Today's Top Stories:
The Rev. James R. Swanson
Oct. 19, 1938-July 23, 2018 It is with sadness that I must inform you of the death of The Rev. James R. Swanson. Pastor James (Jim) Swanson 79, of Onamia died Monday, July 23, 2018 at Mille Lacs Long Term Care Center in Onamia. Jim was born in Superior, WI to Carl & Mildred Swanson on October 19, 1938. He graduated Duluth Central High in 1956 and St Olaf College in 1960. Jim had a life-long fascination for boats and trains. After college he worked on the ore boats on the Great Lakes for 2 years before attending Luther Seminary in St Paul. He was ordained at First Lutheran Church in Duluth in 1966. His first call was to Calvary and St Pauli Lutheran Churches in St Hilaire, MN. Jim married Carolyn Armstrong from Twig, MN on August 5, 1967. They had two daughters, Rebecca & Elizabeth (Dee Dee). Jim's second call was to Trinity Lutheran Church in Cass Lake, where he served for 11 years while his family grew up. During his 50 year career in the ministry, he also served many churches as an Intentional Interim Minister. When his health began to fail, it was very difficult for him to retire from active ministry because he loved to tell the story of Jesus and his love. Jim is survived by his wife of 50 years, Carolyn, his two daughters Becky (Curt) Stacey and Dee Dee (Brant) Grages and 6 grandchildren: Emily & Megan Stacey, and Luke, Tyler, Lily & Olivia Grages. He is also survived by his sister Carolyn (Wayne) Weidner and a large extended family. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on August 11, 2018 at 11:00 AM at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Onamia. Visitation one hour prior to service at the church. Memorials preferred. Arrangements by Shelley Funeral Chapel of Onamia. Thanks be to God for the power of the Resurrection! In Christ, Bishop Thomas M. Aitken TOGETHER HERE EVENT
August 8, 2018 6:30-8:30 pm
Presentation and Discussion: “Understanding Treaty Rights” with Dr. Joseph Bauerkemper Location: Concordia Lutheran, Duluth (Originally postcards read August 6th. The event is actually August 8th, Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused.) 2018-2019 Young Adults in Global Mission
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Annika Johnson
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Karissa Vetsch
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Maddie Lindahl
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Annika Johnson -First Lutheran in Duluth, MN. She will be serving in Madagascar and you can reach her by clicking here
Karissa Vetsch-Bay Lake Camp in Deerwood, MN. She will be serving in Australia, and you can reach her by clicking here.
Maddie Lindahl-Lutheran Campus Minstry-Twin Cities University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN. She will be serving in Senegal, and you can reach her by clicking here.
The YAGM volunteers will be sent to serve in 14 countries in 11 country programs alongside our companions in Argentina/Uruguay, Australia, Cambodia, Central Europe (Hungary and Serbia), Jerusalem/West Bank, Madagascar, Mexico, Rwanda, Senegal, Southern Africa, and the United Kingdom. Young adults serve in a variety if areas, including congregational ministry, human rights work, development projects, healthcare, education, and youth work. A year of service through YAGM program helps young adults to think more critically about their own identity, God's work in the world,and their place within it all.
Together in Mission,
The Reverend Raphael Malpica Padilla
Executive Director ELCA Global Mission
and
Andrew G. Steele
Director ELCA Global Church Sponsorship
- We want to make sure you are aware of the newly called YAGM volunteers in this synod and hope you will consider sharing widely the news of their service. Life them up in your websites and newsletters, sharing their blogs and newsletters throughout the synod. YAGM volunteers are often eager to share newsletters, blogs, make Skype calls, and participate in presentations during worship or education hour. We invite your prayers as they prepare for their journey, and as they continue to discern their call in their lives.
- These volunteers may reach out to you and request financial support from your synod and from local congregations. Each volunteer commits to raising $5000 to support their year of service, and additional contributors to the ELCA help to support the additional $10,000 per young adult in program costs. The total $15,000 is the average cost per YAGM, which covers all costs associated with their service. We would love for you to consider the ways that you can support these YAGM, financially and otherwise.
Together in Mission,
The Reverend Raphael Malpica Padilla
Executive Director ELCA Global Mission
and
Andrew G. Steele
Director ELCA Global Church Sponsorship
Bishop Aitken's Online Reflections
For July 23rd 2018
“You are God’s Resistance”
These were words our Presiding Bishop, Elizabeth Eaton used when speaking to the 30,000 of us down in Houston three weeks ago for the Youth Gathering. She added that love, God’s love is that resistance – working through you. I found that to be powerful.
What needs resisting in our lives, in our culture?
Evil does. Evil found not only in our personal lives, our personal sins, but just as importantly the corporate evil around us and in us, sometimes without our even being aware of it. I will attempt to name some of this as I see it. (I don’t begin to see all of it)
-The need for revenge. We are surrounded by revenge-talk that seeks and glamorizes revenge rather than redemption.
-The use of violence and violence-talk: In our personal speech, in our heated political talk, in our quick “fix” to rely on guns rather than the kinder, calmer, intelligent and compassionate speech of someone like Mr. Rogers - see the new Documentary movie that millions are now watching!
-The evil of white privilege: The fact that as a white person ( and especially a white male) I can receive so many more services, attention, resources and open doors than my Native American, Latino, Black, Muslim or other non-white neighbors
-The powerful verbiage of racism around us. It is not to be tolerated as Christians! Scripture teaches we all came from the mind and love and creativity of God, from the very same place!
