Synod Day of Learning! September 19, 9:00 am-5:30 pm
This one-day virtual event is for everyone. Tell your friends and invite your congregation! You can come to one-session, or all day. Our keynote speaker is Randy Woodley, Keetoowah Cherokee leader and activist.
Session topics include:
Innovative and Online Worship Ideas
Oregon Synod Horizon, Values, and Stepping Stones for the Future
Health Care and Racial Equity: What COVID-19 has Revealed
And more!
$25 per person for adults over 21; under 21s are free!
Click here to learn more and register. Registration closes September 13 at midnight.
First quarterly Zoom gathering for office admins and parish staff! Tomorrow at 9:00 am. We will be talking about upcoming events, resources, support, and ways we can do work smarter, not harder in these COVID times. Please register here. After registering, you will receive an email containing the meeting details. Questions? Concerns? Ideas? Please contact Jemae.
Retired Rostered Leaders Zoom Gathering with Bishop Laurie Larson Caesar. Connect, pray, voice your challenges and passions, answer questions, and share hopes and dreams for the synod. September 8 from 2:00-3:00 pm. Registration required for the meeting; click here.
OPPORTUNITIES
“God’s work. Our hands” Sunday —Sunday, Sept. 13. Our church — and our world — are living through the COVID-19 pandemic. Physical distancing has changed the way we worship and serve. But the need is great, and God’s church is at work. ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton offers ideas and encouragement for your day of service. Acts of service can happen anywhere: you might contribute to an online project from your home or volunteer in person keeping a safe physical distance and wearing a mask. In this special tool kit, you’ll find service project ideas and considerations for safely supporting your community during a pandemic hereand here.
Lutherans Restoring Creationinvites you and your worship team to take a break on Sunday, September 20, & use a recorded creation-focused liturgy featuring the presiding bishop & other Lutheran luminaries from across the country. Celebrate the Season of Creation! Click here for the details and to register.
Hunger in the Time of COVID-19: Life for Today and Hope for Tomorrow. You are invited to the first virtual (Zoom) benefit for ELCA World Hunger. The goal is to raise $250,000 to confront hunger in the time of COVID-19. Hear from:
Just Vote: Harnessing Our Values for Climate & Racial Justice. Join EcoFaith Recovery (in partnership with Oregon Interfaith Power & Light and Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon) in this new initiative. Using EcoFaith Recovery’s Practices for Awakening Leadership participants will support one another through resource and story sharing, relationship building, and mutual mentoring. You’ll get information on campaigns to engage with, mentoring on how to start an action team and effective plan, and ideas of how to amplify your efforts by inspiring others. Whether new to this work or experienced, you have a place among us here. 1st, 3rd, and 5th Thursdays from 8:45 to 10:15 am. Our next meeting is tomorrow. RSVP here.
Shalom and the Community of Creation Cohort. This four-month study will offer a unique opportunity to reframe many of the environmental and cultural crises currently facing humanity, while exploring the time-tested solutions offered to us by Indigenous Wisdom. Led by the Eloheh Indigenous Center for Earth Justice, in partnership with Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon and EcoFaith Recovery, this course will begin and end with in-person instruction from Randy and Edith Woodley (read their bios) onsite at the Eloheh Farm in Yamhill, Ore. Come explore the intersection of indigenous wisdom and prophetic Christianity. Cohort begins 9/27. Click here to register or learn more.
Pacific Lutheran University’s Lutheran Studies Conference. This year’s Lutheran Studies Conference focuses on systemic racism and will involve opportunities for reading, reflection and commitment to action for individuals and their faith and/or educational communities. We will be guided in this work and reflection by Rev. Lenny Duncan, an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Church of America (ELCA), and his 2019 book addressed to the ELCA: Dear Church: A Love Letter from a Black Preacher to the Whitest Denomination in the US. During the Webinar, we will be joined by our guest speaker, Rev. Duncan and have the opportunity for a time of question and answer. Thursday, October 1, 7pm. Register for the webinar here.
Prior to the webinar, congregations and individuals are welcome to join Dr. Marit Trelstad, University Chair of Lutheran Studies, for two weeks of adult forums focused on racial justice in our churches and discussion of Rev. Duncan’s book. Congregations are encouraged to read the book prior to the adult forums. This offers us the opportunity for self-reflection and questions in preparation for our time with Rev. Duncan. His book may be ordered online through other sources, including Augsburg Fortress. Rev. Duncan’s approach to his own church is one of sincere, deep love and direct truth-telling concerning racism in the church that calls itself the “body of Christ” in the world. The description of Duncan’s book from his website, linked here.
Cross into Fall 2020 and create with these ALL NEW online experiences hosted by the Grünewald Guild.
The Oregon Synod staff are committed to practicing social distancing protocols per CDC and Governor Brown’s guidelines. Although we do not currently have in-person office hours, we are here to support you and can be reached at the contacts below. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate through this together.
Oregon Synod 2800 N. Vancouver Ave., Suite #101 Portland, OR 97227 (503) 413-4191
