November 23, 2021
Minneapolis Area Synod, ELCA Enews
|
|
LSS Metro Homeless Youth Services invites you to assist in brightening the lives of youth and children by participating in its annual Youth Holiday Gifts program. Individuals, families, and church groups may participate to bring hope and community connection!
Complete the sign-up form by November 20 to indicate how many youth you wish to support. You will receive your youth wish list(s) with labeling and drop-off instructions. Then shop for the gifts on the list(s), spending $75-$100 per youth or child. Gifts (clearly labeled and unwrapped) must be dropped off by Decrmber 10. Opportunities are also available to provide fill-in gifts for youth who enter programs after wish lists are sent.
|
|
|
|
A Singing Communion of Churches |
|
Be a servant companion at ELCA Youth Gathering |
|
During this Advent season, Lutheran World Federation (LWF) member churches are sharing hymns from their congregations to show how the Lutheran communion regions prepare for Christ’s coming into this world. This season offers time to reflect on and celebrate the diversity, uniqueness, and oneness of God’s gifts to us.
The churches offering hymns this year include the Lutheran Church in Singapore, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Romania, the Protestant Church in the Netherlands, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malawi, the Lutheran Church in Guyana, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. LWF World Service in Burundi and Angola will also share hymns.
The first hymn will be shared on 28 November which is the First Sunday of Advent and the last one on 24 December, Christmas Eve.
|
|
Young adults (19-30 at the time of the ELCA Youth Gathering) are now encouraged to apply to serve as a Servant Companion for the 2022 Gathering! Servant Companions will accompany congregational groups as they encounter and serve the people of Minneapolis during their Service Learning day.
Applicants should be comfortable leading a group, thinking on their feet, and speaking about their faith. Applications are open until January 22, 2022.
|
|
Support our companion synod's dream to start a university |
|
As Bishop Ann announced in her recent blog titled "In the legacy of Luther," the Minneapolis Area Synod is taking an audacious step by raising half-a-million dollars to bring to fruition the dream of a Lutheran University in Nigeria. This institution has been a dream of the leadership of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (with 2.5-million members). The Minneapolis Area Synod (MAS) is the LCCN's only companion synod.
MAS staff has produced resources for congregations and individuals to use as they prayerfully consider this synod-wide effort to raise $500,000 by December 31. (The Nigerian government wisely requires that sum to be in a bank account before granting approval of a new university, simply to prove viability over the long haul.)
You can help in a variety of ways:
|
|
-
Read the case statement for a Lutheran university and the commitment of the LCCN to bring it into being.
-
Check the synod's web page for resources, including a video about the effort by our synod to raise $500,000 with and for our companion synod (more information below).
- Consider your capacity to make a special thank offering for Archbishop Musa Filibus and the leadership of the LCCN and the university.
- Give in these ways:
- Text "LUN" to 44-321
-
Visit the website for online donation options
-
Contribute on Give to the Max Day
- Send a check to the synod office:
- 122 West Franklin Avenue, Suite 600, Minneapolis, MN 55404
|
|
- Pray for the fundraising effort and for the leadership of the Lutheran University Nigeria, including Archbishop Musa Filibus, who is also the President of Lutheran World Federation.
Thank you for any and all support you are able to offer in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to support the building of a university in our companion synod.
|
|
Learn more by watching a five minute video |
|
Archbishop Musa Filibus, Bishop Ann Svennungsen, Dr. Paul Pribbenow, and Rev. Mark Hanson came together to express their excitement for the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria's plan for a Lutheran University in North East Nigeria.
Take 5 minutes to listen to them talk about their dreams and visions for this audacious endeavor. You just might be inspired enough to support the effort.
|
|
|
National Lutheran Choir's Holy Spirit Mass now available |
|
Acting on prayer for justice |
|
The Holy Spirit Mass originated as a commission to commemorate the 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation — a practice that had marked previous Reformation anniversaries. The hope was to honor the progress between Lutherans and Catholics in finding common ground despite their theological differences. The National Lutheran Choir presented the world premiere of Holy Spirit Mass at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C. And now a recording is available exclusively as a CD.
|
|
“Since the HREI’s inception, Gethsemane members have been overwhelmingly supportive of the group and of their congregation engaging in conversation about topics that many other Christians believe the church should not address. Internally the congregation has been making efforts to engage in these conversations, which their current theme of worship, ‘Building a Welcoming Table,’ illustrates. Externally, members are also doing important work.” |
|
Placement and volunteer applications now open for Lutheran Volunteer Corps |
|
Applications open for
Young Adults in Global Ministry
|
|
The Lutheran Volunteer Corps is now accepting applications for both new placement sites and volunteers!