-The felt need to be “with our own kind” a tribalism that undermines God’s family, the whole human family, much of it now seen publically in denying safety to refugees
-The attempt to Bible-slam those who think differently, pray differently, practice spirituality differently than ourselves
-The obsession with money
-The proverbial notion that white makes right, and that might makes right
All of these evils need Christian resistance. Christian resistance is born of the love and courage God has poured into our hearts. It comes with God’s Spirit which blows in and through the church, and through our baptismal connection and the Holy Meal with Jesus who is mending the world back together. As we here in the Northeastern MN Synod live into our resolutions to learn to know, understand and love our all our neighbors -no exceptions - we will need to resist what is evil in our own lives, as well as what is evil outside them in order to do so.
“For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”--------- Ephesians 6:12-17
Let the love of God in you clearly resist those “principalities and powers” the New Testament speaks of as we live our lives in Christ each day.
+Bishop Tom Aitken
These were words our Presiding Bishop, Elizabeth Eaton used when speaking to the 30,000 of us down in Houston three weeks ago for the Youth Gathering. She added that love, God’s love is that resistance – working through you. I found that to be powerful.
What needs resisting in our lives, in our culture?
Evil does. Evil found not only in our personal lives, our personal sins, but just as importantly the corporate evil around us and in us, sometimes without our even being aware of it. I will attempt to name some of this as I see it. (I don’t begin to see all of it)
-The need for revenge. We are surrounded by revenge-talk that seeks and glamorizes revenge rather than redemption.
-The use of violence and violence-talk: In our personal speech, in our heated political talk, in our quick “fix” to rely on guns rather than the kinder, calmer, intelligent and compassionate speech of someone like Mr. Rogers - see the new Documentary movie that millions are now watching!
-The evil of white privilege: The fact that as a white person ( and especially a white male) I can receive so many more services, attention, resources and open doors than my Native American, Latino, Black, Muslim or other non-white neighbors
-The powerful verbiage of racism around us. It is not to be tolerated as Christians! Scripture teaches we all came from the mind and love and creativity of God, from the very same place!
-The felt need to be “with our own kind” a tribalism that undermines God’s family, the whole human family, much of it now seen publically in denying safety to refugees
-The attempt to Bible-slam those who think differently, pray differently, practice spirituality differently than ourselves
-The obsession with money
-The proverbial notion that white makes right, and that might makes right
All of these evils need Christian resistance. Christian resistance is born of the love and courage God has poured into our hearts. It comes with God’s Spirit which blows in and through the church, and through our baptismal connection and the Holy Meal with Jesus who is mending the world back together. As we here in the Northeastern MN Synod live into our resolutions to learn to know, understand and love our all our neighbors -no exceptions - we will need to resist what is evil in our own lives, as well as what is evil outside them in order to do so.
“For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”--------- Ephesians 6:12-17
Let the love of God in you clearly resist those “principalities and powers” the New Testament speaks of as we live our lives in Christ each day.
+Bishop Tom Aitken
+Bishop Aitken's Reflections for July 9, 2018
Scripture, Theology and Daily Life
Not only do Lutherans have a certain lens through which we read, understand, and apply Scripture to our lives, but we also have a time-tested theological lens: We start and end with Jesus, both in the way we read Scripture and the way we understand how God works in the world (theology.) For Christians, there is one faithful framing of all theology, and it’s called the Gospel which is this: God so loves the whole world that Jesus came into it to save, make whole, redeem and bring the entire world into reconciliation. Its response is a transformed life that moves us to live out this love in our daily lives. This is a different framework to life than one which begins with me, or my country, my power, my race, my standard of living, or my ideology first - and then tries to tack on some Scripture and theology to fit it and endorse it.
Judging by what we read and hear in the media, this Gospel-way of understanding is certainly not universal. For example, the Christian who simply points and quotes Scripture to bolster her view about this or that social issue will at some point quote a verse that is at odds with the way Jesus lived and taught. Let’s be honest, this is at the heart of Christian debates over many of the grave social ills we live with. When Jesus is not first, when Jesus gets slapped on as an afterthought in our Christian lives, we have missed our Lord’s tender but courageous leadership which trumps everyone and everything else. His life teaches us that we all belong together, all of us, this whole world! That’s the Christian message.
Just one example: At our recent Youth Gathering in Texas, where we spent time each day in faith study, we shared together about how Jesus was and is reconciling all people, granting love and a sense that “you belong” no matter who you are, what your skin color, your age, your occupation, your country of origin, how cool you are, whatever your gender orientation is, whatever your income, status, or politics is, or what your past is. To come to that conclusion, is to let Jesus the Christ, the Lord and Savior of all, be the lens through which insights arise.
This week: Think of Jesus, the Savior and Lover of all creation, then read your Scripture and Devotional, then act as his sister, his brother, his life in your daily Christian vocation.
+Bishop Thomas M. Aitken
Judging by what we read and hear in the media, this Gospel-way of understanding is certainly not universal. For example, the Christian who simply points and quotes Scripture to bolster her view about this or that social issue will at some point quote a verse that is at odds with the way Jesus lived and taught. Let’s be honest, this is at the heart of Christian debates over many of the grave social ills we live with. When Jesus is not first, when Jesus gets slapped on as an afterthought in our Christian lives, we have missed our Lord’s tender but courageous leadership which trumps everyone and everything else. His life teaches us that we all belong together, all of us, this whole world! That’s the Christian message.
