October 21, 2020
A Reconciling in Christ synod
Power, Privilege, and the Intersection of Identities
Addressing Social Issues as People of Faith
Living Faith: Church in Society,
Race, Ethnicity, & Culture (part 2)
The RMS Office of the Bishop in partnership with leaders across the synod has created a community discussion guide to engage challenging topics as people of faith. Each week we will share a personal reflection on that week's featured social statement.

Do You See Us?
Ihoby Rokotomalala

I identify as brown. My people hail from Africa. I attended a Lutheran college and a Lutheran seminary. I’ve completed candidacy except for ordination because I have not yet been called...I’ve been searching for call for over a year and a half now. As I write this, demonstrations have been happening around the United States on the account of a black man named George in Minneapolis whose neck was pinned by a white police officer and whose fate was sealed by white society at birth by the color of his skin. Prior to that, a young Black man named Ahmaud was jogging and was shot by two white men in Atlanta.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, do you see us?

eConnection Spotlight:
RMS in the Neighborhood
Congratulations to Pastor Ben Hogue!
Outstanding Young Alumnus of 2020 by California Lutheran University
Congratulations to Pastor Ben Hogue, named Outstanding Young Alumnus of 2020 by California Lutheran University. Pastor Ben went through candidacy in the Rocky Mountain Synod - his home congregation is Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Grand Junction CO. He served at Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp before entering seminary, and now serves as pastor at Lutheran Church of the Reformation in Washington, DC.

Christ's Church, Better Together!
RMS & ELCA News and Events
RMS Worship Labs - Learning Together
Sacred Moments in New Ways
Why do we gather in worship? 
What are the central values and culture of our individual communities?
What are we grieving or missing about worship? What has surprised us? 
Why did we choose the platform/medium we did? 
What parts of the liturgy connect to our community's values & culture? 
What elements of our digital platforms, what technological tools support/increase connection and active engagement?

Pastors, deacons, musicians, faith formation leaders, worship teams, admins- anyone who is part of facilitating the worship life of your community are invited to join! Deacon Erin Power and a guest will explore these questions and how both they why and the medium impact how we plan and lead gatherings. There will also be space for folks to offer their own learnings, ideas, and questions.

We are offering 3 different learning lab sessions. Sessions will be recorded, so by participating in one, you will get access to all of the ideas shared.

  • Thursday, October 29, 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.
  • Friday, October 30, 1:0 0- 2:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, October 31, 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.
Sky Ranch and Cameron Fire Update
The extreme fire conditions since last Wednesday on the Cameron Peak Fire have seen it expand in size to now be the largest wildfire in Colorado history. At over 203,000 acres, the massive growth over the past five days has fire resources laboring to protect even more homes and structures in the path of this fire. Because of this, information within the fire perimeter is harder to acquire and confirm.

For the most current fire information, go to https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6964/.
Photo Credit: Poudre Fire Authority
For Your Bulletin
Installations

Rev. Bill Dohle
King of Kings Lutheran, Pueblo, CO
Sunday, Nov 1, 1:00 pm
Color of the Day: White
Meeting ID: 862 7204 8447
Passcode: 151632
One tap mobile:

* * * * * * *

Rev. Catherine Lemons
Trinity Lutheran, Las Cruces, NM
Saturday, Nov 14, 10:00 am
Color of the Day: Green
ZOOM: TBD


Ordination and Installation

Katherine Kline
Trinity Lutheran Church, Fort Collins, CO
Saturday, Oct 31, 3:00 pm
Color of the Day: Red
Meeting ID: 853 2725 4288 // Passcode: 392723

RMS Prayer Cycle

OCTOBER 2020 - MINISTRIES

- Week of October 25 -

SOCIAL MINISTRIES and AGENCIES

Border Servant Corps - Las Cruces, NM
Kari Lenander

Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center - Brush, CO
Shelly Griffith
Rosalie (Ro) Fesser

Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains - Denver, CO
Lutheran Refugee Services - Denver, CO
James Horan

Upbring - Austin, TX
Emmanuel Jackson

Luthercare, Inc. - Casper, WY
Jill Elliott

Mosaic - Omaha, NE
Linda Timmons

Urban Servant Corps - Denver, CO
Krista Kilgas
photo credit: Brittany Hass, 2020 Sep 13

Join us in daily prayer
 Download ELCA Prayer Ventures for daily guides to prayer for the global, social and outreach ministries of the ELCA, as well as for the needs and circumstances of our neighbors, communities and world.
Sunday, October 25
Twenty-First Sunday After Pentecost

Prayer of the Day
O Lord God, you are the holy lawgiver, you are the salvation of your people. By your Spirit renew us in your covenant of love, and train us to care tenderly for all our neighbors, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

