Messiah Mountain Retreat Center Dedication

SATURDAY, JULY 23

• 9am / 10 am Spiritual Renewal Opportunities
• 11am Dedication Celebration and Lunch

We are overjoyed to invite everyone to a Messiah Mountain Retreat Center open house and dedication celebration on Saturday morning, July 23! And, we want you to see what is remaining to accomplish and inspire gifts and pledges to accomplish our dreams!

At 9am and 10am: SPIRITUAL RENEWAL

To provide an opportunity to experience spiritual renewal in this beautiful place, join us for these opportunities:

• NATURE: hike the property
• PRAYER: gather in nature for centering prayer
• MOVEMENT: be renewed through an experience of Qigong in nature (using exercises to optimize energy within the body, mind, and spirit)
• ART: capture the spirit of Messiah Mountain in a creative painting

11:15 am: DEDICATION CELEBRATION & LUNCH

Join Bishop Jim Gonia in giving thanks to God for this gift given from the people of Messiah Community Church, ELCA, along with gratitude to those who have given gifts to make the renewal possible!

Parking is limited so we’ll be providing some specific instructions for parking, and we encourage car-pooling or van-riding! So we may plan ahead, please RSVP if you plan to attend with your plan to arrive at 9am, 10am, or 11am. Please bring portable seating if available to you! MMRC is in Indian Hills, a short 8 minute drive from C-470 and Highway 285. Directions.

Christ the Servant, Louisville, CO

Chrysalis Initiative receiving Lutheran Disaster Response  Grant

The Rocky Mountain Synod Disaster Response Team is excited to announce that Christ the Servant Lutheran Church (CTS) in Louisville, Colorado, will receive a Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) grant to support the Chrysalis Initiative. CTS is located in the heart of the Marshall Fire disaster zone. In the wake of the fire in December 2021, CTS and Trinity Lutheran Church in Boulder have shown a remarkable propensity toward servant-outreach for their affected families and the entire community. The LDR grant will enable this outreach to deepen and extend even further than before, and will cover a period of three years.

The Chrysalis Initiative provides ongoing emotional and spiritual support and education to the community. Through it, adults and children who are fire survivors have had regular opportunities to gather and to receive help navigating the daily challenges of the recovery process. The Initiative has also offered a companion program so that fire survivors have a CTS member supporting them throughout the process, as well as staff support for managing funds generously donated from across the country for recovery efforts. This is one component in the Rocky Mountain Synod’s broader response strategy, and we are thrilled that the LDR grant will enable this work to carry on in the long term.

Sierra Pacific Synod appoints the Rev. Claire S. Burkat,  Interim Bishop

After consultation with the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and per the Sierra Pacific Synod Constitution (S8.54), the Sierra Pacific Synod Council has appointed the Rev. Claire S. Burkat as its interim bishop. She hopes to begin working in the synod the week of July 10.

Burkat joins the Sierra Pacific Synod from the Southeastern Pennsylvania (SEPA) Synod, where she served two terms as bishop (2006-2018). She is a 1978 graduate of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia and has served as a congregational pastor, assistant to the bishop, and mission director with the SEPA Synod, New Jersey Synod, and the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania.

Since her retirement as synod bishop in 2018, Burkat most recently served as interim chaplain of Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pa., and stepped in as acting bishop of the Delaware-Maryland Synod during Bishop William Gohl’s sabbatical.

See the SPS announcement here >

Excellence in Leadership - It is for YOU!

This May at Synod Assembly, the Excellence in Leadership initiative was blessed to be able to offer a session using two of the many tools offered throughout the whole 18-month experience. We hope that many of you were able to bring those tools back home to your contexts.

If you found value in those tools and would like to explore more, we would love to invite you to participate in the next cohorts of Excellence in Leadership beginning in late September. One cohort will gather in Albuquerque for their in-person sessions. We will also have 2 online cohorts - one will meet on Monday mornings (9:00am-12:00pm) and one on Tuesday evening (6:00pm-9:00pm). These cohorts will meet 1 or 2 times per month, depending on the month. Registration is now open!

