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| October 2,
2007 |
eConnection
eNewsletter of
the Rocky Mountain Synod |
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Zion Lutheran
Church, Salt Lake City, Utah, celebrated 125 years of ministry on
Sunday, September 30. In gratitude to God, the congregation
presented Bishop Allan Bjornberg with checks that totaled $23,700
($7,900 each), designated for three ministries of outreach and hope:
the Rocky Mountain Synod Companion Synods, ELCA Disaster Response,
and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services. Pictured with Bishop
Bjornberg are Pastor Steve Klemz and Janet Williams, Congregational
Council, Mission/Outreach leader. (Photo by Jeffrey
Louden) | |
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Prayers | |
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Nineteenth Sunday
after Pentecost
God of all ages,
you have revealed your
grace in our Savior, Jesus Christ. As we wait patiently on your mercies,
strengthen us to live in your justice, that with open hearts we may hear
and accomplish your will, through Christ, who lights the way to life
everlasting.
Amen
Prayer from
Revised Common Lectionary Prayers,
Consultation on English Texts,
2002.
Prayers for the Betela Seminary community
We have
received the sad news that a student from Betela Seminary died on Sept 13.
She was from Sambava and was pregnant. The baby had died in utero, and
when they operated, the mother died from a pre-existing heart condition.
At the family's request, the body was transported back to Sambava for
burial. We surround the Betela Seminary community with our prayers. Betela
Seminary, in Madagascar, is in one of our companion synods.
Synod Prayer
Cycle: Campus Ministries
During the month of October, we give
thanks for the Rocky Mountain Synod's Campus Ministries rostered leaders.
You are encouraged to include these leaders and their ministries in your
Sunday prayers of the people. Click here for the prayer list for October.
Please consider including the November
prayer list in your November newsletter.
to remember in
prayer at worship on 10/7
Colorado State
University
.....Pastor Connie Winter-Eulberg
University of
Colorado
.....Pastor Laurel Alexander
University of New
Mexico
.....Pastor Anne Morawski
New Mexico State
University
.....Pastor Jeanne Lutz
University of Northern
Colorado
.....Pastor Sarah Moening
University of
Utah
.....Pastor Joel Nau
Utah State
University
.....Pastor Corinne Thul
University of
Wyoming
.....Pastor Ralph Rohr
.....Suzanne Orlopp
(Intern)
"For the living of these days..."
prayers for ministries
& meetings this week:
Bishop Allan Bjornberg - Conference of Bishops, Chicago, Illinois;
Synod staff meeting
Madelyn Busse - First Call Theological Education; Invitation to Prayer
Retreat Follow-On Series #1, Lord of the Hills, Centennial, Colorado;
Synod staff meeting
Jim Hytjan - Coaching 101 Workshop, Prince of Peace, Denver, Colorado;
meeting at Christ the King, South Jordan, Utah; Mission Partners; Synod
staff meeting
Dan Bollman - 100 Anniversary Celebration, Mt Tabor, Salt Lake City,
Utah; Meeting with Good Shepherd, Denver, Colorado
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Rocky Mountain Synod | |
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in this section new
items are printed in blue 
Ending Hunger: Mission Possible
The Rocky Mountain Synod Hunger Network, Lutheran Advocacy
Ministry Colorado and the Global Mission Committee are co-sponsoring a
second Ending Hunger Summit. This year's event will take place on
Saturday, October 27, at Bethany Lutheran Church (Cherry Hills
Village) and will focus on the GOOD NEWS that ending hunger is really
possible if we each take concrete steps to change ourselves, our
communities and our world!
The planning committee is exploring the
possibility of organizing a "youth track" designed for middle and high
school students (featuring hands-on service opportunities). If you are
interested in bringing youth to the Ending Hunger summit, please contact
Kayla Aspeslagh (kayla@lordofthehills.org or
303.726.7944).
Registration packets have now been mailed to all
Colorado congregations but if you or your congregation did not receive the
information , please contact Willie Hobbs to request a packet. You can
reach Willie by email at whobbs@rmselca.org or by phone at
303-777-6700 (800-525-0462). The registration brochure is also available
online.
