Mpls Area Synod ELCA

Young Voices in the Public Sphere: A Faithful Call Towards Election Engagement
2024-06-13 19:30 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | Online
As Lutherans we are called to live out our faith in the public sphere — advocating for ourselves and our neighbors not only inside of our church buildings, but out in the streets. ELCA election engagement is where our thoughts and prayers meet the Holy Spirit’s call to action. This Abide series offers young adults the opportunity to engage with ELCA Advocacy Fellows to hear, learn and discuss how the ELCA is approaching election engagement and why voting is important for young people. Register here.
Session 2 of 4 (Thursdays in June)

Gather Twin Cities Wood Fire Pizza Party
2024-06-16 17:30 - 19:30 | University Lutheran Church of Hope, 601 13th Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55414, United States
The folks at University Lutheran Church of Hope have a beautiful wood fire pizza oven and they are going to teach us how to make pizza. There will be root beer floats and yard games too! If you know you can come, email gathertwincities@gmail.com. Come hungry and ready to share a meal together! Gather Twin Cities is an ELCA ministry for young adults. Follow @gathertwincities for more info

Young Voices in the Public Sphere: A Faithful Call Towards Election Engagement
2024-06-20 19:30 - 20:30 | Online
As Lutherans we are called to live out our faith in the public sphere — advocating for ourselves and our neighbors not only inside of our church buildings, but out in the streets. ELCA election engagement is where our thoughts and prayers meet the Holy Spirit’s call to action. This Abide series offers young adults the opportunity to engage with ELCA Advocacy Fellows to hear, learn and discuss how the ELCA is approaching election engagement and why voting is important for young people. Register here.
Session 3 of 4 (Thursdays in June)

Onesimos Nesib Day
2024-06-22 09:30 - 12:00 | Our Redeemer Oromo Church, 4000 South 28th Avenue, Minneapolis
Onesimos Nesib Day
Our Redeemer Oromo Church invites you to celebrate Onesimos Nesibday.
Saturday, June 22; 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Our Redeemer Oromo Church
4000 South 28th Avenue, Minneapolis
Onesimos was enslaved and sold many times. But he escaped slavery with help of Swedish missionaries and translated the Bible into Oromo language.
You and your congregation are kindly invited to join the members of Our Redeemer Oromo for the celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Oromo Bible and their Lutheran heritage.
Stories and delicious traditional Oromo food and coffee will be shared.

Confluence at Augsburg University
2024-06-23 - 2024-06-28 | Augsburg University
Youth who have completed 9th – 12th grades are invited to participate in this year’s Confluence, formerly known as The Augsburg Youth Theology Institute. Participants will experience a week of discovering who they are and how God is calling them to make our world more just and sustainable for all.
Together in community, they will engage in vocational discernment through a variety of experiences including daily spiritual practices, small groups led by college mentors, tasty and meaningful meals together, thoughtful conversations with peers and mentors, and experiential learning around the Twin Cities.
Learn more >

Midsummer Fiesta
2024-06-23 12:30 - 15:30 | St. Paul’s San Pablo Lutheran Church, 2742 15th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN, United States
Join San Pablo/St. Paul’s for their annual block party on June 23. There will be many activities including quilt and lantern making.
The event is co-sponsored by the Semilla Center for Healing and Arts.

Young Voices in the Public Sphere: A Faithful Call Towards Election Engagement
2024-06-27 19:30 - 20:30 | Online
As Lutherans we are called to live out our faith in the public sphere — advocating for ourselves and our neighbors not only inside of our church buildings, but out in the streets. ELCA election engagement is where our thoughts and prayers meet the Holy Spirit’s call to action. This Abide series offers young adults the opportunity to engage with ELCA Advocacy Fellows to hear, learn and discuss how the ELCA is approaching election engagement and why voting is important for young people. Register here.
Session 4 of 4 (Thursdays in June)

