Present:

• Ashley Ebbenga, Grace, Mankato
• Joanne Hamilton, Our Savior’s, Rochester
• Deb Johnson, Our Savior’s, Austin
• Linda Johnson, St. John’s, Elkton
• Wendy Kauffman, Zion, Stewartville
• Connie Larson, Central, Winona
• Katie Livingood, Synod Office

How you send them:

• You CAN send out mass emails directly from your inbox (whether it’s just a list you keep track of or exported from your database), BUT you’re limited with design and you could be identified as a spammer and get blocked, even have your internet service shut down for a while.
• An email marketing service helps you not look like a spammer, gives you easy ways to let people sign up, you can often keep multiple lists of subscribers (a general news, women’s group, Sunday school parents, high school students, etc.), your messages can look “pretty” and/or incorporate other features like surveys, and they give you analytics to help you evaluate how you’re doing (how many people open, what people click on, etc.). The downside is sometimes it’s too easy to accidentally unsubscribe and many have a cost.

Email marketing services:

• The synod uses Constant Contact
• Carrie Gubsch, presenter at the 2012 Synod Assembly and Communications Coordinator at Christ the King Lutheran Church, New Brighton, Minn., uses Vertical Response. The benefit to this service is that they’ll give non-profits 10,000 emails a month FREE (number of emails appears to be number of contacts times number of messages sent).
• Paul Edison-Swift of the churchwide office uses Mail Chimp at his home congregation. He moved from Constant Contact to Vertical Response to Mail Chimp. Of Mail Chimp he says, “I particularly like MailChimp’s RSS-to-email feature. With it, all you have to do is blog announcements, etc. and MailChimp will auto-send a weekly email with excerpts from those posts … an “automatic” e-newsletter!” The other big benefit, if you have fewer than 2,000 subscribers, you can send up to 12,000 messages (again, presumably number of contacts times number of messages sent) for FREE, though there are a few features not available in the free version.
• There are a lot more out there, so you may find something else that works for you! If you do, feel free to add it in the comments section below.

Content people want to see:

• Stories
• Something of value (practical things they can use, such as tools or resources)
• Things that apply to them (such as sending messages to specific sub-groups so you can target areas of interest)
• They do NOT only want to see plugs trying to get them to give or show up!
• Wendy from Zion, Stewartville says she includes things like prayers from the congregation and the monthly newsletter in hers.
• Joanne from Our Savior’s, Rochester says she sends three “regular” messages a week:
• One with the weekly calendar and what needs they have for that weeks worship
• Another message on Wednesday with that night’s events and a reminder of what other worship needs they have
• Friday’s message has the weekend events
• She also sends “as needed” messages with information like funeral announcements, updates from their pastor who is on sabbatical in Tanzania, an extra plug for the newsletter “game” (a photo of something in the church, people guess where/what it is, and then are entered in a contest for a $10 gift card for somewhere in town)

How do you get addresses into your new service?

• Most will let you import an Excel file (or Comma Separated Value, or some other file type) and/or you can copy and paste
• You could just give people sign-up options like sign-up cards, QR codes (Constant Contact provides a free QR code, those square not-a-bar-code-type-code that can be scanned with a smartphone app), website signup, links to an online signup form sent by email, or a “send me an email” approach.
• You could put everyone from your list/database into the system and either send them all a message and say “click here to unsubscribe” or add them to a one-time-only list to send a link to sign up.

Miscellaneous:

• If you’re sending from your inbox, put people on BCC. As a personal reminder, do NOT “reply all” unless that message specifically requires it. It’s annoying!
• Sub-groups can sometimes be better organized through Outlook (or whatever email program you use) groups.
• Google Forms are a great way to do free surveys, sign up forms, or other items requiring response. They can be sent as a link or embedded in your website.
• Have a link that’s too long? Use a link shortener! The most common right now is probably bit.ly. Tinyurl.com is another. This makes it easier to re-type out of a hard copy publication or prevents it from wrapping around and possibly breaking up the link if sent by email.
• The synod used Poll Everywhere to do texting polls (multiple choice or short answer, can also reply online). An audience of up to 40 responses is free. It is designed to integrate into PowerPoint. The design isn’t fantastic, but if you integrate it and are connected to the internet, then you can get “live” updates as people submit responses.
• Donations services
• Simply Giving from Thrivent is a common recurring gift program.
• Vanco who facilitates Simply Giving, also has one-time donations
• PayPal is one of the most recognized pay-online services and many people already have an account.
• Razoo is a very popular non-profit giving service.

