Enews: The new beginnings of spring; Campus Ministry and food; and more

May 9, 2023

Minneapolis Area Synod, ELCA Enews

Apply to the Second Round of Faith Practices & Neighboring Practices

There’s still time to apply! If your congregation is interested in learning practices and skills that can build authentic relationships with neighbors, connect across differences, and engage contemplative spirituality, apply to become a part of our 2023 - 2025 learning community. Our Faith Practices & Neighboring Practices team will follow up to schedule a conversation to dig into the application questions more deeply. 

If you want to learn more about Faith Practices & Neighboring Practices, check out our synod webpage. Applications to become part of the second round close on May 15, so make sure to apply soon!

Apply for FPNP

Help us recruit an Executive Assistant to the Bishop

The position description for the "Executive Assistant to the Minneapolis Area Synod Bishop" is still available. The person who fills this 25-to-28-hour-per-week position will offer logistical assistance to the bishop, oversee human resources, and work with synod governance and financial accountability. For a more in-depth view of the areas of responsibility and the expectations, read the complete job description.

New beginnings

“Spring is often associated with rebirth, the bringing of new life after the quiet of winter. Although, I can’t help but find myself continuing to think about the ending, or death, of things. My brother just finished his junior year at the University of Minnesota Duluth. He’s got one year left before he graduates with a degree in History. He’ll be the first man on my father’s side of the family to graduate from college. He arrived home on May 1. His arrival sparked a grief in me that I did not immediately understand.”

Read Maya's blog

Communicators Gathering: Is a podcast in your church's future?

Join synod communicators for the next Quarterly Communicators Gathering to discuss this question, and what it would take if your answer is 'yes.' This conversation is not just for communicators. If you are interested, please join us!

The conversation will be led by a panel including Nicholas Tangen, Rev. Natalia Terfa, and Jack Hurbanis.

Thursday, May 11

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Minnesota Church Center, 1st floor

122 W Franklin Ave, Minneapolis

So university students might 'be fed' by Lutheran Campus Ministry

"Amid COVID19’s lingering impact, leaders of Lutheran Campus Ministry – Twin Cities (LCM-TC) had to ask themselves a difficult set of questions related to their free weekly noon soup meal that they had hosted during the school year on Tuesdays for more than 15 years. While the meal had historically served 5 to 25 people each week, the numbers had seriously diminished. Would the meal that fed students, faculty, staff, and anyone else who were hungry for food and community need to end? Would LCM-TC then need to wait to see what would come next?

"In some ways, these questions are nothing new to LCM-TC. As the Rev. Kate Reuer Welton, the campus pastor of Lutheran Campus Ministry – Twin Cities, points out, the only thing that hasn’t changed in this ministry is the centrality of Word and Sacrament. She offered, 'What changes from year to year is in terms of how students live out their faith.'"

This news story is written by request by the Rev. Paul Lutter, interim pastor at Peace Lutheran Church, Plymouth.

To read about 'be fed'

Convergencia/Convergence at St. Paul-San Pablo Lutheran

Join the members of St. Paul’s-San Pablo Lutheran Church for a community celebration and the big reveal of their exterior installation of community portraits from the series on “belonging” by photojournalist John Noltner. Over the past six months, congregants have been gathering portraits from members of our community and neighbors while asking: “Tell me about a time you felt a sense of belonging?” They have compiled 54 portraits and 13 will become 12-foot-high banners that will be installed on the exterior of the building facing 28th Street.

Sunday, June 4; 12:30 – 2:00 p.m.

St. Paul’s-San Pablo Lutheran Church

There will be free pizza and s’mores from Northern Fires, live music by Alma Andina, and more! The members at St. Paul’s-San Pablo look forward to celebrating with you and others!

More information in English and Spanish

Shifting the Spotlight: Perspectives from

the Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III

Being a white ally means playing a supporting role as BIPOC people take center stage. During this historic shift, how can white Christians embrace roles where they cease to be the stars of the film but are instead cast as extras – people whose advancement of the plot is good but not essential to the future? And how can BIPOC people regain agency and become the leaders they are meant to be?

Thursday, May 25; 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Plymouth Congregational Church

1900 Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis

On the third anniversary of the murder of George Floyd, the Minnesota Council of Churches invites people of faith to an evening with music from Sounds of Blackness and a prophetic word from the Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III. Learn more and register here.

