August 23, 2022
Minneapolis Area Synod, ELCA Enews
Synod office update
Synod staff members are splitting time between in-office and remote work; the office remains closed to public meetings. This protocol will be evaluated periodically to reflect the CDC guidelines for vaccinated persons.
Resiliency coaching cohort
for women in ministry
It’s been more than two years since everything changed. We know that ministry is different today than it was before the pandemic. We have changed. Our congregations have changed.  Our communities have changed. This cohort will be a time of resourcing and coaching for women leaders. Tools will be shared for building resiliency muscles, finding ways to move through stress, address issues unique to women in leadership, and more. The facilitator is International Coaching Federation certified coach, the Rev. Mary Frances, who has served in a variety of settings in the ELCA. 
 
Wednesdays from October 5 to December 7
9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
 
Cost: $175 for all 8 weeks (only $21 a session)
 
For more details or to register (by September 15), email Director for Evangelical Mission, the Rev. Norma Malfatti.
Church fun?
“Doing my best to stomp down what is now called 'imposter syndrome,' I quickly replied to the query about my personal mission statement with fake confidence: 'Sure! To tell the story of Jesus, to work for peace and justice, and to have fun doing it.' My soon to be friend Carl liked it. And as I heard the words come out of my mouth, I guess I did too. For better or for worse, I’ve stuck with my made-up-on-the-spot mission statement now going on 40 years.”
Synod Assembly 2023 -- Save the Date!
It's never too early to put some dates in your calendar. Open up your app or pull out your paper calendar right now and add the dates for the 2023 Minneapolis Area Synod Assembly.

Friday, April 28; Festival Worship Service
Saturday, April 29; Day of Inspiration and Business

Details about themes and sites will follow soon. But, knowing how busy people are, we want you to have these dates early.
Virtual discernment
of calling event
Are you or someone you know discerning a call to seminary? The seven seminaries of the ELCA are partnering together to offer a virtual discernment event.

Saturday, September 10
(Registration by September 6)
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Online
 
The ELCA seminaries include Luther Seminary, St. Paul; Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois; Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia, South Carolina; Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, Berkeley, California; Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio; United Lutheran Seminary, Gettysburg & Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa.
Does your church communicator have style?
Congregational communicators and administrators are invited to come together to discuss the use of styleguides for consistent communication within the congregation. This includes alternative styleguides addressing particular communities.

Save the Date!
Thursday, October 6; 10:00 a.m.

Bring questions and experiences to share. Treats and coffee will be provided. Watch this space or the MAS Communicators Facebook group for more information.
You can help change lives
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS) invites people to join in the Celebration for Changing Lives on Saturday, September 17, at 5:30 p.m. This gala brings together neighbors helping neighbors to celebrate LSS’s mission of inspiring hope, changing lives, and building community. Gifts and sponsorships support life-changing services that impact 1 in every 65 Minnesotans.

Saturday, September 17 
5:30 – 9:00 p.m.
The Depot
225 3rd Avenue South, Minneapolis

This year LSS is celebrating in person with a social hour, dinner, and program, as well as an invitation to support its vision that all people have the opportunity to live and work in community with full and abundant lives.
Live the tag line in 2022
Join hundreds of ELCA congregations across the nation on Sunday, September 11, for the year's ELCA special day of service, "God's work. Our hands." Sunday. If your congregation is trying to decide a way to do ministry together on this day, Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota can help identify local service opportunities that helps the exploration of a basic Lutheran conviction: that all of life in Christ -- every act of service, in every daily calling and in every corner of life -- flows freely from a living, daring confidence in God's grace. 
Striving to ensure excellence in leadership
“It’s not easy to be the church these days.” This is a common sentiment in mainline Christian denominations. 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 two years 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, ELCA has created a leadership initiative called Excellence in Leadership. It is an 18-month investment, with classes meeting 1-2 times per month, which will provide tools and resources to last a lifetime.

