March 30, 2021 Minneapolis Area Synod, ELCA Enews

Synod office update Synod staff are celebrating the fact that the COVID-19 vaccine is becoming more accessible. Although they continue to work primarily remotely, some staff will begin working at the office. The office will remain closed to public meetings. This re-entry experiment is planned to go through early May.  Leading with Love: Toward 100% Clean Energy How our can our values of faithful stewardship, equity, and sustainability be built into our state's energy future? Join our EcoFaith Network and the 100% Campaign in working to create a clean energy economy that works for everyone in Minnesota. We are not talking about only changing lightbulbs but about changing systems! We must show our legislators that we want our state to be committed to a future of clean, equitable energy – and you can join us in speaking up for the future we want. Thursday, April 8 2:00-3:00 pm Zoom Register for Leading with Love Wrinkled “My great-great grandmother was born in 1896 in a wigwam in Nebraska. She died peacefully in her sleep in 1999, at the age of 103. I was 11 years-old when she passed. I never got spend much time with Minnie Gray Wolf Littlebear, but the times I did made an impression. One thing I remember about Gaga (grandmother) Minnie was that I never heard her speak English. When we would visit her, my Choka (grandfather) or Jagi (father) would translate. It wasn’t until I was much older that I learned about Indian Boarding Schools – and that Gaga Minnie attended one.” Brenda's blog

ELCA Churchwide Domestic Hunger Grant process open again

Registration for 2022 ELCA World Hunger Domestic Hunger Grants is now open. Visit www.elca.org/domestichungergrants to learn more and how to apply. Organizations applying for a grant for the first time must register by setting up an account in ELCA GrantMaker in order to access the grant application once it opens on April 19. If your organization is already registered in ELCA GrantMaker, log back in and confirm that the contact information is up to date.   A pre-recorded webinar on the application process will be accessible on the Domestic Hunger Grant FAQ page within the next few days.   Application Timeline: Registration open: March 17–May 5, 2021. Applicants must be registered in ELCA GrantMaker to access the application. Allow up to two weeks for registration approval. If you have not registered by May 5, you will not be able to start a new application. If you have already registered in ELCA GrantMaker, you do not need to register again. Application open: April 19–May 21, 2021 Application review: June 2021–October 2021 Awards recommendations shared with applicants and synods: November 2021 Final awards approved and announced: February 2022   NOTE: Congregations with feeding ministries should watch for an announcement about the next round of Daily Bread Matching Grants in the coming months. Visit www.elca.org/dailybread to learn more.

Visitors to the synod assembly The Minneapolis Area Synod will meet virtually in assembly April 23-24, 2021. Voting members for each congregation will register and participate through Zoom. The 2021 Synod Assembly will also be available to be viewed via live-streaming on Facebook and YouTube. More information about how to access these platforms will be shared closer to the assembly. If you are a church geek and would enjoy participating in the Bible studies, listening to Churchwide and keynote speakers, following debate around resolutions and memorials, or finding out who will be elected to synod positions or to represent the synod at the 2022 Churchwide Assembly, save these dates and times: Friday, April 23 6:00-9:00 p.m. Saturday, April 24 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. For more information Earth Day worship service Lutherans Restoring Creation will offer a special online service in celebration of Earth Day. This service is intended for use on April 25 (Good Shepherd Sunday), but can be downloaded for use according to a congregation's needs. The service will feature preaching by Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, visual journeys, musical offerings, pastoral insights, and inspiration from lay leaders. Register now to receive a special link with download instructions at least a week beforehand. Learn more. For more information

Congregations invited to expand imagination through faith practices and neighboring practices

Faith Practices and Neighboring Practices: Renewing Congregational Imagination Minneapolis Area Synod congregations are encouraged to learn how to thrive through a renewal of spiritual practices and building meaningful relationships with neighbors. Join other congregations from across the Synod in a two-year learning cohort. Applications are due April 15 and can be completed on the synod website. Contact Nick Tangen with questions.

For more information on Faith Practices and Neighboring Practices

Take a Breath: Spiritual Care for Holy Week Join Pastors Meta Herrick Carlson and Ellie Roscher for one hour of body practice, prayer, breathing, and blessing during Holy Week. It is a busy week in the midst of a weary year. Join colleagues and friends in self care. Tuesday, March 30 Noon-1:00 p.m. Online Cost: $30 per organization Church staff and leadership teams are especially encouraged to participate together. To register or inquire about payment, email Meta Herrick Carlson. Peace in Coon Rapids Hosts Clinic to be Church “For the last several weeks, Peace Lutheran has partnered with Genoa Healthcare to offer vaccination clinics in the Coon Rapids community. This partnership was made possible as Peace is a designated National Disaster Response Site. So, when the opportunity for this partnership around COVID-19 vaccinations came about, Peace Lutheran was ready to respond. The first clinics served mental health care workers in Anoka County and their clients. Latter clinics have expanded to serve other specific groups in the community.” To read "A clinic in caring"

Presiding Bishop Eaton issues statement on gun violence

“As a nation we have lived through a very difficult two weeks following the mass shootings in Atlanta on March 16 and again in Boulder, Colo., on March 22. The shooting in Colorado was only the most recent of 104 mass shootings already in 2021. Colorado has a painful history of mass shootings. Since 1993 the deadliest incidents have been the 1999 Columbine High School massacre, the mass shooting in a movie theater in Aurora and now the 10 lives taken, including the life of a responding police officer, at a supermarket in Boulder.”

To read Bishop Eaton's entire statement

Where is the synod staff in upcoming weeks?

Ms. Madeline Troyer will be preaching at Maple Grove Lutheran, Maple Grove, on Sunday, April 18. Pastor Craig Pederson will be offering a farewell for Pastor Joel Bergeland at Mount Olivet Lutheran, Plymouth, on Sunday, April 18. Ms. Madeline Troyer will be leading a forum at Diamond Lake Lutheran, Minneapolis, on Tuesday, April 20. Ms. Madeline Troyer will be leading a forum at Immanuel Lutheran, Eden Prairie, on Wednesday, April 21. Ms. Emilie Bouvier will be preaching at Hope Lutheran, Jordan, on Sunday, April 25.

Upcoming Events

Take a Breath: Spiritual Care for Holy Week, March 30 Leading with Love: 100% Campaign, April 8 Indian Boarding School 101, April 17 Beyond Shelter: Zoom House Gala, April 17 Racial Justice Liaison Gathering, April 12 Minneapolis Area Synod Assembly, April 23-24

Minneapolis Area Synod, ELCA www.mpls-synod.org

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