January 15, 2020
A Reconciling in Christ synod
Bishop Eaton issues pastoral message on Iran conflict
January 9, 2020
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God”  (Matthew 5:9). 
 
The current crisis between the United States and Iran is worrisome for many of us in our church, in our nation and in the world. Our country and Iran need urgently to find ways to resolve our differences through a de-escalation of the current crisis, using diplomacy and other peaceful means.
 
Armed conflict and war are always tragic for those directly involved and often as well for civilians, who also may suffer under punitive sanctions. These situations are evidence of broken relationships.   
 
Our social statement,  “For Peace in God’s World,” offers guidance: 
We of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America share with the Church of Jesus Christ in all times and places the calling to be peacemakers ….  
The basis of the Church’s peace-calling is in God’s final peace, the peace of God’s eternal reign. That calling is to proclaim the Gospel of God’s final peace and to work for earthly peace.  
 
For our part, we have a window of opportunity to stop the current conflict before it worsens. We should appeal now to our elected officials to pursue the path of dialogue and diplomacy with Iran — for our sake, for the sake of the people of Iran and for the sake of the world God so loves. 
from the Lutheran World Federation --
Pursue the path of dialogue and diplomacy

(LWI) - "We have a window of opportunity to stop the current conflict [between the United States and Iran] before it worsens," writes the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton in a pastoral message on 9 ...

Read more
www.lutheranworld.org
eConnection Spotlight:
RMS in the Neighborhood
Ecumenical Youth Group Spreads Christmas Cheer
St. Peter, Carlsbad, NM
This Christmas, the five-church Ecumenical Youth Group, hosted by St. Peter Lutheran Church in Carlsbad NM, collected, wrapped and delivered over 70 Christmas presents and treat-filled stockings to 11 children, in five client-families of Carlsbad Transitional Housing & Homeless Shelter Inc.

In September of 2019, St. Peter teamed-up with local ecumenical-partner congregations First Presbyterian, First Christian, Grace Episcopal, and Carlsbad Mennonite to form an Ecumenical Youth Group. This small group of approximately 13 youth (6th-12th grade) meets twice a month. Christ's Church - Better TOGETHER!
RMS-ELCA News and Events
Annual Report resources now available
A busy time of year is coming up and we now have annual report resources available for your congregations, including covers, the RMS report insert, and Where Does My Offering Go posters. These resources are also available here.

Annual Report Cover:

Other resources:
2020 Synod Assembly Voting Member Information
The 2020 Synod Assembly is coming, May 1-2, save the date! See our website at https://www.rmselca.org/assembly .

The voting member info packet is now available here ( Word / PDF ).
Join us for Lutheran Day at the Legislature
Thursday, February 27, 7:30 a.m. to noon
Colorado Lutheran Day at the Legislature is Thursday, February 27. We invite you to join us! The event is a great opportunity for learning, listening, and action, and will involve visits to your representatives in the Capitol building.
For Your Bulletin
Installation

Rev. Wayne Nieminen
Rev. Christa Von Zychlin
St. Luke, Albuquerque, NM
1:00 p.m., Saturday, February 1
Color of the Day: Green
RMS Prayer Cycle

JANUARY 2020
METRO WEST CONFERENCE

- Week of January 19 -

Lord of the Valley - Granby, CO
Brian Bergum

St. Mark’s Church of Grace * Episcopal Lutheran Ministry - Craig, CO
Bain White (ECUSA)

Mount of the Holy Cross - Vail, CO
Scott Beebe

Shepherd of the Valley - Grand Junction, CO
Kaila (Hochhalter) Armbruster

St. Andrew - Arvada, CO
Bev Piro
Join us in daily prayer:
Download  ELCA Prayer Ventures  for daily guides to prayer for the global, social and outreach ministries of the ELCA, as well as for the needs and circumstances of our neighbors, communities and world. 
Sunday, January 19
Second Sunday after Epiphany
Prayer of the Day

Holy God, our strength and our redeemer, by your Spirit hold us forever, that through your grace we may worship you and faithfully serve you, follow you and joyfully find you, through Jesus Christ,
our Savior and Lord.

