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Messiah Mountain Retreat Center "Phase I" Dedication

SATURDAY, JULY 23

• 9am / 10 am Spiritual Renewal Opportunities
• 11am Dedication Celebration and Lunch

We are overjoyed to invite everyone to a Messiah Mountain Retreat Center open house and dedication celebration on Saturday morning, July 23! And, we want you to see what is remaining to accomplish and inspire gifts and pledges to accomplish our dreams! (We are dedicating the Phase I INSIDE of the Lodge. We have a lot more work to do and invite your support.)

At 9am and 10am: SPIRITUAL RENEWAL

To provide an opportunity to experience spiritual renewal in this beautiful place, join us for these opportunities:

• NATURE: hike the property
• PRAYER: gather in nature for centering prayer
• MOVEMENT: be renewed through an experience of Qigong in nature (using exercises to optimize energy within the body, mind, and spirit)
• ART: capture the spirit of Messiah Mountain in a creative painting

11:15 am: DEDICATION CELEBRATION & LUNCH

Join Bishop Jim Gonia in giving thanks to God for this gift given from the people of Messiah Community Church, ELCA, along with gratitude to those who have given gifts to make the renewal possible!

Parking is limited so we’ll be providing some specific instructions for parking, and we encourage car-pooling or van-riding! So we may plan ahead, please RSVP if you plan to attend with your plan to arrive at 9am, 10am, or 11am. Please bring portable seating if available to you!

MMRC is in Indian Hills, a short 8 minute drive from C-470 and Highway 285. Directions.

RMS Lutheran Center trying out "Hybrid Office" schedule through August

While the hours that staff are working and available aren't changing, we are implementing a trial of office days and remote work days.

It has always been true that TUE-WED-THUR are when meetings and staff connections take place, so these will be our office days when the Lutheran Center is open. Since the staff presence is small on MON and FRI, these will be remote days, with the physical office closed.

Occasionally there will be exceptions when FRI meetings are scheduled that are in person.

We were using Zoom long before the pandemic, and a new phone system makes all staff members' phones their office phone. Therefore we can do remote work effectively and efficiently. Many staff members now have direct-dial office phone numbers. Our main phone line is still 303-777-6700.

Excellence in Leadership - It is for YOU!

This May at Synod Assembly, the Excellence in Leadership initiative was blessed to be able to offer a session using two of the many tools offered throughout the whole 18-month experience. We hope that many of you were able to bring those tools back home to your contexts.

IN-PERSON COHORT IN ALBUQUERQUE, TWO ONLINE

If you found value in those tools and would like to explore more, we would love to invite you to participate in the next cohorts of Excellence in Leadership beginning in late September. One cohort will gather in Albuquerque for their in-person sessions. We will also have 2 online cohorts - one will meet on Monday mornings (9:00am-12:00pm) and one on Tuesday evening (6:00pm-9:00pm). These cohorts will meet 1 or 2 times per month, depending on the month. Registration is now open!

Excellence in Leadership is an experiential journey for any who wish to become more resilient, healthy, and creative in their lives and in their leadership. It is meant for people of all ages and in all stages of life: lay or rostered, council member or back pew sitter. As we navigate what the future may hold as people of faith, Excellence in Leadership provides opportunities to think adaptively and meet that future boldly.

For more information, please visit: rmselca.org/excellence-in-leadership

2022 Theological Conference

Sept 19-22, Park City, Utah

Exhausted?

Overwhelmed?

Need a break?

This year’s Theological Conference is for you! Join us Monday, September 19 at 4:00 p.m. until Thursday, September 22 at 11:00 a.m. at the DoubleTree in Park City, UT, and Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church--three miles away by bus, bike, or walk! (Kent Mueller can tell you how to get there from the airport by light rail and bus!)

Our program will focus on the power of connection and community; none of us makes it through life and ministry alone! We will learn about the effects of collective trauma on our communities and how to be resilient leaders. We will also have time to enjoy the beauty and opportunities of Park City.

The registration deadline is August 15, so register today. After August 15, refunds will not be possible for any reason. Registration includes hotel room, most meals, and program costs:

Single Room - $660.00

Double Room - $475.00

Commuter - $275.00

If you need a grant in order to be able to attend, or if you have any questions, don’t hesitate! Please contact Deacon Sarah Bjornebo at sbjornebo@rmselca.org or 303.970.025.

