SHARE:  
July 21, 2021 + A Reconciling in Christ synod
Together we proclaim and embody God's unconditional love for the sake of the world.
Introducing Jon Johnson as our new Financial Manager

Jon Johnson will join the office of the bishop staff in August as our new Financial Manager. He comes to us with a wealth of experience as well as a love and commitment to Christ's church, better together.

He has dedicated his career to public service, focusing primarily on all aspects of fiscal management. The majority of that time was spent as a “hands-on” practitioner, responsible for all financial operations related to schools, universities, cities and counties. For the last four years, he has served as the Chief Financial Officer for the Alliance for Innovation (AFI), whose mission is to identify and share innovative and transformative practices and ideas developed by various local governments across the United States and Canada.

"As a life-long Lutheran, I have always been actively involved in serving my congregation in various roles. For over 30 years, I have served on church councils, utilized my professional expertise as the congregation’s Treasurer, led various standing and ad hoc committees, facilitated leadership retreats, served as organist and choir member and have been blessed to assist with leading worship," Jon said. He is a member of Evergreen Lutheran Church, Evergreen, CO.

We look forward to Jon joining us and overseeing our financial management!
Becoming a Hybrid Church
a seminar series beginning Monday, July 26

The registration is closed due to maxing out the limit. However, the series will be streamed on Facebook and recordings posted afterwards.
Forced to scramble to go online in just a few weeks during the COVID pandemic, the church has discovered the online world is far more than a replacement for the yellow pages. It is a place where genuine community and real ministry happens.
 
Hosted by the Southwestern Texas Synod, all congregations (rostered and lay leaders) are invited to this 5-week FREE series on Monday evenings beginning July 26 at 6:00 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time.

These sessions will be an overview of several areas of congregational ministry and reflect on how to begin to move every aspect of church life to a dual platform – on-the-ground and online. This “hybrid” kind of ministry will be the new norm for the next season in most congregations' work. You will begin to reframe your thinking on a particular aspect of congregational ministry. Becoming a hybrid church is one path forward to both strengthen the church and reach new people with the gospel in bold, creative new ways.

Sessions will be led by Dave Daubert, except Aug. 2, which will be led by John Roberto. There will be breakout rooms and large group times. More detail about each session here.
 
  • July 26: Introducing the Hybrid Church
  • August 2: Designing Hybrid Faith Formation for the Post-Pandemic World
  • August 9: Hybrid Worship - how on-the-ground and online worship connect
  • August 16: Engaging People Online - it takes more than being there
  • August 23: Technology Options for the Hybrid Church
eConnection Spotlight:
RMS in the Neighborhood
Anchor House Dedication
August 19 at 10:00 a.m.
Anchor House, a non-profit affordable housing unit for former foster youth in Colorado, is near completion and will be dedicated on Thursday, August 19, one year exactly since construction began on the site. The dedication ceremony will take place at 10:00am with a brief liturgy by Pastor Scott McAnally, Lutheran Church of Hope, as well as recognition from ELCA Bishop Jim Gonia and representatives from the State of Colorado and the City and County of Broomfield. An open house with tours of the building will take place after the dedication ceremony. The public is invited to attend.

Anchor House is a 501c(3) nonprofit corporation that comprises a partnership between faith-based and other organizations to provide transitional housing for former foster youth. Anchor House will provide affordable housing and on-site support services, including job coaching, goal planning, and access to food banks, to youth ages 18-24 who have aged out of the foster system. Residents will begin the move-in process in August.

The project was developed with Lutheran Church of Hope and Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains in 2017 and now includes Thrivent Financial, Flatirons Habitat for Humanity, Colorado Health Foundation, the City and County of Broomfield, and the State of Colorado, Department of Local Affairs as partners. Construction began last August 2020 and is being completed with the help of hundreds of volunteers and Flatirons Habitat for Humanity.

The building is located at 1355 West 10th Avenue in Broomfield and will provide studio apartment space for 8 young people. Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains will provide on-site support for the foster youth who will find temporary homes there. Anchor House would like to thank all donors for their generosity and support.