Excellence in Leadership is an experiential journey for any who wish to become more resilient, healthy, and creative in their lives and in their leadership. It is meant for people of all ages and in all stages of life - lay or rostered, council member or back pew sitter. As we navigate what the future may hold as people of faith, Excellence in Leadership provides opportunities to think adaptively and meet that future boldly.

For more information, please visit: rmselca.org/excellence-in-leadership

or register for a cohort here: rmselca.org/eil_registration

ATTN STEWARDSHIP TEAM:

Beginning a Culture of Generosity Now

“Learned so much about stewardship, generosity, inspiring the desire to give, asking, and thanking, thanking, thanking.”

Join Beginning a Culture of Generosity (BCG). This program was curated in response to the pandemic and gives your stewardship team confidence right now while everyone is working through a variety of very real financial stressors.

BCG is a program to help guide congregations and provide the necessary tools to run a successful fall appeal. It is delivered online in six virtual sessions and begins August 20 ending December 3. In this final year of the Lilly Endowment stewardship scholarship grants, 3E is offering free tuition to five congregations that sign up before July 1. Questions, contact Deb Elstad at deb.elstad@gmail.com

BCG Print brochure/mail-in registration (here)

Register online at rmselca.org/3e-bcg-registration-2022

September 11 is God's Work. Our Hands. Sunday

We are a church energized by lively engagement in faith and life. As we continue our tradition of service to our neighbor, we remember the words of Martin Luther: “Our faith is a living, busy, active, mighty thing.” With our hands, we do God’s work of restoring and reconciling communities in the name of Jesus Christ. As you explore opportunities to participate in your community, ELCA.org/DayofService has everything you need to plan and promote your day:

• Planning toolkit.
• Worship resources
• Posters, postcards and social media graphics
• Spanish-language resources
• Promotional items
• Videos
• Special hymn text, sheet music and recording

Old Lutheran has T-shirts and other items available for purchase. The deadline for ordering your congregation’s personalized T-shirts is Aug. 19.

Don’t forget to share your congregation’s participation with us! Send stories and photos to LivingLutheran@elca.org so that together we can celebrate what God accomplishes through you. Participate on social media using #GodsWorkOurHands.

FROM VICKY DAUB, VSCP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

" We Are All Here"

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.”

Acts16:25-28

“Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” Yesterday, I read these words as part of the reading for the 7^th Sunday of Easter during worship. In the past few days, I kept re-reading these words as I practiced for this reading.

In my role as the Executive Director of the Veteran Servant Corps Project (VSCP), a ministry of the Rocky Mountain Synod, I have been thinking about the phrase “we are all here”, especially in terms of the 18+ Veterans who complete suicide in our nation daily. Raising awareness around this issue is one our VSCP tenets.

Are you and your congregation interested in joining in conversation around this important issue? Contact me, Vicky Daub, at Director@veteranservantcorps.org.

Are you interested in being part of our “We Are All Here” initiative by donating? Click the button below to make a donation. Select the General Fund Gift option and enter "Veteran Servant Corps Project" in the note/memo line. If you prefer to mail your donation, send it to the Rocky Mountain Synod, 7375 Samuel Drive, Denver, CO 80221, adding Veteran Servant Corps Project to the note portion of your check.

VETERANS MUSEUM BROOMFIELD

SPECIAL EVENT

Colorado Front Range WWII Symposium

July 16, 2022

10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Broomfield Auditorium, 12 Garden Center, Broomfield, CO

broomfieldveterans.org 303-460-6801

Admission: FREE!

Mark your calendars now for this major event to honor Colorado's history and heritage in World War II.

An exciting agenda full of history presentations by major Authors and Historians, re-enactors, 1940s military vehicles, armaments, cars, and exhibit tables.

