Encourage your pastor or deacon to attend Theological Conference!

Monday, September 16, 4:00 p.m. - Thursday, September 19, 12:00 p.m. at Ghost Ranch

Theological Conference is an opportunity for leaders of the Rocky Mountain Synod to gather in community for learning, inspiration, and some fun!

Walking What Jesus Talked About

A Rocky Mountain Synod Education Event

for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Event postponed

Stay-tuned for new dates this fall

National Youth Gathering Update 

It's almost time for the 2024 Gathering in New Orleans! The MYLE and tABLE events begin tomorrow, July 13th, and the Gathering begins on July 16th. Please continue to hold Gathering staff and volunteers, youth and leaders, bus drivers and pilots, ALL of the people who will be in attendance or connected to the event in your prayers

If your congregation is planning a sending service, you can find the commissioning services from the Gathering HERE.

Watch the live stream of the Mass Gatherings HERE. 

Office Clerk Position at the Office of the Bishop

Do you know someone looking for a part-time flexible position?

We are seeking a part-time Office Clerk to assist operations staff with basic clerical functions. The main focus will be accounts payable, cash receipts, filing, and reconciliations. The position will require 10-12 hours per week on-site at the Office of the Bishop.

Click HERE to view the job description

Update from Border Servant Corps

Thank you for your support, advocacy, and contributions -- you made a difference!

Border Servant Corps' EFSP-H funding extended through September 2024 to continue to support the ministry of welcome for newly-arrived migrants in El Paso and New Mexico.

We cannot express our gratitude enough – many, many thanks! 🙏

Kari Lenander

Executive Director

For more information on BSC click HERE

Latine Ministry Workshop from Wartburg Theological Seminary

You are invited to join a group of learners and practitioners wanting to enhance their cultural and ministry competence to help start or strengthen Latine, Bilingual, or Multi-Ethnic worshipping communities. This virtual 10-hour workshop will explore core principles, proven resources, and current ministry initiatives among the diversity of Latine primary audiences.

Download an informational flyer here.

On Sunday, Sept. 8, congregations of the ELCA will join together for an annual day of service, “God’s work. Our hands.” This day is an opportunity to celebrate who we are as the ELCA — one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor. 

As you explore opportunities to participate in your community, explore these resources to plan and promote your day, including:

• Planning toolkit.
• Worship resources.
• Slides for projection screens or online worship.
• Posters and social media graphics.
• Promotional banners.

This year we also celebrate 50 years of ELCA World Hunger and 40 years of RMS Advocacy ministries. In commemoration of these milestones, consider including ministries focused on alleviating hunger and poverty in your plans for “God’s work. Our hands.” Or make it a season of service!

Expand your volunteer opportunities, advocacy efforts or food drives until World Food Day on Oct. 16.

For more information on RMS Advocacy, please contact Peter Severson HERE and/or Kurt Rager HERE

Saturday, September 28th

Healthy Congregations Workshop

with the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center.

Save the Date! Pass the word!

Healthy Congregations workshop, Saturday, September 28th, First Lutheran Church, Longmont. This workshop is open to anyone interested in any denomination or synagogue. More registration materials to come in August.

Healthy Congregations uses the insights of Bowen Family Systems theory to help church leaders become more effective stewards of their congregations. This workshop was developed by Dr. Peter Steinke and is based on the work of Dr. Edwin Friedman, author of Generation to Generation: Family Process in Church and Synagogue. The Healthy Congregations workshop is designed to equip leaders to respond to the presence or potential threat of anxiety in a congregational system in ways that prevent destructive conflict and help the church stay focused on its unique mission and purpose.

• Learn how you as a leader can positively influence the health your congregation
• Learn how to keep anxiety from being infectious
• Gain confidence in responding to challenges and opportunities
• Learn how to limit invasive behavior, manage reactivity, and overcome sabotage Learn to focus on strengths, resources, options, and the future.

Who Will Benefit:

• Clergy who are interested in learning a proactive approach to managing anxiety in their church
• Church lay leaders who want to gain confidence in their position and how to best manage challenges
• Anyone interested in learning how to manage oneself and become a positive representative of the church

Hosted by Rev. Jay Wittmeyer, who is the Executive Director of the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center. Jay is an educator, organizational development consultant, and mediator with

broad experience, serving conflicted churches and organizations in the U.S. and

international settings. Grounded in an Anabaptist peace-building tradition and working from a Bowen family systems perspective, LMPC works to transform conflict in a healthy manner.

Summer 2024 Updates from Portico 

Staying On Track with Retirement Planning

The idea of retirement can bring up many questions and emotions. Portico offers a series of 30-minute, prerecorded, online workshops called the Retirement Readiness Series to help ELCA Retirement Plan members feel confident about discerning their next steps. Workshops are easily accessible on myPortico. There’s no need to preregister — just sign in and watch. What to go deeper? Schedule a conversation with a Portico Financial Planner to understand more about where you are now and how to ensure you’ll reach your retirement goals. 