To learn more about Anchor House, please visit www.anchorhouseco.org.
New 3-Part video series tells the story of three small congregations doing vital ministry

A grant from the Lilly Endowment has made it possible for us to tell the stories of three Rocky Mountain Synod congregations who have discovered that meaningful ministry is happening in and through small congregations, often served by part time pastors and deacons.

Beautiful Stubbornness

Our first story is of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in south Denver. The video is titled, "Beautiful Stubbornness: Faithful ministry through determination and perseverance." Pastor Todd Hawkins tells the story of the congregation's commitment to its ministry of Social Club for persons who are chronically mentally ill, now in it's 34th year. "They know they are welcome here."
RMS & ELCA News and Events
Rocky Mountain Synod
FALL THEOLOGICAL CONFERENCE
"Finding a Way"
Little America, Cheyenne, WY + September 20-23, 2021

As we prepare for the Fall season, we find ourselves in the unknown environs of a collective trauma. We have yet to fully realize the implications of the pandemic, and we know that things are brewing! How are you doing?! Are you exhausted? Have you been able to rest or are the challenges increasing? How is your ministry? What are you experiencing as leaders?

Whatever is going on, you are not alone!

The 2021 Theological Conference will focus on creatively navigating current challenges in ministry. How can we become more resilient in our lives and ministry? What does it mean to be a "Hybrid Church?" Join us!

Registration deadline is September 10.
Cost is Single $660, Double $475, Commuter $275.
Single and Double includes three nights lodging and meals.
This year we are adding the convenience of paying by credit card for all registrants.

Excellence in Leadership Registration is OPEN!
Excellence in Leadership is beginning three new cohorts this fall and we want YOU to be a part of it!

Throughout the past two years of much challenge and change, the Excellence in Leadership initiative has provided tools, resources, and mechanisms to lead in the midst of it all. It has impacted and transformed dozens of people, both lay and rostered, into resilient, courageous, and faithful leaders. Now we are inviting a new group of people to experience and live into the new future God is calling us into through this initiative.

If you are wondering if this program is for you, ask these questions: Do you want to grow in your emotional intelligence? Do you want to deepen your relationships? Do you want to be a more effective leader in church and in your community? Do you wish to move beyond old models and be better equipped to meet today’s challenges? Are you either a rostered leader or a lay leader?

If the answer to these questions is, “yes”, then this program is for you.

With both in person and online options, this program is available to you no matter where you live. For questions or more information: danderson@rmselca.org

Join us this September!
Now Accepting Applications!
The world continues to change and grow more complex. What does this mean for ministry, today and into the future?
The Congregations Lead Initiative is a new, two-year program that will gather a cohort of 50 congregations from across the ELCA to unleash and harness their collective genius and discover new and useful ministry innovations. Right now, your congregation is invited to apply to join the Congregations Lead Initiative!
If you have questions, check out our FAQ section or email CongregationsLead@elca.org.
from the ELCA Advocacy Network...
Advocacy Summer School: What Is Faith-Based Advocacy?
Wondering about how advocacy fits into our Christian and Lutheran presence in policy discussions? Session 1 of ELCA Advocacy Summer School will paint a picture of what advocacy is and how advocacy is shaped with a faith foundation, especially as members and affiliates of the ELCA. With discussions, examples, and ways to connect! 

The 30-minute virtual session begins on Wed. Aug. 11 at 2 p.m. EDT – and you’re invited to be part of the question & answer session for 15 minutes following the presentation.
...brought to you by 3E - Educate, Equip, Enact!
There's a stewardship program for every congregation in 2021!
Learn how to do year-round, on-going stewardship resulting in more money for ministry, become more energized stewards, and build a culture of generosity. Registration is open now for Beginning a Culture of Generosity (BCG) and SAS Refresher that both begin in August.
 
