REGISTRATIONS STILL BEING RECEIVED!

Attend pre-assembly Zoom for in-depth look at RMS finances on May 2 at 4:30pm

2022 Synod Assembly

May 9-11, 2022

Loveland, Colorado

Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center

2:00 p.m. on Monday, May 9 through Noon on Wednesday, May 11

Assembly Schedule

• View or download the schedule

Treasurer's Reports & Pre-Assembly Zoom, May 2

2022 Proposed Budget

• Rocky Mountain Synod 2022 Proposed Budget

2021 Financial Reports

• Congregation Giving by Conference
• Designated Giving
• Balance Sheet
• Summary & Budget vs Actual
• (all 2021 reports combined)

The 2022 proposed budget will be presented to the Assembly for approval. Please take time to review the document ahead of time and attend the Pre-Assembly Synod Treasurer Zoom meeting on Monday, May 2 at 4:30 p.m. MDT. This meeting will provide time to discuss any of the financial documents, answer questions, and review the proposed budget. You are encouraged to attend this meeting prior to the Assembly session. There will not be time for an in-depth review of the budget at Assembly. Here is the Zoom link for that session:

The Zoom link for this Pre-Assembly Zoom meeting is:

zoom.us/j/98049988778?pwd=Q1hhQS9IUUI4VklBbGVHYitoUHN4QT09

Meeting ID: 980 4998 8778

Passcode: 617701

Phone:  +1 346 248 7799

Nomination Materials

• Please review the candidate materials here

Registration and Hotel Rooms

The hotel is allowing us to extend their meal count deadline and there are still hotel rooms available. Thus, you may still register! Questions? Concerns? More Information? Please contact Deacon Sarah Bjornebo.

Wonderfully Made – An RMS High School Summer Experience

Registration is OPEN! Deadline May 31!

With the news of the cancellation of the ELCA Youth Gathering this Summer, many leaders from around the Synod stepped up and said "we need to offer something."

So we are proud and excited to announce that the Rocky Mountain Synod, in partnership with Other + Wise, will be hosting a Summer event for your high school youth! Price is TBD, however, it is sure to be less expensive than the ELCA Youth Gathering, with even further cost savings with the option to sleep on a church floor, or a hotel/Airbnb of your choice!

The large group gatherings will take place at Bethany Lutheran Church, just south of Denver in Cherry Hills Village. Immersion experiences will take place each afternoon. Registration deadline is May 31.

Each group must secure their own transportation as this experience includes travel exploration. More info at 2022myj.com and otherwise.info.

For any questions, contact our RMS Faith Formation Coordinator - Kinna Nordstrom Kemp at 303-889-9844 (call/ text) or email misskinna.cyf@gmail.com.

ZOOM MEETING ONLY

Veterans Experience, Strength & Hope Meeting

Starting Wednesday, April 27, 11:00am MST

This meeting is for all

• who serve or have served in the Armed Services
• who are looking for support with recovery from substance use disorder
• who are looking comradeship so you know you are not alone.

Substance use is about isolation, recovery is about connection. Connection is life on life's terms. You never have to be alone again. Connections begin with reaching out.

See flyer for more information, or click here.

Memorial DayTributes

If you be holding a Memorial Day tribute for veterans at your church/community, please share it by contacting Vicky Daub at: director@veteranservantcorps.org.

Lutheran Campus Ministry Regions 1 & 2

Staff Retreat June 26-29

We are on for June 26-29 at the Dumas Bay Center in Federal Way, Washington. Staff, please fill out this form to register. Synod folks, encourage the staff in your part of the world to join us for this important and life-giving event!

The cost is only be $150 per person for 3 nights in single dorm rooms with catered food and a lovely view of the bay. We'll start Sunday night with dinner and check-in. We'll have time to share about our ministries, experiences, and to have practical conversations about our work within our regional and historical context. We'll make sure we have time for prayer, rest, outdoor and urban exploring.

Lutheran Campus Ministry Network (LuMin) is a network of inclusive faith communities celebrating God’s love and grace on or near the campuses of over 230 colleges and universities across the United States.

Checks or paypal accepted. Checks should be mailed to: LCMNet, c/o Agape San Diego, 6556 Park Ridge Rd, San Diego, CA 92120-3236. To pay online go to paypal.me/LCMNet

AUGUSTANA ARTS PRESENTS:

Dr. Kris Rizzotto - In Concert!

Sunday, May 8 at 3:00pm

Augustana Lutheran Church (5000 E. Alameda Ave.)

Enter code WelcomeBack2022 at checkout for $10 OFF all ticket price levels.

Don’t miss this unparalleled matinee performance forthis ONE-TIME performance!

Join Augustana Arts and the Rocky Mountain Guild of Organists for our 2021-22 season finale featuring organist, composer, and international recitalist Dr. Kris Rizzotto. The organ, likely an instrument you hear very seldomly, is the world’s most powerful instrument, with an enthralling range of sounds and sheer volume reminiscent of a full orchestra.

Dr. Rizzotto is a Latvian Brazilian organist who is currently the Director of Music at Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. They have played concerts in Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, and in 20 American states.

Dr. Rizzotto holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Organ Performance from the American Organ Institute at the University of Oklahoma, a Master of Music in Organ Performance and Sacred Music from East Carolina University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Their first published composition, “Toccata,” was released in 2014 by Wayne Leupold Editions, and they now find success as a self-published composer.

