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| May 15,
2007 |
eConnection
eNewsletter of
the Rocky Mountain Synod |
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We look forward
to gathering together in Fort Collins, Colorado, under the theme,
Christ's Own Body. The Assembly begins at 2 p.m. on Thursday.
Registration opens at 11 a.m. Rostered leaders are encouraged to
arrive early and have their photo taken by Olan Mills as well as
visit the Augsburg Fortress store.
There will be no issue of
eConnection next week. Watch for the next issue on May
29. | |
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Prayers | |
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Seventh Sunday of Easter
God of boundless
grace, you call us to drink freely of the well of life and to share the
love of your holy being. May the glory of your love, made known in the
victory of Jesus Christ, our Savior, transform our lives and the world he
lived and died to save. We ask this in his name and for his
sake.
Amen
Prayer from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers,
Consultation on English Texts, 2002.
Synod Prayer
Cycle: Boulder / Broomfield Conference
During the month of May we
give thanks for the ministry of our congregations and rostered leaders in
the Boulder / Broomfield Conference. You are encouraged to include these
congregations and leaders in your Sunday prayers of the people. The prayer
list for May is available
as a Word document.
to remember in prayer at worship on 5/20
Grace Boulder, CO
.....Ronald Roschke
Lutheran
Church of Hope Broomfield, CO
.....Jerold Preston, Inga Oyan
Longbrake
Mount Calvary Boulder, CO
.....Kevin Meyer
"For the
living of these days..."
prayers for all of those travelling and
attending the Rocky Mountain Synod Assembly in 2007
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Rocky Mountain Synod | |
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Terri McMaster at Bill Signing Today
Governor
Ritter signed Senate Bill 002 today at Denver Health Center, surrounded by
foster care youth and health advocates. With this new law -- one of
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry's top priorities this legislative session --
foster care kids will no longer lose their health care insurance when they
turn 18 years old. This law extends their coverage through Medicaid until
their 21st birthday. Diaconal Minister Terri McMaster is the director of
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry, Colorado.
Senior High Gathering Seeks High School
Musicians
The worship planning team for the 2008 gathering at Estes
Park in November would like to put together a worship band for morning and
evening devotions during the event, such as a hand drummer, guitarists,
vocalist, and more. Email Brandon Newton at brandongslc@qwest.net
if you have talent to offer!
RMS 3rd Annual Bishop's Scramble for World
Hunger
Get ready to hit the links June 7th while at the same time
benefitting 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! Download
a registration form.
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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Rocky Mountain Synod
Assembly | |
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That time has arrived at last. The Rocky Mountain
Synod Assembly begins on Thursday.
Information for Assembly Attendees
- be sure to bring the materials mailed to you from the Synod office
- BYOB: bring your own binder! We are providing a bag to carry items
rather than a binder
- don't bring a coffee mug afterall; one will be provided to you from
Lutheran Ranches of the Rockies and Rainbow Trail
- registration begins at 11 a.m. at the Lory Student Center
- on the day of registration at CSU, you will also "sign up" for
Friday afternoon large-group or small-group sessions by selecting
colored tickets
- orientation for those who have never attended an assembly is at 1:30
in Room 230
One final note: Please don't forget that your
friendly, helpful Synod staff is available until Wednesday morning to
answer any of those last minute questions that you might have. The office
number is 303-777-6700 (800-525-0462). How wonderful it will be to
fellowship with our sisters and brothers as Christ's Own
Body!
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Announcements | |
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COMPA and YOU
TRUE OR FALSE? "June is the
hungriest month of the year."
Consider these facts:
- Children are out of school, and therefore not receiving the free or
reduced lunches available during the school year
- This means the family has more mouths to feed
- In homes already stretched because of not enough food, the
school-aged children become more of a burden to the family
- In addition, many in the community lose sight that there is a hunger
need as we think about vacation, the warm weather, etc
Therefore, if you guessed TRUE you are correct. What can
we do about it? Along the Front Range of Colorado you can partner with
COMPA Food Bank Ministry's program of COMPAssion in Action. Through
practical support, your church can help make a difference in the community
this summer! It is also time to signup for Project Glean. For information
about COMPA, go to: www.compafoodbankministry.org.
