April 8, 2020
A Reconciling in Christ synod
A Holy Week Message from Bishop Gonia
Bishop Gonia issues pastoral letter on Holy Communion in a digital age
Beloved in Christ,

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic there has been conversation across our church and in our synod about how congregations and communities of faith would address the practice of Holy Communion when in-person gatherings were no longer safe. We have reached that point. At this time, no one knows how long the recommendation to remain apart will last; my advice to pastors and deacons has been to prepare for the long haul, knowing that we can adjust quickly if the “all clear” sign is given earlier than anticipated…


eConnection Spotlight:
RMS in the Neighborhood
Palm Sunday procession at Bethlehem Evangelical in Los Alamos, NM!
Read this article and enjoy the many photos from this article the Los Alamos Daily Post about Bethlehem Evangelical's creative pandemic-friendly Palm Sunday Procession!
Stations Of the Cross at Our Savior's in Greeley, CO!
...from Ashley Mertz at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Greeley, CO.

Hello All! Before too many restrictions were put in place, the kids and I made a trip through the Stations at church and we wanted to share it with you. The kids worked SO hard on it that I hope they know at least two little kids are more in love with Christ because of it. Thank you!

Click here and enjoy their video!
Feeding the Community at New Hope in El Paso, TX!
New Hope is an El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank (EPFH) site through Katie's pantry. Tuesday, last week we handed out 499 boxes with help from several walk-in volunteers. Volunteers are essential to be able to accomplish the amount of work. They believe they could have done more, but the police told people they could not wait on the streets. Yep, that's streets. The line went all the way around the block and had to double back on itself. On Monday we passed out 536 boxes. (In these photos we are working out of the worship center because it is the largest space we have while we're not using it for it's intended purpose :-)
RMS & ELCA News and Events
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the ELCA churchwide organization is here to support our members, congregations, synods and partners. Call 1-800-638-3522 and press #4 or email HereToServe@ELCA.org for prayer, support and to ask your questions.
#ELCAChurchTogether #COVID19
Churches are eligible for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
The ELCA legal team has compiled a basic document of information about the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The application window opens April 3, 2020, and will stay open until at least June 30, but because the pool of money is limited and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, applicants should start soon.


COVID-19 worship and legal resources from the ELCA
 
The ELCA has posted guidance on the ELCA website regarding the recent developments in relief resources from the federal government. They will be updating the documents as they gather more information. Worship resources are also posted.
 
Resources are posted at https://www.elca.org/publichealth under the “What is the ELCA Doing?” title partway down the page.


Cleaning and disinfecting information from CDC
 
If a staff member or someone in your congregation has been at the church and then tests positively for COVID-19, What do you do? The CDC has provided guidance for cleaning and disinfecting community facilities.


Mission Investment Fund and ELCA Federal Credit Union are offering special assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic

The Mission Investment Fund is providing no-penalty access to term deposits for customers who need emergency access to their funds at this time. For congregations and other ministries that need assistance with loans, MIF can offer such relief as Deferral of loan payments, Interest-only loan payments, Loan modifications, Lines of credit, and New emergency loans.

To learn how MIF can help, call 877-886-3522, Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (CDT) or reach MIF via email at mif.customerservice@elca.org or mif.loans@elca.org.

The ELCA Federal Credit Union is providing similar assistance.  For members of the Credit Union who need emergency access to their funds at this time, the Credit Union is providing no-penalty access to certificates of deposit . For individuals, congregations and other ministries needing assistance with loans, and more!

To discuss assistance from the ELCA Federal Credit Union, call 877-715-1111 or send an email to info@elcacu.org.

from Lutheran Disaster Response - Church in a Time of Crisis
People all around the world have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which now has over 1 million recorded cases globally. It has impacted our daily lives and how we go about our days. Schools, businesses, restaurants, and even churches are having to change how they operate in order to avoid crowds of people. The ELCA’s global companion churches are among those taking steps to raise awareness about the pandemic and adopting new practices in order to continue their missions while staying safe and practicing physical distancing. This just goes to show that it will take global unity to slow the spread of the virus. We must come together, although not physically, and each do our part to protect ourselves and those around us.

We have collected stories from around the globe to show how the ELCA’s companions and partners are handling the COVID-19 pandemic.