Just one example: At our recent Youth Gathering in Texas, where we spent time each day in faith study, we shared together about how Jesus was and is reconciling all people, granting love and a sense that “you belong” no matter who you are, what your skin color, your age, your occupation, your country of origin, how cool you are, whatever your gender orientation is, whatever your income, status, or politics is, or what your past is. To come to that conclusion, is to let Jesus the Christ, the Lord and Savior of all, be the lens through which insights arise.
This week: Think of Jesus, the Savior and Lover of all creation, then read your Scripture and Devotional, then act as his sister, his brother, his life in your daily Christian vocation.
+Bishop Thomas M. Aitken
+Bishop Aitken’s Reflections
On the Synod Journey and Youth Gathering
Life with 451 Northeastern Minnesota youth and mentors and with another 30,000 other ELCA youth last week in Texas was filled with Jesus’ love, grace and hope. I can’t begin to tell you how significant time on the bus, at Galveston, in Houston, at worship each day, at table conversations, at faith interaction stations, in service projects have been for thousands!
There is something powerful going on in the life of our church and the life of our youth. The risen Jesus – the One through whom all creation was made and through whom all creation is being redeemed was working in and through both our own Synod’s Journey, and the Gathering of our whole church to open our eyes to the goodness God intends for each person and all of creation. God’s love changes the way we see ourselves and the world. We lived together as one Body on Christ –experiencing the Good News and doing the Good News: God’s kind of love, inclusion, and justice! We learned that we can share both our joys and our struggles. The presenters, young and old, shared powerfully how God has changed everything for them! The laughter of young people is such good music to our ears in these days of cultural dysfunction all around us in this country. Where the world tries to divide, Jesus unites was an ever present theme under the theme “This changes Everything.” ( Go to: ELCA.org/gathering)
The insights of our young people are incredible. Just listen to them. As we take time, each of us, to notice, welcome and listen to the youth in our sphere of influence and vice versa, we become more whole. It happened this past week and I’m grateful to God for, once again, a powerful ELCA event that focuses on Jesus and his love for all people.
Some “Take- a ways”
+Bishop Tom Aitken
There is something powerful going on in the life of our church and the life of our youth. The risen Jesus – the One through whom all creation was made and through whom all creation is being redeemed was working in and through both our own Synod’s Journey, and the Gathering of our whole church to open our eyes to the goodness God intends for each person and all of creation. God’s love changes the way we see ourselves and the world. We lived together as one Body on Christ –experiencing the Good News and doing the Good News: God’s kind of love, inclusion, and justice! We learned that we can share both our joys and our struggles. The presenters, young and old, shared powerfully how God has changed everything for them! The laughter of young people is such good music to our ears in these days of cultural dysfunction all around us in this country. Where the world tries to divide, Jesus unites was an ever present theme under the theme “This changes Everything.” ( Go to: ELCA.org/gathering)
The insights of our young people are incredible. Just listen to them. As we take time, each of us, to notice, welcome and listen to the youth in our sphere of influence and vice versa, we become more whole. It happened this past week and I’m grateful to God for, once again, a powerful ELCA event that focuses on Jesus and his love for all people.
Some “Take- a ways”
- By grace you have been saved through faith!
- God is not looking for someone perfect, God is looking for you!
- Walking alongside people for as long as it takes is what God’s love is all about
- We don’t need to “fix” people, just accompany them
- The world needs us!
- Look at and listen to those who look and sound different from you
- Love people who love causes you don’t understand
- You Belong (so does everybody else (John 4:1-42))
- Who in your life feels they don’t belong?
- When you live by grace – you don’t have to be afraid of the truth – any truth!
- God is not waiting for you to become a self-help project
- Our wounds give God something to grab ahold of!
- Satan is the accuser who is always saying you are not enough!
- The Self that God loves is your actual self; Your ideal self is not real, YOU are!
+Bishop Tom Aitken
Please go to the following link to help:
National Council of Churches
Laments Opening of US Embassy in Jerusalem, Deaths of Palestinians
WASHINGTON: The National Council of Churches laments the move of the United States Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. We have previously warned that such an unwise and prejudicial action would make a peace settlement even more difficult to achieve and would indeed lead to violence. Today’s deadly violence bears out the truth of this warning.
At the time of this writing, at the border between Israel and Gaza, at least 61 Palestinians who were protesting the opening of the embassy have been killed by Israeli forces and 2,700 more have been injured. This is in addition to dozens already killed and thousands more wounded in recent weeks leading up to this move. The National Council of Churches condemns this violent and disproportionate response by Israeli forces. We consider it an illustration of the failure of Israel, the United States, and the international community to address the injustice of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land and the inability to conclude a two-state solution.
Moreover, we are deeply chagrined that Robert Jeffress, a Southern Baptist minister who has condemned Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Mormons, and others to hell led prayers at the opening of the US Embassy in Jerusalem. We are further disappointed by the presence of evangelical pastor John Hagee, a proponent of the misguided theology of Christian Zionism, among the invited speakers. Their unfortunate participation in today’s ceremony reflects the reality that yesterday’s event in Jerusalem represents pandering to a segment of evangelical Christianity here in the US rather than an affirmation of the hopes, dreams, aspirations, and prayers of Christians who live in the Holy Land.
