A Reconciling in Christ synod
Office of the Bishop - June Monthly Eucharist Service Canceled
Our monthly Eucharist scheduled for Wednesday, June 14, is canceled.

We invite you to join us for our next worship on Wednesday, July 12 at 11:30 a.m. at the Office of the Bishop. 

Worship is the 2nd Wednesday of each month. If you would be interested in leading worship, please contact Kent Mueller.
Serving the Neighbor in Charged Times
In her June column for  Living Lutheran, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reflects on serving the neighbor in politically charged times. She reminds us that “active participation in public life and the duty of government to care for its people, especially the most vulnerable, have been part of the Lutheran movement since its beginning.” Read her column online in English or Spanish, or download a PDF or Word version. 
Sanctuary: Intersecting Immigration Stories
Kristin Carlson (Good Shepherd, Glenwood Springs) offered her gifts as a playwright at the Synod Assembly. Her one-act play, " Sanctuary," was performed by Trary Maddalone LaMee and Jesse Monsalve during worship. It is about what happens when Edna, who emigrated from Germany after WWII, encounters young Colombian-born Edgar sleeping on a pew at the church building. it is available for your viewing  online here and would be a good invitation for conversations about immigration and refugee resettlement issues. 
RMS-ELCA News and Events
SAVE THE DATE! 
2017 Theological Conference
September 18-21, 2017
Marriott Hotel, Colorado Springs, CO 

Join us in Colorado Springs as we continue our conversation around ReFormation. Sarah Ciavarri, a trained facilitator in Brene' Brown's work will join us, along with Mike Ward with Stewardship for All Seasons. 

NEW! One-day Prayer Retreat
Pastor Sonja Sandquist will lead a contemplative prayer retreat from 9am-3pm on Monday, September 18, at La Foret Conference Center, just north of Colorado Springs. The retreat center will also be open to those who want to get away but not participate in the retreat. Cost is $12 for lunch, plus an additional night of hotel for those who would need to travel on Sunday.

Registration will open June 15.
For Your Bulletin
Bulletin Blurbs
RMS in the Neighborhood
Hear the stories of ministry across the RMS through our RMS in the Neighborhood blog! New stories are posted each week!
Help Students Transition to College with LuMin!
Many high school graduates among us are preparing to leave behind the congregations that raised them up and depart for the great unknown of college life. In this time wouldn't it be great if there was a life-giving resource to help them make that transition? Well, we have great news!  LuMin is the network of over 250 Lutheran campus ministries across the United States. When you submit the names of incoming students they'll receive a friendly welcome from a campus minister and be connected to a life-giving resource on campus-- use the  LuMin Referral form or send an  email
Installations

Pastor David Ryder (RCA)
Spirit of Joy, Fort Collins, CO
Service of Welcome
Saturday, June 24, 5:30pm
Color of the day: White
  Somewhere Up Lefthand Canyon
- T. Noirot
RMS Prayer Cycle

June 2017
Southeast Colorado Conference

Week of June 18 

Our Savior - Wild Horse, CO    

King of Kings - Pueblo, CO
Dirk Stadtlander

Mount Calvary - Colorado Springs, CO
Kevin Cho

Prince of Peace - Colorado Springs, CO
Dave Cruson

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, June 18
Second Sunday after Pentecost
Prayer of the Day
Teach us, good Lord God, to serve you as you deserve, to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and not to ask for reward, except that of knowing that we do your will, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Global Church Prayer
God our creator, redeemer and sustainer, while the laborers may be few, we trust that your grace will grant us the will and strength to do your work. Praise be to you for the witness of pastors and lay leaders in our global companion churches and their work in growing the Lutheran church. Guide their labor through God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Around the Synod
Cross+Gen Life Tour July 15, 2017 at Bethany Lutheran Church
Is your congregation wondering where to begin with Cross Generational Ministry? Have you begun to move in this direction and could use a little inspiration or new ideas? Would you like to see who else is doing this ministry near you for collaboration, dreaming and scheming?

Rev. Dr. Rich Melheim, along with presenters who are engaged in this ministry, will be at Bethany Lutheran Church, 4500 E Hampden Ave. Cherry Hills Village, CO 80113, on Saturday, July 15 to encourage. support and dream with you. This event is for rostered ministers, lay leaders, volunteers, council members, and anyone who wonders about the present and future of the Church! A brochure is here. To see the schedule, pricing and to register please go to  their website.

Please contact Pastor Brigette Weier for more information. 
Wisconsin Children’s Choir Youth Chorale - Free Concert!

Wednesday, June 14
7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

St. Luke Lutheran Church
9100 Menaul Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM

Directed by Margaret Hadley and accompanied by Jason Kutz, this choir of 8th - 12th grade singers from the Madison, WI, is touring around the country this June to share the joy of music! They are celebrating their 25th anniversary and are inviting you to join them for this free concert graciously hosted by St. Luke Lutheran Church. They would love to sing for you!
 
Again, this is a Free Concert! Download a concert flyer here. Freewill donations will be gratefully accepted in support of the St. Luke Youth travelling to the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering in Houston, Texas, in July 2018.

