Heartbeat Liturgy

Advent evokes the longings of our hearts -- our biggest hopes and our greatest fears. As you pray your way through these holy days, may you be blessed with time to ponder and cherish all that it means to be human and to be holy.



I can testify that the message of Advent still holds:

with hope, with grace, with love, God takes flesh

and meets us when we have become most hopeless,

most broken, most lost.

"Heartbeat Liturgy" image and quote by Jan Richardson

"Church -- Better Together"

An Ordination Story

My name is Bekah Boatwright, and I was recently ordained as a minister of Word and Sacrament in the ELCA into my position as Program Director at Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp. I am excited, grateful, and humbled to be ordained to do the very thing I love most!  

It was in the mountains of North Carolina during summers spent on staff at a Lutheran camp where I first felt the call to ministry and, for a while, I went back and forth on whether to pursue Word & Sacrament or Word & Service. Since the beginning of my call, I have felt drawn to spaces outside of the walls of traditional church, where folks who might not feel comfortable stepping inside of a church might be comfortable.  

I ended up discerning that Word & Sacrament was the correct path for me for one reason—tangible grace in unexpectedly Holy spaces. I didn’t know exactly where I’d end up, but I did know that my passion was in doing ministry in nontraditional ways and that I wanted the sacraments to be a part of that. If you would’ve asked me what my goal was, I would’ve said that my dream was to one day be a program director of a summer camp. I never imagined that dream would come true this early.

I knew that the standard practice of the ELCA required 3 years in a parish before pursuing specialized ministry. As much as I didn’t love the idea of spending 3 years not doing what I was most passionate about, I was open to making this happen in order to get to where I truly felt called. And yet the Holy Spirit, as she often does, had other plans. When I took this job at Sky Ranch, I knew that I was finally answering a call I’d been hearing for almost a decade. I also knew that it might mean stepping away from my call to ordained ministry for a while. Fortunately, through the work of the Holy Spirit, a lot of prayer, and the help of some wonderful colleagues and advocates I found here in the Rocky Mountain Synod, I no longer have to choose between the two things I feel most called to do.

As Program Director, I have the privilege of creating and implementing programs for the summer and retreat season, hiring, training, and mentoring summer staff, promoting camp through church visits and other events, and so much more! Now, as an ordained pastor in the ELCA, this means that I get to be present in new and exciting ways. When leading worship at camp, being able to preside at the table means that more worship on the mountain can include Communion. It means that I get to bring God’s tangible grace into a much deserving space. It means that I get to serve as not just the Program Director to our summer staff, but as a consistent pastoral presence throughout their summer. As a young adult, I felt as though my Program Directors were my pastors. When college life was busy and I did not find the time to be in regular attendance at a congregation, I knew that I had a faith community where I deeply belonged, and pastors who I could always count on. 

Being ordained also means that when I visit congregations to preach and spread the word about camp, I can also preside at the table! Being able to spend time preaching and presiding in many of our congregations throughout the off season is a true blessing, and strengthens our relationships with local congregations—something that we as a camp value so highly!



I feel beyond blessed to serve as your Program Director AND Pastor at Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp. I hope to see you on the mountain soon! 

Congratulations Pastor Bekah!

• Personal accounts of border life from members of Iglesia Luterana Cristo Rey
• The fence between El Paso and Juárez and discussion with Border Patrol
• Social justice organizations & ministries in El Paso
• Conversation with an immigration attorney
• Time with youth at Cristo Rey's After School Program
• The colonies of El Paso, and if desire, Juárez, Mexicao
• Worship and fellowship with the Cristo Rey congregation

Questions? contact Pr. Diana Linden-Johnson HERE

NEWS! FROM THE BISHOP ELECTION COMMITTEE

Rocky Mountain Synod congregations, councils, and members have the opportunity through January 15, 2024 to suggest potential nominees to the office of Bishop of the Rocky Mountain Synod. Please use the link below to make a nomination. Those suggested by the community in this way will be contacted by the Bishop Election Committee and will have the opportunity to fill out a biographical form if they are open to discerning a call as bishop.

Any Word and Sacrament Minister who is open to being nominated for bishop may complete and submit biographical information on the synod website beginning in late January. Anyone who submits biographical information must still be nominated on the first ballot at the Synod Assembly to be considered. Information received about potential nominees will be disseminated to voting members prior to the Assembly April 25-27, 2024.

Questions? contact Pr. Ann Hultquist HERE

More information on the RMS website

ATTENTION ALL CYF (Children, Youth, and Family) LEADERS! 

