A Reconciling in Christ synod
Churchwide Assembly  Highlights, Part 1
Report of the Presiding Bishop - ELCA Churchwide Assembly
Report of the Presiding Bishop - ELCA Churchwide Assembly
"In baptism we have all been marked with the cross of Christ, and we are all called not to run away, but to run to those dark and deadly places, bringing the light and life of Christ," said Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton in her report to the ELCA Churchwide Assembly.  Watch Full Report 

ELCA elects vice president
William B. Horne II of St. Paul's in Clearwater, Florida was elected vice president of the ELCA by the 2016 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. Horne was elected on the fourth ballot with 565 votes to 175 votes for Cheryl G. Stuart and 161 votes for Becky Blue. 
"First of all, thanks be to God," says Horne addressing the assembly following the election. "I really believe that the Spirit has been with us all of our assembly, and especially during the election process. I want to thank you all for your discipline and your support." Read more.

ELCA approves Word and Service roster
The 2016 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, by a vote of 811 to 55, approved adoption of the roster of Ministry of Word and Service. Beginning January 1, 2017, associates in ministry, deaconesses of the ELCA, and diaconal ministers will be a single, unified roster of Ministry of Word and Service. The accompanying constitutional amendments related to the roster were also considered and approved by the assembly.  Read more
 
Additional reports and actions taken by the assembly can be found  HERE


News and Events
Theological Conference Registration Deadline is August 24!
The deadline for the 2016 Theological Conference is August 24. This year's focus is on Faith Formation.

Scholarships are available. Send email to  Erin Power to request a scholarship.


Portico announces 2017 rates, cost-saving way to deliver health benefits

Portico Benefit Services' board of trustees voted to approve Portico's recommended 2017 contribution rates, as well as innovative changes designed to limit the growth of health care cost increases. 

As the next step in the ELCA wellness reformation, Portico is introducing a new way to deliver health benefits. Starting in 2017, ELCA-Primary plan members will have access to care coordinators who can help them use their health benefits with an eye to both quality and cost.  Continue reading...


For Your Bulletin
Bulletin Blurb
August's Connection Newsletter is available as a bulletin insert
Connection, replacing the Landscape Newsletter, was mailed out last week.  A PDF version is ava ilable from the RMS Website.  Please insert it into your bulletin and share our stories!  
 
 
Installations   

Sunday, August 21 at 1 p.m. 
Christ Lutheran Church 
Cheyenne, WY 
Pastor Rebecca Aardahl
Color of the day:  green

Sunday, August 21 at 5 p.m.
Shepherd of the Valley
La Salle, CO 
Pastor Wendy Kalan 
Color of the day:  green

 
Retirement Celebration

Sunday, August 21 at 9:30 a.m. 
Pastor Patricia L. Holman
St Paul Lutheran Church
Albuquerque, NM


 
RMS Prayer Cycle

August 2016
North Colorado Conference

8/21
Our Saviour"s, Fort Collins, CO
Michael Stadtmueller, Leta Behrens

Peace, Akron, CO
Dan Hays

Peace, Sterling, CO

Shepherd of the Hills, Fort Collins, CO
Dana Peterson

Prayer of the Day
O God, mighty and immortal, you know that as fragile creatures surrounded by great dangers, we cannot by ourselves stand upright. Give us strength of mind and body, so that even when we suffer because of human sin, we may rise victorious through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. 
Around the Synod
Faith and Grief Brunch in Coal Creek Canyon

On Saturday, August 27 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.,  Spirit of the Mountain LC will host a Faith and Grief Brunch at the Coal Creek Canyon Improvement Association (CCCIA) Hall located at: 31528 CO-72, Golden, CO 80403.

This brunch comforts the bereaved through fellowship and breaking bread together. The speaker will share where in her experience her Faith has intersected with Grief. 

No charge to attend, but reservations are required. RSVP to Jim or Cathy Monkman at (303)731-5803. 

More information regarding this ministry is available at Faith and Grief.


CU-Boulder Student Mentor Orientation

In two short weeks 30,000 students will descend on Boulder. With their return we'll begin our third year of El Camino Colorado; our mentor-based program to help students discern the studies, careers, and lives to which God has called them. Students are paired with a non-student mentor (you) who meets with them once a month on their own and also with the larger group. 

If you're interested in learning more about this year's program (or know someone who might be a great mentor) get Sunday, September 11th, 4:30 p.m. at St. Aidan's on your calendar for this year's mentor orientation. We'll talk about what we've learned and what the program will look like this year. For more info.

Hops for Hunger 2016

Hops for Hunger, an annual fundraiser for childhood hunger, is right around the corner! Join us on Saturday, August 20 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Pateros Creek Brewing Co. and CopperMuse Distillery (242 N College Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80524)!
Hops for Hunger is a family-friendly event - and 100% of all food/funds collected goes directly to KidsPak (www.lovelandrotarykidspak.com) and McBackPack (http://www.mcbackpack.org/).

There will be a beer garden, carnival games, bouncy house, dunk tank, and hy-strykers, as well as face painting and other activities for the kids. $1 of every beer or cocktail sold goes directly to feeding hungry kids! Mark your calendars! Non-perishable food items, cash, checks, and credit card donations will also be accepted onsite - admission is free!

Eboo Patel visits Lutheran Campus Ministry
on Tuesday, August 23, 7:00 p.m. at the UC-Boulder, University Memorial Center. 

