August 30, 2021
For Afghanistan
Early last week, a former military chaplain reached out to me. He is heartsick at the suffering he sees in Afghanistan. He knows, as do I, the deep investment made by the U.S. troops, who served there over the past 20 years, as well as the profound yearning of many civilians for a freer way of life. It is another huge humanitarian crisis, arising before our eyes.

While we may champion different political and diplomatic strategies, as Christians we are called to do several things:

What we may not do as Christians is ignore the needs of neighbors – near and far. O God, strength of those who believe in you, give comfort and clarity of vision to us in this time of need. Open our ears to hear your voice and obey your will; open our hearts that true justice and wisdom may abound; and open our hands that violent resolution of conflict may cease, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen (Prayer from ELW)

In Christ’s service,
Bishop Patricia Lull
Bishop's Theological Conference
Sunday, Oct. 10-Tuesday, Oct. 12 | Cragun's Resort on Gull Lake, Brainerd
Active rostered ministers are invited to attend our 2021 Bishop's Theological Conference, currently planned as an in-person event with a multitude of safety practices. Our keynote speaker is Bishop Janice Riggle Huie of The United Methodist Church, who will help us set our sights on the future for clergy vitality and resilience. An invitation was emailed last week to those on our active roster list. Learn more.
Lutherans at the Fair
Are you enjoying our "Lutherans at the Fair" features, spotlighting folks from around the synod who are working or volunteering at the State Fair? So far we've profiled a dairy princess, a food critic, a prolific creative activities ribbon winner, a food vendor, State Fair Foundation volunteers, a guest services representative and a Park & Ride supervisor. The features run daily through this Saturday on the synod's Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Honorees Gathering
Due to reinstatement of COVID precautions, our planned Honorees Luncheon for Sept. 13 will now be a masked and socially distanced 45-minute presentation in the sanctuary of Shepherd of the Valley, Apple Valley. This invitation-only event honors those who have recently retired, as well as those who are celebrating milestone anniversaries of personal or congregational ministry. No RSVPs are necessary. Complete details have been sent to all invited honorees.
Boundaries Book Group
Thursdays, Sept. 30 & Nov. 11 - 9:30-11:30 a.m. | Online
Boundaries education is required for all rostered ministers in the synod at least once every five years. Participants study The Integrity of the Body of Christ: Boundary Keeping as Shared Responsibility by Arden Mahlberg and Craig Nessen. Pre-reading and attendance at two meetings are necessary to meet the requirement. Learn more and register.

Alternative Training Option:
Rostered ministers may also attend online boundaries training offered by other organizations. This option includes a mandatory Zoom meeting with Bishop Patricia Lull in December. Online training mus be completed by Dec. 6. Learn more.
ELCA Youth Gathering
Registration opens on Sept. 22 for the 2022 ELCA Youth Gathering! Visit the Gathering's resource page to download the registration worksheets you'll need to register your group. A Safety and Security Webinar will take place on Thursday, Sept. 8, at 7 p.m. to discuss impacts and guidance regarding the COVID-19 pandemic as it might relate to the Gathering. Register here.
Community Bell Ringing
City of Bells has been invited to participate in the official State of Minnesota 9/11 Ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 11. If your church building is blessed with a bell, you are invited to join the community in bell ringing according to the schedule they have set up. The goal of City of Bells is to surround the metro
community and beyond in bell ringing at the times listed below in coordination with the bell ringing by The Liberty Bell and a bell from the Minnesota Military Museum on the steps of the State Capitol.

The ceremony, held at the State Capitol grounds in St. Paul, pauses for one-minute on four occasions to honor the moment that a plane was used in a 9/11 attack:
  • From 7:46 a.m. to 7:47 a.m. (honoring Flight 11)
  • From 8:03 a.m. to 8:04 a.m. (honoring Flight 175)
  • From 8:37 a.m. to8:38 a.m. (honoring Flight 77)
  • From 9:03 a.m. to 9:04 a.m. (honoring Flight 93)

If you plan to participate, please email Rebecca Sundquist or call 952-221-3400 so your bells are listed in the program.
Excellence in Leadership Program
“It’s not easy to be the church these days.” This is a common sentiment in mainline Christian denominations and the ELCA is no exception. We know there is a need for hope and grace and the power of the gospel, but the ways of communicating that and the ways of being church in the world are shifting beneath our feet. How much more has this become true in the past 18 months as we have attempted to negotiate the added challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic?

In response to this truth and the desire to raise up courageous, resilient, and faithful leaders, the Rocky Mountain Synod has created a leadership initiative called Excellence in Leadership. It is a two-year investment, with classes meeting one to two times per month, that will provide tools and resources to last a lifetime. An invitation has been extended to Saint Paul Area Synod congregations and leaders to participate with the Rocky Mountain Synod.