Finally, the opening of the US Embassy in Jerusalem illustrates the increasing isolation of our country within the international community when it comes to policy in the region. In failing to help constructively address the prolonged crisis in Syria, and after unilaterally withdrawing from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran, today’s event in Jerusalem reflects the United States’ apparent abdication of its role as an honest proponent, broker, and partner for peace.
At the time of this writing, at the border between Israel and Gaza, at least 61 Palestinians who were protesting the opening of the embassy have been killed by Israeli forces and 2,700 more have been injured. This is in addition to dozens already killed and thousands more wounded in recent weeks leading up to this move. The National Council of Churches condemns this violent and disproportionate response by Israeli forces. We consider it an illustration of the failure of Israel, the United States, and the international community to address the injustice of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land and the inability to conclude a two-state solution.
Moreover, we are deeply chagrined that Robert Jeffress, a Southern Baptist minister who has condemned Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Mormons, and others to hell led prayers at the opening of the US Embassy in Jerusalem. We are further disappointed by the presence of evangelical pastor John Hagee, a proponent of the misguided theology of Christian Zionism, among the invited speakers. Their unfortunate participation in today’s ceremony reflects the reality that yesterday’s event in Jerusalem represents pandering to a segment of evangelical Christianity here in the US rather than an affirmation of the hopes, dreams, aspirations, and prayers of Christians who live in the Holy Land.
Finally, the opening of the US Embassy in Jerusalem illustrates the increasing isolation of our country within the international community when it comes to policy in the region. In failing to help constructively address the prolonged crisis in Syria, and after unilaterally withdrawing from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran, today’s event in Jerusalem reflects the United States’ apparent abdication of its role as an honest proponent, broker, and partner for peace.
ELCA presiding bishop's pastoral message on situation in Gaza
5/15/2018 2:45:00 PM
May 15, 2018
Like so many here in our country and around the world, I am appalled and saddened by yesterday's escalation of Israeli military action against protestors in Gaza. Many reports indicate that at least 60 Palestinians, including six children, have died and more than 2,000 have been injured as a result of Israel's disproportionate use of force. Our church will support a planned medical mission from The Lutheran World Federation's Augusta Victoria Hospital in Jerusalem to Gaza to assist the wounded.
I join Bishop Sani-Ibrahim Azar of our partner church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL), who today said:
We mourn with the families of the dead and dying and pray for the recovery of the injured. We believe that violent actions against the Palestinian civilians will hinder the potential for peace and reconciliation efforts between Israel and Palestine and will only lead to more violence and bloodshed.
I endorse his call "upon the Israeli government to show restraint and to pursue negotiations with Palestinian leaders rather than choosing violent action against unarmed protestors."
Yesterday's events should also be seen in the context of the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. When that decision was announced late last year, I said:
This unilateral action would not support the cause of peace and a two-state solution but rather would unnecessarily create further tensions and possible violence that would make efforts to bring them back together for talks much more difficult.
I also support the ELCJHL's long-standing position, affirmed by Bishop Azar today, that "any final status agreement will include Jerusalem as a shared city for Jews, Christians and Muslims with free access to holy sites for all and that it must serve as capital of both Palestine and Israel."
Always, but especially in this time of deep distress, I urge us all to join his call to "continue to pray, advocate and faithfully work towards a peaceful and just solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."
God's peace,
The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
5/15/2018 2:45:00 PM
May 15, 2018
Like so many here in our country and around the world, I am appalled and saddened by yesterday's escalation of Israeli military action against protestors in Gaza. Many reports indicate that at least 60 Palestinians, including six children, have died and more than 2,000 have been injured as a result of Israel's disproportionate use of force. Our church will support a planned medical mission from The Lutheran World Federation's Augusta Victoria Hospital in Jerusalem to Gaza to assist the wounded.
I join Bishop Sani-Ibrahim Azar of our partner church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL), who today said:
We mourn with the families of the dead and dying and pray for the recovery of the injured. We believe that violent actions against the Palestinian civilians will hinder the potential for peace and reconciliation efforts between Israel and Palestine and will only lead to more violence and bloodshed.
I endorse his call "upon the Israeli government to show restraint and to pursue negotiations with Palestinian leaders rather than choosing violent action against unarmed protestors."
Yesterday's events should also be seen in the context of the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. When that decision was announced late last year, I said:
This unilateral action would not support the cause of peace and a two-state solution but rather would unnecessarily create further tensions and possible violence that would make efforts to bring them back together for talks much more difficult.
I also support the ELCJHL's long-standing position, affirmed by Bishop Azar today, that "any final status agreement will include Jerusalem as a shared city for Jews, Christians and Muslims with free access to holy sites for all and that it must serve as capital of both Palestine and Israel."
Always, but especially in this time of deep distress, I urge us all to join his call to "continue to pray, advocate and faithfully work towards a peaceful and just solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."
God's peace,
The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
+Bishop Thomas M.Aitken
Bishop Aitken's Message for:
Lutheran Social Service
Center for Changing Lives
“...As the Father has sent me, so I send you”
(From John 20, the Gospel Lesson last week for Pentecost)
I'm proud of the 67 ELCA congregations all over our synod, for other congregations and church groups, for the city of Duluth, for assistance through grants and individual donors who helped to build this 3-story building to house life-giving services to homeless youth. We did it together because just as the Father sent Jesus, so Jesus has sent us out to love others. Serving 800 youth each year in Duluth, we are pledging to put an end to youth homelessness through the programs that will operate out of this Center for Changing Lives because no child or teenager should be without a bed and roof over their head or hope for their future - ever.
