Better Than Winning the Lottery
by Tharan Leopold
Lottery Fever has once again swept over the nation recently. The promise of suddenly winning unimaginable wealth for the small price of a lottery ticket is tempting. Maybe you are one of those who can’t resist at least imagining the outcome. You may dream about the good you would do (“If I won, I would…”), using this new wealth, not just for personal pleasures but to make gifts to loved ones and donations to your church and other favorite charities.

But do you have to win the lottery to make a major gift that will have a large impact?
New Book Study Opportunity
The God Who Sees
Sponsored by SEMN Synod’s Global Ministry Table and AMMPARO Team
Tuesday evenings, February 8 – March 1, 2022
(Feb. 8, 15, 22, March 1)
6:30 – 7:45 pm via Zoom

Abraham and Sarah. Ruth and Naomi. Hagar. Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. What do these heroes of faith have in common? They are all migrants that crossed borders and sought refuge from insurmountable challenges within their home communities. In The God Who Sees: Immigrants, The Bible, and the Journey to Belong, Karen Gonzalez provides a foundation for followers of Jesus to construct an understanding of God’s call to welcome the stranger. Join people throughout the SEMN Synod as we explore immigration through the lens of the Bible in this four-week virtual (Zoom) book study. Click below to learn more and sign-up to join.
Lunch & Learn: Preventing Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking of Youth
from Cherish All Children
January 27, 2022 | Noon-1 pm

January is National Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month. Cherish All
Children invites you to join us to hear from a panel of six Lutheran Social Service
leaders from across Minnesota, sharing the work being done to support youth and
prevent exploitation and trafficking. We’ll provide ways YOU can make a difference in
your community as well.

Join us to help build safer communities for young people to thrive!

REGISTER HERE for this free virtual event & to receive the Zoom link.
Boldly Serving our Afghan Neighbors webinar
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Important Dates...
  • March 20, 2022: Councils as Leaders in-person event (details TBD)
  • May 7: 2022 Synod Assembly (Mankato, MN)
  • July 24-28: ELCA Youth Gathering (Minneapolis, MN)
  • August 8-12: ELCA Churchwide Assembly (Ohio)
Prayer Calendar: January 23
  • Oakland Lutheran Church, Albert Lea
  • Christ Lutheran Church, Faribault
  • Cedar Valley Lutheran Church, Winona
  • Christ Lutheran Church, Preston
  • Grace Lutheran Church, Albert Lea
  • Nuer Sudanese Worshipping Community in Austin
  • Mazoezi Minyughe Lutheran Church, Tanzania