Mpls Area Synod ELCA

Faith After High School
2025-11-02 12:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Calvary Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, 3901 Chicago Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, United States
Join Calvary Lutheran Church Sunday, November 2, at noon for pizza and salad, followed by a panel with faith leaders from U of M Lutheran Campus Ministries, and Augsburg Lutheran Campus Ministries. They will share about their faith after high school. This is a great event for students thinking about attending these colleges or wondering what happens to your faith after high school.

Come join the conversation. Register by clicking the link below https://forms.gle/C2UR91jGETXzaqp19

Discerning Your Call: Exploring the Next Faithful Step
2025-11-02 14:00 | Faith Lutheran, Forest Lake, 886 North Shore Drive, Forest Lake, MN, 55025, United States
A discernment retreat hosted by the ELCA synods of Region 3 in the states of Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota
Wondering what’s next?
Wondering if God is calling you to something different?
Wondering if there’s “something more”?
Explore these and other questions in the context of our faith, with other wonderers through storytelling, introspection, and studying of Scripture. We strongly encourage you to bring a conversation partner (your pastor, a colleague, family member, friend, etc who will continue this conversation with you). The event costs $10 per person, which includes an evening meal.
Choose the date and location that works best for you. Each retreat is 2:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 2
Faith Lutheran, Forest Lake
Register by October 26
Sunday, February 22
Oak Knoll Lutheran, Minnetonka
Register by February 15
Register now >

Partnership Trip to Palestine
2025-11-03 - 2025-11-12 | MN
Attention to news from Gaza and the West Bank leaves many feeling that words are not enough. When there is grief and hunger, dispossession and death, when words fail, it is our presence that counts. Walking alongside those who are suffering is what God’s Holy Spirit does for us. Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, is planning a trip to Palestine November 3 – 12 to accompany their mission partners, Bright Stars of Bethlehem and Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem. You are invited to lend your presence and support to their Palestinian siblings and join their group. Participants will sit with students and faculty at Dar al-Kalima University in Bethlehem and will help with olive harvesting at Augusta Victoria. As much as the presence and encouragement may bless those they are visiting, surely attendees will be blessed and encouraged, too, as they are able to share their experiences with their own congregations and friends when they return. For information about this opportunity, please consult the tour brochure and be in touch with Judy Hinck at judyhinck@gmail.com.

ELEA National Conference
2025-11-04 - 2025-11-07 | Crowne Plaza Cleveland at Playhouse Square, 1260 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, United States
“Inspiring Leaders, Strengthening Faith”
This much-anticipated gathering will unite educational leaders committed to nurturing academic excellence and spiritual growth in Lutheran schools.
Experience three powerful professional development days, spiritual renewal, and networking with fellow Lutheran educators nationwide. Through dynamic keynote sessions, interactive workshops, and collaborative discussions, you’ll gain practical strategies to enhance your leadership skills while deepening your faith foundation.
Don’t miss this opportunity to:
– Connect with passionate educational leaders who share your mission
– Develop innovative approaches to faith-based leadership
– Revitalize your spiritual journey alongside your professional growth
– Build lasting relationships within the ELEA community
Register now to secure your place at this cornerstone event. Early bird pricing is available through May 1, 2025. Let’s strengthen our schools, inspire our communities, and nurture the next generation of faithful leaders.
More information >

RESCHEDULED - Communicators Retreat
2025-11-06 09:00 - 16:00 | Mt. Olivet Retreat Center, 7984 257th St W, Farmington, MN, United States
Rescheduled for Thursday, November 6.
The Minneapolis and Saint Paul Area Synods invite all congregation communicators to a fall retreat! This is a great opportunity to connect with others, build community, and learn about leveraging video in your ministry (and where to start if you haven’t yet). Sitraka Rakotoarivelo, media production specialist for Faith+Lead, and a panel of congregation communicators will talk about how they use video in their settings. The cost for the day is $50 per person. Lunch and snacks will be provided. Whether your job title has “communications” right in the name or if it’s one of the many hats you wear as a church employee, you are welcome to join us!
Register by October 23.

Minnesota Multifaith Network 6th Annual Conference
2025-11-06 09:00 - 17:30 | House of Hope Presbyterian Church, 797 Summit Ave, St. Paul, MN, 55105, United States
The Time is Now!
Strengthening Engagement, Understanding, and Equity for All
Celebrating Religious Pluralism in Minnesota
More information >

Tool Kit for Congregational Leaders
2025-11-08 08:00 - 12:00 | Immanuel Lutheran Church, 16515 Luther Way, Eden Prairie, MN, 55346, United States
Church lay and rostered leaders are invited to attend a morning of learning, networking, and connecting. The Tool Kit will offer about a dozen different workshops so you can choose two that will be most helpful for you. Many churches bring multiple people and spread out to many workshops to bring lots of resources back to their ministries.

