Photo by Jeffrey Louden

Twenty First Sunday after Pentecost

Oh God, Spirit of righteousness, you temper judgment with mercy. Help us to live the covenant written upon our hearts so that when Christ returns we may be found worthy to be received by grace into your presence.
Amen

Prayer from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers,
Consultation on English Texts, 2002.

Bishop Allan Bjornberg elected chair of the Conference of Bishops
During its October gathering, the ELCA Conference of Bishops elected Rocky Mountain Synod Bishop Allan Bjornberg to serve as chair. In addition to their synodical responsibilities, the 65 Synodical bishops join the Presiding Bishop and ELCA Secretary to form the Conference of Bishops. This 67-member group gathers at least twice each year for worship and study, mutual sharing and to conduct business. While primarily advisory [with the Church Council being the ELCA's board of directors], the role of the Conference of Bishops is significant within the life of this church. The conference elects its own officers, has seven standing committees and a representative to each churchwide board or steering committee.

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!

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. Please register by October 22.

Hunger Summit youth track is on track! Register today!

A special "youth track" is planned for the Hunger Summit on October 27. Youth and adults will participate together in the opening, the meals, and worship. The rest of the day they will have their own activities and speakers from Global Mission and Urban Servant Corps, including a letter-writing campaign. It's a great chance for youth to feel empowered to make a difference! Youth must register for the event. Online registration is at www.rmselca.org/hungereventreg.htm. It's the same time, same date, and same cost. If you have questions, contact Kayla at 303-617-9884 or kayla@lordofthehills.org. Register by October 22!

Video Contest:
How to Spot a Lutheran in the West
Two minute videos that capture the spirit of our "Lutheran Identity" in the Rocky Mountain Synod are to be submitted by April 1, 2008. The video may be a commercial, skit, story, song, art piece or any other means and will be judged in the areas of Lutheran identity, evangelism, diversity, variety of ages involved, and creativity. Prizes will be announced at Synod Assembly in May. First place will receive $1,000, second $600, third $250, fourth $150 (made out to the sponsoring congregation or ministry group.) The prize money is provided by a grant from ELCA Synodical Relations in support of communicating Lutheran identity within the synod. Download the details!

The Middle School Youth Gathering Planning Team Needs Your Help
The Team is looking for someone to help with taking video and editing it during the weekend. Ideally, this person would help during large group to do some "live" video of the gathering participants and speakers to put up on the big screen for large group times.

Also, the planning team is looking for EMT's (emergency medical technicians) who can be present to help in case of emergency. In the past, the Gathering has been fortunate to have folks who were participating in the weekend activities, but this year the Team is looking for a couple of dedicated medical technicians or emergency nurses who could be available throughout the weekend. Please contact Kim Sandfort at kimclym@qwest.net if you or someone you know would be interested.

The Junior High/Middle School Youth Gathering will be held January 11-13, 2008 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The website for the Gathering is being updated regularly, so please visit it often to get information.

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.

College-age Young Adults Needed for Senior High Gathering
We still need volunteers for this year's Cornerstone team. 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 would like to apply for the Cornerstone team please visit the RMS website: www.rmselca.org/connected.

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.

On October 11, Bishop Hanson was one of a group of Christ church leaders who received a remarkable letter signed by 138 Muslim leaders from throughout the world. The 29-page letter called on Muslims and Christians to work more closely together for peace between the two religious communities. The text of the open letter may be downloaded from the Washington Post website. Bishop Hanson responded publicly to the Muslim leaders' letter.

Hartford Seminary (a nondenominational theological institution in Hartford, Connecticut) is offering an online mini-course from October 22-26 which will cover 1) an overview of Internet use by churches 2) getting members into a database and using it 3) integrating today's digital tools (such as iPods and Podcasting) into web sites 4) reducing committee time and getting more done using list serves, boards and blogs and 5) online classrooms for education, youth projects, and keeping up with college students.

The course will introduce the topics, provide resources, offer suggestions, and show examples of what other churches are doing to make their ministries stronger and more effective by using technological advances. The course is not live. Each day you log on and view the resources at your convenience, but you must log on each day to view that day's session. Cost is $50. Information and registration.

Always Reforming / Siempre Reformando
Join in a multicultural celebration of the Reformation on Sunday, October 28, at 6 p.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (770 South Federal Blvd., Denver). Call Pastor Jay McDivitt (303.936.4859) or e-mail him, jaymcdivitt@gmail.com with questions.

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.

Global Health Ministries Event at Holy Cross, Wheat Ridge
Rev. Tim Iverson, Executive Director of GHM in Minneapolis, is coming to Holy Cross on Sunday, November 4. A "Growing in Mission" campaign program and complimentary, catered dinner will be presented in the Holy Cross fellowship hall from 3:30 - 6:00 p.m. on the same Sunday. Sign up for the dinner by calling Mary Kvamme at 303-421-8392 by October 28. Thrivent policy holders' gifts to GHM may be matched by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

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
Lutheran World Relief Fair Trade Fair is Nov 17 & 18 at
Cross of Christ Lutheran Church
You're invited to a Lutheran World Relief Fair Trade Fair and Craft and Bake Sale on Saturday, November 17 from 9:00 am to noon and Sunday, November 18 from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, 12099 Lowell Blvd in Broomfield, one block north of 120th Avenue. Phone 303-469-4004 for more information.

Rainbow Trail Confirmation Retreat
January 4-6, 2008 . For more information, visit the Rainbow Trail website at www.rainbowtrail.org.