Nineteen synodically recognized and affiliated organizations have been selected to receive funding from the synod's Gleaning From the Harvest Ministry Grant program. A total of $113,000 was awarded for exploration and experimentation in the areas of evangelism, racial justice, "we never did that before" and worship training/technology. With 74 applications submitted, the selection committee had their work cut out for them to evaluate the submissions.

Many of the awards represent multi-congregation partnerships or collaborations with educational institutions or other community organizations. Some initiatives focus on justice issues and racial equity work; others on community outreach, food programs or technology improvements. Congratulations to these organizations on receiving ministry grants:

Click here to read about each of the projects that received funding. Thank you to all who submitted applications...we were so impressed with your creativity and passion!

With the cancellation of this summer's ELCA Youth Gathering, a number of alternative events have emerged, thanks to the creativity and initiative of folks who don't want youth to miss out! Here are a few alternatives your congregation may wish to consider:

This camp offers daily worship and Bible studies, recreation and offsite service projects,musicians, speakers and campfires. There will be interaction with the local Native American culture, river canoe trips, swimming and paddle-boarding. Accommodations are "hotel-like." Special guests include David Scherer and Joe Davis, Jonathan Rundman Band, Rachel Kurtz and others. Registration is via youth group only for youth who have completed grade 6 and up. Space is limited; the cost is $400 per person, including four nights lodging and 11 meals. Reserve your expected group size ASAP or before Easter. Individual registrations will open on June 2 if space allows. Download a PDF. Visit the camp website.

This gathering is hosted by Humble Walk Lutheran Church in St. Paul and Pastor Jodi Houge. Registration opens April 5 for grades 8-12 for programming that includes worship, group activities, service projects, art, music, a field trip to Valleyfair and more. Special guests include Rachel Kurtz, Joe Davis, Austen Hartke, Osheta Moore and Jenny Sung. Registrants are asked to stay on-site at the host hotel, the Holiday Inn Express. Registration opens April 5. The estimated cost is $200, not including lodging. Learn more.

This event is an alternative to the ELCA's Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE), which was to precede the ELCA Youth Gathering. This event is for ELCA members who are Black, Indigenous, +/or People of Color who will be entering grades 9-12 in the 2022-23 school year and their youth group peers who are of European Descent. European Descent youth in these grades will acquire training in allyship to BIPOC people and experience and celebrate the cultures of our BIPOC youth in unique ways. Learn more.

Boundaries education is required for all rostered ministers in the Saint Paul Area Synod every three years. In 2022, there are three options for training that meet the requirements:

Choose the one that meets your financial and time realities and learning goals. If you are unsure how recently you participated in a workshop, contact Michael Gold in the synod office at michael.gold@spas-elca.org or 651-224-4313. Learn more and register.

Has your congregation registered your voting members yet? The Synod Assembly will be held Friday, May 13 (9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.) and Saturday, May 14 (9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) at St. Andrew's in Mahtomedi. Pre-registration is open through April 29. During this time, the registration fee is $65 per person. If you miss this window, you may register on-site at a cost of $75 per person. Questions? Contact the synod office at 651-224-4313.

Following the Biden administration's announcement about accepting up to 100,000 Ukrainians and others fleeing the Russian invasion, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) is planning to help those seeking safety in the U.S. You are invited to join its work of welcome. Visit the Ukraine Crisis Action Hub to learn more about these five ways you can help:

Youth ministry leaders - staff and key volunteers - are invited to join a discussion around caring for the LGBTQIA+ young people in our congregations. This meeting will be held over Zoom. Youth ministry leaders from the Saint Paul and Minneapolis Area Synods hold these gatherings monthly to encourage support, collaboration and inspiration.

This event is open to rostered ministers of the Saint Paul Area Synod. All rostered ministers in the synod (active and retired, seminarians, candidates and interns) are invited to attend this gathering as a time of reflection and personal refreshment during a busy Holy Week. The morning will include a service of Holy Communion, during which there will be a blessing of vocation for leaders. There will be an opportunity to renew the vows made at ordination, consecration and baptism. Please register by April 10. Masks are optional, per the current policy of our host congregation. Register here.

