News & Events: Summer Internship Program Coordinator

January 23, 2023

Summer Internship Program Coordinator:

Pastor Bristol Reading

We are delighted to introduce Pastor Bristol Reading as the Coordinator for Summer Internships, funded through The Planting Hope Campaign. Pastor Reading serves as the pastor of St. Luke Lutheran Church in St. Paul and will add this part-time position to her work there. Bristol earned her undergraduate degree at Loyola University, Chicago, and has an MA from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley and a MDiv from Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago. She brings work in children, youth and family ministry and training as a spiritual director to this role.

The summer internship program will fund up to 10 paid internships for older high schoolers and college-age students for four years. Internship settings will be encouraged in faith-based agencies and non-profits, as well as congregations, within the Saint Paul Area Synod. This initiative is part of our goal of raising up next generations of leaders by providing opportunities for vocational exploration. Watch for details on this program in the coming weeks. We are grateful for the early gifts to The Planting Hope Campaign, which have allowed us to launch this initiative in 2023.

Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church

In August 2022, the ELCA Churchwide Assembly passed a memorial to create a Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church (CRLC) with the mandate to explore the current governance structures of the ELCA. In November, the ELCA Church Council authorized the establishment of the CRLC to consist of no more than 35 voting members and directed the Executive Committee of the Church Council to initiate the process of forming the commission.

This process calls for each synod to nominate two people to be considered for appointment. Earlier this month the Saint Paul Area Synod Council nominated Pastor Chris Bellefeuille and Pastor Patrick Shebeck. They will be considered alongside the nominees from the other eight synods in Region 3 (Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota) for appointment to the commission.

In addition, a third individual from each region and up to eight at-large members will be appointed from among the synod nominations and the open nomination process. The open nominations process is now active, allowing any individual to be self-nominated or beckoned into nomination by others. You can find the nomination form and more information on the work of the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church at ELCA.org/CRLC.

Tool Kit for Congregational Leaders & Conference Assemblies

Saturday, Feb. 25 - Shepherd of the Valley, Apple Valley

This annual event brings together lay leaders, ministry volunteers and church staff from all of the congregations in the synod for learning and networking! It's a wonderful opportunity to hear from experts in a variety of areas related to congregational life and to hear experiences and perspectives from people in other congregations.

This year's Tool Kit features 10 workshops that cover a variety of areas related to congregational life: bystander training, implicit bias, hybrid ministry, faith-based advocacy, peer ministry skills and creating a culture of calling. There are even special sessions for congregational presidents/vice presidents and treasurers. The registration fee is $20 per person. Tool Kit will be held in conjunction with conference assemblies, when the synod's six conferences meet separately for pre-synod assembly business which may include elections, proposed resolutions or other matters. Learn more.

WORKSHOP SPOTLIGHT:

Playing Church

Children and their experience of God belong in worship. In this workshop, participants will experience examples of cross-generational, multi-sensory elements for worship. Participants will explore the methods the presenter uses to create these playful worship experiences.

Jen Rome is the pastor of Pilgrim Lutheran Church in St. Paul. She has 20 years of experience in bringing people of all generations to deeply experience and creatively connect with God, the world and each other. She, her husband, and their two children live intergenerationally with his parents in a duplex in St. Paul.

A Deeper Dive: Leadership Conversations for Congregation Presidents & VPs

Thursday, Jan. 26 - 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Online

For congregation presidents and vice presidents

Bishop Patricia Lull will join the conversation in January to share with us "Five Good Reasons to Contact the Bishop." Deeper Dive is a monthly series of leadership conversations on Zoom hosted by Rolf Lowenberg-DeBoer (assistant to the bishop for lay leadership) and Dr. Dave Webb (retired school superintendent and council president at Shepherd of the Hills, Shoreview). Additional sessions are scheduled for March 30 on Zoom and on Feb. 25 as part of the synod's Tool Kit for Congregational Leaders. Register here for Jan. 26!

Children's Ministry Gathering

Monday, Feb. 13 - 1 p.m. | St. Stephen, Bloomington

This month, the children's ministry gathering is in person! Children's ministry staff and key volunteers are invited join the conversation about milestones. Let's share new ideas and new ways to incorporate milestones in worship. Please bring examples for all to see! Questions? Email Rachelle Gill from Easter at rgill@easter.org.

Form A and C Reports

Each congregation in the ELCA is required to turn in the Form A and C report to the churchwide organization. These forms provide essential information, including data on numbers of congregants, languages spoken in worship and more. Here's what to do, in case you missed the instructions from ELCA: Go to the ELCA landing page and select “Form A and C Paraochial Reports” on the right hand side. Click “update now.” Enter your Congregation ID and Password and fill out both Form A and C. (Once logged in, you will find instructions of how to fill out the form and a financial worksheet.) Congregations unsure of their ID or password will be able to request them through the landing page or you may reach out to Rachel Holsten at the synod office at 651-224-4313 or rachel.holsten@spas-elca.org. Congregations are asked to submit completed forms by March 1.

