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For the week before Sunday, May 20, 2007 Walking Together is a weekly e-mail newsletter of the Northern Illinois Synod best viewed in html. If you cannot read this e-mail or see the graphics, go to www.nisynod.org/pubs/wt . Additional news and information can be found at the Walking Together Annex	Sign up to join the  Walking Together mailing list
Visit the Walking Together Annex for more news and information from Walking Together. Is your congregation one of the 54 that has not yet registered its lay voting members for the 20th Annual Northern Illinois Synod Assembly? It is very important that every congregation send not only its rostered leaders, but lay voting members. Registration deadline was May 1. The assembly will be June 15-16, 2007 at Augustana College, Rock Island, IL.  Online Registration is still available or contact Nancy Corey at 309-794-4004 to register.   There is still time to register your high school youth for the NI Synod Youth Assembly, to be held concurrent with the Northern Illinois Synod Assembly, June 15-16, 2007 at Augustana College. Find out more at www.nisynod.org/assembly/youth.htm .   The Synod maintains an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with VMC Behavioral Healthcare Services. The EAP is available to all rostered leaders as well as all salaried congregational and synod staff, and all of the immediate family in these different categories. For those covered by the ELCA Board of Pensions, it is a supplemental benefit. However, for those without such coverage, VMC provides a full range of benefits that are a wonderful gift to offer the synod. Please share this information with the appropriate people in your congregation and consider making use of this gift! Here is the information on how to reach VMC, our EAP provider: 800-843-1327, www.vmceap.com Login: Northern Illinois Synod Password: 8008431327   Pr. Jonathan Black (St. John's, Ashton) has accepted the position of NI Synod Rural Ministry Consultant. Persons interested in serving on a Rural Ministry Task Force are invited to contact Pr. Black at  jlblack@oglecom.com (please note corrected e-mail address!) or 815-453-7314.   Help celebrate God's gift of diversity in the human family at the one of the Multi-ethnic Family Events on June 9, 2007. Download a poster or bulletin insert for details. If you are not living in, or connected with, a multi-ethnic family yourself, please pass on the information to someone of your acquaintance who is. Give them a personal invitation to share in this special celebration. All are welcome!   Peace Riders, the motorcycle small group at Prince of Peace in Freeport, is sponsoring a "Passport for Hunger and Shelter" Charity ride that benefits the Freeport Area Church Cooperative and their homeless shelter (PADS-People Aiding to Deliver Shelter) on June 9, 2007 (please note corrected date). Complete details can be found HERE>>. Riders from other NIS churches are welcome to attend the event and/or steal the idea and host their own ride to benefit a good cause.   Join Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Rockford for a summer of FREE concerts! Free-will offering after each performance enhances music and education programs at the church. Concerts begin at 7pm and conclude with refreshments. Shepherd of the Valley is located at 2715 S. Mulford Rd., Rockford, IL. 815-399-5503 Wed., June 6 – Uniquely Two - Elsie Seibel and Bob Aden perform pop standards and religious selections. Bob and Elsie vocalize as Elsie accompanies on the piano. Wed., June 20 – 2nd City Chorus - Rooted in the Barbershop style, this men’s chorus also has a reputation for performing a variety of musical styles. Wed., July 11 – “Sounds from the Shepherd” - Come hear the best Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran has to offer in this performance featuring the diverse skills of Shepherd of the Valley musicians. Our senior choir and our bell choir will perform together and separately in a delightful concert of sacred music. Wed., July 18 - Mike McIntyre/Kathy Summers - Nationally renowned accordianist, Mike has performed for our nation’s top polka festivals. Mike can be heard with his polka band at several area clubs. For tonight’s performance, he’ll be joined by his sister, vocalist Kathy Summers. Wed., Aug. 1 – Mike Williamson - This year’s RAMI award winner for Cabaret singer of the year, Mike Williamson has performed regionally and around the country for over 30 years. Mike’s versatile style lends itself to everything from pop to Big Band and jazz. Wed., Aug. 15 - Patte Armato Lund - Unique vocal stylings and light audience repartee make this a “not to be missed” evening. Mike McIntyre on keyboards backs this versatile songstress who also performs with Mike Williamson Music Productions and with her group “Cocktail Party.”   Find more NISynod News & Events in the Annex Back to top
