Synod Assembly will once again take place via zoom, with congregational voting members attending together. More information can be found here or on the RMS website

The 26 colleges and universities that are affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America recently collaborated on a joint statement of what it means to be a college of the church in the 21st century. “Rooted and Open” names a “common calling that is deeply rooted in the Lutheran intellectual tradition and boldly open to insights from other religious and secular traditions.” (2) For these colleges and universities — St. Olaf included — Lutheran identity continues to play out in its vision for education, a vision grounded in particular theological themes and embodied practices...

I am grateful for how you welcomed me and my husband Larry during the various Synod Conference Zoom presentations held between June and October. You listened, asked thoughtful questions, affirmed us, and made wonderful suggestions. After these gatherings, you brought forward more ideas, and suggested people as potential Board Members. And you prayed.

I am humbled and grateful for the Board members that have joined me in this mission. Thank you, friends, for your ideas and enthusiasm. I look forward to working with you in 2021 and beyond.

Without further ado (drum roll, please!), I introduce you to the Veteran Servant Corps Project website. You can find our website at https://www.rmselca.org/veteran-servant-corps-project.

Enjoy, and in behalf of all the Veterans and their families Veteran Servant Corps Project will serve, THANK YOU! Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Please join us if you are interested in learning more about the work of ELCA World Hunger. Send your name, email address and preferred phone number to the Hunger Team Chair, Carol McDivitt: mcdivittc@mindspring.com by December 10!

Christmas is all about memories and celebrating with one another. We love to share our memories of the things we’ve done, important gatherings and experiences, the food we ate, and best of all, the great music we love. Join Stratus Chamber Orchestra’s Music Director David Rutherford and his wife Pearl for “At Home with the Rutherfords.” Throughout the evening, members of Stratus Chamber Orchestra will provide heartfelt performances of unforgettable Christmas and Holiday favorites.

Registration is required and a “shopping list” and menu will be available to download approx. two weeks prior to the event.. Join with your friends virtually as we also invite your comments, photos, and more throughout the culinary concert and holiday season. There is no admission fee, however, a suggested donation of $50 for two is appreciated in support of Stratus Chamber Orchestra and Augustana Arts. Go

Discover the tools you need to safely explore the meanings of your dreams in small groups. If you want a chance of having a dream fragment explored, bring a snippet of a dream. A single scene or symbol is good for this introductory work, and it can be recent or from decades ago. With twenty years of experience, Laura is happy to help you explore your dreams.

Laura K. Deal is a certified Facilitator in Group Projective Dream Work through Jeremy Taylor’s Marin Institute for Projective Dream Work. Laura is the author of The Newcomer’s Guide to the Invisible Realm: A Journey Through Dreams, Metaphor, and Imagination. Learn more at www.FirstChurchofMetaphor.com.

Hosted by Atonement Lutheran Church, Boulder and the Interfaith Network on Mental Illness (www.inmi.us). Join Zoom Meeting at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4264420220

It has been said that music can heal the wounds that medicine cannot touch. For centuries people have experienced the healing power of music, but lately scientists have studied the benefits of music on people's mental and physical health and have discovered that music can relax the mind, energize the body, and even help people better manage pain. In this conversation, we will spend a little bit of time examining some of the research that has been conducted on music and its healing powers, and more time sharing in that healing together, as we listen to and watch performances of some of our favorite music. Paula Nichols will lead the conversation. If you have a particular piece of music that you would like to have shared, please email her at p.nichols55@gmail.com. Paula is the Director of Music at Atonement Lutheran Church in Boulder and has taught music in schools for over 35 years.

FAB's 6-week Winter Session begins on Jan. 19, and registration is now open! Courses include: History of Women Artists, America and the Cold War, American Life Through Broadway Musicals, Pioneer Women of the Movies, and more! We hope you will join us for these captivating courses. Individuals 50+ are welcome, please share with your friends and family! FAB will also be hosting lectures in early January. Join us as JPL's Luis Velasco talks about the Perseverance Rover and the challenges leading up to the February landing, and Eleanor Schrader takes us on a journey out West through Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture. Lectures are open to all. Check out our flyer, and for more information visit: https://www.callutheran.edu/centers/lifelong-learning/fifty-better/

All of you who love Creation are invited to the monthly Care for Creation Team meeting on Zoom on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 10:00 a.m. at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83008940316. Questions, contact Pastor Alena Amirato at pastoralena@yahoo.com.

Electric vehicles (EVs) are a “no regret” choice and always a greener option than those vehicles running on fossil fuels. They are fun to drive, have no problem in the hills, and contribute less to bad air quality. EVs are great commuter cars. Drive one for business and get the $.57 per mile tax deduction even though the only real cost will be new tires! Range? Newer EVs have a range of 150-300 miles. If the heater or air conditioner are used, the range diminishes; but charging stations are popping up all over—maybe even at your work place. At home, your new EV will charge overnight in your regular, 120v garage outlet. If you install a 240v outlet, charging time is reduced considerably--to about 3 hours.

Issues of range, charging speed, and cost are real; but, as batteries improve, these issues will become less problematic. Incentives (rebates) from manufacturers are often available if you buy a new EV. Always check for state and federal tax credits as they seem to come and go. Buy used, and prices are lower by quite a bit. Winter driving conditions are not a problem. Electronic traction and a low center of gravity make for good handling in snowy weather. Oh, and they run so quietly that pedestrians often do not notice them; so careful driving is very important. Most importantly, EVs offer enormous hope for reducing carbon emissions in the coming years.

Join us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/153008509368206

Christmas should be a happy season. But it's hard to sing "Joy to the World" when sadness engulfs your heart. The reality of life-memories of the past and the pain of the present-can leave many people feeling less than merry in December. Read the story.

Register now to participate in our Blue Christmas Service at 7 p.m. CST on Monday, December 21, 2020, via Zoom. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

The RMS insert for your annual reports is available here along with other resources to share about our life together as church:

2020 Annual Report covers are now available for download in two versions. One is individual pages. The other is a two-page spread across 11x17 paper. Both can be downloaded at Stewardship resources: https://www.elca.org/Resources/Stewardship#Leadership, or below.

Joy Lutheran Church in Parker, CO is seeking a part-time facility/security manager. Job description available here. Resumes and cover letters may be be sent to resumes@joylc.org by Friday, December 18, 2020.

St. John's Lutheran Church in Thornton, Colorado is seeking a bi-lingual candidate for our Community Connection ministry to develop relationships in our local community through our Early Learning Center and technology ministries. We're a welcoming and inclusive community that fosters connection to God, each other and the community.

This part-time (20-25 hrs/wk) position reports to the Pastor and works with the Office Manager, ELC Director and Technology Team to support the congregation’s ministry.

Job description here. For more info, write to: gracepastor2@gmail.com.