December 7, 2021
Minneapolis Area Synod, ELCA Enews
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Good Gifts to share globally |
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"It's the most wonderful time of the year" to make a real difference in people's lives. The ELCA Good Gifts Catalog gives you the opportunity to share your commitment to justice, as well as your abundance, with communities that are sliving on the margins. You choose the gift you'd like to share with a community and experience making a real difference in the communal life. You can share a goat, bees, a cookstove, or more. Check out the Good Gifts Catalog (and you might even still be able to send a card)! |
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The NLC's 36th Annual Christmas Festival |
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Turning the World Upside Down:
The Magnifcat
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Join the National Lutheran Choir in person or online for this holiday season's offering "The Earth Adorned," which is the group's 36th annual Christmas Festival!
During "The Earth Adorned," attendees will view the birth of Christ alongside the beauty of this world through works for choir and instruments, including Aaron David Miller’s "Chanticleer," Paul John Rudoi’s "Orbit Carol," and the "Creation Suite" by Dr. Larry Fleming. The Earth Adorned will include community singing of carols, recitations of poetry, and more echoing through the Basilica of Saint Mary.
In person concerts will be held at the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis
Friday, December 10
4:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 11
8:00 p.m.
The concert can also be streamed online:
Friday, December 10
8:00 p.m.
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Five hundred years ago, Martin Luther published his “Commentary on the Magnificat” (or Mary’s Song) from Luke 1:46-55. This text was sung or read at every evening prayer for more than a thousand years. It also is a primary reading for worship in the season of Advent.
The ELCA Wittenberg Center invites is offering a three-part webinar entitled “The Magnificat: Turning the World Upside Down.” This webinar series is a collaborative effort across the Service and Justice unit of the ELCA led by the Europe Desk through the ELCA Wittenberg Center. Each of the featured speakers will bring a unique perspective to both the biblical text and Luther’s commentary.
Wednesday, December 15
“My Soul Magnifies the Lord: The Gift of Mary’s Voice”
Rev. Dr. Wanda Deifelt (Luther College) and Rev. Heidi Neumark (Trinity Lutheran, Manhattan) will explore the biblical text from Luke, as well as its interpretation and use over the centuries.
Thursday, December 16
“Brought Down the Mighty from Their Thrones: The Strength of Mary’s Voice”
Rev. Dr. Mary Lowe (Augsburg University) and Rev. Angela Trejos Hagger (Lutheran Augsburg Seminary in Mexico) will explore Luther’s Commentary on the Magnificat and the response with the church to Mary’s song.
Friday December 17
“From Generation to Generation: The Future of Mary’s Voice”
Rev. Dr. Guy Erwin (United Lutheran Seminary) and Rev. Dr. Mercedes Garcia Bachman (Institute for Contextual Pastoral Studies of the Evangelical United Lutheran Church in Argentina and Uruguay) will explore the implication of the texts for the future of humanity and all creation.
All sessions will be held from Noon to 1:00 p.m., Central Time.
Register by December 10. A free copy of the Commentary on the Magnificat, courtesy of Fortress Press, will be sent to you.
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LSS Metro Homeless Youth Services invites you to assist in brightening the lives of youth and children by participating in its annual Youth Holiday Gifts program. Individuals, families, and church groups may participate to bring hope and community connection!
Complete the sign-up form by November 20 to indicate how many youth you wish to support. You will receive your youth wish list(s) with labeling and drop-off instructions. Then shop for the gifts on the list(s), spending $75-$100 per youth or child. Gifts (clearly labeled and unwrapped) must be dropped off by Decrmber 10. Opportunities are also available to provide fill-in gifts for youth who enter programs after wish lists are sent.
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Discerning a Call to Public Ministry |
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Be a servant companion at ELCA Youth Gathering |
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During God calls everyone to do God's work in the world. How is God calling you? Explore that quesiton in a series of Zoom conversations.
Session One: "Public Ministry in the ELCA"
Learn about discernment resoucres.
Thursday, January 20; 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Session Two: "How Do I Get There?"
Learn about the ELCA candidacy process and hear from seminary partners about various programs.
Thursday, January 27; 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Attending both sessions is enouraged, but you are welcome to attend just one.
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Young adults (19-30 at the time of the ELCA Youth Gathering) are now encouraged to apply to serve as a Servant Companion for the 2022 Gathering! Servant Companions will accompany congregational groups as they encounter and serve the people of Minneapolis during their Service Learning day.
Applicants should be comfortable leading a group, thinking on their feet, and speaking about their faith. Applications are open until January 22, 2022.
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Support our companion synod's dream to start a university
UPDATE: We are more than halfway to the goal!
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As Bishop Ann announced in her blog titled "In the legacy of Luther," the Minneapolis Area Synod is taking an audacious step by raising half-a-million dollars to bring to fruition the dream of a Lutheran University in Nigeria. This institution has been a dream of the leadership of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (with 2.5-million members). The Minneapolis Area Synod (MAS) is the LCCN's only companion synod.