News and information from around the synod.

Synod Assembly News

If you were unable to be at the Synod Assembly, be sure to check out all the news online at semnsynod.org/assembly A two-page printable report from the assembly is also available to report to congregations on what went on at this year’s assembly. Other, more detailed news stories are also available.

Want to Keep Receiving River Crossings?

If you were a lay Synod Assembly voting member in 2011 and that is when you began receiving River Crossings, this may be your last issue. Exceptions would be if you are also on a synod committee, are listed in the synod database as lay staff in your congregation, were a voting member again in 2012, or receive River Crossings online.

Each year voting members are added to the mailing list and are then replaced by the next year’s voting members.

If you believe this may be your last issue but would like to continue to receive River Crossings, you may sign up to receive it online at semnsynod.org/e-newsletter or contact Katie Livingood at livingood@semnsynod.org, 507-280-9457, or 800-426-6376 in Minnesota to update your subscription. Please include your name, the address at which you receive River Crossing, and whether you wish to receive it hard copy or by email.

Safeguarding God’s Children Training Event

On Thursday, May 24, 2012, Karen Gieseke, Synod Children, Youth, & Family Ministry coordinator will lead a synod-sponsored training event on “Safeguarding God’s Children.” This is an opportunity to equip pastors, staff, and lay leaders with awareness and information to protect the children they know and care for in their personal lives and the ministries in which they serve.

Safeguarding God’s Children Training
Thursday, May 24, 2012
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church
1212 Twelfth Avenue, Rochester MN
Registration Deadline: May 18, 2012 (click here to register; if you have technical problems, check out our Registration FAQ page)
Cost: $15 (includes materials and box lunch)

Utilizing Safeguarding God’s Children, an educational and training resource which is founded on the philosophy that, if every adult can protect just one child, they will forever change one life. If we can all change one life, together we will make a difference in this generation of children.

More information at semnsynod.org/ministries/cyf/safeguarding-gods-children/ or contact Karen at 507-280-9457 or 800-426-6376 in Minnesota.

Mission Interpreter Training on May 23

There will be a training session for Mission Interpreters at Zion Lutheran Church in Stewartville on Wednesday, May 23 from 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. This is for both existing and new Mission Interpreters.

If you have a Mission Interpreter in your congregation, s/he has received a notice of this training. Please encourage them to attend if at all possible and to bring with them one or more individuals who might assist them in their ministry.

If you do not have a Mission Interpreter identified, this is a wonderful time to find one and get this person trained immediately.

Registration is not necessary, but it would be helpful to notify Shirley Gangstad, synod Mission Interpreter Coordinator, if one is planning to attend. Contact Shirley at sgangstad@hotmail.com

Remember in Prayer

Health Concerns

• Rev. Charles Anderson
• Rev. Glen Bickford
• Rev. Kip Groettum
• Rev. John Hagen
• Rev. John Henriksen
• Rachel Iverson, daughter of Rev. Mary Iverson
• Rev. Ronald Jensen
• Rev. Lydia Mittag
• Shannon Reuss, wife of Rev. Peter Reuss
• Rev. Don Roberts
• Rev. Brian Scott
• Rev. Cheryl Szabo

Joys

• Rev. Anjanette and Warren Bandel, married 2/4/12
• Elliott Griffin Davis, born to Rev. Jonathan and Lauren Davis, 4/11/12

ELCA Disaster Response addresses food crisis in West, Central Africa

The Sahel region of West and Central Africa is in a growing food crisis. Inadequate rainfall, poor harvests and rising food costs have left nearly 15.5 million people, particularly children, in need of emergency food assistance. Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are working to provide food and other life-sustaining necessities like medical supplies, hygiene kits and more to people affected.

According to ELCA Disaster Response, the crisis has the potential to become a widespread famine across the region. Conflict in northern Mali has also sparked a migration of people to neighboring countries. The governments of the affected countries have declared a state of emergency, calling on the international community for aid.

Through its membership in The Lutheran World Federation, the ELCA is participating in relief efforts with Lutheran churches and partners, particularly in Mali, Mauritania and Senegal.

ELCA Disaster Response continues to assess the situation and remains committed to response with partner churches through The Lutheran World Federation. The ELCA is the federation’s only member from the United States.