Our Life Together
Lilly Grant Initiative: Grants for Rostered Ministers
Is financial debt distracting you from healthy ministry? Let us invest in you by providing a grant to help you pay off credit card debt, school loans, medical debt, or seminary debt. Join the others who are letting us encourage them. The Ministry Excellence Fund is designed to show the partnership we share so that we will have healthy leaders leading healthy ministries. Go to our RMS Lilly Grant Initiative website to get started with your initial inquiry.
Wartburg Theological Seminary's "Luther Academy of the Rockies"
June 19-29, 2017
Meeker Park Lodge - Allenspark, CO
Registration is NOW OPEN!

Come join us for ten days amid the beautiful Rockies with renowned speakers, engaging and meaningful topics, great conversation, and genuine fellowship!  This opportunity is too great to miss!! Please share this information with others in your Synod. If you need additional information or different formats of the materials in the press packet, please send email Lisamarie Odeen, Director of Communications. 

If you have questions about the retreat, or to register, please see their website, call 563-589-0272, or [email protected]

Faith and Grief Weekend at Highlands Presbyterian Camp and Retreat Center
Friday, June 23, at 7 p.m. to Sunday, June 25, after breakfast

Highlands Presbyterian Camp and Retreat Center of Allenspark CO, in partnership with Faith and Grief Ministries is offering this new program for those who have experienced the death of a spouse, child, parent, sibling, or friends.

As summer approaches, we may find ourselves reflecting on how we have spent fun-filled summers in the past with loved ones and friends. For many who have lost a spouse, parent, sibling, child or friend, these memories can be painful.

Highlands and Faith & Grief Ministries are combining their respective gifts to make this retreat available, providing you a safe venue to wrestle with the dynamics of grief and to experience significant measures of hope and encouragement. Whether you are standing in raw grief, navigating the chaos of grief’s confusion, or recovering from a recent ambush of grief, this retreat is designed for you. Plan to experience comfort through scripture, spiritual practices, and interaction within a compassionate community of men and women who “get it”—get the heartache, get the lingering sorrow, get the continual yearning to be with your loved one, and get the longing for peace.
Scholarships are available. Here are links to a brochure, and costs and registration information. Please contact Steven Bohn, Registrar for questions.
Earn College Credit, Lead, and Serve at the Wartburg College High School Leadership Institute in Denver
Do you know any dynamic students entering their senior year of high school? Invite them to apply for the High School Leadership Institute (HSLI) in Denver, CO (July 31-August 5, 2017) or Waverly, IA (June 25- July 1).

We now have a limited number of tuition waivers available for the Denver-HSLI! That means that we may be able to help cover the cost of the Denver-HSLI for interested students. Apply to the Denver program here or the Waverly program here

Now in its twelfth year, the HSLI is presented by Wartburg College, an ELCA college based in Iowa with programs in Denver, CO. It's an opportunity for students to:
  • Earn college credit (3.5), learn leadership theory, and practice leadership skills. They work with professors and mentors who are current Wartburg College student to learn about leadership, getting out of the classroom and into the community 
  • Give back: Students participate in service opportunities in the local community. At the end of the week each student will propose a service project to implement in their own communities, pursuing issues they're passionate about. We encourage students to draw on the help of community organizations, friends, clubs, teammates, youth groups, etc. to be successful. From art exhibits and dog parks to a fundraiser that lives on today as a nonprofit, students have done incredible work in the past and created a ripple effect that extends far beyond them. 
  • Spend a week in Denver, CO or Waverly, IA. Students stay on the Wartburg College campus or in student apartments in the heart of Denver (Capitol Hill). They'll explore the campus, the city, or the mountains.
  • Get a taste of college life: Students will have the option to present on their projects in a scholarly event on Wartburg's Campus in the fall. Those who attend Wartburg get a $1,000 scholarship annually for 4 years ($4,000 total)
  • Meet people and have fun: Meal, housing, and field trips are included. We'll provide airport or train station pick up in Denver.

For more information about the HSLI visit our website. Please contact Ashley Lang at Wartburg or their general email address with any questions. 
Faith and Science Workshop on Ethical Issues in Human Germ-line Editing
Friday, October 6, 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. 
Saturday, October 7, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.


What is our shared mission as people of science, ethics, and faith? What is the role of recent dialogue regarding germ-line editing of human embryos and in the development of regulations that both promote the alleviation of suffering, and protect the inherent diversity of our planet? 

Join with clergy, theologians, scientists and bioethicists for presentations and conversations in Salt Lake City next October as we engage in a multi-disciplinary exploration of these and other questions facing us today. Keynote speakers include: R. Alta Charo, JD, University of Wisconsin; David Grunwald, PhD, University of Utah; Ted Peters, PhD, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary and Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA; and the Very Rev. Mark Richardson, PhD. the Church Divinity School of the Pacific and Graduate Theological Union; C. Matthew Peterson, MD, University of Utah, Janet L. Williams, MD, LGC, Geisinger Health System, Danville, PA, Hava Tirosh-Samuelson, PhD, Arizona State University.