By engaging deeply in the studies of adaptive leadership, vulnerability, emotional intelligence, family systems, TheoryU, and spiritual practices, participants will be stepping forward to meet the future boldly. The Rocky Mountain Synod is inviting participants from all regions and walks of life – lay or rostered, young or old. Click here for a short message from the Rev. Will Johnson, a participant and trainer in the program. Learn more.
Advocacy Summer School
Wednesdays Through Sept. 8 -
1-1:45 p.m. | Online
Through advocacy, the ELCA community can create lasting, systemic change. If you want to get involved in faith-based advocacy but aren’t sure where to begin, sign up for Advocacy Summer School. This five-part, online series is being offered by ELCA Advocacy in collaboration with ELCA Peace Not Walls. Remaining topics include:
  • Sept. 1 - Let's Talk: About the Holy Land
  • Sept. 8 - Let's Talk: About Immigration

"God's work. Our hands." Sunday
 “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday is Sept. 12! This day is an opportunity to celebrate who we are as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor. Congregations all across the ELCA are invited to create service project opportunities that support their community, from food drives to letter writing, neighborhood clean-ups to inspirational lawn signs. Learn more at https://www.elca.org/dayofservice. When you click on GWOH resources, you'll find a variety of promotional resources like posters, postcards and social media posts as well as the 2021 Worship Resource which contains prayers, hymn suggestions and considerations for preaching.
Is there something going on in your congregation that's unique and worthy of sharing?
We love sharing stories of the synod! Send a brief description and any photos to communications@spas-elca.org!
EVENTS OF INTEREST
2021-2022 Opportunity Saint Paul Kickoff Event
Thursday, Sept. 9, 6–7:30 p.m. | Gloria Dei, St. Paul OR Online
Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul invites you to join them in person at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church or online (streamed live on Zoom) for its Opportunity Saint Paul (OSP) kickoff event. You will hear from partner organizations about their fall volunteer options, both in person and virtual. If you choose to join via live stream, the link will be sent 24 hours in advance along with resources for the kickoff event. OSP volunteers will be asked to fill out an exit ticket at the end of the live event (either in person or via email for those joining us virtually). This will help us get you signed up for your OSP volunteering partner. Questions? Contact Sarah Peterka or Phil Romine. Register here.
Evening Prayer in Commemoration of
the 20th Anniversary of September 11
Saturday, Sept. 11 - 5 p.m. | St. Paul Reformation, St. Paul
You are invited to commemorate 20 years since the 9/11 attacks on the United States with a special liturgy of evening prayer. Bishop Patricia Lull will lead us as we commemorate that day with remembrance, lament and a renewed call to be peacemakers in our own day. Learn more.
EVICTEDPoverty and Profit in the American City Book Discussion
Thursdays, Sept. 16-30 - 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Our Redeemer, St. Paul
"Without a home, everything else falls apart." Our Redeemer is partnering with the Eastside Freedom Library, Arlington Hills Lutheran and other organizations for a discussion of the book EvictedPoverty and Profit in the American City by Matt Desmond. This discussion and planning for future collaborative work will be held on Sept. 16, 23 and 30 at Our Redeemer (1390 Larpenteur Ave. E., St. Paul). A limited number of books are available for purchase ($10) from Deacon Jennifer (jennifer@orlcmn.org) or available as an audiobook or ebook on Amazon or The Libby App by Overdrive. Register.
National Lutheran Choir Fall Gathering - CANCELLED
Sunday, Sept. 19 | Como Lakeside Pavilion, St. Paul
This gathering has been cancelled due to increasing threat of the Delta variant. The choir's season, however, will continue with both in-person and virtual content. Learn more.
Addiction & Faith Conference
Oct. 7-9 | Doubletree Hotel, Bloomington + Virtual
There is growing concern ​over the devastation from all forms of addiction, including the ever-increasing opioid crisis, and now the added challenge of a worldwide pandemic. The Center of Addiction & Faith presents the Addiction and Faith Conference to raise awareness about the terrible addiction problem we face and how the church and people of faith can help to address it. "Studies show that faith is a positive factor in addiction prevention and recovery," said the Rev. Dr. Ed Treat, executive director of the Center of Addiction & Faith. "Faith communities are in an ideal position to make a difference in healing addiction, and yet their messages are either ineffective or nonexistent. We want to help teach them what they can do and why."

Featured speakers include:
  • Rev. Deacon Jan Brown, executive director of Spiritworks Foundation
  • Timothy McMahan King, author of Addiction Nation: What the Opioid Crisis Says About Us
  • Rev. Kai William Rissman, author of Knowledge to Power: Understanding and Overcoming Addiction
  • D. Richard Wright, Cl, LADC Ojibwe Nation, author of Mukwa and Adjidamoo, The Way of Our People and From Wine To Mouthwash.

The conference features break-out sessions in the areas of addiction and the family, addiction science, addiction and justice, equipping the church for addiction ministry and best practices. In-person registration is $350; the virtual option is $100. Learn more and register. 
Other Event Reminders:
SYNOD STAFF PREACHING SCHEDULE
Bishop Patricia Lull
  • Sept. 11 - St. Paul Reformation - 5 p.m. (20th Anniversary of 9/11)
The Saint Paul Area Synod, which includes 110 congregations and new mission starts,
is one of 65 synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
www.spas-elca.org | 651-224-4313