ELCA members have a long-standing relationship with Lutherans throughout West and Central Africa. More information about the drought in the Sahel region is available at http://www.ELCA.org/disaster, and gifts to ELCA Disaster Response at https://community.ELCA.org/WestAfricaSahelDrought designated for the “West Africa Sahel Drought” will be used entirely (100 percent) for response.

Full story…

ELCA remains engaged in Japan one year later

When one of the strongest earthquakes on record struck off the coast of Japan a year ago, the 4.2 million members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) took immediate action, contributing $2.9 million to ELCA Disaster Response.

These funds have provided food and clean water, care and counseling to help sustain earthquake survivors and support for programs that address disaster preparedness, sustainability and the redevelopment of communities and livelihoods.

 Full story…

ELCA council approves 2012 budget revisions, attends to mission funding

The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) approved a revised 2012 current fund spending authorization of $65,498,135, an increase of more than $1.3 million, and it approved a revised total ELCA World Hunger spending authorization for 2012 of $19,900,000, an increase of $1.4 million, when it met here April 13-15. The council serves as the ELCA’s board of directors.

According to council member John Emery, Fond du Lac, Wis., chair of the council’s budget and finance committee, “This is very good news. We are in a position to grow our ministries.” He added that the increases are a result of good stewardship and faithful giving.

The Rev. Linda O. Norman, ELCA treasurer, said the revised spending authorization “reflects updates to financial reporting practices whereby changes to certain accounting and building-related services have an offsetting impact to both income and expense.”

Norman said other changes include “increase in Mission Support and a decrease in the ELCA Missionary Sponsorship income projections. In relation to the income and expense revisions, direct churchwide organization programmatic expenditures remain at previously approved levels.”

For the 2011 fiscal year, which ended Jan. 31, the ELCA churchwide organization’s income exceeded expenses by $4 million in current operating funds, Norman reported. This is a favorable variance of $1.4 million from the previous fiscal year, she said. Churchwide ministries had spending at 99.6 percent of the approved spending authorization.

Most of the churchwide organization’s revenue comes from congregations through synods in the form of Mission Support. Although Mission Support for the 2011 fiscal year decreased to $50.4 million (a $2.2 million or 4.2 percent reduction), Mission Support was favorable to budget by $2.4 million or 5.1 percent, Norman said.

Full story…

Get it Online

• Full stories, including more on the ELCA church council actions, at www.ELCA.org/news
• “One Year Update” from Japan at http://bit.ly/I73k3a

Rev. Diane Eggemeyer (right) helps unload a shipment of hay to the farmers of Texas.

By Katie Livingood
Synod Communications Director

January looked hopeful in Texas. Rev. Diane Eggemeyer of Miles, Texas, says that they received as much rain in January as they did in all of 2011. But now Eggemeyer reports that it has gotten so dry that she can stick half her hand into the cracks in the ground.

While Texas is no rainforest, this year’s lack of rain is especially troublesome after the disastrous drought and wildfires of 2011. Some of the hardest hit were the farmers. No rain and land destroyed by fire means no pasture or hay to feed the livestock. At one point, if there was hay to buy, it was going for well over $300 per ton, more than twice the cost of hay in Iowa.

At the 2011 Churchwide Assembly, Rev. Harold McMillin, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Luana, Iowa, spoke with people of the Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod and learned just how hard it was for them last summer. He knew that the farmers of northeastern Iowa had been blessed with a good growing season and decided he had to help. When he returned to Iowa, he began the “hay lift” project. He worked to coordinate as many hay donations as he could and then made plans to get the hay to Texas.

Stephanie Barnum, the vice president of the Iowa, spoke with people of the Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod; Rev. Eggemeyer; and Rev. Jesus Escamilla of Alvarado, Texas, were tasked with coordinating hay delivery. They worked together to figure out where the greatest needs were and how to fairly distribute the hay that would come from the upper Midwest. Loads were evenly distributed so that no one community got more than one load in a row. No one got a lot of hay , but Eggemeyer estimates that close to 300 people received some hay to help get them through.

Still, even with the generosity of farmers in Iowa and the surrounding states, getting the hay to Texas was problematic. The difficulty has been in paying the cost of hauling the hay. Thanks to gifts from others throughout the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, money was available. Lutheran Disaster Response gave to the hay lift project. Here in southeastern Minnesota, the Southeastern Minnesota Synod Council voted to send $3,000 for the transportation costs.

