Register Online for the 2010 Professional Leaders Conference - "Ancient Gifts for Modern Faith"
Crossing to a New Place: Evangelism in Congregations

Prayer Breakfast Offered
Celebration of Anniversary of Ordination

Stewardship Revisioning for Congregations Conference

Diakonia Workshop Offered

Learn How to Create Lutheran World Relief Kits and Quilts

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BEYOND REPAIR - True Stories of Illinois’ Flawed Death Penalty

BEYOND REPAIR - True Stories of Illinois’ Flawed Death Penalty will be presented at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, 1234 North Arlington Heights Rd., Arlington Heights, IL 60004, Thursday, September 16, 2010, at 7 p.m.

This will be an educational event revealing stories of redemption, forgiveness, and betrayal from those personally affected by the death penalty. Attend to hear directly from those touched by the state’s death penalty system.

Hear the testimony of Delbert Tibbs who was sent to death row for a rape and murder he did not commit. The event will also feature family members who have lost loved ones to murder, and who share their experience with the system after the death of their loved one. All are invited.

The event is sponsored by the Illinois Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty. For more information, contact Liz Moran at 312-673-3816 or liz@ICADP.org.

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Sixth Annual Youth Worker Networking Breakfast - September 18, 2010

The sixth annual networking breakfast for youth workers in synod congregations will take place on Saturday, September 18, 2010, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Lutheran Center (Churchwide Office), 8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago, IL 60631. In addition to time for networking, there will be a presentation by the Rev. Dr. Nathan Frambach, Associate Professor of Youth, Culture, and Mission, Wartburg Theological Seminary, who will present and discuss recent trends in ministry with young people based on the most recent findings of the National Study of Youth and Religion. Visit http://www.youthandreligion.org to get more information about the most important, current, and relevant research available for youth ministry. Our time together will also provide inspiration for all who are committed to equipping youth with the tools they need to grow in faith.

Please RSVP by September 12, 2010, to youthministry@mcselca.org. There is no cost for attending this event, and all youth workers from congregations within the synod are invited to attend.

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Register Online for the 2010 Professional Leaders Conference - "Ancient Gifts for Modern Faith"

This year’s Professional Leaders Conference, “Ancient Gifts for Modern Faith” (open to all rostered leaders in the synod) will be held at a new location, George Williams College of Aurora University, Williams Bay, Wisconsin, 53191 on September 20-22, 2010. The speakers will be John L. Bell of the Iona Community and the Rev. Dr. Nancy Cocks, Senior Minister, St. John’s Presbyterian Church, Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. The program cost is $120. Meals and lodging are extra. Complete information is available at http://www.mcselca.org/congregation/leadership/pro_leaders/.

Please note that, although the deadline for room registration has passed, more rooms have been made available by the college.

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Crossing to a New Place: Evangelism in Congregations
Offered as part of the Turnaround Synod Initiative

“Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side” (Mark 6:45).

Where is God sending your congregation? What storms will you navigate to get there? As you head out, do you see Jesus in your boat with you? “Crossing to a New Place” is the name of the second annual Metropolitan Chicago Synod Evangelism in Congregations Workshop, to be offered 9:00-noon on September 25, 2010, at Faith Lutheran Church, 41 N. Park Blvd., Glen Ellyn, IL 60137, and again 9:00-noon on October 30, 2010, at Zion Lutheran Church, 1700 S. 69th Ave., Tinley Park, IL 60477. This motivational and “hands-on” workshop will be led by the Rev. Dr. Richard Bliese, president and professor of mission at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota.

You’ll be invited to consider whether and where your congregation is being called into new mission fields. We’ll also take a look at different streams in the Lutheran tradition that shape our faith life in different ways and their impact on how we share our faith story with others. Finally, we’ll practice ten different approaches to giving a witness to our faith. Register online at http://www.mcselca.org/what/mission/evangelism_outreach.

