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| April 10,
2007 |
eConnection
eNewsletter of
the Rocky Mountain Synod |
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Prayers | |
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Second Sunday of Easter
O God, you raised up
Jesus Christ as your faithful witness and first-born of the dead. By your
Holy Spirit, help us to witness to him so that those who have not yet seen
may come to believe in him who is, and was, and is to
come.
Amen
Prayer from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers,
Consultation on English Texts, 2002.
Photo is of Christ the King
Lutheran Church's 6 a.m. Easter Worship at Greenmount Cemetery in Durango,
CO, with Pastor John Knutson and some of his flock. Photo by Jeffrey
Louden.
Synod Prayer Cycle: Wyoming Conference
During the month of
April we give thanks for the ministry of our congregations and rostered
leaders in the Wyoming Conference. You are encouraged to include these
congregations and leaders in your Sunday prayers of the people. The prayer
list for April is available
as a Word document.
to remember in prayer at worship on 4/15
Mount of Olives Rock Springs, WY
Our
Saviour’s Casper, WY
Prince of Peace Gillette,
WY
.....Chad Brucklacher, Sonja Brucklacher
"For the living of these days..."
prayers for ministries
& meetings this week:
- Bishop Bjornberg - Discernment Retreat, Denver; CO; Atonement,
Denver, CO, planning for building dedication; Resurrection, Lakewood,
CO, celebration of 50th anniversary; Southeast Colorado Conference
Retreat
- Dan Bollman - Highlands Lutheran, Denver, CO, meeting with church
council; Ascension St. Matthew's, Price, UT, call committee;
- Madelyn Busse - Discernment Retreat, Denver, CO; Candidacy
Committee, synod office; Companion Synods meeting; Lutheran Ranches of
the Rockies Call Committee
- Jim Hytjan - Mission Investment Fund at Falcon, CO regarding site
purchase; Lutheran/Episocpal joint ministry meeting at Coloardo
Diocese; Churches Starting Churches conference in Washington D.C.
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Rocky Mountain Synod | |
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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.
A New Home for Cristo Rey, El Paso - Thanks Be To God!
Dear
partners in Christ-- We give thanks to God for our new home at Cristo Rey
in El Paso, TX. We have prayed for years to have our own space. It has
been about two weeks since the closing took place. We thank all the
partners and friends who have helped us raise some of the money for our
building. We were able to raise $75,000 last year and received matching
funds from Mission Investment Fund. We also took out a loan for $315.000
that will be paid in the next 15 years.
We continue to ask for
prayers as we renovate the building to fit our worship needs. We already
feel the excitement of our members and the community since we made the
announcement.
Gracias a Dios...
Pastor Rose Mary
Sanchez-Guzman
You are cordially invited to a Service of
Thanksgiving for the purchase of the new home of Iglesia Luterana Cristo
Rey, Sunday, April 15, 2007 at 12:00 Noon. Lunch & Celebration will be
at 1:00 p.m. Special Guest Preacher: Maria Paiva (Outreach Unit of the
ELCA). Iglesia Luterana Cristo Rey is located at 1010 East Yandell Drive,
El Paso, Texas (915) 544-6545.
Assembly Online Registration is Now Live
- early registration deadline is April 20 (saves you $$$)
- you must pay by credit card for online registration (this
is a new CSU requirement and is an update to previously printed
instructions!)
- online registration is most efficient and is encouraged
- to pay by check, fill out the paper form/s and send them to CSU with
one check
Register
online now.
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.
Are you a
Mission Partner?
If so, we would like your help in raising
awareness of Mission Partners at Synod Assembly. Please submit a 15-second
video recording or a digital photograph with accompanying printed text,
thanking your Mission Partner congregation for the opportunity of mission
partnership. If you are a congregation that has received Mission Partner
support, submit a video or photo expressing appreciation for the support
or gift. Use a script like this: "This is (name of person) from (name)
Lutheran Church in (name of community) and we would like to thank (name)
Lutheran Church of (name of community) for the opportunity to be a Mission
Partner with them. Thanks Mission Partners!" Send your video clip on
DV video, on a DVD, or as a video file in Quicktime or Windows Media to
kmueller@rmselca.org by May 15. Send your digital photo and
accompanying printed text to the same address by May 15. Thank you!
Vision, Passion, Action Blog
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.
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Retreats and Adventure from Rainbow
Trail | |
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What Women Want: A Retreat
A women’s retreat
themed What Women Want will be held April 12-15 at Rainbow Trail Lutheran
Camp. 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.