8:00 Registration opens, coffee hour to meet other people in similar roles (optional)
9:00 Large group with Bishop Jen
9:30 Break
9:45 Round 1 workshops
10:45 Break
11:00 Round 2 workshops
12:00 Adjourn

Register Now

Workshop Details >

Considering Your Call Saturday at Wartburg Seminary
2025-11-08 09:00 - 16:00 | Wartburg Theological Seminary, 333 Wartburg Pl, Dubuque, IA, 52003, United States
Wartburg Seminary is hosting a discernment day- “Considering Your Call Saturday”- on November 8. It’s a great opportunity for folks discerning a call to ministry leadership to engage with others (faculty, staff, current students, others in discernment), ask questions about the seminary process, and learn more about Wartburg specifically. All lodging and meals are covered for out-of-town attendees. More information and registration can be found at the link below.
Considering Your Call Saturday Information & Registration

Children and Youth Monthly Ministry Gathering - November
2025-11-11 15:00 - 17:00 | Urban Growler, 2325 Endicott St, St. Paul, MN, 55114, United States
November Youth Ministry Gathering
Topic: Neurodivergence and Support Needs

November Western Suburbs CYF Ministry Network Gathering
2025-11-13 10:00 - 12:00 | St. Stephen Lutheran, Bloomington, 8400 France Ave S, Bloomington, MN, 55431, United States
The Western Suburbs CYF Ministry Network meets the second Thursday of each month to Renew, Educate, and Connect. Everyone is welcome!
We will be having an Advent Devotional time and taking about how you care for yourself when you seem to never have the time and are always in charge of upcoming events.

Learn Together Over Lunch Series: ELCA Immigration Policies and Statements
2025-11-13 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
Join Kate Parsons, Migration Policy Advisor, and Raed AbuJries, US Network, Education, and Communication Manager, who will share about the ELCA’s work alongside immigrant communities and dig into some of our commitments as a church regarding immigration. They will discuss the ELCA Social Message on Immigration, Sanctuary Churches, AMMPARO, and more.
Join us live for the one-hour Zoom call or watch the recording later. Live Spanish interpretation will be provided and recorded. ASL will be provided with the recording of the call.
Register to receive the Zoom link >

Power and Boundaries Workshop for Ministry Leaders - Option 1
2025-11-14 08:30 - 15:30 | Minnesota Church Center, 122 W Franklin Ave, Minneapolis, MN, 55404, United States
Rostered leaders in the Minneapolis Area Synod are required to attend a Power and Boundaries Workshop every three to five years. Church staff and volunteers are also encouraged to attend. This year’s workshops will be led by Rev. Emily Carson, Assistant to the Bishop, Director for Evangelical Mission & Financial Administrator at the Southeastern Minnesota Synod.

There are two dates to choose from, each workshop will be limited to 35 people.

Friday, November 14 at the Minnesota Church Center, Minneapolis
Thursday, November 20 at Nativity Lutheran, Minneapolis

Register >

Minneapolis Area Synod Women of the ELCA Gathering
2025-11-15 | Transfiguration Lutheran Church, 11000 France Avenue South, Bloomington, MN, 55431, United States
Minneapolis Area Synod Women of the ELCA Gathering. Come to:

Learn and Listen
Connect and Create
Celebrate and Worship
Together!

More information >

EcoFaith Coffee and Conversation
2025-11-15 09:30 - 11:30 | Mount Olivet Lutheran Church of Plymouth, 12235 Old Rockford Rd, Plymouth, MN, United States
Join us for a morning of coffee and conversation as we welcome in different creation care partners of the Minneapolis Area Synod. Here about their work and how you can get involved. Coffee and pastries will be provided.

Sign up >
Facebook event >

Gather Twin Cities Friendsgiving
2025-11-16 18:00 - 20:00 | Spirit Garage, 100 W 46th St, Minneapolis, MN, 55419, United States
Join Gather Twin Cities for an evening of community, fellowship, and great food. Please bring a dish to share!
Check out their instagram (@gathertwincities) for more info.

Creating Accessible Spaces on a Budget Webinar
2025-11-17 19:00 - 20:00 | MN
Every church should be a place where everyone feels welcome and included — regardless of ability. But making your facilities more accessible doesn’t have to break the bank. Join us for this practical and inspiring webinar designed specifically for churches seeking to improve accessibility with limited resources. We’ll explore affordable strategies to enhance physical, sensory, and digital accessibility in your church buildings and programs. From simple upgrades to creative adaptations, you’ll gain tools and ideas that can be implemented right away — no large renovation budget required.

