Last weekend's Councils As Leaders was a success!
About 140 people gathered at First Lutheran in Albert Lea in person and online last Sunday (3/12) for the annual Councils As Leaders learning event hosted by the synod. With ten different workshop options, participants had the chance to learn about topics like stewardship, constitution updating, what intergenerational ministry can look like, how to have difficult conversations, and what the ELCA social statements are. (And so much more!) With the help of some wonderful hosts from First and our Zoom moderators, folks moved around to the topics of most significant interest to them. In addition to listening, there were many opportunities to share and ask questions.
With caffeine and snacks to keep everyone nourished through the afternoon, the Holy Spirit was certainly moving! Councils As Leaders will be offered again in 2024 around the same time. Keep an eye on the website and mark your calendar to check back for details after the first of the year. Thank you to the planning team, workshop leaders, Zoom moderators, and site volunteers for all your hard work. May the information exchanged that day encourage and inspire God's continuous work in our communities.
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Budget Caucus for the 2023 Assembly |
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March 30, at 6 PM, online via Zoom
Your opportunity to discuss the current draft of the spending plan before it is proposed at this year's assembly is March 30! Anybody in the synod can join. This will be a space to learn, discuss, ask questions, and share thoughts or concerns. We hope to see you there! Learn more at semnsynod.org/spending23.
Zoom login details:
Meeting ID: 884 8716 4610 | Passcode: 587739
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How many voters does your congregation get?
When does the price increase?
Will this year be different?
Where is our offering going?
Who will be our guest speakers?
Find answers to these and more at:
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Developing an ELCA Social Statement for
Civic Life and Faith
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How can we know what the ELCA preaches, teaches, and believes about issues in today’s society? Lamentably, what we see or hear often comes from secondary sources like social media and outside commentators. There is a process the ELCA church body uses to ensure that preaching, teaching, and ethics are never driven by any one person or small group with a particular agenda. That process results in our Social Statements, and it depends on the broad participation of people like yourself.
The current effort is to draft a statement on Government and Civic Engagement. Click on the link below to learn about the Social Statement process and access the new six-session study driving this current effort. Each study session ends with a feedback form, and the results go directly to the task force shepherding this process.
Participating in this is how your voice gets heard!
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Learning Opportunity:
Suicide Prevention Skills for Rural Ministry
April 27, May 4, 11, and 18 (on Zoom, 12–1:30 PM)
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Rural suicide is 2.5-3 times higher than the national rate and frequently shrouded with stigma. Clergy and ministry leaders are sought out for help but often have little training in how to encourage help-seeking, ask about thoughts of suicide, or how to provide ministry after a suicide attempt or death.
With a cohort of other faith leaders from southern Minnesota, you will learn approaches and skills that equip you for prevention, intervention, and postvention (bereavement) tasks so you can effectively care for people struggling with thoughts of suicide or its impacts.
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Rostered Ministers Gathering 2023
July 17-20 in Phoenix, AZ
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All rostered ministers are invited (active in call, on leave from call, awaiting call, retired).
"Let this gathering be an opportunity for you to remember, reclaim, rekindle, and revive yourself." Wondering if there will be any familiar faces? Bishop Hassanally and Assistant to the Bishop Rev. Barb Streed will be in attendance! Learn more about the workshops, presenters, and further details on the website. elca.org/rmg
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Prayer Calendar: March 26 |
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- Union Prairie Lutheran Church, Lanesboro
- East St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Byron
- Evanger Lutheran Church, Sargeant
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- LeRoy Lutheran Church, LeRoy
- Mampanta Lutheran Church, Tanzania
- Choma Lutheran Church, Tanzania
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