Last week, the synod's Advocates for Racial Equity (ARE) work group held a gathering on Zoom to learn about the Saint Paul Industrial School, which operated at one time as an Indian Boarding School in Clontarf, Minnesota. If you missed the Zoom call, we invite you to watch a recording of the presentation, which was led by the Rev. Gary Mills, reporter Mark Wasson and Ruling Elder Elona Street-Stewart:

"Abide" is the ELCA Young Adult online community open to young adults ages 18-35. Registration is now open for the spring series of a small group, six-week, online study designed to build community and to talk about what it means to abide in this moment. Groups will begin meeting on April 25. Learn more.

As part of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Area Synods' efforts to create understanding, learning and dialogue between Native and non-Native peoples, sacred site tours provide an opportunity to immerse ourselves in Minnesota history from a Native perspective. Our time together aims to create greater awareness and understanding of the Dakota people, the original people of this area, who too often are invisible in their homeland.

Join us as we experience Dakota history, culture and sacred sites through storytelling and are present to one another through silence/meditation/reflection and sharing. The Rev. Jim Bear Jacobs will lead us on extended walks at multiple sites. The tours begin at the Church of St. Peter in St. Paul. Learn more.

Registration for ELCA World Hunger's 2023 Domestic Hunger Grants is now open! Organizations applying for a grant for the first time must register by creating an account in ELCA GrantMaker to access the application once the window opens on April 18. If your organization is already registered in ELCA Grantmaker, now would be a great time to log back in and confirm that your contact information is still accurate. Learn more.

Informational Webinar - ELCA World Hunger will host a Zoom webinar on Wednesday, April 6, at 12 p.m. to review granting priorities and cover the basics of applying. Register here for the Zoom link. The webinar will be recorded and accessible via the Domestic Hunger Grant FAQ page.

Congregations with feeding ministries should also watch for the next round of Daily Bread Matching Grants in the coming months! ELCA World Hunger Daily Bread Matching Grants support congregations and their partners as they work toward a just world where all are fed. All ELCA congregations with feeding ministries are eligible to participate. These grants provide daily bread for neighbors experiencing hunger while also serving as a tool for ministry fundraising and capacity building. Registration and applications for the 2023 Daily Bread Matching Grant will open April 25, 2022. Learn more.

New York City recently opened the nation's first official overdose prevention center. This harm reduction strategy is used across the world but still runs afoul of federal law in the U.S. Charles King, CEO of Housing Works, will discuss this life-saving approach and explain why it matters for people of faith. Learn more.

John Noltner's exhibit features 58 compelling portraits and inspiring personal stories of reconciliation, peace and hope, gathered on a 40,000-mile road trip across the U.S. The multimedia project encourages dialogue around important issues and reflects Noltner's belief that art and storytelling can help individuals, organizations and communities articulate their deepest values and encourage action toward building social capital and community connections. Noltner's work has appeared in National Geographic, Forbes, Midwest Living and New York Daily News. He is a gifted storyteller and photographer who has worked on four continents gathering accounts of human courage, grace and resilience. He will also preach at Easter on April 3. The exhibit is free and open to the public. Discussion guides are available for individuals and groups. Learn more.

Organist Jacob Benda takes the 1921 Moller organ at St. Paul Reformation for a spin! Dr. Benda received his doctorate from the University of Louisiana studying under Herndon Spillman. He serves as director of sacred music at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Minneapolis. He has been featured on American Public Media's Pipedreams. A simple lunch follows the recital.

The National Lutheran Choir's spring concert features the world premiere of Lament of the Earth by composer Steve Heitzeg and celebrated poet Susan Palo Cherwien. Special guests include mezzo-soprano Clara Osowski and the Minnesota Boychoir. In-person admission is $35 for adults (free for 18 and under), but it will also be livestreamed at www.nlca.com and broadcast on Minnesota Public Radio. Learn more.

Read through new seasonal music, attend workshops, participate in a hymn festival and more at the Augsburg Fortress summer music clinics. Featured clinicians include Jan Kraybill (organ) and Tom Trenney (choral) and Amy Maakestad (handbells). Learn more.

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