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January 6, 2008 Walking Together is a weekly e-mail newsletter of the Northern Illinois Synod best viewed in html. If you cannot 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.   On Saturday, February 16, every congregation should send teams of 3-5 people to a free training event for congregational Green Teams offering practical and inspirational guidance and resources for the process of bringing "care of creation" into congregations. The event, hosted by the NI Synod Green Team and under the leadership of David Rhoads (LSTC Director of the Green Congregation Program) will take place from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm at Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center, Oregon, IL. Anyone interested in "greening" your congregation is encouraged to attend. There is no charge for the workshop. However, in order to adequately plan for set-up and food, please register your congregation and the approximate number of participants through Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center at 815-732-2220 or registrations@lomc.org . Questions may be directed to LOMC or Pastor Don Knowles at 815-246-9642 or pastor@immanuelearlville.net . Download a bulletin insert - or flyer for your council HERE.   The Stubbs family is currently serving as missionaries with the ELCA doing leadership development through the new music department at Makumira University College in Tanzania, East Africa. After serving First DeKalb from 1987 to 2006 their journey now has taken them to another community halfway around the world. See photos, read their newsletters, and find out lots more at www.StubbsMission.info   Find more NISynod News & Events in the Annex Back to top
Carol & Pr. Jim Olsen (Bethel, Stronghurst) at the death of Carol's mother, Alice Kearney on 12/12.   Doris Johnson, wife of Pr. LaVern Johnson (retired, Malden), recovering at home following a heart attack   Pr. Bob Edlen (retired, Rockford) hospitalized with pneumonia   Keith and Nelma Blust, parents of Lu Bettisch (seminarian) as Keith battles terminal heart disease.   Rostered leaders celebrating birthdays in January including: 1/1 Rev. Kathleen Burkheimer 1/2 Rev. Paul H. Wold 1/5 Mr. R. Frederick Becker 1/6 Rev. Thomas Schattauer 1/7 Rev. Jan Bengtson 1/7 Rev. Daniel Witkowski 1/8 Rev. Orlyn Huwe 1/8 Rev. Arnold Thoren, Jr. 1/9 Rev. David W. Lawson 1/9 Rev. Paul Uhl 1/9 Rev. Dorothy Wilcox 1/12 Rev. Neville Kretzmann 1/13 Rev. Charles Beckingham 1/14 Rev. Donald Knowles 1/15 Rev. Dr. Arthur C. Bergren 1/16 Mr. Robert Haak 1/19 Rev. Kurt Hansen 1/22 Rev. Joseph Robb 1/22 Rev. Krista L. Stokke 1/22 Rev. Howard Walker 1/26 Rev. Frederick Baltz 1/26 Ms. Jennifer Fox 1/26 Rev. James Hill 1/31 Rev. Gary Park (if we missed your birthday, please send it to Karin@nisynod.org)   Jason Fisher, Joseph Garcea, 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
You can be proud to be a member of the ELCA! Look at some of the ministries YOU make possible through your congregation, synod, and churchwide organization. When you hear the stories you will proudly say, "Wow, the ELCA is really doing a lot!" Your special support of the ELCA World Hunger Appeal makes a difference. For example, in rural Pennsylvania, folks with limited incomes are growing their own food. Even kids are learning about gardening and nutrition. They sell some of what they grow at a nearby farmers' market. Growing your own food encourages healthier eating. Learning a new skill encourages self-reliance. Find out more at www.elca.org .   Lutheran World Relief Responds to Kenya Crisis Lutheran World Relief (LWR) is working with its partners in Action by Churches Together (ACT), a global consortium of churches and faith-based aid agencies, to assist people displaced by the violence. Current response to this crisis includes emergency food aid, and LWR and our partners are assessing the situation as it unfolds and determining the most appropriate response going forward. You can help with a gift to LWR. Visit www.lwr.org to give, or call 1-800-LWR-LWR-2   Coming Up on Grace Matters January 6, Philip Gulley - If Grace is True Drop in someone's lap the question, "Who is really saved?" and you are likely to get a whole host of responses. It is a hot button question to be sure, especially for some in the evangelical world and certainly for most believers who think fundamentally about their faith... Find air times and stations, and read more at www.gracematters.org   Find more Churchwide News & Events in the Annex Back to top