Lead with Abundance: Celebration of Changing Lives Gala
2024-07-09 08:00 - 17:00
Lead with Abundance: Celebration of Changing Lives Gala
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota invites you to the 2024 Celebration for Changing Lives Gala, our biggest event of the year. Join us at The Depot in Minneapolis on Saturday, September 14, at 5:00 p.m., as we celebrate the ways LSS and our partners inspire hope and changes lives as together, we Lead with Abundance.
Saturday, September 14: 5:00 p.m.
The Depot, Minneapolis
LSS will honor nearly 160 years of working together to empower neighbors to lead full and abundant lives. For more information, contact congregations@lssmn.org or to register visit 2024 Celebration for Changing Lives : Home (lssmn.org)

Augsburg Fortress Summer Music Clinic
2024-07-16 - 2024-07-17 | Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, St. Paul, MN, United States
Augsburg Fortress is offering a series of free summer music clinics. Featured choral/organ clinicians include David Cherwien and Mark Sedio, who will lead workshops on new children’s music, keyboard music reading, choral techniques and more. A handbell clinic with Carolynne Mathis and a hymn festival are also on the schedule. Additional clinics will be held at other locations around the country. Learn more.

Conference on Worship, Theology, and the Arts: Nourishing Vocation
2024-07-29 - 2024-07-31 | St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN, United States
The Lutheran Center for Faith, Values and Community and the Nourishing Vocation Projects at St. Olaf College would like to invite you to this year’s Conference on Worship, Theology and the Arts: Nourishing Vocation, which takes place on Monday, July 29 through Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at St. Olaf College. This year the conference will combine signature CWTA musical experiences with innovative and imaginative work being done by both the Nourishing Vocation Project and Nourishing Vocation with Children, under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Char Rachuy Cox.

World of Difference
2024-07-29 08:00 - 17:00
World of Difference: Women’s Gathering
Save the Date!
Saturday, November 2; 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Diamond Lake Lutheran Church
5760 Portland Avenue, Minneapolis
Dr. Jacqueline Bussie is an award-winning author, professor, theologian, student of life in all its messy beauty and this event’s keynote speaker! She is a much sought after speaker and workshop facilitator. Her most recent book Love Without Limits (2018) won three major international awards: the 2020 IAN Outstanding Religion Book of the Year Award, the 2020 IAN 3rd Place Non-Fiction Book of the Year Award, and the Reader’s Favorite Bronze Medal Award for Christian Living. Her previous book Outlaw Christian (2016) won the 2017 Gold Medal Illumination Award for Christian Living and received a coveted starred review from Publishers Weekly.
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An active servant-leader in the ELCA, Jacqueline spent the last 20 years teaching religion to undergraduates at ELCA colleges and serving as the founding director of the Forum on Faith and Life for Concordia College. Every day Jacqueline is amazed and grateful that she gets to 1) write and tell her own story; 2) empower other people to write and tell theirs, and 3) accompany marvelous people on their journey of faith, hope and healing.
Registration: Register – Minneapolis Women of the ELCA (mplswomenofelca.org)
Register by August 1 to be entered in a drawing for a $200 global market coupon.

Addiction Ministry 101
2024-07-30 11:00 - 12:30 | Online
Addiction Ministry 101
This class is for those who want ot offer support to those with addiction and those who love them. Otto Schultz, a retired Lutheran pastor and alcohol and drug counselor, will be leading the four-week course. He will present models that show that sound theology and good science work together for church and clergy to “let thier light so shine” with people and families in trouble with alcohol, drugs, and other addictions.
Tuesdays, July 30, August 6, August 13, and August 20
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Online
This program will provide instruction on five simple communication tools to give exceptional care to families troubled by substance, problems, and for people in early recovery.
Cost: $50.00; registrants will be invoiced. To register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYqf-mtqzkqGtwwg7KQRl0x5w9sXM8hz5Oc