As Kinna Nordstrom Kemp transitions out of the role as RMS Faith Formation Coordinator, Bishop Jim has requested a team of CYF leaders who are passionate about the future of CYF Ministry to form a Discernment Team. The goal of the team is to discern the needs for our CYF Lay/ Rostered leaders and how we desire the Rocky Mountain Synod to support us in the future. This information will help to inform what is needed before Bishop Jim leaves the office, and to create something to hand off to the next Bishop and staff. 

Meet with Bishop Jim on Wednesday, December 20th at 1 PM via Zoom.

If you are interested in attending or have questions, please email Kinna HERE!

RMS Youth Gathering UPDATE

News from Kinna

I am sad to report that due to very low preregistrations, cost, and limited volunteers, we will be unable to host a Rocky Mountain Synod Youth Gathering this year. Pastor Wylie can't wait to be a part of any future youth events with the Synod, and is available if folks would like to invite them to your church! Also, a thank you to Pastor Bekah from Sky Ranch who was going to join us and offer music! We look forward to future partnership! 

Companion Synod Visit 2024

The Rocky Mountain Synod will be hosting the presidents from our four companion synods in Madagascar September 28-October 6, 2024!

Our hope is to introduce the presidents to different areas and ministries of the synod as they make their way from El Paso, TX to Denver, CO for the installation of our new bishop on Saturday, October 5, 2024. If you would like to be part of a planning team for the visit, please contact Terry Cole, Companion Synod rep on the Global Church Network, at tecole51@comcast.net. And if your ministry is in El Paso, TX, northern New Mexico, Durango, CO, Price, UT, the Salt Lake City area, Laramie or Cheyenne, WY and the Denver Metro area and you are interested in meeting and providing hospitability for our guests, please contact Terry, as well!

BOUNDARY TRAINING OPPORTUNITY

Time to renew or refresh your Boundary Training?

Rostered leaders received this training as part of Theological Conference. For those who still need or want to complete this training, an online option will be offered in four 90-minute sessions from 2:00-3:30pm on the following dates:

Thursday, January 18

Thursday, January 25

Thursday, February 1

Thursday, February 8

Cost will be $50 per person or $200 per congregation. So, if there are people in your congregation/organization who need to complete an ethics and boundaries training, you may sign up as a group. Look for registration coming soon.

Any questions may be directed to eil@rmselca.org.

COMING SOON

To Your Inbox!

A new lens on Lent!

WHY CHURCH? A LENTEN SERIES

CONGREGATIONS IN CONVERSATION

STAY TUNED!

Young Adults in Global Mission UPDATE!

Meet Sara Larson

Sara Larson, a recent graduate of the University of Northern Colorado, participant in Lutheran Episcopal Campus Ministry (Greeley) and Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp staff member, is currently serving as a Young Adult in Global Mission (YAGM) in Budapest, Hungary. In her recent newsletter she writes, I am “currently serving Budapest Fasori Evangelikus Gimazium as an English-speaking volunteer and Phiren Amenca as a volunteer…The last few months have been getting used to living in a new place, meeting new people, and creating relationships with the people I work with.” If you’d like to learn more about Sara’s experience, visit her full newsletter HERE.

Young Adults in Global Mission is a ministry of the ELCA that “invites ELCA young adults ages 21-35 into a transformative, year-long journey in international service.” Learn more about YAGM HERE!

Opportunity to assist a Venezuelan family in Denver

Migrants from Venezuela continue to arrive in Denver almost daily. The Rocky Mountain Synod AMMPARO team recently received a message from the Lutheran Church in Venezuela requesting assistance for a Venezuelan family that recently arrived in Denver and is currently staying at one of the city-sponsored hotel shelters.

The Villarroel-Brito family fled Venezuela when they feared for their safety and then spent three months making their way to the southern border. This family of five includes a mom, dad, two teenagers and a 3 year-old. They have no other family living in the US. The mom's father is a Lutheran pastor in Venezuela!

We are forming a team of congregations and individuals who would like to accompany this family as they apply for asylum and settle into their new life in Colorado. There are multiple ways to help including exploring housing options, companionship and practicing English, transportation, finding work, providing groceries and other basic necessities, and financial assistance - especially to cover housing and legal costs. If you would like to join the team or have ideas to share with the team: please contact Carolyn Swenson from St. Paul-Denver at cjswenson57@gmail.com. Thank you in advance for your compassion, prayers and support!



Holiday Concert THIS Sunday, December 17th at 2:00 p.m. Faith Lutheran, Eaton, CO

Our own Victor Walters with others; will provide a classical seasonal concert with piano solos, duets, vocals and flute! Victor promises new and familiar arrangements from First Noel, Sleight Ride to the Nutcracker!!

Refreshments will follow..all invited..families friends and neighbors!

Join Rejoicing Spirits Sunday, December 17 at Lord of the Hills Lutheran Church 21755 E Smoky Hill Rd. Aurora, CO 80015 from 4-6 p.m. 

