Communications Upgrade

New phone system offers direct dial feature

The Office of the Bishop has retired our decades-old traditional phone system. We have always had staff persons working remotely and traveling, but our phones assumed working "in the office."

Our new "cloud" phone systems routes calls to staff cell phones wherever they are located and also features direct-dial numbers. Those numbers are posted on the staff page of our website. 

Thus, it's time to say "farewell" to our traditional desks phones. We have also retired our Toll-Free number. Our primary number stays the same: 303-777-6700.

RSVP TODAY!

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! (We are dedicating the INSIDE of the Lodge. We have a lot more work to do on the outside.)

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.

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.

IN-PERSON COHORT IN ALBUQUERQUE, TWO ONLINE

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

Announcing the next Generosity Watch Parties

A series of 3 events: July 30, August 27, September 24

-- resources and connections for everyone that inspire and empower a culture of generosity. The Watch Parties are on Zoom from 10:00am to 11:15am on these three Saturdays:

July 30: "Practice Gratitude"

August 27: "Not Stewardship in a Box"

September 24: "Abundance Mindset"

Our time together is led by RMS staff, GSB Fundraising consultants, 3E leaders, EiL leaders and invited guests. Each presentation also provides a curated follow-up packet of relevant online resources on these topics from the Center for Generosity. Please register and you will receive the Zoom link prior to the session. Watch Party Registration

Questions? Contact Deb Elstad, 3E Associate Director for Stewardship at [email protected] or Tina Kvitek, RMS Director of Development at [email protected].

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. 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected].

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

AMBASSADOR-GRAM SPECIAL EDITION

Are You the "Go To Guy"?

Are you the one who communicates with the men of your congregation; to call them together for events, keep them informed, announce service opportunities, etc?

If so, we would like to hear from you! We have found that by building better relationships, we can learn from each other, join efforts and grow men's ministry more effectively. We also would like to simply affirm your efforts.

So please, if you "wear this hat" at your church, identify yourself by emailing Dave Newman, LMM Director of Networking and Communications: [email protected]. 

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 [email protected] 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 [email protected].

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 [email protected].

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!

Interim Ministry Training Using a Group Coaching Model

Beginning Friday, August 5, 2022

First and Third Fridays of the month

from 9:00-10:00 a.m.

This Interim Ministry Training is based in the real-time real life work of an Intentional Interim Pastor. it uses a "coach approach," which believes the participants are "creative, resourceful, and whole," and is directed by a trained coach.

Three-quarters of participants' time together will center around the process and issues facing the participants, with the remainder assigned to the mastery of knowledge essential to providing successful interim pastoral leadership. Participants will meet for one hour twice monthly over six months.

This training was initially designed by Fresh Thinking Coaching and Consulting and has been developed in cooperation with the Rocky Mountain Synod Office of the Bishop.

The cost for the program is $585. To learn more and to register, please go to the Purposeful Pastor website at purposefulpastor.com/interim-ministry.

The roots of the Montana Synod can be traced back to 1881 when three Norwegian-American families settled along Sweet Grass Creek near the community of Melville in south central Montana.

The Montana Synod with its 30,700 baptized members in 123 congregations (5 in Wyoming) and other preaching points, is served by 173 pastors in congregational and specialized ministries. In addition, 12 Deacons also serve our ministries. We have 6 persons in the candidacy process preparing for future church leadership and 134 persons in the Lay Pastoral Associates program.

The synod is served by Bishop Bishop Laurie Jungling, born and raised in Great Falls, MT and baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran church.

Visit montanasynod.org!

Click here for a map of our 65 ELCA synods and 9 regions.