Monday, November 17, 2025 ~ 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. Central Time

In this workshop, you’ll learn:

Low-cost improvements that make a big impact
How to prioritize accessibility changes
Ways to engage your congregation in accessibility efforts

Register >

Power and Boundaries Workshop for Ministry Leaders - Option 2
2025-11-20 08:30 - 16:00 | Nativity Lutheran, 3312 Silver Lake Road, Saint Anthony Village, MN, 55418, United States
Rostered leaders in the Minneapolis Area Synod are required to attend a Power and Boundaries Workshop every three to five years. Church staff and volunteers are also encouraged to attend. This year’s workshops will be led by Rev. Emily Carson, Assistant to the Bishop, Director for Evangelical Mission & Financial Administrator at the Southeastern Minnesota Synod.
There are two dates to choose from, each workshop will be limited to 35 people.

Friday, November 14, at the Minnesota Church Center, Minneapolis
Thursday, November 20, at Nativity Lutheran, Minneapolis

Register >

Webinar: MN Paid Leave Program
2025-11-20 12:30 - 13:30 | MN
Join this webinar with attorney Jewelie Grape to find out more information about Minnesota Paid Leave. If you have questions you would like to be discussed at the webinar, please email them to Liz Farmer.
Join on Zoom >

Stories The Land Holds Series: Culture and Recovery
2025-11-20 19:00 - 20:30 | Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 4801 France Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN, 55410, United States
Introducing “Stories the Land Holds” – A Community Invitation to Listen, Reflect, and Connect

Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd is beginning a new initiative that invites the community into a deeper relationship with the land we inhabit and the stories it holds. “Stories the Land Holds” is a multi-session project beginning October 9 at 7:00 p.m. Rooted in the belief that the land beneath us speaks—through its history, its people, and its enduring presence.

Hosted by Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Minneapolis, and supported by a generous foundation grant, this series explores the layered histories of the neighborhood lands between the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers. Through storytelling, reflection, and dialogue, participants will ask:

– What has the land absorbed?
– Who has lived here, been welcomed, excluded, or expelled?
– How have these histories shaped our present?
– And how can listening to the land guide us away from division and racism and towards justice and harmony?

More information >

Film Screening: Indian Horse
2025-11-23 14:00 - 16:00 | Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2400 3rd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN, 55404, United States
Honor Native American Heritage at Mia with this special screening of Indian Horse (2017). Based on the novel by Ojibwe author Richard Wagamese, this film follows the life of Saul Indian Horse, a Canadian First Nations boy who survives Canada’s residential school system through his gift as a hockey player.
Get tickets >
This film is not rated; run time is 1 hour, 41 minutes.
Note: This film contains content that some may find distressing related to the Canadian residential school system, including depictions of abuse, addiction, and racism.

Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (LCCN) Gathering
2025-11-25 10:30 - 11:30 | Minnesota Church Center, 122 W Franklin Ave, Minneapolis, MN, 55404, United States
Since 1990, leaders from the Minneapolis Area Synod have visited Nigeria and maintained a companion synod relationship. Individuals and communities who have a history of partnership with the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (LCCN) and those who are interested in starting a new partnership are invited to gather and connect.

When we’re together, we will share information and updates about the Lutheran University that is being built and discuss what is means to be a companion synods.

Rethinking Addiction: A Faith Leader's Guide
2025-11-26 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
A free one-hour webinar titled “Rethinking Addiction: A Faith Leader’s Guide” featuring Rachel Bowling, Director of SAFE Communities at SAFE Project, a national nonprofit working to end the addiction epidemic, and hosted by the Center of Addiction & Faith. Faith leaders are often called upon to support individuals and families navigating the complexities of substance use, addiction and recovery. This session invites participants to help examine how we understand and respond to substance use and share insights from professionals and recovery advocates.

Register >

Digital Pilgrimage to the Holy Land
2025-12-01 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
Join historian, theologian and licensed tour guide Mary Danho for four digital sessions that send your spirit traveling to the Holy Land.

Mary Danho grew up in Jerusalem just blocks from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, listening in on tours long before she was leading them herself. There are fewer tourists and travelers coming to visit these days, but Mary knows there are many who long to make connections between their faith and the very real places she calls home.
Mary is offering a digital Advent series for long distance pilgrims, including some who have traveled with her in the past or hope to join her tours in the future. She is relatively new to teaching online, so this will be a new adventure.
Register as an individual or as a congregation/organization. You’re bound to learn something new about scripture, sacred land and yourself during a season we claim to be too busy for a holy, midday pause like this one.

