Registration is now open for Tool Kit for Congregational Leaders, happening on Zoom Saturday, Feb. 27. This free event is geared toward council and committee members, staff, volunteers or others who are interested in topics related to congregational life.

We'll begin will a keynote by Dr. Michael Osterholm, who will assess where we're at with the pandemic and what the future might hold for churches. After his keynote, we'll break off into these seven workshop offerings:

Learn more and register.

Conference Assemblies are an opportunity for the six geographical regions of our synod to gather and caucus, which may include electing representatives, considering resolutions and hearing about synod activities. This year, we'll gather on Zoom.

Registration is limited to rostered ministers, lay voters designated by their congregations, and advisors (retired pastors or deacons or rostered ministers on leave from call). Advance registration by Feb. 9 is required; no late registrations will be accepted. Learn more and register.

Thank you to all who continue to support the work of Local Mission here in the Saint Paul Area Synod. Our new starts and redevelopments are making beautiful connections in their communities as together we serve God.

On Jan. 18, our country celebrates the life of American civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. There are many ways to remember and honor Dr. King; here are a few events happening around our synod:

As we lean into a year with further determination to combat racism in all its forms after the death of George Floyd, Church Anew will provide a virtual worship service that is free for any congregation to use on Sunday, Jan. 17. Produced in partnership with several local African American clergy and leaders, this worship service features:

The worship service can be viewed by visiting the Church Anew website or downloaded and shared on congregational websites. It will be available on Jan. 12.

Dr. Kenneth Wheeler will be preaching during the congregation’s online MLK weekend worship services. Learn more and register.

A panel discussion from Luther Seminary. Learn more and register.

This pre-recorded intergenerational “Ted Talk” style event features speakers on the theme of "Show Up." In the words of poet Joe Davis, “We are each called to this place. We each have the ability to be. If you don’t show up, how can we hear you?” The video will also include children’s book readings, and a virtual poem read by various people. The event will be a YouTube Premiere, which will be shared on https://fb.me/e/3ZwmwVu8d. The community service project will go to H-Cubed, an intentional, community-centered open mic and healing space where they share art, poetry, music, and conversation around issues impacting the Harrison Neighborhood in North Minneapolis.

By nature, many of the things churches do in worship and ministry fall under copyright laws - printed bulletins that include hymn text or tunes, projection of lyrics or liturgy and streaming to the internet (whether Facebook, YouTube, Zoom or a website).

Join us on Zoom this Thursday to hear it all explained by Michael Moore, Rights Management Specialist, Content Management, for 1517 Media. This session is for pastors and deacons, worship leaders, musicians, communicators, Christian Education staff and anyone else who wants (or needs) to learn about churches and copyrights. There's no fee to participate! Register here.

Join Julie Vagle and Rachelle Gill to discuss what Children’s Ministry might look like in 2021. What did we learn in 2020 and what’s new for 2021? This gathering is offered jointly by the Saint Paul and Minneapolis area synods.

Join the Zoom Meeting:

Meeting ID: 863 7898 4014

Passcode: 401507

Join with Dr. Diane Jacobson, professor emerita of Luther Seminary in Old Testament studies, to explore the significance of the biblical vision of Jubilee Year for the 50th year of Earth Day and beyond. This is the second part in a series (the first was Called to Arise: Racism, Inequality and the Environment). Registration is open at https://bit.ly/3aNjkwB. A spring series, Called to Arise: Death to Resurrection, will be held on Tuesdays in March. The series is offered by a collaboration of the EcoFaith Network and Together Here Ministries of the Northeastern Minnesota Synod and the Care of Creation Work Group of the Saint Paul Area Synod.

Explore these and other questions in the context of our faith with other wonderers through storytelling, introspection and studying of Scripture. There's no cost to participate. The registration deadline is Jan. 20. Questions? Contact Deacon Krista Lind at krista.lind@spas-elca.org. Register.

With the continuing pandemic, more congregations are asking how to use technology to hold necessary meetings to conduct official business. An updated FAQ document (revised 12-15-20) for congregations with considerations for electronic meetings is now available. For your reference, Minnesota law requires a provision to be in an organization's bylaws for a meeting to be held electronically. You will need to check your congregation's constitution. (This is part of the second question in the document about state laws.)

Every Wednesday at 11 a.m., the synod's ENGAGE work group hosts an online conversation around gun violence prevention. You may request the access code by emailing ronletnes@hotmail.com. Many resources are also available for your study and use at www.engageelca.org.

