Mpls Area Synod ELCA

Empowering Communication Workshops for Clergy
2022-02-21 11:00 - 17:30, 2022-02-14 11:00 - 17:30, 2022-02-07 11:00 - 17:30, 2022-01-31 11:00 - 17:30, 2022-01-24 11:00 - 17:30, 2022-01-17 11:00 - 17:30 (America/Chicago) | Virtual
Held on January 17, 24, 31, February 7, 11 &14, and 21, workshops 1-4 provide a full entrance to and experience of Empowering Communication. Workshop five is on mediation and six is on restorative circles are new in 2022. Each workshop will offer skills to enliven and support your ministry. Each workshop will include instruction, individual and small group exercises, and role play.

For more details, check out the event webpage, and with further questions contact Rev, Joel Westby.

Touch the Earth Lightly
2022-02-20 | MN
National Lutheran Choir presents “Touch the Earth Lightly”
February 20: Live Concert
At this concert, we will consider our physical connection to the earth on which we live.
Buy tickets

Courageous Leadership Series with ELCA Coaching
2022-02-17 13:00 - 14:00, 2022-02-10 13:00 - 14:00, 2022-02-03 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual
When Jesus began his ministry, he immediately formed a small group. Following in the footsteps of Jesus, we are continuing to offer opportunities to gather in small groups for discussion and empowerment around the prominent topics swirling in the crucible of change for us as faith leaders. They will be held each Wednesday in February at 1pm.

Though ELCA Coaching is learning as it goes and will continue to edit topics based on interest and feedback, a majority of this hour will be spent in breakout rooms with conversations facilitated by our ELCA Coaches focused on:

Growing Young
Grief in our Communities
Personal Grief
Rural Ministry
Urban Ministry
Hybrid Church
Advocacy
Race Relations
Allyship – LGTBQIA+
Conflict
Leadership Development

The login information can be found below and on the ELCA Coaching website: https://www.elcacoaching.org/events/courageous-leadership
Recordings from prior gatherings can be found here: https://www.elcacoaching.org/podcasts/media/series/courageous-leadership

Synod Meet Up at ELCA Youth Ministry Extravaganza
2022-02-13 16:00 - 17:00 | Hilton, Minneapolis, South Marquette Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota
If you’re going to the ELCA Youth Ministry Network’s Extravaganza, come meet up with others from Minneapolis and Saint Paul Area Synods from 4:15-5:00pm! We’ll be COVID safe (no food) AND Spirit filled as we connect and re-connect. The meeting location within the Hilton will be shared on the Network App and live schedule. This will be led by Paul Erdmann and Josh Svenulski and the MAS/SPAS CYF Leadership Team.

She + Coaching Webinars for Women in Ministry
2022-02-10 18:00 - 19:00 | Virtual
Join Dr. Crystal Hall in reading She: Five Keys to Unlock the Power of Women in Ministry. She’ll offer actionable tools you can apply in your ministry working with difficult people, setting boundaries and addressing sexism.Open to seminarians, clergy, staff and volunteers. Webinars will be held Thursdays at 6 PM CST during Lent, March 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31. Register at https://www.crystalhallphd.com/events.

Boldly Serving Our Afghan Neighbors: Getting Involved through Congregational Accompaniment & Co-sponsorship
2022-02-08 18:00 - 19:00 | Virtual
Across the country, many congregations have begun working with their local resettlement agencies and are sponsoring Afghan individuals and families, in addition to the many asylum-seekers currently being sponsored within the AMMPARO (Accompanying Migrant Minors with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities) network. But the need is huge and right now. We call on congregations to see how they can engage in this important effort.
An information session will be held February 8, 2022, at 6 p.m. CT. This webinar will be addressing Afghan refugee resettlement and will discuss how congregations can get involved. As Savior was a refugee, forced to flee his birthplace as a tender baby, ELCA congregations are urged to help resettle these vulnerable people. Join this conversation and learn more about upcoming action items.

Note: Zoom link for the webinar will be added as soon as possible

Legacies of Faith & Belonging: Turning Discipleship into Relationship
2022-02-08 10:00 - 16:00 | Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile, 540 Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL, 60611, United States
ALOA is collaborating with POAMN (Presbyterian Older Adult Ministry Network) on an interactive conference in conjunction with the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators (APCE) conference. Split into a working workshop and an afternoon workshop, this event will focus on both theory and practices for building community.
Morning workshop:
Lead by:
-Rich Bimler
-Roland Martinson
Topics:
-The role aging ministry plays in creating a congregational legacy of belonging and hope.
-Discover how to best utilize storytelling and intergenerational relationship building in your congregation.
Afternoon workshop:
Lead by:
-Pat Baker
Topics:
-Explore models of older adult ministry from all over the U.S.
-Group brainstorming to develop ideas to take home and implement in your congregation

You do not need to be a member of APCE to attend.