No one knows yet what the summer of 2012 will hold for the people of Texas. Last year Eggemeyer and her husband cut back their own herd of cattle of 130 down to just a handful of pregnant cows. They are starting out 2012 with 11 cattle, hoping that they can build their herd back up as the situation improves. Around them, their parishioners, friends, and neighbors are praying for rain and lower hay prices. Thanks to the generosity of the farmers in the upper Midwest, truckers who hauled for less than the going rate, and people from throughout the ELCA, including the Southeastern Minnesota Synod, who helped pay the transportation costs, there was some hope through last year’s disaster. Thank you for your gifts and prayers.

Check out the March and April issues of River Crossings for similar stories about the responses in New England and North Dakota. See also the March issue of the Bridge (included in the February River Crossings) for more on this story.

• Two-page portrait layout
• Two-page landscape layout (designed to be printed double-sided and folded in half)

The 2012 Southeastern Minnesota Synod Assembly was all about family. For many, just coming together once a year is like a family reunion, but even more so under this year’s theme.

Just as a family would gather for a family meeting, the voting members of the synod gathered to discuss the business of the synod. Six resolutions were passed, a budget for 2013 was approved, elections were held for committees including 12 new synod council members, and some changes to the synod constitution and bylaws were accepted.

The most controversial resolution, resulting in over an hour of debate, was titled, “A Resolution Opposing Marriage Amendment to the Minnesota State Constitution.” Similar resolutions were passed earlier this year by the Minneapolis Area Synod and the Northeastern Minnesota Synod. The assebly voted against proposals to amend the resolution and to table it indefinitely. Voters on both sides of the issue spoke passionately about their convictions on marriage, politics, and the role of the church. The resolution passed 229-174.

Other resolutions from this year’s assembly included encouraging financial and prayerful support from congregations and members for the ministries of the church. One resolution encouraged congregations to increase their financial support to synod and churchwide ministries while another called for an increase of the percentage of the synod’s giving to the churchwide organization. The assembly also encouraged support of Lutheran Campus Ministry and the ELCA Malaria Campaign.

The synod’s Hunger Task Force submitted the resolution in support of the ELCA Malaria Campaign. In addition to this resolution, the synod worked together as a family to bring awareness to the campaign. Each seat in the assembly hall held a cardboard cutout of a child, each sharing a personal story of a child affected by malaria. An assembly hall display demonstrated an example of a mosquito net, a $10 product that can prevent malaria if properly used. Rev. Andrea DeGroot-Nesdahl, former coordinator of the ELCA Malaria Campaign and ongoing volunteer for the campaign, spoke to the assembly updating them on the ELCA’s goal to raise $15 million by 2015 to help contain Malaria. The assembly offering gave participants the chance to open their purses and wallets to support the campaign. Over $7,600 was collected.

A final resolution passed by the assembly adopted the 2013 Minimum Compensation and Benefits Guidelines for rostered and lay professionals in the synod.

As a church family, a central part of the assembly gathering was the worship experiences. The assembly opened with a service of holy communion that praised the legacy of our faith family. From the reading of the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:1-17) and a cast of worshippers portraying Jesus’ ancestors to Bishop Usgaard’s sermon reflecting on both honoring the ancestors that have passed the faith on to us and thinking ahead to the generations to whom are blessed to teach the faith, the service continued to remind worshippers of their valued place in God’s family.

Saturday morning’s prayer service honored our brothers and sisters around the world and throughout Christ’s church. The assembly worshiped with music from Latin America, Africa, Scandinavia, and the Caribbean. The Rt. Rev. Brian N. Prior, IX Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Minnesota, came as a representatives of one of the ELCA’s full communion partners. He shared a message of encouragement to live not in a “yes, but” world, but in a “yes, and” world, open to God’s calling.

This year’s Bible studies focused on different ways that God’s family gathers to learn about their Christian faith. Videos of a youth group, a family, and a pastors’ text study demonstrated different methods of Bible study. Assembly participants watched and then tried it out by discussing the questions from the study in their own small groups. Viewers observed the variety of perspectives that study with different age groups, life stages, and communities can bring to a discussion.

A highlight of this year’s assembly was the 24 free workshops offered not only to Synod Assembly participants, but also to anyone from the synod interested in attending. Presenters spoke to standing-room-only audiences on ministry with everyone from children to those over 50, on ministry at home or in the sanctuary, and from church programming to daily life. There really was something for everyone in this wide variety of workshops.