“I expected that this program would help us put together a stewardship appeal but WOW! It has certainly exceeded my expectations…It has made a huge difference for us.” ~ BCG pastor

Beginning a Culture of Generosity
Beginning a Culture of Generosity (BCG) is a program to guide congregations and provide the necessary tools to run a successful fall appeal. Participants receive training online in seven online sessions August 14 to December 4, and one-on-one guidance on an easily implemented program to stimulate generosity. Cost is $150 per congregation – no limit on number of participants. 

Stewardship for All Seasons Refresher
The SAS Refresher is a 6 session once-a-month course designed for congregations that have been through Stewardship for All Seasons (SAS) previously. The Refresher is for those who wish to continue the journey of generosity culture building. It is for those who have new leadership on your council and/or new members on your stewardship team.
 
The full year Stewardship for All Seasons (SAS) has already started with Cohort 5. If you are interested in participating in SAS beginning April 2022 or have questions about all programs, contact Deb Elstad, 3E Associate Director for Stewardship at deb.elstad@gmail.com.
For Your Bulletin
Around the Synod
Conversations for Connection: Supporting Mental Health
Hosted by Atonement Lutheran, Boulder and Interfaith Network on Mental Illness

Every Thursday, 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. MT
Join Zoom Meeting at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4264420220
July 22 will be our last session of Conversations for Connection: Supporting Mental Health. This series has been offered every Thursday since March 2020 and we are grateful for this program. There will be a "Litany of Gratitude" at the end of this program.
You are welcome to join us!
...Augustana Arts presents Courtyard Concerts!
Relax and Unwind: Backyard Brass
Friday, July 23, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
Featuring . . . Relaxing Massages! New Orleans jazz and pop favorites from Boulder's own Brassaholics sextet! Crafts for Kids! BYO blanket, chairs, and food for an evening of picnicking and dancing!

Join us on 7/23 to experience all of the above! Get ready for a night of dancing and twirling to New Orleans jazz and popular music by the Boulder Brassaholics, a local sextet who are sure to get all feet (big or little) tapping! If you’re in the mood for something fun and new, “Relax and Unwind: Backyard Brass” is for you! What better way to close out your weekend?

The Brassaholics Sextet is a Boulder, CO-based brass sextet playing New Orleans jazz and popular music, including standards. You won't want to miss their upbeat, toe-tapping, fun music at this open-air courtyard concert!
Relax and Unwind: Wind Down with Winds
Friday, July 30, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
Featuring . . . Yoga for all ages and abilities! Themed concert program, featuring favorites such as Rocket Man, Fly me to the Moon, Moonlight Sonata, and more! Crafts for kids!

Feeling “blew” these days? You won’t want to miss this "Garden Party"-themed evening of pop tunes and classical favorites from Denver’s renowned wind ensemble, Gossamer Winds. With music that is familiar and approachable (hear everything from Elton John to Bach!), this is the perfect opportunity to heal through music with your kids, your partner, or with friends.

The Gossamer Winds are a Denver-based chamber ensemble that was established in 2005 with the intention of making great music accessible to all audiences and helping the greater Denver community. The group members are Amanda Rusten, flute; Jaime Askvig, clarinet; Katie Smith, oboe; John Richardson, bassoon and Kelli Hirsch, horn.

In addition to the music, everyone is encouraged to attend an all-ages-and-abilities yoga with Robyn Lambert at 6:15pm before the concert begins! Catherine Hupp of EmBodyWorks will also be available for massages from 6:15pm until the end of the concert. Between the music, crafts, yoga, and evening breezes, you will surely be blown away by this fantastic event.
Tee Off for Hope with Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains!
Monday, August 16 at 9:00 a.m.
7:30 -8:45 AM: Registration & Breakfast
9:00 AM: Shotgun Start
Luncheon & Awards
Join LFSRM for our annual Tee Off for Hope golf tournament, held at Red Rocks Country Club in Morrison, CO! This is a fun-filled day of golf, community, prizes, and supporting the work that we do in Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. Come with a friend or a foursome to one of Colorado's most beautiful private courses for a great cause!
Questions? Email emmily.ureste@lfsrm.org
Our Life Together
Mt. Hope, El Paso, has items to share
The closed congregation of Mt. Hope in El Paso, TX, has a buyer for the property and are optimistic they will be closing in under 60 days. The congregation would like to share its items of ministry for continued use in other congregations. They have 2 organs, 2 pianos, kitchen appliances, pews, worship furnishings and supplies, and more. Please send an email to set up a time to come by and make arrangements for receiving these items.
Memorial Service: Pastor Neil S. Kvern
Saturday, July 31, 10:30 a.m.
A public memorial service for Neil Kvern will be held at 10:30 AM, Sat., July 31, 2021, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 111 Del Mar Cir., Aurora, with a reception following.
Read Neil’s full obituary at neptunesociety.com.
Questions, contact: goodrum@augustanadenver.org
Creation Care Team - Book Discussion
Saturday, Aug 14, 10:00 a.m.
Join Todd Wynward as we discuss his book Rewilding the Way: Break Free to Follow an Untamed God.