Addiction and Motivational Interviewing
2024-07-31 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
Motivational interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based communication approach, which facilitates behavior change through the utilization of four key principles: Compassion, Acceptance, Partnership, and Evocation.
Wednesday, July 31; Noon – 1:00 p.m.
Online
Amanda Sharp, PhD, MPH earned her PhD from the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences at the University of South Florida in the Department of Mental Health Law and Policy, her dissertation was titled, “The Role of Non-Secular Involvement Towards a Comprehensive Community Approach for Addressing Opioid Use Disorder”. She received her Master of Public Health from Boston University. She completed a post-doctoral research fellowship at Harvard Medical School in the Health Equity Research lab and The Center for Mindfulness and Compassion, where she now holds a teaching associate position. She was a Public Health Analyst for the federal government in HHS at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
To register

Footsteps of Paul pilgrimage
2024-08-02 08:00 - 17:00 | Greece and Turkey
Pastor Jill Bergman is leading a pilgrimage to Greece and the Greek Islands in May 2025. There is an optional extension to Turkey. This pilgrimage is open to all. We will study our Bibles as we walk in the places Paul walked, especially during his second and third missionary trips. We will have English speaking local guides and an air conditioned private bus. The trip includes a 4-day cruise to explore the Greek islands of Mykonos, Patmos, Crete, and Santorini.
Learn more or contact Pastor Jill Bergman, jillb@flcch.org, 763-788-9653g

Redeemer Lutheran Block Party
2024-08-07 17:00 - 19:00 | Redeemer Lutheran Church, 8100 Glenwood Ave, MN, United States
Join Redeemer Lutheran for their free block party including food, a kids area, music, free school supplies, a bounce house, a dunk tank, painting and more!

Big Band Bash
2024-08-21 18:00 - 21:00 | Faith-Lilac Way Lutheran Church, 5530 42nd Ave N, Robbinsdale, MN, 55422, United States
Join Faith-Lilac Way (Robbinsdale) for grilled brats, beer/root beer, ice cream floats, and great music by the Brooklyn Big Band!
This is a free event!

Spiritual Care of the Dying
2024-08-22 18:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
The Lutheran Faith Community Nurse Assocation will host a Zoom call entitled “Spiritual Care of the Dying: The art of ministering to emotional and spiritual needs at the ened of life.
Thursday, August 22; 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Zoom
This presentation will address spiritual care of the dying. Assessment of the spiritual needs of the dying will be discussed. Also, the gifts and challenges of ministry to the dying and their loved ones, how spirituality can bring comfort and peace. The importance of clergy, faith community nurses, and congregations partnering in end-of-life care will be addressed.
For more information: https://lutheranfcna.org/event-5745990
Contact person: Carol DeSchepper, LFCNA Executive Director, at lutheranfcna@gmail.com

God Shots
2024-08-28 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
God Shots: Learning to find God in everyday things
There is no event, conversation, or experience that doesn’t hold the possibility for insight, for learning, or for connecting to a higher purpose or power. This webinar is an invitation to explore how to cultivate God Shots. This one-hour free webinar featuring Libbie Stella, MDiv, is hosted by the Center of Addiction and Faith.
Wednesday, August 28
Online
The link to register is https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wM56cIaTRSqlx3Pq3KXyzA#/registration

God's Work, Our Hands Sunday
2024-09-08 | Your church!
On Sunday, Sept. 8, congregations of the ELCA will join together for our annual day of service, “God’s work. Our hands.” This day continues to be an opportunity to celebrate who we are as the ELCA — one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor. As you consider opportunities to participate in your community, explore resources to plan and promote your day.
This year we also celebrate 50 years of ELCA World Hunger. In commemoration of this milestone, consider including ministries focused on alleviating hunger and poverty in your plans for “God’s work. Our hands.” Or make it a season of service! Expand your volunteer opportunities, advocacy efforts or food drives until World Food Day on Oct. 16.

