Do you know one of the most popular pages of the synod website? https://spas-elca.org/resources/job-openings/! We've long invited congregations throughout the Twin Cities to post open positions on our website in the categories of music; children, youth and family ministry; administration and other opportunities. To keep the listings as up-to-date as possible, we remove them after 30 days or earlier if we're informed that the position has been filled.

If you have a position to promote, we now ask you to submit your information via a form rather than emailing the information. This will help us standardize the content and formatting of listings and help ensure that all of the pertinent information is included. Job posters are now asked to provide a brief overview of the position and provide a link to the full job description elsewhere. The submission form may be found at https://spas-elca.org/post-a-job/. (If you regularly have jobs to list, be sure to bookmark the page for future reference.) Questions? Call the synod office at 651-224-4313 or email michael.gold@spas-elca.org.

This humorous video premiered at the 2022 Synod Assembly. Thank you to Pastor John Klawiter (Faith, Forest Lake) and friends for enlightening us in a lighthearted way!

This is the last week at the synod for Dr. Anna Marsh, who has accepted a position at Luther Seminary as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Old Testament. She has been serving as the executive assistant to the bishop and program director for the synod's Lilly Grant. Her last day with the synod is Friday.

We invite you to join us in sending Anna off with our gratitude for her years of service to the synod and our well wishes for her new endeavors. A reception will be held this Wednesday, June 22, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Christ on Capitol Hill, 105 University Ave. W., St. Paul. No registration is required.

Limited free parking is available in the lot behind the church (designated synod spots), or you may find free or paid street parking along Park Street or Sherburne Avenue. Also available for a nominal fee are metered stalls in Lot C at the corner of Sherburne and Rice (marked as "State of Minnesota Visitor Parking").

The Saint Paul Area Synod is seeking applicants for a front office administrator & event planner. This full-time employee will maintain synod records; schedule repairs and maintenance for the office; oversee logistics for a variety of events; and assist other staff with mobility, candidacy, vitality and leadership development tasks. View the full job description. To apply, send a cover letter and resume, along with three references including emails and phone numbers to anna.marsh@spas-elca.org. Review of applications has begun and will continue until the position is filled.

Lutheran Campus Ministry-Twin Cities (LCM) and campus ministries across the country are preparing to welcome new high school graduates this fall and to walk alongside them as they grow in faith through college. But they need help to do this work in getting them connected!

There are a couple of ways you can refer your students to their local campus ministries:

LCM is so grateful for the ways you've cared for and nurtured these students thus far, and they are excited to partner with you in that work as they move through this next season of life. If you have any questions, reach out to the Program + Outreach Coordinator at dana@umnlutheran.org.

In 2022, Cherish All Children educated hundreds of youth, families and community members using their new Safe & Healthy Relationships Youth Guide. Through this resource, youth learn how to keep themselves safe from exploitation and adults learn how they can best support them in their growth into healthy relationships. YOU can help keep this work going!

For this Virtual 5K, you can head out solo or with friends and family to run or walk at a location you choose, enlisting others to sponsor your 5K. Learn more and sign up for this free event at cherishallchildren.org/race. Participants receive a Cherish All Children 5K race t-shirt as an important member of the fundraising team. If you’re unable to participate and would like to make a gift to support this work, visit donate.lssmn.org/Cherish5K. Questions? Email joy.mcelroy@cherishallchildren.org.

Join women from around our synod for a day of worship, bible study and workshops. The featured speaker is The Rev. Babette Chatman, who serves as a campus pastor at Augsburg University in Minneapolis. Other speakers include Bishop Patricia Lull, Pastor Lois Pallmeyer of Gloria Dei, St. Paul; and Laura Krueger, churchwide representative.

The convention also includes the business meeting of our synod's Women's Organization...electing officers and board members, approving the budget and setting direction for the future. This year, it's an opportunity to gather in person to renew friendships and make new ones. We'll be inspired and renewed, leaving revitalized in our faith. Voting member registrations were due June 18; visitor registrations are due July 1. Click here to register.

Start getting your group of 20 or more together for Lutheran Night at the Twins...congregations, youth groups, Bible study groups, etc. You'll receive group discounted tickets seated together, a welcome message on the scoreboard and the opportunity to participate in the national anthem choir. Ticket prices range from $17 to $37 in a variety of seating areas including the Deck, Field Box and Home Run Porch View. To reserve group tickets, contact Ryan Thomson at 612-659-3582 or ryanthomson@twinsbaseball.com. Payment isn't due until three weeks before the game. Learn more.

In conjunction with Lutheran Night at the Twins, one Sunday School teacher will be selected to throw out the first pitch at this game. A drawing will be held on July 20 with a blindfolded Sunday schooler drawing the winning name. Send in the name and contact information (phone or email) of your favorite Sunday School teacher by email to raijaw@aol.com or text to 651-332-9113.

ELCA Coaching offers a weekly online gathering for ministry leaders. Each week features a new topic and presenters. Recent topics included leading in a multi-systems world (and staying healthy), human skills we need in an unpredictable world, and the big four ministries (Sunday School, camp, The Gathering and campus ministry). The sessions often include time for small group break-out rooms so that leaders across the church can learn from one another and leave each gathering with at least one action step. Recordings are posted by the next day. Learn more.

A panel of ministry leaders share their expertise on engaging older adults in ministry to each other, their families, their church and in their community. Sue Lennartson, director of adult ministry at St. Andrew’s, Mahtomedi, will lead the discussion. She’ll be joined by Pastor Roland Martinson, professor emeritus at Luther Seminary and author of Elder Rising; Pastor Chris Olson Bingea, senior pastor of First, St. Paul; and Pastor Kelly Chatman, a national teacher for the church in multicultural leadership, community engagement and congregational revitalization. They will share their experiences and explore the potential that older adults bring to the congregation as life long learners. This free webinar is offered through Adult Lutherans Organized for Action. Register here.

BeLoved Teen Group (BLTG) is a newly formed, metro-wide youth group, hosted by Grace Lutheran Church of Northeast Minneapolis and Queer Grace Community. It is created to be an affirming space for LGBTQIA+ youth to talk about God, where they can know that they are fully seen, known, and loved by God and by others. Teens (and their families) are invited to experience Pride with the group. You can meet at Grace Lutheran Church at 10 a.m. and ride together or you can meet the group at the Queer Grace Community booth at Pride at 11 a.m. The group returns to Grace Lutheran Church at 2 p.m. Sign-ups are requested at http://queergracecommunity.com/beloved-teen-group/. Follow the group on Facebook or Instagram @bltg.mpls, or email us at belovedteengroup@gmail.com.

We live in a world of noise and constant movement, but nearly all the world's religions and wisdom traditions teach about the value and importance of silence. Join Justin Zorn and Leigh Marz, authors of Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise, as they invite us to rethink our definition of silence…not just the absence of noise, but as a presence that can bring us energy, clarity and deeper connection. You'll learn more about the science of why silence is essential for our bodies and minds, and practical approaches to cultivating silence in your life. We will discuss how silence can be key to promoting and sustaining recovery in all its forms. Register here.

www.spas-elca.org | 651-224-4313