This Friday is the application deadline for the ELCA's Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) program for 2021-2022! If you're a young adult ages 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.

Through YAGM, you'll learn what it means to serve in a spirit of accompaniment as you walk alongside global church companions. You'll immerse yourself in new community and form deep relationships with the people you meet. And you'll confront issues of wealth and poverty, racial privilege, gender privilege, economic disparity and globalization, all through the lens of faith. Learn more and apply on the ELCA website.

The synod no longer has a use for a three-drawer file cabinet. Dimensions are 41” tall, 36” wide and 18” deep. Free to a new home—the only requirement is that you must be able to come to the synod office to pick it up.

If you’re interested, contact Office Manager Alicia Rodriguez at alicia.rodriguez@spas-elca.org.

The synod office is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A limited number of staff are on-site each day. You may continue to reach all staff members by phone (651-224-4313) or by email.

Rostered and lay leaders are invited to a weekly gathering of topical presentations designed to provide encouragement and support for ELCA leaders. On Jan. 13, Amy Reumann from ELCA Advocacy will lead a discussion on Discipleship and Civic Engagement. Recordings of past sessions are available at www.elcacoaching.org/podcasts/media. Upcoming topics and presenters may be found at www.elcacoaching.org/.

or by phone: +1 312 626 6799

Cherish All Children invites you to join Joy McElroy & Monica Jones in learning how you can keep youth safe online in your own homes and communities. As youth spend more time than ever online these days, predators have adjusted to reaching young people where they are - whether on social media apps, games, or school-issued devices.

We’ll discuss vulnerabilities in youth that make it easier for someone to take advantage of them, security features and safety planning, what if scenarios, and where to go to get help if needed. This event is for church leaders, parents, grandparents, community members, and youth! Register here for this free virtual event & to receive the Zoom link.

Our criminal justice system mostly treats those struggling with addiction as criminals. Treating those with substance abuse issue as criminals is morally wrong. As people of faith, we should respond with compassion and understanding to those who are sick and to pursue avenues of treatment rather than punishment. We should seek to heal, not to condemn. This webinar will show how churches can “break their silence” on drug use and addiction and why they have a moral imperative to do so. The webinar will be led by the Rev. Al Sharp, executive director of Clergy for a New Drug Policy, which mobilizes clergy nationally to end the war on drugs. Click here to register for this free webinar.

Following the presentations we will hear from student respondents, and there will be time for questions Register here.

This series of programs strives to break down the stereotyping of people of color by celebrating their diverse voices and experiences. In this event, Black, Indigenous and People of Color traditional healers discuss the traumas of 2020 and the role traditional healing plays in communities of color – from the changing needs of clients due to COVID-19 to the murder of George Floyd. Speakers include: Ihotu Ali, a founding member of the Minnesota Healing Justice Network; Janice Bad Moccasin, traditionally and spiritually based healer from Dakota Lakota grassroots; Didi Koka, MD, poet and Medical Director of HCMC East Lake Clinic; Houa Lor, Hmong Shaman; Resmaa Menakem, author of My Grandmother’s Hands; and Sun Yung Shin, poet, biodynamic craniosacral therapist and Reiki practitioner. The free program was founded and curated by writer Carolyn Holbook. It is funded by Wisdom Ways Center for Spirituality and Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Registration is required.

Addiction issues of every kind are at an all-time high during the pandemic. Addiction takes many forms—not just substance abuse but unhealthy behaviors that hurt individuals and whole families. Our entire community is negatively impacted by this issue in a variety of ways.

The Center of Addiction and Faith is offering Addiction Team Ministry Training to help address this serious problem. As we come out of this pandemic, your congregation can be preparing to understand these issues and how they can be addressed in healthy and healing ways. The training is a six-month process that includes a congregational readiness assessment, leadership training, team recruitment, team training, and follow up coaching sessions. The process works as follows:

These trainings are led by Faith Partners (www.faith-partners.org) which has been training congregations in addiction ministry for over 25 years. They provide a thoughtful four-step process to start an effective, sustainable ministry to address the needs of the whole congregation. Informed clergy supported by committed and trained congregational team members will offer help and hope through awareness, education, and recovery support.

There is room for up to 10 congregations to participate. The cost per congregation is $750 with $125 due at registration. For more information, contact Pastor Ed Treat at pastored@addictionandfaith.com. Click here to register.

www.spas-elca.org | 651.224.4313