At the Rocky Mountain Synod's website, not only will
you find information as a flyer
or bulletin
insert but you may also register online. Just go to the Synod's
home page.
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2007 NM Advocacy Conference is October
27
Plan now to attend the 2007 Lutheran Office of Governmental
Ministry-NM Advocacy Conference "Advocacy: Making a Difference" on
Saturday, October 27 at St. Timothy Lutheran Church (211 Jefferson
NE) in Albuquerque. The day will begin with registration at 8:30 am and
conclude after lunch at 1:30 pm.
The conference is open to anyone
interested in learning more about advocacy and the issues for which
LOGM-NM advocates. Sen. Dede Feldman will be the lunch speaker. Sen.
Feldman is chair of the interim Legislative Health & Human Services
Committee and the Senate Public Affairs Committee.
Breakout
session topics will include basic advocacy skills, how to understand the
state budget, health care, housing, hunger, and other topics. The cost is
$20 per person and includes lunch. To register, email Ruth at
rh@logmnm.org with your name, address and phone number or call
505.984.8005.
Senior High Gathering Registration Is Underway!
The annual
senior high gathering takes place November 16-18 at the YMCA of the
Rockies under the theme, "Connected." Information about the gathering, as
well as all the information you need for registration is posted
online. The registration deadline is October
15. A gathering poster was mailed to each congregation on
September 21, but you may also download
it.
Synod Treasurer Seeks Advisory Committee
Members
The Synod Treasurer is looking for a few people to serve on
an advisory committee on investments, finances and accounting. The
committee will be responsible for developing various policy statements for
approval by the Synod Council. Anyone with expertise in these areas and
wishes to share their knowledge should call or email Dennis Reynolds at
(303)798-2129 or dsreynolds3@comcast.net .
ELCA ad campaign video news feature
The ELCA ad campaign is
featured in a brief
video news report on the ELCA website.
RMSWO Announces Its Fall 2007 Gathering
Titled "Healthy Spirits:
Body & Soul"
LADIES! Take a journey to increase your spiritual,
emotional and physical wellness with keynote speaker Beth Walker,
certified life coach, and your synod sisters at the Rocky Mountain
Synodical Women's Organization's 2007 Fall Gathering, "Healthy Spirits:
Body & Soul". The event will take place October 5 & 6
at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. All
women and friends are welcome and encouraged to attend. For more
information, please visit
the website.
Update Your Congregation's Constitution
Check the RMS website
for the five required Constitutional Amendments for Congregations as
approved at the 2007 Churchwide Assembly. Go to the Leadership tab,
then find the list of Constitution Resources to locate the 2007 file.
Contact your Synod Secretary, Katherine Cruson (303-696-7430), if you have
questions.
Lay Male Nominee Needed for Candidacy Committee
Nominees are
welcome for a lay male Candidacy Committee opening. Qualities needed:
Ability to listen, discern and engage in theological reflection with
candidates for ordained, consecrated and commissioned ministry.
Familiarity with Lutheran theological tradition and congregational life.
An understanding of and ability to recognize the qualities needed for
public ministry and leadership. Ability to attend four, two-day meetings
per year which are typically held on week-days. (Jan, Apr, Aug, and
Nov.)
The upcoming vacancy is from the front range of Colorado, but
nominees from all conferences may be considered. Please send the name and
contact information on nominees, along with a brief descriptive paragraph,
to Bishop Allan Bjornberg, allan_bjornberg@rmselca.org, or Madelyn
Busse, mbusse@rmselca.org by November 1. Please call Madelyn
Busse at 303 777 6700 (800-525-0462) with any questions or to discuss
possible nominees.
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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Announcements | |
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in this section, new
items are printed in blue 
Fort Collins Reformation Day Celebration Features the
Rev. Dr. Herbert Brokering
A Reformation Day Celebration will take place October
27-28, at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, 2000 South Lemay in Fort
Collins, Colorado. Featured speaker will be the Rev. Dr. Herbert Brokering
of Minneapolis. Brokering is a pastor, professor, composer, poet, and
author who has led more than 100 pilgrimages into Luther sites. His lyrics
have been set as hymns and anthems by more than sixty song composers.
