For the Week of APRIL 21, 2008

-Spring Ministerium
-From the Task Force for the Election of the Bishop
-From a Minnesota Without Poverty
-Jump Start Your Fall Stewardship Appeal
-Fifty Years of Jewish Christian Dialogue
-Crossing Bridges: Bridges to Ending Poverty Grant Requests Due May 1
-Global Mission Formation Event
-Events Around and About the Saint Paul Area Synod
-Mission Director for Saint Paul Area and Minneapolis Area Synods

Attention all rostered leaders
Spring Ministerium
Apr. 24, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon, St. Michael’s Lutheran, 1660 County Road B West, Roseville. The Rev. Stephen Bouman, newly elected executive director of the Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission unit of the ELCA, will be the featured speaker. Directions to St. Michael's>

From the Task Force For the Election of the Bishop
Questions for the Bishop's Q&A at the Synod Assembly
The task force for the election of the bishop is soliciting possible questions from the members of the Saint Paul Area Synod for the question and answer period on May 30. Do you have a question to suggest for our candidates? Please send your question for consideration to Rev. Kent Claussen Gubrud by May 5 to youthrev@pro-ns.net, or by mail at Christus Victor Lutheran Church, 7510 Palomino Drive, Apple Valley, MN 55124.

Announcements from the Synod Office
Jump Start Your Fall Stewardship Appeal
Pastors, congregational leaders, and members of stewardship committees are invited to attend a workshop sponsored by the synod’s stewardship dream team on Saturday, April 26 from 8:30-11:30 AM at Grace Lutheran Church, 1730 Old Hudson Road, St. Paul (just north of the intersection of I 94 and White Bear Ave.). The day will include introduction, devotions and synodical stewardship information by Bishop Rogness, a panel discussion on Best Stewardship Practices (moderator Anne Losby, Augustana Lutheran Church; panelists – Kisten Thompson, Will Nordmark, St. James Lutheran, Burnsville; Dale Stiles, Fish Lake Lutheran, Harris) and a workshop session designed to assist stewardship committees in planning their fall financial stewardship drive. We are hopeful that at the end of this morning, every congregation who attends will have picked a theme, developed a calendar and decided on a method for your fall stewardship drive, as well as receiving materials that can be modified for use in your congregation. Please register for this event by calling Cyndi Berg at the synod office.

A Minnesota Without Poverty
Metro Gathering of A Minnesota Without Poverty
May 1, 7:00-8:30 p.m., Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, 285 Dale, St. Paul. For information visit www.mnwithoutpoverty.org. The program will include:

• Gathering and Connecting
• “Close the Gap” documentary—Class Disparities
• Legislative Commission to End Poverty Up-Date
• Celebration of future relationship with Minnesota Council of Churches
• Taking Action to Make a Difference

Special guests are Gregory Gray, director, Legislative Commission to End Poverty; Chris Morton, —director, program development, Minnesota Council of Churches; and Lucy Swift, director, partnership development, Twin Cities Public Television.

Ascension Day Breakfast
May 1, 9:00-11:00 a.m., Club 3 Degrees, Minneapolis. An annual networking event for children, youth, and family ministry leaders of the Minneapolis and Saint Paul Area Synods! Featuring: Dr. Winston Persaud from Wartburg Seminary, keynote speaker, and Chelsea Forbrook and Jeni Hill, from The Word worship team, musicians. Register by Monday, April 28 to registrar, Dawn Wickner: Fax, email, call, or mail! d.wickner@mpls-synod.org or 612.870.3610  (phone) or 612.870-0170 (fax).

From Pastor John Matthews
The Benefits of 50 Years of Jewish Christian Dialogue
"Fifty years of Jewish Christian Dialogue" will be will be the topic of a morning forum on May 15, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon, at Mount Olivet Lutheran, 5025 Knox Ave. So., Minneapolis. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Co-sponsored by the ELCA Region 3 Task Force on Lutheran-Jewish Relations in cooperation with Mount Olivet Lutheran Church. the forum will focus on a newly released book from Fortress Press, Covenantal Conversations: Christians in Dialogue with Jews and Judaism, edited by Darrell Jodock. The forums features presentations by Darrell Jodock, Gustavus Adolphus College; Rabbi Barry Cytron, Jay Phillips Center for Jewish-Christian Learning; Marilyn Salmon, United Theological Seminary; and Sarah Henrich, Luther Seminary, who will each review the book, identifying what it offers and assessing its contribution. Karla Suomala, Luther College will discuss the benefits of bringing into conversation the Jewish concept of “mending the world” (tikkun olam) and the Lutheran concept of vocation. Pre-registration is required by May 5. The registration fee is $20. A copy of the book will be available for purchase at a discounted price. Lunch will be available without cost for those who register in advance. Register by calling Marilyn Beyer, Office of Church Relations, Gustavus Adolphus College at 507.933.7001. For additional information, contact the Rev. John Matthews, Grace Lutheran, Apple Valley, at 952.432.7273.

CROSSING BRIDGES UPDATES
Grants for Bridges to Ending Poverty
The next round of funding for Crossing Bridges grants will be disbursed in June. Those congregations wishing to apply for a grant made possible by funding through Bridges to Ending Poverty should submit a grant to the synod office no later than May 1. Please contact Beth Helgen for a copy of the grant application. A meeting for all those who have applied in the past, and all those interested in applying for this next round of grant monies will be held  at the synod office on Tuesday, April 22 at 12:00 noon. The meeting will have a two-fold purpose: 1) help those who are new to applying, and share what has been learned; 2) receive feedback/reporting on progress in the use of grant monies already disbursed. For information, contact the Rev. Nancy Maeker, bishop's associate, at 651.224.4313.

Global Mission Formation Event
Register Now
May 2-3, Calvary Lutheran Church, Golden Valley. The ELCA Global Mission Formation Event brings together experts and resources on global and domestic ministry under one roof, for one weekend, in one convenient location - so you and your congregational leaders can build skills you need to be an effective part of God's mission no matter where you serve. Your input into this event will also help ELCA Global Mission serve more effectively.For more information, visit www.elca.org/gme  or call Mia Cortez at 800.638.3522 ext.2642.

Events Around and About the Saint Paul Area Synod
Seminary Preview Days
Apr, 24 8:30 a.m.- 1:00 p.m., and Apr. 29, 8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Luther Seminary. An event for high school students and pastors to preview seminary life. Features break-out sessions, campus tours, and discussion with seminary faculty and students. A limited number of students will also have opportunity to listen in on a class. Registration begins March 1 at www.luthersem.edu.

Ilula Hospital Benefit
Apr. 26, 6:00 p.m., Gethsemane Lutheran, 2410 Stillwater Rd., Maplewood. The event includes a silent auction, hors d'oeuvres and dessert, live music, and an update from the Ilula Hospital. Tickets are $50, a portion of which is tax deductible, available at www.Ilulahealth.org. Proceeds support the expansion of health care services in the Iringa Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania.

Couples Conference ‘08
Apr. 26, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Shepherd of the Valley, Afton. A live satellite broadcast featuring Gary Smalley, Les Parrott, Henry Cloud, and Erwin and Kim McManus. Join us for this great opportunity to learn, worship, fellowship, and hear from some the nation's leading experts on marriage. To register or get more information, please contact the church office at 651.436.8248 or office@shepherd-lutheran.org. 

Mission Director for Saint Paul Area and Minneapolis Area Synods
Position Opening
This position represents the Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission (EOCM) unit in the Saint Paul and Minneapolis Area Synods and is responsible to lead, develop and support the activities of the unit in consultation and collaboration with the synods' evangelical outreach strategies and structures. More information>