In God's Hands:
Ecumenical Prayer Cycle from the World Council of Churches
25 - 31 October : Canada, United States of America - Intercessions and Prayers
Around the Synod
Conversations for Connection: Supporting Mental Health
Thursdays via Zoom, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

"Wisdom from our Animal Companions"
Thursday, October 22, 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Spending time with animals can help us recharge, slow down, and have fun in these chaotic times.
Jackie will share a video (or 2) she made of interacting with her horses and how it helped her. How can animals help you with stress reduction and emotional awareness? Jackie Hibbard is the Pastoral Associate at Community United Church of Christ, Boulder, and the Owner/Coach with Dancing Spirit Equine Facilitated Learning and Coaching. In her practice, she offers personal and spiritual growth opportunities in partnership with her horses for people wanting to deepen their self-awareness and expand into their most authentic self and state of being.
Hosted by Atonement Lutheran Church and Interfaith Network on Mental Illness.
"Practical Tips from Crucial Conversations"
Thursday, October 29, 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Hear highlights from Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking when Stakes Are High. This is a good approach to broaching difficult topics in a relationship-enhancing way.

Mary Beth Stevens will cover "golden nuggets" from Crucial Conversations. You can explore more in this presentation: https://fspa.fnal.gov/career-activities/talk-crucial-conversations/. Mary Beth has 30 years’ experience in crisis response & conflict resolution. Her educational background in psychology has been made practical by rich experience as an ombuds, mediator, critical incident debriefer and facilitator of trauma survivor groups. She provides training on conflict resolution, communications and negotiations, and is certified as a Mental Health First Aid instructor.
Our Life Together
Creation Care Discussions at Trinity in Ft. Collins
For the Season of Creation, Sept. 1-Oct. 4, Trinity Lutheran in Ft. Collins created a sessions focused on environmental issues for their adult forums. Wally Jacobson, a member of the Rocky Mountain Synod Creation Care Team, wrote them and we are sharing them with you to use in your congregations. Click the link below for a Word doc that includes these devotions from the Season of Creation, links to video clips, and questions for discussion.
Rainbow Trail Senior High Retreat
November 20-22, 2020
Join us as Pastor Steph from Christ the Servant Lutheran in Louisville, CO leads through a weekend of fellowship and exploration!

Using scripture as a springboard, Christians throughout history have imagined heaven and hell and expressed it through art and literature. Our language and popular culture continue to reflect these enduring images. Most of the time, we don’t think a lot about heaven or hell, but there are moments that bring the topic of the afterlife into sharp focus like the death of a loved one or a critical word from a fellow Christian. We’ll invite students to examine their beliefs about heaven and hell and to root themselves in what scripture offers us about the afterlife. This is also a time to use the lens of the Lord’s Prayer to learn about what it means for God’s kingdom to come and God’s will to be done on earth as in heaven. What we think about heaven and hell–who “deserves” it, how we get there, whether it exists at all–shapes our choices and life right here and now. Let’s look at this matter of life and death more closely.

For more information email daniel@rainbowtrail.org or visit our website:
Discussion/Readings group on "After Whiteness" 4-sessions, begins October 21
Hosted by: Pr. Rich Gianzero.
RSVP for interest: rgianzero@iliff.edu

We will begin each 60-minute session with a short Gospel reading and prayer.

Reading and discussion of After "Whiteness: An Education in Belonging," by Willie Jennings. Jennings “shares the insights gained from his experience” as Dean of Duke Divinity, one of the only African Americans to hold that role. “He reflects on the distortions wrought by whiteness – and its related constructs of masculinity and individualism – but holds onto an abundant hope. Jennings discusses how theological formation can position itself at the front of a massive culture shift away from white, Western hegemony. The book is part poetry, memoir and a decolonial analysis which calls us from isolation to intimacy – calls us to belonging. Reading commitment is about 60 pages for each of three (3) sessions, one final open discussion. (Overview and schedule here)

Goals: Engage collegially among ministry leaders in examining what “whiteness” means from a theological and cultural hegemonic identity formation. Discussion of how whiteness distorts identity, theological imagination and practical ministry. To engage with three short excerpts from Reggie Williams, James Cone, and James Baldwin alongside After Whiteness. We examine “whiteness” as a constructed identity.

One book to purchase:
  • After Whiteness: An Education in Belonging. Willie James Jennings, ISBN 978-0-8028-7844-1. Also available on Kindle.
Other Readings (provided as PDF)
  • “The Racial Script,” Christian Century, Reggie Williams
  • “On Being White & Other Lies,” The Cross of Redemption: Uncollected Writings. James Baldwin.
  • Chapter 2 excerpt, Said I Wasn’t Gonna Tell Nobody, James Cone
Resurrection & Resistance: The Gospel of Mark
Four Thursdays – Oct. 29, Nov. 5, 12, 19
12 noon - 1:45 p.m. Mountain Time
Pam Faro, Professional Storyteller, and Richard W. Swanson, Professor, Augustana University

Four Thursdays – Oct. 29, Nov. 5, 12, 19
12 noon - 1:45 p.m. Mountain Time
(Other locations use time zone converter)


In this four-session workshop, we will explore Mark’s story. Pam Faro, a professional storyteller with world-wide experience, will tell key parts of Mark’s story, and Richard Swanson, director of the Provoking the Gospel Storytelling Project, will guide our exploration of Pam’s performances. We will experience the story together and we will join in exploratory thinking about this old, audacious story.

