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January 16, 2024
Minneapolis Area Synod, ELCA Enews
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Night Songs: The stunning projections of the night sky | |
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An evening of music and poetry features the choirs of University Lutheran Church of Hope, Grace University Lutheran, First Congregational Church of Minnesota, University Baptist Church, Vocal U, and other metro area singers and instrumentalists. Come listen to beautiful music under stunning projections of the night sky!
Friday, February 9; 7:30 p.m.
University Lutheran Church of Hope
601 13th Avenue SE, Minneapolis
The event is free and open to the public.
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Expanded grant program for sacred spaces | |
The National Fund for Sacred Places is a grant-making program that provides capital grants, as well as wrap-around support services, to congregations undertaking once-in-a-generation preservation projects.
The National Fund is now awarding a limited number of grants of up to $500,000 each year. In addition to this increase in available grant funding, Partners for Sacred Places has adjusted its matching funds requirement. Now, grantees requesting between $50,000 and $175,000 must raise a 1:1 match, while requests above $175,000 require a 2:1 match. Previously, all requests above $100,000 required a 2:1 match.
Letters of intent (LOIs) are being accepted until Thursday, February 29, at 11:59 EST. The LOI is the first step in a two-step application process. To access the LOI form, go to fundforsacredplaces.org/apply.
An information session will be held on Thursday, February 1, at 11:00 a.m.
To register
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Nominate students for Lutheran Summer Music | |
Each year, the primary way that music students find their way to Lutheran Summer Music (LSM) is through the encouragement of their church musician! LSM offers opportunities for musicians of all kinds: brass, winds, strings, percussion, piano, organ, voice, harp, guitar, handbells, and more! Students receive advanced musical instruction through large ensembles (festival choir, band, and orchestra), chamber music, private lessons with collegiate-level faculty, and elective classes.
In the evenings, students attend recitals, Evening Prayer services, and social events with their friends. LSM 2024 takes place at Valparaiso University in Indiana from June 30 - July 28 (full session) or June 30 - July 14 (half session) and is open to students who have completed grades 8 - 12.
Know a musical young person who would thrive at LSM? Nominate them today at LSMacademy.org/nominate.
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Rev. Barbara Lundblad named 2024 Fosdick lecturer | |
Augsburg University Campus Ministry has announced that the Rev. Barbara Lundblad has been selected as the keynote speaker for the Seventh Annual Fosdick Lecture on Preaching. Lundblad, the Joe R. Engle Professor of Preaching Emerita at Union Theological Seminary, will speak on the theme "Shall the Christian Nationalists Win?" (This title is an homage to one of Harry Emerson Fosdick's well-known sermons: "Shall the Fundamentalists Win?")
Thursday, February 29; 10:00 a.m.
Hoversten Chapel, Augsburg University
Livestream available
Lundblad is the author of two books, Transforming the Stone: Preaching through Resistance to Change (2010) and Marking Time: Reaching Biblical Stories in Present Tense (2007). She is a retired rostered minister in the ELCA and served as parish pastor in New York City for 17 years.
For more information
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Augsburg Fortress offers devotional for Lent | |
Gathered into One provides daily devotions for each day from Ash Wednesday to the Resurrection of Our Lord/Vigil of Easter (traditionally known as Holy Saturday). Devotions begin with an evocative image and a brief passage from First Corinthians. The writers then bring their diverse voices and pastoral wisdom to the texts with quotations to ponder, reflections, and prayers.
The apostle Paul writes this letter to the church in Corinth after hearing of quarreling and divisions among the people. He teaches the Corinthians that each person has a unique set of gifts from the Holy Spirit, given for the common good, and reminds them that the church is the body of Christ, joined together with one bread, one cup, one baptism, one God, and one Spirit. This theme of unity amid diversity is as timely now as it was when Paul wrote to the Corinthians.
Also available in Large Print and eBook versions. You can purchase from a variety of booksellers, but quantity discounts are only available at augsburgfortress.org.
- 1-24: $3.50
- 25-99: $2.75
- 100+: $2.25
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Learn how to be an effective advocate | |
Advocacy is one of the most powerful tools that Lutherans can leverage to bring more resources and opportunities to our communities and create positive change. Community members are invited to attend a training about the legislative process.
Thursday, January 25;
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Edina Community Lutheran
4113 West 54th Street, Edina
Attendees will hear from experts and leave with the skills and confidence they need to successfully advocate on the issues they care about. This training will be led by Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota’s advocacy team, Erin Sutton and Lily Sacay. Co-hosted by Edina Community Lutheran Church (Edina), Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd (Minneapolis), and Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church (Edina).