Are your youth bound for New Orleans?

Are you planning to bring a group to the ELCA Youth Gathering, MYLE, or the tAble next summer in New Orleans? Are you on the fence and want to hear more before making a decision? Are you new to ministry or have never heard of the Gathering?

Join your MAS and SPAS synod champions, John Hulden and Kelsey Young, for a zoom info session to learn about these amazing faith formation opportunities!

Thursday, May 25

2:00 p.m. or 7:00 p.m.

Zoom

Celebrate the synod's work to build a more just Minnesota

Come join as leaders and friends of the Minneapolis Area Synod’s organizing teams for a gathering to be in community and celebrate together at the close of legislative session. Be a part of the community gathered to celebrate our work on Restore the Vote, 100% Clean Energy, and more, and to continue to build our vision for what’s possible!

Saturday May 20; 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Redeemer Lutheran Church Backyard

1800 Glenwood Ave, Minneapolis

We hope you’ll join us for good food, activities for all ages, and a brief program at Noon.

Let us know you are coming

Children, Youth, Family Team

to sponsor annual

Ascension Day breakfast

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry to offer Faith and Life lecture at St. Philip the Deacon, Plymouth

Thursday, May 11; 8:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Bethlehem Lutheran

4100 Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis

The MAS/SPAS CYF Leadership Team wants to offer you a time to come together to rest and enjoy at the Ascension Day Breakfast. Come eat, connect, be supported, and worship.

Deacon David Rojas Martinez will preach, and worship music will be led by Cathy Pino. There will also be a raffle for a free registration to the 2024 ELCA Youth Ministry Extravaganza!

The cost is $10 per person and can be paid in advance or at the door by cash or check.

Any vendors wanting to host a table at the breakfast, it will be $25/table (includes table and breakfast for one person; $10 each additional breakfast).

The Faith and Life Lecture Series of St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran, Plymouth, will host The Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry on May 16. Curry will speak about "Holding onto Hope."

Tuesday, May 16; 7:00 p.m.

St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran, Plymouth

In person and online

Presiding Bishop Curry is Primate of the The Episcopal Church. He was elected to a nine-year term and installed in November 2015. He has written five books and numerous articles. In 2018, Religion News Association named Presiding Bishop Curry religion newsmaker of the year.

More information

ELCA Domestic Hunger Grants changes application process

The ELCA World Hunger program recently announced the application process for 2024 Domestic Hunger Grants. New to this year's process, the Churchwide Hunger staff request a Letter of Inquiry (LoI) by May 31 for congregations or organizations considering an application for a Domestic Hunger Grant. The LoI is a much simpler process, giving Churchwide staff the opportunity to offer feedback to applicants.

ELCA Domestic Hunger Grants are awarded to ELCA congregations or organizations, or to other nonprofits with significant connections to ELCA congrgations. These are three-year grants up to $10,000 per year. In 2023, 53 groups across the 65 synods were awarded Domestic Hunger Grants. No applicants for the Minneapolis Area Synod received grants for the 2023 award year.

For more information about Domestic Hunger Grants

LSTC holds final farewell and leave-taking of the building

Thursday, May 11

Manz Organ Farewell

Festival of Music; 4:30 p.m.

The Manz Organ takes center stage in its last performance at LSTC with hymn singing and organ music led by Dr. Keith Hampton, cantor to the seminary community. A recording of the event will be shared on social media later.

Food, Fellowship, and Guided Tours of LSTC; 5:30 p.m.

Meet in the Grand Hallway for food and conversation. There will also be guided tours of the building.

Final Augustana Chapel Service and Leave-Taking Ceremony;

7:30 p.m.

LSTC’s final worship service in the Augustana Chapel will be accessible both virtually and in person. The Rev. Dr. James Nieman, president of LSTC, preaches at this service with the Rev. Erik Christensen, pastor to the community, presiding.

To register

Book fair to highlight choice of children's books

As part of its social justice outreach, Family of Christ Lutheran Church in Chanhassen is sponsoring a Mirror and Windows Book Fair featuring three local authors of color and three independent minority-owned bookstores.