The Friday evening banquet brought musicians from around the world to entertain with global music. The program honored the members of our synod’s family celebrating milestones in their ministry. Over 1,525 years of ministry were celebrated in honoring 25th, 40th, 50th, 55th, and 60th anniversaries of ordination of pastors and commissioning of Associates in Ministry. Six pastors were also recognized for their retirement.

Most families have a “refrigerator of fame” to show off artwork, photos, and other achievements. The assembly did not have a refrigerator, but it did have an impressive display of artwork entitled “The Art of Family.” Artwork included a mural of drawings, handprints, and photographs; paintings; quilting; mixed media framed artwork; poetry; and even elaborate wood carvings. This display gave assembly participants the chance to appreciate a wide variety of talents from brothers and sisters of all ages.

From the Pre-Assembly Report to on-site displays to reports presented throughout the Synod Assembly, participants were invited to learn more from the synod’s ministry partners. Lutheran Campus Ministry updated the synod on the new and exciting activities going on in Mankato and Winona. The synod’s Global Mission/Companion Synod’s Committee shared about ongoing activities as well as updating the synod on the “Partners in Hope” campaign to raise $100,000 for our partner synod, the Central Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Lutheran church in their diocese. These were just two among many exciting updates.

Rev. Daniel Rift, Director for ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Response brought a report from ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson. Rift thanked the members of the ELCA for their generosity. Bishop Hanson’s video message lifted up examples of Lutherans daring to live passionately into their faith as inspiration to the rest of the ELCA. Southeastern Minnesota Synod Bishop Harold Usgaard’s report highlighted the ways that our synod has been ministering joyfully and encouraged a “get to” approach to ministry, rather than a “have to” attitude.

One of the last items on the 2012 Synod Assembly’s agenda was the Report of the Southeastern Minnesota Synod Bishop. Bishop Harold Usgaard opened by inviting the assembly to stand as the names of clergy who had passed away in the past year were read. He then invited the members of the synod staff to come forward and receive recognition.

Bishop Usgaard said in his report, “I have shared with some of our pastors that as I look ahead to this year and 2013, I have come to the realization that quite frankly, I haven’t been very good at practicing joy lately.”  In order to remedy that, this year, Huck’s goal is to “practice joy.”  He will be visiting congregations throughout the year to worship with them and join in their celebrations.

Bishop Usgaard concluded by thanking the people of the Southeastern Minnesota Synod for the ”joy of ministry you have offered me these past years.” He then invited all those gathered to join him in practicing joy throughout the year ahead.

Most people don’t expect to experience beautiful works of art at the annual Southeastern Minnesota Synod Assembly. But this year, a new exhibit changed that expectation. Upon arrival in the main auditorium, assembly voters and visitors saw amazing artistic creations up close and personal.

The exhibit brought new awareness to art produced by people who live in southeastern Minnesota. Synod staff member, Karen Gieseke, organized the exhibit based on the theme “The Art of Family.” As stated in the Pre-Assembly Report, “God’s creation comes alive” through the artwork created by brothers and sisters in Christ. Artists submitted paintings, drawings, photography, woodwork, poetry, and various other artistic forms.

Photos below are of some of the artwork displayed. Photos by Karen Surprenant.

The Rev. Nick Fisher-Broin wanted this year’s Southeastern Synod Assembly’s Bible study to be memorable, so he called on the people he knew would provide great discussion: real people from the synod.

Fisher Broin showed three videos of Bible studies from around the synod followed by questions to discuss.

“Your task is to continue the conversation,” said the Rev. Nick Fisher-Broin.

One of the videos captured a youth group discussing the story of Thomas doubting Jesus’ resurrection.

“Its almost irrelevant to the time we are living,” one student said. “Humans don’t raise other people from the dead.”

Students discussed the story and the importance of doubt in faith in the video.

“Jesus healed people with words,” one of the students said in the video. “People have created medicine. There are so many things that are being created today that cause doubt.”

Voting members discussed the videos as part of their Bible study.

“The older generation can learn from young people today,” said one pastor discussing the video with the people around her. “The distraction that the kids saw in this day and age is huge.”

The members of the assembly also heard from a family discussing Jesus’ cruxifiction while making resurrection rolls.

The final video took members into a text study of a group of pastors in the Cannon River Conference discussing the doubting Thomas story.

“In today’s world there are an awful lot of people who would understand Thomas,” one pastor said.  Thomas has college level of doubt, he added.

The pastors also discussed how to speak to people outside of the traditions about Faith.

