Second Sunday in Lent 

A presentation by Dr. Ann Graham Brock will take place at Messiah Community Church (ELCA), Denver on Friday, February 22 at 7 p.m. She is Associate Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins at Iliff School of Theology in Denver.  Cost is $10 (seniors over 60 are free). 

Ann Graham Brock (Ph.D., Harvard University) is an author and lecturer whose special interests include New Testament and Early Christian Traditions, archaeology and gender issues in religion. Her most recent publication is entitled "Mary Magdalene, The First Apostle: The Struggle for Authority". Ann has also appeared on the History Channel in its presentation of "The Twelve Apostles", on the Discovery Channel in "The Real Da Vinci Code", as well as several BBC television documentaries. She has also been to and lectured at biblical archaeological sites throughout Greece, Turkey, Egypt, and Israel.

Messiah Community Church is located at 1750 Colorado Blvd. in Denver, Colorado 80220. Their web address is www.messiahdenver.org

2008 Parish Nurse/Faith Community Nurse Basic Preparation Course

You are invited to participate in a basic nurse preparation course from Sunday, June 15 at 1:30 to noon on Thursday, June 19, 2008. Training will be held at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, 2602 Deming Blvd in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The cost is $300.00 (half due at the time of registration and the remainder will be due the first day of the event.)

This ecumenical / non-denominational certification training is based on curriculum from the International Parish Nurse Resource Center in St. Louis, Missouri. This event is for Registered Nurses (RN's) who hold an active state license. Nursing CEU's offered.

For more information or to register, contact Carol Peterson, MS, RN, Wyoming Health Council at 303-632-3640 or by email carol@wyhc.org . Registration begins March 15.

This event is sponsored b the Wyoming Health Council in cooperation with the Parish Nurse Center, Carroll College, Helena, Montana.
 

Bethlehem Lutheran Church (Longmont, CO) is seeking to fill the positions for Director of Christian Education and Youth Director.

Advent Lutheran Church (Westerminister, CO) is seeking a part time Director for Christian Education and Youth.

Please visit the Rocky Mountain Synod webpage to get more information.

prayers for ministries & meetings this week:

Lutheran Men in Mission

LMM Launches "One Year to Live" Men's Ministry in RMS

On any given Sunday morning in the U.S., 5.5 million women worship without their husbands present. Further, studies tell us that men ages 18 to 34 are the most under-churched group in America.  Such a trend needs our best creative ministry efforts. To that end, Lutheran Men in Mission (LMM) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has developed an unprecedented new ministry called "One Year to Live". Bethany Lutheran Church in Denver served as the "pilot church" for this new venture with amazing results.

According to Ed Cleaver, co-leader of the Bethany men's group, "For all 16 men in our pilot group the retreat was a major turning point in their lives, and nearly all of them are actively involved in the follow-up group more than four months later." (See the Bethany newsletter article)

In a letter to all ELCA churches in the Rocky Mountain Synod, Pastor Dan Bollman exclaims, "We encourage your congregation to join this movement!"  To do so, each congregation needs a group of 3-5 men to become the "One Year to Live" leadership group for their church.

Please identify this small group of lay-leaders and forward their contact information to Doug Haugen at 773-380-2566 or Doug.Haugen@ELCA.org . To participate in the launch of "One Year to Live" in the Rocky Mountain Synod, this men's ministry leadership team needs to be identified by February 13. Participating congregations will be asked to learn more about the program through a conference call on Sunday evening February 17 or Tuesday evening February 19.

Disasters are tragic events that disrupt the normal routine of life, causing loss and human suffering. During a disaster such as an earthquake, major flood, tornado, civil war, or famine, the overwhelming concern is for the safety and preservation of life. After a disaster, the relief process begins. Concerns for safety, life and health are high priorities in the immediate post-disaster stage. Relief activities are geared to meet these concerns. Food, safe drinking water, medicine, and shelter must be provided.

The church has always ministered in disasters, bringing God's Word of comfort, healing and renewal to the variety and depth of human suffering. Sometimes the church's response occurs as Christian congregations share God's love with those who suffer through illness, death, unemployment, and other personal tragedies. When a major disaster strikes, local needs often outstrip the available local resources. In such catastrophes the whole church marshals its resources and reaches out to help.

To Donate to ELCA Disaster Response

Web of Creation

The Web of Creation (www.webofcreation.org) encourages personal and social transformation to a just and sustainable world from religious perspectives by promoting and educating people about eco-justice. The site is maintained by the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and is supported in part by a grant from ELCA World Hunger.

The Green Congregation Program offers suggestions to lessen the ecological imprint made by your congregation's buildings and grounds. To download the "Environmental Guide for Congregations, Their Buildings and Grounds", go to www.webofcreation.org .