This initiative is grounded in authentically claiming our identities as individuals and as church. By engaging deeply in the studies of adaptive leadership, vulnerability, emotional intelligence, family systems, Theory U, and spiritual practices, we 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. That includes you!

The deadline for registration is Friday, September 2, 2022.
Opportunities from United Theological Seminary
ConNext Summit 2022: In the Ways of Jesus: Gracious Idleness, Scrappy Transformation, Radical Belonging is an opportunity for congregational leaders -- clergy, staff, or volunteer -- to process the last few years with comedy improv troupe Danger Boat Productions; strengthen collegial community led by musician Sara Thomsen; rest and renew at Christ the King retreat center; and get inspired by ministry innovations created by neighboring communities. Offered by United Theological Seminary, early bird registration available through August only!
Experiences of division, isolation, and despair are overwhelming. BELONGING offers connection, encouragement, and hope.
The Ministry Lab invites clergy, faith formation, worship, and other congregational leaders to join our Blue Whirl Webinar Series: Belonging: Welcome Wellbeing, a lineup running from September 13 to November 8.
Upcoming National Lutheran Choir concerts
Starting September 7, tickets will be available for the National Lutheran Choir’s (NLC) 2022-2023 season!
 
Join the choir in person and virtually for a variety of NLC experiences. The annual All Saints program will include John Rutter’s Requiem. The Christmas Festival will feature favorites from the last 20 years, as well as some new works. In the spring, the NLC will celebrate Artistic Director David Cherwien’s final performance with the choir at the Spring Concert.
 
While tickets and season passes are available for in-person events, a Virtual Subscription is an opportunity to connect with the choir online.
Music Festival in Isle
Faith Lutheran Church in Isle, Minnesota, and Rural Music Ministries is planning a R.U.R.A.L. Music Fest for August 25-28. It will be held at Redemption Hill, 43694 Highway 47 in Isle. The festival is free and open to the public. And, you are invited to "bring your own lawn chair and blanket!"
Where is the synod staff in upcoming weeks?
  • Mr. Nicholas Tangen will be preaching at Glen Cary Lutheran, Ham Lake, on Sunday, August 28.
  • Pastor Craig Pederson will be installing Pastor Sara Jensen at Lutheran Church of Christ the Redeemer, Minneapolis, on Sunday, August 28.
  • Pastor Norma Malfatti will be sharing greetings during the 50th anniversary celebration at Our Father's Lutheran, Rockford, on Sunday, August 28.
  • Bishop Regina Hassanally, Southeastern Minnesota Synod, will be ordaining Anne Schaefer at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran, Edina, on Thursday, September 1. Anne has been called as associate pastor at Elk River Lutheran, Elk River.
  • Pastor Norma Malfatti will be preaching and presiding at Christ Memorial Lutheran, Plymouth, on Sunday, September 11.
  • Ms. Meghan Olsen Biebighauser will be leading an adult forum at Holy Trinity Lutheran, Minneapolis, on Sunday, September 11.
  • Pastor Norma Malfatti will be conducting a Ministry Review at Tapestry, Richfield, on Sunday, September 11.
  • Pastor Craig Pederson will be installing Pastor Laila Barr and Pastor Jonathan Rundman at Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran, Prior Lake, on Sunday, September 11.
  • Pastor Norma Malfatti will be conducting a Ministry Review at Tree of Life, Minneapolis, on Monday, September 12.
  • Pastor John Hulden will be preaching and installing Deacon Erica Larson at Transfiguration Lutheran, Bloomington, on Sunday, September 18.
  • Pastor Craig Pederson will be installing Pastor Bryan Odeen at Saint Peder's Lutheran, Minneapolis, on Sunday, September 18.
  • Pastor Norma Malfatti will be preaching and presiding at Salem Evangelical Lutheran, Minneapolis, on Sunday, September 25.
Upcoming Events
Minneapolis Area Synod, ELCA www.mpls-synod.org