I don’t know what that means (to not know Christianity/Jesus),” one pastor said. “I’ve always been in that faith.”

“We have to figure out how this word speaks to people beyond the inside,” another pastor added.

Remember the prayer at the time of confirmation, when we affirmed our Baptism? “Stir up in your people the gift of your Holy Spirit: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, the spirit of joy in your presence.”

It was Jewish rabbi, actually, who reminded me. I was a young pastor, teaching 5th graders and their families about Holy Communion and because of its connection to Passover, I invited a rabbi to speak. He spoke of the Jewish history, and the event of the exodus from Egypt that is celebrated every Passover. And he spoke of the fun they had in his family, the laughter and joy. One of the parents questioned whether that wasn’t sacrilegious, to seemingly make light of such an important event. But this is how the rabbi answered, “Oh, he said, we take this very seriously, and it is for that reason we refuse to take it somberly. You see there is a difference between serious and somber.” And then he added, “with all due respect, I wonder sometimes if you Christians really get it, because if you did, why do you act so somber with your Sacrament. If you truly understood the freedom it offers, wouldn’t you be filled with joy and excitement?”

Do we truly believe that in Christ’s dying, our sins once and for all have been forgiven? Do we believe that the message of Easter is that as Christ has risen from the dead, one day we will arise to a new and eternal life, that Christ has already accomplished that for us? Do we really believe that we are saved by grace through faith, and that such faith is a gift from God, not something we have to find or earn? If this is what we really believe, isn’t it cause for celebration, for thanksgiving, for joy? Do people see that in us?

Paul writes in Romans, “Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God.” We rejoice. It’s about joy. The pressure is off. Take that weight off your shoulders. We don’t have to save ourselves. We don’t have to spend our life impressing God. We never could anyway. And quite frankly, there are enough people out there keeping track of all the sinners in the world. We get to speak about reconciliation…and forgiveness…and rebirth. We get to speak about hope and joy.

I have shared with some of our pastors that as I look ahead to this year and 2013, I have come to the realization that quite frankly, I haven’t been very good at practicing joy lately. How often I have found myself trapped by the concerns that have surrounded the church in recent years…controversies…anger…fear. And too often, I feel, that yoke that is around my neck, that stole, as a burden…it becomes so heavy. I forget, you see, that it is really Christ’s yoke and that he would remind me that his yoke is easy and his burden is light. But how easily I forget.

It was just a month ago that I, along with Bishop Anderson from the Southwestern Minnesota Synod, were invited to speak to a group of pastors at Gustavus Adolphus College. Their theme was “rediscovering joy in ministry.” Bishop Anderson and I spent considerable time just telling stories, stories of joy in our years of ministry. And that is when it hit me – I had forgotten that joy. Ministry for me has been such a blessing, every call a surprising gift from God. To be invited into the lives of so many, called into the most unique circumstances, watching God perform miracle after miracle, being entrusted with proclaiming the life changing message of the Gospel. What a privilege.

When our oldest daughter was married, she asked me to perform the ceremony. I told her I couldn’t; it would just be too emotional. But her godfather was a pastor. He could do it. And that way I could walk her down the aisle and sit safely with her mother during the ceremony. “But dad,” she said, “you have to. You just have to marry me.” And so I gave in…and as I told others, “I have to marry my daughter.”

About that time, Walt Wangerin was writing a column in The Lutheran magazine. And in one of his articles, he told of his daughter being married. But this is how he explained it, “…and I get to marry her.” Notice, “I get to marry her,” not “I have to marry her.”

It hit me between the eyes. I wrote Wangerin a letter thanking him for reminding me of the difference between law and Gospel, the difference between “having to” marry my daughter and “getting to” to marry my daughter.

I had forgotten that these past few months. These opportunities for ministry. Too often I had thought in terms of what I “had” to do rather than what I “get” to do. It is the difference between law and Gospel. It is the difference between “going to work” and “practicing joy.”

So this coming year I am going to focus on “practicing joy.” I will continue to visit as many of you as I can, in your congregations, in your communities. I find great joy in worshiping with you, joining in your special gatherings, dreaming about missional ministry, finding creative ways to turn challenges into God given opportunities. Some exciting work has begun in this past year with family ministry and congregational mission planning, and we’re going to keep at it. And I am also going to make it to a lutafisk dinner or two (I haven’t for a few years) And wash some dishes with a congregation at their county fair restaurant. And take in a Twins game with our congregation on Lutheran night. And spend a few days of continuing education with some of our pastors, in what Luther would call “the mutual conversation and consolation of the saints.” And attend a congregational celebration, not to preach, but just as a guest. I’ve told some of our pastors I would love to come and just worship in your congregation. You have heard me preach enough. I would love to hear you.