Eboo Patel is a leading voice in the movement for interfaith cooperation and the Founder and President of Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC), a national nonprofit working to make interfaith cooperation a social norm. Spend an evening with Eboo Patel as he gives an interfaith perspective on the work students have come to CU to pursue.
Border Conference Youth participated in a week-long Mission Trip in Cortez, CO.

During their experience, youth and leaders helped lead a daily Kids Club, visited a nursing home, and did various work projects for community members in need.
Our Life Together
Special Investment Rate offer from Mission Investment Fund

For a limited time, MIF is offering special rates on two popular Term Investments:

3.00% (APY*) for the 6-year MIF Fixed-Rate Term Investment
2.10% (APY*) for the 4-year MIF Fixed-Rate Term Investment

 
MIF’s rates are available for all new 6-year and 4-year MIF Fixed-Rate Term Investments (with a minimum investment of $1,000) as well as the balances on maturing 6-year and 4-year MIF Fixed-Rate Term Investments. 
Visit the MIF website or email Regional Manager Dan Carlson for more information.    
Re*Connection Picnic and Worship for Church Leaders
Saturday, August 27, 11:00 a.m.
Rocky Mountain Lake Park, Denver

Re*Connection: Worship for Clergy and Other Servant Leaders is a ministry of Sacred Stones Ministries, Inc., hosting monthly gatherings for pastors, church staff, and others whose leadership roles make it difficult for them to participate as worshipers or as church members on a weekly basis.

The Re*Connection Picnic is a family-friendly event. Sacred Stones Ministries will provide the basics, participants  are invited to bring a side dish or dessert.

Re*Connection Worship will resume on Friday, September 16.  Services will take place at 11:00 a.m. the third Friday of each month from September to December at the Evanston Center for Spiritual Wholeness and Healing, 2122 S. Lafayette St., Denver.

Eco-Reformation resources from Lutherans Restoring Creation  

What Would Luther do?  

Well, it's coming up to 2017 and we are all recalling our reforming ring-leader's actions. Along with the ever-growing list of resources on our Eco-Reformation page we need updates about what is going on in YOUR SYNODS! It's up to you to tell us: we've heard bubblings of tree-planting efforts, retreats, special gardens, etc. Please send us contacts/fliers etc. so we can share - inspire - celebrate!  

Worship--Seasons of Creation 2016 is Ready for YOU! Many thanks to Pr. Nick Utphall for tending to this resource and to Rev. Dr. Neddy H. Astudillo and Pr. Migdaleder Mazuera for translation help - we have most of the Seasons of Creation now in Spanish too! Check it out and SHARE 

Eco-Reformation: Grace & Hope for a Planet in Peril 
Forthcoming from Cascade Books - Edited by Lisa Dahill & James Martin-Schramm 
   
Ministry Renewal: Moments of Meaning, Connecting the Dots toward Vital and Authentic Ministry  
Friday, Sept 24, 2016; 8:30-3:30 pm & 
Saturday, Sept 25, 2016; 8:30-3 pm

Consecutive Two-Day Clergy Retreat
Join others in ministry for our unique 'day retreat' format as we consider where we are enlivened and what we are being called toward in our ministries.

Activities and personal reflections will relate to identifying individual moments of meaning and reconnecting to the still small voice that guides us and sustains us in ministry. 
  • Led by Shani Jones and Schawn Kellogg.
  • $60 for both days, includes lunch.
Sponsored by the Institute for Life & Care, whose mission is to strengthen those who serve others. 
Generous donor funding keeps participant cost low! 
Institute location is 7935 E Prentice Ave, Suite 111, Greenwood Village, CO 80111
Questions, email: [email protected] 

Employment Opportunities
 
Non-rostered positions available

Bookkeeper (part-time )
St. Luke Lutheran Church - Albuquerque, NM

Organist/Accompanist 
Lord of the Mountains Lutheran Church, Dillon, CO

Organist/Accompanist
Lutheran Church of Hope, Broomfield, CO
 

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


Office of the Bishop this week
 
Bishop Gonia
  • Bethlehem, Los Alamos NM
  • Candidacy Committee
  • Closing Worship-Rainbow Trail
  • Installation for Rebecca Aardahl
  • Installation for Wendy Kalan 
  • All Staff Meeting
  • Deans' WebEx
Pastor Kent Mueller
  • RMS Administration
  • Candidacy meetings

Ruth Hoffman, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-NM

  • NM Assoc. of Food Banks Bd 
  • NM Conference of Churches Bd
 
Pastor Sarah Moening  
  • Transitions meetings & interviews
  • Trinity Lutheran, Fort Collins, CO
  • Risen Lord, Conifer, CO
  • Conference Coordinators
  • Bethlehem, Los Alamos NM
  • All Saints Albuquerque, NM
  • All Staff Meeting
  • Deans WebEx

Erin Power, Diaconal Minister

  • RMS website and communication
  • SE Colorado Conference Gathering
  • Theological Conference Planning
  • All Staff Meeting

Peter Severson, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-CO

  • YAGM Orientation, Chicago, IL


 Pastor Judith VanOsdol

  • New Beginnings Prison Ministry
  • Bethel Lutheran Church, Aurora, CO
  • Rejoice Lutheran Church, Erie, CO
  • Camino de Vida, Albuquerque, NM
  •  African Refugee Church at St. Timothy, Albuquerque, NM
  • Well of Hope, Castle Pines, CO
  • Holy Spirit, Centennial, CO
  • Mustard Seed, Ft. Collins, CO
Quick Links
 
Erin Power    Assistant to the Bishop
Maria Sutton  , Communication Assistant 
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 link above.