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A Reconciling in Christ synod
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Thank You from Your Companions in Madagascar!
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Rev. Albert, director of
Betela Seminary in Madagascar shares his gratitude for the companion synod partnership and support of the Rocky Mountain Synod.
Share this video in your ministry setting to offer a glimpse into church in Madagascar.
Bishop's Trip to Madagascar February 13-24
The bishop's from the 4 ELCA synods that are companions with the Lutheran Church in Madagascar (FLM) will be making a joint trip to visit church leadership and ministries in our companion synods. Joining Bishop Gonia from the Rocky Mountain Synod is Assistant to the Bishop Deacon Erin Power, Synod Council Vice-President Earline Bohling, and Pastor Brad Doty, chair of the RMS Companion Synod Committee.
During their trip the delegation will meet with newly elected FLM President David, as well as with the synod presidents from our
four companion synods, at Betela Seminary. The RMS delegation will be visiting all four synods during their visit. We invite your prayers for all ELCA members going on this trip, for their conversations with our companions, and for the strengthening of our relationship as Church Together.
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Toward Greater Unity
Lutherans, Catholics, and the 'Declaration on the Way'
Livestreamed
Monday, January 30, 7:00 p.m. PST
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Talk by Bishop R. Guy Erwin, Bishop of the Southwest California Synod of the ELCA
California Lutheran University’s Office of Congregational Relations would like to invite you to gather to watch a livestream of a distinguished speaker coming to our campus. We know that this will be great content, so we are making it available for livestreaming and recorded viewing.
We’d like to encourage you to consider sharing this event, inviting people to gather to watch this presentation and/or having a follow up discussion together. If you do gather for this event, please consider sending us photos, or sharing on social media with the hashtag: #CLUconnect.
On Campus and Livestreamed!
Watch the event live at www.callutheran.edu/live
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1921632241400642/
Recording available after the lecture.
Join the conversation on social media: #CLUconnect
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Assembly Deadlines
Nomination deadline is Friday, March 24
The only election this year will be for Synod Council Vice President. The nomination form and information is posted on the assembly webpage.
Ministry Booklet Pages and Display Requests are due Friday, March 24
The on-line request form for exhibitors and ministry booklet pages is posted. The deadline for submitting requests will be March 24. Exhibitors must ALSO register for the assembly in addition to submitting a exhibitor request.
Hotel Reservation deadline is April 4
****Hotel Reservation Link will be available next week****
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Assembly Volunteers Needed
REGISTRATION
(3-4 people)
Registration volunteers should be be available from 10:30-3:00 p.m. on Friday, May 5. Volunteers should not be voting members from their congregations.
REFERENCE AND COUNSEL
(2 people; will serve through 2018 Assembly)
A Reference and Counsel Committee, appointed for each Synod Assembly by the bishop in consultation with the Executive Committee, shall review all proposed changes or additions to the constitution and bylaws and other items submitted which are not germane to items contained in the stated agenda of the Synod Assembly (S7.32.11).
The Reference and Counsel Committee will meet as needed via Webex and email prior to Assembly to review submitted resolutions and memorials, and propose recommendations prior to there being received by the Assembly floor. The Committee will be present at Assembly to present resolutions and memorials to the Assembly floor as well as review any resolutions and memorials brought forth at the Assembly.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN SYNOD ELECTIONS COMMITTEE
(3 people- Denver Metro/Front Range preferred, due to location of 2017 & 2018 Assemblies; will serve through 2018 Assembly)
The Rocky Mountain Synod Elections Committee is responsible for the administration of elections specified in Chapter 9 of the Constitution, Bylaws and Continuing Resolutions of the Rocky Mountain Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
The Elections Committee consists of an Elections Chair appointed by the Assembly Manager and committee members who self-identify or who are recruited because of their interest in, and aptitude for, administration of elections. Committee members shall be appointed for a term of two years, generally beginning in January. The Committee normally meets 2-3 times per year, and Committee members attend Synod Assemblies as non-voting staff.
Full Election Committee description
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Stories from our Global Church
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When
clichés come true
Micaela is a Young Adult in Global Mission volunteer serving in Argentina this year. In her recent blog she reflected on her time in Argentina thus far, writing: “Through these moments of intentional community, I have found myself receiving far more from my host communities than I could ever imagine giving back to them, and that is more valuable to me than any project I could imagine completing here. I am not only accompanying them but they are accompanying me too, and that is truly beautiful.” Read more from her year and learn about the ways in which Micaela’s community has taught her the importance of relationships and “being.”