The Lutheran Volunteer Corps is a voluntary year of service for individuals 21+. Program members live in intentional communities with each other for the year while volunteering full-time at a nonprofit organization. Alongside this, they engaging in LVC programming centered around five core values: living simply and sustainably, intentional community, spirituality, journey to inclusive community, and social justice.
LVC has a long-standing connection with the Twin Cities nonprofit sphere, but also has locations in Omaha, Washington D.C., Baltimore, and Wilmington. Placements can apply for an in-person, hybrid, or fully virtual volunteer. This application has a priority deadline of December 15, 2021, with an extended final deadline no later than February 1, 2022 so that volunteers interested in this year of service can begin to think about and research placement sites they’re interested in. For more information about becoming a place check out the Placement page on the LVC website.
If you know someone interested in taking a year to explore intentional community building, peace-building, community organizing, and spirituality, send them to the Volunteer page on the LVC website to learn more about the application process. Volunteer applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with the first round of application review on February 15, 2022.
|
|
Applications to become a Young Adult in Global Mission for the coming service year are now open!
Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) is a one-year, international service-learning and faith-formation opportunity in churches and social service ministries for young adults, who are ages 21-29.
Young adults serve alongside Lutheran companion church bodies and organizations in one of ten country programs around the world, being shaped by the witness of our global neighbors in a cross-cultural journey of faith. For the 2022-2023 service year, country programs are projected to be Argentina/Uruguay, Cambodia, Central Europe, Jerusalem/West Bank, Madagascar, Mexico, Rwanda, Senegal, and the United Kingdom. (Due to the continued uncertainties presented by COVID-19, country programs for the 2022-2023 service year are subject to change.)
Areas of service include, but are not limited to, health and human rights, congregational ministry, education, environmental justice, and professional support and communications. All site placements provide opportunities for young adults to confront issues of wealth and poverty, racial privilege, gender privilege, economic disparity, and globalization, all through the lens of faith.
There is a priority deadline on January 15, 2022, with a final deadline on February 1, 2022. No further applications will be received after this day.
All applicants will receive a response by the end of February 2022. Specific country assignments are made at the mandatory Discernment-Interview-Placement (DIP) event, which will take place digitally March 24-27, 2022.
|
|
ELCA study guide on faith, sexism, and justice |
|
ELCA churchwide organization has released a study guide for this church’s newest social statement, "Faith, Sexism, and Justice: A Call to Action." The new study guide features six flexible sessions that can be customized for in-person gatherings, virtual discussions, or interactive virtual meetings. Each session incorporates prayers, videos, engaging activities, Scripture study, and invitations to live out the social statement’s call to gender justice in the world.
The study guide supports individuals, congregations, students, organizations and faith leaders as they explore gender justice to pursue equity for women and girls. “Because we rely on God as a God of promise, this church speaks about sexism and the harm it causes for all people,” reads the statement’s introduction. “Those who support gender justice are intent on righting gender-based wrongs that prevent the abundant and flourishing life God intends” (Faith, Sexism, and Justice, p. 14).
As Lutherans, we are called to serve the neighbor and affirm the diversity of God’s creation. Grounded in faith and love, we work for a gender justice that flows from the heart of Lutheran theology and cultivates abundant life for all people.
|
|
The National Lutheran Choir's 36th Annual Christmas Festival |
|
Join the National Lutheran Choir in person or online for this holiday season's offering "The Earth Adorned," which is the group's 36th annual Christmas Festival!
During "The Earth Adorned," attendees will view the birth of Christ alongside the beauty of this world through works for choir and instruments, including Aaron David Miller’s "Chanticleer," Paul John Rudoi’s "Orbit Carol," and the "Creation Suite" by Dr. Larry Fleming. The Earth Adorned will include community singing of carols, recitations of poetry, and more echoing through the Basilica of Saint Mary.
In person concerts will be held at the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis
Friday, December 10
4:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 11
8:00 p.m.
The concert can alos be streamed online:
Friday, December 10
8:00 p.m.
|
|
Where is the synod staff in upcoming weeks? |
|
-
Bishop Ann Svennungsen will be conducting a Ministry Site Profile at St. Peder's Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, on Sunday, December 5.
-
Pastor Norma Malfatti will be preaching at Lao Evangelical, Robbinsdale, on Sunday, December 5.
-
Bishop Ann Svennungsen will be installing Hierald Osorto at St. Paul/San Pablo Lutheran Church, on Saturday, December 11.
-
Pastor John Hulden will be preaching at Glen Cary Lutheran Church, Ham Lake, on Sunday, December 12.
-
Pastor Norma Malfatti will be preaching at Spirit of Joy, Buffalo on Sunday, December 12.
-
Bishop Ann will be attending Dale Peterson's retirement celebration at Faith Lutheran Church, Waconia, on Sunday, December 19.
-
Pastor John Hulden will be preaching at Faith Lutheran Church, Isanti, on Sunday, December 19.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
