Enews: Emmaus moments with strategic ministries; LDR hurricane relief; MCC's 75th; and more

October 4, 2022

Minneapolis Area Synod, ELCA Enews

Synod office update

Synod staff are working in the office Tuesdays through Thursdays, and are working either in office or remotely Mondays and Fridays. Synod staff are hosting visitors on the Minnesota Church Center’s first floor and in the sixth-floor synod office on a limited basis.

Synod communicators gather Thursday to discuss "style"

Congregational communicators and administrators are invited to come together on Thursday, October 6 (10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.), to discuss the use of style guides for consistent communication within the congregation. This includes alternative style guides addressing particular communities.

The panel includes senior editors and vice presidents from around the country. You won't want to miss it! The presenters -- Khai Clardy, Jim Rice, Ross Murray, and Christina Colon -- will be on Zoom and the attendees will be in person at Lord of Life in Ramsey.

More information

‘Weren’t our hearts burning?’

“The story of Cleopas and the other disciple walking on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24 has been a passage resting with me for several months. If you don’t remember it, Cleopas and another, unnamed disciple left Jerusalem sometime after the women found the empty tomb. Dejected and a bit lost, they headed, presumably home to Emmaus. Along the way they encounter a stranger who opens up the Scriptures to them and reminds them about the necessity of the Messiah’s death and the promise of the Messiah’s resurrection. That night when the stranger breaks bread with them, their eyes were opened and they recognize that the stranger was Jesus.”

Read Pastor Norma's blog

“Voices United, Embracing the Future”

The Minnesota Council of Churches has served the faith communities of this state for 75 years. To mark this important time, a special celebration will be held laster this month, with African Methodist Episcopal Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie was the preacher. In addition to being the first woman elected bishop in the AMEChurch, she is the President and General Secretary of the National Council of Churches.

Saturday, October 15

1:00-3:30 p.m. (light reception to follow)

Shiloh Temple International Ministries

1201 West Broadway Avenue North, Minneapolis

For more information or to RSVP

New resource for

young people on

healthy relationships

Cherish All Children’s Safe & Healthy Relationships Youth Guide resource is being used with Confirmation classes and High School youth groups across the state, engaging youth in lively and important conversations to keep themselves safe.

New Family Follow-up Resources aid parents and caregivers in continuing these conversations at home, offering support for raising children into safe and healthy friendships and dating relationships. Youth and families will better understand:

Healthy relationship qualities and how God intends for us to love one another
Signs of unhealthy or unsafe relationships, whether in person or online
How sharing of sexual photos can easily spread and where to go for support if needed
How vulnerabilities can lead to exploitation and how youth’s strengths and a support network can help protect them

Youth leaders, pastors, church leaders, and other supportive adults can bring these important conversations into their faith community this education season!

Send questions

Support hurricane relief efforts

"For we are what [God] has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God Prepared beforehand to be our way of life." (Ephesians 2:10)

Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida yesterday with near Category 5-strength winds, dumping record amounts of rain and causing catastrophic flooding. Hurricane Ian bore down through Florida today and is expected to make landfall again in the Carolinas. Early reports indicate the potential for a substantial loss of life. Ian, as predicted, is one of the worst hurricanes to hit the United States in decades.

Gifts to Lutheran Disaster Response make it possible for the ELCA to act quickly after disasters, whenever and wherever they strike. Can disaster survivors count on your support?

Power and BoundariesTraining upcoming

Rostered ministers in the Minneapolis Area Synod are required to attend a Power and Boundaries Training once every three-to-five years. The synod's next training will be held Thursday, November 3, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Cross of Glory Lutheran Church in Brooklyn Center. This workshop will be led by LeaderWise and will include time with Bishop Svennungsen. It’s open to rostered ministers and also anyone who has a desk at a church!

Meet your new Portico regional representative

After nearly a decade serving the ELCA as a Portico Regional Representative, Deacon Terri Endres put into practice much of what she’s been teaching and entered retirement. Starting October 3, our synod’s new Regional Rep will be Pastor Tim Schroeder. Tim most recently served at Peace Lutheran Church in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, and as a senior admissions counselor at Luther Seminary.

While the Portico Customer Care Center (800-352-2628) remains the primary point of contact for benefit questions and processes, Portico’s Regional Reps provide education, encouragement, and a personal connection.

To contact Tim Schroeder

Women of the ELCA

to offer fall gathering

The Women of the ELCA offer a day for connecting with other women to refill, energize and rediscover joy in daily life. Inspiring sessions will encourage reflection on your calling, meaningful ways to engage your community, and opportunities to grow in faith.

Saturday, October 8

8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Peace Lutheran Church

20 Northdale Blvd., Coon Rapids

The theme for this gathering is "For Such a Time as This ... You are Created." Registration includes a chair message, coffee and breakfast treats, lunch, artistic gifts, and childcare.

For more information

Celebrating Lutheran Campus Ministry at the U in the Twin Cities

Join Lutheran Campus Ministry – Twin Cities for a fun in-person gathering at the beautiful Campus Club Terrace overlooking the city. Guests will gather around hearty appetizers, a cash bar, good music, inspirational stories from students and alumni, and a chance to raise some money for the transformational work happening at Lutheran Campus Ministry – Twin Cities!