(From John 20, the Gospel Lesson last week for Pentecost)
I'm proud of the 67 ELCA congregations all over our synod, for other congregations and church groups, for the city of Duluth, for assistance through grants and individual donors who helped to build this 3-story building to house life-giving services to homeless youth. We did it together because just as the Father sent Jesus, so Jesus has sent us out to love others. Serving 800 youth each year in Duluth, we are pledging to put an end to youth homelessness through the programs that will operate out of this Center for Changing Lives because no child or teenager should be without a bed and roof over their head or hope for their future - ever.
Common characteristics of the young people who end up in Duluth from all over the State and who will be served through this Center:
100% of them are our youth, our brothers and sisters, loved by God!
100% of them scared, not scary
90% come from low income/poverty
80% come from abuse, including sexual abuse
85% have parents with chemical dependency
85% are disconnected from their primary caregiver during their formative years.
(Read: Kicked out of the house because of lack of proper parenting skills)
A quote I like:
“I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security”
-Pope Francis, Evangeli Gaudium: The Joy of the Gospel (p. 49)
What these life-giving Services are:
1st Floor:
100% of them are our youth, our brothers and sisters, loved by God!
100% of them scared, not scary
90% come from low income/poverty
80% come from abuse, including sexual abuse
85% have parents with chemical dependency
85% are disconnected from their primary caregiver during their formative years.
(Read: Kicked out of the house because of lack of proper parenting skills)
A quote I like:
“I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security”
-Pope Francis, Evangeli Gaudium: The Joy of the Gospel (p. 49)
What these life-giving Services are:
1st Floor:
- Teen Health Center: care to low-income, at-risk, and homeless youth ages 13-24, walk in health care
- Truancy Action Office: LSS works with 300 plus kids in three local school to catch truancy problems early
- LSS Together for Youth: Supportive and safe place for LGBTQ youth
- Oh No Eighteen: Supports youth ages 16-21, so they can live on their own after the age-out of foster care; life skills, job searching, budgeting and renting as well as the Leadership Council which is comprised of former foster youth who promote and educate others about foster care.
- 10 low-income apartments for you 18-23 who meet MN guidelines for homelessness.
- Youth receive life skills, employment, mental health care, addictions and trama help
- 10 Transitional Housing bedrooms - not apartments. For youth ages 16-21 for up to 18 months with support in education and employment goals. 2 of these beds are emergency Self-Referral beds for youth in immediate danger.
Contact Us:
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Northeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA
1105 E. Superior St., Upper Suite
Duluth, MN 55802
Office Hours:
M-F: 8:30am-4:30 pm
Telephone: 218.724.4424
Email: info@nemnsynod.org
Fax: 218.724.4393
1105 E. Superior St., Upper Suite
Duluth, MN 55802
Office Hours:
M-F: 8:30am-4:30 pm
Telephone: 218.724.4424
Email: info@nemnsynod.org
Fax: 218.724.4393
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Resources
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Bishop Aitken always has an abundance of good information to be shared. Now, instead of finding it at the bottom of the home page, he has an entire page dedicated to sharing these resources. it will be found under the home drop down list or by clicking this link.
One of Bishop Aitken's greatest joys as a Bishop, is the Bishop Visitations to Confirmation Students and parents in our Synod. He takes the Teaching Office of Bishop both seriously and joyfully and loves to be part of youth faith formation in this way and has been able to personally connect with so many across our Synod. If you would like, you may supply the names of those being Confirmed to the Synod Office and he will send a pastoral letter to each one, reminding them that they are joined to Christ forever, and encouraging them in their continued journey into the gift of faith.
You may send names and addresses to tammy.segelcrilly@nemnsynod.org
You may send names and addresses to tammy.segelcrilly@nemnsynod.org
STATEMENT IN SOLIDARITY WITH OUR CHILDREN AND YOUTH
March 5, 2018
As part of our work together , the bishops of the ELCA , this past week at the Conference of Bishops, discussed our precious young people, and the relentless violence that happens to them in this country, and the peaceful Kingdom God has called us to create in our personal and corporate lives together. Please read our Statement and share it widely, for we are called to be light to the world.
-Bishop Thomas Aitken, Northeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA
CLICK HERE FOR FULL STATEMENT
-Bishop Thomas Aitken, Northeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA
CLICK HERE FOR FULL STATEMENT
My Neighbor is Not for Sale
We are pleased to present our sixth congregational discussion guide, “My Neighbor is Not for Sale.”Joining our previous studies – “My Neighbor is Muslim”, “My Neighbor is on Medicaid”, etc. – “My Neighbor is Not for Sale” brings congregations the facts, figures, and stories of the insidious world of sex trafficking of children and youth in our country. It also represents our first collaboration with Cherish All Children, a 10-year-old Lutheran social ministry, which has recently become a service of LSS of Minnesota.
It has been a shock to so many of us to learn that, what we used to call prostitution, has been quietly and quite creepily replaced by an Internet-driven industry of luring kids into phony relationships, controlling them, and selling them in the sex trade right under our noses in communities everywhere.
The images we grew up with of adult women on the corners of the “red light district” soliciting men has been replaced with an invisible web of adults preying on children and youth. Our new awareness has also made us question whether those women in the “red light district” ever really had many choices in life themselves.