Todd Wynward is a public school founder, small-scale farmer, wilderness educator and Mennonite organizer for watershed discipleship in the Mountain States region. He has been engaged in education reform and social change movements for twenty years, and has spent more than a thousand nights outdoors. He and his wife Peg founded a wilderness-based public charter school in 2001 and are now creating TiLT, a discipleship co-housing community emerging in Taos, NM.

When did we become so tame? How has “the good life” come to mean addiction to screens and status, fossil fuels and financial fitness? Can we break free to become the joyful and prophetic people God calls us to be? Trek along with wilderness guide Todd Wynward as he “rewilds” the Jesus Way. Seek the feral foundations of Scripture and the lessons that the prophets and disciples gleaned from wilderness testing.

Packed with inspiring stories of how contemporary people and groups are caring for the land and each other, Rewilding the Way issues a call to action. Read about how reskilling and local food covenants are transforming churches, and how place-based activism and creative housing are nurturing communities. Learn from those who are recovering from affluenza, replacing visions of personal wealth with the commonwealth of the earth and restoring their humble place in the community of creation. Do you despair about life on our changing planet? Join the hopeful band of seekers of God and makers of change who are rewilding the Way.

Richard Rohr calls Wynward’s novel, The Secrets of Leaven, “a spiritual roller-coaster that skewers everything we think we know about organized religion, social change, and human potential.” More of Todd’s writings and doings can be found at TaosTiLT.org and his Author Page on Facebook.

Monthly Webinar
Invitation to Change & Addiction
Thursday, July 29, Noon - 1:00 p.m. ET
with follow-up 30 minute Zoom discussion
The Invitation to Change (ITC) approach is a ground-breaking approach to address substance misuse. ITC is grounded in compassion, connection, and the belief that a person can do something to help their loved one. This holistic model integrates Community Reinforcement and Family Training, Motivational Interviewing, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to encourage change for both the family member or concerned significant other and their loved one, in a place of openness and support. The Center of Addiction and Faith invites you to join The Rev. Jan Brown, an Addictions Educator, and speaker on topics of the role of the church in addiction and recovery, faith responders, and recovery allies.
Resource Corner
Worship resources for “God’s Work. Our Hands.” Sunday
Prayers, hymn suggestions and considerations for preaching for use on Sunday, Sept. 12, the ELCA’s annual day of service, are available in PDF and Word formats.

The Lutheran Center, home of the office of the bishop, has some projects to accomplish that could be excellent for a "God's Work. Our Hands" group. Contact Tina Kvitek if you would like to volunteer.
Employment Opportunities
Director of PLTS Admission
California Lutheran University
60 W. Olsen Rd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
Reporting directly to the Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Management and indirectly reporting to the Rector, the Director of Graduate Admission for the Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS) in Berkeley, CA plans, develops, organizes, coordinates, implements, administers, directs and evaluates the programs, operations, activities and staff of the PLTS Admission office to ensure effective recruitment, admission and enrollment of students. The Director represents the seminary in identifying prospective students from across the country, assisting them with their vocational discernment, choice of seminary, and program of study. The Director oversees recruitment and the process by which prospective students apply and are admitted to the seminary.