In God's Hands: Ecumenical Prayer Cycle from the World Council of Churches

19 - 25 January : Cyprus, Greece, Turkey - Intercessions and Prayers
Around the Synod
Celebration and Benefit for Village Exchange Center
Wednesday, January 22 at 5:30 p.m.
In 2017, the congregation of St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Aurora made the impactful decision to donate their church to Village Exchange Center (VEC) , a community center serving immigrants and refugees in the Denver metro area. This year, VEC is celebrating our 3rd year of operations, made possible by the legacy planted by the St. Matthew congregation.

This international bazaar-themed benefit is taking place on January 22, in The Hangar at Stanley Marketplace (2501 N. Dallas Street, Aurora) from 5:30-8:30 p.m. We will have global dishes from eateries owned and operated by immigrants and refugees who call Colorado home. Attendees can peruse an on-site bazaar with global treasures crafted by local community members. Acoustic rocker Rob Drabkin will deliver a special performance. Guest speakers include Congressman Jason Crow and Rev. Dr. Timothy E. Tyler. Go here to purchase your tickets now!
James Hersch Annual Concert/Soup Supper
Saturday, February 1 at 6:00 p.m.
James Hersch will be joining us for his annual concert at Holy Love Lutheran Church. A potluck soup supper will be held in the Fellowship Hall beginning at 6:00 p.m. and the concert will follow immediately after. Free will offering.

How to Become a WISE Congregation for Mental Health: Inspiring Stories & Practical Advice
Sunday, February 9 from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
(Venue in Boulder to be determined)
Learn how to become a WISE Congregation: a Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive, and Engaged faith community offering radical belonging with those living with mental health challenges, brain differences, and substance use disorders. Using a ten-step approach, we will cover the history of the WISE Congregation program, discuss the opportunities for spiritual and membership growth through WISE certification, and share practical advice on how to overcome common challenges and emerge a WISE Congregation on Mental Health.

Rev. Amy Petre Hill is the Minister of Mental Health and Inclusion at Mountain View United Church in Aurora, Colorado and will offer the presentation and lead the discussion.

Questions, please send email to revalan2004@comcast.net.
Purposeful Pastor Book Club
4th Thursday of each month beginning January 23, 2020
We'll explore a chapter of a book together each month with other faith leaders. Our first book will be She: Five Keys to Unlock the Power of Women in Ministry by Karoline M. Lewis

There are two options for meeting:

*IN PERSON in Niwot, Colorado. Bring a lunch and meet from 12:00-1:30 p.m. Once you sign up the address will be emailed to you.

*REMOTELY via Zoom. We'll gather via Zoom from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Once you sign up the Zoom information will be email to you.

For more information visit: https://www.purposefulpastor.com/book-club
Stratus Chamber Orchestra - Serenade: Of Love & Enchantment
Friday, Feb. 7, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. (Immersive Seating)
Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. (Traditional Seating)
Friday, Feb. 7, 2020 at 7:30pm (Immersive Seating)
1st Plymouth Congregational Church
3501 S. Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO

Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020 at 7:30pm (Traditional Seating)
Augustana Lutheran Church
5000 E. Alameda Ave., Denver, CO

The Serenade is the “music of the evening.” A lover sings below his lady’s open window, a violinist spins a tune to intertwine the hearts of the couple in the restaurant. However you picture it, the Serenade uses the language of love. Stratus’s serenade includes Canteloube’s Songs of the Auvergne, Strauss’s Serenade for Winds, and Johannes Brahms’s youthful and expansive Serenade No. 1.
Stratus Chamber Orchestra - Quartetto: Great Quartet Masterpieces
Friday, April 24, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. (Immersive Seating)
Saturday, April 25 at 7:30 p.m. (Traditional Seating)
Quartetto: Great Quartet Masterpieces
Schumann for Horns, Vivaldi for Violins, Peck for Cellos, Sejourné for Mallets

Friday, April 24, 2020 at 7:30pm (Immersive Seating)
1st Plymouth Congregational Church
3501 S. Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO

Saturday, April 25 at 7:30pm (Traditional Seating)
Augustana Lutheran Church
5000 E. Alameda Ave., Denver, CO

Amazing things come in fours. Stratus wraps up the season with a set of four concertos with the spotlight on our musicians! Schumann’s Concert Piece for Four Horns, Vivaldi’s Concerto for Four Violins, Russell Peck’s Voice of the Wood for Four Cellos, and Sejourne’s Marimba Concerto for Four Mallets. And just to give you a hint, you might notice that this is our fourth and final concert of the season.
Register for the Yoga as a Prayer retreat here or at peacelutheranelp.org.
Our Life Together
JustServe Provides Web Platform for Volunteer Engagement
Would you like to reach interested volunteers for your service project, or are you looking for meaningful volunteer opportunities yourself?