Rainbow Trail Men's Fly Fishing Retreat April
26 - 29
Men, come to Rainbow Trail to experience a time of faith
renewal, fellowship and adventure! This weekend’s adventure will be
fly-fishing in the famed Arkansas River and novice to expert fishermen are
encouraged to attend. Bible study, worship and prayer will be woven into
the weekend so all can come away renewed spiritually, mentally and
physically. Pastor Dave Risendal will be our spiritual leader for the
weekend. The cost for this retreat is $175. Click
here for more information.
Confirmation Retreat Space Still
Available for Summer
Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp has room for one
or two more congregations for their confirmation weeks of June 24-30, 2007
and July 15-21, 2007. Contact Jody at the Canon City office at
719-276-5233 for more details.
Rainbow Trail Bridging Borders Trip Available July
22-28
Rainbow Trail's Bridging Borders Mexico program travels to
Juarez, Mexico with high school youth. The youth and Rainbow Trail partner
with Casas por Cristo and a Mexican family to build a needed home.
Throughout the week, youth and their leaders will experience Christ
through service, worship, devotion, and the people of Mexico. The week
available for this experience is July 22-28, 2007. For more information
contact Assistant Director Audrey Larson at (719) 942- 4220 or by e-mail
audrey@rainbowtrail.org.
Rainbow Trail High Adventure Trips
Rainbow Trail offers high
adventure trips through Compass
Points Guiding Youth in New Directions. With Compass Points
each group is able to create the ideal adventure for their week long
experience in the backcountry of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Trips are
still available for groups throughout the summer with a variety of
activities to fill the week. Activities include: backpacking, white-water
rafting, low & high ropes, and service.
Rainbow Trail offers
the opportunity for individual Jr. and Sr. High youth to attend a Compass
Points trip through their "Open Weeks" during the week of July 29 - August
4, 2007. For more information regarding setting up your own trip or
individuals interested in attending the July 29 - August 4 trip, please
contact Assistant Director Greg Larson at (719) 942-4220 or by e-mail
greg@rainbowtrail.org.
*An additional opportunity for individuals
to take part in a Compass Points trip has become available! Immanuel
Lutheran Church of Story City, Iowa is currently looking for Sr. High
youth to become members of their trip. The group has 6 available spots for
their trip occuring June 17 - 23, 2007. If you are interested in more
information about the Immanuel Lutheran trip, please contact Youth
Director Shane Potratz at (515) 733-4972 or by e-mail
immanuelyouth@iowatelecom.net.
Rainbow Trail Men's Golf Retreat September 13 - 16
A lush
green fairway before you, a club in your hand and your ball on the
tee...sound interesting so far? Faith on the Fairways will offer you the
opportunity to play 45 holes of golf while finding the relationships held
between your life of faith and time spent in the game. Rocky Mountain
Synod Bishop Allan Bjornberg will be our spiritual leader for this weekend
of faith, fellowship and deepening our relationships with Christ. Bible
study, worship and prayer will be woven into the weekend so all can come
away renewed spiritually, mentally and physically. The cost for this event
is $245 and includes greens fees. For more information, click
here.
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Announcements | |
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Hooray for Lutheran Social Services of the South!
Celebre La Buena Vida, the fund-raiser for Lutheran Social
Services of the South adult day centers, raised more than $20,000, a
record for the annual gala event. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
provided $6,000 in matching dollars through a Care in Regions grant.
Another record broken was the number of guests – 225 – who attended the
March 29 event at the El Paso Club.
Since 1975, the Buena Vida
Adult Day Centers have provided quality care to El Paso's low-income
elderly and disabled residents, providing them nutritious meals, exercise,
social activities, field trips, health monitoring, medicine administration
and health education
Fabric of Faith Workshop in Dillon,
Colorado
Lord of the Mountains Lutheran Church is pleased to host a
day-long workshop focused on techniques for creating extraordinary fabrics
that celebrate the Church’s season of Ordinary Time. The workshop will be
facilitated by Linda Witte Henke, a contemporary textile artist with
special interest in spiritually- expressive work and a former pastor of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The workshop is scheduled for
Saturday, April 28 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Make plans now to be a part
of this extraordinary day! Cost for the workshop and supplies are $55.
Space is limited, so register well in advance of the April 15 deadline.
For more information about the event, contact the church office at
970-468- 6809. For an added treat, check out Linda's work at her website,
www.lindahenke.com.
