Minneapolis Area Synod, ELCA

The current and former bishops of the Minneapolis Area Synod

The people of the Minneapolis Area Synod gathered for worship and the installation of Bishop Jen Nagel by Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton. Pastor Justin Lind-Ayres offered the children’s sermon.

So some rostered leaders did show up for Bishop Jen Nagel’s installation at Central Lutheran this morning! (If it’s still morning, you can still watch the livestream from the synod’s website.)

Practice makes perfect … ready. Bishop-elect Jen Nagel is preparing for tomorrow’s installation at Central Lutheran in Minneapolis (at 10:30 a.m.).

The pastors of the Southwest Conference of the Minneapolis Area Synod gathered in Carver, Minnesota, for food, fellowship, and fun on Wednesday. Don't they look happy to be together?

The fall programming begins, and the Crosstown Conference held its first post-summer meeting at Family of God Lutheran Church in Brooklyn Park on Wednesday. If your congregation is in the Crosstown Conference, can you find your pastor in the photo?

Part of the staff of Community of the Cross Lutheran in Bloomington joined newly installed Joseph Schattauer Paillé and Assistant to the Bishop John Hulden after the September 8 installation service. Welcome Pastor Joseph!

“For the leaders at Tapestry, mission development involves not just preaching and sending people home, but also sharing Christ’s love through food with immigrants to whom even the land of plenty may feel like a desert place because they encounter a new culture and do not speak English. Tapestry integrates the need to help people practice their faith in migration with the need to address their physical, social, and emotional needs.” To read the rest of Pastor Wondimu’s blog:

Gathering as a family of God - Mpls Area Synod ELCA By Pastor Wondimu Sonessa Last week, September 11 in particular, marks one year since I received the call to serve as an interim director of evangelical mission for the Minneapolis Area Synod. One privilege of being a DEM is that I am able to work closely with

Dana Becker was ordained into the Ministry of Word and Sacrament on Sunday, September 8. Pastor Dana will serve as associate at All Saints Lutheran Church in Norwood Young America, though the ordination service was held at Prince of Peace in Burnsville, the Saint Paul Area Synod congregation where she grew up. Welcome Pastor Dana!

Several Minneapolis Area Synod leaders were interviewed for this Associated Press article out today:

Lutherans in Walz's Minnesota put potlucks before politics during divisive election season Midwest Lutheranism has entered the national political limelight since Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz became Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate.

Pastor Makayla Dahleen was installed this morning at St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church in Plymouth. Here she is joined by the pastoral staff at St Philip the Deacon, as well as Pastor John Hulden, assistant to the bishop in the Minneapolis Area Synod. Welcome Pastor Makayla!

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota at its Gala just raised $1.165 million for services provided to people seeking financial services, for adoption services, for supporting people with disabilities,and many other programs.

Tapestry Congregation’s “Thriving in Miniatry” Conference is off to a great start at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church on Bloomington. Tapestry, a bilingual ministry of the Minneapolis Area Synod, is celebrating its 10th year.

After 17 years as pastor at St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Bloomington, Pastor Tom Olson completed his call last weekend. Bishop Jen Nagel presided over Pastor Tom's taking leave of his pastoral duties for the congregation. Blessings on your next steps, Pastor Tom. Photos provide by Julie Koch

“Jesus wasn’t so interested in spin. He knew that his vocation of bringing good news to the poor would have a certain inevitability about it; he was aware that the language he used was challenging. But, he didn’t sugarcoat what he was asking of his disciples. Peter’s own insecurity should not and could not deter Jesus from inevitable confrontation. The theology of the cross calls us to do better than spin.” To read the entire blog:

Spinning out of control - Mpls Area Synod ELCA By Bob Hulteen I’m a communications director. I’ve previously been employed by faith-based nonprofits, and now I work on messaging for the synod – telling the synod’s story in a light that is accessible and relatable. Often it involves discerning the optimal angle from which to view

Seven people were baptized at Amazing Grace Hmong Lutheran Church in Fridley on Sunday. The congregation’s choir offered joyous celebration of the event. Photo credit: Pastor Wondimu Sonessa, Minneapolis Area Synod’s Director of Evagelical Mission

We are delighted to announce our 2024-2025 line up and welcome these amazing speakers to the Faith & Life Lecture Series. As always, this series is free and open to the public--both in person and via our livestream. To learn more about each speaker, visit faith-and-life.org.

