Enews: Dining cars and faith; new sick and safe time laws and churches; and more

November 21, 2023

Minneapolis Area Synod, ELCA Enews

It's still not to late to submit congregational reports

It's important for future representation!

If you haven't submitted your congregation's Forms A & C for 2022, you still can! The ELCA says it's never too late! These reports inform how many voting members our synod can bring to the Churchwide Assembly in 2025.

Fill them out

Synod staff this week

Jeni Huff, Johan Baumeister, Manny Lewis, Pastor Wondimu Sonessa, and Lynda Nordholm are out of the office this week. Pastor Craig Pederson will be on sabbatical through the end of 2023. The Minneapolis Area Synod office will be closed in observation of Thanksgiving on Thursday and Friday.

All Aboard!

“Can our congregations work like an Amtrak dining car? I’ve travelled on Amtrak’s Empire Builder between Minnesota and Montana since my college days and again last week. What a ride it is: lakes country of Minnesota, prairies and oil fields of North Dakota, prairies and wind turbines of Montana! When it was time to eat, Becky and I made our way to the dining car. The host greeted us and invited us to sit on the same side of the table.”

Read Pastor John's blog

Statewide Earned Sick and Safe Time Law

Minnesota's earned sick and safe time (ESST) law goes into effect January 1, 2024. Employers must provide each employee in Minnesota at least one hour of paid sick and safe time for every 30 hours worked, up to at least 48 hours of accrued ESST a year. An employee is anyone who works at least 80 hours in a year for an employer in Minnesota and is not an independent contractor.

An employer's existing leave policy, such as paid time off (PTO), may already fully or partially meet Minnesota's earned sick and safe time requirements. ESST local ordinances are in effect in the cities of Bloomington, Duluth, Minneapolis, and St. Paul, and may differ from the state's ESST requirements. Employers are responsible for following the ESST requirements that are most favorable to their employees. The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry is responsible for enforcing ESST requirements. For more information, visit the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry website.

National Lutheran Choir's annual Christmas festival

In Christ’s birth we see, hear, and feel a sense of renewal as Christmas connects us to the roots of our faith. Join the National Lutheran Choir at the magnificent Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis for this Christmas Festival tradition!

This year’s festival, titled New Hope, will celebrate old beside new; the program will include works from the 16th century to the present, including Gabrieli’s Hodie Christus natus est, Randall Thompson’s Ye Were Sometimes Darkness, and an arrangement by new Artistic Director, Jennaya Robison. Carols, readings, and music from brass, oboe, harp, and organ will sound throughout the Basilica to ring in another Christmas.

In Person

Friday, December 8; 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, December 9; 1:30 p.m.

Saturday, December 9; 8:00 p.m.

Basilica of Saint Mary

1600 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis

For tickets

To view livestream on December 9

Indigenous theology

The Truth and Healing Movement of the ELCA is sponsoring a class in late November for interested ELCA congregants titled "Indigenous Thought and Theology."

Indian people have unique and beautiful ways of understanding the world. Indigenous wisdom – as it relates to living in relationship with Creator, Mother Earth, and other created beings – should be centered if we want to provide better care for our home and all our relatives. "Indigenous Thought and Theology" provides an introduction to this wisdom and examines Indigenous ways of understanding, respecting, and interacting with this wondrous world we inhabit.

Thursday, November 30

Zoom

Vance Blackfox will be the presenter. Pre-registration is not required.

Join the class

Where is the synod staff in upcoming weeks?

Bishop Ann Svennungsen will be leading a Ministry Site Profile review at Mount Calvary Lutheran, Excelsior, on Wednesday, November 29.
Bishop Ann Svennungsen will be attending a farewell worship for Pastor Tom Zarth at Oak Grove Lutheran, Richfield, on Sunday, December 3.
Bishop Ann Svennungsen will be ordaining Trevor Skorburg at St. Stephen Lutheran, Bloomington, on Saturday, December 9.
Bishop Ann Svennungsen will be leading a Ministry Site Profile review at Light of Christ Lutheran, Delano, on Sunday, December 10.
Pastor John Hulden will be preaching and Leading a Ministry Site Profile review at Community of the Cross Lutheran, Bloomington, on Sunday, December 10.
Bishop Ann Svennungsen will be leading a Ministry Site Profile review at Faith Lutheran, Isanti, on Sunday, December 17.

Minneapolis Area Synod candidates being ordained

Bishop Dee Pederson will ordain Sarah Zender at Our Father's Lutheran, Rockford, on Saturday, December 9. Once ordained, Sarah will serve a call at Grace Lutheran, Luverne, Minnesota.

Upcoming Events

Courageous Leadership Webinars , Wednesdays
Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service: Honoring Sacred Living Waters, November 21
Addiction and Uncovery, November 29
Children's Ministry Gathering, December 11
Youth Ministry Leaders Social, December 12
Children's Ministry Gathering, January 8, 2024
JUSTmove! A justice-centered lock in for youth, January 14-15
2024 Youth Ministry Extravaganza, January 17-24
Youth Group Confirmation Night at Luther Seminary, January 31
Refresher Course for Faith Community Nurses, February 1
Conference Assemblies, February 10, 2024
Minneapolis Area Synod Assembly, May 2 - 4, 2024

Minneapolis Area Synod, ELCA www.mpls-synod.org