On Sunday, Sept. 12, ELCA congregations will come together for “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday, a dedicated day of service. As church, we are guided by our life in Christ to share the love of Jesus and serve our neighbors — even if these acts of service take place from our homes, outdoors or from a safe distance because of ongoing pandemic concerns. As you explore opportunities to participate, visit ELCA.org/DayOfService for planning resources including a tool kit, videos, posters, social media graphics and a special hymn for the day.

Prayers, hymn suggestions and considerations for preaching for use on this Sunday are available in PDF and Word formats.

Custom graphics, posters and postcards to promote your day of service are available here! Join together in word and song with a worship resource and special hymn.

The Faster Pastors Team will be running the Flaming Foliage Relay from Idaho Springs to Buena Vista September 10-11. The course covers 165 miles, 30 legs, 3 mountain passes (Guanella, Georgia, and Fremont), and 31 miles of single track trails. 

If you would like to support the Faster Pastors, please reach out to one of the team members to find out how to contribute through them or email Joel Pancoast. If you contribute directly to LIRS at Make a Donation Today | LIRS, please let a team member know so that we can celebrate our total contributions.

Join Pastor Michael TeKrony on a journey of photography and spiritual reflection at Messiah Mountain Retreat Center, located in Indian Hills, a short drive into the foothills on Highway 285 (map).

Michael says, “The camera invites us to pay attention to what is right in front of us. When we focus, either near or far, God comes into view. Using the camera lens, my hope is that we can practice and grow in our awareness of God, right in front of us.”

You will provide your own cell phone camera or other photography equipment.

Messiah Mountain is a gift to the Rocky Mountain Synod recently given by Messiah Community Church, which acquired the 27 acre mountain retreat in1969. This day-long experience is limited to 20 participants. Cost is $24 and includes lunch.

Excellence in Leadership is an opportunity meant for you, whoever you are. So many opportunities we hear about are reserved for those with certain skills, certain degrees, certain positions. Excellence in Leadership is not one of those things. The tools, resources, and practices which are taught and engaged with during this two-year journey are helpful for many people in many walks of life.

This week, the ELCA Youth Gathering Team hosted its official kick-off event. That video can be viewed here: https://fb.watch/6_EhEVTtPK/

And we are excited to start thinking about traveling to Minneapolis next summer! Bryan Jaster is serving as our synod coordinator for this gathering cycle, and we are hosting some monthly events to help adult leaders and youth ministry professionals be as prepared as possible.

Join us on ZOOM for an important information session on Sep 9! The webinars will be recorded. For more information contact: bryan@bethany-denver.org.

Save the Date! St Marks Aurora, Our Saviour’s, Zion, King of Glory, LuMin CSU and members of the youth council invite you to join them on a youth retreat weekend! More information to come.

September 12, 2021, 9:30 a.m. – Adult Education Forum at First Lutheran in Colorado Springs, Colorado in the Fireside Room. Vicky Daub (Executive Director) will be teaching.

September 26, 2021, 9:00 a.m. – Vicky Daub (Executive Director) will be preaching at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran, Canon City, Colorado.

October 17, 2021, 8:15 a.m. (Traditional Worship) and 10:45 a.m. (Contemporary Worship) – Vicky Daub (Executive Director) will be preaching at Zion Lutheran, Loveland, Colorado. To watch online, the Zoom link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81007308575?pwd=NC9VZ1czZFZ0VkVwT1EyRGxhSGFGdz09 (Meeting ID: 810 0730 8575 Passcode: 331760).

Visit the RMS website for the full VSCP calendar and more!

Have Veterans events at your church/community that you would like to publicize? Want Vicky or another VSCP board member to visit your church/community? Send all pertinent information to Vicky Daub at lvdaub2@gmail.com.