January 14-15, 2008 Reading with Ginger Soulwork: Attending to the Desire for a More Meaningful Life Lived in Relationship with God, presented by Rev. Ginger Anderson-Larson. Click here for more info. January 28-29, 2008 Redeeming Congregational Conflict: Discovering GOD'S SHALOM in the Midst of Conflict presented by Rev. John Beck, PhD. All pastors, lay and professional leaders, and synod staff persons interested in better understanding dynamics of conflict and in promoting healthy congregations are invited and encouraged to participate. Click here for more info.   27th Annual Rural Ministry Conference March 2-4, 2008 The Gospel On The Land, The Gospel For The Land Christian congregations throughout rural America celebrate and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ in worship and witness, in liturgy and life, making Christ known on the land. Christian congregations in rural America also hear the voice of God calling all people to care well for the land. This year's Rural Ministry Conference will explore issues of evangelism and earth care in the ministry of rural congregations. Click here for more info or to register.   The Tri-State Forum features five day-long lectures throughout the year, ideal for lay and rostered leaders. Cost for forum membership, which includes all five lectures, is $110. Each individual lecture is $35. Tri-State Forum Brochure (pdf format) Upcoming event: Dr. Samuel Giere Preaching Christ During Lent January 31, 2008 Lecture Description: This course will focus on preaching of Christ crucified specifically rooted in the texts of the Revised Common Lectionary, Year A, and conditioned by the context of Lent. We will spend time exploring individual texts and imagining possible preaching trajectories from Ash Wednesday to Palm/Passion Sunday.   Would you be interested in joining a group of colleagues for your continuing education this year? Sign up for an online course at WTS. Are you yearning for deeper learning about topics such as: Lutheran Confessions, Engaging the Letters of Paul, Caring for the Sick, or Church as Learning Community? Click here for Center for Theology and Land Online Courses. Are you discerning a call to ministry? Get a taste of seminary coursework and begin to earn some credits online this spring. Click here for Wartburg Seminary Masters Level Online Courses.   Find more Continuing Education Opportunities in the Annex Back to top
Luther College Nordic Choir Concert Friday, January 25 at 8pm, St. Raphael's Cathedral. Sponsored by Wartburg Seminary. Tickets, $15 adults & $8 students, are available through Luther College at www.luthertickets.com or 1-800-458-8437 Luther, Loehe, Bonhoeffer Tour 2008 July 10-24, 2008 Study Tour of Germany Wartburg College and Wartburg Seminary invite you to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of Wilhelm Loehe's birth by joining Dr. Craig Nessan and Pastor Larry Trachte on a two-week tour of Luther, Bonhoeffer and Loehe sites. Click here for more details.   WYLS Nominations June 16-25, 2008 and July 7-16, 2008 Wartburg Youth Leadership School is a ten day experience held on the campus of Wartburg Theological Seminary for high school youth. To view and print a nomination brochure click here. If you have questions about WYLS, please call 563-589-0220, email wyls@warburgseminary.edu or click here to visit us online.   Katie’s Cup Conversations Explores Nature-Deficit Disorder Tuesday, January 22 Led by Russ Senti, Executive Director, Lutheran Outdoor Ministry Center Mr. Senti will address the disconnect between today’s children and the great outdoors, and the advantages to be gained by children who engage in outdoor activities. Katie’s Cup Conversations - 11:45 - 1 pm, Stockholm Inn, 2420 Charles St, Rockford, Luncheon & program - $10, For reservations or more info, contact RALM RALMmail@aol.com or 815/962-4279, Luncheon reservation deadline: Monday, January 21   Just Watching is an occasional newsletter from Wheat Ridge Ministries written by Dr. Charles Mueller, Sr. and intended for pastors and parish leaders of effective congregations of all sizes and other friends. Just Watching December 2007 Brokering Wheat Ridge shares the creative worship and devotional thoughts of the Rev. Dr. Herbert Brokering, Wheat Ridge Ministries Staff Associate. The prayers, hymns, devotions and litanies focus on health and hope through the church year. It is published three times a year. Brokering Wheat Ridge December 2007  Engaging the Aging, which is published four times a year by Lutheran Senior Services, is a newsletter targeted toward pastors and older adult ministry in their congregations.  You can view the 2007 summer/fall issue of "Engaging the Aging" by using this link. Please check back in January 2008 for the winter issue. You can view or print these and other Wheat Ridge publications at http://www.wheatridge.org/publications. Find more News from Other Organizations in the Annex Back to top
Find more Bulletin Board Items in the Annex Back to top
...were updated 1/4/08    ...are available online, and are updated near the first of each month.  Click here to see vacancies 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 karin@nisynod.org .   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 (Fridays only) 815-964-2295 - fax 815-762-0758 – cell (email messages preferred)   <>< 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