If your congregation has not yet registered for Synod Assembly, save yourselves time and money by registering this week! Pre-registration is open through April 29 at a cost of $65 per person. Registration then closes until on-site registration opens at St. Andrew's on Friday, May 13, at a cost of $75 per person. Those who pre-register need only a quick check-in to pick up their materials when they arrive rather than standing in line to start the registration process.

Questions about registration may be directed to Michael Gold at 651-224-4313 or michael.gold@spas-elca.org.

The 2022 Pre-Assembly Report is available for viewing. This document includes the proposed agenda, rules of procedure and budget; the report of the Nominating Committee and information about the nominees; proposed changes to the constitution; as well as general information about our 2022 Synod Assembly.

Changes to the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program have created a unique opportunity for rostered leaders and other non-profit employees. Have you been told in the past that you were previously ineligible for PSLF? You may now be eligible! PSLF has expanded qualified employment to include religious instruction and worship.

There is also a time-limited opportunity until Oct. 31, 2022, to have all previous federal loan payments count as long as you had qualified employment. Now is the perfect time to review your federal student loan situation! Through a partnership with Portico Benefit Services, LSS Financial Counseling is here to

help. They will help you explore if PSLF is right for you. During an appointment you will:

Contact LSS Financial Counseling at (800) 528-2926 to schedule a free appointment with a student loan counselor or click here to learn more. This service is provided by Portico Benefit Services for members and their immediate family members.

If you've been wondering if seminary is the right path for you, here's your chance for some assisted discernment! This Zoom event is sponsored by the seminaries of the ELCA and includes:

If you're interested, please register right away (no registrations accepted after May 1).

How can we balance gun rights with the call to live safely with each other? Dr. Matthew Filner, Professor of Constitutional Law at Metro State, will guide our ENGAGE-FOCUS conversation as we engage this faith-life-value question. Hosted by ENGAGE: Lutherans for Gun Violence Prevention, a work group of the Saint Paul Area Synod. Click here to register to receive the Zoom link. Questions? Contact the Rev. Dr. Ron Letnes at letnesron@gmail.com.

This alternative to the cancelled ELCA Youth gathering is hosted by Humble Walk Lutheran Church in St. Paul and Pastor Jodi Houge. This program for young people in grades 8-12 includes worship, group activities, service projects, art, music, a field trip to Valleyfair and more. Special guests include Rachel Kurtz, Joe Davis, Austen Hartke, Osheta Moore and Jenny Sung. Registrants are asked to stay on-site at the host hotel, the Holiday Inn Express. The estimated cost is $200, not including lodging. Learn more.

Each Wednesday, the ELCA Worship blog posts prompts for the weekly prayers of intercession. These brief posts suggest national and world events that prayer writers might consider as they prepare for worship. Last week's post, for example, included prompts for interfaith peace and understanding during this holy time of the year for many major faiths, for those facing violence in Ukraine, and for preservation of creation around Earth Day, The blog also includes suggested prayers and hymns. For additional resources related to crafting intercessions, visit this annotated list.

Registration for ELCA World Hunger's 2023 Domestic Hunger Grants is now open! Organizations applying for a grant for the first time must register by creating an account in ELCA GrantMaker to access the application once the window opens on April 18. If your organization is already registered in ELCA Grantmaker, now would be a great time to log back in and confirm that your contact information is still accurate. Learn more.

Informational Webinar - ELCA World Hunger hosted a Zoom webinar on April 6 that covered granting priorities and the basics of applying. A recording is accessible via the Domestic Hunger Grant FAQ page.

Congregations with feeding ministries should also watch for the next round of Daily Bread Matching Grants in the coming months! ELCA World Hunger Daily Bread Matching Grants support congregations and their partners as they work toward a just world where all are fed. All ELCA congregations with feeding ministries are eligible to participate. These grants provide daily bread for neighbors experiencing hunger while also serving as a tool for ministry fundraising and capacity building. Registration and applications for the 2023 Daily Bread Matching Grant will open April 25, 2022. Learn more.

Students who attend AYTI take their questions and curiosity to the public square to learn, listen, pray, and play on the Augsburg campus, in the neighborhood, and in the city. Participants engage in daily reflection with a theologian, community based learning, small group relationship building, and worship. This commitment to wonder about how God is calling us to the common good for the sake of the world, is the reason why high school students leave AYTI inspired to be God’s hands and feet in the world. Learn more.

With fentanyl showing up in every kind of street drug, relapse following treatment is becoming increasingly dangerous. Relapse is widely accepted as the norm following treatment, but does it need to be? There are evidence-based practices that work very well to prevent relapse but those practices are not regularly applied in the field. Bill Messinger, retired attorney and recovery coach, will discuss current relapse-prevention practices and what we can do to improve outcomes. He will explain how faith communities can play a supportive role helping people on their journey back to wholeness. Join the Center of Addiction & Faith for this free webinar and follow-up discussion on this life and death issue. Learn more.

This intergenerational event will teach us to exert our influence to create a better world through discussions, games and service activities. Featured speakers include Professor Kiara Jorgenson, assistant professor of religion and environmental studies at St. Olaf College; State Representative Liz Reyer, Eagan District 51B; and Larry Kraft, St. Louis Park city council member and co-host of the podcast, City Climate Corner. This family-friendly event also includes nine activity stations around topics such as legislative influence, community influence, conservation and recycling, composting, saving the monarchs, solar and renewable energy, plus games, devotionals and more. This event is free, but requires advance registration. Learn more.

Many of us know the heartbreak of losing a beloved pet. This short, family-friendly memorial service in the chapel at Shepherd of the Valley will honor the memory of our pets and celebrate the time we shared together. Feel free to bring a frame photo of your pet to display during the service! No registration is necessary. Learn more.

The Association of Lutheran Church Musicians is offering an online training, collaboration and networking gathering for worship leaders, musicians, pastors and audio/video techs. There are instrumental breakout options (vocals, bass guitar, acoustic and electric guitar, keyboards, drums) as well as topic breakouts on leading worship in hybrid spaces, music theory for beginners and other content. The gathering takes place over three two-hour sessions on Friday night, Saturday morning and Saturday afternoon. The cost is $25 per person. Learn more.

The upward climb of the past year has presented many challenges for young people. Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS) has come together to help youth build resilience and perseverance to reach the summit of their aspirations. This benefit is available via livestream. Registered guests will receive an email with instructions for joining the virtual gathering. Learn more.

Adult Lutherans Organized for Action (ALOA) offers older adults a time of learning, reflecting and connecting with spiritual study, music, devotions and outdoor activities. Presenters include the Rev. David Buegler as well as Pastor Frank and Deaconess Jan Janzow. Pricing varies by type of accommodation. Learn more.

What's next in faith formation? Leaders, clergy, and volunteers in ministry with all ages are enthusiastically invited to join the ConNext Summit 2022. This year's theme is "In the Ways of Jesus - Gracious Idleness, Scrappy Transformation, Radical Belonging." This ecumencial gathering of progressive leaders offers opportunities to network, share inspiration and rest. Workshop topics include worship with children, outdoor ministries, milestone ministries, radical belonging, praying with children and youth, plus more. Learn more.

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