Pr. Bill & Mary Beth Dahlberg (Christ, Stockton) who will travel to Ethiopia in July to adopt a son and a daughter, Owen Yoseph Dahlberg, born April 10, 2004 and Hannah Tenaye Dahlberg, born October 20, 2005. Owen & Hannah are brother & sister.   Rostered leaders celebrating birthdays this week including: Rev. Jeffrey Clements 5/16, Rev. Lee Luebke 5/18, and Rev. Kurt Carlsen 5/24. (if we missed your birthday, please send it to Karin@nisynod.org)   Steve Biehler, Nathan Clements, and the other NIS candidates for rostered ministry. Find the complete list of NIS Candidates at www.nisynod.org/candidates.htm .   Those not named here who need our prayers.   Send prayer requests to karin@nisynod.org.   Find more Prayer Requests in the Annex Back to top
New Heaven and New Earth! Sing, dance, pray and celebrate God's mission in the global context, discover opportunities for global service and travel, prepare to make a difference in God’s world. Receive the gifts of Christians and churches from around the world at the 2007 Global Mission Event, July 19-22 at The Ohio State University, Columbus. There will be a wide variety of Global University Sessions, and special programming for children and youth. All will learn how to live as faithful Christians in a global culture.   New action in the archives. ELCA's Archives have updated and republished "A Brief Guide for Archives of Congregations" with updated information of what to collect and how to preserve history in this technological age. The archives staff have also made available online several historical movies of missions and youth gatherings from years past in the former American Lutheran Church -- an "Archival Theater" that's sure to grow rapidly.     This week's front page features from The Lutheran magazine Tending souls: Helping parents nurture spirituality in children. (Photo at left.) An enlarged heart: We find new life in the rhythm of death and resurrection. 'The Little Lutheran': New magazine to help raise children of faith. Chocolate as bait: Evangelism is sweet at this Maryland congregation. Also: Nurturing families. Also: Confessions of a new father. Also: Relief work continues in Indonesia.     [View e-cards]  [ELCA Online Giving]  [Churchwide Assembly]   Find more ELCA News & Events in the Annex Back to top
Continuing Ed Opportunities from Luther Seminary: Two courses led by Roy Oswald! Roy M. Oswald, Alban Institute, focuses his research on the pastoral role and the dynamics of parish leadership. June 18-21: New Visions for the Long Pastorate, Enroll now June 25-28: Thriving as an Associate Pastor, Enroll now June 4-7, 2007: Preaching Days Preaching Days is designed to encourage preachers in their preaching and to provide a forum for the honing of homiletical skills and processes. Participants have the opportunity to work on texts, deliver sermons, receive feedback on their preaching, and develop a ten-hour-a-week preaching preparation process. The course will be foundational, practical, and collegial in its emphasis. Faculty from the homiletics and Bible departments will present on topics of study, process, and style in addition to facilitating small-group preaching labs. Enroll now July 9-13 and July 16-20: Olson/Powell Package Two back-to-back week-long courses that pack a theological power punch! Register for both classes, "Bondage, Freedom and Covenant: The Theology of the Book of Exodus" and "Christ and Culture Revisited: New Perspectives on Church and Society," at the package price of $400, and save $50. Enroll now June 11-15: The Downcast Soul: Ministry and Mental Illness Following a thorough introduction to depression as mental illness, participants will learn about depression from historical and biblical perspectives, from medical and psychological research, from the perspective of stress (triggering life events) and life choices, and from the role of religious faith in mental and emotional health. With this knowledge as a foundation, participants will explore how they as religious leaders and their congregations can serve members who suffer from depression and their families. This exploration will include both pastoral care for people with depression and the development of congregational