Monday, December 1 HOPE
Sea of Galilee: The setting of so many miraclces and stories in Jesus ministry.
Monday, December 8 PEACE
Nazareth: The Annunciation – A girl who belonged to herself said yes.
Monday, December 15 JOY
Ein Kerem: The Visitation – Mary & Elizabeth, John the Baptist, too.
Monday, December 22 LOVE
The Shepherds’ Fields: Jesus’ birth is announced to the shepherds.

More information >
Note: EventBrite requires that we list four ticketed dates, but you’re really just buying one ticket and getting one ticket and one reoccurring Zoom link. We’re sorry for the ways it looks confusing. Contact a host if you need help!
Hosted by: Jenny Sung, Natalia Terfa and Meta Herrick Carlson

Webinar: Rebuilding Hope - What's Next for Welcome
2025-12-01 13:00 - 14:00 | Online
As 2025 draws to a close, Global Refuge reflects on the many ways the work of welcome has been tested—and our conviction to come back better than ever in 2026. This webinar will cover the current state of immigration policy, our programming, and how you can help us meet critical needs and spread hope in the final month of the year.
Global Refuge, formerly known as Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), has been welcoming newcomers since 1939 through advocacy, care and empowerment.

Augsburg University Advent Vespers
2025-12-05 - 2025-12-06 | Central Lutheran Church, 333 S 12th St., Minneapolis, MN, 55404, United States
For more than four decades, Augsburg University has ushered in the Advent and Christmas seasons with Advent Vespers, a magnificent experience of music and liturgy focusing on the theme of preparation and culminating in the joyful celebration of the Incarnation. You are invited to join on December 6 – 7 at Central Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, for the 46th annual Advent Vespers: “Guide Our Feet Into the Way of Peace.” In times like these, God sends prophets to point us in a new direction, to remind us of God’s loving intentions for the world. While peaceful times may feel far off, we join the defiant song of Zechariah that points towards a future day when the fullness of God’s shalom dawns once again in our lives. Reserve tickets now at augsburg.edu/advent-vespers.
Friday, December 5, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 6, 2:00 p.m. & 5:00 p.m

Alternative Gift Market at Christ Memorial
2025-12-06 - 2025-12-07 | Christ Memorial Lutheran Church, Plymouth, MN, United States
Select from 25+ local and international charities as alternative gifts for friends and family. Fair trade items also available for purchase.

Advent Concert & Cookie Exchange
2025-12-07 14:00 - 15:30 | St. James Lutheran, Crystal, 6700 46th Place North , Crystal, MN, United States
Join some amazing musicians for an afternoon of Advent music at St. James. There will be a free will offering taken for Agate Housing & Services. There will also be a cookie exchange following the event; bring cookies, eat some, and take a few home!

Silent Retreat Week
2025-12-08 - 2025-12-12 | Mt. Olivet Retreat Center, 7984 257th St W, Farmington, MN, United States
Between the busyness of Thanksgiving and Christmas, give yourself the gift of stillness. Rest in a comfortable hotel-style room, enjoy nutritious meals prepared by our professional chefs, and restore your spirit with access to peaceful amenities—indoor pool, whirlpool, sauna, cozy lounges, miles of trails, fire pits, a meditation room, and more.
More information >

Children & Youth Ministry Monthly Gathering - December
2025-12-09 15:00 - 17:00 | Tamarack Taproom, 8418 Tamarack Village, Woodbury, MN, 55125, United States
December Youth Ministry Gathering
Social Time

Faith & Life Conversation: Antisemitism
2025-12-10 17:30 - 19:00 | Lake Nokomis Lutheran Church, 5011 S 31st Ave, Minneapolis, MN, 55417, United States
Faith and Life Conversation
Patrick LaCombe, Steve Hunegs, and Joel Quie strive to address the issue called, “The Longest Hatred”.
Before a business career, Patrick spent 14 years at the State Department supporting the transition from Communism to democracy and free markets in Central and East Europe. He served the State Department in Poland in the 90’s and is dedicated to the study of Holocaust history.
Steve Hunegs has been the Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota & the Dakotas since 2006. During this time Steve and his colleagues have been recognized for their work by the United States Attorney for Minnesota; the FBI; International Leadership Institute; Israel Bonds; among others.
Joel Quie is an ordained pastor of the ELCA. Prior to retiring in 2021, he served for 35 years in three states. During his tenure in three congregations he worked tirelessly to build ecumenical bridges in his community.