Download or subscribe to ELCA Global Links Monthly Newsletter
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Are You Up for the ELCA World Hunger's 40 Days of Giving Challenge?
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The success of last year’s 40 Days of Giving campaign has given rise to version 2.0. All congregations are invited to join in the ELCA World Hunger’s 40 Days of Giving through prayer, education and financial support. Together, our goal for 2017 is to raise $1.5 million during Lent.
The resource packet has already arrived in church offices and homes of congregational hunger contacts. Special resources include the 2017 Lent devotional flip calendar, a Lenten Study and children’s resource for a multi-generational education series, and lots of ideas for setting goals and having fun reaching them!
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Installations
Pastor Stacy Dougherty
Tabor, Pueblo, CO
Saturday, February 5, 5:00p.m.
Color of the Day: Red
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Island of Palms, SC
Bishop Jim Gonia
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RMS Prayer Cycle
January 2017
Metro West
Conference
Week of January 29
United Church of the San Juans
Ridgway, CO
Leslie Wood (PCUSA)
Zion
Montrose, CO
Michael Rime
Zion
Idaho Springs, CO
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-from The Church of the Multiplication
Tabgha, Israel
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Prayer of the Day: Sunday, January 29
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Power and wisdom are sometimes confusing for us, especially in our current culture. We ask God to help us better understand humility, the nature of wisdom and true strength as exemplified by the teachings, example and sacrifice of Jesus.
Join us in daily prayer:
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Global Church Sunday Celebration!
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4500 Wadsworth Blvd., Wheat Ridge, CO
Sunday, February 12
The Rocky Mountain Synod is celebrating Global Church
Sunday
and the Holy Cross Health Cabinet invites you to join in for our annual outreach fundraiser lunch at
12 noon
in Asel Hall. Pulled pork is on the menu.
The recipient of our free will offering will be a Global Health Ministry (GHM) project in southern Madagascar, the renovation of Ejeda hospital. Special guest for that day will be the Rev. Doug Cox, Minneapolis, executive director of GHM. He will preach at both services (8:15 and 10:45), conduct the adult education forum at 9:30, and also host a special Global Poverty Experience suitable for all ages following lunch from 1:30-3:00 p.m.
This will be a very special day! We hope you can make time to participate. Please RSVP to Mary Kvamme at 303-421-8392 by Feb. 5 if you plan to attend.
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Open House and Dedication of Remodeled Worship Center
Sunday, January 29 - 12:00 to 4:00 p.m.
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Join us in blessing our newly remodeled worship center!
- Worship Services
8:15 a.m. and 10:40 a.m.
- Faith Formation for all ages
9:30 a.m.
- Pot-Luck Lunch and Open House
11:45-1:30 p.m.
(Bring a dish to share) table service and drinks provided.
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Prepare/Enrich Facilitator Training offered at Bethany Lutheran Church
Friday, February 3 -
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
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Bethany Lutheran Church in Cherry Hills, CO is offering Prepare/Enrich training, which is the leading relationship inventory and skill building program used by clergy and counselors nationally and internationally. It is used in premarital counseling and marriage enrichment or marriage counseling. This training teaches proficiency in the Prepare/Enrich program and certifies Facilitators to administer the assessment, interpret reports, and give feedback using skill building exercises.
To register or for more information please contact Beth Walker at 720-352-9915, or email, or visit the Prepare/Enrich website.
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Join the Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-NM Advocacy Network!
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The NM state legislature convened on January 17. Click here to join the LAM-NM Advocacy Network and receive Updates and Alerts. Or click here for more information.
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New Mexico Youth Retreat
Friday, February 10 through Saturday, February 11
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"The Amazing Race Borderlands: Season 3"
Congregations in the Northern New Mexico and Border Conferences are invited to create teams of youth (and adult drivers) for an event like no other! If you are familiar with the popular tv show The Amazing Race then you have a little bit of an idea of what this event will entail. This year's event will be
hosted by
Peace Lutheran in Las Cruces and will include community building activities, food, fun, fellowship, worship, and, of course, a race like no other! Are you ready to RACE?
Registration will take place online (by congregation). Visit
HERE
for more information and a link to the registration page.
Contact
Deacon Laura Carson, Border Conference Faith Formation Coordinator, for more information or call
575-522-7119 ext. 17.
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We Must Pray for Christian Unity – Together!
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The Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity, which begins on January 18, the Feast of St. Peter, and ends on January 25, the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, invites the whole Christian community throughout the world to pray in communion with the prayer of Jesus: “that they all may be one” (John 17:21).
