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A Lenten Holy Land Journey

Following the Way of Jesus: a Lenten Holy Land Journey,” 6-week series begins on the Sea of Galilee. Through this journey you explore the Holy Land, the theology of Sumud and what it means for Palestinian Christians today. The first and second weeks of the video series are posted above.

Sumud is the ELCA’s new name for our church’s engagement in accompaniment, awareness-building and advocacy for justice in Palestine and Israel. Sign up for updates about Sumud and upcoming events at:

https://www.bit.ly/SumudSubscribe

You can also learn more at

https://www.ELCA.org/sumud

Download the Discussion Guide here

Click on graphic to download

Upcoming ELCA Witness in Society SUMUN (formerly Peace Not Walls) Series

Get an updates from the Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac, Rev. Gabi and Rev. Dr. Meghan Aelabouni from the ground, along with learning what are some next action steps to take to raise awareness, build advocacy, and accompany justice in Palestine and Israel.

Saturday March 16th, 10 am CST

Saturday April 13th, 10 am CST

Registration links will be posted when available.

Mental Health/Wellness Opportunities

Apply the breakthrough insights of Brene Brown's work in your faith leadership.

Click on the graphic for more info

Burned Out and Overwhelmed: Experiencing God’s Healing Presence on the Ancient Paths

February 29 11-1 PM

Click on the graphic for more info

Stories for Black History Month

February is Black History Month, and the ELCA is sharing stories of Black Lutherans and ministries across the country. African Descent Ministries offers season three of Talks at the Desk, a video series that explores diverse expressions of the church. A new video premieres each Wednesday in February at 7:30 p.m. Central time — and the first three episodes, as well as past seasons, are available to watch.

On livinglutheran.org find the series Black History Now, featuring interviews with Black Lutherans with the intention of acknowledging that while we reflect on the past, we also celebrate and recognize that Black history is happening now.

The 2024 theme is Cross Currents in the Flood: Building Arcs Together for a Livable Planet. As we build arcs of relationship connecting generations, crossing boundaries, and healing divisions, we become the Ark necessary for a shared future, for a livable planet. The keynote speaker for the Summit is the renowned Christian environmental ethicist, Larry Rasmussen. He is the author most recently of The Planet You Inherit: Letters to My Grandchildren When Uncertainty's a Sure Thing, winner of the 2023 Nautilus Gold Prize for the best 2022 book in Ecology & Environment.

To share widely and to register https://nemnsynod.org/2024/01/22/ecofaith-summit-2024/

RECONCILING IN CHRIST (RIC) SYNOD - Second Conversation

The Welcome and Reconciling team announces the second quarterly gatherings in each of the five conferences of our synod. These gatherings will include discussion, education, and resourcing around the topic of biblical interpretations and RIC. For more info Becoming RIC Synod Fall 2023 Info Sessions 

Second Conversation — Lenses for Interpreting the Bible

Saturday, March 9 10:30 AM First Lutheran Little Falls

Third Conversation -- Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Terminology

Saturday, March 2 10:30 AM Zion Lutheran Cloquet

Saturday, March 23 10:30 AM Bethany Lutheran Onomia

For comprehensive information the The Welcome and Reconciling Team website link here.

Youth Ministry Consultants

(NEMN Synod ELCA Network leaders get access for FREE with your NEW network code for 2024: NEMN24)

Maximizing Small Church Ministry

with Stephanie Caro

March 21, 11:00 am

Many US churches strive to create significant change in their community and positively influence the students they cater to. Stephanie Caro, a seasoned consultant with Ministry Architects, will provide insight on how to remain current and amplify your impact, ensuring your efforts resonate within your community and beyond. 

For training and Youth Ministry Consultants webinars go to https://youthministryconsultants.org/ 

Annual Congregation Reports (Form A) are DUE!

Time to submit Annual Congregation Report! The ELCA sent out packets in mid-January containing instructions, your congregational ID (five digits) and the password for entering the data online with the ELCA. The information can also be found here.

You will notice that this year (for 2023) there is only Form A. Complete today! Questions? Call the Synod office 218-724-4424.

Input requested for draft of Social Statement on Civic Life and Faith

For information and to share your feedback with the task force, go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NCTT8ZV.

Feedback is welcomed through September 30, 2024.

Coming this spring/summer, listening and info session will be held in various locations across the Synod. The task force will then edit the draft in light of the public input. Then, the task force will submit a proposed version of the social statement to the ELCA Church Council, who will vote on sending it to the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in 2025 for consideration.

(For more information about both means of participation and a paper copy of the survey, go to ELCA.org/civicsandfaith.)

Ministry that honors the body

An interview with Rachel Young Binter on spiritual practice – Part One

By John Potter, Kelly Wilkerson February 19 & 20, 2024

How yoga, Reiki, and meditation--these spiritual practices--inform ministry, as well as the importance of prioritizing spiritual self-care and intentional connection with God. Read on

The holiness of simply being

Rachel Young Binter on spiritual practice – Part Two

This second part focuses on the specifics of those practices, resources Young Binter recommends and a meditation she offered LL readers. Read on

Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church offers survey for ELCA members' response

The Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church (CRLC) has designed a survey to be shared broadly throughout the ELCA. There are questions that apply to Churchwide, synods, and congregations. Participation in the survey is voluntary, but requested by the CRLC participants.