Memorial Day Work Weekend at Sky Ranch May 25 -
28
Each year we've invited families, alumni and individuals to join
us on Memorial Day weekend to prepare Sky Ranch (a.k.a. Lutheran Ranch of
the Rockies) for the busy summer season. There is no charge for the
weekend - only a free will offering to help with the food costs. You can
bring your RV and camp, stay in a cabin or use our lodge. We'll have lots
of projects planned and leaders to organize the participants. Also, we'll
have activities for kids, campfires and worship, and plenty of great home
cooking. Make your plans early. To register and/or get more information
about planned activities, please call 970-493-5258. You may contact the
retreat center by email at info@LdoubleR.org
AfterCare Workshop Saturday, June 2
Learn how your
congregation can minister to a woman released from prison who lives in
your own church neighborhood. On Saturday, June 2 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:0
pm. at Lutheran Church of the Master, discover the joy of rebuilding a
life and making a difference in your church neighborhood. Program speakers
are Pr. Nesselhuf, founder of Prison Congregations of America and Paul
Harrington, AfterCare Director of a successful Iowa program. This event
supports the work of Pastor Emily Cardin with New Beginnings Church. Send
a few people to learn all about this brand new program. Questions or RSVP
to Sandra Templeton, AIM, at 303-988-6400 or
sandra@lcmonline.org.
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Upcoming Events | |
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Passion for
Progressive Religion in Congregations
"Rekindling Passion for
Progressive Religion in Congregations" is a seminar that will be held from
May 18-20, 2007 at Iliff School of Theology and is co- sponsored by seven
congregations, including St Paul, ELCA. Rev. Dr. Kevin Maly is co-leading
the session on proclamation/preaching. For more information and to
register go to: www.iliff.edu/academics/cont- ed/rekindling- passion.php
A Sabbath Invitation
Come to a Called Back to the Well
Clergy Day Apart May 21st. All ministers are invited to a monthly day
apart at the Norbertine Center in Albuquerque. An RSVP would be
appreciated. Contact Sue Joiner for more information:
sjoiner@samaritancc.com or call 505.332.8020.
Atonement, Denver,
Dedicates New Sanctuary May 27 at 3 p.m.
The people of Atonement
Lutheran Church (Denver) invite you to celebrate with them as they
joyfully dedicate their new sanctuary on Sunday, May 27 at 3 p.m., with
Bishop Allan Bjornberg preaching. Refreshments will follow. An Open House
Ice Cream Social for the community will also be held on Sunday, June 3
from 1-3 PM - all are welcome! Atonement is located at 6281 W. Yale Ave.,
Lakewood, CO 80227 , (303-985-1122) , www.atonement-denver.org
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.
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. For more information contact Assistant Director Audrey
Larson at (719) 942-4220 or by e-mail
audrey@rainbowtrail.org.
Rainbow Trail High Adventure
Trip
Rainbow Trail offers high adventure trips through Compass
Points Guiding Youth in New Directions. 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, please contact Assistant Director Greg
Larson at (719) 942- 4220 or by e-mail greg@rainbowtrail.org.
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. 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.
Rainbow Trail Men's Golf Retreat
September 13 - 16
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. For more
information, click
here.
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ELCA Churchwide | |
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"It is clear that we have the capacity to end hunger
and reduce poverty in the world. The question is do we have the will? The
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is committed to being part of the
growing global movement to end hunger now. The Interfaith Convocation on
Hunger, June 11th, will give new energy and focus to this movement." Rev.
Mark Hanson, Presiding Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America
What is the ONE Lutheran Campaign?
The ONE
Lutheran Campaign is the unique effort of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America (ELCA) to engage Lutherans in the ONE Campaign. Martin Luther
taught us the power of ONE and the meaning of social justice. For 30 years
the ELCA has responded to extreme poverty through the World Hunger Appeal
and advocacy in Washington, D.C., at the United Nations and with
corporations. Now, at a key point in history, we are adding our voice to
the chorus of ONE: The Campaign to Make Poverty History.
Are you a
member of Bread for the World? Have you signed The ONE Campaign
declaration? If not, please consider doing so NOW!!! Contact Kay Luttinen,
onerms@aol.com to find out more.
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Resources | |
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Select Multimedia Online Courses
Select Multimedia
Resources of the ELCA is in its second year of a dramatically new
operation. Recently, Select has been busy producing a round of new
educational resources using some of the best theologians and scholars that
the church has to offer. Included, for example, is a new series of
lectures on theology of the cross by systematic theologian at the Lutheran
School of Theology at Chicago, Vitor Westhelle. Professor Westhelle has
also written a new book on the critical topic, The Scandalous God: The
Use and Abuse of the Cross, published in January 2007 by Fortress
Press which will be included in this course offering that is ideal for use
in congregational adult studies. A new series on Dietrich Bonhoeffer is
now available, along with a major new production on systemic theology
entitled Fundamentals of Christian Theology.
Upcoming online
classes for fall 2007 include Fundamentals of Christian Theology,
Interpreting the New Testament, Augsburg Confession, Rediscovering the
Catechism, From Jesus to Luther.
These courses and a number of
other new educational resources are available at the Select Multimedia
Resources website, www.selectlearning.org.
This is yet another new feature of Select, the ability to purchase items
online using a credit card, or by calling the toll free number at
800-675-6275.
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Kent Mueller
phone: 303-777-6700
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