For the Week of May 12, 2008

-Synod Assembly: Nag, Nag, Nag!
-Training the Trainer: An Opportunity for Children, Youth, and Family Ministers
-Around and About the Saint Paul Area Synod

Synod Assembly: The Nagging Commences!!!!
The Assembly Choir Returns! Come Raise the Strain!
The synod assembly choir returns this year by popular demand and overwhelming acclamation! John Helgen and Karen Wilkerson, synod assembly worship planners, have chosen three anthems "Clap Your Hands," "Christ Has Made the Sure Foundation," and "Seed That in Earth Is Dying" for this year's opening worship service on Friday, May 30, at 8:45 a.m., at Prince of Peace Lutheran, Burnsville. Voting members, advisors, visitors, and members of church choirs who just want to come, sing, and depart are invited to participate in this event. Please email John Helgen to let him know that you'd like to participate and to receive copies of the music in advance. Participants should plan to be present for a rehearsal beginning at 7:45 a.m. (Note the later start time than previously announced!)

Photo Directory of Rostered Leaders
Have you noticed that you don’t recognize as many rostered leaders as in the past? It’s understandable! Many new people have been called to congregations and places of specialized ministry throughout this synod since the last photo directory was prepared in 2003. Olan Mills will be on site to take photos at no cost, and a new directory will be available in the fall. Please remember to have your photo taken May 30-31.

Sending Video: The World Is About to Turn...for God Has Done Great Things
How do you see that the world is about to turn? Where in your life, your congregation, your community, or the world is God at work, shaping, sculpting, and transforming the world? Think about this question...because on Friday, May 30, a film crew will be asking this question to an array of voting members in order to prepare a final video to show as we prepare to send voting members out into the world following the conclusion of the assembly on Saturday, May 31.

Synod Assembly Offering: Crossing Bridges Mission Appeal
An offering envelope was included in the pre-assembly report mailed last week to voting members and advisors. Offering received during the opening worship will be used to support the Crossing Bridges mission appeal. If your congregation has not yet participated in this synod-wide effort, please take advantage of this opportunity to participate by bringing an offering to the assembly.

For Children, Youth, and Family Ministers
Training the Trainer: Safeguarding God’s Children
Rostered leaders and those who work in children, youth, and family ministries have the responsibility to ensure that the youngest among us are allowed to learn and grow in an environment free from sexual abuse. A workshop for rostered and lay children, youth, and family ministers to raise awareness of child sexual abuse will be held May 22, 8:45 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Woodlake Lutheran, Richfield. This interactive workshop will train participants to facilitate events to raise awareness of child sexual abuse and consider ways to create the safe spaces needed; prepare participants to offer training about child sexual abuse prevention to volunteers in their congregations; and provide participants with the opportunity to develop materials and create workshop presentations for their own settings. The workshop leader is the Rev. Karen Stevensen. Completion of the entire workshop will enable participants to use the Safeguarding God’s children presentation materials in their own training sessions. The registration fee is $35. The registration deadline is May 16. Email Cyndi Berg or call  651.224.4313 for information.

Events Around and About the Saint Paul Area Synod
Conversational Evangelism Conference
May 16-17, Hosanna! Lutheran, 9600 163rd Street West, Lakeville.  Discover a conversational approach to evangelism;  learn how to connect naturally with the people Jesus misses most; and learn how evangelism can become a spiritual practice in the life of every believer. Registration information here.