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Luncheon for Retired Clergy, SAMs and
Deacons..... August 4th 11:00am at Concordia Lutheran in Duluth If you have not RSVP'd please do so! Call the synod office at 218-724-4424 or email: info@nemnsynod.org We hope to see you there! 
Special Guest: The Rev. Dr. George Martin
Meeting the St. Paul You Never Thought You’d Meet Pastor George Martin came out his Episcopal church retirement to serve as the Interim Senior Pastor at the Lutheran Church of the Cross in August 2016. He put the writing part of his book about St. Paul on hold while doing the interim, but was happy to teach about St. Paul in forums, sermons, and Bible studies at the church. His intensive work on St. Paul stems back eight years and really began with his arguments with St. Paul. The St. Paul that he didn’t like has become the Paul that most people don’t know. The major premise of his work is to let the autobiographical statements from Paul’s letters (clearly the seven that most scholars believe were authentically Paul) speak for Paul's personal story. Most people don’t know even the meaning of Paul’s name and how that name symbolized a story of downward mobility in reference to his call to be an apostle. We’re not giving Pastor Martin the time he really needs, but you’ll find many surprising sides of Paul in his short talk. 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 218-724-4424Attendance 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 Bishop Rolando from the Lutheran Church in Honduras giving presentation:
Liberation Theology Presentation, Bishop Rolando (Lutheran church of Honduras) at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd -1325 N 45th Ave E. Duluth, MN. 55804 on August 8th, 10 am to noon
Bishop Aitken's Message for:
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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 Reflections For July 17, 2017
This past Sunday, I was invited to preach and preside at the Lutherans in the Park, an outdoor worship service held at the Bennett Park Band Shell in Hibbing. Four congregations joined together in gathering for Praise, for hearing the Word and receiving the Eucharist, for fellowship and for a picnic! It was marvelous. I appreciate so much the good work of leaders who can initiate communal gatherings like this in our synod – and it happens in a variety of places throughout our Synod! (click each thumbnail photo for full image to appear.) This Wednesday, these same congregations, along with many other congregations in our Laurentian Conference are gathering together at 5 pm for a Hog Roast and Concert Vesper Service at Messiah Lutheran, Mountain Iron, MN. In addition to the good food and worship, the purpose is to address raise funds for Seminarian Debt Relief. Gone are the days when “the church” paid for Seminary Tuition and related costs. Seminarians today are graduating with an incredible debt load, the average of which is around $40,000. (That’s average, so some Seminarians have much higher debt.) In particular, this is an issue for First Call Pastors and Deacons who might otherwise be very open to underserved (read: rural) areas of our church.
A few years ago, we initiated in our synod a “Seminarian Debt Reduction Fund” and each year we divide up what is left for those who apply. That amount is dwindling. Events like the one planned at Messiah, Mountain Iron are a faithful and joyful response to that reality. Come if you are able, or call the synod office for more information on how you can join Beckie and me in undergirding this important Ministry Fund. Live into the Faith God has given you – by grace! +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. Bible and Brew Study RetreatsBelieving 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. 
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.
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
Click to go to ELCA.org
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 Accepting Donations!
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