View the presentation here. Use your mouse to explore the world, rather than the arrow buttons at the bottom of the presentation.
Excellence in Leadership - Fall Registration Opens Soon!
“It’s not easy to be the church today. What worked in the past no longer works. Ministry leaders feel ill-equipped to navigate the ever-changing landscape of being the church.” This is the beginning of one of the paragraphs in our Excellence in Leadership brochure. How much more are these words the truth we are living into right now? Almost everything we were doing as ministry leaders has been turned on its head and many of us are leading into the unknown as we “shelter in place”. Excellence in Leadership is a program for times like this.

In times like this, stressful and anxious, humans and systems have a tendency to revert to their status quo. They seek stasis and hunker down into what they know. Often this causes more anxiety and stress. Excellence in Leadership has five foci (Adaptive Leadership, Vulnerability, Systems Theory, TheoryU, and Emotional Intelligence) grounded in spiritual practices that can assist with approaching life and leadership in a more whole-hearted way. Current students have commented on how even the first few sessions have assisted them in facing the challenges of today.

If this sounds like something in which you or your ministry partners are interested, you can read more at https://www.rmselca.org/leaders/excellence-in-leadership


Registration will open soon for the next cohort beginning in September 2020. We hope to see you at one of the sites this fall!
April Update from Portico Benefit Services
People of God, these are interesting times to be in ministry. As you master many new skills and carry concerns about your people, your church’s finances, and your own family, please know that Portico is here to walk with you.

 Portico plan members, sign in to myPortico for these timely resources: 

A new hub on myPortico details financial and health resources specifically related to COVID-19, including:

  • updates on how the CARES Act can provide financial relief for congregations
  • telemedicine and emotional health support options for ELCA-Primary and ELCA Medicare-Primary plan members
  • answers about managing or adjusting flexible spending accounts
  • financial resources from the ELCA Retirement Plan Recordkeeping Services Provider, Fidelity
 
This 16-minute video (filmed March 26) offers:

  • perspective on the investment markets and how we navigate volatility
  • ways to remain emotionally grounded as retirement account balances fluctuate
  • resources Portico offers to help you through these uncertain times

Unfortunately, due to the evolving impact of COVID-19, we have made the decision to suspend our in-person educational events, including the Planning for Retirement Seminars in Oregon on June 18 and in California on July 30. Videos of past webinars are available on myPortico , or ELCA Retirement Plan members are encouraged to call a Portico Financial Planner at 800-922-4896 .
 
Need to talk with your personal Regional Representative? Andrea Arey can be reached at 949-338--9573 or aarey@porticobenefits.org
Weekly Conversation for Ministry Leaders
Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m
This will be a weekly conversation, with a new topic each week.
Meeting ID: 917 853 401
Phone +1 669 900 6833 US




Wednesday, April 8, 3:30 p.m.
Council & Congregational Leadership.
Join Bishop Gonia and members of the Synod Council Executive Committee for conversation, space to ask questions, and share ideas of how you are connecting with your congregation and community.

Wednesday April 15, 3:30p.m.
Our long-term response as a public church.
Knowing there will be long-term economic effects of this global pandemic, what shifts in our ministries may need to take place to serve God' people in our world? What direct service and advocacy work could we be invited into?
For Your Bulletin
RMS Prayer Cycle

APRIL 2020
WYOMING CONFERENCE

- Week of April 12 -

Good Shepherd - Casper, WY


St. Paul’s - Cheyenne, WY
Alison George

Grace - Casper, WY
Teri Hermsmeyer (Interim)

Trinity - Laramie, WY
Nathan Keith
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, April 12
Resurrection of Our Lord
Easter Day

Prayer of the Day

God of mercy, we no longer look for Jesus among the dead, for he is alive and has become the Lord of life. Increase in our minds and hearts the risen life we share with Christ, and help us to grow as your people toward the fullness of eternal life with you, 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 April : Belarus, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine - Intercessions and Prayers
Our Life Together
Journal of Lutheran Ethics Issue April/May 2020: Lutheran Theology and the Relationship between Church and State
From the April/May issue of Journal of Lutheran Ethics:

If it is true that many people consider it impolite to talk publicly about religion or politics, then perhaps no topic is going to be more improper to discuss than the topic of the proper relationship of church and state. Yet, both articles in this issue all call Lutherans to talk publicly about their religion, about their political views, and about how the two intersect.
-Jennifer Hockenbery Dragseth, Editor

A Guide for Christian Funerals during COVID19
For Christians, gathering to mourn the dead, celebrate their life, and proclaim the hope of Resurrection are essential practices of our faith. During the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID19 outbreak, our usual mourning rituals have been interrupted. We think of the women on that first Easter, who went to follow their familiar mourning ritual to anoint Jesus’s body, to find it disrupted. We remember their initial shock and confusion and feel this, too. We’re waiting to feel the hope of Resurrection. In times of trial like the death of a loved one, we turn to the familiar practices from our faith and ancestors. And so, we know that this disruption for a grieving community is doubly hard. We grieve this disruption with you.

Resource Corner
check back each week for a new or featured resource for your congregation
Get free copies of Gather for your congregation or ministry
With the challenges presented by the spread of COVID-19, Gather recognizes that meeting together for Bible study and fellowship can be difficult right now.
During this time, Gather is making both the March and April issues available (PDF) for free download to both subscribers and non-subscribers who join its free, e-newsletter mailing list.
How to live stream to YouTube tutorial
Thanks to Laura Romig from Bethany in Denver for these instructions on how to do your own livestream from YouTube and she has also kindly offered to answer your questions, drop here a line at Laura@bethany-denver.org.

Employment Opportunities
New Listings 
Director of Choirs (part-time)
Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church - Los Alamos, NM
Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church in Los Alamos, NM is seeking a director of choirs. We are a faith community of shared leadership, called to live in love with God, each other, and the whole creation.
This is a part time position of approximately 14 hours per week, with more time required during the seasons of Lent and Advent. A job description is available here. For more information, please visit www.bethluth.com or email office@bethluth.com, or call 505-662-5151.
Facilities Manager
Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church - Lakewood, CO
Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church is hiring a Property Manager for our facility. Skills needed: Basic handyman, good communicator, able to create a facilities management manual, works well with volunteers and church staff. Pay: $30/hr, 20-30 hours per month. Please go to here to see the full job description and to print an application. Application deadline is Sunday, April 8.
Non-Rostered Listings 
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

Bookkeeper (part-time)
Christ Lutheran Church - Highlands Ranch, CO
Office of the Bishop This Week
  Bishop Jim Gonia
  • North Colorado Conference check-in
  • Campaign Steering Team
  • Weekly Webinar
  • Available by email: jgonia@rmselca.org

ELCA DIRECTOR FOR EVANGELICAL MISSION
Pastor Dana Peterson (3/4 time)
  • Utah Conference meeting
  • Wyoming Conference meeting
  • Metro South Conference check-in
  • Available by email: dpeterson@rmselca.org

LUTHERAN ADVOCACY MINISTRY NEW MEXICO
Kurt Rager

LUTHERAN ADVOCACY MINISTRY COLORADO
Peter Severson

ELCA REGIONAL GIFT PLANNER
Tina Kvitek
ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP FOR CONGREGATIONAL LIFE
Pastor Sarah Moening
  • Metro West Mountain Conference check-in
  • Congregation Transition
  • Available by email: smoening@rmselca.org

ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP FOR LEADERSHIP SUPPORT
Pastor Kent Mueller (1/2 time)
  • Campaign Steering Team
  • Metro West Metro Conference check-in
  • Available by email: kmueller@rmselca.org

ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP FOR SYNODICAL LIFE
Deacon Erin Power
  • Wednesday Weekly Webinar
  • RMS Communications
  • Assembly Planning
  • Available by email: epower@rmselca.org

ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP FOR FAITH FORMATION & CANDIDACY
Pastor Leslie O'Callaghan
  • Boulder-Broomfield Conference check-in
  • Faith Formation weekly check-in
  • SE Colorado Conference check-in
  • Available by email: locallaghan@rmselca.org
Quick Links
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Erin Power ,   Assistant to the Bishop
Feel free to contact Andrew Nakatan i , Communications Assistant, with your questions and comments about eConnection and our website!

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Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
800-525-0462 / 303-777-6700 / fax  303-733-0750

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