Lorie Line
Faith & Surrender: A Life in Music
October 10, 2024

Michael Ward
Faith & Philosophy: A Legacy from C.S. Lewis
November 21, 2024

Darryl Strawberry
Faith & Transformation: A Personal Story of Restoration
February 6, 2025

Thomas Wagner
Faith & Resilience: Finding Hope in Challenging Times
March 20, 2025

David Brooks
Faith & Connection: How to Know a Person
April 24, 2025

&lifelectureseries

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of ELCA World Hunger, we're encouraging congregations to get involved with feeding ministries for "God's work. Our hands." Download the toolkit, worship resources, social media graphics and more: https://bit.ly/3MtrxHU

Just like everyone is posting "back to school pix," here's the Central Conference of the Minneapolis Area Synod reconvening for activity post-Labor Day. The Central Conference has about 14 congregations, as well as Lutheran Campus Ministry--Twin Cities. The rostered leaders of these congregations meet monthly to share inspiration and information, as well as to provide support for each other. Photo credit: Pastor John Hulden from the synod staff, who attends the gatherings of about half of the synod's 12 conferences

“The Minnesota State Fair closed its 12-day run last night, and my state fair memories for 2024 are from the crowded tables of the Salem Lutheran Church Dining Hall. A week ago Monday, a few of us from the synod staff volunteered at the Salem Dining Hall at Cosgrove and Randall. Over the fair’s run, 150-some volunteers pitch in working at the counter, waiting tables, flipping pancakes and making the meatballs, and washing dishes.” To read the entirety of Bishop Jen's blog: https://mpls-synod.org/2024/09/crowded-table/

WCCO host Vineeta Sawkar interviewed CES director Jamie Dolynchuk about innovative food lockers that CES just installed to serve people who can't use normal business hours to receive food assistance. CES was originally founded by Augustana Lutheran in downtown Minneapolis. Now, that congregation worships in the CES building in the Phillips neighborhood. Listen to the podcast (with the interview beginning after a couple of short ads):

Midweek Motivation - refrigerated food lockers for those in need! You have heard of Amazon drop off lockers - now there are new refrigerated food lockers being put into circulation and it's being used for a good purpose - part

Church dining halls at county fairs or the State Fair are the best.

The State Fair’s last two church dining halls find ways to survive and thrive

More than just egg coffee …

After 75 years, Salem Dining Hall continues to be a family affair, iconic stop for fairgoers Salem Lutheran Church Dining Hall has maintained a significant presence at the Minnesota State Fair for 75 years, drawing on a deep-rooted community of volunteers and evolving to meet the changing tastes of fairgoers.

Have you ever wondered about theological education? The ELCA seminaries would like to help you learn more about your seminary options and explore with you where God might be calling you next. Join all seven seminaries of the ELCA on Sunday, September 15th from 1:00-3:30 (PT), 2:00-4:30 (MT), 3:00-5:30 (CT), or 4:00-6:30 (ET) for a Joint Virtual Discernment Event. More information is available here: https://admissions.callutheran.edu/register/jointdiscernment

Jennifer Stoffe, a member of Peace Lutheran of Plymouth, met with Bishop Jen Nagel and Pastor John Hulden when she brought a check from the proceeds of the sale of the building when the church closed a year ago. The members of Peace designated this gift to the synod’s Resurrection Fund for ongoing ministry. Jennifer recalled the importance of Peace’s ministry with Families Moving Forward for her and her son, and wanted to ensure that similar ministries by ELCA congregations could continue.

Our Saviour's Lutheran in East Bethel said farewell to Pastor Maria Pederson on Sunday, ... with a Star Trek-themed party. Pastor Maria will be interim pastor at Normandale Lutheran in Edina.

My first call – for ten years – was to the lower East Side of Saint Paul. Wow, did those lovely people help me to become a pastor. My little church on the East Side had a childcare center that struggled mightily to make ends meet. I saw the director and small staff work long hours because families had trouble getting ahead if parents didn’t have a day care option. Those of you in congregations with day care centers know the struggle of providing this needed ministry.” To read the rest of Pastor John’s blog:

Love for (synod) neighbors - Mpls Area Synod ELCA By Pastor John Hulden My siblings and I all graduated from our very own high school in our very own time zone. Growing up, we moved about every five years following our pastor-Dad to his next call – always

After presenting at the pre-convention of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria, Bishop Ann gathers with the bishops of LCCN. On her left, she is standing next to His Royal Majesty, the King of Yola. He was a major donor of land to the Lutheran University Nigeria.