Over the past couple of years, the State of Minnesota has contracted with LSS and others to offer “Safe Harbor” services in several communities that reach out to youth trapped in trafficking, help them escape the life, and support them in getting back into strong and healthy lives, utilizing our years of experience working with homeless youth.
Our new affiliation with Cherish All Children adds a rich dimension of congregational outreach and education and a focus on helping our children and youth protect themselves from trafficking by teaching them to beware of the signals that they are being lured into the danger zone.
I wish you blessings on your journey of awareness and enlightenment.
Jodi Harpstead, CEO
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota
MY NEIGHBOR IS NOT FOR SALE download pdf
We are pleased to present our sixth congregational discussion guide, “My Neighbor is Not for Sale.”Joining our previous studies – “My Neighbor is Muslim”, “My Neighbor is on Medicaid”, etc. – “My Neighbor is Not for Sale” brings congregations the facts, figures, and stories of the insidious world of sex trafficking of children and youth in our country. It also represents our first collaboration with Cherish All Children, a 10-year-old Lutheran social ministry, which has recently become a service of LSS of Minnesota.
It has been a shock to so many of us to learn that, what we used to call prostitution, has been quietly and quite creepily replaced by an Internet-driven industry of luring kids into phony relationships, controlling them, and selling them in the sex trade right under our noses in communities everywhere.
The images we grew up with of adult women on the corners of the “red light district” soliciting men has been replaced with an invisible web of adults preying on children and youth. Our new awareness has also made us question whether those women in the “red light district” ever really had many choices in life themselves.
Over the past couple of years, the State of Minnesota has contracted with LSS and others to offer “Safe Harbor” services in several communities that reach out to youth trapped in trafficking, help them escape the life, and support them in getting back into strong and healthy lives, utilizing our years of experience working with homeless youth.
Our new affiliation with Cherish All Children adds a rich dimension of congregational outreach and education and a focus on helping our children and youth protect themselves from trafficking by teaching them to beware of the signals that they are being lured into the danger zone.
I wish you blessings on your journey of awareness and enlightenment.
Jodi Harpstead, CEO
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota
MY NEIGHBOR IS NOT FOR SALE download pdf
+Bishop’s Visitation to Confirmation Students
Bishop’s Visitation to Confirmation Students and their parents
Bishop Aitken invites you to request him for a Bishop’s Visitation to your Confirmation Class. What works best for his schedule is to schedule so these visitations are to clusters of congregations. He encourages parents to come that night as well so he can meet them and include them in the teaching time. He will teach the gospel, talk about Christian Vocation, the role of the Christian in our world, our call in Christ and end with Communion and Commissioning for service with Anointing oil from Palestine.
Bishop’s Visitation to Confirmation Students and their parents
Bishop Aitken invites you to request him for a Bishop’s Visitation to your Confirmation Class. What works best for his schedule is to schedule so these visitations are to clusters of congregations. He encourages parents to come that night as well so he can meet them and include them in the teaching time. He will teach the gospel, talk about Christian Vocation, the role of the Christian in our world, our call in Christ and end with Communion and Commissioning for service with Anointing oil from Palestine.
Bible and Brew Study Retreats
Believing and Having Faith
Bishop Aitken is open to leading a Bible and Faith Study for men’s, women’s or mixed men and women’s Retreats around the theme Belief and Faith. He uses the Gospels as well as other Biblical texts around the meanings of trust, fidelity, faith and believing. You could arrange with one of our Camps (where he has done these already) or at a location of your choosing. He presents a Biblical understanding of what faith and belief really are, and in particular, as a Lutheran Christian.
You may contact the synod office to make arrangements with him.
Bishop Aitken is open to leading a Bible and Faith Study for men’s, women’s or mixed men and women’s Retreats around the theme Belief and Faith. He uses the Gospels as well as other Biblical texts around the meanings of trust, fidelity, faith and believing. You could arrange with one of our Camps (where he has done these already) or at a location of your choosing. He presents a Biblical understanding of what faith and belief really are, and in particular, as a Lutheran Christian.
You may contact the synod office to make arrangements with him.
Minnesota Council of Churches Response to Executive Order on Refugees ..click here
"Evangelicals join Letter denouncing President Trumps order on Refugees" click HERE
Just what are Your Congregation's Intentions?
Ever wonder where your gifts to the church go?
see the following video.....and think about how you would like to give to mission support.
Get your intent form by clicking HERE.
East Jerusalem Hospital Advocacy Update
The Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem has faced periodic financial challenges due to lack of payments from the Palestinian Authority (PA) for the treatment of patients referred to the hospital by the Palestinian Ministry of Health. To learn more about the background of the issues facing this Lutheran World Federation (LWF) run hospital see this Peace Not Walls blog.Earlier this year, the situation reached a critical level when the hospital had to turn patients away because it was running out of vital medication to treat those who were critically ill. While the PA at that time made promises to resolve the situation, in effect it has failed to do so. For further details see the latest LWF Advocacy Update.
Having been alerted to this crisis situation, on October 13 ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton wrote a letter to the PLO Ambassador in Washington, Dr. Husam Zomlot, appealing to him to bring the situation “to an immediate, positive conclusion.” You can read her letter here.
Contact your elected officials today at the ELCA Action Center, and ask them to convey these concerns to Ambassador Zomlot as well.
The Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem has faced periodic financial challenges due to lack of payments from the Palestinian Authority (PA) for the treatment of patients referred to the hospital by the Palestinian Ministry of Health. To learn more about the background of the issues facing this Lutheran World Federation (LWF) run hospital see this Peace Not Walls blog.Earlier this year, the situation reached a critical level when the hospital had to turn patients away because it was running out of vital medication to treat those who were critically ill. While the PA at that time made promises to resolve the situation, in effect it has failed to do so. For further details see the latest LWF Advocacy Update.
Having been alerted to this crisis situation, on October 13 ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton wrote a letter to the PLO Ambassador in Washington, Dr. Husam Zomlot, appealing to him to bring the situation “to an immediate, positive conclusion.” You can read her letter here.
Contact your elected officials today at the ELCA Action Center, and ask them to convey these concerns to Ambassador Zomlot as well.
Click to go to ELCA.org
Accepting Donations!
If you wish to donate to Mission Support click the donate button
A Pastoral Letter regarding
our Neighbors and the Gospel
May 31, 2018
To: All Northeastern Minnesota Synod Congregations
Greetings to you in Jesus’ name:
You are a member of a church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Together, we are able to tackle difficult social issues with grace and courage. This is because we have been set free by the gospel. The core biblical and theological truth of God’s love in Christ, demonstrated through Jesus’ teachings, healings, the cross and resurrection, gives us confidence that we are justified by God’s amazing grace that sets us free to live like him.
Over the past couple of years, many of you engaged deeply in the celebrations of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Sermons were given all across this synod about Martin Luther’s incredible and life-changing biblical insights which free us from worrying about whether God really does love and save us. Like Luther, we are so empowered by this truth that we now use our lives and energy to love the neighbor; whoever that neighbor may be.
With God’s love, we can courageously love and serve our neighbor and even learn to reconcile differences regardless of whatever religion or creed. In the culture we live in right now, we all know how dangerously volatile the attitudes are of some toward Muslims, Refugees, People of Color, Native Americans, LGBTQ persons and other marginalized individuals. Christians offer a different model to the world in how to deal with our neighbors.
I commend all of you who have been in or are engaged in utilizing bible studies from our partners at Lutheran Social Service: And Who is My Neighbor? My Neighbor is Muslim, My Neighbor is Not for Sale, Not Even One Night (homeless youth). All resources are downloadable and can be found on the LSS Minnesota Website.
“So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new. All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” -2 Corinthians 5:16-21
You are empowered by Jesus to live like him. This is the promise of our baptism and the Holy Spirit’s work. His courage is in us. His gifts of compassion are already planted in our hearts. Be bold in the good work of compassion, understanding and blessing. Offer the world around you an alternate way of dealing with people who are different from you rather than the racism, bigotry, degradation, misrepresentation, fear and hatred we so often hear. Offer the way of the Christ who lives in you.
In Christ our Lord,
+Bishop Thomas M. Aitken
To: All Northeastern Minnesota Synod Congregations
Greetings to you in Jesus’ name:
You are a member of a church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Together, we are able to tackle difficult social issues with grace and courage. This is because we have been set free by the gospel. The core biblical and theological truth of God’s love in Christ, demonstrated through Jesus’ teachings, healings, the cross and resurrection, gives us confidence that we are justified by God’s amazing grace that sets us free to live like him.
Over the past couple of years, many of you engaged deeply in the celebrations of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Sermons were given all across this synod about Martin Luther’s incredible and life-changing biblical insights which free us from worrying about whether God really does love and save us. Like Luther, we are so empowered by this truth that we now use our lives and energy to love the neighbor; whoever that neighbor may be.
With God’s love, we can courageously love and serve our neighbor and even learn to reconcile differences regardless of whatever religion or creed. In the culture we live in right now, we all know how dangerously volatile the attitudes are of some toward Muslims, Refugees, People of Color, Native Americans, LGBTQ persons and other marginalized individuals. Christians offer a different model to the world in how to deal with our neighbors.
I commend all of you who have been in or are engaged in utilizing bible studies from our partners at Lutheran Social Service: And Who is My Neighbor? My Neighbor is Muslim, My Neighbor is Not for Sale, Not Even One Night (homeless youth). All resources are downloadable and can be found on the LSS Minnesota Website.
“So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new. All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” -2 Corinthians 5:16-21
You are empowered by Jesus to live like him. This is the promise of our baptism and the Holy Spirit’s work. His courage is in us. His gifts of compassion are already planted in our hearts. Be bold in the good work of compassion, understanding and blessing. Offer the world around you an alternate way of dealing with people who are different from you rather than the racism, bigotry, degradation, misrepresentation, fear and hatred we so often hear. Offer the way of the Christ who lives in you.
In Christ our Lord,
+Bishop Thomas M. Aitken
Current for Curran Fundraising Idea
This idea came from the East Central Wisconsin Synod women. The object is to “sell” each rectangle for $20. A filled board generates $500. To generate additional funds “sell” the rectangles more than once and/or get someone to provide matching dollars.
This idea came from the East Central Wisconsin Synod women. The object is to “sell” each rectangle for $20. A filled board generates $500. To generate additional funds “sell” the rectangles more than once and/or get someone to provide matching dollars.
- Purchase a 20”x30” sheet of black poster board.
- Use narrow gray duct tape to divide it into 25 rectangles and also wrap the edges with the duct tape.
- Use a gray Sharpie pen to make the vertical broken lines.
