Prayer from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers,
Consultation on English Texts, 2002.
"Baptized We Live" photo by Jeffrey D. Louden.

We remember in prayer the family of Bishop Margarita Martinez
After an eight-month battle with cancer, Bishop Margarita Martinez died on Saturday, March 10. She served as bishop of the Caribbean Synod.

Synod Prayer Cycle: Metro East Conference
During the month of March we give thanks for the ministry of our congregations and rostered leaders in the Metro East Conference. You are encouraged to include these congregations and leaders in your Sunday prayers of the people. The prayer list for March is available as a Word document.

to remember in prayer at worship on 3/18
Joy Parker, CO
.....David Fisher, Lynette Crase
Lord of the Hills Centennial, CO
.....Tom Renquist
Messiah Denver, CO
.....Wolfgang Stahlberg
Nativity Commerce City, CO
.....Kristi Beebe
New Beginnings Aurora, CO
..... Emily Cardin

"For the living of these days..."
prayers for staff travels & meetings this week:

1. New Horizons in Falcon, CO (which started worship in April in 2006) would love to receive copies of the new Evangelical Lutheran Worship book.
2. New Beginnings - Denver Women's Correctional Facility - Pastor Emily Cardin. Friday evening worship attendance by 60+ women in this correctional facility is often the highlight of their week. This ministry relies on Mission Partner gifts from congregations and individuals.
3. Iglesia Luterana Cristo Rey - El Paso, Texas, is in the process of purchasing a storefront to be used for worship, fellowship, education, an after school program, and health ministry. Any Lenten Mission Partners gifts to help with the purchase and building renovation are greatly appreciated. For more information, contact Pastor Rose Mary Sanchez- Guzman.

2007 Partnerships Intents Needed in Synod Office
Each congregation is asked to submit an intent of how much it will share in partnership support with the wider church during 2007. If your congregation has not yet submitted your intent, please call Cheryl at 303-777-6700 or complete an easy online form.

Remember to Return Immigration DVDs
All of our copies are currently loaned out, so please remember to return your copy when you have finished using it.

Lutheran Day at the Legislature & Bishop’s Luncheon:
Monday, March 19; 9 am – 2 pm, Colorado History Museum, Denver
Speakers: Bishop Allan Bjornberg, Opening Devotion; Dr. Craig Nessan, Wartburg Theological Seminary, Faith in Politics—A Lutheran Perspective; Rev. Peter Sawtell, Eco-Justice Ministries, Environment—Voices for the Voiceless: Advocacy for God’s Creation; Terri McMaster, Diaconal Minister & Director, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry, 2007 Advocacy Priorities
Breakout Sessions: Environmental Issues; Senior Issues; Discussion with Dr. Craig Nessan
Optional Afternoon Sessions: Advocacy 202— Engaging your faith community in advocacy ministry; Meet with your Senator or Representative.; Tour the capitol & learn about the legislative process.
Registration Deadline: Thursday, March 15th. Registration Fees: Individual, paid in advance: $20; congregational groups of five or more, paid in advance: $15 each; Registration fees paid on the day of the event: $25. Registration form available online at:
www.lam-co.org/LDAL_2007_Registration.html

Discerning Vocation and Call to Ministry 2007 Retreat
You are invited and encouraged to attend this retreat if you are currently applying for or expecting to apply for Candidacy in the ELCA anytime in the coming year. We also want to invite all those who may be considering or are actively in discernment about whether God is calling you to serve the church as an ordained pastor, consecrated diaconal minister, or commissioned associate in ministry.

Held at Augustana Lutheran Church, 5000 East Alameda, Denver, the retreat will be April 11 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please RSVP by March 15 to Janice at jladd-horkey@rmselca.org Questions? Call Madelyn Busse at 303-777-6700 or email to mbusse@rmselca.org

Vision, Passion, Action Blog
Linda Bobbitt has posted the latest VPA summary
A "blog" is short for "web log" and it is a way to invite conversation about topics and issues. The new RMS weblog is designed to facilitate conversation about the Vision, Passion, Action process. The address of the RMS blog is www.rmselca.blogspot.com. If you post a comment please include your name and congregation. If you would like to post an entry, send your entry to kmueller@rmselca.org.

Get Ready for RMS Trip to Mexico: June 20- 28
This 2007 trip to the Lutheran Center in Mexico City will increase our understanding of our neighbors to the south,opening our eyes to the cultural, economic and political realities of Mexico. If you are interested click to view (Word document) information and an application or contact Madelyn Busse at 303-777-6700. Applications are due in the Synod office no later than April 15. Please keep in mind that passports are now required for travel to Mexico.

"They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body.... Then they remembered his words." (NRSV Luke 24:2,8)


On the first Easter morning, the women entered an empty tomb expecting to find Jesus. They were looking for the body of Jesus, but were disappointed and perplexed.

Today, when we look for peace and there is no peace, we, too, may wonder where Jesus is. When violence and wars escalate, we may wonder where Jesus is. When hunger and poverty continue to have a stronghold in neighborhoods here and around the world, we may wonder where Jesus is. When we experience the emptiness of the divisions among races, religions, and classes, our fear and confusion can cause us to wonder where Jesus is. When we struggle with guilt or shame, we may wonder where Jesus is. Like the disciples of old, we miss the signs of God's presence in our world.