Masks and proof of vaccination may be requested at the time of this concert and will follow prescribed state, city and church guidelines.

"Breaking the Silence About Mental Illness" and "Transforming Stigma into Hope: Storytelling and Mental Illness"

Sunday, May 1 at 9:30am and 11:00am

What can we do to help reduce stigma about mental illness in our communities? Together we will explore how and why personal storytelling is so effective in removing the barriers of stigma and shame.

Dr. Sarah Lund's prerecorded sermon is "Resurrecting Friendship" at 9:30 and the forum is at 11:00 where Sarah will be live on zoom from Indiana. Sarah’s 16 year old niece died by suicide in the fall of 2020 and after her death the family learned that stigma was one of the barriers to getting help. Sarah currently serves as Minister for Disabilities and Mental Health Justice on the national staff of the United Church of Christ and as senior pastor of First Congregational UCC of Indianapolis, IN. Sarah joined two US Department of Health and Human Services national Think Tanks, the first about faith communities and suicide, and the second Think Tank about faith communities and youth mental health.

Join on Zoom: zoom.us/j/825027809?pwd=SUFEaHhBN1ErZ1FuM1FReS9sTVNrUT09

Women's Ministry Event

Hosted by St. Philip Lutheran Church, Littleton, CO

Get more info and register at stphilip-co.org/womens-ministry-event!

IN-PERSON EVENT

REAL SABBATH

Pub Theology Retreat at Sky Ranch

May 6-8

Friday night to Sunday 11am

A Young Adult retreat for those age 18-35!

Use QR code to register.

Concordia Handbells and Rocky Mountain Ringers in Concert

at Saint Paul Lutheran Community of Faith, 1600 Grant St, Denver

Monday, May 9 at 7:30pm

Join us for a night of exciting handbell music! Concordia University Irvine's handbell ensembles are touring Colorado and they're joining the Rocky Mountain Ringers to present a concert. Led by award winning composer Alex Guebert, they will perform a wide variety of music - sacred to classical to modern to popular - using over 127 handbells and handchimes as well as other instruments. Come join us for this free concert! A free-will offering will be accepted.

For more info: www.rmringers.org/contact

ONLINE ZOOM EVENTS

Feeling overwhelmed?

Join us for learning, conversation, and support

For more than two years, many people have used the term "overwhelmed’ to describe how they're feeling. We've struggled with a pandemic, including deaths and severe illnesses in our families and communities, social division, economic disruption, and more. There's a clinical word that can be used to describe this feeling: trauma.

Join us as we find paths to understanding what we're coping with, and ways to support one another through these unusual times. The facilitator, Dr. Edward Mooney, an ELCA pastoral ministry candidate in Colorado, is a researcher and educator who has spent years studying the effects of trauma in schools.

Join us for one of these three Zoom opportunities for learning and conversation:

Tuesday, May 24, 2022 from 6:30-9 p.m.

Thursday, June 2, 2022 from 6:30-9 p.m.

Saturday, June 11 from 9-11:30 a.m.

Leadership Lab at Augustana College in Rock Island, IL

Monday, June 20 through Saturday, June 25

Who: All students 9th grade - Age 22

What?: At Lab students experiment and practice leadership for church and community. Many have an intense transformational faith experience. Students worship as a group two times a day and attend three small group "lab" sessions daily, enjoy meals and free time together. Most learning is small group based and designed to foster both friendship within the group as labbers explore and develop their own faith in Christ.

Cost: $275-$400 Per person (food/lodging/materials)

More info at: leadershiplab.net/about

from Seeds Monthly, April 2022-

Lutherans act for climate justice

In observance of Earth Day, Presiding Bishop Eliabeth Eaton shared some examples of how Lutherans are caring for creation and addressing climate justice. The ELCA collaborates with ecoAmerica’s Blessed Tomorrow program to train creation care ambassadors. In Washington, D.C., we seek solutions to the impacts of climate change through advocacy, building relationships with elected leaders. Globally, the ELCA participates in the Conference of the Parties (COP) at the United Nations Climate Change Conference. Lutheran delegates have witnessed action on climate issues including options to improve soil and meet a growing demand for food.

God calls us to be stewards of the earth and to fully integrate creation care into our love of God, neighbor and everything in our environment. Watch the video and get involved.

BULLETIN BLURBS

These snippets are available for you to copy and paste into your bulletins.

Celebration of Arab American Heritage Month

April is Arab American Heritage Month, and the Association of Lutherans of Arab and Middle Eastern Heritage (ALAMEH) is hosting an online celebration on Thursday, April 28, at 6 p.m. Central time. The event will feature speakers Samer Khalaf, national president of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, and Jonathan Kuttab, executive director of Friends of Sabeel North America. The celebration will address Arab American heritage in the U.S., advocacy, justice, combating discrimination and more. Register at bit.ly/ALAMEHCelebration.

2024 ELCA Youth Gathering location announced

The ELCA Youth Gathering is jazzed to announce that we will be heading to New Orleans for the 2024 Gathering, MYLE and the tAble! The Big Easy is filled with rich history, friendly locals, amazing food and great music, and we just can’t wait to go back. Mark your calendars for July 16-20, 2024, to join this transformational faith-formation event. MYLE and the tAble will take place immediately before the Gathering, from July 13 to 16. More information is available at www.elca.org/youthgathering.