Loved hymns include "Earth and Stars", "Thine the Amen", and
"Stay With Us".
Brokering will lead a forum at 9:00 a.m. on
Saturday, October 27, and preach at the 5:30 p.m. Holden Service the same
day. On Sunday, he will preach at the 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. services
and lead a whole family session at 9:45 a.m. The event is sponsored by Our
Savior's in conjunction with other neighboring congregations. Please plan
to attend.
Reverend Khader El-Yateem to Speak at Wartburg
Theological Seminary on Oct. 4th at 4:00 p. m. (Loehe Chapel).
Reverend Khader El-Yateem was born in the West Bank town of Beit
Jala in 1968. With a Diploma in Theology from the Bethlehem Bible College,
he studied at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo, Egypt, and
then worked for a year at the Bethlehem Bible College and the Reformation
Lutheran Church in Beit Jala. Reverend Khader was later invited to the
United States by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to work as a
Mission Developer in the Arab community. He obtained his Master of
Divinity from the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia and was
asked by the Division for Outreach to start the Salam Arabic Lutheran
Church in Brooklyn, New York, the first Arabic Lutheran Church in North
America. Reverend El- Yateem serves on many Boards in the US and aboard,
including the Board of the American-Arab Anti- Discrimination Committee.
Shortly after 9/11 he was featured in a PBS documentary, Caught in the
Cross Fire. Arab Americans in War Time. Reverend El-Yateem also works
tirelessly for justice and peace on behalf of the Palestinian
people.
Rev. Khader El-Yateem's lecture is sponsored by Wartburg
Theological Seminary's Center for Global Theologies. The lecture is free
and open to the public.
American Lutheran, Grand Junction, Completes New Sanctuary
The
first worship in the new sanctuary at American Lutheran Church, Grand
Junction, will be Sunday, October 7 at 9:30 a.m. with fellowship
and Sunday School following the service. The dedication celebration will
be on Reformation Sunday, October 28, at 3 p.m. with Bishop Allan
Bjornberg presiding. Carlos Pena, Vice President of the ELCA, will also
speak. American Lutheran Church is also looking forward to breaking ground
for their fellowship hall addition in mid October. Pastor Brian Bergum
invites your prayers and your presence during this month of celebrating.
The church is located at 631 26 ½ Road in Grand Junction,
Colorado.
Network of Biblical Storytellers (NOBS) Denver - Area
Guild Next Meeting: Monday, October 8, 6:30 p.m.
We meet every
month, alternating with evenings and afternoons, (see
full schedule here) at Cross of Christ Lutheran, 12099 Lowell Blvd.,
Broomfield, Colorado (just north of 120th Avenue, about 3 miles west of
I-25, 3.5 miles east of Boulder Turnpike). Do you have questions? Please
contact Pam Faro at pamfaro@juno.com or call her on 303-828- 2267.
Bring a friend! Also, check out the NOBS website: www.nobs.org
to see what else is going on with the organization.
HeartLight Center Announces Its Education and Resource Fair
Due
to some wonderful generosity, we're able to offer our Education &
Resource Fair on Tuesday, October 9 from 8:30-11:30am at NO COST!!!
Join us for a morning of networking and education including "Forgiveness
& Reconciliation in Grief" with Dr. William Hoy. Through this
workshop, care giving professionals and volunteers will learn specific
strategies for helping clients when the relationship appears damaged
beyond repair.
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. with Dr. Hoy's
presentation from 9-11 a.m. We'll have time for networking both before
& after the program. Please bring brochures, business cards, flyers,
etc. We'll have tables to share all our information. To reserve your place
for this program, you must let us know you are planning to attend.
The program will include handouts, refreshments and a certificate of
attendance.
Please note: We need
for you to register via phone, email or "snail mail" so we know how many
people to plan for. For more information and to print the registration
form, please visit the HeartLight
Center's website, click
here to download the flyer or call 720-748-9908.
Haven of Hope Ministry in Denver Seeks Volunteers
Haven of Hope is a ministry of the Franciscan Friends of the Poor
at 707 Lipan Street in Denver (near Sixth Avenue and Santa Fe). Their
mission is: "To provide food, shelter, clothing, counseling,
rehabilitation, and hygienic services to the homeless and indigent."
