Submitted by Pastor Chris Davis, Director for Evangelical Mission-North and Synod Minister for Generosity

Funding for SNAP benefits expired November 1^st as a result of the federal government shutdown. This means 42 million vulnerable people in our country are faced with even more uncertainty about where their next meal will come from. While we are disheartened by the circumstances that led to this crisis, we are not resigned to sit by and watch it happen. 

Thanks to you, we’ve begun to create a resource list of local pantries, distribution sites, and outreach contacts—please share, print, or link it in your church bulletin. If you have any you'd like to add to the list, contact Deacon Mary Stoneback, Synod Minister for Strategic Communications and Events. This list is meant to grow.

Saludos desde El Paso y Juárez

A group from the RMS ELCA—along with Bishop Meghan Johnston Aelabouni, Pastor Diana Linden, and Deacon Mary Stoneback—is immersed in a meaningful week with Iglesia Luterana Cristo Rey’s Border Immersion Program. Special thanks to Pastor Rose Mary Sánchez-Guzmán, Pastor Juan De Dios, and Pastor Brian Erickson for their warm hospitality and guidance.

We invite your prayers:

• For openness: that we listen deeply to stories of vulnerability, hope, and resilience.
• For courage & compassion: that our hearts expand in Christ’s love as we serve in the border context.
• For transformation & safe travel: that we return renewed in faith, deeper in empathy, and blessed in journey.

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Submitted by Lorinda Laabs

Grace Lutheran Church

Council President

For almost ten years Grace Lutheran Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado has been sharing non-perishable food, personal hygiene items and winter wear gloves and hats with our neighbors in need. Our blessing box is stocked with 15 to 20 items every other day.  These donations come from our congregation. We also have many people in our neighborhood who contribute food and other things to the Blessing Box.  

We hear positive feedback from those who have utilized our Blessing Box, and we feel it is an important way to love and serve our neighbors.

We give thanks for Pastor Ashley Allinger and the ministry she shares with Christ the King Lutheran Church in Colorado, Springs, Colorado

"Thank you to all who joined in celebrating with Christ the King Lutheran Church on October 29. It was a joyful reminder of the many who have supported this congregation and of God’s faithful work among us.

The installation service centered on vocation and service—a beautiful reflection of who we are as a community. I’m humbled to serve as pastor here, drawn by the genuine sense of belonging that first made this place feel like home.

May we continue to grow in love and faith, serving one another and trusting that—even as a “small but mighty” congregation—God is doing great things among us."

~Pastor Ashley Allinger

Weekly Advent Devotions from our ELCJHL Siblings

Open this weekly Advent gift of devotion and prayer as Lutheran siblings from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) lead us in meditation and prayer. All of the sessions are available here with accompanying discussion questions for your congregation's consideration, for your family's time of devotion or for your own personal prayer life.

Christmas Cards are Nice, but How about a Book Instead?

As we prepare for the holidays, why not send a childrens' book to those on your Christmas card list? Maybe the person is not a parent, but everyone knows a child who loves a story. This book is also an excellent story to tell at worship or during another teaching moment. It is "Issa Flies", the story of a Palestinian Sunbird's Christmas Journey.

Please find below.

Webinars

Wednesday November 12, 7:00 p.m.

Thursday November 20, 11:00 a.m.

Join immigration attorney, Cathy Brown, for a webinar to learn more about US Immigration. Better your understanding of how immigration laws are supposed to function and how they are currently being misused. Cathy is an experienced immigration attorney located in Lafayette, Colorado whose practice focus on family, citizenship, and asylum. 

Ali, an Afghan asylum seeker the Christ the Servant Lutheran (CTS) in Louisville has supported for over a year now has been detained without cause by ICE while driving his long-haul truck. CTS is working with his legal team. His family and the church are of course very concerned, and he is currently being detained in a jail in Missouri. 

If you'd like to provide support beyond prayers:

• Send the family a card to know they are not alone (feel free to invite friends into this action), and that the wider community is behind them. Can be addressed to:
• Masuma Ahmadi and family
• 506 Via Appia Way
• Louisville, CO 80027
• Donate to support their family with legal needs and other financial needs that arise as the main earner in their family is detained

Dear Rocky Mountain Synod,

We celebrate Harvests this month. An overflowing cornucopia is a reminder of our abundances. As we gather in, we also pass out - be it food, time, skills, or money. It is almost foolish asking you to share that abundance, because you always have and always will! Thank-you!  