BKB Program Coordinator Applications

The Saint Paul Area Synod is accepting applications for a two-year volunteer position based in Iringa, Tanzania, to support our Bega Kwa Bega partnership. This position provides support in four key areas: administration, relationship building, hospitality and project monitoring. This is an entry-level volunteer position for a globally aware, mission-minded individual (or couple) interested in a hands-on, immersive experience in a cross-cultural setting. A living allowance and in-kind support are provided. Click here for the full job description. Applicants may send a cover letter and resume to BKB Director Kirsten Levorson at kirsten.levorson@spas-elca.org. Please share this opportunity with anyone you know who might be interested!

YAGM Application Deadline: Feb. 1

The final application deadline for Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) is Feb. 1. This is your last chance to apply! If you’re a young adult aged 21 to 29, you can apply for an international service year that will shape your faith, career, identity and understanding of how you fit into God’s work in the world. YAGM volunteers will begin their service in August 2023. Learn more at elca.org/YAGM.

Synod Lunch at Youth Ministry Extravaganza

Saturday, Feb. 4 | Oggi's Pizza, Garden Grove, Calif.

If you're headed to the Youth Ministry Network Extravaganza in Anaheim next month, please join us for the the Minneapolis & St. Paul Area Synods' Lunch! This is open to CYF staff, volunteers and students from the Minneapolis and Saint Paul Area synods. Registration deadline: Jan. 25. Register here.

LSS Servant of Christ Award

Each year, Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota recognizes the many contributions of partnering congregations through the Servant of Christ Award. This award celebrates faith communities that are leaders in social ministry and social justice, have a connection to LSS services, and faithfully provide financial support for the service ministry of LSS. We are seeking your help with recognizing their contributions. Please nominate a single congregation – or congregations in partnership – that are working alongside LSS in service of their neighbors. Make your nomination here by Friday, Jan. 27.

EVENTS OF INTEREST

Courageous Leadership Series

Wednesdays - 1 p.m. | Online

ELCA Coaching offers a weekly online gathering for ministry leaders. Each week this series features a new topic and presenters. Learn more.

LIFE U Speaker Series

Wednesdays, Jan. 25 & Feb. 1 - 6:30-7:15 p.m. | St. Andrew's, Mahtomedi & Online

Now that the holidays are passed, the LIFE U adult education program at St. Andrew's has resumed:

Jan. 25 - The Power of Storytelling - an exploration of how story serves to move and shift us in community. Presenter: Pastor Andrea Roske-Metcalfe.
Feb. 1 - Praying in Thirds: Ready, Set, Flow - an exploration of connecting prayer with our daily lives. Presenter: Sam Rahberg.

Other prayer and worship focused sessions will be offered every Wednesday evening in February. Learn more or watch online.

Bowen Systems Series

Thursday, Jan. 26 - 1-3 p.m. | St. Stephen, Bloomington, & Online

Rostered ministers and interns with an interest in Bowen Systems theory are invited to join the learning and conversation. In January, the topic is Family Projection Process as we continue to work through the eight concepts of Bowen Family Systems theory. This group meets on the fourth Thursdays of each month. The agenda is one hour of teaching and one hour of a shared case study. The leaders are the Rev. Wendy Vie Trittin and the Rev. Dr. Jules Erickson. The cost is $30 per session at the time of class. Future dates include Feb. 23, March 23, April 27 and May 25. Questions? Contact Pastor Tom Olson at tolson@ststephen.net. Learn more about Bowen Theory.

Singing in Wonder - A Hymn Festival

Sunday, Feb. 5 - 4 p.m. | Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, Roseville

You are invited to Lutheran Church of the Resurrection's annual hymn festival. The event features David Cherwien, a nationally known conductor, composer and organist who also serves as artistic director of the National Lutheran Choir. Deacon Jennifer Baker-Trinity, program manager for worship resource development at 1727 Media and the ELCA, will offer reflections. The Resurrection Choir and instrumentalists will also participate. A free-will offering will be collected; a reception follows the festival.

Spring Convocation at United Theological Seminary

Thursday, Feb. 9 - 12"15 p.m. | United Chapel & Online

United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities invites you join them in recognizing and installing Dr. Munjed M. Murad as the Johnson-Fry Endowed Chair in World Religions and Intercultural Studies. Dr. Murad also makes institutional history as United's first full-time Muslim scholar and faculty member, as well as project director for the school's Eco-Justice program. Dr. Murad will deliver a message title "Loving God and the Neighbor." A light lunch will follow the ceremony. Learn more.

Trauma and Its Healing

Tuesday, Feb. 21 - 6-8 p.m. | Online

Although we might think only of major crises when we hear the word “trauma,” the term includes any disturbing experience that elicits a highly negative emotional response. Trauma is characterized in three ways: acute, chronic and complex. This presentation will offer information as to the types of trauma (and examples thereof); how they present/how they can be recognized; what damage they can do to those experiencing them; strategies for beginning the healing process; and vicarious trauma (the trauma suffered by those witnessing trauma suffered by others, including caregivers). The Lutheran Faith Community Nurse Association is offering this educational event; nonmembers and non-nurses are welcome. The cost is $20 for LFCNA members and $30 for nonmembers. Learn more.

Other Event Reminders:

Tool Kit for Congregational Leaders & Conference Assemblies - Feb. 25 | Shepherd of the Valley, Apple Valley
2023 Synod Assembly - May 12-13 | St. Andrew's, Mahtomedi
Festival of Homiletics - May 15-19 | Central Lutheran & Westminster Presbyterian, Minneapolis