RSVP requested. If you have questions, contact advocacy@lssmn.org.
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Retirement readiness webinars | |
Are you resolved to feel more financially prepared for the future? Check out Portico’s Retirement Readiness Series from Fidelity starting at the end of January. Register for live webinars covering topics like turning your savings into retirement income, understanding Social Security, and estate planning basics. Recorded versions of these topics – and many more – are available on demand on myPortico.
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A new year, a renewed commitment to end hunger | |
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Protecting youth from
online sextortion
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The time is right for a return to bi-synodical efforts to end hunger as 2024 begins and the ELCA World Hunger program celebrates 50 years of hunger work. Plans are beginning for an event for people in the Minneapolis Area Synod and the Saint Paul Area Synod to gather to talk about their congregational efforts to end hunger, about community efforts around the metro area, and how we can work together to multiply efforts. Educational events, hands-on possibilities, and ways to connect regionally, churchwide, and globally are all being considered.
Do you want to be a part of something renewed, challenging, and exciting? Is ending hunger one of your passions? Contact Justin Grimm (SPAS staff) or Bob Hulteen (MAS staff) and offer to join in the effort.
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Join Cherish All Children, part of Lutheran Social Service to learn about the national crisis of online sextortion, what you can do to keep children and youth safe, and resources to support them if needed. This event is for parents, grandparents, youth leaders, teachers, coaches, community members, and middle and high school youth.
Sunday, January 21; 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. Virtual
Joy McElroy, director of Cherish All Children, will share information from the FBI and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, providing tools to support youth safety.
If you have questions, contact Joy McElroy or call (651) 207-3357.
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Where is the synod staff in upcoming weeks? | |
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Pastor John Hulden and Ms. Kris Bjorke will be representing the synod at the ELCA Youth Ministry Network Continuing Education Extravaganza and the SYMBOL (Synodical Youth Ministry Band of Leaders) meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, January 18 - 22.
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Pastor Craig Pederson will be attending the farewell service for Pastor Greg Meyer at Fabric on Sunday, January 21.
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Mr. Manuel Lewis will be leading an adult forum at Valley of Peace Lutheran, Golden Valley, on Sunday, January 21.
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Pastor Craig Pederson will be preaching and presiding at the farewell worship services for Pastor Bob Lyndes at Crest View Senior Communities (Blaine and Columbia Heights campuses) on Wednesday, January 24.
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Pastor Wondimu Sonessa will be preaching and leading an adult forum at Holy Cross Lutheran, Minneapolis, on Sunday, January 28.
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Pastor John Hulden will be preaching and installing Pastor Trevor Skorburg at Zion Lutheran, Buffalo, on Sunday, January 28.
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Bishop Ann Svennungsen will be leading a Ministry Site Profile review at Alleluia Lutheran, St. Michael, on Sunday, January 28.
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Mr. Manuel Lewis will be leading an adult forum at Holy Trinity Lutheran, New Prague, on Sunday, February 4.
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Bishop Ann Svennungsen will be installing Pastor Chris Enstad at Bethlehem Lutheran (Minnetonka campus) on Sunday, February 11.
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Courageous Leadership Webinars, Wednesdays
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2024 Youth Ministry Extravaganza, January 17-24
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Ghosted: Ministering to Estranged Parents, January 18
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Come Together for Racial Justice, January 18
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Elementary Retreat at Luther Crest, January 19-21
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Learn to Paint with the Gentleman Artist, January 20
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January 2024 Ministerium, January 25
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Embodied Antiracism Practice Group for White Bodies, January 27 - February 5
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Inspired Life: Mental Health Connect, January 30
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Youth Group Confirmation Night at Luther Seminary, January 31
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Refresher Course for Faith Community Nurses, February 1
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Discipline That Connects, February 3
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Night Songs, February 9
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Middle School Retreat at Luther Crest, February 9-11
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Conference Assemblies, February 10
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Black History Month Concert with Mill City String Quartet, February 10
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Children's Ministry Gathering, February 12
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2024 Fosdick Lecture, February 29
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Communicators Retreat, March 7
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Bishop Nominee Forum, April 7
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Bishop Nominee Forum, April 10
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Bishop Nominee Forum, April 13
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Minneapolis Area Synod Assembly, May 2 - 4, 2024
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Ascension Day Breakfast, May 16
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