Thriving in Ministry: Building Bridges and Crossing Them/Celebrate 10 years of Tapestry!
2024-09-14 08:30 - 13:00 | St. Stephen Lutheran Church, 8400 France Ave. South, Bloomington, MN, 55431, United States
Thriving in Ministry: Building Bridges and Crossing Them/Celebrate 10 years of Tapestry!
Music workshops teach Latin rhythms for ELW hymns! Educational workshops offer ideas for building and strengthening diverse faith communities. Dr. Sandra Montes, Dean of Worship at Union Seminary, NYC, and author of Becoming Real, keynotes! Venezuelan lunch served!
Saturday, September 14; 8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
St. Stephen Lutheran Church
8400 France Avenue South, Bloomington, Minnesota
More information: https://www.tapestryrichfield.org/10-year-anniversary-10o-aniversario.html
Contact person: Pastor Melissa Gonzalez at tapestryrichfield@gmail.com or (612) 703-5223

Christian Nationalism: Origins, Impacts, and Solutions
2024-09-18 17:30 - 19:30, 2024-09-25 17:30 - 19:30 | Diamond Lake Lutheran Church, 5760 Portland Ave, Minneapolis, MN, United States
Christian Nationalism: Origins, Impacts, and Solutions
Rev. Angela Denker, author of Red State Christians and the upcoming Disciples of White Jesus, will discuss the origins and impacts of Christian Nationalism and explore collaborative strategies to combat it in this two-part series.
September 18 and 25 (two-part series); 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Diamond Lake Lutheran Church
5760 Portland Ave, Minneapolis
Events are free and all are welcome. A community meal is served at 5:30 pm.
For more information: Kristine Spanier at Kristine.spanier@dllc.org

Concert and Community Sing Celebrating Mary Preus
2024-09-21 18:30 - 20:00 | Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, 2315 Chicago Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN, 55406, United States
Concert and Community Sing Celebrating Mary Preus
A musical event for all ages featuring Bread for the Journey and the OSLC choir, along with community singing, followed by a dessert reception.
September 21; 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church,
2315 Chicago Avenue South, Minneapolis
For more information: https://oursavioursmpls.org or (612) 871-2967

Gather Around The Campfire
2024-09-22 19:00 - 20:30 | University Lutheran Church of Hope, 601 13th Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55414, United States
Gather Around The Campfire
Join in the Gather 2024-2025 season kickoff with a campfire and s’mores. Gather organizers are excited to share the many ways you are invited to engage in community this coming year. Grab your pals, your roommates, and your neighbors! Gather is a ministry for young adults in the Twin Cities; a place for those who are hungry for community and connection with other young adults in the metro area.
Sunday, September 22: 7:00 p.m.
University Lutheran Church of Hope
601 13th Avenue SE, Minneapolis
Gather:
* Setting the table for connection and rest through worship, meals, and monthly events.
* Helping you deepen in faith as you discover your identity, uncover your vocation, and develop as leaders who do justice in the world. Gather is LGBTQI+ affirming and eagerly invites siblings of any sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression into full leadership and participation.
Follow Gather’s Facebook and Instagram pages for more information @gathertwincities

Synod Senior Band free concert
2024-09-24 19:00 - 20:00 | Bethlehem Lutheran Church Twin Cities Minnetonka Campus, 16023 Minnetonka Blvd., Minnetonka, MN, United States
Synod Senior Band free concert
Come join this fun fall evening of music by the Minneapolis Synod Senior Band. This is a 70-member strong band who play a wide variety of music. It is a free concert open to all at Bethlehem Lutheran Church Twin Cities’ Minnetonka Campus at 16023 Minnetonka Blvd. Come join in the fun!
Tuesday, September 24; 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Bethlehem Lutheran Church-Twin Cities, Minnetonka Campus
16023 Minnetonka Blvd., Minnetonka
For more information: https://bethlehem-church.org
Contact person: Diane Waarvik at dwaarvik@bethlehem-church.org