National Leadership Gathering May 3-6
Please consider this your
personal invitation to attend the National Leadership Gathering of the
Interfaith Alliance, May 3 - 6 at the Interlocken Hotel and Conference
Center located near Louisville, Colorado. Featured speakers will include
Governor Bill Ritter, National Council of Churches director Rev. Bob
Edgar, local political cartoonist Mike Keefe, and several others. Numerous
, cut-to-the-chase workshops will be offered on issues germane to the role
of religion in American public life as well as practical issues for
non-profit organizations and activists. For more information, and to
register, please visit
www.interfaithalliance.org
For this event beginning May 3, the National Leadership
Gathering needs 49 volunteers to make things run smoothly. Volunteers will
work only 3-4 hours on any given day and will have the opportunity to
purchase tickets to the Bishop Murphy Awards Dinner at a very reduced
price. Please send your name, contact information and day and time you are
available to work to dredwing@interfaithalliance.org.
You can help
make a good “Colorado” impression on all the folks coming to the Gathering
by donating Colorado goodies. Please contact Connie Dotson (303-795-3522),
cfd46@netway.net or Sandy Royster (303-797-1388), rmroysters@comcast.net
for more information about what to donate.
In addition, we will be
sponsoring a vigil at the Denver City and County Building at 5 PM on
Thursday, May 3, with the theme "One Nation, Many Faiths: Legislate to
Stop Hate". Participants will include Rev. Dr. Vincent Harding, Mayor
John Hickenlooper and others. Please join us for this if you can.
The Lutheran Chorale Presents Concerts for Your
Enjoyment
This concert series titled Sacred Melodies - Old, New,
Borrowed, and New will feature traditional masterpieces, contemporary
classics, Irish tunes, and gospel blues – all of which have enriched
worship in many times and places. The Lutheran Chorale offers music for
all tastes and an opportunity to hear a well-loved song and perhaps
something new. There will be two concerts on Sunday May 6: the
first at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 2300 South Patton Court, Denver,
at 3:00 p.m., and the second concert will be at St. Philip Lutheran
Church, 7531 South Kendall Blvd., Littleton, at 7:30 p.m. General
admission is $12; seniors and students $10; and families $25. For more
information, please call 303-237-7336 or 303-886-0549.
RMS 3rd
Annual Bishop's Scramble for World Hunger
Get ready to hit the
links June 7th while at the same time benefiting the efforts to end world
hunger. A $115 registration fee (includes golf cart and lunch) will afford
the lucky winning team bragging rights and a trophy. Don't play golf?
Well, the congregation that donates the most money to the "Scramble" will
also win a trophy. The event will be held at Pelican Lakes Golf &
Country Club in beautiful Windsor, Colorado. What a
deal!
California
Lutheran University Presents Two Events for Young People
On August
2-4, California Lutheran University will be holding its 16th Annual
Invitation to Service event and its Youth Ministry Training
Event from noon Thursday to noon on Saturday. For fifteen years or so,
people have been hearing God speak to them at this powerful and
life-changing Invitation to Service event. High school and college
aged persons have been inspired by moving stories of faith and personal
visions of the future. Between the volleyball games and the pizza, and the
worship and the great music, and the laughing and the crying, and the new
friends and old posses, people have heard God calling them to respond
whole-heartedly to God’s call.
Full time? Part time? Volunteer?
Paid? Or underpaid? If you work with youth, come learn and meet others.
California Lutheran University is offering four tracks of training that
when you complete them, you will receive recognition as a Youth Minister
in Region 2. All are welcome. Whether you attend for certificate
recognition or for the continuing education, the fellowship and networking
opportunities are priceless. For more information and/or to register for
either of these two events, please contact the Church Relations Office at
805-493-3936 or email to Linda Leblanc at leblanc@callutheran.edu. Early
bird registration ends June 30.
Luther
Seminary Wants to Hear from You!
Luther Seminary wants to hear and
assess opinions of congregational leaders (lay and ordained) about
emerging forms of seminary education. We would appreciate your
participation in a short, confidential survey that will take less than
five minutes of your time. The survey can be found at www.luthersem.edu/survey/education
. We value your commitment to the seminary and to training future
leaders for the church. Thank you in advance.
