May Bishop's Letter
The May newsletter is now
online.
Click here for PDF.
Connections,
a congregational bulletin/newsletter insert
May Connections (2-sided, half size)
May Connections (1-sided, full size)
New: Minnesota Council of Churches'
News for the Common Good
May 6 Issue
Synod Women to Hold 21st Annual Convention June 6-7
The 21st Annual Convention
of the Northwestern Minnesota Synodical Women’s Organization will
be held June 6 & 7 held at Our Savior Lutheran Church, East Grand
Forks, Minn. The theme, “Do Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly
with God” comes from Micah 6:8.
For more, go to the the
Synod Women's Page.
Take the "Embody Health" Assessment.
If you haven't done so yet, please
take
the ELCA Board of Pensions health risk assessment, and then the
congregations and institutions of our synod will start saving
THOUSANDS of dollars (collectively) when they ALL qualify for the
promised 2 percent reduction in contributions toward the Board of
Pensions health plan. If you (and your spouse, if married) haven't
taken the assessment, it takes only about 20 minutes and you each
get a $100 credit with the Board of Pensions just for doing that.
Please spread the word. You can access the assessment at:
https://www20.mayoclinicembodyhealth.com/index.cfm?redirect=1
Rural Churches:
Ecumenical Community Service and Ministry
Pastors and church leadership are encouraged to attend a two-day
workshop, “Rural Churches:
Ecumenical Community Service and Ministry,” designed to energize
ecumenical work to meet community needs through shared service and
ministry.
May
14 & 15, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Paynesville (Minn.) Lutheran Church, or
May
21 & 22, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Madelia (Minn.) United Methodist
Church, Madelia,
For
more information contact Lynne Holman at (612) 230-3211,
lynne.holman@mnchurches.org
or visit
www.mnchurches.org.
Click
here for an informational brochure.
Take
Advantage of the Good Will Offer
It's not too
late to take advantage of the "Good Will" offer that Bishops Wohlrabe and
Foss announced in late December. If you either make or revise a will (or
trust) that includes a portion for a ministry of the church (your
congregation, a seminary, a church college, a synod, ELCA Hunger, LSS, or
whatever you choose), the synod will reimburse expenses for preparation of
the will/trust up to $350. This offer is good through April 30, 2008. Our
funding from Thrivent is significant, but not unlimited: we will reimburse
on a “first-come, first-served” basis. See the synod website for more
information.
Problem Gambling
Conference
2nd Annual Minnesota Regional Problem Gambling Public Awareness
Series:
2008 Regional Conferences on the dates listed below. All
conferences will run from 8:30 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. and include 7 CEUs.
Thursday, May 8: Duluth First United Methodist Church (The Copper
Top Church)
Friday, May 16: Granite Falls, Project Turnabout/Vanguard
Thursday, May 22: Moorhead, Trinity Lutheran Church/Lost & Found
Ministry
CLICK HERE for detailed brochure.
Lutheran Outdoor Ministry Camps Launch New Summer Choral
Camps
A new pilot junior high
choral camp program will be offered at three Lutheran camps
this summer:
Green
Lake Lutheran Ministries in Spicer, Minn. – July 27-August 2
Luther Crest
Bible Camp in Alexandria, Minn. – August 3-8
Luther Park
Bible Camp in Danbury, Wis. – August 12-17
For complete
information,
CLICK HERE
Congregational Council Training Resource
The slide presentation of recent
Congregational Council Training Events is now available.
Click here to open a PDF
of "Things That Make For Effective Church Councils"