MAS staff has produced resources for congregations and individuals to use as they prayerfully consider this synod-wide effort to raise $500,000 by December 31, and as of today we have raised $263,000. (The Nigerian government wisely requires that sum to be in a bank account before granting approval of a new university, simply to prove viability over the long haul.)
You can help in a variety of ways:
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Read the case statement for a Lutheran university and the commitment of the LCCN to bring it into being.
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Check the synod's web page for resources, including a video about the effort by our synod to raise $500,000 with and for our companion synod (more information below).
- Consider your capacity to make a special thank offering for Archbishop Musa Filibus and the leadership of the LCCN and the university.
- Give in these ways:
- Text "LUN" to 44-321
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Visit the website for online donation options
- Send a check to the synod office:
- 122 West Franklin Avenue, Suite 600, Minneapolis, MN 55404
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- Pray for the fundraising effort and for the leadership of the Lutheran University Nigeria, including Archbishop Musa Filibus, who is also the President of Lutheran World Federation.
Thank you for any and all support you are able to offer in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to support the building of a university in our companion synod.
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Learn more by watching a five minute video |
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Archbishop Musa Filibus, Bishop Ann Svennungsen, Dr. Paul Pribbenow, and Rev. Mark Hanson came together to express their excitement for the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria's plan for a Lutheran University in North East Nigeria.
Take 5 minutes to listen to them talk about their dreams and visions for this audacious endeavor. You just might be inspired enough to support the effort.
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The Lutheran Volunteer Corps (LVC) is now accepting applications for both new placement sites and volunteers!
LVC is a voluntary year of service for individuals 21+. Program members live in intentional communities with each other for the year while volunteering full-time at a nonprofit organization.
Nonprofit applications have a priority deadline of December 15, 2021, with an extended final deadline no later than February 1, 2022. For more information about becoming a place check out the Placement page on the LVC website.
Volunteer applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with the first round of application review on February 15, 2022. If you know someone interested in taking a year to explore intentional community building, peace-building, community organizing, and spirituality, send them to the Volunteer page on the LVC website to learn more about the application process.
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Applications to become a Young Adult in Global Mission (YAGM) for the coming service year are now open!
YAGM is a one-year, international service-learning and faith-formation opportunity in churches and social service ministries for young adults who are ages 21-29.
Young adults serve alongside Lutheran companion church bodies and organizations in one of ten country programs around the world, being shaped by the witness of our global neighbors in a cross-cultural journey of faith.
For the 2022-2023 service year, country programs are projected to be Argentina/Uruguay, Cambodia, Central Europe, Jerusalem/West Bank, Madagascar, Mexico, Rwanda, Senegal, and the United Kingdom.
There is a priority deadline on January 15, 2022, with a final deadline on February 1, 2022. No further applications will be received after this day.
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Handel's The Messiah available in three options for holiday enjoyment, thanks to the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
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The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra hopes to fill your holidays with good cheer by sharing George Frideric Handel's The Messiah with the Twin Cities community. There will be three ways to watch this performance, which will include The Singers vocal ensemble, an all-star roster of vocal soloists, and conductor Jeanette Sorrell.
Concert Library Encore Broadcast
Saturday, December 4; 8:00 p.m.
Twin Cities PBS Television Broadcast
Saturday, December 25; 7:00 p.m.
On-Demand Streaming
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Where is the synod staff in upcoming weeks? |
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Bishop Ann Svennungsen will be installing Pastor Hierald Osorto at St. Paul/San Pablo Lutheran Church, on Saturday, December 11.
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Pr Norma Malfatti will be preaching at the installation of Pastor Hierald Osorto at St. Paul/San Pablo Lutheran Church, Minneapolis on Saturday, December 11.
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Pastor John Hulden will be preaching at Glen Cary Lutheran Church, Ham Lake, on Sunday, December 12.
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Pastor Norma Malfatti will be preaching at Spirit of Joy, Buffalo on Sunday, December 12.
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Pastor Craig Pederson will be preaching at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Henderson this coming Sunday, December 12.
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Bishop Ann will be attending Pastor Dale Peterson's retirement celebration at Faith Lutheran Church, Waconia, on Sunday, December 19.
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Pastor John Hulden will be preaching at Faith Lutheran Church, Isanti, on Sunday, December 19.
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Pastor Craig Peterson will be attending the farewell worship service for Pastor Jerod Freeberg at St. John’s Lutheran in Shakopee on Sunday, Dec. 19.
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Pr. Norma Malfatti will be preaching at Our Redeemer Oromo Evangelical Church on Sunday, January 9.
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Pr. Norma Malfatti will be preaching at Trinity Lutheran Congregation on Sunday, January 16.
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