programs and resources. Enroll now When You Pray... The Lord's Prayer "Once the Lord's Prayer gets hold of you, my experience is that it never lets go," says Dr. James Nestingen, the host in this 9 part video series that explores the Lord's Prayer. "It encompasses those points at which faith and life intersect and where you find yourself in life's crucible," he adds. "It is a table of contents to the Christian faith." Order your copy August 14: Centered Life Orientation Conference Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN The "myth of a balanced life"; the "unfinished Reformation"; What is a centered life? (one that is awakened, called, set free, and nurtured); How can knowing my callings in the world lead to a life of belonging, identity, and meaning?; What is Centered Life? (a congregational initiative in support of centered lives); How can the Centered Life process help people in our congregation claim lives of daily faithfulness, centered in Christ?; How do we introduce Centered Life to our congregation? Learn more and enroll In the Company of Preachers, A New Preaching Resource from the Center for Biblical Preaching Good preaching is no easy task. Preachers need opportunities to hone their skills and hear other good preachers. In the Company of Preachers meets both of those needs. This new audio CD resource offers 15-20 minutes of teaching comments and four to five carefully selected sermons. Learn more   Find more Continuing Education Opportunities in the Annex Back to top
Taking inspiration from the Hebrew Prophet Micah's call to "Do Justice, Love Kindness, and Walk Humbly with God," the fourth Young Adult Ecumenical Forum (YAEF) will take place from July 26-29 at the Marsh Chapel of Boston University. This grassroots gathering of young progressive Christian voices will focus on Environmental Justice and responses to a variety of issues facing our increasingly globalized, environmentally fragile world. Find out more at www.yaef.net . Registration for the Forum is $75 with an additional housing cost of $75. Applications are due on May 31st and are available at http://www.yaef.net .   This month's "Seeding Health and Hope" from Wheat Ridge is available HERE. In this month's edition, "New Experiences: Summer Silly and Summer Sweet," you'll find ideas of fun ways to spend time with your kids this summer. Find more News from Other Organizations in the Annex Back to top
Send your bulletin board items to NISNews@comcast.net.   Find more Bulletin Board Items in the Annex Back to top
...were updated 5/1/2007    ...are available online, and are updated on the first week of each month.  Click here to see vacancies Back to top
...is updated on the second week of each month. Click here to go to the Financial Snapshot - find out more about the Synod's current financial situation. Back to top
Looking for information from a previous Walking Together? Visit the ANNEX for more information OR visit www.nisynod.org/pubs/wt for all the back issues.   Walking Together is a weekly e-mail newsletter that brings you all the news you need to know to stay up to date on happenings in the Northern Illinois Synod. It is sent to rostered leaders, congregations, and others by request. To be added to the listserv, change your e-mail address or otherwise manage your subscription, please click the link on the right or e-mail Karin@NISynod.org Your submissions, comments, and suggestions are welcomed. Contact Karin Graddy, Communication Director for the Northern Illinois Synod at Karin@nisynod.org. -  If you are changing your e-mail address please send your name, old e-mail address, and new e-mail address to NISNews@comcast.net .   You can also change your e-mail address, subscribe, unsubscribe, or control other personal options by going to http://lists.faithgroups.net/mailman/listinfo/walkingtogether . If you have any questions about this service, or ever have any trouble with Walking Together, please don’t hesitate to contact Karin@nisynod.org .   Karin Graddy, Associate in Ministry Communication Director for the Northern Illinois Synod of the ELCA Karin@NISynod.org   www.nisynod.org 103 West State Street Rockford, IL 61101 815-964-9934 - office 815-762-0758 - cell Fax: 815-964-2295 <>< Making Christ Known <>< Back to top

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Northern Illinois Synod, 103 West State Street, Rockford, IL 61101 Phone: 815-964-9934 Fax: 815-964-2295 welcome@nisynod.org Questions or comments about this website may be directed to Karin Graddy, Northern Illinois Synod Communication Director