Early Bird Registration is open now through September 1st. There is a maximum capacity for the workshop, so early registration is encouraged. More information and registration available here.
Deacon Epiphany Gathering for Region 2
Resource Corner
check back each week for a new or featured resource for your congregation
Global Church Guest Speaker
Interested in having a guest preacher or presenter?
Is your congregation celebrating the Global Church this year? Would your congregation like to have a visiting preacher or presenter come and share stories from the Global Church? An ELCA churchwide organization staff member or speaker would be happy to visit. Please email requests to  [email protected].
Copyright Basics
"Just because something is “on google” does not mean that it is free.
The images, text, and video you find there usually are not free – they are copyrighted by the websites that host them.  Thou Shalt Not Steal." 

Pastor David Hanson, Spirit of Joy! in The Woodlands, TX shares his thoughts and tips on copyright basics in his latest blog post.

Child-size Chairs Available
Bethany Lutheran Church has some child-size chairs in various sizes that they are willing to donate to another church. First come, first serve! If you're interested, contact Laura Romig by email or call her at 303-758-2820. 

The selection includes:

  • 22” back with 11” seat  7 blue, 1 red, 16 yellow, 21 green
  • 17” back with 8” seat  8 yellow
  • 21” back with 12” seat  18 yellow, 1 red
  • 25” back with 14” seat  7 red, 1 blue
  • 26” back with 15” seat 1 blue, 4 green, 4 brown, 3 red
Employment Opportunities
New Listings 
Choir Director and Coordinator of Special Music (part-time)
St. Andrew Lutheran Church is seeking a part time Choir Director and Coordinator of Special Music to direct the choir four Sundays a month September through May and to schedule special music for the summer worship services in June, July and August.
Candidates must be willing to keep current with Lutheran liturgical developments and hymnody and must possess a knowledge of appropriate church music (classical, contemporary, folk, gospel, etc.) and the role of music in Lutheran worship.
Requires a Bachelor's degree in music and experience conducting. Salary is $500-$600 per month, commensurate with experience, and includes two weeks paid vacation. For a full job description, click here. Please  email your resume to the attention of Erica. 
Faith Formation Director of Youth
Bethany Lutheran Church in Cherry Hills Village is seeking a full-time Faith Formation Director of Youth to engage and equip youth grades 6-12 for ministry. Please see the  full job description  for more details.
Faith Formation Intern (part-time)
Bethany Lutheran Church is seeking a part-time Faith Formation Intern to support the  Faith Formation Team in overall ministry from  our youngest to our most experienced members. Please see the  full job description  for more details.
All Non-Rostered Positions 
Choir Director and Coordinator of Special Music (part-time)
St. Andrew Lutheran Church - Arvada, CO

Faith Formation Director of Youth
Bethany Lutheran Church - Cherry Hills Village, CO

Faith Formation Intern (part-time)
Bethany Lutheran Church - Cherry Hills Village, CO

Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministry
All Saints Lutheran Church - Albuquerque, NM

ELCA Regional Gift Planner
Rocky Mountain Synod - (home office)

Accompanist/Organist
Trinity Lutheran Church - Boulder, CO

Kindergarten Director
Cross of Christ Lutheran Church - Broomfield, CO

Looking for Compassion, Faith and Nursing
Faith Lutheran Church - Golden, CO

Community Care Coordinator
Faith Lutheran Church - Golden, CO

Faith Community Nurse (Parish Nurse)
Augustana Lutheran Church - Denver, CO

Choir Director and Accompanist (part-time)
Highlands Lutheran Church - Denver, CO

Augustana Arts - Executive Director
Augustana Lutheran Church - Denver, CO

Building Resources Coordinator (part-time)
Faith Lutheran Church - Golden, CO

Director of Children's Education (part-time)
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church - Fort Collins, CO
Office of the Bishop This Week
 
Bishop Gonia
  • Mobility Conference, Sacramento, CA
  • Retirement celebration: Pastor Anne Morawski, Albuquerque, NM
  • Our Savior's, Alamogordo, NM
  • Staff Retreat
Pastor Kent Mueller

  • Mobility Conference, Sacramento, CA
  • Staff Retreat

Ruth Hoffman, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-NM

  • Legislative Health & Human Services Committee
  • NM Assoc. of Food Banks
  • Staff Retreat

Peter Severson, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-CO

  • In-office appointments
  • Staff Retreat
Pastor Judith VanOsdol  
  • Mobility Conference, Sacramento, CA
  • Staff Retreat

Deacon Erin Power

  • RMS Communications
  • Christ, Highlands Ranch, CO
  • Staff Retreat

Pastor Sarah Moening

    • Mobility Conference, Sacramento, CA
    • Staff Retreat

    Quick Links
    Share the News
    Erin Power   Assistant to the Bishop
    Rocky Mountain Synod
     
    800-525-0462 / 303-777-6700 / fax 303-339-4744

    Announcements for eConnection are due before noon on Monday for the issue the following Wednesday. Event announcements are included for about two weeks and should be submitted via the eConnection Submission link above.