Time for a Mid-Year Checkup?

One of the best ways to stay healthy is to get regular checkups, vaccinations, and screenings. Preventive care is not only essential for maintaining overall health, it’s also one of the best ways to catch unknown health issues early. An annual preventive exam is part of your ELCA-Primary health coverage and this video can help you maximize the time with your doctor so you can live, work, and serve well.

Questions? contact Andrea Arey HERE

Safe Church Training Opportunity

(In-Person)

July 27, 9:00-1:00 pm, at Grace & St. Stephen's, Colorado Springs. We will cover the four Safe Church, Safe Communities Universal Training courses: Introduction & Theological Background, Organizational Rules & Polices, Healthy Boundaries, and Inclusion. This is a great opportunity for individuals seeking group discussion and sharing around these important topics.

The training is appropriate for individuals needing to obtain or renew Safe Church certification in these courses. Note: Depending on your ministry area, additional courses may be required, which can be taken online at any time.

Presiding Bishop Eaton's Message on the War in Gaza

Dear church, for eight horrific months war has raged in Gaza. Thousands of people have died, and thousands more are suffering. In recent days we have seen unspeakable images of violence in Rafah and escalating violence in the West Bank. Like the prophet Isaiah, we lament, “How long, O Lord?” (Isaiah 6:11). At times a just peace for Palestinians and Israelis doesn’t seem possible, yet as Christians we believe that it is. The psalmist assures us that God “makes wars cease to the end of the earth” (Psalm 46:9). At times it seems that there is nothing we can do, yet through baptism God calls us to be peacemakers.

Read the full statement HERE

Sumud: A Request for Advocacy

From the ELCA's Sumud (formerly Peace Not Walls), comes a request for advocacy regarding bills that are currently under consideration by the Senate regarding the tax-exempt status of organizations that "support terrorism." The terms of the bill have been applied subjectively and indiscriminately in attempts to revoke the tax-exempt status of organizations that have advocated for Palestinian rights.

Read more; take action now.

Livestream LSM 2024 throughout July!

Lutheran Summer Music invites you to livestream over 30 inspiring concerts, recitals, and worship services throughout the entire month of July. Performances and services are shared by over 250 students, faculty, fellows, worship staff, and guest artists who come together to create a vibrant community of music-makers. Click HERE to explore the schedule and access the livestream and video archive. You won't want to miss this! 

Graduate Theological Education for Everyday People

Iliff School of Theology has offered graduate level education for more than 125 years through a range of degree programs. Now, through TIER, Iliff is bringing its unique approach to theological education to the public with a series of summer courses that offer our world-class teaching outside of a traditional degree program.

TIER is designed for people considering a graduate degree, people in ministry and community leadership who want to dive deeper into study, or anyone who is ready to transform their understanding of religion and spirituality. TIER allows you to innovate your approach to your life’s biggest challenges and to realize the truths that matter most to you.

Learn more about Tier HERE

Transform your understanding of religion and spirituality.

Innovate your approach to life’s biggest challenges.

Explore your beliefs and the beliefs of others.

Realize the truths that matter most to you.

Caffeinated Church Conference September 9-12, 2024

Denver, CO

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

• Church Administrators
• Communication Directors
• Pastors/Clergy & Lay Ministry Leaders
• Volunteers involved in church management

We are excited to announce an in-person conference, September 9-12, 2024! Early Bird Registration is $250 (through April 30!) and no membership to Caffeinated Church is required to attend. And if you are a church with an Average Sunday Attendance (ASA) of less than 100, you will receive 50% off your registration. We are excited to gather together

ELCA Mission Support Memo

In our July 2024 ELCA Mission Support Memo Prince of Peace Evangelical August Lutheran Church in Bangor, Pa reminds us all that with dedicated leaders and faith, any congregation can reach out and meet community needs. Their POP's Treasures Thrift Boutique offers folks a place to share their treasures, shares these with those in need, opens a way to volunteer, plus donates profits to commuity needs. Treasures Abound! Don't miss out on participating in a free Grantwriting for Congregations webinar on August 19^th - check it out in the memo. Finally, we share our deep gratitude for God's mighty creation. Find the memo here too! 

If you want to access in other ways, attached is both a .pdf and in Word .doc. Each memo is also added to the Living Lutheran SOFIA site under a NEW tab on the far right called 'Memos' ~ 2024 Memos at https://www.livinglutheran.org/sofia/ ~ you can also access the Stewardship Newsletter at this tab too! 

As always, we cherish hearing about the inspiring stories in your synods, regions and congregations - feel free to reach out to Karen at karen.kretschmann@elca.org.

We are grateful for the work with and among each other that bring such incredible stories. These stories allow us to share Christ among us and live out the amazing generosity of Mission Support that makes so much of this ministry happen — together.