Featured Speakers include (see flyer):

• Guyleen Castriotta - Mayor of Broomfield, co
• Joe Neguse - Representative for US Congress
• Flint Whitlock - Author/Historian
• Gail Beaton - Author/Historian
• David Barrett - Author/Historian

Nature Connection Practices

Saturday, July 9, 10:00am

Denver Botanical Gardens

You are invited to join the RMS Creation Care team for Sparking Creation Care, their July event! Meeting both virtually, and in person, at the Denver Botanic Gardens on York Street. We will be guided through nature connection practices, woven into the Active Hope spiral from Joanna Macy's work that reconnects. Our guide for the session is Sheri Peterson, a Nature Connected Coach and Transformational Wilderness Guide. Sheri is Your PATH Coach, LLC, where PATH stands for Personal Accountability To Harmony. You can learn more about Sheri at her website yourpathcoach.org.

Please RSVP for this free event to rmscreationcareteam@gmail.com Note there is a $15 ticket fee for non-member adults to enter the Gardens. Tickets must be purchased online and in advance. Do not let cost prevent you from joining us, we have access to some guest passes. Please reach out. The meeting will run an hour but feel free to stay and enjoy the gardens, there is no time limit on your tickets. The Zoom link is - us02web.zoom.us/j/83008940316

ST. PHILIP - LITTLETON

Fine Arts Academy for grades 5 and above

Monday, July 11 through Thursday, July 14

12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day

CALLED TO LOVE! St. Philip in Littleton is holding a Fine Arts Academy for youth entering grades 5 and above on Monday, July 11 through Thursday, July 14, 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Students will take music and a theme class, and can choose two other classes including woodwork, water colors, quilting, puppetry, dance, creation arts and Lego creations. Cost is $40 which includes all supplies. Sign up below or contact Melinda Swenkerud at msvenkerud@stphilip-co.org.

ONLINE MEETINGS

Blessed Youth: Breaking the Silence about Mental Illness with Children and Teens

Thursdays: July 28, Aug 25, Sept 22

7:00-8:00 pm

“Our kids are not okay. Our children and youth are hurting!” Those who know this are also hurting. You are invited to join a series of Thursday Evening Connections about the book, Blessed Youth: Breaking the Silence on Mental Illness and Teens and Children, and the “Survival Guide” by the Rev. Sarah Lund.

This book shakes up any lethargy about the plight of our youth’s mental health. It is a crisis. These Connections will be at 7 pm on zoom and are free. The facilitator is Deborah Berghuis, PhD, a trauma-informed, gender-affirming therapist who enjoys working with the members of the LGBTQA+ community, faith leaders, clinicians, and healthcare professionals. Rev. Lund will be in Boulder in person on Oct. 9-10. Her books are available online. Join the zoom conversations: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4264420220.

This series is hosted by Atonement Lutheran Church, Boulder, Mental Health Ministry, and the Interfaith Network on Mental Illness (inmi.us). Questions, contact revalan2004@comcast.net.

Servant Stock: Urban Servant Corps' 35th Anniversary

Sunday, July 31 from 11am-4pm at Advent Lutheran (7979 Meade St)

Get ready to boogie like it's 1987 (USC's founding year) at this Music Festival Event!

Live music by USC alumni and supporting band "The Hip Replacements" (members of Bethany Lutheran) will be sure to put you in a great mood! The SAME Cafe food truck will be there, too, along with yard games, bubbles, and friends galore! Where would you rather be on a sunny summer day? AND in celebration of the meaningful and faithful service of USC volunteers -- event better!

urbanservantcorps.org/news-events

The Oregon Synod is one of the 65 synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The ELCA is a community of faith that shares a passion for making positive changes in the world. Our faith is built around a strong belief in God, as made known in Jesus Christ. Through service, advocacy, worship, and education, we practice our faith, grow in our relationship with God, and experience God’s grace in our lives.

Here in Oregon we are over 30,000 some Lutherans in 111 congregations (including Trinity Lutheran in Tulelake, CA.) Our synod is divided into 12 regional clusters, each led by a cluster dean.

The synod is served by Bishop Laurie Larson Caesar, who was born and raised in the small logging town of Libby, Montana.Visit the oregonsynod.org! Click here to view a map of the 65 ELCA synods and 9 regions.