- Create a description sheet, a cute sun and purchase some stickers of the sun. The stickers can be used to show that a panel has been purchased. If you have enough donors to fill the board more than once just put more stickers on each panel. Have fun with it.
- Contact Mary Jo Mettler at djmjmettler@gmail.com and she will send you an electronic copy of her description and sun plus a vendor for stickers.
Current for Curran....
Dear Friends
As you know the solar project at Phebe Hospital is successfully generating power. In November 11 of us traveled to Phebe to celebration the formal dedication dedication of the system. It was an awesome event. As part of the trip we traveled to Curran Hospital in ZorZor, which is about 45 miles north of Phebe, but takes about 3 hours to travel to.That gives you some idea of the condition of the road. ZorZor is about a 30 minute drive from the Guinea border so many of the patients Curran treats come from there.
Curran will be the next recipient of a solar array similar to the one at Phebe. The solar panels for the array have been donated by First Solar, over $40,000 has been received from Women of the ELCA through the generous donations at the Triennial events in Minneapolis and just this week a donation of $2,000 was given that required a match before it would be received. Generous folks came forward and donated over $3,400.
We need to raise an additional $200,000 hopefully by Easter (86 days) Attached is a simple fundraising idea I got when I gave a presentation for the East Central Wisconsin Synod Women of the ELCA in November. I hope you will consider using it in your church or organization. Perhaps you can even find donor(s) who will match a portion of the donations collected.
Blessings on your day
Mary Jo Mettler
As you know the solar project at Phebe Hospital is successfully generating power. In November 11 of us traveled to Phebe to celebration the formal dedication dedication of the system. It was an awesome event. As part of the trip we traveled to Curran Hospital in ZorZor, which is about 45 miles north of Phebe, but takes about 3 hours to travel to.That gives you some idea of the condition of the road. ZorZor is about a 30 minute drive from the Guinea border so many of the patients Curran treats come from there.
Curran will be the next recipient of a solar array similar to the one at Phebe. The solar panels for the array have been donated by First Solar, over $40,000 has been received from Women of the ELCA through the generous donations at the Triennial events in Minneapolis and just this week a donation of $2,000 was given that required a match before it would be received. Generous folks came forward and donated over $3,400.
We need to raise an additional $200,000 hopefully by Easter (86 days) Attached is a simple fundraising idea I got when I gave a presentation for the East Central Wisconsin Synod Women of the ELCA in November. I hope you will consider using it in your church or organization. Perhaps you can even find donor(s) who will match a portion of the donations collected.
Blessings on your day
Mary Jo Mettler
Bishop Aitken's Online May 7, 2018
A sincere thanks to all the Synod assembly planners, my Staff, the musicians, speakers, pages , Synod council, our vice president and secretary and all those who helped make the assembly a success! I just received a video from Pastor Konstatin from Cheboksary, Russia (one of our Companion Partners), please watch it!
Bishop Aitken's Response to President Trump's words and actions
I have not been able to ignore nor abide our president's recent remarks about people from other lands: Africa, Haiti etc...
When Christians recognize that our life in Christ calls us to joyful and ultimate loyalty to our Lord Jesus Christ, and his alternate life-style of unconditional love and courage, we cannot but stand against bigoted statements and the systemic racism we live in. Our God-given faith calls us to engage the very underlying assumptions of the cultures of vulgarity, supremacy and bigotry. Jesus would be surprised by followers of his who do not see in every person someone that God loves whether near or far away from us. We who live "in Christ" as the New Testament declares over and over have been given the good and holy task of loving each person and coming to the aid of the marginalized. We are empowered already by the Spirit of God to boldly live into God's dream for the world which doesn't include demeaning others but as St. Paul says, lives joyfully into the reconciling work of Jesus.
Open the eyes of our hearts, Lord.
And open our lives to the courage of Jesus.
A Prayer of Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471)
Grant to me, O God,
to know what I ought to know,
to love what I ought to love,
to pray what delights you most,
to value what is precious in your sight,
to hate what is offensive to you.
Do not allow me to judge according to the sight of my eyes,
Nor to pass sentence according to the hearing of the ears of the foolish;
But to discern with true judgment between things visible and spiritual,
And above all things to pursue what is the good pleasure of your holy will,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
When Christians recognize that our life in Christ calls us to joyful and ultimate loyalty to our Lord Jesus Christ, and his alternate life-style of unconditional love and courage, we cannot but stand against bigoted statements and the systemic racism we live in. Our God-given faith calls us to engage the very underlying assumptions of the cultures of vulgarity, supremacy and bigotry. Jesus would be surprised by followers of his who do not see in every person someone that God loves whether near or far away from us. We who live "in Christ" as the New Testament declares over and over have been given the good and holy task of loving each person and coming to the aid of the marginalized. We are empowered already by the Spirit of God to boldly live into God's dream for the world which doesn't include demeaning others but as St. Paul says, lives joyfully into the reconciling work of Jesus.
Open the eyes of our hearts, Lord.
And open our lives to the courage of Jesus.
A Prayer of Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471)
Grant to me, O God,
to know what I ought to know,
to love what I ought to love,
to pray what delights you most,
to value what is precious in your sight,
to hate what is offensive to you.
Do not allow me to judge according to the sight of my eyes,
Nor to pass sentence according to the hearing of the ears of the foolish;
But to discern with true judgment between things visible and spiritual,
And above all things to pursue what is the good pleasure of your holy will,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.