El Paso and Juarez
You are invited and encouraged to give donations to Lutheran Disaster Response following recent flooding. Donations can be made by mail, on the phone, or on-line. For more information about supporting Lutheran Disaster Response, please visit www.elca.org/disaster/giving/. Checks should be made out to Lutheran Disaster Response or ELCA Domestic Disaster Response.

Senior high youth gathering is Nov 17- 19
Registration Deadline is October 13
Registration is now open online at www.rmselca.org/forever/. Whatever, Wherever, Whenever, Forever, this year’s Rocky Mountain Synod Senior High Youth Gathering, will offer young people an immersion into the emerging church.

Young Adults: Be a youth gathering volunteer
College-age young adults--if your are looking for a way to serve Christ in a high energy and fun atmosphere, this is what you may be looking for. Cornerstone is college-age young adults who, following in the example of our Lord Jesus, are willing to serve others by joining the ELCA Rocky Mountain Synod Senior High Youth Gathering program implementation team. If you are interested in being a Cornerstone team member, please visit the web-site to find out more information and to apply.

RMS Health Ministry Meeting
A Health Ministries meeting will take place at the RMS office, 455 Sherman Street, Suite 160, Denver, from 1:30 to 3:30 PM on Wednesday, October 4. The purpose of this meeting is to reorganize/reconstitute the RMS Health Ministries Team, whose purpose is to encourage, support, and develop Health Ministries throughout our Synod.

Congregation Constitution Amendments
Congregations working on amendments to their constitutions are reminded that the amendments need to be submitted to their Congregation Council 60 days before a regular Congregation Meeting or a special Congregation Meeting which is called to consider amendments. Rocky Mountain Synod Secretary Katherine Cruson is glad to consult with congregations anytime during their process. Email her at kl-cruson@comcast.net. After the amendments to constitutions and bylaws are approved by the congregation, remember to send the documents to Katherine for synod approval.

Immigration Issues Study Guide now available
A resolution calling for congregations in the Rocky Mountain Synod to study and discuss immigration issues was adopted at assembly. A resource has been compiled and is available for download.

Summit of Conscience
Sunday, October 15 from 6:00-8:30 p.m. at Messiah Community Church-ELCA, 1750 Colorado Blvd (across from City Park) in Denver. Signers of the COLORADO CONFESSION and those interested in signing, are gathering to PRAY-DISCUSS-DECIDE what God is calling us to do during this ELECTION CROSSROADS TIME. Bring some food to share for the PEOPLE'S BANQUET from 6-6:45 p.m.; PEOPLES' PRAYER from 6:45-7:00 p.m.; PEOPLES' PLANNING from 7:8:15 p.m.; and PEOPLES' EUCHARIST from 8:15-8:30 p.m. The COLORADO CONFESSION and STUDY GUIDE can be accessed at www.coloradoconfession.org. The COLORADO CONFESSION is a call to action to address the Religious Right and critical national and international issues of our time. If you can attend, contact Kathy at oslc915@juno.com. The event is sponsored by the RMS-Non Violence Resource Team.

Common Threads: Iraq and Central America
Dr. Thomas Melville, author, global justice advocate and former Maryknoll Missionary in Guatemala, will speak on U.S. Foreign Policy, discussing the COMMON THREADS between Iraq and Central America. Thursday, October 12, 2 p.m., at Messiah Community Church-ELCA, 1750 Colorado Boulevard, Denver, across from City Park. Free will offering. sponsored by the RMS-Non- Violence Resource Team. Questions: Ron Letnes, ronlinlet@comcast.net.

New on the Blog: Thoughts on Lutheran Identity
Pastor Matt Bersagel (pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church, Greeley, CO and a chair of the Lutheran Identity Workgroup) writes... "When you think on Lutheran Identity, do you see a page loaded with critical bullet points with a walnut frame around it? Or perhaps a card with the proper coding embedded mysteriously in the magnetic strip? Grace alone, faith alone, saint and sinner, word and sacrament. We do a pretty good job laying those out for an admiring view and generations before us have done a great job of that.... "

Give thanks for Pastor West's ministry on October 29
The members of St. Paul Lutheran Church. Denver, invite you to celebrate with them as they honor Pastor West for more than 50 years of ministry; he was ordained May 10, 1955, and was pastor of St. Paul from 1965-1995. The celebration also includes the dedication of renovations to their building--the installation of an accessible bathroom and a new heating and cooling system. Pastor West will preach at both liturgies, 8:00 and 10:30 am, and lead a discussion on ministry at their Adult Forum at 9:15. A reception in his honor will follow the second liturgy, 12 noon-2 pm. St. Paul is located at 1600 Grant Street, one block north of the Capitol building in downtown Denver. Parking is available in the lot at the corner of 16th Avenue and Logan Street.

Stacked crib needs a new home
Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit, Centennial, CO, has a stacked crib that they would like to give to someone who needs it. It is white with closeable railings that lock into place. Whoever could use just needs to come get it. Contact Kathy Schreiber at kschreiberlchs@qwest.net.

Rajaton Concert: Finnish vocal jazz septet
Saturday, October 7, 7:30 PM at Augustana Lutheran, 5000 E. Alameda Ave, just East of Colorado Blvd in Denver. Cost: $30 adult/$20 Senior/$10 Student. Founded in 1997, this vocal ensemble has fast made its mark in the international a cappella scene with its fresh approach to choral music. The group is distinguished by brilliance and ensemble virtuosity coupled with warmth and richness in sound. Tickets available at all King Soopers or by phone at 866.464.2626.

The Annual Case Lecture at Bethany
October 27 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and October 28 at 9:00 a.m., the Case Lecture will take place at the Rehearsal Hall at Bethany Lutheran Church, Cherry Hills Village, CO. The topic: "Reading the Bible: Codes? Conduct? Christ! -- How Lutherans Read the Bible & How the Bible Reads Lutherans!" Speaker is Dr. Charles H. Maahs, former bishop of the Central States Synod, distinguished lecturer and biblical scholar, who will be sharing his passion for the Bible. He will preach on Reformation Sunday at 8:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Daily Devotions

Luther Seminary provides daily email devotions. Pastor Eugene Zeller, Sterling, CO, is the author of these devotions the week of October 23-29. You may subscribe to "God Pause" at www.luthersem.edu/godpause.

Pastor David L. Miller (Director of Spiritual Formation and Dean of the Chapel, Lutheran School of Theology Chicago) offers a passage from Scripture and a prayer each weekday on his blog, “Praying the Mystery” at www.prayingthemystery.blogspot.com/. Using a lectio continuo method, Miller is slowly moving through Paul’s letter to the Philippians, sometimes pausing several days over a particular passage.