Youth Ministry Gathering
2022-02-03 10:00 - 11:15 | Virtual
Sharing is caring! Join other youth ministry staff and volunteers from congregations in the Minneapolis and Saint Paul Area Synods on Zoom to lean on each other as we plan youth ministry. Bring one thing you have done OR would like to do with youth during Lent. Moderators are Daniel Ditmanson and Jen Rome.

Join the Zoom call:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89823240904

Conference Assemblies
2022-01-31 - 2022-02-15 | MN
The 12 conferences of our synod will meet to nominate and elect people for synod positions. Resolutions and memorials for Synod Assembly are also discussed at these Conference Assembly gatherings. Synod Assembly and Churchwide Assembly voting members are especially encouraged to attend, but all are invited! Check with your conference dean to learn the date, time, and whether your assembly will be on Zoom or in person. Please feel free to reach Eric Howard, Executive Assistant to the Bishop, for general questions.e

I Am Called: Discerning a Call to Ministry (session 2)
2022-01-27 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual
God calls everyone to do God’s work in the world. How is God calling you? Explore that conversation in a series of zoom conversations.
Session one: Public ministry in the ELCA
Learn more about discernment resources and explore the call to public ministry as you hear call stories from pastors and deacons!
Thursday, January 20th, 7-8:30pm
Session two: So, How Do I Get There? Seminary and Other Things You Need to Know
Learn aboutt he ELCA Candidacy Process and hear from Seminary partners about programs that can equip you to follow God’s call
Thursday, January 27th, 7-8:30pm
Attending both sessions is encouraged, but you are welcome to attend just one!
Register online at www.sdsynod.org/called

For more information, please contact Deacon Krista Anderson, ELCA Region 3 Candidacy and Leadership Manager, Program Director for the Support of Ministers of Word and Service at krista.anderson@elca.org or 651.208.7713.

EcoFaith Forum on Inclusive Financing
2022-01-27 16:00 - 17:15 | Virtual
We need your voice! Minneapolis is on the verge of championing a groundbreaking climate-scaled tool called “inclusive financing” for energy efficiency after years of grassroots engagement. Join EcoFaith for a Learning + Action Forum to hear about the pilot program being put forward by the City of Minneapolis and CenterPoint energy, and how you can take a simple action step to help make this climate solution a reality.
Register for this event to receive the Zoom link and call-in information.
Thursday, January 27th; 4:00 pm – 5:15 pm on Zoom

Lunch & Learn: Preventing Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking of Youth
2022-01-27 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual
January is Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month. Hear from a panel of six Lutheran Social Service leaders from across MN, sharing the work being done to support youth and prevent exploitation and trafficking. You’ll learn how you can help build safer communities for young people to thrive!

Addiction & Dry January Webinar
2022-01-27 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
A spike in drinking during the pandemic has also come with a rise in those who are “sober curious.” 1 in 5 Americans say they planned to participate in Dry January this year.
In this webinar, we’ll dig into these trends and explore how they can benefit you and your faith community. We’ll be joined by Rev. Erin Jean Warde, an Episcopal priest and founder of Discerning Sobriety. Her own journey to sobriety will illustrate some of the important ways faith leaders can help others reevaluate their relationship with alcohol and help stop more serious problems before they start. This webinar will be co-hosted by Tim King, and Pastor Ed Treat.

How Your Church Can Become a Center of Long Life Learning & Faith Formation Webinar
2022-01-27 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
John Roberto, Founder of LifeLong Associates, presents approaches, examples, and resources for addressing the spiritual and religious needs of adults 60 and over in your congregation. Discover how to engage this age group in meaningful, faith forming experiences that are easy to access and designed in multiple formats.Register now
Can’t make it? You never have to miss out. Check out our webinar archive for recordings and additional resources.

Courageous Leadership Series for January 2022(Week 4)
2022-01-26 13:00 - 14:30 | Virtual
ELCA Coaching is mixing things up in 2022. Starting in January, weekly sessions on the theme of courageous leadership will be held. These session will highlight different leaders and ministries from across the Church each week. There will also be time for small groups in breakout rooms so that leaders across the church can continue to learn from each other and leave each gathering with at least one action step.

