August 29, 2022

Gleaning From The Harvest Grant:

Chipping Away at Technology

Early this year, the synod created a Gleaning From the Harvest grant program for exploration and experimentation in the following areas: evangelism, racial justice, "we never did that before" and worship training & technology. Grants totaling $113,000 were awarded to 19 ministries. Sarah Korpi provided this summary from grant recipient Newport Lutheran:

Our church received a Gleaning From the Harvest grant from the synod for technology. We were and still are working on a lot of pieces of the tech world puzzle. This grant has been a blessing and we are using the money as fiscally responsible as possible.…

In our experience so far, we have found that tech support really varies in cost and our younger congregants have been very helpful in this process. We currently have a middle schooler helping us with recording. This has been a blessing for us. She was nervous at first but with encouragement she figured it out in two minutes. She stated “that it is pretty easy” and she is doing a great job. We have found that we need more time to conduct research and get things in place. Next week we have someone coming to see how we run Wi-Fi enhancements to our classrooms and to give us a quote on how much that will cost.

Read Newport's full grant summary.

Registration is Open!

Bishop's Theological Conference

Oct. 16-18 | Cragun's Resort, Brainerd

For all rostered ministers in our synod. 

Registration is open for our 2022 Bishop's Theological Conference! Over the past two and a half years, we have learned how important it is to share time with others, especially the value that comes from being together in person. At this year’s Theological Conference, our guest presenter, Dr. Martha (Marty) Stortz, will help us understand why hope is rooted in community and relationships. A Lutheran scholar, teacher and writer, Marty will draw on the experience of her husband’s death, her own journey into grief, and her continuing work to understand resurrection, as a resilient human being. She likes to say, “Hope is a plural thing – a we.”

Check-in begins on Sunday, Oct. 16, at 4 p.m. and the conference concludes before lunch on Tuesday, Oct. 18. The cost is $375 per person, which includes a private room, meals, programming and materials. Register here.

Tools For The Church

Vitality 101: Where Is God Calling You Now?

Saturday, Oct. 1 - 9 a.m.-3 p.m. | Gustavus Adolphus, St. Paul

Why is no one coming to church? We really do good things here, why doesn’t anyone want to be part of it? I am not sure where we are going… Our neighborhood has changed, how do we engage our neighbors? What is God up to here? 

If your congregation has asked these or similar questions, the synod's Vitality Team has an opportunity for your team to wrestle together with other congregational leaders about what it means to be vital today. This interactive day features inspiring speakers, worship, activities and an opportunity to create your plan for implementing what you've learned into your own congregational setting. Based on the foundation of "vitality" and an urgent need to rediscover your "why," the mission/vision/values exercises included in the day will inspire you to get to work. In addition to some basic teaching around vitality, you will be invited to learn about having one-on-one conversations in your community and lining up what you hear with the mission you are called to live out. Join us...it will be fun! The cost is $10 per person and includes lunch. Register here. 

A Deeper Dive: Leadership Conversations for Congregation Presidents & VPs

6 Sessions, Sept. 29-March 30 | Online

For presidents and vice presidents of congregations in our synod.

Are you curious about best practices around how a church council can function effectively? Do you have questions about the particular roles and responsibilities of a president or vice president of a congregation? Are you looking for knowledge and wisdom from others who have been in this role recently or are currently in this role? 

Join Rolf Lowenberg-DeBoer and Dr. Dave Webb for a series of discussions about these and other questions. Rolf is the assistant to the bishop for lay leadership in the Saint Paul Area Synod. Dave is a retired superintendent of South St. Paul Schools and is the current president of the council at Shepherd of the Hills, Shoreview. This free series will be held on Thursdays, 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Sept. 29, Oct. 27, Dec. 1, Jan. 26 and March 30. An additional session will be held on the morning of Saturday, Feb. 25, as part of the synod's Tool Kit for Congregational Leaders event. Registration will open this week!

A Planting Hope Reflection

Thanks to funding from the synod and the ELCA, Lutheran Church of Peace in Maplewood was able to call a full-time pastor in redevelopment. Pastor Liz Eide says that support "has been an important piece in how we've been able to shift how we see ourselves...not as a struggling congregation, but as space where God is doing something new and where we could have hope." Listen in as Liz talks about the congregation's gratitude for the synod and its Planting Hope campaign.

Guatemala Gala

Sunday, Oct. 2 - 4 p.m. | Southview Country Club, West St. Paul

The Guatemala Committee of the Saint Paul Area Synod invites you to its 2022 Guatemala Gala to support the education ministries of our companion synod, the Iglesia Luterana Agustina de Guatemala (Lutheran Church of Guatemala). We are delighted that Pastor Karen Castillo and Diego Gil from the ILAG will be with us to share how your gala gifts will bring hope!