Are you looking for a way to deepen your relationship with God? Join us for a free workshop to learn the basics of Centering Prayer, a centuries old Christian contemplative practice. In this workshop you will learn the practice, experience it in a guided setting, and be able to ask questions and share experiences with the presenters and others. Register at: centeringprayer.net

Join us for a free workshop where our presenters will share their experience, strength and hope with Centering Prayer as an 11th step practice. We will present this simple method to help deepen contact with your Higher Power. Those who already practice Centering Prayer as a part of their 12 Step recovery and desire a refresher will also find the presentation useful. Register at: centeringprayer.net

Imagine how dull and colorless our world would be without the wonder of music. In each and every era, composers have stretched their imaginations to try something new. Join Stratus Chamber Orchestra to experience a spectrum of works from rising artists spanning over the last 2 centuries, featuring a colorful light projection that will illuminate the concert space. With a diverse program of pieces from new (and some local!) composers, as well as works by well-known composers when they were just rising stars themselves, this colorful concert experience will certainly resonate with you!

In addition to the music and light projection, enjoy performances and compositions from up-and-coming artists, most of whom are local! Both concerts will feature trumpeter Aaron Olson, conductor Sheila Melendez Ayala, and harpsichordist Wesley Leffingwell. Also, enjoy a meet-and-greet on October 2nd with composer Max Wolpert, whose music you will hear during the concert. You won’t want to miss this complete spectrum experience that appeals to all the senses!

This concert will take place on October 1 at First Plymouth Congregational Church, and on October 2 at Augustana Lutheran Church. Ticket prices vary from $10 (student), $20 (senior), and $25 (adult). Visit https://www.augustanaarts.org/tickets for tickets and more information.

On Sunday, Sept 12, the Rev. Dr. Darlene Bowden Muschett, by the grace and love of Jesus Christ, will celebrate 40 years of ordained ministry at Lord of the Mountains in Dillon, CO. Immediately following the 9am worship, she and her husband, Doug, will offer a vocal recital as a fundraiser for Doctors to the World. Dr. C. Lewis Perrinjaquet (aka Doc PJ), a 25 year participate in this ministry, will speak during the service. After the recital, light refreshments will be shared outdoors. All are welcome!

Coyote Howl Confirmation Retreats create sacred space for confirmation students to build upon a foundation which will travel back with them to their home congregations. Coyote Howl retreats offer community building, Bible study, worship and fellowship with youth from throughout the Rocky Mountain Synod. Alongside our dynamic, energetic and passionate staff, youth will explore the way that God is at work in their individual communities along with how their connection to one another essentially shapes their journey of faith. This program is designed to support congregational confirmation curriculum with time for congregations built in throughout the weekend.

Questions? Contact Jeff Fairfax at jeff@skyranchcolorado.org

Join NY Times best-selling author Maia Szalavitz to learn more about her new book, Undoing Drugs: The Untold Story of Harm Reduction and the Future of Addiction.

Rev. Dr. Sean L. Forde will share about the give and take in servant leadership. Leaders give and serve, but they also receive great gifts from those they lead and serve. LMM’s Young Men’s Ministry Team was a special time with servant leaders who served and blessed the Lord in ways we did not imagine.

Join Rev. Dr. Forde and other great speakers! Visit the Bold Gathering website at www.BoldGathering.com

If you are not already familiar with it, may we introduce to you the bimonthly publication Administration Matters, an electronic newsletter for ELCA church leaders. It addresses common, practical issues including finance, governance, risk management, taxes and legal concerns, as well as other topics of interest relating to day-to-day operations and management in church settings.

You can subscribe to Administration Matters by going to https://blogs.elca.org/adminmatters/ (see left side of page to signup). Subscription is free, your name won’t be added to any other mailing lists, and you may unsubscribe at any time if you decide to opt out.

We hope that you will find Administration Matters to be a useful tool in managing your work on behalf of the ELCA. As always, don’t hesitate to reach out if we can assist you. The email address for the Office of the Treasurer is ot.info@elca.org.

St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Arvada is looking for one or two organists to fill out a rotating schedule for Sunday worship. Perfect for those who prefer to not make a commitment for every week. Sunday morning and special service music leadership using mainly ELW liturgies and hymns on organ or piano. No choir rehearsals and extra pay for any additional rehearsals required for special services. Contact St. Andrew at 303-421-5197 or staff@standrewarvada.org for more information.