For January 2022:
Week One (January 5) – Coaching – Choose Your Own Adventure (Topic)
Week Two (January 12) – Young Adults – TBD
Week Three (January 19) – African Decent Ministries – Preparing for Newness
Week Four (January 26) – Tentative – Homelessness and Justice / Economic Diversity

The login information can be found on the ELCA Coach website: https://www.elcacoaching.org/events/courageous-leadership
Recordings from prior gatherings can be found here: https://www.elcacoaching.org/podcasts/media/series/courageous-leadership

Lent in a Box
2022-01-24 | St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Eden Prairie, 13600 Technology Drive, Eden Prairie, MN, 55344, United States
Join Church Anew for a one-day seminar where we will learn from Old Testament scholar and Psalm expert, Rev. Dr. Rolf Jacobson. We will provide you with everything you need for a successful Lenten series on Psalm 23, one of the most beloved and widely memorized pieces of scripture. You will receive sermon ideas, bulletin covers, music suggestions, and a ready-made Lenten devotional to share with your congregation.
At the in-person gathering, you will also have a chance to engage in authentic conversation and mutual support with other church leaders. We’ll ask the honest questions about what it looks like to be the church today and wonder together about how God might be leading us in this moment. In-person registration is $50.
As a virtual attendee, you will receive access to worship and keynote address, all of the Lent planning materials, and we will provide zoom rooms for mutual conversation and support. Virtual registration is $30 and virtual ticket holders can tune in live or on-demand for one week following the event dates.

Reach out to support@churchanew.org to ask about group rates.

First things First: Learning about Addiction with Tim McMahon King
2022-01-22 09:30 - 11:30 | Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church, Prior Lake MN, 3611 N Berens Rd NW, Prior Lake, MN, 55379, United States
The Mental Health and Addiction Team at Shepherd of the Lake invites you to a time of learning, reflection, and hope with Tim McMahan King. King is the author of Addiction Nation and is recognized as a leading expert in the field of addiction. He brings his personal experience, education, research and theological understanding to share how we as a nation can address the problem of addiction, heal from its effects, and live more fully as God created us to be – beloved children of God. The following ministry partners in the field of addiction and support will also share with us how they resource faith communities to help in the ongoing work of caring for those with addiction and those who love them: • Center of Addiction and Faith, www.addictionandfaith.com, Rev. Dr. Ed Treat, Director• Mental Health Connect, www.mhconnect.org, Vicki Elliot, Executive Director• Faith-Partners, www.faith-partners.org, Drew Brooks, Director
With questions, or for more information, connect with Pastor Karen Treat, 763-442-4057. Register using the following link:https://www.sollc.org/events/learning-about-addiction-a-speaking-event-with-tim-mcmahan-king

I Am Called: Discerning a Call to Ministry
2022-01-20 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual

Courageous Leadership Series for January 2022(Week 3)
2022-01-19 13:00 - 14:30 | Virtual

The King Lives - Call Us What We Carry
2022-01-17 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
In honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we are convicted and compelled to speak the words of world changers that have brought inspiration to make our world a better place. Why? Because words matter!
Join us on Monday, January 17 at 11:00 am for “The King Lives – Call Us What We Carry”. (Program title is a salute to local artist Joe Davis’s latest poem, and Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman’s latest book.) This intergenerational virtual event will bring together speakers of all ages, to re-enact a 3-minute segment of a speech made by a world changer of their choosing. Music and spoken word performances will also be celebrated!
It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the words and the stories of changemakers continue to be seen, heard, and remembered. We must not forget. Hearing and reciting hopeful words creates more hopeful words. Just like Scripture – the more we read, and the more we hear, the more we believe!

Show up to this virtual event and support our courageous “dream tellers” on Monday, January 17 at 11:30. Join us – and them – as we celebrate the lives and the words that continue to heal the world.
Event Premiere Link: https://youtu.be/aNExkCNWcyI
Facebook Event Link: https://fb.me/e/2X8sDW4xY

MLK Day of Service Packing Event
2022-01-15 10:00 - 12:00 | Richfield Lutheran Church, 8 West 60th St, Minneapolis, MN, 55419, United States
Join together to ‘Live the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr ‘ with a community-wide cold weather kit packing event open to all ages and abilities.
With questions, or for more information, reach out to Mary Beth Weibel at mbweibel@richfield-lutheran.org

Children's Ministry Gathering
2022-01-10 14:00 - 15:30 | Virtual
Join us for our monthly Children’s Ministry Zoom with special guest Stephanie Esser, M.A.Ed., RYT-200, Yoga Calm®, Youth Instructor, and BREATHE™ Coach. She will be talking to us about breathing and how to manage stress and improve focus. We will learn some techniques to use in our small groups to calm emotions and anxiety. If you want to use her company’s logo you can find it: https://balancingelephants.comHere are the details on the Zoom Meetinghttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/85076129637?pwd=[REDACTED] ID: 850 7612 9637Passcode: [REDACTED]

With questions, or for more information, reach out to Julie Vagle at Juliev@trinitylonglake.org