The deadline for response is March 15. Answering the questions of the survey should take about five minutes.

Mental Health & Wellness Lunch and Learn March 7

Download pdf to share

To Register

Thursday, March 7

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Equipping people of faith to serve with an informed, compassionate response to the risk and prevalence of addiction and related mental health issues.

Speaker: Drew Brooks, Faith Partners, providing leadership, training, and consultation to educate clergy and help develop congregational prevention and recovery support team ministries.

For more info

Candidacy: Discernment Events

Wartburg Theological Seminary is hosting visit opportunities this spring — Open House February 20 via Zoom and a Weekend on Campus March 15 – 17 for those discerning a call to ministry and interested in receiving a master’s degree at seminary.

These visits include:

• Online Open House
• Considering Your Call Discernment Weekend
• Individual Campus Visit (On-Campus or Virtual)

For more information click here

Also explore

• February 28 – March 1 Arrowhead Resort, Alexandrea MN for more info
• April 6-8 – Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, Berkeley CA for more info

For more information, go here. It's a great World Hunger resources that folks can visit to get excited about the 50th anniversary joining in honoring the past and advocacy today.

NEMN Synod Job Postings

REVISED Director of Living IT Youth Ministry A Collaborative Ministry of Immanuel & Trinity Lutheran Churches, Princeton, MN For more info

EcoFaith February Newsletter

[Click on logo]

Connections with Creation

February 11 – Transfiguration of Our Lord

This time after Epiphany began with a star illuminating the way to discover the Messiah and now ends with the light shining from Jesus himself into our lives. The psalm proclaims that God “[calls] the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting” (50:1). Pay attention to what the “heavens declare” (50:6), from quiet sunrises to gorgeous sunsets and the brightness between, sustaining life and filling the day. Can you point to where the sun is right now? Go to sunrise-sunset.org to learn when the sun will rise and set where you live today. Could noting the movement of the sun serve as a devotional practice, thanking God for its rising and setting?

A Reminder. . .

Once again it's time for a reminder to stay vigilant for phishing and scam emails (and text messages.) Any official synod email will come from an email address that ends in @nemnsynod.org or Constant Contact email that ends in @nemnsynod.ccsend.com

Scammers may create official looking emails but if it comes from any domain other than css-elca.org, you know it is fake.

The bishop and other staff will not contact you and ask for gift cards. The ELCA provides this helpful info-graphic that walks you through how to recognized these scamming attempts. Click on graphic to reprint.

A.I. & Amen

Lauren Wolcott, Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod

This article is about the beginner A.I. (Artificial Intelligence)

programs that might make your work just that bit easier. Baby-AI, if you will, and a few suggestions for how to put this technology to work for good in your congregation. Read on...

(Graphic generated Photoshop Generative AI)

Editors note: Including credits/software used when using AI is best practice.

Upcoming Events in our Synod

February 17 Lay Leader Network February Seminar, Bethlehem LC, Brainerd

February 25 RIC Conversation Session 2 Trinity LC, Cook

March 2 RIC Conversation 3 Zion Lutheran Cloquet

March 7 Lunch and Learn Systems Approach to Addiction and related issues

March 9 RIC Conversation 2 First Lutheran Little Falls

March 23 RIC Conversation 3 Bethany Lutheran Onomia

April 4 Lunch and Learn Giving Kids Help, Families Hope, Community believes

April 6 EcoFaith Summit, First LC Duluth

April 13/20 Lay Leader Network Yearly Intensive #4 @ Brainerd/Duluth

April 22-26 Synod office closed -- Synod Assembly prep

April 27 2024 Synod Assembly (One day only online Zoom event)

June 9-12 Synod Youth Leadership Camp, Camp Onomia

July 14-20 Synod Journey/ELCA Youth Gathering, New Orleans

April 2-4 2025 Synod Assembly Breezy Point Resort

October 12 Walking Together: 50Years of World Hunger

Also see Synod website >> Calendar and Featured Events

Join us in praying for the following

Churches and Pastors

Waters of Life Lutheran Church, Duluth Effie Fredheim

Retired Pastors Cynthia Hjerpe, Erik Holleque, Daniel Holm, Mark Holman, David Holte

Each month the focus of our weekly communication is as follows:

• 1st Tuesday – Walking in the Word readings
• 2nd Tuesday – Announcements – please submit your content to monica.bruning@nemnsynod.org or info@nemnsynod.org to be included
• 3rd Tuesday – Reflections that are a newsletter-type article
• 4th Tuesday – Announcements 
• 5th Tuesday (Mar, May, Aug, Nov) Expressions of God’s Work in our world or ministry in the Synod – videos, stories, testimonials, et al. 

You are invited to submit content (deadline is Thurs @ noon) and to repost on your communication platforms.

Please help us get this weekly communication out. Forward to others and encourage people to sign-up to get the updates from your Synod office.

We appreciate you!

Monica Bruning, Communication Director