Practicing joy: a description of the early Christians, one of the fruits of the spirit, and, I pray, a testimony to God’s mercy and grace in the Southeastern Minnesota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. I thank you for the joy of ministry you have offered me these past years. I invite you to continue with me “practicing joy” in this coming year.

Dancers from Zumbro Lutheran Church. Photo by Karen Surprenant.

“Go get some gray hair, then come back to do God’s work.” That’s what the Rt. Rev. Brian N. Prior, IX Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Minnesota heard, or felt he heard, as he felt the call to serve God at a young age.

Bishop Prior, who brought the message during Saturday morning’s worship, realized early on that “God wanted me to use my gifts.” Too often, we limit ourselves in using our talents for the ministry of sharing the Good News. God wants to equip us, and we need to “leave room for the Holy Spirit to move in our midst,” he said.

We live in a “yes, but” world, instead of a “yes, and” world. Sometimes, the bishop reflected, we get so caught up in the process, we lose sight of the mission. “You are being invited by God into mission. Each and every member has been bestowed with gifts for ministry to engage in missions.”

The dancers and the overhead camera view. Photo by Karen Surprenant.

Young dancers from Zumbro Lutheran Church in Rochester shared their talent during the singing of the Litany for the Healing of the Nations. They performed upon a map of the world placed on the floor. Worshipers experienced the effect via an overhead view displayed on the projection screens in the front of the assembly.

Following worship, advocates for the Book of Faith initiative helped with the reading from the Gospel of Mark. As the story was read of Jesus in the boat during the storm, the congregation became sound effects of wind, waves, sleep, and Jesus’ questioning of ‘why.’

The global music musicians who performed Friday night led the music Saturday morning. Photo by Karen Surprenant.

The assembly buffet supper on Friday night was a celebration of ministries through music, awards, and recognition. The evening began and ended with music provided by seven musicians led by Felix Malpica. All musicians have received training in music and leading worship from the ELCA, especially in preparation for Global Mission Gatherings. They emphasize our being one in Christ by teaching and playing music from around the world with songs ranging from hip-swaying, toe tapping rhythmic tunes to soft, gentle, poignant pieces.

Rev. Clark Cary and Rev. Daniel Rift presented the ELCA World Hunger River of Giving awards to 12 congregations, four which received the awards for the third time: Ascension, Albert Lea; Faith, Wabasha; Mount Olive, Rochester, and Our Savior’s, Austin. Congregations are recognized for their contributions to World Hunger. Cary expressed awe for the dollars given to World Hunger above and beyond a congregation’s other designated gifts – especially for those congregation that do it year after year.

The Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota’s Servant of Christ award was presented to Trinity, Owatonna. LSS president Jodie Harpstead said this congregation, like LSS, “expresses the love of Christ for all through service; expresses hope, changes lives, and builds community” through their gifts.

Tim Melin awarded an ELCA Fund for Leaders scholarship to Luther Seminary student Daniel Rinehart and debt retirement scholarships to new pastors, Rev. Sue Froelich, Rev. Lindsey Stolen, and Rev. Paige Whitney. Whitney spoke for the other women when she said, “Thank you! This gift is a huge blessing to me and to my ministry. By having some of the burden of debt lifted from me, I will be able to better focus on my ministry and serving my congregation!”

The program concluded with recognition of ordination anniversaries and retirements. 1,525 years of ministry were celebrated. 5 AIMs (Associates in Ministry) and one pastor celebrated 25 years; eight pastors celebrated 40 years; 10 pastors—50 years; nine pastors—55 years, and one pastor—60 years. The group seemed to share a response to their time of ministry with Dag Hammarskjold in his book Markings: “For all that has been—Thanks! To all that shall be—Yes!” Six pastors were recognized for their retirement.

Shirley Gangstad, Our Savior's, Spring Valley, spoke in favor of the synod's financial support of the churchwide organization, "“The Southeastern Minnesota Synod is making Christ known around the world.” Photo by Karen Surprenant

On Friday afternoon, two resolutions were passed at the Southeastern Minnesota Synod Assembly.

