Watch future editions of News and Events as well as social media in the coming days as we share more from our largest gathering of the year. Please note that videos shown during the assembly, such as the celebration of our synod women and panel discussions, will be available soon for viewing and downloading.

Bishop Lull thanked the assembly for their confidence in her, noting that six years ago when she was first elected, many didn't yet know who she was. "Now we have worked together, journeyed together, been synod together for over six years and your vote for me - knowing who I am - means so much. I am honored to have this opportunity to continue to serve with you." Her second term begins on Dec. 1.

During our Synod Assembly, we announced the winners of the synod's first-ever Hymn Contest and played recordings of their pieces. More than 40 entries were received and three were selected as winners:

As part of the contest parameters, each composer has given permission for the congregations of the synod to use the music in worship this year. Recordings, music and lyrics and/or composer contact information will be posted to the synod website soon. In the meantime, enjoy hearing the winning entries by clicking on the song titles above.

Each year at Synod Assembly we collect an offering for a designated ministry. Despite not gathering in person this year, we continued that tradition. As an extension of the synod's Food Shelf Challenge, the 2020 assembly offering will be sent to Second Harvest Heartland. More than $700 has been given so far, which has helped us boost our Food Shelf Challenge total to $160,000 for local food shelves. Donations through Synod Assembly may still be made at www.spas-elca.org/give or by sending a check to the Saint Paul Area Synod, Attn: David Roinas, 105 University Ave., St. Paul, MN 55103.

Congregations that have not yet reported their food donation totals through new and existing hunger-related partnerships are encouraged to do so as soon as possible. Thank you to all who have helped feed the hungry by generously contributing to the Food Shelf Challenge!

Due to COVID-19, our traditional Bishop's Theological Conference for rostered ministers is being re-configured! The keynote speaker is Dr. Deanna Thompson, Director of the Lutheran Center for Faith, Values, and Community & Professor of Religion, St. Olaf College. Save the date on your calendar and watch for more information shortly.

The annual ELCA Youth Leadership Summit will occur over the weekend of Nov. 6-7 with all sessions occurring online during this pandemic season. The Summit brings together two youth and an adult leader from each synod for conversations about the life of the church. The theme verse this year is Proverbs 27:19 As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.

Bishop Lull will be naming the youth, who will represent the Saint Paul Area Synod. Pairs of youth along with an adult leader can submit a 40-word essay by Oct. 1, 2020, to Bishop Lull (patricia.lull@spas-elca.org) on why they would make the best team to represent this synod in 2020. The team selected to participate in the 2020 Youth Leadership Summit will be announced by Oct. 8. The synod will take care of registration and there is no cost for those chosen to participate. Questions? Please contact Bishop Lull.

If you want an update on the state of the Bega Kwa Bega synod partnership with the Iringa Diocese in Tanzania, mark your calendar! Fall cluster meetings will be held in early October covering the upcoming Fall Festival, scholarships and more. Learn more.

This past spring, ELCA World Hunger rapidly responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by launching Daily Bread Matching Grants. These grants provided 200 congregations with tools to raise funds online for their feeding ministries, along with a $500 grant to drive generosity. In 14 days, the 200 congregations raised well over $200,000, and the energy and impact of the ministry fueled by those funds has been felt widely across the church.

We know that in times of need, this church gets to work and gives abundantly. Thanks to the generous response to the COVID-19 Appeal, ELCA World Hunger will be offering 300+ additional Daily Bread Matching Grants this fall. 

Details for applying via ELCA GrantMaker will be advertised on elca.org/dailybread and ELCA World Hunger’s social media on Sept. 29. Approved participants will be notified shortly before the two-week fundraising period, which will take place Nov. 8-22. Until then, interested congregations should email hunger@elca.org and follow ELCA World Hunger on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter for updates.

Eligibility: ELCA congregations with feeding ministries are invited to participate. Grant information will be available in Spanish and English through elca.org/dailybread. Ethnic-specific, multi-cultural and vulnerable congregations will receive priority. ELCA World Hunger staff will coordinate with DEMs to ensure that these congregations receive the support to successfully participate. Congregations that received a Daily Bread Matching Grant already this year are not eligible, but are encouraged to coach and support congregations participating in this round. Congregations without a feeding ministry can get involved by partnering with a congregation that does, multiplying their impact.

ELCA World Hunger offers a variety of downloadable resources for the upcoming season of Advent, which is a great time to raise awareness for issues surrounding hunger and poverty. These resources include Advent calendars and weekly study guides, resources for newsletters and bulletins, and action guides for congregations. Unlike years past, ELCA World Hunger will not be sending a full sample packet of Advent resources this year. Instead, you may check them out online at https://elca.org/hunger/resources.

The synod office is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. A limited number of staff are on-site each day. You may continue to reach all staff members by phone (651-224-4313) or by email.

Rostered and lay leaders alike are invited to a weekly gathering of topical presentations designed to provide encouragement and support for ELCA leaders. On Sept. 30, the topic is "Custodians of the Gospel: A Public Faith" led by the Rev. George Mason, senior pastor of Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas, Tex. Does everything feel partisan now? Why are many church folk either disengaged from politics or not wanting it talked about in faith communities? Then when it is discussed, why do we believe there are only two, and always opposing, sides? How does fear shape our responses to the world we believe we are called to love and serve as followers of Jesus? We claim to be Christians. We are custodians of the Gospel. The church needs to do some reckoning. We are called to bear witness to a God of justice and compassion. What if our righteousness was rooted in justice in community? Come wrestle with all this with our presenter and move from this gathering back out into the world with a groundedness in the Gospel. This is an opportunity to be in small group discussions with an ELCA group coach facilitating the conversation. Recordings of past sessions with supporting documents are available at www.elcacoaching.org/podcasts/media. You may find upcoming topics and presenters at www.elcacoaching.org/.

or by phone: +1 312 626 6799

What does it mean to be a Christian public leader in a time such as this? In this odd and challenging year, you are invited to engage in the process of healthy leadership through a natural family systems lens. Join the Rev. Dr. Jules Erickson and the Rev. Tom Olson in life-giving conversation and rich learning through the lens of Bowen-Friedman Systems Theory and the work of Brené Brown (The Daring Way™). Sessions will be held every third Tuesday of the month through May. The cost is $20 per session or $120 for the series. Learn more.

St. Paul Partners is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that works toward improving the life prospects of all people of Tanzania by providing safe water and health education in partnership with local communities. For the past 13 years, it has held a Tanzania benefit dinner event. This year, due to COVID-19, it will hold a Virtual Gala online to provide updates and to strengthen its mission with your support. Learn more at www.stpaulpartners.org or watch this video.

We've all been living in the COVID world for several months now. This online course will examine how

pandemics have impacted humankind over time, paying particular attention to how human spirituality can both hinder and facilitate our ability to cope and find meaning, specifically with respect to COVID-19. The course is taught by the Rev. Karen Cherwien, BCC. Topics include:

The cost is $5 per session or $20 for all six sessions. Learn more and register.

www.spas-elca.org | 651.224.4313