Christ the King Lutheran Church closes after 67 years of ministry

The people of the Christ the King Lutheran Church in Denver, CO, gathered on Sunday, January 8, for their final worship service and Liturgy of Holy Closure. With words of gratitude––and tears of thanksgiving––the congregation commended their property to the Rocky Mountain Synod, with hopes and prayers that the congregation's end will lead to new and renewed ministry.

Pastor Randy Mundt, interim pastor, proclaimed a gospel message of grace, giving thanks for the congregation's ministry in the Harvey Park neighborhood of southwest Denver.

Following the worship, the congregation and guests gathered for fellowship and sharing memories.

FOR YOUR ANNUAL MEETING

Share our RMS Annual Report snapshot of how we are better together!

Our financial report for 2022 is not complete (because our fiscal year ends January 31), but your annual meetings are NOW. Thus our two-page annual report .pdf is ready for you to download and include in your Annual Reports––either digital or in print. This represents a very small slice of the many ways we are Better Together as the Rocky Mountain Synod!

• download .pdf in color
• download .pdf in black and white

MESSIAH MOUNTAIN

Art Journal Workshop series doesn't require art skills

Three Saturdays: February 4, 11, 18

9:00am to 2:30pm. with lunch provided.

$175 Cost: sessions, supplies, and lunch.

Location: Messiah Mountain Retreat Center, 5200 Parmalee Gulch Road, Indian Hills, CO, a short drive into the foothills west of Denver, just 8 minutes from C-470 and Highway 285. 

Artist journals combine writing and various media (drawing, water color, pastel, collage, etc.) with the purpose of exploring ideas and making a written and visual record of experience. In this workshop series, we will mine elements of our own life story and experiences using various media and written reflections, all brought together and bound in a journal format. No artistic experience required, but a willingness to reflect, write, and engage with art media is essential. Expect some work outside class sessions each week.

Workshop Host: Ken Phillips is our host and co-traveler in this workshop. (Ken was our Park City Theological Conference artist!)

Registration is online, as well as additional information about the workshop and our workshop host. January 25 registration deadine. Contact Kent Mueller with questions.

EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP RETREAT

Deepen resiliency and create community with EiL colleagues

Resiliency, Community, and the Loneliness of Leadership

February 16-18, 2023

The Excellence in Leadership Team is excited to invite EiL colleagues to their first retreat, geared at graduates and those in Year 2 of this initiative. We recognize that the work we need to do to deepen resiliency, create community, and excel as leaders is not over when participants graduate from Excellence in Leadership. There is always work to be done, and it can be hard to do it in the normal confines of everyday life.

This retreat will...

• allow space for being understood in a community of leaders.
• carve out time away from the demands of leadership.
• present Excellence in Leadership material related to Community and Resiliency.
• strategize ways to shift culture and craft a new way forward.

This retreat is set before the season of Lent, so leaders can come and let go of some of their burdens ahead of a busy and deeply spiritual season. The retreat will take place at the Franciscan Retreat Center, Colorado Springs, CO. Retreat facilitators are Pastors Will Johnson and Katie Emery.

Questions? Send email to eil@rmselca.org.

CHECK FRAUD

Don't send checks to RMS in window envelopes, and check your statement

Many checks have been stolen within Postal Service networks and deposited fraudulently. We have learned this is widespread problem. Banks have been efficient in issuing the funds to us correctly, but we have to track down missing funds first!

We are requesting that treasurers and financial staff be sure to reconcile the statement emailed or sent each month (from Jon Johnson, our financial manager) with your records to confirm that the RMS has received payments that you have sent.

We are working on fraud prevention strategies, including a system for authorizing electronic fund transfers. Please contact Jon with questions.

FAITH FORMATION

Youth Gathering is Feb. 18-20 in Denver!

FAITH FORMATION

Western States Youth Gathering

July 6-9, 2023

Learn more about the event and register your group.

Questions can be directed to info@wsyg.com.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church

Open Nominations Jan. 9 – March 9

At the 2022 Churchwide Assembly, voting members adopted a memorial concerning restructuring the ELCA’s governance and "authorized the establishment of the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church (CRLC) to consist of no more than 35 voting members and directed the Executive Committee of the Church Council to initiate the process of forming the commission."

• Read more in this article from Living Lutheran here.

The nomination process is open until March 9, 2023. More information about the commitment and expectation of serving on the CRLC can be found here. Interested individuals who wish to be nominated or to nominate another person should complete and submit the nomination form.

YOUNG ADULTS IN GLOBAL MISSION

Applications Open for 2023/24 Young Adult in Global Mission (YAGM) Program

The ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission program invites ELCA young adults ages 21-29 into a transformative, year-long journey in international service.