Resolution 2012-01 is titled: “Encouraging Congregations in their Synodical and Churchwide Mission Support.” The focus of the resolution is to encourage all congregations in the synod to increase financial giving to the synodical ministries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The resolution passed without opposition.

Resolution 2012-02 is titled: “Affirming Interdependence and the 55 Percent Mission Support Goal for Synods.” Through the passing of the resolution, the synod will strive to increase its undesignated mission support from congregations to churchwide from 52.5 percent to 53 percent with the longer term goal of reaching 55 percent. The resolution passed without opposition.

In speaking for the resolution, Shirley Gangsted, lay voting member from Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Spring Valley, and member of the synod’s Mission Support Table, uplifted the amazing work that is possible through partnerships between synods and churchwide expressions of the denomination. She said, “The Southeastern Minnesota Synod is making Christ known around the world.” Clergy voting member, Rev. Vern Christopherson, Zumbro Lutheran Church, Rochester, also spoke in favor of the resolution. He encouraged congregational leaders to tell the stories of the wonderful work the ELCA is doing. He said, “Let’s tell the stories…and get people excited about the work of our church.”

Keynote address by Marilyn Sharpe. Photo by Karen Surprenant

Marilyn Sharpe, keynote speaker on Friday afternoon, challenged the audience with God’s work, our hands (and eyes and feet and mouth), and especially God’s family.”  The church has the task of equipping faith parents, which we are all called to be.  No one is exempt and there is no retirement policy in stirring up the faith in our children.

Sharpe, who is a parent and grandparent and a certified Family Life Educator for 34 years, said we make disciples in God’s family by the 3-Bs:  belonging, behaving, and believing. How do we as congregations share the ministry of radical hospitality, of “welcoming them at the door” (the first B)?  She urged the assembly to look at the early church in Acts, how they welcomed and baptized 3,000 new members on Pentecost, how the believers sold their possessions and goods, giving to others what they needed.

Sharpe reminded the listeners that “they will know we are Christians by our love.”

She said she learned the second B from her dad, whose favorite Bible verse says to “Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God” (Micah 6:8). Her father lived that verse, and so “I learned how to behave as a follower of Jesus.” She went on to say we need to know God’s story and then help others to connect it to their story (the third B).

She urged listeners to build relationships and link the generations. Worship should be a celebration for all ages, not toleration of some ages. She said she and her husband search out young families following worship and thank them for worshiping with “our church family.  This is what worship should look like and sound like.”

Sharpe shared, from Dr. David Anderson, several principles for teaching the faith.  We adults have the role of building faith through personal and trusted relationships with young members. She believes faith is caught more than it is taught. Congregations need to teach parents and other adults to share the faith.  “We need to surround kids,” she said, and reminded the group that we should never expect a parent to do at home what they haven’t first experienced in their congregations.

Voters on Friday afternoon passed Resolution 2012-04, which pledges that the Southeastern Minnesota Synod will raise $50,000 each year through 2015 to work toward the global effort to stop malaria. The resolution was amended from a yearly amount of $100,000 to $50,000 so that ELCA World Hunger funding should not be negatively affected by the new mission.

Prior to voting, Rev. Andrea DeGroot-Nesdahl, coordinator for the ELCA Malaria Campaign and HIV and AIDS Strategy, shared a story from one of the cardboard-cutout children sitting in the voters’ chairs when the morning began. Yvette, an eight-year-old from Malawi, lost a little sister to malaria; Yvette herself has the disease attacking her three to five times yearly. Yet malaria is very preventable.

The cardboard cutouts were decorated by several congregational small groups, including quilting and youth groups, in the synod. They were dressed to represent the children of the world affected by malaria. Each one had a short, personal story attached.

Rev. DeGroot-Nesdahl urged those in the assembly to go back to local congregations to bring a message about how deadly malaria is. It kills almost a million people a year, most of them in Africa, and most of them children.  She believes, because the ELCA and its members have big goals and big hearts, members will work hard to attain the ELCA goal of raising $15 million churchwide by 2015.

During the discussion prior to voting, Mr. Kamen Makuer of the Sudanese Dinka Worshipping Community currently worshipping at Zumbro Lutheran Church in Rochester, spoke about his years as a young man in Sudan. He would often contract malaria 10 times yearly, so he left the Sudan for two reasons: to get away from mosquitoes and from the fighting (which has killed 2.5 million Sudanese). “If I hadn’t come to America, I wouldn’t be alive today.”