This week, we celebrate the generosity of Hope Lutheran Church in St. Paul, which presented a check in the amount of $100,000 toward the cost of a playground at the future Families Together preschool, planned for the Eastside of St. Paul. The congregation sold its building this spring and now worships in the chapel at Gustavus Adolphus in St. Paul. The building’s sale provided an opportunity for meaningful conversation on investing in projects that matter. Our synod is partnering with Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota on the Families Together Preschool as part of synod's The Planting Hope Campaign.

"Guatemala Friends" is the term we use for those who help support the ministries of the Iglesia Agustina de Guatemala (Augustinian Lutheran Church of Guatemala) through the Guatemala Committee of the Saint Paul Area Synod. We have enjoyed a companion synod partnership with the ILAG since 2005.

Please keep in your prayers several committee members who are traveling to Guatemala this week, working on re-engagement logistics as we look toward resuming group travel, which was halted by the pandemic. Kim Becker, Pastor Nick Fisher-Broin and Janet Metcalfe are being joined by three members from the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA, which also enjoys an ILAG partnership. They will be posting occasionally on the new Guatemala Friends Facebook page (@guatemalafriends.spaselca).

The Saint Paul Area Synod is still accepting applications for a front office administrator & event planner. This full-time employee will maintain synod records; schedule repairs and maintenance for the office; oversee logistics for a variety of events; and assist other staff with mobility, candidacy, vitality and leadership development tasks. View the full job description. To apply, send a cover letter and resume, along with three references including emails and phone numbers to leslie.ortiz@spas-elca.org. Review of applications will continue until the position is filled.

In preparation for the 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, ELCA members are encouraged to participate in an online Bible study series that explores the assembly theme, “Embody the Word,” from Luke 24. The assembly, the highest legislative body of the ELCA, will meet in Columbus, Ohio, Aug. 8-12. The series is offered on Sundays in July from 3:00 to 3:45 p.m. Each session will focus on the meaning of “embodiment,” and includes a video presentation and moderated discussion. Members are encouraged to consider the double meaning of the assembly theme, “Embody the Word”: “embody” can mean both the incarnation of Jesus Christ and the life of the church emerging from a pandemic, whereas “word” can mean both Jesus Christ and Scripture.

The first session was held yesterday, but will be available on demand on the ELCA YouTube channel. Click here to register for the live Bible study series. Click here to learn more about the Churchwide Assembly.

The Drawer is a Twin Cities based nonprofit that provides new socks and underwear. The Drawer was meant to be the featured nonprofit organization for this year's ELCA Youth Gathering (now cancelled), and several out-of-state groups are still coming to town to host a bundling session as a service project opportunity for their youth groups. If your youth group would be interested in attending, email glindquist@thedrawer.org.

Congregations and other organizations are invited to host a sock/underwear and/or financial collection for The Drawer! You can receive promotional materials and other items for your drive. Email glindquist@thedrawer.org for details.

Start getting your group of 20 or more together for Lutheran Night at the Twins...congregations, youth groups, Bible study groups, etc. You'll receive group discounted tickets seated together, a welcome message on the scoreboard and the opportunity to participate in the national anthem choir. Ticket prices range from $17 to $37 in a variety of seating areas including the Deck, Field Box and Home Run Porch View. To reserve group tickets, contact Ryan Thomson at 612-659-3582 or ryanthomson@twinsbaseball.com. Payment isn't due until three weeks before the game. Learn more.

In conjunction with Lutheran Night at the Twins, one Sunday School teacher will be selected to throw out the first pitch at this game. A drawing will be held on July 20 with a blindfolded Sunday schooler drawing the winning name. Send in the name and contact information (phone or email) of your favorite Sunday School teacher by email to raijaw@aol.com or text to 651-332-9113.

Youth across the ELCA are participating in ELCA World Hunger's Global Farm Challenge this summer. This fundraising campaign seeks to end hunger by providing farming families around the world with education, seeds, tools, training and more. Thanks to generous donors, all gifts to this challenge will be matched dollar for dollar up to $525,000. This means gifts will go twice as far in the work to end hunger. Click here to give now.

A variety of tools and resources are available for youth groups or congregations that want to be part of the experience:

ELCA Coaching offers a weekly online gathering for ministry leaders. Each week features a new topic and presenters. Recent topics included leading in a multi-systems world (and staying healthy), human skills we need in an unpredictable world, and the big four ministries (Sunday School, camp, The Gathering and campus ministry). The sessions often include time for small group break-out rooms so that leaders across the church can learn from one another and leave each gathering with at least one action step. Recordings are posted by the next day. Learn more.

Enjoy free outdoor jazz concerts! Bring lawns chairs and blankets starting at 6:30 p.m. for treats and beverages from Mik Mart and activities from the South Washington County Skoolie Bus. Donations support Habitat for Humanity. Featured musicians include:

In case of inclement weather, the concerts will be moved indoors. Learn more.

If you can't get enough of church bells, take note! On July 16, there will be events all day at Orchestra Hall and other locations in Minneapolis. The Day of Music culminates with an outdoor concert by the Minnesota Orchestra. The finale will be Mussorgsky's Great Gate of Kiev with a nod to Ukraine, with downtown church bells joining in with the orchestra. There are five participating churches within a five-block radius around Orchestra Hall: Central Lutheran, Westminster Presbyterian, St. Olaf Catholic, Basilica of St. Mary and St. Mark's Episcopal. Learn more.

Under the theme “Scatter the Imagination of Our Hearts” (Luke 1:51), participants will reflect on how the people of God can challenge, change, and inspire others, especially as faith communities imagine new responses to the twin pandemics of COVID-19 and structural racism. Presenters include: Willie James Jennings, Eunjoo Mary Kim, Tesfa Wondemagegnehu, Kelly Sherman-Conroy, Joe Davis, Katherine Parent, and more. Learn more.

American Christians have always struggled with the relationship between church and state. But in recent years the alignment between right-wing politics and Christianity has taken on a new intensity in a movement called “Christian Nationalism.” This power grab co-opts the language and symbols of Christianity, deceiving many and harming both our faith and democracy. (Christian nationalism strongly influenced the Jan. 6, 2021, riot in Washington, D.C.). How do we as Lutherans understand this movement and respond to it? Pastor Rolf Olson and Dr. Nancy Koester will give a one-night, two-part presentation on this dangerous development. Part 1 explains what “Christian Nationalism” is and why it matters; Part 2 explores who’s involved in Christian nationalism, what are its components, and ways we can respond.

Capacity is limited to 75 people. Zoom participation is also available. Sign up here for both in-person and Zoom registration by July 31. A voluntary fee of $10 is requested at the door. Questions? Contact lafisher27@gmail.com.

www.spas-elca.org | 651-224-4313