Today's Top Stories:
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Power and Boundaries Training event
WHEN: Thursday, August 24th, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm WHERE: Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Cloquet, Minnesota COST: $20 Covers registration, materials and lunch. Presenters: Pastor Kevin Olson and Pastor Karen Bockleman. REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Or call the synod office at 218-724-4424 Attendance for Pastors and Deacons is expected, as always. We will learn about risky behavior that leads to misconduct. Our synod office keeps a record of attendance at Power and Boundary Training Events and we file a certificate of completion in your file upon completion of the training. All rostered leaders are expected to participate in one of these workshops at least every three years. From Scripture: I Peter 5:2-3 “Tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it – not for sordid gain but eagerly. Do not lord it over those in your charge but be examples to the flock.” Words taken from our vows as Rostered Leaders: “Care for God’s people, bear their burdens and do not betray their confidence. So discipline yourself in life and teaching that you preserve the truth giving no occasion for false security or illusory hope…………..Grant that in all things he/she may serve without reproach, that your people may be renewed and your name be glorified in the Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever.” From Vision and Expectations: “The Evangelical Lutheran church in America has high expectations for those who serve within the ministry of this church. It does so because it recognizes that when offense is given by (a rostered leader) the witness of the gospel may be impaired and the ability to carry out public ministry is threatened. Bless you in the ministry you have accepted and live out so well by God’s grace, Bishop Tom Aitken The Ministry of Imagination
Thursday, July 13 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. United Lutheran Church of Proctor - 701 Third Ave. - Proctor, MN 55810 Our God is the author of creativity and originality! God repeatedly shows up with amazing ideas and invites God's people to live into them.
You are invited to gather with others from across our synod for an evening where provocative propositions will be explored - to break out of our limited imaginations and dream God-sized dreams, while thinking strategically about our synod's potential for new or revitalized ministries. There is no cost for this event. A light supper will be served. Come and join the creativity! CLICK HERE TO REGISTER Bishop Aitken's Message :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. 
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:
LSS Center for Changing Lives OPEN HOUSE!
Monday, June 12 from 5:00-7:00 Location: 1422 E Superior Street SAVE THE DATE – ACYTI 2017
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Please Submit Your Annual Reports.
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Click HERE to go to ELCA Reports to the Bishop page
Click to go to ELCA.org
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
Accepting Donations!
If you wish to donate to Mission Support click the donate button
Ever wonder where your gifts to the church go?
see the following video.....
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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.
Bishop Aitken's Editorial on Refugees as printed in the Sunday Feb 12th issue of the Duluth News Tribune. Click HERE
A Pastoral Letter From Bishop Aitken
I want to thank the organizers, the break out session leaders, the helpers and all the men who attended the Annual Brainerd/Baxter Area Men's Retreat. You guys are marvelous examples of Lutherans who live out of God's unconditional grace, who are eager to learn more, ready for fellowship and service, and who have fun living into the gift of faith. I was invited to be keynote speaker, on the topic of "Believing and Faith" focusing on what is the essential and learning not to "major in minors" when it comes to Christianity.
Pastor Rye's sermon at worship was dead on. An outstanding musical artist, Richard Bruxvoort Colligan teamed up with Steve to provide music leadership for the Retreat. There's something awesome about someone who can create good, moving music and lyrics as he is listening to the presentation. It was powerful to work with him!
The most important truth about faith, is that it is not an achievement, but a gift, just like the gift of salvation. Faith is not primarily agreeing with statements about God but trust IN God, in Christ, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit which works in our lives like yeast works on bread and beer - forming a new creation! Faith is trusting in the sure promise of unbelievably good news: God loves you, always has, always will, and the Spirit will tenaciously create a response of faith in you Hold on and enjoy the ride! Reach out, risk out to serve your neighbor for Christ lives in you. You can dare to step out in faith, and if you fail, you're still in! You belong no matter where you are in your faith journey.
As we continue to lift up the core of our faith and the good work and passion of Martin Luther in this year of the 500th Observance of the Reformation, let's keep the gospel front and center and live into it boldly! And let's remember Jesus, our Lord, trumps all other "lords" not matter now compelling or appealing they may be.
+Bishop Thomas M. Aitken
Pastor Rye's sermon at worship was dead on. An outstanding musical artist, Richard Bruxvoort Colligan teamed up with Steve to provide music leadership for the Retreat. There's something awesome about someone who can create good, moving music and lyrics as he is listening to the presentation. It was powerful to work with him!
The most important truth about faith, is that it is not an achievement, but a gift, just like the gift of salvation. Faith is not primarily agreeing with statements about God but trust IN God, in Christ, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit which works in our lives like yeast works on bread and beer - forming a new creation! Faith is trusting in the sure promise of unbelievably good news: God loves you, always has, always will, and the Spirit will tenaciously create a response of faith in you Hold on and enjoy the ride! Reach out, risk out to serve your neighbor for Christ lives in you. You can dare to step out in faith, and if you fail, you're still in! You belong no matter where you are in your faith journey.