ELCA World Hunger produced "Intersections" to highlight global and local stories. This 28 minute film is an excellent tool for education and discussion. The Hephatha Community segment was special; I met their Council President at the Hunger Leaders Gathering in September in Ohio. "Hephatha" comes from Mark 7.

Jesus uses this word of prayer,

"Be opened," as He heals a man unable to speak or hear. I hope you can use this film in your church; and be opened to all the possibilities for sharing our abundance. 



The regional hunger website needs updating. If you can help with this, please contact me. We're open to all input! 

With appreciation,

Cathy Jacobs, for RMS Hunger      

November 15, 9am–3pm

First Lutheran Church

Co. Springs, Co

Want to grow in your preaching abilities? Curious about how other seasoned preachers approach the task? Are you a lay preacher who could use a head start on Lent 2026? Consider attending Adventures in Preaching, Saturday November 15 from 9am-3pm at First Lutheran Church. Thanks to a generous grant from the ELCA Innovation Lab, this event is FREE and will include preaching from Bishop Meghan Johnston-Aelabouni, Pastor Nicole Ferry, Pastor Bill Dohle and Pastor Travis Norton as well as a hearty lunch. Please register so we can be ready to welcome you well!

The Office of the Secretary a few weeks ago did a Congregation Constitution 101 webinar for the folks in Region 4. The hour-long session was recorded, and the recording and the accompanying PowerPoint are now available on the OS Constitutions page on ELCA.org. 

The training is designed for congregation leaders and covers the basics of how constitutions help, how the Model Constitution is organized, and how to go about amending and updating your congregation constitution. Please feel free to make use of it if you think it would be helpful for your congregations!

Questions about your Congregation Constitution? Contact RMS Synod Council Secretary Sharen Kamp at sharenikamp@gmail.com

November 8, 9am–3pm

Hybrid Presentation

These times call for a need to unify the seeds of contemplative practice–to return to our fundamental essence and realize our shared human purpose as conscious transmitters of faith, hope and love. In the words of Bede Griffiths, we can learn to “join the growing Christ.”

Jonathan’s presentation style includes teaching, practice and unifying the power of gathered intention. His themes focus on the importance of surrender, community, service, silence and the practice of learning to directly sense the inner body, or inner-man as St. Paul refers to it. Learning to sense the inner body gives us a physiological rootedness where we can stand in a strong, compassionate witnessing presence amid polarization.

Rejoicing Spirits

11/16, 4–6pm: Lord of the Hills, Aurora, Co.

11/23, 4–6pm: Epiphany Lutheran Church, Denver, Co

We will unite in activities, singing, laughing and loving God. Rejoicing Spirits is an inclusive worship space for people with cognitive and intellectual disabilities, their caregivers, families and anyone who seeks an open, joyful and creative worship experience.

Learn More

Jonah, the son of Pastor Stephanie Lord of Christ the Servant in Louisville, Colorado, has been diagnosed with a pilocytic astrocytoma. As a Synod, we lift up our prayers for him and his family.

Gracious and healing God,

We bring our brother Jonah before You—holding his body, mind, and spirit in Your tender care. Shine Your light into his struggle, renew his hope, restore his strength, and calm his fears. Grant him patience in waiting, courage in the unknown, and the assurance that You are with him at every moment. Guide his medical team with Your wisdom, surround his loved ones with Your peace, and help Jonah feel Your presence with each breath. We also pray for his family as they walk this path together—may they know Your steadfast presence and find peace amid uncertainty. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray.

Amen.

Gracious God,

We give thanks for our companion partners in Madagascar — the Mahajanga Synod, the Antsiranana Synod, the Sambava Synod, the Sofia Synod, and Betela Seminary.

Bless their ministry, strengthen their witness, and deepen our mutual partnership in the gospel.

In Jesus’ name we pray.

Amen.

We pray for Rostered Ministers not serving in a conference and Ministers on leave from call or disability

Gracious God,

we hold before You our rostered ministers not now in active service or on leave. Grant them peace in their pause, strength in their rest, and assurance of Your abiding call. Renew their spirits, uphold their hope, and remind them they are cherished in Your work. In Jesus’ name we pray.

Amen.