A Message From Bishop Eaton
in Response to DACA Ruling
“I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Matthew 25:35).
Dear church,
Jesus taught us that when we welcome the stranger as a person made in God’s image, we also welcome God. Our lives, ministries and congregations have been blessed by many immigrants and refugees over the years — from many of our ancestors to those we welcome among us today......
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ELCA Youth Leadership Summit Nominations
The ELCA Youth Leadership Summit is November 4-7, 2021 in Minneapolis, MN. The South-Central Synod of Wisconsin will be sending along two young adults (9-12th grade) who will be challenged to take home what they learn, inspire others to action and teach others what they learned in their own synods and youth groups.
The Youth Leadership Summit is a ministry of the ELCA and partners with the Christian Community and Leadership Home Area, the SYMBOL network, the ELCA Youth Gathering, 65 Synods across the United States, ELCA Disability Ministries and ELCA Ethnic Specific Ministries. All lodging, most meals, and programming are provided by a gracious grant from the ELCA. Your synod’s responsibility is to provide the flights/transportation for the two youth and one adult attending from your synod, one meal while youth and their adults explore the city, and any incidentals they might incur during their travels.
Is there a student in your congregation that comes to mind? Nominate them today with the form below. Submissions are due no later than August 29th, 2021.
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*PLEASE NOTE: The change in time of the graduation ceremony.
It is at 2:00pm.
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LUAD - Lutherans United Assisting After Disaster
With the recent storms that have come through our counties, please let LUAD know if there are any needs in your communities that they could assist in.
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Planned Gifts and Your Annual Fund
Presented by the ELCA Foundation
When: Thursday, Aug. 12 | 12 p.m. Central time
Where: Zoom webinar
Registration Closes August 10, 2021
This webinar will explore donor data and stories that demonstrate how legacy giving has been shown to increase annual giving to an organization. Join us to learn more about why you should promote your annual fund alongside legacy giving and how you can invite your annual donors to consider a legacy gift for your congregation or organization.
The ELCA Foundation is here to help you create your legacy and ensure the continuation of God’s work in the world — for years and years to come. We can partner with you, your congregation, your synod or another ELCA-related organization as you explore the variety of possibilities for giving with generosity and planning. We provide expertise — as well as resources, financial education and investment and endowment management services — to help you joyfully answer the call to love and serve our neighbor.
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Voting member information is due from congregations by August 15th.
Please email donnam@scsw-elca.org at the Synod office listing the names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses for each 2020 lay voting member from your congregation. We do not need any voting member information from 2021 since we did not hold a Synod Assembly in 2021.
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We are excited to announce a new Facebook page in addition to our South-Central Synod of Wisconsin ELCA page.
The new page is SCSW - Care, Connect, Equip. This page will be for churches within the synod to share their events, ask questions and communicate with other churches. Please use the link below to join! If your church does not have a Facebook page and you would like your event to be posted please contact me at stephanieb@scsw-elca.org and I would be happy to post it for you!
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Lifelines - A NEW Online Bible Study for Small Men's Groups
Inspired by the Men’s Courses in the Master Builders Bible for Men
A resource for your men's group!
Find the just released Lifelines series, Faithful Man
Future Lifelines Series Release Dates:
Challenged Man September 4
Working Man October 16
Growing Man November 27
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Remember the Children
Please click below to read the letter from the American Indian Alaska Native Association about the horrific discoveries of mass graves for indigenous children at Canadian
Residential Schools.
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Congregations Lead Initiative
The world continues to change and grow more complex. What does this mean for ministry, today and into the future? The Congregations Lead Initiative is a new, two-year program that will gather a cohort of 50 congregations from across the ELCA to unleash and harness their collective genius and discover new and useful ministry innovations. If you’re excited about more new, young, diverse people knowing a life in Christ, then your congregation might be a great candidate to apply for this initiative. The cohort application is open until August 15.
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Church Anew a ministry of St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Eden Prairie, MN is hosting a virtual theological conference August 26th called Enfleshing Witness and may be of interest for those ministering to diverse communities.
The event is free to attend virtually and we invite support from congregations and institutions to form in-person viewing gatherings for conversation and creative response. Institutional supporters will receive bonus material and a discussion guide for facilitating conversation following the gathering.
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Consultation Committee
- Rev. Peter Heide, Interim Pastor of United in Christ (Morrisonville, WI)
- Rev. Karen Hofstad, St. Paul (Baraboo, WI)
- Pastor Terri Jo Skildum and Members of Trinity (Arkdale, WI)
- Pastor David Nelsestuen and Members of Trinity (Edgerton, WI)
- Bishop Jon V. Anderson the Staff and the congregation of the Southwestern Minnesota Synod
Churchwide Officers:
- Presiding Bishop: Elizabeth A Eaton
- Treasurer: Lori S. Fedyk
We give thanks at this time for the ministry of those who celebrate their anniversary of ordination during this coming week:
- Tina Koenig Ray, August 6,1989, Pastor at Agrace Hospice and Palliative Care, Fitchburg, WI
- Larry Sexe, August 6, 1978, Retired Pastor living in Deerfield, WI
- Ronald Nybroten, August 7, 1966, Retired Pastor living in Oregon, WI
- Martha Nack, August 7, 1988, Retired Pastor living in Madison, WI
- Cindy Crane, August 7, 1988, Lutheran Office for Public Policy, Madison, WI
- Kathryn Kieckhafer, August 8, 2020, Pastor at Grace Lutheran, Darlington, WI
- Jeffrey Miller, August 8, 1976, Retired Pastor living Cross Plains, WI
- Nicole Espe, August 10. 2008, Pastor at Primrose Lutheran in Belleville, WI
May these leaders continue to be blessed for service!
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Congregations In Transition |
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As always we would love for you to continue to share your news. If you have something you would like considered for publication in What Matters, send it to us via email to Stephanie Bill, Communications Manager at stephanieb@scsw-elca.org. The deadline for consideration of inclusion in the current weeks e-newsletter is 12:00 p.m. (CT) on Wednesday.
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