Enews: Children's sermons and questions; apply for faith/neighboring cohorts; and more

January 31, 2023

Minneapolis Area Synod, ELCA Enews

Conference Assemblies occur over next three weeks

Clergy and lay leaders are invited to conference assemblies, especially voting members from each congregation. Find out when your conference assembly meets. If you don't know what conference your congregation is part of, go to this list of conferences by city.

Synod office update

Most synod staff members continue to work remotely on Mondays and Fridays. On Fridays the office is closed to the public, so meeting space will not be available and general inquiries may not receive a response until the following week. To mitigate the spread of COVID-19, we will adhere to the Minnesota Church Center building protocols and messaging on the sixth floor: “Masks are not required. However, masking is strongly recommended for those with symptoms or exposure. Masks available upon request.”

Look what I can do!

“The children’s sermon reminded me that all the fear and anxiety we have about connecting with our neighbors is significantly overblown. It takes a little curiosity, an eye for seeing gifts more than needs, and the courage to talk to someone you don’t know. And these are qualities I think our kids have more experience with and less anxiety about than adults. Maybe this is part of what Jesus meant when he called on each of us to “become like children.”

Read Nick's blog

Spots now open for congregations to engage

new faith and neighboring practices cohort

Over the past two years, 13 congregations in the Minneapolis Area Synod have been learning and experimenting with the small simple practices that sustain our relationship with God and neighbor as part of the Faith Practices & Neighboring Practices learning community. This initiative, funded by the Lilly Endowment, is committed to the idea that congregational vitality emerges from these relationships and the awareness of God’s activity in the places where we live and worship. Each month, learning cohorts meet to experiment with spiritual and community-based practices, to discuss where and how God is at work in the community, and to imagine what’s possible in our congregations and neighborhoods.

If your congregation is curious about what God is up to in your community and looking for a community of practice to learn alongside, consider applying for the second round of the Faith Practices & Neighboring Practices learning community. Together, we’ll learn to listen deeply to God and neighbor, to discern our own call as congregations, and to build authentic and creative relationships with our neighbors.

If you would like to apply, please complete this form. The Faith Practices & Neighboring Practices team will reach out to schedule a follow up conversation to determine if your congregation would be a good candidate for this learning community. If you have any questions, contact Nick Tangen.

Reclaim to gather in Minneapolis

Reclaim is a curated gathering for Lutheran people of African Descent of all ages and gender identities. The African Descent community thrives most when gathered.

Save the Date!

September 14 - 17

Central Lutheran and

Redeemer Lutheran

Early Bird Registration: $350

Standard Registration: $400

Late Registration $450

Young Adult Track: $300

Grounded in scripture, this gathering seeks to help participants feel Embodied, emboldened, and liberated in their identities. Over the four-day gathering, participants will engage in workshops, shared meals, and praise and worship designed to build and strengthen community, teach new skills, share resources, and rejuvenate weary souls.

Children's Ministry Gathering for February

February 14; 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Utepils Brewing

225 Thomas Avenue North, #700

Minneapolis

Meet other youth ministry folks to share ideas, learn from one another, and be supported. Part-time, full-time, pastors, and volunteers are all welcome to join this month's discussion on "Let's Talk about Sex!"

Annual Tool Kit workshops for congregational leaders

Join us for the Tool Kit on the morning of Saturday, February 11, 2023! Congregational leaders (lay and rostered) will be gathering at First Lutheran in Columbia Heights to get practical tools to bring back to their congregations. Workshops include topics like church council 101, how to connect with Deaf and/or hard of hearing neighbors, greening your church, and more! Watch the e-news for the next several weeks to see descriptions of the workshops. Registration is open until February 7!

Saturday, February 11

8:30 a.m., Check in

9:00 a.m., Event begins

First Lutheran Church of Columbia Heights

Check out the Tool Kit web page for a list of workshops and other updates.