In the dark days of perplexity and despair for the troubles of this world, let us remember the hope of Easter morning. In the dawn of Christ's resurrection, we rejoice that death and evil did not have the last word: the tomb is empty! Christ is with us, living among us and through us, announcing "good news to the poor...release to the captives...recovery of sight to the blind," freedom to the oppressed, and "the year of the Lord's favor." (NRSV, Luke 4:18-19) Christ is with us as the word of forgiveness is declared and the sacraments are received. Christ is with us as we look for signs of Jesus in our churches and communities and remember his words: "And, remember I am with you always, to the end of the age." (NRSV, Matthew 28:20b)

The Rev. Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Clergy Day Apart at Norbertine
Come to a Called Back to the Well Clergy Day Apart March 19, 2007. All ministers are invited to a monthly day apart at the Norbertine Center in Albuquerque, continuing the 3rd Monday of each month. An RSVP would be appreciated. Contact Sue Joiner for more information: mailto:sjoiner@samaritancc.com or call 505.332.8020.

LMPC Seminar to be Held in Albuquerque
The Lombard Mennonite Peace Center is offering its seminar on Leadership and Anxiety in the Church: A Family Systems Perspective on March 22, 2007, in Albuquerque, NM. For more information and to register, visit the LMPC website.

Day Apart at Iliff Retreat March 24
Iliff School of Theology, 2201 South University Blvd. in Denver, will be hosting a retreat on Saturday, March 24 from 8:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For more information, email Dave at dlavinder@iliff.edu or Cathie at ckelsey@iliff.edu. To register for the retreat, contact Dave by email by Friday, March 16.

"Celebre' la Buena Vida"
The third annual gala fund-raiser for the Buena Vida Adult Day Centers will be held on March 29 at the El Paso Club in El Paso, Texas. The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. and last until 8 p.m. For more information, call (915) 598-5403 or visit the website.

Ecumenical Easter Service in German Messiah Community Church, ELCA, 1750 Colorado Blvd., Denver, will host a 5 p.m. Easter Worship Service (April 8) in the German Language. Pastor Wolfgang Stahlberg encourages you to invite members of your community who speak German and would appreciate the opportunity to worship in German.

What Women Want: A Retreat
A women’s retreat themed What Women Want will be held April 12-15. Based on three of the most popular chapters in Lisa T. Bergren's upcoming book, What Women Want, this retreat will help you tackle your deepest cravings -- a deeper relationship with God, a stronger faith, a sense of contentment and a true understanding of love in our lives. More information and registration forms can be downloaded from the Rainbow Trail website.

Habitat's Clergy Build Day is April 19
Clergy are encouraged to join in for a day of fellowship and building on Thursday, April 19th. Habitat for Humanity will host forty clergy from the Denver metropolitan community at their Tollgate Crossing site in southeast Aurora. For more information or to register for the upcoming Clergy Build Day, please call Amanda at 303.534.2929 x 125. Info at www.habitatmetrodenver.org .

Leadership in Ministry Workshop
Two More Healthy Congregations Workshops Scheduled
Here are two more opportunities to attend workshops to get information about congregational leadership. The first will be held on April 21 at Our Saviour's in Fort Collins, Colorado. Please contact Pastor Tim Sadem (tim@our-saviours.org) for more information. The second workshop will be held on April 28 at Grace Lutheran Church, Bountiful, Utah. Please contact Pastor Corinne Thul (pastorcorinne@hotmail.com) for more information about this event.

“Light Into the World” Wednesday, April 25, 11:00 a.m.
The annual Lutheran Worship service at Iliff School of Theology is presented by the students of the campus Lutheran Student Organization. "Light into the World", written by Kent Gustavson, is a lively bluegrass setting of the Lutheran Eucharist liturgy with banjo, mandolin and string bass. Bishop Alan Bjornberg will be preaching. All are welcome.

“A View From the Underside: The Legacy of Dietrich Bonhoeffer”
Wednesday, April 25, 7:30 p.m.
Dr. Al Staggs brings the stage to life in his nationally acclaimed portrayal of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The event, brought to Denver by the Iliff Lutheran Student Organization (LSO), will be performed in the Great Hall at Iliff School of Theology at 2201 S. University Blvd. Contact David Carlson, LSO co-chair at dcarlson@iliff.edu for more information.

Faith for All Seasons Men’s Retreat
All men are invited to the Faith for All Seasons Men’s Retreat April 26-29. Pastor David Risendal will be the speaker and bible study leader for the weekend. If you are interested, registration forms can be downloaded from the Rainbow Trail website.

Leadership in Ministry Workshop
Leadership in Ministry: Ministering to Congregations as Family Systems, Franciscan Retreat Center, Colorado Springs, April 30 - May 2 and October 1 - 3. For more information, go to: www.leadershipinministry.com

An Invitation to a Spiritual Renewal Retreat for Lay Leaders of Congregations
Called Back to the Well is offering a special retreat for lay members of congregations. Anyone who holds leadership positions in the church or desires to “go deeper” spiritually, is encouraged to participate in a retreat June 22-25, 2007. You may register online at: www.samaritancc.com/affiliated/cbtw. If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Sue Joiner at sjoiner@samaritancc.com or call 505.332.8020.

Celebrate Earth Day
Don't forget that Earth Day is April 22nd! This year's theme will focus on food, farming and protecting God's creation. Resources to help you and your congregation celebrate Earth Day are available on the ELCA website at www.elca.org/advocacy.