News Update from the Western Iowa Synod-ELCA
Help get everyone in the Spirit!
Please forward this e-Spirit to church Councils, staff, congregations,
community partners, church members in military service, college or wherever they may be.
AUGUST 13, 2020
e-Spirit
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There Is a Time for Everything
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
There is a time for everything,
a season for every purpose under heaven: a season to be born and a season to die;
a season to plant and a season to harvest; a season to hurt and a season to heal;
a season to tear down and a season to build up; a season to cry and a season to laugh’
a season to mourn and a season to dance; a season to scatter stones and season to gather them;
a season for holding close and a season for holding back
a season to seek and a season to lose; a season to keep and a season to throw away;
a season to tear and a season to mend
a season to be silent and a season to speak;
a season to love and a season to hate;
a season for hostilities and a season for peace.
Each season is a teacher. Each season has its own truth and wisdom, its own challenge and gift. Each season can open our hearts more fully to God. Let us be attentive to the abundance of life.
What keeps you rooted?
Where are you experiencing rebirth and renewal?
What is the most difficult to turn loose…to let go…opinions…possessions…dreams…traditions?
Where do you find silence in this busy, noisy world?
How does God speak to you in this silence? I would love to hear your answers to these questions. Please write to me at: lorna.halaas.rev@wisynod.org.
Together we prayer -
Gracious and loving God stir up our love for life. Fill us with joy and passion, wisdom and stillness. Grant us courage, hope, endurance, patience, love, and the ability to trust. Teach us to say “yes” to the unfolding work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Amen.
Lorna
Rev. Lorna H. Halaas, Bishop
Western Iowa Synod, ELCA
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Being Church in Times Such as These
TLC Webster City Doorstep-to-Doorstep Bible Delivery
Trinity Lutheran Church, Webster City, recently delivered Bibles to three-year-old church members. The doorstep-to-doorstep campaign is another way congregations are being church during the pandemic. Watch more videos on TLC Webster YouTube Channel.
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Join us at EMPOWER, Lutheran Services in Iowa's biggest fundraiser of the year! When you support LSI’s EMPOWER event, you help us provide former refugee and immigrant families with the education classes, community connections, and small business development programming they need to thrive in their new home.
Lutheran Services in Iowa 2020 Empower
Thursday, Sept. 10 | 7 p.m.
$60 individual or $450 for a “table” of 8*
*includes $23 per person GrubHub credit
Register Now for LSI's EMPOWER!
Online registration will close Sept. 7, 2020
Check out LSI Empower Facebook Invite.
John Dau, Human Rights Advocate
FEATURED KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Lutheran Services in Iowa 2020 Empower
Join us from the comfort of your home as we celebrate the diversity in our community and hear from our keynote speaker, John Bul Dau, as he shares his amazing journey from South Sudanese refugee to prominent human rights advocate. John Dau, also known as Dhieu-Deng Leek, is one of the Lost Boys of Sudan who was featured in the 2006 award-winning documentary "God Grew Tired of Us." Today, he is a father and human rights activist for the people of South Sudan. In 2007, he founded the John Dau Foundation which aims to transform healthcare in South Sudan.
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FIGHT AGAINST HUNGER IN IOWA
LSI and "Iowa Stops Hunger" Partner to Feed Iowa Families
Lutheran Services in Iowa (LSI) will be participating in the Business Publications Corporation initiative to combat hunger and food insecurity in Iowa. Iowa Stops Hunger will create awareness and action in the fight against hunger. We are proud that LSI Global Greens empowers families and communities in their battles with food insecurity. Global Greens has connected more than 160 families to community gardens so they can grow food for themselves and their families. Global Greens also supports 25 families as they start small farming businesses that are feeding the community. Learn more at BusinessRecord.com.
