydee White and Brian McLaren will be the featured speakers at "Change (almost) Everything," a conference for those interested in building skills for leadership in the church that is becoming. Pastors, priests, deacons, lay ministers, youth directors, church administrators, children's ministry professionals, and lay leaders will all benefit from learning through inspiring lectures, practical workshops, and enriching conversation.

November 18-19
13600 Technology Drive, Eden Prairie
Ministry Imagination Grant deadline coming
The deadline for the next round of Ministry Imagination Grants is just around the corner. Congregations with an idea about a new and imaginative ministry are encouraged to submit a proposal by September 15.

Submit proposals to Pr. Craig Pederson on or before September 15

Where is the synod staff in upcoming weeks?
  • Pr. John Hulden will be installing Pr. Neal Cannon at Woodlake Lutheran, Richfield, on Saturday, September 7 and Sunday, September 8.
  • Pastor Craig Pederson will be installing Pr. Joe Orner at Peace Lutheran, Bloomington, on Sunday, September 8.
  • Bishop Ann Svennungsen will be participating in a discussion regarding a Ministry Site Profile at Shepherd of the Hills, Edina, on Tuesday, September 10.
  • Pr. Craig Pederson will be attending the farewell of Pr. Jo Bauman at Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran, Minneapolis, on Sunday, Eptember 15.
  • Pr. John Hulden will be installing Pr. Joanna Mitchell at Grace Lutheran, Andover, on Sunday, September 15.
  • Pr. John Hulden will be preaching at the Rum River Conference worship service and meeting at Lord of Life Lutheran, Ramsey, on Thursday, September 19.
  • Bishop Ann Svennungsen will be ordaining Tim Schroeder at University Lutheran Church of Hope, on Friday, September 20.
  • Pr. Craig Pederson will be installing Pr. Ryan Fletcher at Christ Memorial Lutheran, Plymouth, on Sunday, September 29.
  • Pr. John Hulden will be installing Pr. Amy Chalupnik at Trinity Lutheran, Monticello, on Sunday, September 29.
Upcoming Events
Minneapolis Area Synod, ELCA www.mpls-synod.org