December 8, 2020
Minneapolis Area Synod, ELCA Enews
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Leading with Love by getting real about debt |
Student loan debt, medical debt, credit card debt, predatory lending debt. If we’re going to transform the systems that financially enslave us, we’re going to have to start telling our stories and getting specific, even when we’d rather present like everything’s fine. Our debt impacts our health, our choices, and our ability to participate in financial stewardship the way we’d like to. The Church needs to be having this conversation.
Thursday, December 15 (Note date correction)
9:30-10:30 a.m.
The Church is well-positioned to be having this conversation. In this presentation we’ll practice sharing stories and hear from church leaders who have facilitated honest conversations about personal finances in their congregational ministry.
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50th Anniversary of Lutheran ordination of women |
2020 marks the 50th anniversary of ordination of women in the predecessor bodies of the ELCA. The Minneapolis Area Synod would have commemorated this historic occasion at the 2020 Synod Assembly, if not for COVID-19 outbreaks cancelling that event.
Eventually, with the pandemic continuing, the rostered leaders of the synod were able to celebrate this anniversary during the Fall Joint Ministerium with the Saint Paul Area Synod in late October. The event was recorded and is available for viewing. A commemorative program was prepared for participants.
Congregational leaders are encouraged to use these and other materials to commemorate in congregations the 50th Anniversary of the ordination of women, a gift that continues to reap benefits for the ELCA today.
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Synod announces Director of Faith and Neighboring Practices position |
The Director of Faith and Neighboring Practices will coach three cohorts of five congregations for two two-year cycles on faith and neighboring practices for the Minneapolis Area Synod, ELCA. The goal is to increase the vitality of the congregation through deeper connection to God and better understanding how God is already at work in the communities surrounding the congregation. This person will be grounded in both spiritually-centered faith practices and faith-based community organizing methodology. Resumes due by Jan 4, 2021. |
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This Christmas, send a "Good Gift" |
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Make a difference with your giving this holiday season. Support ELCA Good Gifts! During this year of global pandemic, consider giving a gift to people you don't even know in the name of people you love. Give a goat or piglet, pay school fees and a school uniform for a girl, or make a microloan to an entreprenuerial woman. |
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YAGM applications
being accepted again
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Applications are now being accepted for the ELCA's Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) program for the 2021-2022 program year. Young adults ages 21 to 29 can apply for an international service year that will certainly shape your faith, career, identity, and understanding of how you fit into God's work in the world. A spirit of accompaniment drives this work with global companions. |
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LSS hosts a Sponsor A
Youth holiday gift program
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Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS) invites congregations or individuals to brighten the lives of young people through its Sponsor A Youth holiday gift program. To participate, complete the sponsor form by Friday, November 20. A wish list with specific instructions will be sent after that date. Then, shop for the gifts, spending $75-$100 per youth. Gifts can be dropped off at an LSS site on designated days and times between December 4 and 11.
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Is it time to "recharge" your youth workers? |
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Recharge is a one-day, multicultural, multi-denominational conference created to inspire and equip church staff and their volunteers serving in children and youth ministry. Regional participation means people from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota -- from 30+ denominations -- will attend.
Saturday, January 9 - 9:30 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.
Online
Keynote speakers include:
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Bob Goff, author of the New York Times bestselling Love Does and Everybody, Always and his latest book, Dream Big.
- Dr. Virginia Ward, dean of the Boston Campus and executive director of the Northeast Region of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
Participants may attend up to three workshops on digital ministry, personal growth, or age-specific ministry.
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New start congregations create Christmas cards |
Cristo Obrero, Amazing Grace Hmong Church, and Tapestry are three of the synod's multicultural, new start congregations. The youth of these three congregations worked together to create Christmas cards, available for purchase, as a fundraiser for their churches.
Cards are six for $12 or a dozen for $22. (There are six different designs.) Payment can be made via Venmo @Cristo-Obrero; or a check can be made out to Christo Obrero and sent to:
c/o Cross of Peace Lutheran
1506 Wood Duck Trail
Shakopee, MN 55379
All proceeds from the sale of these cards support these three ministries.
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Following in the Japanese tradition of creating a thousand paper cranes as a prayer for healing and peace, on December 5, 2020, Kazuhiro Sekino led a a team of a half dozen friends in hanging cranes throughout Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. In an effort to encourage hsopital patients and medical workers, 16,000 paper cranes were strung using wire, net, strings, and some additional decorations. In order to stay COVID-compliant, the cranes hang from an untouchable height.
Kazuhiro Sekino is a Lutheran pastor from Tokyo going his Clinical Pastoral Education residency at Abbott Northwestern hospital.
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Where is the synod staff in upcoming weeks? |
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Minneapolis Area Synod candidates ordained for service elsewhere |
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Bishop Amy Odgren will be ordaining Patty Bjorklund at Oak Knoll Lutheran, Minnetonka, on Saturday, December 12. Patty has been called to First Lutheran, Brainerd, beginning December 8.
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