JustServe is a free community resource sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The JustServe.org website is used by a wide array of faith, nonprofit, community, and government organizations to post service opportunities. People use JustServe.org to work with community partners to identify needs and respond to those needs in the spirit of charitable service. Volunteers can quickly find opportunities that fit their interests, skills, and availability.

Visit JustServe.org to find or post volunteer opportunities or download the JustServe app at the App Store or Google Play.
ALOA - Don't miss these FREE webinars!
ALOA webinars feature a knowledgeable older adult ministry leader covering a single topic and providing information on available resources. All are free and last approximately 60 minutes. If you can't be available for the live webinar, sign up anyway and we'll email you a link to the recording and associated resources.

January 23, 2020 – Noon ET
Aging Parents and Their Adult Children with Disabilities
Mona Fuerstenau, Director of Ministry Partnerships at Bethesda Lutheran Communities, Watertown, WI, will discuss the challenges and possibilities aging parents face as they make plans for their adult children with disabilities after they are gone. Register now

February 27, 2020 – Noon ET
Nursing Homes: Quality Care & Quality of Life, Part 2
Alice Hedt, former Executive Director of the Coalition for Nursing Home Reform, provides a follow-up to her webinar on finding a quality care facility. In this session, she'll explore how family members and residents themselves can promote quality of care and quality of life once there. Register now

Find out more about ALOA webinars and check out the archive of past topics on our website.
Resource Corner
check back each week for a new or featured resource for your congregation
Stewardship Toolkit for February 2020
Here's your February 2020 "Stewardship Toolkit ." It's a Word file with an original newsletter article, RCL-based Sunday bulletin blurbs, and links - all related to a monthly theme. The February theme is "Steward your life: Cultivate a Heart of Love." 
Employment Opportunities
Non-Rostered Listings 
Director of Youth Ministries
Glory of God Lutheran Church - Wheat Ridge, CO

Administrative Assistant-Communications
Faith Lutheran Church - Golden, CO

High School Program Director
Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp - Fort Collins, CO
Office of the Bishop This Week
  Bishop Jim Gonia
  • Excellence in Leadership
  • In-office appointments
  • RMS Youth Gathering

ELCA DIRECTOR FOR EVANGELICAL MISSION
Pastor Dana Peterson (Interim, 1/2 time)
  • Excellence in Leadership
  • New & Renewing Ministries
  • In-office appointments

LUTHERAN ADVOCACY MINISTRY NEW MEXICO
Kurt Rager
  • Excellence in Leadership
  • Opening of Legislative Session

LUTHERAN ADVOCACY MINISTRY COLORADO
Peter Severson
  • Excellence in Leadership
  • FAMLI Coalition Meeting
  • Faithful Thursdays
  • LAM-CO Policy Committee
  • Zions Trinidad

ELCA REGIONAL GIFT PLANNER
Tina Kvitek
  • Excellence in Leadership
  • RMS Campaign Meeting
  • 1-1 Meetings
ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP FOR CONGREGATIONAL LIFE
Pastor Sarah Moening
  • Excellence in Leadership
  • Trinity, Las Cruces, NM
  • Mount Hope, El Paso, TX
  • St. Pauls Calhan, CO

ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP FOR LEADERSHIP SUPPORT
Pastor Kent Mueller (1/2 time)
  • Excellence in Leadership
  • Healthy Leaders Team
  • Finance Committee

ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP FOR SYNODICAL LIFE
Deacon Erin Power
  • Excellence in Leadership
  • Assembly Planning, Grand Junction CO
  • Ascension St. Matthew's, Price, UT


ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP FOR FAITH FORMATION & CANDIDACY
Pastor Leslie O'Callaghan
  • Excellence in Leadership
  • RMS Youth Gathering
Quick Links
Share the News
Erin Power ,   Assistant to the Bishop
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Rocky Mountain Synod  
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
800-525-0462 / 303-777-6700 / fax  303-733-0750

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