To learn how you can support Young Adults in Global Mission, visit their sponsorship page here.

Learn about the program details and apply at ELCA.org/YAGM by Feb. 1, 2023. Priority will be given to those who apply before January 15. For more information contact YAGM at 1-800-638-3522, ext. 2861 or by email to Mae Helen Jackson, Young Adult Outreach and Placement Manager at maehelen.jackson@elca.org.

Concert Encounter for Kidz

Sunday, January 29 at 3:00pm

Hey kids (of all ages)! Get up close and comfortable with music for Stratus Chamber Orchestra’s 2nd Annual “Concert Encounter for Kidz.”

Hear all the sounds! See their fingers move! Touch the instruments! This afternoon concert will feature music of horns, woodwinds, and strings –– ALL with a kid-friendly flair. Expose little young ones to the joy of music where there are no rules or restrictions to bounce, sway, dance, or stomp to the music.

A concert to inspire any future young artist!

Event takes place in the Fellowship Hall at Augustana Lutheran Church (5000 E Alameda Ave, Denver, CO 80246). Cost is $15 per adult and $5 per child.

ONLINE ZOOM MEETING (FREE)

Centering Prayer Introductory Workshop

Saturday, January 14, 9:00am-noon

Are you looking for a way to explore or deepen your relationship with God? In our introductory workshop to Centering Prayer, you will discover a centuries-old prayer method. Centering Prayer consists of simply sitting in silence with God - beyond thoughts, words, and emotions - and opening our mind, heart and whole being to the Ultimate Mystery.

In this FREE workshop, you will learn the basics of Centering Prayer, experience it in a guided setting, and be able to ask questions and share experiences with the presenter and your fellow initiates.

To register, call (303)698-7729 or centeringprayer.net/introtocenteringprayer.

IN-PERSON EVENT (FREE)

12-Step Introductory Workshop to Centering Prayer

Saturday, January 14, 9:00am-noon

Center for Contemplative Living, 3650 Yates St., Denver, CO

Many members of 12 Step recovery programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon, NA, ACA, OA, SAA and others have found Centering Prayer to be transformative in their recovery work generally, and specifically as it pertains to emotional sobriety and practicing a daily 11th Step: "Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out."

Our presenters will share their experience, strength and hope with Centering Prayer. We will present this simple method to help deepen contact with your Higher Power. Those who already practice Centering Prayer as a part of their 12 Step recovery and desire a refresher will also find the presentation useful. Please join us.

To register, call (303)698-7729 or go to centeringprayer.net/introto12step.

Love Your Neighbor!

Sunday, January 15, 4:00pm - 6:00pm

Lord of the Hills Lutheran

21755 E Smoky Hill Rd. Aurora, CO 80015

Join Rejoicing Spirits on Sunday, January 15 at Lord of the Hills Lutheran Church in Aurora from 4-6 p.m. for dinner and worship!

There will be activities, singing, laughing and loving God together. Rejoicing Spirits is an inclusive worship space for people with cognitive and intellectual disabilities, their care givers, families and anyone who seeks an open, joyful and creative worship experience.

We will gather at LOTH on the third Sunday of each month in 2023.

If you would like more information regarding the Rejoicing Spirits experience or volunteering, please contact Rev. Brigette Weier at weierbrigetter@gmail.com.

"We will know what it is to be created in God's image when all are included."

IN-PERSON WORKSHOP

Managing Leadership Anxiety

Friday, Feb 3 from 6:00-9:00pm

and Saturday, Feb 4 from 8:00-2:00pm

God is counting on all of us to be leaders in our workplaces, homes, community, schools and beyond creating peace and inclusion. Abiding Hope Church is hosting a free workshop on “Managing Leadership Anxiety” by Steve Cuss. Steve Cuss is an author and speaker on leadership anxiety, helping individuals learn to function as calm, aware, and present humans in their work and home place.

Join us Friday, February 3 and Saturday, February 4 with dinner, breakfast, and lunch included. This event is free! To register please email Cathi@abidinghope.org.

Speaker info at stevecusswords.com.

This synod includes 145 congregations, two synodically authorized worshiping communities, and 63,259 baptized Lutherans walking together to strengthen the witness and service of the whole church to make Christ known. In addition, one ELCA seminary and two ELCA-affiliated colleges are located within the Northeastern Iowa Synod, as well as two outdoor Bible camp ministries and a campus ministry.

The Rev. Kevin T. Jones was elected Bishop of the Northeastern Iowa Synod at their 2021 Synod Assembly.

Visit neiasynod.org.org and on Facebook.

Click here for a map of our 65 ELCA synods and 9 regions.