March 24, 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 When one suffers “A few years, I had the privilege to be in South Africa on a study tour to learn about racial reconciliation with the hope of bringing that learning back to the United States as we wrestle with systemic racism here. While there I learned about the philosophy of ubuntu, which roughly translates to ‘I am because we are.’” Pastor Norma'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.

MAS/SPAS joint youth ministry leader check in Register to meet via zoom with other youth ministry leaders and pastors about summer ministry. Ideas, brainstorming, and breakout rooms provided to support each others' work in solidifying summer ministry plans. This is a working meeting. Thursday, March 25 10:00-11:15 a.m. Online This meeting is hosted by the Minneapolis Area and Saint Paul Area Synods. Register now 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

Get the best rest

Good sleep is as much a factor of whole-person well-being as diet, exercise, and prayer. Check out the small steps you can take to set yourself up for healthy sleep on 2021 Live Well. Focusing on sleep for part of your Lent journey? ELCA-Primary members, both Being and Learn to Live offer more in-depth coaching and tracking that can help you make meaningful, lasting change.

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. Being Church: Towards an Even Greater We On March 24, Being Church, hosted by the ELCA coaching network will offer a discussion under the theme of "Towards an Even Greater We." Presenters will be Giovana Oaxaca, program director for migration policy with ELCA Advocacy, and Mary Campbell, program director for ELCA AMMPARO. They will discuss how Lutherans advocate on pressing migration issues and how leaders can model this important ministry within their community. Wednesday, March 24 Noon-1:00 p.m. Zoom To join the Zoom call To view earlier recordings

A message from Karen Stevensen about pre-marriage workshops

"After 20 years of providing day-long, pre-marriage workshops for more than 40 churches in the metro area, I am retiring in May. This has been a shared ministry of both metro synods and has provided couples with a true gift from the church, especially the tools couples need to create a good foundation in their marriage. Over the years many couples reported back to their pastors that they were grateful for the opportunity and they felt they learned a lot. As a therapist it felt good to work to prevent many of the issues I see with couples in marriage counseling. I also appreciated the partnership between large churches and small churches that enabled all couples to get this preparation for marriage. Small congregations often don’t have the numbers of couples they need to create a fun workshop. By combining the numbers of all these churches, we usually had 30 couples each workshop which added energy to the experience. I want to thank all the pastors who referred their couples to the workshop." Rev. Karen Stevensen, LICSW

Addiction and Motivational Interviewing Dr. William R. Miller will offer free webinar on addiction and motivational interviewing. Miller is one of the world’s leading addiction researchers and co-creator of Motivational Interviewing. He has dedicated his life and career to understanding how and why people change and the connections between psychology and spirituality. Thursday, March 25 11:00 a.m.-Noon Central Online  This webinar will be presented in interview format by the Center of Addiction & Faith. To register for the webinar 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

Where is the synod staff in upcoming weeks?

Bishop Ann Svennungsen is leading a Ministry Site Profile discussion at Mount Calvary Lutheran, Excelsior, on Tuesday, March 23. Ms. Brenda Blackhawk will be speaking at a forum at Zion Lutheran, Anoka, on Tuesday, March 23. Pastor John Hulden will be preaching the children's sermon for the pre-recorded synod worship service to be offered for Sunday, April 11. The service will be recorded at Hope Lutheran, Jordan. Ms. Madeline Troyer will be preaching at Maple Grove Lutheran, Maple Grove, 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

Addiction and Motivational Interviewing, March 25 Take a Breath: Spiritual Care for Holy Week, March 30 Leading with Love: 100% Campaign, April 8 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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