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How to be in better relationship with the oppressed of the oppressed
Rev. Vance Blackfox
"Truth & Healing for the Sake of Indigenous People" Series
Wednesdays, 7:00-8:30pm Central
Sept, 16 - Movements in Indian Country
Oct, 14 - Indigenous Thought & Theology
ELCA Coaching and New Story Festival Indigenous-centered Zoom workshops with Indigenous theologian Vance Blackfox. The Rev. Blackfox is committed to teaching ELCA leaders and members the importance of learning about Indigenous people and how to be in better relationship with the oppressed of the oppressed. See attached for a flyer with full details. For previous workshops in this series, visit "Truth and Healing for the Sake of Indigenous People" Series.
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FOR CHURCH NEWSLETTERS
Please include in your church newsletters the the items below. Thanks!
Called Forward Together in Christ –
equipping people for their baptismal vocations in the world and this church.
Looking Forward
2020
August 19 Gratitude Cookout 5:30 pm Storm Lake/park
Pastors, Council Presidents & Vice Presidents, before Aug. 19,
RSVP to julie.cook@wisynod.org or call (712) 732-4968.
Aug. 27 Deans' Meeting 9:00 am ZOOM
September 13 God’s Work Our Hands Everywhere
September 17 Last Call-Preparing for Retirement 10:00 am ZOOM
September 27-29 Fall Convocation – Rostered Ministers ZOOM/Tentative
to include Boundaries Make-up Session
October 4 Companion Synod Sunday Western Iowa Synod Congregations
October 9 TEEM/Mentors Meeting 9:30 am
October 10 Synod Council 9:30 am
October 20 Worship Planning #227 1:00 pm ZOOM
November 21 Celebration of Thanksgiving Lizard Creek, Ft, Dodge
December 12 Synod Council 9:30 am Synod Office/ZOOM
2021
January 5 Worship Planning #227 1:00 pm ZOOM
February 7 Seeds of Faith Conference 2:00 pm Bethel, Graettinger
April 9-10 Synod Assembly-Fort Frenzy Ft. Dodge
April 27 Worship Planning #227 1:00 pm ZOOM
**Siouxland & Fort Dodge Forum via Zoom, 2nd Thursday of each month, speakers TBD.
***TBD - date for Ordination into the Ministry of Word and Sacrament for Jim McColley.
John Jorgensen will be ordained September 19, 2020.
The ELCA – called, gathered and sent into the world to embody the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we exist to be a reforming, renewing and reconciling expression of God’s grace through life-giving relationships and communities of worship, mercy, justice and service.
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PRAYER CONCERNS
- The Rev. John Luther Rinde and Jean Rinde, formerly of Council Bluffs, IA, now residing at: 712 Damika Drive, Fergus Falls, MN 56537, where Pastor Rinde is on Hospice care.
- The family of Barbara Derby, Trinity Lutheran, Akron, who lost their home to a house fire. Barbara's son, Michael Derby, is in the burn unit in Lincoln, Neb.
- Teachers, administrators, parents and students
- Western Iowa Rostered Ministers and Congregations
- COVID-19 victims and their families.
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SEE SOMETHING IN e-SPIRIT YOU WANT TO SHARE?
Cut & paste articles from e-Spirit archives or email paula.damon@wisynod.org.
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WESTERN IOWA SYNOD STAFF CONTACT INFORMATION
The synod staff continues to social distance and for the most part works from home. Office hours are 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Mon.-Fri. To contact synod staff members, see email addresses below. For staff roles and responsibilities, visit Western Iowa Synod Staff.
Rev. Lorna H. Halaas,
Bishop
Rev. Dr. Mike Kroona,
Assistant to the Bishop
Rev. Jim Mossman,
Director of Evangelical Mission
Rev. Judith Johnson,
Pastor-Counselor
Julie Cook,
Administrative Assistant
Kay Broich,
Office & Financial Administrator
Paula Bosco Damon,
Manager of Communication
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News Update from the Western Iowa Synod-ELCA
Help get everyone in the Spirit!
Please forward this e-Spirit to church Councils, staff, congregations,
community partners, church members in military service, college
or wherever they may be.