Volunteers are needed for breakfast and lunch service, laundry and
other duties. More qualified hairstylists are also needed. If you can give
a few hours, a half day or all day, please contact Patricia Heaton at
303-423-6673. Haven of Hope Ministry will celebrate the grand opening of
their new facility on Wednesday, October 17 at 9 a.m.
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ELCA Churchwide | |
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"Free in Christ to Care for the Neighbor: Lutheran
Youth Talk about Human Sexuality"
This adaptation of the December 2006 study "Free in
Christ to Serve the Neighbor" will engage senior high youth through
music, movie clips, stories from young people, and activities. Bible
study, prayer and ELCA social teachings provide a foundation for youth as
they reflect on topics such as:
*When is sex OK?
*How do
creation and sin impact my view of sex?
*How do I respond to the way
sexuality is depicted in popular culture?
"Free in Christ to
Care for the Neighbor" invites youth to apply a faith perspective as
they comment on the world they live in. Each of the six sessions features
a take-home handout to help families continue the discussion. Youth and
leaders are able to log on to an accompanying Web site and share their
ideas in an online discussion forum.
Free in Christ to Care for
the Neighbor: Lutheran Youth Talk about Human Sexuality" was to be
mailed to all ELCA congregations in September and is now available for
download at www.elca.org/faithfuljourney/youth
.
Through "Free in Christ to Care for the Neighbor", senior
high youth can provide written feedback to the Task Force on ELCA Studies
on Sexuality while the task force writes the first draft and proposed
social statement on human sexuality. The deadline
for youth response forms is December 15, 2007.
The Rev.
Kaari M. Reierson
Associate Director for Studies, Program Unit for
Church in Society
Editor, Journal of Lutheran Ethics
http://www.elca.org/jle
(773)
380-2894
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Resources | |
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New Risk Management Resources from the ELCA
The ELCA is pleased to announce the addition of a new risk management
resource for congregations and synods. The monthly newsletter archive is
now available
online.
The electronic newsletter publication is called
"Church Safety Solutions" and it deals with a variety of important
risk management and safety topics to aid you in protecting your
congregation. Some topics that are part of the current archive of
newsletters include emergency planning, building maintenance advice and
church camp safety issues. Each month a new newsletter will be provided on
this website, so we encourage you to check back for new information.
2007 Insurance Buyer's Guide
Another resource is
the updated Insurance
Buyer's Guide. This booklet has been prepared by the CHARITY FIRST
organization and explains insurance coverage for congregations in
easy-to-understand language. The 2007 Insurance Buyer's Guide outlines the
various coverages that should be investigated by every
congregation.
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Upcoming Events | |
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New Youth Program from Habitat is Called "Youth
United"
This fall, Habitat is starting a new program called "Youth
United". Informational sessions will be held on Oct. 1st and
Oct. 3rd at 7 p.m. at the Daniel's Fund Building, 101 Monroe St.,
Denver, CO 80206. Please check
out the flyer which provides additional information about Youth United
and the info sessions.
Fernando Ortega Concert in Colorado
Springs, October 5
Friday, October 5 at 7:00 p.m. at Bethel
Lutheran Church, 4925 Farmingdale Drive, Colorado Springs, CO, 80917. If
you have any questions, please call 719-570-9800 during office
hours.
Beyond Divorce: Rebuilding When Your Relationship
Ends
Each Tuesday from October 2 through December 11
(no class on October 30) from 6:60 p.m. until 8:30 p.m., Paul and Beth
Walker will be facilitating a Divorce Recovery Workshop. Classes are held
at St. Andrew United Methodist Church, located at 3350 East White Bay
Drive in Highlands Ranch, Colorado (303-794-2683). Please call the church
to reserve your place. For more information, call Jenny Ricklefs, 303-
794-2683, ext 106.
Doing Justice: Congregations & Community
Organizing
An introductory workshop on congregation based community
organizing will be held on Friday, October 5 from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 915 E. Ninth Avenue in Denver. Pr. Dennis
Jacobsen will lead the discussion. Please contact 303-831-7023 for more
information.