As brothers and sisters in Christ, we are called to participate in the opportunities offered to promote understanding. As we pray with our fellow Christians, we renew our commitment to work for the unity Christ expects from his disciples.
The theme for 2017 Week of Prayer
is “Reconciliation–The Love of Christ Compels Us”
(2 Corinthians 5:14-20)
All are welcome and encouraged to attend any of these events:
- Wednesday, January 25, at 6:30 p.m.- a Bilingual Ecumenical Prayer Service at Camino de Vida Presbyterian Church, 3907 Isleta Blvd SW Albuquerque, NM 87105. Please call New Mexico Conference of Churches 505-243-6234.
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9100 Menaul Blvd. NE
Albuquerque, NM
Sunday, January 29 at 3:00 p.m.
Rocky Mountain Synod Bishop Jim Gonia and Archbishop John Wester of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe will jointly preside at a service of Common Prayer to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation which occurs in 2017. The liturgy will highlight the agreements that have been reached through fifty years of dialogue between Catholics and Lutherans on topics such as the Church, Ministry and the Eucharist. Members of local Lutheran and Catholic parishes also will share in leading the January 29 service. People of all faith traditions are welcome!
This will be the first of seven joint prayer services around the Rocky Mountain Synod in 2017.
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2017 Bishop's Annual Legislative Luncheon & Issues Briefing
Santa Fe, NM
January 31, 2017
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You are invited: The morning Issues Briefing will be at the United Church of Santa Fe at 1804 Arroyo Chamiso, near Christ Lutheran Church.
Registration and refreshments will begin at 9:00 a.m. The Bishop's Legislative Luncheon will be at 12:30 p.m. in La Terraza at La Fonda Hotel (100 East San Francisco).
The cost of the luncheon is $35 per person. The cost is reduced to $30 when 4 or more people attend from your congregation or group. If you are only able to attend the morning Issues Briefing, the cost is $10.
Deadline for reservations is January 27. Please make reservations by calling the Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-NM office at 505-984-8005 or sending an email.
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The Solar Eclipse is Coming to Casper, Wyoming!
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Grace Lutheran Church would like to invite you, your youth group or intergenerational group to join us as we celebrate this celebration of light and absence of light. We have room for 40 people to stay in our church (which does not have showers) and join the parking lot party on
August 21
, the day of the eclipse. For more information, or to make reservations, please call Kim at
307-235-6329
.
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Host a Reformation 500 Bookstore!
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Get over 15 free books on the Reformation for your church!
Host a Reformation 500 Bookstore at your church this spring and introduce your congregation to engaging and affordable resources on the Reformation while growing your church library!
Educate your church on the history of the Reformation, Martin Luther’s writings, and their impact on Christianity today.
Sign your church up to host a Reformation 500 Bookstore—
it’s simple, educational, and FREE!
Hurry, SIGN UP NOW, the deadline is February 15!
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"Reforming Congregations Through Engaging in Our Community" Workshops
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Friday, March 10
1:00-4:30 p.m. and 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Saturday March 11
9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Led by: Rocky Mountain Synod (Bishop Jim Gonia),
ELCA Domestic Mission Unit (Rev. Susan Engh),
Together Colorado, and
FRESC (Front Range Economic Strategy Center)
Workshop for Congregations to learn the value of Community Organizing and how it can contribute to the
renewal of your congregation. This workshop will be focused on teams from Congregations and empowering them to begin to do this work of community engagement.
Topics for the Workshop include:
- Charity vs. Justice
- Relational Organizing
- Structural Change
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Accepting Applications for 2017-2018 Year of Service!
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Service! Intentional Community! Simplicity! Spirituality! Urban Servant Corps is a year-long, full-time volunteer program affiliated with the ELCA, that allows for personal growth and professional development -- if you or someone you know are asking, "what's next?!" this could be the answer you were looking for!
Urban Servant Corps volunteers live in intentional community with other full time volunteers and serve at a non-profit organization providing direct service. Food, housing, health insurance, a monthly stipend and an annual "growth and development" allotment are provided. Are you dedicated to social justice and a simpler way of life? Do you hope to explore your faith? Do you want to gain experience in the non-profit/service field? Come to Urban Servant Corps! Contact
Krista for more information, and
a
pply at the
Urban Servant Corps website
. Priority deadline is March 1.
