October 2010

Third Annual Taste of Phillips
October 1-10, St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 2742 15th Ave S, Minneapolis
The event celebrates the diversity of arts and culture in the Phillips neighborhood.  On Friday, October 1, there will be an artist’s reception and Poetry/Spoken Word reading, starting at 7:00 p.m. On Saturday, October 2, starting at 10:00 a.m., there will be Scandinavian pastries and Café con Leche, dedication of murals done by St. Paul’s youth during the summer, a photography exhibit of children’s work, and a hands-on mosaic class taught by Greta McLain.  This activity is made possible in part by a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. The church’s gallery, featuring work by local artists, will be open from October 1 to October 10. Please call the church office at 612-724-3862 for hours.

Living Well Day for Professional Church Workers
October 5, 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., Nicollet Island Pavilion, 40 Power St., Minneapolis
Wheat Ridge Ministries, in partnership with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, is pleased to host a Living Well Day for Professional Church Workers in Minneapolis. The featured presenter will be Rev. Ronald Glusenkamp, Senior Pastor, Bethany Lutheran Church, Cherry Hills Village, Colorado. The title of his presentation is "Bake and Be Blessed – A Metaphor for Spiritual Growth." Join us for an uplifting day, both professionally and personally, with speakers, devotions, fellowship and sharing! Attendance is FREE of charge, and Continental breakfast and lunch are provided. To register, please visit www.wheatridge.org/LWD. For questions, please call Wheat Ridge Ministries at 800-762-6748. Deadline to register is September 28.

Agora Growing Church Seminar
October 9, 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Calvary Lutheran Church, Golden Valley
Theme is "Who Is My Neighbor?" Dr. David Lose will be a keynote speaker and congregational leaders will share their stories of engaging the new neighbors in their communities. Cost is $20 per person and $75 for congregational groups of four. For more information and to register see the Agora website at www.agoraministry.org.

That You May Be Well: For Parish Nurses, Lay Leaders and Pastors
October 9, 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Community of the Cross Lutheran Church, 10701 Bloomington Ferry Rd
Parish nurses, lay leaders, and pastors, discover what it means to live well in Christ. God calls us to live life abundantly. All too often we find ourselves out of breath and out of balance as we try to keep up with our ministries and service in this fast paced world. We are confronted with living up to expectations we place on ourselves and those set by our congregations. As leaders in this church we are called to pass on our faith. We know that healthy leaders enhance lives. How can we live well, balanced and as whole people of God? Catch your breath and take a look at your own well-being. Healthy leaders enhance lives — let’s get moving! More details coming soon. Sponsored by the Minneapolis Area Synod Leadership Table, Health & Wellness Task Force

Grandparenting 2.0: Are you Relevant?
October 9, 8:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m., Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 12650 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley
Grandparenting is high, holy work. Scripture affirms grandparents as vital to transmitting faith to the next generations, and research agrees. We are called to love our grandchildren with the love of Christ, discover delight and laugh joyfully with these children and to pass on a legacy of faith, sharing time, stories and prayer. This conference is for all who are grandparents, grandparent-wanna-bes, and “faith grandparents”—all of us Christian adults “of a certain age” who are called by God to nurture faith for children in the congregation and
community. Join Marilyn Sharpe, grandparent, parent, faith educator and parent educator, for an inspiring opportunity to learn how we can respond to God’s call to us to “Go, make disciples” of these precious
children. Cost: $10 (includes breakfast) 50% of the cost will benefit Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery. To register go to www.thrivent.com/thriventcommunitydakotavalley or email Ashley.Silber@thrivent.com or call 952-277-2603.

Faith & Life Lecture Series
Faith and the Gifts of Imperfection: Living with courage, Connection and Compassion
October 14, 7 p.m., St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church, 17205 County Road Six, Plymouth
Dr. Brené Brown serves as a research professor and writer at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. For the past ten years, she has studied vulnerability, courage, and authenticity. The Faith & Life Lectures are open and welcoming public forums where nationally known speakers reflect on how Christian faith intersects with different dimensions of everyday life. Visit www.faith-and-life.org for more information, or call 763-475-7136 or e-mail info@faith-and-life.org.

Synod's Got Talent: Lively Ways to Engage the Bible
October 16, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Hopkins
Come and experience a variety of Bible studies with some of the most innovative minds in the Minneapolis Area Synod. If you are interested in growing in faith, learning, reading the Bible and having fun, this workshop is for you. Cost is $5 per person, with a maximum of $25 for all who attend from the same congregation. Lunch is available and is an extra $5 per person. Payment will be taken at the door or can be sent with registration form. More information about workshops and registration form>>

Fall and Beyond: Beginning a Conversation about Commitment to Holistic, Year Round Stewardship
October 16, 9-10:30 a.m., First Lutheran Church, 1555 40th Avenue Northeast, Columbia Heights
A four part interactive series that will focus on exploring together ways to build a strong foundation and a lasting strategy around stewardship and generosity in our congregations. You are invited to join other congregation members who are on a journey of becoming more generous givers. Topic: Creating opportunities to tell the stories of personal and congregational transformation through generous giving. More information and registration>

Global Health Ministries' Annual Conference
October 23, 8:15 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 18500 County Road 101, Maple Grove
The title of the conference is "GHM and You: Making a Difference in the World", and will feature a number of exciting workshops, speakers, stories, and more. Great opportunity to learn, share, network, and fellowship as we continue this ministry of healing and hope for the world's poor and sick through Lutheran health care programs around the world. For more information, visit www.ghm.org.

Healthy Boundaries/Healthy Relationships
October 26, 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., House of Prayer Lutheran Church, Richfield
Especially designed for leaders of children, youth, and family ministries. Sponsored by the Minneapolis and Saint Paul Area Synods. More details to come.

Healthy Congregations Facilitator Training
October 28-29, Luther Seminary, St. Paul
Healthy Congregations is a series of six workshops, each five sessions in length. It was designed by Dr. Peter Steinke to help congregations move forward in their ministry. Healthy Congregations workshops are based on systems theory in their understanding of congregations. This perspective has helped hundreds of congregations understand the dynamics of working together. By participating in this facilitator training event, you will be able to purchase the materials and to lead the workshops in the congregation you serve.

The training event will be held at Luther Seminary on Thursday, October 28, from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and on Friday, October 29, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  Enrollment is limited to 15 participants. The cost of the training is $425.00 and includes all materials, meals (lunch and supper on Thursday and lunch on Friday), coffee and fees. Registration closes October 18. For more information contact Roger Schwarze, 651-777-5102 or rschwarze@qwest.net. 

Singing the Faith Hymn Festival
October 31, 7 p.m., Luther Seminary, Olson Campus Center, St. Paul
The Luther Seminary community once again looks forward to the annual Singing the Faith hymn festival, a service of choir anthems, hymns and readings celebrating the Lutheran Reformation. Luther welcomes the Gustavus Adolphus choir, under the direction of Gregory Aune, as the guest choir. Preceding the festival will be the annual festival buffet dinner, which will be a Swedish smorgasbord, including the ever-popular dish among those of Scandinavian descent, lutefisk. Swedish meatballs will also be served as part of the buffet. The dinner will cost $15 per person. Reservations can be made by contacting Lynne Moratzka at lmoratzk@luthersem.edu or 651-641-3419.