Coyote Howl Confirmation Retreat: October
5-7
LAST OPPORTUNITY for CONFIRMATION CLASS THIS YEAR! ( LdoubleR.org
)
2007/2008 College Fair for High School Students
Sunday,
October 7 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel
located at 6363 East Hampden Avenue in Denver (Interstate 25 and East
Hampden Avenue. Check out the
website for details on the fair.
Marathon of
Giving!
Support the great ministries of Rainbow Trail while you
support Dave Jarvis (camp director) during his latest marathon this
October 7th in the Chicago Marathon. (Click
here to download the form.)
Sunday Scientist Symposium at Spirit of the Desert,
AZ
ELCA's Alliance for Faith, Science and Technology is sponsoring
a "Sunday Scientist Symposium" beginning Friday, October 12 through
Sunday, October 14 at the Spirit in the Desert retreat/conference
center in Carefree, Arizona. For more information, contact Dr. Karl V.
Evans, at 303-236-5625 (day) or at 303-989-6697 (evenings). You may also
get information and register by going to the Faith,
Science and Technology webpage.
Come Celebrate New
Beginnings Church
On Saturday, October 13 from 5:30 p.m. to
7:00 p.m., please gather at Holy Cross Lutheran Church to celebrate the
life of New Beginnings Church and give thanks for the wonderful support of
the community. Holy Cross is located at 4500 Wadsworth Boulevard in Wheat
Ridge, Colorado. Interested persons should RSVP to Kathy at 303-831-
7023.
The Grace Race
RTLC is hosting the Grace Race to benefit
World Hunger. The race begins at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 14th
at Sloan's Lake Park in Denver (the southwest edge of the lake). Click
here for more information and to download the Grace Race brochure. Click
here to download the release waiver.
Welcoming and
Affirming Ecumenical Leadership Training Set for October 18
Christ
Lutheran Church, Santa Fe is hosting the Reconciling in Christ (RIC)
Ecumenical Leadership Training sponsored by Lutherans Concerned /North
America (LC/NA) from October 18 - 21. More information can be found
on the LC/NA website: www.lcna.org
.
Holy Cross, Wheat Ridge Announces Art and Craft
Fair
October 19th and 20th. Please contact Scott Moore at
Scott_E_Moore@msn.com for more information.
Common
Mission Amidst Diversity: Utah Conference Event
The Utah Conference
is hosting a day of reflection featuring Dr. Phyllis Anderson, President
of Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, Berkeley, California. The event
will be held on Saturday, October 20 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Zion
Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1070 Foothill Boulevard, Salt Lake City. Utah
Conference congregations are invited and should make reservations through
their congregation.
Seminary Sampler: A Taste of LSTC
The Lutheran School of
Theology at Chicago is offering two opportunities to visit the campus. The
Fall Sampler is from October 27 to October 29, 2007. The Spring
Sampler is from March 1 to March 3, 2008. For more information, please
go to the LTSC website: www.lstc.edu
Lutheran
Coalition for Reform (CoRe) meets Oct. 30
You are invited to become
a part of a Rocky Mountain Synod chapter of Lutheran CoRe (Lutheran
Coalition for Reform) October 30, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m., at Lord of the Hills
Lutheran Church, 21755 E. Smoky Hill Road, Centennial, CO.
Holy
Trinity Presents a Concert by "Lost and Found"
The musical group
"Lost and Found" will perform in concert November 2 at 7:00
p.m. at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 6322 South For more information,
please contact the church at 303-798-1356.
Rainbow Trail
Confirmation Retreat
November 2-4, 2007 , For more
information, visit the Rainbow Trail website at www.rainbowtrail.org.
Youth Director Retreat at Sky Ranch
The retreat is
Monday, Nov. 5 through Wednesday, Nov. 7. It's a free
retreat for professional youth workers and adult volunteers. Get details
at www.LdoubleR.org
Rainbow Trail Confirmation Retreat
January 4-6, 2008
, For more information, visit the Rainbow Trail website at www.rainbowtrail.org.
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Kent Mueller
phone: 303-777-6700
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