Thursday, October 13

The Campus Club on the U of M campus

5:00 p.m. - Cocktails and Appetizers

6:00 p.m. - Program

7:00 p.m. - Singing around the fire

(bring your instruments)

Tickets: $25

Questions or RSVP

National Lutheran Choir's

All Saints Concert

Leaders of the National Lutheran Choir (NLC) believe that sacred choral music should be available to everyone, everywhere. That’s why it offers a virtual subscription! Join the NLC this year as a Virtual Subscriber no matter where you live to enjoy periodic content delivered directly to your email inbox all season long. Videos you can expect as a Subscriber include performance sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes glimpses, interviews with musical experts, reflections from its director, and more!

Do you know somene else who may also like a virtual subscription? You can gift them one! You can give anyone, anywhere the gift of the NLC for the entire season, a great birthday or Christmas gift for the sacred music lovers in your life.

To see a Virtual Installment sample, learn more about the subscription, purchase yours, or learn how to gift one, visit NLCA.com/Virtual-Subscriptions.

Beacon Interfaith Housing on stage

A Prairie Homeless Companion is a parody of the well-known radio show A Prairie Home Companion. In zAmya’s version, local residents challenge the show’s idyllic portrayal of life in greater Minnesota with real stories of hardship and resilience around affording rent.

Friday, October 14; 7:00 p.m.

Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran

3611 North Berens Road NW

Prior Lake

This performance is hosted by Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative. Beacon brings diverse faith communities together around a shared commitment to the vision that all people have a home. Together all can work toward solutions that are as big as the problem.

To register

Join in the World Food Day celebration

Join ELCA World Hunger for a celebration of World Food Day, hosted by Rick Steves and special guest Mark Jansen, CEO of Blue Diamond Almonds. This special event will be streamed online so you can celebrate with ELCA World Hunger wherever you are!

When: Sunday, October 16, 4:00 p.m., Central time

Where: ELCA Facebook page and ELCA YouTube channel

RSVP is not required; simply visit the Facebook or YouTube page to attend. Facebook and YouTube accounts are not required. And, if you can’t stream it live, the recording will be available on Facebook and YouTube after the event is over.

Questions? Contact hunger@elca.org.

CYF welcome event

All Children, Youth, and Family staff new(er) to the Minneapolis Area or Saint Paul Area synods are invited to attend to make some new connections.

Thursday, October 6

9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Pilgrim Lutheran, Saint Paul

The CYF network wants to welcome you! Enjoy light snacks and fellowship and discover information/networks where you can find support. There's no cost to attend, but register in advance to aid in planning.

To register

Children's Ministry gathering

Join colleagues in person to talk about what your ministry will look like for Advent/Christmas. Bring your thoughts and examples to share for take-home kits, during-worship ideas, separate pageants, gatherings, and more! Contact Rachelle Gill or Julie Vagle with questions.

Monday, October 10

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

St. Stephen Lutheran, Bloomington

These gatherings are sponsored jointly by the Saint Paul Area and Minneapolis Area synods for staff and key volunteers who work in children's ministry. Notes from previous gatherings may be accessed in the files area of the Twin Cities CYF Facebook group.

As Reformation Day approaches, look to Augsburg Fortress

Among many other resources, Augsburg Fortress offers many versions of Martin Luther's Small Catechism:

What other resources does Augsburg Fortress off er?

Where is the synod staff in upcoming weeks?

Pastor John Hulden will be preaching and installing Pastor Anne Schaefer as associate pastor at Elk River Lutheran, Elk River, on Sunday, October 9.
Mr. Bob Hulteen will be attending the farewell for Pastor Tim Schroeder at Peace Lutheran, Coon Rapids, on Sunday, October 9.
Mr. Nicholas Tangen will be preaching at Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran, Minneapolis, on Sunday, October 9.
Pastor Craig Pederson will be leading a church council planning discussion at St. John's Lutheran, Mound, on Sunday, October 9.
Pastor Norma Malfatti will be conducting a ministry review, along with the Mission Table, of St. Olaf Lutheran, Minneapolis, on Saturday, October 15 and Sunday, October 16.
Bishop Ann Svennungsen will be installing Pastor Jen Collins at Redeemer Lutheran, Minneapolis, on Sunday, October 16.
Pastor Norma Malfatti will be preaching at Messiah Lutheran, Minneapolis, on Sunday, October 16.
Pastor Norma Malfatti will be attending the farewell of Pastor Marissa Sotos at Tree of Life, Minneapolis, on Sunday, October 23.
Ms. Emilie Bouvier will be preaching and leading an adult forum at Woodlake Lutheran, Richfield, on Sunday, October 23.

Upcoming Events

Courageous Leadership Webinars , Wednesdays
Addiction and Faith Pre-Conference, October 4-6
Addiction and Faith Conference, October 6-8
MAS Communicators Gathering, October 6
Women's Gathering: For Such a Time as This ... You Were Created, October 8
Youth Ministry Gathering, October 11
A Celebration of Community: Lutheran Campus Ministry, October 13
Joint Fall Ministerium, October 27
Boundaries Training, November 3
Youth Ministry Gathering, November 8
Southwestern Minnesota Synod Boundaries Training, November 9
Southwestern Minnesota Synod Boundaries Training, November 10
Youth Ministry Gathering, December 13
2023 Synod Assembly, April 28-29, 2023

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