More information, including job description, qualifications, application link at https://careers.callutheran.edu/postings/7400.
Music and Worship Lead (part-time)
St. Mark's Lutheran is looking for a creative music leader to help imagine, develop, and lead our congregation in meaningful worship experiences that help the congregation experience God and their lives with God and community in new ways through music.

We are a congregation with deep Lutheran Roots in our community, which is wonderful, but we know there are huge and diverse ways of understanding the divine and we want to experience that too. We have a legacy of choir and traditional Lutheran hymns here, and we want to keep that, but we are looking for someone to help us imagine new ways to sing those songs. We have a lot of young people here with active lives in the Church, and we are looking for someone to help both the older and younger members participate more fully in the worship experience together.

You don’t need a lot of experience as a Church musician, you don’t need to have your faith life all figured out (in fact its probably good that you don’t), but we do ask that you ask questions about what it means to be a community of faith that worships together, and wants to serve the community in love. If this sounds like something you could get on board with, and want to be a part of imagining and becoming a church like that, great; we want to meet you. This position is a part-time, 10 Hour/week position, with competitive salary and benefits. More information here. Send a resume, and contact info to Pr. Nic Leither at pastor@stmarksaurora.org.
Minister of Music and Organist (full-time)
The mission of the Minister of Music and Organist is not only to organize and carry out excellent music for worship services but also to connect with the congregation and the wider community through concerts, education, and collaboration. Providing organ and piano music for the liturgy and hymns as well as accompaniment for the 40-voice Chancel Choir is at the heart of the position. In partnership with Augustana Arts and its Stratus Chamber Orchestra, large works for choir, orchestra, and organ are presented several times throughout the year.

Augustana is a thriving Denver faith community with a rich 140-year history. Located in the Hilltop neighborhood, Augustana has long been identified as a place of musical excellence, both within the congregation and the wider community. We worship in ways that are authentic, Christ-centered, and that lift up God’s grace. We use our musical gifts and sacred space to inspire our worship.

For the full job description and to apply, visit https://www.augustanadenver.org/organist-search/. The application deadline for priority consideration is August 1, 2021

Questions? Email the Rev. Kent Mueller at muellerkent@gmail.com
Office of the Bishop This Week
 Bishop Jim Gonia
  • Cristo Rey - Installation of Margarita Reyes
  • Church of the Master, Lakewood, CO
  • Conference of Bishops Zoom

ELCA DIRECTOR FOR EVANGELICAL MISSION
Pastor Dana Peterson
  • Cristo Rey-Latino Ministry West Denver
  • ELCA Christian Community and Leadership Team
  • Congregational Ministries Board
  • Camino de Vida, Albuquerque
  • Peace, El Paso, TX
  • St. Peter, Carlsbad, NM
  • Shepherd of the Hills, Cañon City, CO

LUTHERAN ADVOCACY MINISTRY NEW MEXICO
Kurt Rager
  • NM First - Food/Hunger Policy Work Group
  • Monte Vista Christian Church - Albuquerque (Preach and Adult Forum) 
  • United Today - Stronger Tomorrow

LUTHERAN ADVOCACY MINISTRY COLORADO
Peter Severson
  • Sabbatical
DIRECTOR FOR CONGREGATIONAL TRANSITION
Pastor Sarah Moening
  • Excellence in Leadership Admin
  • Transitions Work

ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP FOR ADMIN & COMMUNICATION
Pastor Kent Mueller
  • RMS Administration and Communication
  • First Lutheran, Longmont, CO

DIRECTOR FOR DEVELOPMENT/LUTHERAN CENTER
Tina Kvitek
  • RMS Campaign
  • Donor Meetings

ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP FOR FAITH FORMATION & CANDIDACY
Pastor Leslie O'Callaghan
  • Candidacy admin
  • Faith Formation Network check-ins
Quick Links
Share the News
Kent Mueller, Assistant to the Bishop for Administration and Communication
Andrew Nakatani, Communications Assistant
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