We are not providing transportation from Salt Lake City, but we encourage you to connect with colleagues and share rides as much as possible. Free parking is an amenity of the hotel, and Park City offers excellent public transportation; the bus stop is right in front of the hotel, and there is a bike/walk path the three miles to our church site. City bikes are next to the bus stop, and the golf course is located across the street.

More information on visiting Park City

More information about our hotel: The DoubleTree - Yarrow

Please register by August 15

Announcing the next Generosity Watch Parties

A series of 3 events: July 30, August 27, September 24

-- resources and connections for everyone that inspire and empower a culture of generosity. The Watch Parties are on Zoom from 10:00am to 11:15am on these three Saturdays:

July 30: "Practice Gratitude"

August 27: "Not Stewardship in a Box"

September 24: "Abundance Mindset"

Our time together is led by RMS staff, GSB Fundraising consultants, 3E leaders, EiL leaders and invited guests. Each presentation also provides a curated follow-up packet of relevant online resources on these topics from the Center for Generosity. Please register and you will receive the Zoom link prior to the session. Watch Party Registration

Questions? Contact Deb Elstad, 3E Associate Director for Stewardship at deb.elstad@gmail.com or Tina Kvitek, RMS Director of Development at tkvitek@rmselca.org.

RMS HUNGER MINISTRY TEAM

"Thirsting for Water"

Saturday, September 17

9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Are you wondering exactly what to think about the climate crisis and widespread drought whose stories fill our headlines almost daily? Where is God in all this news? What are the actual facts of the situation? What is a holy response we can undertake?

The Rocky Mountain Synod has an event coming up that will help you learn, discuss, ponder and consider personal actions to address this crisis and its impact on food production and hunger. You're invited to Thirsting for Water: At the Intersection of Climate, Water, and Hunger. It will take place September 17 from 9 am to 3 pm at Bethany Lutheran Church in Cherry Hills Village, CO, and via Zoom.

The registration link is live now at rmselca.org/events/thirstingforwater. Cost is $25 per person on-site (includes lunch) and $15 for Zoom participants. Register now!

Take Action and Take our Congregational Survey!

The Hunger Network submitted a resolution at the 2022 RMS Synod Assembly and it passed unanimously! The resolution calls upon congregations to take concrete steps to: increase their support of local hunger ministries, increase their awareness of hunger and poverty issues through educational resources developed by ELCA World Hunger, and to increase opportunities to financially support the work of ELCA World Hunger.

Here is a flyer with suggestions for how to implement this resolution in your congregation. AND click the button below to take the Congregational Hunger Ministry Survey. 

On Sunday, Sept. 11, congregations of the ELCA will join for “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday, our dedicated day of service. As you explore opportunities to participate, visit ELCA.org/DayOfService for planning resources including a tool kit, worship material, videos, posters, social media graphics and a special hymn for the day. As we continue our tradition of service to our neighbor, we remember the words of Martin Luther: “Our faith is a living, busy, active, mighty thing.” Plan your day of service.

FROM VICKY DAUB, VSCP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

" We Are All Here"

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.”- Acts16:25-28

“Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” Yesterday, I read these words as part of the reading for the 7^th Sunday of Easter during worship. In the past few days, I kept re-reading these words as I practiced for this reading.

In my role as the Executive Director of the Veteran Servant Corps Project (VSCP), a ministry of the Rocky Mountain Synod, I have been thinking about the phrase “we are all here”, especially in terms of the 18+ Veterans who complete suicide in our nation daily. Raising awareness around this issue is one our VSCP tenets. Are you and your congregation interested in joining in conversation around this important issue? Contact me, Vicky Daub, at Director@veteranservantcorps.org.

Are you interested in being part of our “We Are All Here” initiative by donating? Click the button below then select the General Fund Gift option, enter "Veteran Servant Corps Project" in the note/memo line. If you prefer to mail your donation, send it to the Rocky Mountain Synod, 7375 Samuel Drive, Denver, CO 80221, adding Veteran Servant Corps Project to the note portion of your check.

AMBASSADOR-GRAM SPECIAL EDITION

Are You the "Go To Guy"?

Are you the one who communicates with the men of your congregation; to call them together for events, keep them informed, announce service opportunities, etc?

