Enews: Baton passing; music clinics; BOLD is moving; and more

May 28, 2024

Minneapolis Area Synod, ELCA Enews

Election engagement for young adults in the ELCA

Young voices have often been prophets for a better tomorrow throughout human history. An integral piece of this has been through civic engagement. As Lutherans, we are called to live out our faith in the public sphere -- advocating for ourselves and our neighbors not only inside of our church buildings, but out in the streets. ELCA election engagement is where our thoughts and prayers meet the Holy Spirit’s call to action. Join this Abide session to engage with ELCA Advocacy Fellows from across our country to learn more about the election cycle, discuss why voting is important for young people, and plan how to show up in November and beyond.

Thursdays in June; 7:30 p.m.

A Zoom link will be sent after you register.

To register

Synod staff this week

Pastor Craig Pederson will have his last day in the synod office on Friday. Nick Tangen is on vacation this week. The remainder of staff will be in the office during normal working hours.

As the baton passes

“This is a time of year for endings: school years, graduations, church program years, confirmations, Timberwolves seasons (which has blissfully been extended this year, but probably not for much longer). The endings in our household are heightened this year. I’m in the last week of my position as an assistant to Bishop Ann Svennungsen. It is also the last week of high school for our youngest child, Nora, who graduates on June 8.”

Read Pastor Craig's blog

Online summer seminar features important themes, leaders

LEAD presents Good Soil Online Summer Seminar on Thursday, June 13. This online learning event is presented for deacons, pastors, and all leaders within your faith community. Topics/speakers: Leading with Love (Rozella Haydee White), Teamwork Works (Pastor Brad Otto), Know Your Neighbors (Deacon Jessica Noonan), and Communication Clarity (Deacon Peggy Hahn).

Cost is $45 per seminar for 150 minutes of learning! Share the flyer and promo video on this page with your friends.

Questions, contact LEAD at LEAD@leadconnects.org

Onesimos Nesib Day Celebration at Our Redeemer Oromo

Our Redeemer Oromo Church invites you to celebrate Onesimos Nesib Day.

Saturday,June 22

9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Our Redeemer Oromo Church

4000 South 28th Avenue

Minneapolis

Onesimos was enslaved and sold many times. But he escaped slavery with the help of Swedish missionaries and translated the Bible into Oromo language.

You and your congregation are kindly invited to join the members of Our Redeemer Oromo for the celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Oromo Bible and their Lutheran heritage.

Stories and delicious traditional Oromo food and coffee will be shared.

Bread of Life Deaf Lutheran (BOLD) Church to change locations

After 68 years of owning its own building, Bread of Life Deaf Lutheran Church (BOLD) is moving. The congregation will now share space at Minnehaha Communion Lutheran Church, just about one mile away from the current site. The members of BOLD are inviting you to celebrate with them.

Friday and Saturday, June 7 and 8, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; Sunday, June 9, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Bread of Life Deaf Lutheran Church

2901 38th Avenue South, Minneapolis

Friday and Saturday will be open-house style with items for sale to remember the congregation, light appetizers and drinks, ice cream, and activities for children. Sunday's schedule will include coffee hour at 9:00 a.m., a celebratory farewell worship at 10:30 a.m., and lunch beginning at 12:30 p.m.

Holden Village plans "fourth fall sojourn"

Holden Village is a Lutheran retreat center nestled in a beautiful Cascade Mountain valley in Washington State. The center has planned a "fourth fall sojourn" for September 15 -22, ... and you are invited.

The teaching faculty at Holden for this week includes Bishop Meggan Manlove, Northwest Intermountain Synod (on the practice of story-linking); Mark Schwehn, retired professor at Valparaiso (on shaping identity); Fred Niedner, professor at Valparaiso (on believing the Bible); and Pastor Jonathan Rundman, Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church, Prior Lake (as village musician).

While at Holden Village, participants will have the opportunity to create their own rhythms each day. Teaching sessions will be bountiful, as will times for rest and relaxation.

There is a special group rate of $90 per night if you register soon. If you have questions, contact the registrar. And, if you are planning to attend, don't forget to make overnight lodging for September 14 and to reserve your boat ticket with one of two options: Lady of the Lake or Stehekin Ferry.

June observances worship resources

During the 2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, a resolution was adopted designating June 17 as a commemoration of the martyrdom of the Emanuel 9 — the nine people shot and killed on June 17, 2015, during a Bible study at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Worship resources for this commemoration are available here.

Also coming up on June 17 is the observance of Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. The ELCA offers a Juneteenth worship resource, which can be used in its entirety or in part.

Augsburg Fortress to offer summer music clinics

Augsburg Fortress is offering a series of free summer music clinics, featuring choral/organ clinicians including David Cherwien and Mark Sedio. They will lead workshops on new children's music, keyboard music reading, choral techniques, and more.

Tuesday, July 16 - Wednesday, July 17

Virtual

A handbell clinic with Carolynne Mathis and a hymn festival are also on the schedule. Additional clinics will be held at other locations around the country.

For more information

Where is the synod staff in upcoming weeks?

Pastor John Hulden will be installing Pastor Korla Masters and preaching at House of Prayer Lutheran, Richfield, on Sunday, June 2.
Mr. Nicholas Tangen will be preaching at Redeemer Lutheran, Minneapolis, on Sunday, June 2.
Mr. Johan Baumeister will be preaching at an outdoor service for Salem English Lutheran, Minneapolis, held at Minnehaha Park Wabun G, on Sunday, June 23.
Pastor John Hulden will be celebrating the 150th Anniversary at Salem Lutheran, Dalbo, on Sunday, June 30.
Mr. Nicholas Tangen will be preaching at Christ the River of Life Lutheran, Minneapolis, on Sunday, July 14.

Upcoming Events

Let Your Light So Shine, May 29
Splash into Summer, June 9
Cherish All Children Hybrid 5K, June 9
Onesimos Nesibday, June 22
Confluence at Augsburg University, June 23 - 28
Bishop's Theological Conference, September 29 - October 1
Walking Together: 50 Years of ELCA World Hunger, October 12
Synod Boundaries Workshop, November 21

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