As we continue to lift up the core of our faith and the good work and passion of Martin Luther in this year of the 500th Observance of the Reformation, let's keep the gospel front and center and live into it boldly! And let's remember Jesus, our Lord, trumps all other "lords" not matter now compelling or appealing they may be.
+Bishop Thomas M. Aitken
+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.
Join leaders from across this church for the
Rostered Ministers Gathering – the first of its kind.
This event will be an opportunity for all rostered ministers from across this church to assemble for worship, education and fellowship under the theme “On the Way…Together.”
Two pre-events will allow time for federal chaplains and young rostered ministers (20s and 30s) to gather and network.
Registration will open on March 1, 2017.
Please visit ELCA.org/RMG in the coming months
for details, speakers and more.
Questions? Contact us at 2017MinistersGathering@elca.org.
Rostered Ministers Gathering – the first of its kind.
This event will be an opportunity for all rostered ministers from across this church to assemble for worship, education and fellowship under the theme “On the Way…Together.”
Two pre-events will allow time for federal chaplains and young rostered ministers (20s and 30s) to gather and network.
Registration will open on March 1, 2017.
Please visit ELCA.org/RMG in the coming months
for details, speakers and more.
Questions? Contact us at 2017MinistersGathering@elca.org.
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Update on PV for Phebe: Click HERE
Minnesota Council of Churches Response to Executive Order on Refugees ..click here
"Evangelicals join Letter denouncing President Trumps order on Refugees" click HERE
From Bishop Aitken
Let's not forget that there is other news in the wider world, beyond what our media currently focuses on, for example, South Sudan Relief
The Situation:
Civil war and famine in South Sudan have caused nearly 5 million people to be food insecure. Rates of acute malnutrition are well over the emergency thresholds in most of the country. This is the first internationally declared famine anywhere in the world in the last six years.
This crisis has driven about 100,000 people to flee their homes since the beginning of the year. More than 90 percent of them are women and children. With the influx of refugees, the resources of neighboring host countries are running thin.
Our Response:
Lutheran Disaster Response is committed to walking with our brothers and sisters affected by the crisis in South Sudan by responding within the country as well as across its borders. Because we are a church working with companion churches and other ecumenical partners in the region, we are prepared to provide care, support and hope. We need you to join us in this effort.
Operating through local partners, we will accompany survivors through food distribution, temporary shelter, water and sanitation, and psychosocial support. Your gifts are needed to provide this lifesaving aid. This immediate aid is being linked to a longer-term commitment to South Sudan by ELCA World Hunger to build up resilient communities and provide health care, and by ELCA’s Global Church Sponsorship in completion of a ministry center including a health clinic.
What Can You Do?
Pray:
Pray for those affected by the violence that they may be granted peace and healing. Visit the Lutheran Disaster Response resource page for worship resources.
Give:
Your gifts designated for the South Sudan Relief will be used in full (100 percent) to assist those impacted until the response is complete. Gifts from people like you allow us to accompany those who are suffering.
Connect:
To learn more about the situation and the ELCA’s response:
Let's not forget that there is other news in the wider world, beyond what our media currently focuses on, for example, South Sudan Relief
The Situation:
Civil war and famine in South Sudan have caused nearly 5 million people to be food insecure. Rates of acute malnutrition are well over the emergency thresholds in most of the country. This is the first internationally declared famine anywhere in the world in the last six years.
This crisis has driven about 100,000 people to flee their homes since the beginning of the year. More than 90 percent of them are women and children. With the influx of refugees, the resources of neighboring host countries are running thin.
Our Response:
Lutheran Disaster Response is committed to walking with our brothers and sisters affected by the crisis in South Sudan by responding within the country as well as across its borders. Because we are a church working with companion churches and other ecumenical partners in the region, we are prepared to provide care, support and hope. We need you to join us in this effort.
Operating through local partners, we will accompany survivors through food distribution, temporary shelter, water and sanitation, and psychosocial support. Your gifts are needed to provide this lifesaving aid. This immediate aid is being linked to a longer-term commitment to South Sudan by ELCA World Hunger to build up resilient communities and provide health care, and by ELCA’s Global Church Sponsorship in completion of a ministry center including a health clinic.
What Can You Do?
Pray:
Pray for those affected by the violence that they may be granted peace and healing. Visit the Lutheran Disaster Response resource page for worship resources.
Give:
Your gifts designated for the South Sudan Relief will be used in full (100 percent) to assist those impacted until the response is complete. Gifts from people like you allow us to accompany those who are suffering.
Connect:
To learn more about the situation and the ELCA’s response:
2017 Compensation & Benefit Guidelines
See under home drop down list-resources.
See under home drop down list-resources.