Life Not Wasted: Breaking Free from Contemporary Addictions with Alex Olshonsky
2024-09-25 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
Life Not Wasted: Breaking Free from Contemporary Addictions with Alex Olshonsky
This one-hour free webinar, “Life Not Wasted, Breaking Free from Contemporary Addictions with Alex Olshonsky” is presented by the Center of Addiction & Faith and hosted by the Rev. George A Wood.
Webinar description: Today, addiction impacts virtually everyone. But, for any number of reasons, few know how to cope. (Even if you do not consider yourself an “addict,” you likely know there are certain habits interfering with your best life. Taking the first steps toward improvement without proper guidance and support can feel daunting, even impossible.) Alex Olshonsky’s course, “Life Not Wasted,” is designed to help folks break free from the grip of contemporary addictions.
Wednesday, September 25; Noon – 1:00 p.m.
Zoom
To register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wM56cIaTRSqlx3Pq3KXyzA#/registration
Contact person: Louise Olson at glolro@comcast.net

Richard Leider speaking at Westwood Lutheran
2024-10-05 16:00 - 17:30 | Westwood Lutheran Church, 9001 Cedar Lake Road, St. Louis Park, MN, 55426, United States
Author, life coach, TED-talker, Richard Leider, will be speaking on his new book, “Who Do You Want To Be When You Grow Old? -The Path of Purposeful Aging”. (NO cost.) Join us for an inspiring hour and reception as Richard shares stories and ideas of how to enter elderhood with a sense of purpose, curiosity and intentionality. For all PRE- and POST- retired folks!
Contact Pastor Tania Haber, 952-767-5565, for more information.

Walking Together: 50 Years of ELCA World Hunger
2024-10-12 08:00 - 15:00 | Lutheran Church of the Cross, Nisswa, MN
Walking Together: 50 Years of ELCA World Hunger
Hold the date: Northeastern Minnesota Synod will be hosting Walking Together: 50 Years of ELCA World Hunger.
Saturday, October 12; 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Lutheran Church of the Cross, Nisswa, Minnesota
This celebratory event will include worship with Glocal musicians, a hunger simulation, Action Center, silent auction and public art project. There will also be workshops with ELCA World Hunger, Lutheran Advocacy-MN, Eco-Faith Network, Together Here, and Sumud Northland – each tying their ministries to the issues of hunger and justice.
Registration will open in August
Questions or more information: Pastor Taryn Montgomery at taryn.montgomery@nemnsynod.org.

Honoring of Theologian Joseph Sittler, POSTPONED
2024-10-13 15:00 - 16:00 | Minnehaha Regional Park, Minneapolis, MN, United States
Honoring of Theologian Joseph Sittler
This event has been postponed until April 2025.
An informal gathering to celebrate the life of Joseph Sittler will be held Sunday, October 13, and 3:00 p.m., in Minnehaha Regional Park. The exact location is a mile downstream from the Minnehaha Falls, at a park bench located close to where Minnehaha Creek empties into the Mississippi River.
Why this location? Sittler, a renowned theologian, famously declared that “nature is a theater of Grace”. God’s Word is active in nature, which to the eyes of faith can be seen when Minnehaha rushes to the Mississippi. We gather to honor his path-breaking incorporation of ecology into Lutheran theology by sharing, individually, our favorite ideas from his work. Come and share!
For more information, contact Stewart Herman at herman@cord.edu.

Inspired Life: Music Heals Symposium
2024-10-15 18:30 - 20:30 | All Saints Lutheran Church Minnetonka, 15915 Excelsior Blvd, Minnetonka, MN, 55345
Inspired Life: Music Heals Symposium
The “Inspired Life: Music and Wellness” series is focused on how music can support all areas of wellness. Come and hear the music and personal stories of Twin Cities musicians. Participants will talk about grief, postpartum depression, addiction, anxiety, cancer, relationships, love, and how music heals. We’ll listen to musicians and sing together — reminding everyone we’re not alone in life’s stumbles.
Tuesday, October 15; 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
All Saints Lutheran Church
15915 Excelsior Blvd, Minnetonka, Minnesota
For more information: https://www.allsaintsmtka.org/inspiredlife
Contact: All Saints main office at aslc@allsaintsmtka.org or (952) 934-3550