The cost for this opportunity to join Pam and Richard’s exploration of Mark’s gospel is $160(USD) per person.

Special Rates Available:
  • Church Staff Group Rate (for 2-3 individuals) is $280.
  • Full-time Student Discounted Registration is $100.
Resource Corner
check back each week for a new or featured resource for your congregation
Get your Sky Ranch Advent Box!
Christmas is just around the corner! Join Sky Ranch as we celebrate the Advent season!

Advent Box includes: all supplies to build Advent Tree with daily bible verses, daily prayers, and a Pay-It-Forward daily activity; supplies to make candy nativity set; Activity Book including coloring pages, full time staff's favorite Christmas recipes, word search, worship to do as a family with a box of crayons; 2 tree cookie ornaments for you to paint or wood burn; and a 20% off store coupon!

Pre-order your Advent Box through October 31 and boxes will be shipped in early November. Boxes can be ordered at: https://www.skyranchco.org/product/advent-box/92?cs=true
Employment Opportunities
New Listings
Director of Children, Youth, and Families
St. Andrew Lutheran Church - 5607 NE Gher Rd, Vancouver, WA 98662
St. Andrew Lutheran Church, an active, service-oriented ELCA congregation in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, invites individuals who are passionate about sharing God’s good news with others, particularly children, youth, and their families, to apply for the position of Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministry.
Office Coordinator
Christ Lutheran Church - Highlands Ranch, CO
Christ Lutheran Church is seeking a friendly, outgoing, and detail-oriented individual to fill the role of Office Coordinator. In this important role, you will be the face of CLC to our members and the public by being the first point of contact for the church. In addition, you will provide office services for church staff and various committees, organize communications, act as a receptionist for the church, and keep church records. We are looking for someone with strong organization, computer, and communication skills. This is a part-time position that will average 30 hours per week.

Resumes should be sent to, and job descriptions can be obtained from, Executive Pastor Gail Mundt, Christ Lutheran Church, 8997 S. Broadway, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126, pastorgail@clchr.org. *Covid restrictions are in currently in place. Please contact Pastor Gail Mundt at pastorgail@clchr.org for additional information.
All Non-Rostered Listings 
Director of Children, Youth, and Families
St. Andrew Lutheran Church - Vancouver, WA

Office Coordinator
Christ Lutheran Church - Highlands Ranch, CO

Preschool Staff
Joy Mission Preschool - Parker, CO

Faith Formation Coordinator for Children and Families
Atonement Lutheran Church - Boulder, CO
Office of the Bishop This Week
 Bishop Jim Gonia
  • Region 2 Power/Privilege webinar
  • Synod Council
  • LSTC Digital Visit

ELCA DIRECTOR FOR EVANGELICAL MISSION
Pastor Dana Peterson
  • Congregational Vitality Training
  • Synod Council
  • HKBP, Denver, CO

LUTHERAN ADVOCACY MINISTRY NEW MEXICO
Kurt Rager
  • Invest in Kids Coalition
  • Synod Council

LUTHERAN ADVOCACY MINISTRY COLORADO
Peter Severson
  • Synod Council
  • Renter's Roundtable

ELCA REGIONAL GIFT PLANNER
Tina Kvitek
  • 1-1 appointments
  • Synod Council
ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP FOR CONGREGATIONAL LIFE
Pastor Sarah Moening
  • Excellence in Leadership
  • Synod Council

ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP FOR LEADERSHIP SUPPORT
Pastor Kent Mueller (1/2 time)
  • Synod Council
  • Lutheran Center Administration

ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP FOR SYNODICAL LIFE
Deacon Erin Power
  • Region 2 Power/Privilege webinar
  • Synod Council
  • ACT Team Gathering

ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP FOR FAITH FORMATION & CANDIDACY
Pastor Leslie O'Callaghan
  • Region 2 Power/Privilege webinar
  • Synod Council
  • Candidacy A
Quick Links
Share the News
Erin Power,  Assistant to the Bishop
Feel free to contact Andrew Nakatani, Communications Assistant, with your questions and comments about eConnection and our website!

Rocky Mountain Synod 
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
800-525-0462 / 303-777-6700 / fax 303-733-0750

Past issues of eConnection may be found here.