May 18, 2021
Minneapolis Area Synod, ELCA Enews
Synod office update
Synod staff are celebrating the fact that the COVID-19 vaccine is becoming more accessible. Although the staff is now splitting time between working in office and remotely, the office will remain closed to public meetings. This re-entry plan will be evaluated after Memorial Day. 
ELCA World Hunger offers guide for "River of Life" VBS program
ELCA World Hunger has produced an At-Home Vacation Bible School Program Guide to help congregations prepare for another summer of pandemic summer programming. The guide adapts the new "River of Life" VBS program for use during times of physical distancing.

This year's VBS highlights how ELCAS World Hunger partners with the neighbors around the world in clean water projects, and it features activities, games, crafts, and even snack ideas.
Pandemic hair
“My office space itself also started getting a little sloppy. With no one else at the office, I started to roll tables from the conference room into my office and use tables instead of file folders. I had my info-for-the-enews pile, my crisis-communications pile, my payday-lending pile, my ecofaith pile, my Uprising pile, my narrative-budget pile, and so on. As colleagues stopped by the building to pick up mail, their hearts sunk as they peered through the window to my office.”
Light will again dawn as the NLC offers sacred music
The National Lutheran Choir plans to come back strong in our post-pandemic scene. As part of the preparation, and in an effort to support both live programming and virtual content, you are invited to "Light Dawns," an online concert planned for this next weekend -- Pentecost Sunday.

Sunday, May 23
4:00-5:15 p.m.
Online

If you have missed fine sacred choral music during the pandemic, tune in to this concert and start dreaming of when light will dawn and in-person choir concerts will again be available.
Mental Health Connect
plans Breakfast of Hope
The need for mental health support within our community increased steadily in the years leading up to Covid-19. This demand will likely continue past our return to a post-pandemic ‘normal.’ Learn how to live your life intentionally with nationally known speakers Kelli Nielsen and Joe Davis. Join in Mental Health Connect’s 3rd Annual Virtual Breakfast of Hope! 

Thursday, May 20
8:30-9:30 a.m.
 
Kelli Nielsen, "The Grief Guru," will speak about “Advancing Through Adversity.” Joe Davis, artist and educator, will speak about “The Healing Community and Vulnerability.” Joe employs poetry, music, theater, and dance to shape culture.

Funds raised from this event support the mission of Mental Health Connect, providing community-based resources, support, and education to improve access to mental health services and to connect individuals and families with the services they need.
Remembering
the Emmanuel 9
At the 2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, voting members adopted a resolution designating June 17 as a commemoration of the martyrdom of the Emanuel Nine — the nine people shot and killed on June 17, 2015, during a Bible study at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South
Carolina. A collection of resources is available to help synods and congregations mark this commemoration.

These resources can be adapted for virtual worship, online conversation, or
individual reflection and devotion. Synods and congregations are encouraged to mark this commermoration locally. Refreshed worshipo resources for the Commemoration of the Emanuel Nine are available in PDF and Word formats, including scripture suggestions for a commemoration service. Additional resources for marking this commemoration in synods and congregations can be found at ELCA.org/EmanuelNine.

If your synod or congregation is planning a dedicated, online commemoration service that you wish to share with others, email worship@elca.org.
2021 John Hope Franklin Annual Symposium in May
The theme of the 2021 John Hope Franklin Annual Symposium, held in Tulsa, Oklahoma, will be "The Future of Tulsa’s Past: The Centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre and Beyond." The staff and leadership of the Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod of the ELCA is inviting leaders from other synods to participate both in the symposium itself, and in a follow up conversation with Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod leaders immediately after the four-day event.

John Hope Franklin was a pre-eminent African-American historian and educator. He documented the civil rights struggle of African Americans, concentrating on Reconstruction to the Civil Rights Movement. The John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation keeps alive his commitment to truth telling and equity.

Wednesday, May 26-Saturday, May 29
Online

Following the symposium, on May 29, the synod will host a conversation via Zoom. This debrief will include Mr. Bill Horne, ELCA Vice President, and Ms. Judith Roberts, ELCA Senior Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton will conclude the discussion, scheduled 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Bells to ring Memorial Day
All congregations with bells are invited to ring them on Memorial Day, May 31, at noon, as part of the City of Bell's Community Bell Ringing event. The theme for this Memorial Day will be "Remembrance."

Other dates scheduled for City of Bells events are Independence Day, July 4, with a theme of "Unity," and Veteran's Day, November 11, under the theme of "Peace."

In addition to the church bells, the Liberty Bell at the Minnesota State Capitol will be rung by Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm; the Rev. Tim Hart-Andersen, Westminister Presbyterian; and Gov. Tim Walz.
Center for Addiction & Faith to preview of fall conference
"Addiction, Youth, and Families" will be the subject of a preview offering by the Center of Addiction and Faith at 11:00 a.m., May 27. CEU certificates are available.

Thursday, May 27
11:00 a.m.-noon, Central
Online

Young people are particularly susceptible to addiction and unsafe substance use. Working with families on prevention and healthy dynamics for treatment is critical in creating a culture of healing. This will be the theme of the October 7-9 conference. The May 27 offering with a panel of experts will help to make the dangers to watch for in young people more understandable.
Praying for other Region 3 synod assembly gatherings
Just as the Minneapolis Area Synod ("Jubilee Reclaimed: Opening the Door") has finished its 2021 synod assembly, so too have our Region 3 sibling synods from Northeastern Minnesota ("Love Ignites Us!"), Southeastern Minnesota ("Everlasting Faithfulness"), and Saint Paul Area Synod ("Waiting in Hope"). Please pray for those synods whose assemblies are yet to come:

  • Northwestern Minnesota Synod ("Wholly Devoted"), May 22
  • Western North Dakota ("Love God and People"), June 4
  • South Dakota Synod ("Journeying Together in Christ"), June 4-5
  • Southwestern Minnesota Synod ("God of Peace will be with You"), June 6, 11, and 12 (bishop election)
  • Eastern North Dakota Synod ("Living Well"), August 14-15
Where is the synod staff in upcoming weeks?
  • Pastor Craig Pederson will be preaching at Atonement Lutheran, Bloomington, on Sunday, May 23.
  • Pastor Norma Malfatti will be offering a farewell for Pastor Peter Johnson at St. Andrew Lutheran, East Bethel, on Sunday, May 23.
  • Pastor John Hulden will be preaching a children's sermon at Our Saviour's Lutheran, East Bethel, at a special outdoor service at the Chapel in Ham Lake for its Founder's Day worship, on Sunday, May 30.
  • Bishop Ann Svennungsen will be leading a Ministry Site Profile at St. Paul's Lutheran, Minneapolis, on Thursday, June 3.
  • Bishop Ann Svennungsen will be ordaining Dan Bielenberg at University Lutheran Church of Hope, Minneapolis, on Sunday, June 6.
  • Pastor Norma Malfatti will be preaching at the First Call Theological Education event on Monday, June 7.
  • Bishop Ann Svennungsen will be leading a Ministry Site Profile at House of Hope Lutheran, New Hope, on Sunday, June 13.
  • Pastor Norma Malfatti will be preaching at Tapestry, Richfield, on Sunday, June 20.
Upcoming Events
Minneapolis Area Synod, ELCA www.mpls-synod.org