Portico offers self-guided health program

Addiction and Lent: A Conversation with author Timothy McMahan King

Develop a ‘I can do this’ mindset: Deep breaths, time with loved ones, a good night’s sleep; … what are your best practices for keeping yourself centered and healthy?

If you’re looking to expand your toolbox, and you have ELCA-Primary health benefits, check out Learn to Live’s new course focusing on building resilience. Take the initial assessment and then enroll in the self-guided program at no out-of-pocket cost to you.

Lent is a time we feel the pain of loss and the promise of new life to come. It is a season that calls us to reflect on many of the same themes we see in stories of addiction and recovery. Churches and pastors across the country have found Lent a helpful time to engage their congregations and communities in reflection on the challenges of addiction in our society and the hope the church can bring for healing.

Thursday, February 9: 11:00 a.m. - Noon: Online

Join CAF board member and author Timothy McMahan King to talk about how you can engage your church around addiction issues this upcoming Lenten season. Participants will receive a free study guide and have the opportunity to sign up for the author to join your book group for a virtual Q&A for free. Learn more and register.

Early Ministry Imagination Grant recipient goes national

Boundless magazine (see pages 14 and 15) recently featured a fun article about the Gather Network, a space for young adults to come together for fellowship, worship, community, and discussion. Gather, which originated as an initiative within the Minneapolis Area Synod, now has a national focus, with expansion plans as far away as Denver, Kansas City, Phoenix, and D.C.

As the concept for Gather was coming together, a Ministry Imagination Grant from the synod provided seed money. A video of the initial effort was produced by the synod. The property sale of several closed congregations provided the initial resources for the Ministry Imagination Grant program. Congregations with innovative ideas and energy, but a little short of "risk capital," wrote simple applications to participate. Grace University Lutheran Church applied on behalf of the Gather initiative.

Watch this space in upcoming weeks as the Ministry Imagination Grant project ramps up for another round of funding. (The photos for this article are credited to our synod's own Jessica Holleque and Stephanie Anderson.)

Minnesota Council of Churches Refugee Resettlements partners with congregations

For 35 years Minnesota Council of Church (MCC) Refugee Services has welcomed, served, and supported more than 10,000 refugees in Minnesota. Congregations have partnered with MCC in service to those seeking freedom from persecution and the chance to begin new lives filled with hope, opportunity, and dignity. MCC cannot do this faith-filled work alone. Resettlement agencies rely on the support of the community to effectively welcome and set individuals on a path from surviving to thriving!

Pat Ruiz de Somocuria is willing to speak with church councils, social concerns committees, or adult forums to share about refugee resettlement and the ways in which congregations can be involved. Activities range from organizing a donation drive to taking a family to Como Zoo to providing conversational English practice to co-sponsorship of a newly-arriving family – the best community support refugee families could hope for as they grow and enrich the world around them.

Synod expresses hope to come "back from the brink"

In recent years the Minneapolis Area Synod, meeting in assembly, has passed resolutions concerning nuclear weapons and the prospect of the use of nuclear weapons. Included in the resolutions was an endorsement of the Back From the Brink campaign, an effort committed to coming "together to prevent the growing threat that nuclear weapons pose to our health, environment, and all we hold dear." The synod has now joined as a signatory such other faith groups as the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Board for Church and Society of the United Methodist Church, the Episcopal Church, and the United Church of Christ.

Commission etablished to re-evaluate the structure of the ELCA

The 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly directed “the Church Council to establish a Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church comprised of leaders of diverse representation from all three expressions that, working in consultation with the Conference of Bishops and the Church Council, shall reconsider the statements of purpose for each of the expressions of this church, the principles of its organizational structure, and all matters pertaining thereunto, being particularly attentive to our shared commitment to dismantle racism, and will present its findings and recommendations to the 2025 Churchwide Assembly in preparation for a possible reconstituting convention to be called under the rules for a special meeting of the Churchwide Assembly.” At its November 2022 meeting, the Church Council authorized the establishment of a Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church (CRLC) to consist of no more than 35 voting members. It directed the Executive Committee of the Church Council to initiate the process of forming the commission.