In addition to authors reading and signing their books, presentations will be offered by two of Family of Christ members. Dr. Mary Muhs, early education expert, will present on "What to look for in selecting books for children," and Sarah Rother, media specialist at Pioneer Ridge Middle School, will discuss books for kids who are sixth-graders and older.

Saturday, May 13

10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Family of Christ Lutheran

2020 Coulter Blvd, Chanhassen

More information

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota’s Benefit for Youth

Join Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS) on Tuesday, May 16, as it celebrates and supports the work of LSS Youth Services. This year’s event – Building for today. Building for the future. – will highlight the ways that LSS is meeting the immediate and long-term needs of its young neighbors through services that provide safety, stability and hope.

Tuesday, May 16; 11:30 a.m.

Quincy Hall, 1325 Quincy Street NE, Minneapolis

To register: lssmn.org/metroyouth23 or (651) 432-4731

ELCA Coaching offers Enneagram webinar for interested clergy

ELCA Coach and Pastor Mark Molter will present a brief introduction to the Enneagram and how it can promote self-understanding and empathy for this week's ELCA Coaching discussion.

Molter is a Sibling in the Order of Lutheran Franciscans. He has been ordained for about seven years and serves as pastor at St Paul's in Frostburg, Maryland. He has been a student of the Enneagram for about a decade and was recently certified through the Your Enneagram Coach Network.

Wednesday, May 10

1:00 p.m., Central Time

Zoom

This presentation is part of the weekly series on Courageous Leadership in community. The login information can be found below and on the ELCA Coaching website.

Recordings from previous online gatherings are also available.

Join the Zoom call

Groundswell: Learning from the faith, neighorboring practioners

The MAS Faith Practices & Neighboring Practices and Augsburg’s Riverside Innovation Hub have been on a parallel learning journey these past two years, and on June 3, learning communities and congregants are coming together to share in the learnings from their time with these programs. And we’d love for you to join us!

Groundswell is intended to remind us that across the church there is a movement back into the neighborhood, trusting that God is up to something and inviting us to participate. This event will be hosted at Augsburg University.

Saturday, June 3

8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Registration is open until May 17 at the link below. Leadership in both of these programs is looking forward to celebrating our time together and the Groundswell that is emerging in churches across the country.

Where is the synod staff in upcoming weeks?

Bishop Ann Svennungsen will be ordaining Deacon Stephanie Luedtke to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament (Pastor) at Pilgrim Lutheran, St. Paul, on Saturday, May 13.
Bishop Ann Svennungsen will be installing Pastor Andrea Roske-Metcalfe as Senior Pastor of Diamond Lake Lutheran, Minneapolis, on May 14.
Pastor Norma Malfatti will be preaching at Lutheran Church of the Atonement, Bloomington, on Sunday, May 14.
Pastor Norma Malfatti will be preaching at Christ Memorial Lutheran, Plymouth, on Sunday, May 21.
Bishop Ann Svennungsen will be ordaining Leif Johnson at Mount Olive Lutheran, Minneapolis, on Wednesday, March 24. Once ordained, Leif Johnson will be serving Bethany Lutheran, Howard, South Dakota.
Pastor Craig Pederson will be attending the farewell worship for Pastor Shawna Day at Minnehaha Communion Lutheran, Minneapolis, on Sunday, May 28.
Pastor Craig Pederson will be preaching and leading worship at Grace Lutheran, Bloomington, on Sunday, June 4.
Pastor Craig Pederson will be preaching and leading worship at Spirit of Christ Lutheran, St. Louis Park, on Sunday, June 4.

Upcoming Events

Courageous Leadership Webinars , Wednesdays
Ascension Day Breakfast, May 11
Communicators Gathering, May 11
What Every Nurse Needs to Know About Spiritual Care, May 11
Festival of Homiletics 2023, May 15-18
Building for Today, Building for the Future, May 16
Holding onto Hope, May 16
Synod Organizing Celebration Event, May 20
Convergencia/Convergence, June 4
Western States Youth Gathering, July 4-6
Rostered Ministers Gathering, July 17-20
The Naming Project Summer Camp for LGBTQ youth, July 23-28
Reclaim Gathering, September 14-17
Bishop's Theological Conference, September 24-26

Minneapolis Area Synod, ELCA www.mpls-synod.org