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Youth
Application for Youth Discipleship Team Reformation Road Trip
Due February 15
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To commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, the
Youth Discipleship Team (YDT) is going on a summer road trip, stopping in eight different cities across the five states of the Rocky Mountain Synod. The trip will take place July 9 through July 16. In each city, we will include an evening program with interactive activities, a ministry fair, a local excursion, a meal, and worship. Our goal is to is to network the youth of the RMS, to grow a great connection with our Lutheran Roots, and to embody the YDT mission of
"Youth empowering youth to be world shakers: Accompany, Grow, Love."
Want to join in on the fun?! YDT is currently accepting applications for youth participants from across the RMS to join the trip. While spots are limited, our hope is to have individuals from every conference as part of the experience. More information can be found on the
Youth Application, by email to
YDT, or by contacting
Pastor Paul Judson, YDT Advisor.
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Resource Corner
check back each week for a new or featured resource for your congregation
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Reflections from the Border
Imagine – a family of 4, a salary of $50.00 per week, walking more than a mile to carry fresh water home, one hospital for 3+ million people. This sounds like a far-off place in Africa or Syria. In reality it is less 650 miles from Denver in Juarez, Mexico.
I recently participated in a Region 2 Global Mission Event in El Paso, Texas. Region 2 in the ELCA is the three synods of California, the Grand Canyon Synod, and our own Rocky Mountain Synod. Groups from each of these synods met at Iglesia Luterana Cristo Rey where Pr. Rose Mary Sanchez Guzman was our host and guide into the world of immigrants from Mexico and Central America. Do you know that there are 92 verses in the Bible that talk about “welcoming the stranger”?
Read Earline Bohling's full reflection
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Immigrants & Refugees in the Bible
The concept of the non-citizen living among us is huge in the Bible; its importance cannot possibly be underestimated. Furthermore, there are very clear guidelines on the treatment of these immigrants.
Why is Jesus so concerned about strangers? Is it because he is immersed in the Scriptures? Is it because he himself was once a stranger in a foreign land? Is it because he feels like a visitor in this world?
The NRSV and NIV English Bibles do not use the words “immigrant,” “migrant,” or “sojourner.” The NRSV uses “alien” the most, but also “foreigner” and “stranger.” Combined, the NRSV uses these terms 232 times. The NIV prefers “foreigner,” using it 146 times, but also “stranger” and “alien.”
Read more from Bishop Mike Rinehart, Golf Coast Synod
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Non-rostered positions available
Organist/Pianist, part-time
St. Philip Lutheran Church - Littleton, CO
ELCA Regional Gift Planner
Rocky Mountain Synod
Executive Office Manager (temporary)
Saint Paul Community of Faith - Denver, CO
Director of Faith Formation
Christ the Servant Lutheran Church - Louisville, CO
Parish Nurse
Faith Lutheran Church - Golden, CO
Accompanist/Organist
Trinity Lutheran Church - Boulder, CO
Youth Leader
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church - Littleton, CO
Church Organist/Accompanist
King of Kings Lutheran Church - Pueblo, CO
Chancel Choir Director
King of Kings Lutheran Church - Pueblo, CO
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Office of the Bishop This Week
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Bishop Gonia
- All Staff Meeting
- St. Timothy, Albuqueque, NM
- Lutheran-Catholic Prayer Service, Albuquerque, NM
- NM Advocacy Bishop's Legislative Luncheon
- NM Rostered Minister's Retreat
Pastor Kent Mueller
- Candidacy meetings
- All Staff Meeting
- Lutheran Center Administration
Ruth Hoffman, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-NM
- Legislative Session
- Plaza del Monte
- Lutheran-Catholic Prayer Service
Peter Severson, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-CO
- Legislative Session
- All Staff Meeting
- Interfaith Alliance
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Pastor Judith VanOsdol
- Our Saviors, Denver
- Christ the King, Denver, CO
- Latino Worshiping Community West Denver
- Episcopal Diocese of Colorado
- Aurora Area Ministry Strategy
- Administration for New Sites/ Redevelopment
- All Staff Meeting
Deacon Erin Power
- Synod Assembly Planning
- All Staff Meeting
- Colorado Council of Churches
- LFS Winter Gathering, Albuquerque, NM
- Bethlehem, Los Alamos, NM
- Lutheran-Catholic Prayer Service, Albuquerque, NM
Pastor Sarah Moening
- All Staff Meeting
- Cross of Christ, Broomfield, CO
- Our Savior's, Greeley, CO
Andy Sprain
- All Staff Meeting
- First Third of Life
- Colorado Council of Churches
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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.
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