The commission will be composed of three voting members from each region of this church, for a total of 27, and up to eight at-large voting members. The member's role will be to represent the interests of this whole church while also bringing the perspective of the member’s geographical area and being mindful of other considerations.

The open nomination process allows for self-nomination or the nomination of others. The deadline for nominations is March 9.

For more information

To nominate

Application deadline for YAGM draws near

The final application deadline for Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) is February 1. This is your last chance to apply! If you’re a young adult aged 21 to 29, you can apply for an international service year that will shape your faith, career, identity, and understanding of how you fit into God’s work in the world. YAGM volunteers will begin their service in August 2023. Learn more at elca.org/YAGM.

Spring Convocation for United Theological Seminary planned

Dr. Munjed M. Murad will deliver United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities' convocation message under the theme of "Loving God and the Neighbor" when he is installed as the Johnson-Fry Endowed Chair in World Religions and Intercultural Studies. Dr. Murad also makes institutional history as United's first full-time Muslim scholar and faculty member, as well as project director for the school's Eco-Justice program.

Thursday, February 9

12:15 p.m.

United Chapel and online

A light lunch will follow the ceremony. Learn more .

Where is the synod staff in upcoming weeks?

Bishop Ann Svennungsen will be leading a forum at Tree of Life Lutheran, Minneapolis, on Tuesday, January 31.
Ms. Emilie Bouvier will be leading an adult forum at Advent Lutheran, Maple Grove, on Wednesday, February 1.
Pastor Craig Pederson will be leading a church council training session at Christ Lutheran, Blaine, on Saturday, February 4.
Bishop Ann Svennungsen will be preaching at Lord of Life Lutheran, Ramsey, on Sunday, February 5.
Bishop Ann Svennungsen will be leading a Ministry Site Profile review at Servant of Christ Lutheran, Champlin, on Sunday, February 5.
Bishop Ann Svennungsen will be leading an adult forum at Bread of Life Deaf Lutheran, Minneapolis, on Sunday, February 12.
Pastor John Hulden will be leading a Ministry Site Profile review at Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran, Minneapolis, on Sunday, February 12.
Pastor Craig Pederson will be installing Pastor Jason Van Hunnik as senior pastor at Westwood Lutheran, St. Louis Park, on Sunday, February 12.
Pastor Norma Malfatti will be attending Pastor Elise Pokel's farewell at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Minneapolis, on Sunday, February 12.
Bishop Ann Svennungsen will be ordaining and installing Savannah Olaphson into the Ministry of Word and Service at Immanuel Lutheran, Eden Prairie, on Sunday, February 19.
Pastor Norma Malfatti will be preaching and leading an adult forum at Zion Lutheran, Anoka, on Sunday, February 19.
Pastor John Hulden will be preaching at Maple Grove Lutheran, Maple Grove, on Sunday, February 19.
Pastor Craig Pederson will be attending the farewell for Pastor Erik Sevig at Community of Christ Lutheran, Bloomington, on Sunday, February 19.
Bishop Ann Svennungsen will be installing Pastor Jay Carlson at Holy Cross Lutheran, on Sunday, February 19.
Bishop Ann Svennungsen will be leading a Ministry Site Profile review at Bethlehem Lutheran, Minneapolis, on Monday, February 20.

Upcoming Events

Courageous Leadership Webinars , Wednesdays
Conference Assemblies, Various dates in February
EcoFaith Summit, February 4
Tool Kit for Congregational Leaders, February 11
A Story of Hope from the Holy Land, February 11
Youth Ministry Gathering, February 14
Trauma and Its Healing, February 21
"George Floyd Woke Me Up. Now What?," with David Scherer and Joe Davis, March 12
Youth Ministry Gathering, March 14
Spring Ministerium, March 23
Youth Ministry Gathering, April 11
2023 Synod Assembly, April 28-29
Western States Youth Gathering, July 4-6
Rostered Ministers Gathering, July 17-20
Bishop's Theological Conference, September 24-26

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