"If we want to address intergenerational poverty, we must make sure kids are graduating from high school," said Alexis Oberdorfer, vice president and chief officer of community engagement and partnerships for Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS). "Eighty-eight percent of students who fail to earn their high school diploma were not reading proficiently at the end of third grade."

Addressing the 2022 Saint Paul Area Synod Assembly, Oberdorfer emphasized the importance of early childhood education and intervention. She outlined 10 categories of Adverse Childhood Experiences (such as physical abuse, neglect or household dysfunction like mental illness, domestic violence, or an incarcerated relative) that have a profound lifelong impact on a child's brain and body. We encourage you to watch the video below of her presentation, "How We Best Care for All of Our Children." It is a powerful message of how early intervention can change the future for a child, a family and a community.

LSS is partnering with the synod for The Planting Hope Campaign with the Families Together Preschool on the Eastside of St. Paul. Oberdorfer said, "If we want to take a look at where we're going long-term, we know that we need high quality early childhood education programs that serve some of our most vulnerable kids. Where better to do it than the East Side of St. Paul?"

Just as our garden beds and farm fields are flush with new growth, financial commitments toward the $2.75 million goal for the Planting Hope campaign continue to rise. At the end of June, we have received over $550,000 in statements of intent from synod leaders, synod staff and 14 congregations. We are certain that more congregations have set goals and focused fundraising efforts on the Planting Hope campaign than the 14 congregations which have reported in their results. Michael Gold, synod staff member, is contacting congregations for your updated totals. You can send a brief update to him at michael.gold@spas-elca.org.

We are also grateful to congregations that have forwarded funds for the campaign to the synod. We hope to begin distribution to projects yet this year. Thank you for putting your hope into action.

-Bishop Patricia Lull

P.S. Want to learn more about The Planting Hope Campaign? Watch this entertaining video featuring Detective Terry Portland as he investigates what the campaign is all about.

Intergenerational ministry director, food shelf coordinator, director of worship and music, treasurer, audiovisual multimedia coordinator...these are all recent or current job postings on the synod's website. If you know someone on the search for a church-related position, please direct them to https://spas-elca.org/resources/job-openings/! Listings are removed after 30 days or sooner if we're informed that the position has been filled.

If you have an open position to promote, we now ask you to submit your information via a form rather than emailing the information. This will help us standardize the content and formatting of listings and help ensure that all of the pertinent information is included. Job posters are now asked to provide a brief overview of the position and provide a link to the full job description elsewhere. The submission form may be found at https://spas-elca.org/post-a-job/. (If you regularly have jobs to list, be sure to bookmark the page for future reference.) Questions? Call the synod office at 651-224-4313 or email michael.gold@spas-elca.org.

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.

Join women from around our synod for a day of worship, bible study and workshops. The featured speaker is The Rev. Babette Chatman, who serves as a campus pastor at Augsburg University in Minneapolis. Other speakers include Bishop Patricia Lull, Pastor Lois Pallmeyer of Gloria Dei, St. Paul; and Laura Krueger, churchwide representative.

The convention also includes the business meeting of our synod's Women's Organization...electing officers and board members, approving the budget and setting direction for the future. This year, it's an opportunity to gather in person to renew friendships and make new ones. We'll be inspired and renewed, leaving revitalized in our faith. Visitor registrations are due July 1. Click here to register.

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.

Lutheran Campus Ministry-Twin Cities (LCM) and campus ministries across the country are preparing to welcome new high school graduates this fall and to walk alongside them as they grow in faith through college. But they need help to do this work in getting them connected! Please refer your students to their local campus ministries by:

Questions? Email dana@umnlutheran.org.

The IRS has announced that the optional standard mileage rate is increasing by four cents per mile for the last six months of 2022. Effective July 1, the standard mileage rate for business travel will be 62.5 cents per mile.

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.

The Rev. Christie Manisto and Steve Saari, ELCA missionaries, will share stories of their work with our companions at St. Andrew's United Church of Cairo and StARS (St. Andrew's Refugee Services) in Cairo, Egypt. Light refreshments will be served. If you plan to attend, please email blcpastor@bethlehem-midway.org. 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. Registration is still open! 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