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Prayer Breakfast Offered

The men of St. Mark Lutheran Church, 655 E. 88th St., Chicago, IL 60619, present a Men’s Prayer Breakfast on Saturday, September 11, 2010, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. A free will donation will be taken.

For more information, contact the church office at 773-723-2246.

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Celebration of Anniversary of Ordination

There will be a celebration of the 15th anniversary of ordination for the Rev. Lawrence J. Clark at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 655 E. 88th St., Chicago, IL 60619, on Sunday, September 12, 2010, at 3:00 p.m. The Rev. Dr. Rudolph Featherstone will be the guest preacher. All are invited to attend. Call the congregation at 773-723-2246 for more information.

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Fall Stewardship Conference: Stewardship Revisioning for Congregations

For this year's fall stewardship conference, the synod is promoting Stewardship Revisioning for Congregations being offered by the Tithing and Stewardship Foundation at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. The program will be held at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, 1100 E. 55th St., Chicago, IL 60615, on Saturday, October 16, 2010, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., and will be led by Ed Kruse, Director for Stewardship, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

What's new? What are the possibilities? This workshop will look at ways that we can re-vision stewardship in our congregations. Participants will look at the religious and cultural assumptions and practices around stewardship and together re-vision new approaches for congregations.

As director for stewardship for the ELCA, Ed Kruse is dedicated to equipping stewardship leaders with the perspectives, practices and skills that they can use in congregations to enable ministry to become more sustainable and funded out of generous hearts. Registration and a bulletin insert that can be downloaded are available at http://tithing.lstc.edu/events.php.

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Diakonia Workshop Offered
Postmodern Discipleship: Being a Responsibly Free Servant of Christ in Today’s World

Open to anyone (lay, ordained) who wants to grow in Christ.

St. Philip Lutheran Church
1609 Pfingsten Road
Glenview, IL 60025
847-998-1946

Saturday, October 16, 2010

9:00 AM: Check in and continental breakfast
9:30 AM: Workshop begins
12:15 PM: Lunch
12:45 PM: Workshop resumes
4:45 PM: Workshop ends
(many 15 minute breaks throughout the day)
5:00 PM: Worship (optional)

Discussion, videos, food, snacks.

All are welcome

Pre-registration: $10.00 (This helps plan for space and food.)
Walk-ins: $12.50

Make all checks payable to diakonia and mail to: The Rev. Dr. Eric L. Dawson c/o St. Philip Lutheran Church at the above address. Pre-registration needs to be received by October 1, 2010.

Sponsored by diakonia (www.thediakoniaprogram.org)
Presented by Seeking Revival (www.seekingrevival.org)

I you have any questions about the event, please call Ray Bebee at 708-341-7204.

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Learn How to Create Lutheran World Relief Kits and Quilts

Friends of Lutheran World Relief invites those interested in Lutheran World Relief (LWR) quilts and projects to "LWR Quilts and Kits Sharefest….a first" on Tuesday, October 26, 2010, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at All Saints Lutheran Church, 630 S. Quentin Rd., Palatine, IL 60067. This gathering is for "old" and "new" LWR quilters and school kit, health kit, and layette makers. Bring a quilt from your group for a "show and tell" or just come to see what others are doing. Learn more about LWR projects, enjoy refreshments, and meet others involved with LWR. There is no cost for the event, but please register with your name, church, phone, home address, and e-mail address by October 24, 2010, to Cindy Parkin, cp690@aol.com or 847-842-1690. For more information about Lutheran World Relief, visit www.lwr.org.

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Metro e-Word is the weekly (as needed) electronic newsletter of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Individual congregation events cannot be included. Congregational events are included in the synod's monthly newsletter. For more information about deadlines and submission requirements, go to http://www.mcselca.org/news/metro_word/. The Metropolitan Chicago Synod, ELCA, does not share or distribute e-mail addresses of rostered leaders or congregations to organizations outside of the ELCA. The current issue of Metro e-Word is available online at http://www.mcselca.org/news/eword/.

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