If so, we would like to hear from you! We have found that by building better relationships, we can learn from each other, join efforts and grow men's ministry more effectively. We also would like to simply affirm your efforts.

So please, if you "wear this hat" at your church, identify yourself by emailing Dave Newman, LMM Director of Networking and Communications: david.newman@lutheranmeninmission.org. 

ONLINE MEETINGS

Blessed Youth: Breaking the Silence about Mental Illness with Children and Teens

Thursdays: July 28, Aug 25, Sept 22 - 7:00-8:00 pm

“Our kids are not okay. Our children and youth are hurting!” Those who know this are also hurting. You are invited to join a series of Thursday Evening Connections about the book, Blessed Youth: Breaking the Silence on Mental Illness and Teens and Children, and the “Survival Guide” by the Rev. Sarah Lund.

This book shakes up any lethargy about the plight of our youth’s mental health. It is a crisis. These Connections will be at 7 pm on zoom and are free. The facilitator is Deborah Berghuis, PhD, a trauma-informed, gender-affirming therapist who enjoys working with the members of the LGBTQA+ community, faith leaders, clinicians, and healthcare professionals. Rev. Lund will be in Boulder in person on Oct. 9-10. Her books are available online.

Join the zoom conversations: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4264420220.

This series is hosted by Atonement Lutheran Church, Boulder, Mental Health Ministry, and the Interfaith Network on Mental Illness (inmi.us). Questions, contact revalan2004@comcast.net.

AUGUSTANA ARTS PRESENTS

DOTSERO Jazz & Launch the Season Party!

Sunday, August 28, 2022

3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Join us for the ultimate end-of-summer party as we “Splash into Arts” and launch into our 25th season of arts and music! Bring your family, friends, and a blanket to sit on as you enjoy music by Colorado’s own DOTSERO jazz band. Beer, wine, sodas, and snacks will be available to purchase with all proceeds going to Music Encounters.

Tickets are $10 per person ($15 with an included drink coupon!). Children under 12 are free. Prices go up by $5 after August 25th.

In addition to music, snacks, and drinks, this is your final chance to bid on a stand from The ArtiStandza Project! Also, find out what’s in store for the 2022-23 Stratus Chamber Orchestra season, and meet our new conductor, Maestro Adam Torres!

Tickets available at augustanaarts.org/tickets. More info here, download flyer here.

ELCA SERVICE & JUSTICE

Life & Ministry in Palestine/Israel

Sunday, July31, 1:30pm

Rev. Gabi and Rev. Dr. Meghan Aelabouni serve as the ELCA's Area Desk Director for the Middle East and North Africa and the Theologian in Residence for the Middle East and North Africa Desk, respectively. With ties to the Rocky Mountain Synod (RMS), the Aelabounis are in Colorado this summer for their home assignment as mission personnel. In partnership with the RMS's Global Mission Committee and Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church, the Aelabounis are excited to tell their Global Service story and share about their life and ministry in Israel/Palestine with the RMS.

Join them on YouTube at youtu.be/wCRtn0no-Uw

Servant Stock: Urban Servant Corps' 35th Anniversary!

Sunday, July 31 from 11am-4pm at Advent Lutheran (7979 Meade St)

Get ready to boogie like it's 1987 (USC's founding year) at this Music Festival Event!

Live music by USC alumni and supporting band "The Hip Replacements" (members of Bethany Lutheran) will be sure to put you in a great mood! The SAME Cafe food truck will be there, too, along with yard games, bubbles, and friends galore! Where would you rather be on a sunny summer day? AND in celebration of the meaningful and faithful service of USC volunteers -- event better!

The Southwest California Synod serves the counties or portions of the counties of Kern, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura.

The Office of the Bishop of the Southwest California Synod of the ELCA is located on the traditional territory of the Chumash, Tongva, and Kizh people. The SWCA Synod rests on the traditional territory of over 11 different indigenous people. Here is one resource you can use to find out more information about the traditional keepers of the land on which you live, work or travel.

The Southwest California Synod is a Reconciling In Christ Synod, a Lutheran Restoring Creation Synod and a Jubilee USA Network Synod.

The synod is served by Bishop Brenda Bos, She is the first woman to serve as bishop in the Southwest California Synod, and the first openly lesbian bishop to serve the ELCA. Visit socalsynod.org/.

Click here for a map of our 65 ELCA synods and 9 regions.