We will unite in activities, singing, laughing and loving God.

Rejoicing Spirits is an inclusive worship space for people with cognitive and intellectual disabilities, their caregivers, 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. 

Please RSVP to  pastor@lordofthehills.org  

For more information regarding the Rejoicing Spirits experience or volunteering, please contact:

Pastor Margot at pastor@lordofthehills.org  

Pastor Ann Hultquist at native2615@gmail.com or

Karen Ullestad kmullestad@hotmail.com



“We will know what it is to be created in God’s image when all are included.”

Web address and/or email for additional information: jarpsmanos@gmail.com

Musical Advent Calendar

Join Lutheran Summer Music, December 3-24 for our third-annual Musical Advent Calendar -- a daily moment of music and reflection on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube pages as well as the LSM website

Give Yourself the Gift of Resources

Amidst the joy and celebration – and, yes, stress – of this season, your body can use all the help it can get. Whether it’s treatment for a pesky cough, a listening ear to help process impostor syndrome or budget worries, or ideas for a new healthy holiday tradition, check out Portico’s curated list of resources to support you and your family this season (and Advent blessings to you!) 

December FSA Countdown

Still have a balance in your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) – either for health or dependent care expenses? Be sure to spend those dollars by Dec. 31, 2023, so you won’t lose them. Check your balance on myPortico, and submit receipts via the link to Further. Need ideas on what you can use your dollars for? This list  can help.

Bethany College Receives a $500,000 Matching Fund

Bethany College recently hosted a service of celebration and thanksgiving to unveil a generous gift from an anonymous donor. A $500,000 matching fund has been established for every contribution made to the annual fund before December 31st. These crucial donations will be funneled directly into scholarships, greatly benefiting Bethany students. 

As partners in ministry, your support is vital to Bethany College’s enduring mission. Together, we can ensure that our students have the opportunities to discern their vocational callings and find the path to their purpose. To give as part of this challenge you can: 

• Mail a check, noting “Annual Fund for $500,000 Challenge” on the subject line.
• Visit our donation portal at http://www.bethanylb.edu/give
• Consider making a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) if you are aged 70 ½ or over. 

Should you need any guidance or have questions, please reach email Jacob Spilker or call 785-227-3311 Ext. 8622. Go Swedes!

Ghosted: Ministering to Estranged Parents

Family estrangement in general and parental estrangement in particular is being recognized as an emerging public health problem in our society. Roughly 70 million persons over the age of 18 indicate they are estranged from a family member, and one in eight parent-adult child relationships is estranged. In this SPEAK Awareness Training for Faith Communities, participants will learn practical skills for making a life-changing difference for estranged parents and grandparents in their congregations and communities.

Date/Time: Thursday, January 18, 2024 5-7 pm MT

Registration Fee: $30 for LFCNA members/ $50 for non-members

Group rates for multiple registrations from the same organization will be considered upon request. Send your request to lutheranfcna@gmail.com.

OBJECTIVES

By the close of this training, participants will be able to:

1.     Define what we mean by parental estrangement.

2.     Name a Biblical passage addressing estrangement (King David and son Absalom).

3.     Articulate the characteristics of parental estrangement

4.     Identify the various aspects of parental trauma

5.     List solutions that do not work.

6.     Identify possible indicators of an estranged parent

7.     Engage an estranged parent in an affirming, healing conversation using the REACH model.

8.     Assemble an estranged parent resource kit.

This activity has been submitted to Montana Nurses Association for approval to award contact hours. Montana Nurses Association is accredited with distinction as an approver of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. To receive contact hours for this event, attendees must attend the entire event and submit a completed evaluation form.

Click Here for a flyer that can be posted and/or shared with others.

Caffeinated Church Conference September 9-12, 2024

Denver, CO

The 1st Annual Caffeinated Church Conference will bring together leaders, administrators, communicators, and volunteers in our faith communities. Our mission is to equip and inspire you to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of your church's communication and administrative functions.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• Workshops & Collaboration Sessions: Gain access to hands-on workshops, led by known experts in church communications and administration. Hear from influential thought leaders who will challenge your thinking and provide fresh insights into the ever-changing landscape of church communication and administration. Topics include strategic planning, social media outreach, artificial intelligence, budgeting, digital evangelism, volunteer management, leadership development, and more.
• Networking Opportunities: Connect with like-minded individuals who are facing similar challenges and share best practices. Engage in thoughtful discussions and create lasting relationships that will benefit your ministry.
• Innovative Technology Exploration: Explore the latest tools and technologies that can enhance your church's communication and administration. From cutting-edge software for graphic design, to AI tools for working more efficiently and effectively, to creative solutions for engaging your congregation, discover what's new in the field.