• 4:00 p.m. - Social Hour with cash bar, music, Guatemalan goods for sale, raffle (check or cash only).
• 5:15 p.m. - Buffet Dinner with an authentic Guatemalan menu planned by Chef Amalia Moreno-Damgaard
• 6:00 p.m. - Program featuring presentations by Pastor Karen Castillo and Diego Gil, fund-a-need, live auction and more!

Individual tickets are $50 per person and "Super Supporter" table sponsorships for 10 guests are $1,000. Learn more and register.

Virtual Discernment Event

Saturday, Sept. 10 - 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Online

Are you or someone you know discerning a call to seminary? The seven seminaries of the ELCA are partnering together to offer a virtual discernment event. Learn more and register. The registration deadline is Sept. 6.

The ELCA seminaries include Luther Seminary, St. Paul; Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, Chicago, Ill.; Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia, S.C.; Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, Berkeley, Calif.; Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio; United Lutheran Seminary, Gettysburg & Philadelphia, Pa.; and Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa.

The synod office will be closed for Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 5.

Courageous Leadership Series

Wednesdays - 1 p.m. | Online

ELCA Coaching offers a weekly online gathering for ministry leaders. Did you know that the average person in the United States is exposed to roughly 30 GB of information each day?! In the midst of this onslaught, working with a coach who can help evoke awareness is akin to a superpower. On Aug. 31, we will discuss that along with sneaky teenagers, dancing bananas, a woman named Rhoda, and God's way of opening doors. Curious how any of this is connected or relevant? Join us on Aug. 31 as we hear from ELCA Coach and Rev. David Hively. Learn more.

National Lutheran Choir

Tickets go on sale Sept. 7 for the National Lutheran Choir's 2022-23 season. This is the choir's 37th season and will celebrate the singers of the NLC and its artistic director, David Cherwein, who will retire next June. Programs will be available both in person and virtually. The annual All Saints program (Nov. 4 & 6) will include John Rutter's Requiem. The Christmas Festival, scheduled again for the Basilica (Dec. 9-10), will feature favorites from the last 20 years and some new works. In the spring, there will be a series of events, including David's final performance with the choir at the Spring Concert (May 7). Tickets and season tickets are available for in-person events. A virtual subscription includes regular content from the NLC to your email inbox, an additional virtual All Saints program and a series of three documentary-style exclusives. Learn more. 

Festival for Change

Sept. 9-10 | Roseville Lutheran, Roseville

Roseville-based faith groups and Twin Cities BIPOC leaders are partnering to create a two-day festival to celebrate cultural wealth and togetherness. The vision of this initiative is to bring members from all backgrounds together to break down the barriers that exist between our communities. To see change, we must come together to uplift those who are marginalized and ostracized. The greater community is invited to attend! The event features poets and speakers, artists, dancers, gospel singers and more. Information about racial justice will be available. Learn more. 

Eco-Savvy Stewards Community Events

Sept. 15 & Sept. 24 | Shepherd of the Valley, Apple Valley, & Lebanon Hills, Eagan

Shepherd of the Valley, Apple Valley, invites you to two community events around "Helping the Land":

• Sept. 15 - An educational program about the environment and how we can restore the land around us to its pre-settlement condition. This free program is on Sept. 15 from 6:30-8 p.m. at Shepherd of the Valley.
• Sept. 24 - Native prairies grass and wildflower planting to further restoration efforts in the park. Volunteers are welcome at this public event on National Public Lands Day, Sept. 24, 9 a.m.-12 noon, at Lebanon Hills.

Register here for either or both activities. 

ConNext Summit

Sunday, Oct. 16-Tuesday, Oct. 18 | Christ the King Retreat Center, Buffalo

Early bird registration closes on Wednesday!  This conference creates a space to inspire Progressive Christian faith formation leaders as they reflect together, form networks, and cultivate innovative and sustainable ministries with children, youth, families and adults. Both newer and more seasoned leaders create a community in which to connect and grow! Under the theme, "In the Ways of Jesus: Gracious Idleness, Scrappy Transformation, Radical Belonging," participants will process the last few years with comedy improv troupe Danger Boat Productions; strengthen collegial community led by musician Sara Thomsen; rest and renew in the beautiful retreat center; and get inspired by ministry innovations created by neighboring communities. Learn more.

Other Event Reminders:

• ALOA Ironwood Springs Lutherhostel - Oct. 3-7 | Ironwood Springs Ranch, Stewartville
• 2023 Synod Assembly - May 12-13 | St. Andrew's, Mahtomedi

Rev. Justin Grimm

• Sept. 4 - Trinity, North Branch (preaching)