By Pastor Colin Grangaard, YAGM Alum First Lutheran Church of Crystal, Brooklyn Park God speaks to each of us as he makes us, then walks with us silently out of the night. These are the words we dimly hear: You, sent out beyond your recall, go to the limits of your longing. Embody me. Flare [...]
By Pastor John Hulden I’ve been blessed to work with dozens of first call pastors. I’ve also visited with many call committees pondering calling a new seminary graduate. To get a congregation in the mindset of bringing someone new on board, I often ask: “Who helped you in your first, major, full-time job?” My hands [...]
This post is one of the monthly posts blog posts written by the deans of the conferences of the Minneapolis Area Synod. By Pastor Rhonda Hlavinka Salem English Lutheran Church, Minneapolis Dean of the Central Conference South Minneapolis Day Camp is a collaboration of more than 15 congregations that come together each summer. This [...]
This post continues the Mission Table’s “Year of Partnership” highlighting the new and strategic ministries of the Minneapolis Area Synod. Lao Evangelical Lutheran is one of the strategic ministries and worships in Robbinsdale. By Pastor Thiem Baccam Lao Evangelical Lutheran Church, Robbinsdale My name is Thiem Baccam, and I have served as the pastor of [...]
By Nicholas Tangen In 2020, Pastor John Hulden and Former Bishop Ann Svennungsen submitted a grant proposal to the Lilly Endowment called “Faith Practices & Neighboring Practices: Renewing Congregational Imagination,” envisioning a learning community in the Minneapolis Area Synod helping churches to engage spiritual practices and deepen their connection with their neighborhood. The Lilly Endowment [...]
By Bishop Jen Nagel At the end of this month, July 28 - August 2, 2025, many will gather for our Churchwide Assembly, this time in Phoenix, Arizona. Just as congregations come together for annual meetings, synods host synod assemblies, our wider church - the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (the ELCA) - meets in a churchwide [...]
This post is one of the monthly posts blog posts written by the deans of the conferences of the Minneapolis Area Synod. By Pastor Sue Olson Long Lake Lutheran Church, Isanti Dean of the Northern Conference In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, chapter 4, verses 6 & 7, we are reminded: “ 6 Do not be anxious about [...]
By Jeni Huff One thing that makes my heart so happy is seeing how churches partner together through kids’ programming throughout the summer. I see Church Together when churches offer their Vacation Bible School (VBS) decorations to other churches in the area who might have their VBS later in the summer. I smile when I [...]
By Rev. Aaron Fuller Originally published in Living Lutheran For Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month (API), I was asked to reflect on “Asians in the Bible.” I wish to focus on two characters who best represent the experience of API people: Hagar and Ishmael (Genesis 16 and 21:8-21). Hagar is Sarah’s slave. She was given [...]
By Bishop Jen Nagel “When the day of Pentecost had come they were all together in one place . . . Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them.” - Acts 2 May 25th marked the 5-year Angelversary of the murder of George Floyd. That Sunday evening, as part of the Rise and Remember Festival and at [...]