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Upcoming Events | |
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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
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"Faces and Voices" Photo Exhibit at Salt Lake
City
On Friday, April 20 from 6:30-8:30 p.m., Zion Evangelical
Lutheran Church, Salt Lake City, UT, is hosting an open house and special
viewing of the award winning photographic exhibit of refugee youth,
"Faces and Voices ". Joyce and Leslie Kelen, authors of a companion
book, will offer a brief presentation at 7:30 PM, followed by a question
and answer session. Zion is at located at 1070 Foothill Drive, Salt Lake
City, UT 84108, phone (801) 582-2321 .
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.
Lutheran Campus Ministry
Celebrates a Milestone
Lutheran Campus Ministry will be celebrating
100 years campus ministry nationwide and 50 years of campus Ministry in
Colorado. On Saturday April 21, from 6 to 10 p.m., Lutheran Campus
Ministries CU- Boulder, CSU-Fort Collins and UNC-Greeley, will be hosting
a celebratory event to mark the milestone. The festivities will be held at
King of Glory Lutheran Church, 2919 North Wilson Avenue in Loveland,
Colorado. For more information and to register, please contact Vicki Siska
at 970-482-2160, by email at lcmcsu@lamar.colostate.edu or contact Pastor
Laurel Alexander (303) 786-7137. Her email address is
laurela@colorado.edu.
“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.
Wartburg College Choir in Concert
Cross of
Christ Lutheran Church, Broomfield will be hosting the Wartburg College
Choir on Wednesday, April 25th. They will be performing a concert at 7:00
pm that evening. Wartburg College is an ELCA Lutheran college located in
Waverly, Iowa.
Spring Retreat for Lutheran Clergy
Spring
24 hr. traditional retreat for Lutheran clergy, Thursday April 26-Friday,
April 27, Franciscan Retreat Center, Colorado Springs. All ordained
Lutheran clergy are welcome to attend society retreats. Seminarians and
first time retreatants are welcome to attend this retreat free of charge!
For more information or to register, contact Pr. David M. Wendel, STS,
719-650- 8171 (cell), or via e-mail at pr-wendel@saintlukes-
cs.org.
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
Health Ministry Conference is
May 5 in Fort Collins, CO
Faith In Action – The Spiritual Health
Partnership and Rocky Mountain Synod Parish Health Ministry are pleased to
announce the 9th Annual Spirit of Caring Conference. The event is at Our
Saviour’s Lutheran Church, 2000 S. LeMay Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80524.
For more information, call Melanie at 970- 493-6455 or email:
melhuib@hotmail.com.
WomenCook! - Dining for a Difference,
Benefiting Work Options for Women
Join us for our third annual
WomenCook! event to raise much-needed funds for Work Options for Women.
The event is Monday, May 14, 2007, 6:00 to 8:30 pm, Temple Emanuel, 51
Grape Street, Denver . For more information, contact Jennifer Koeller at
720-944-1917 or www.workoptions.org
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LutherTrek Build: In New Orleans
We need you! Come
to New Orleans and assist Bethlehem Lutheran Church (African American
Lutheran Congregation) in rebuilding their homes May 29th to June 6th,
2007. Registration forms must be filled out by March 31, 2007 and
are available by email: lssutah@yahoo.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.
North American Association for
the Catechumenate
Gathering This Summer
Connecting Worship,
Experience, and Sacrament is the theme of the 2007 annual gathering of the
North American Association for the Catechumenate, July 19 through July 22,
at the Mount Carmel Spiritual Centre in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.
For full details, including the ten workshops being offered, visit
the website.
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ELCA Churchwide | |
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Women of the ELCA -- Act Boldly!
Have you been
transformed by your faith in Jesus Christ in such a way that you feel
called to speak and act boldly? Women claimed and call by God, live boldly
for themselves and their children. So, if you want to act boldly, this is
the event for you. Come and discover how the Holy Spirit already moves
boldly through your life and through your community.
For this
event, a workbook has been developed to help you discover your potential
for bold moves. In group sessions and one-on-one, discussions will center
on: witness, preaching, modeling, and mentoring; justice, social ministry
and compassion; sacrifice, giving and kindness. Women will reflect on and
talk about women who live boldly in the Bible, in history and in our
communities. Part of the day will also be devoted to personal purpose
statements that will be incorporated into the final commissioning service.
Sign up for the event closest to you:
April 27-28 -- Austin, Texas
May 18-19 -- Sioux Falls, South Dakota
May 18-19 -- Renton, Washington
September 28-29 -- Omaha, Nebraska
September 28-29 -- Washington, D.C.
To register, visit www.womenoftheelca.org.
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Resources | |
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Kent Mueller
phone: 303-777-6700
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