April 2010

Pre-Assembly Gatherings
April 11, 2:30-5 p.m., 3 locations
The purpose of the pre-assembly regional gatherings are to give voting members a chance to review and discuss all resolutions that will be presented at the 2010 Synod Assembly in a less formal structure than Robert's Rules of Order. The focus will be for voting members to gain clarity and understanding of the resolutions, not to debate them. Those who are new voting members will have an opportunity to become familiar with the workings of the Synod assembly.

Locations: St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 13600 Technology Dr, Eden Prairie; St. James Lutheran Church, 6700 46th Pl N, Crystal; and Mount Olivet Lutheran Church, 5025 Knox Ave S, Minneapolis.

College of Retired Church Workers Luncheon
April 13, noon, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 4100 Lyndale Ave, Minneapolis
This luncheon is for retired clergy, associates in ministry, church workers, and spouses of the Minneapolis Area and Saint Paul Area Synods. Speaker will be Russell Anderson, retired Chief Justice, Minnesota Supreme Court. Everyone is welcome. Reservations required. Cost: $12 per person; $20 per couple. RSVP by April 8 to Cyndi Berg at 651-224-4313.

Safeguarding God's Children: Training the Trainer
April 15, 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Immanuel Lutheran Church, 104 Snelling Ave S, St. Paul
A workshop for rostered and lay children, youth, and family ministry leaders in the Saint Paul and Minneapolis Area Synods. This is an in-depth educational and training program for preventing and responding to child sexual abuse in everyday life and in ministry. The workshop will train participants to use the Safeguarding God's Children materials (available through your synod office) in their own training sessions for anyone (paid or volunteer staff) working with children, youth or vulnerable adult within a congregation. Cost: $45. Download brochure and registration form>>

Global Companion Celebration
April 15, 7:30 p.m., St. Barnabas Lutheran Church, 15600 Old Rockford Rd, Plymouth
Congregations involved in global companion  relationships or congregations interested in entering into global relationships are invited to attend the third annual Global Companion Celebration. Kris Perry, companion synod coordinator, will tell about plans to visit brothers and sisters in the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria again this fall. New developments with the other synod companion, the Leipzig District Evangelical Lutheran Church in Saxony, Germany, will also be explained. This gathering also provides a wonderful opportunitiy for congregational representatives to gather in small groups to discuss their challenges and successes in global relationships. All congregations are invited to send representatives to this event. If you have questions, please contact Kris Perry at k.perry@mpls-synod.org.

Lutheran Marriage Encounter Weekend
April 16-18, Duluth
Spend two nights in a comfortable hotel and enjoy five delicious meals from Friday at 7:00 p.m. to Sunday at 5:00 p.m. Four presenting couples, including a Lutheran clergy couple, give a series of presentations followed by questions the couples discuss in the privacy of their hotel room. There is no counseling and no group sharing. No one is turned away for financial reasons. Please register at least a month in advance. For more information, contact Dick and Judy Dehnel at 952-432-3105, Pete and Phyllis McMahon at 763-561-1575 or visit www.godlovesmarriage.org.

Deepening the Welcome: After Churchwide Assembly 2009
April 17, 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m., Edina Community Lutheran Church, 4113 West 54th Street, Edina
Since the decisions at Churchwide Assembly 2009, many congregations have sought ways to be faithful to the scriptures to fulfill the welcome of Jesus Christ. This workshop focuses on how congregations can follow the scriptures to become more welcoming to all persons, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered Lutherans. Includes sessions on a biblical perspective on welcome, making your welcome visible and other topics. More info at www.msp-synod-inclusivity.org/id3.html.

Worship Dialogue
April 20, 11:30 a.m., St. John’s Lutheran Church, 4842 Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis
Dr. Paul Westermeyer, Professor of Church Music, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, will speak at a Worship Dialogue Gathering on “Hymnody and Healing.”  Bring bag lunch if desired. 612-827-4406.

Understanding How Systems Function
April 22, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Luther Seminary
This workshop has been scheduled to help us understand how we can function better in the systems of which we are a part. We will look at a major concept in systems theory through presentation and discussion. Workshop 3 will consider the process of emotional transmission within families of origin, current nuclear families, the congregation, and the whole trans-generational system. More information>>

Synod Assembly Opening Worship
April 23, 7 p.m., Central Lutheran Church, Minneapolis
ALL ARE INVITED TO ATTEND. Invite your family and friends to attend with you. Worship planner is Mark Sedio, Cantor, Central Lutheran. Choirs from all over the Minneapolis Area Synod will be featured and Bishop Craig Johnson will be preaching.

Synod Assembly
April 24, 8:15 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church, Prior Lake
The theme for our 2010 Synod Assembly, “A Community Gathered by Christ: From Stranger to Neighbor,” is a statement of our renewed commitment to building relationships among our diverse members of the Body of Christ within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Find out more information and register online.

Lutheran Marriage Encounter Weekend
April 30 - May 2, Alexandria
Spend two nights in a comfortable hotel and enjoy five delicious meals from Friday at 7:00 p.m. to Sunday at 5:00 p.m. Four presenting couples, including a Lutheran clergy couple, give a series of presentations followed by questions the couples discuss in the privacy of their hotel room. There is no counseling and no group sharing. No one is turned away for financial reasons. Please register at least a month in advance. For more information, contact Dick and Judy Dehnel at 952-432-3105, Pete and Phyllis McMahon at 763-561-1575 or visit www.godlovesmarriage.org.