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March 16, 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.         The NI Synod will host two hearings for members to comment on the text of the ELCA Draft Social Statement on Human Sexuality: *Monday, April 21, 7-9 pm at Gloria Dei, Rockford and *Thursday, April 24, 7-9 pm at St. John’s, Peru Click here to find out more or download the ELCA Draft Social Statement on Human Sexuality   Professional leaders of the Northern Illinois Synod are invited to a day of rest, refreshment and reflection on Monday, April 7,  Shepherd Me O God - a one-day spiritual retreat. Robert Haak, Director of Augustana College’s Center for Vocational Reflection will be the guest presenter for this retreat. Time: 9 a.m.—4 p.m. Location: Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center, Oregon, Illinois. Cost: $18 (includes lunch) Optional: Spend the night. (Single occupancy: Arrive between 4-6 PM on Sunday. Total cost of overnight and day retreat is $38.) The one-day retreat includes presentation and discussion time framed by worship. There will be free time in the morning and afternoon when one might converse with friends, journal, walk, nap, receive therapeutic massage or seek spiritual guidance from persons experienced as spiritual directors. Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center is located at 1834 South Illinois Route 2, Oregon, IL 61061 (2.5 miles from Illinois 64 in downtown Oregon, IL). This retreat is sponsored by the Spiritual Formation Committee of the Northern Illinois Synod whose purpose is to foster spiritual connections with God, self and one another. Registration Form   The Northern Illinois University Steelband will appear in concert at Peace Lutheran Church in Morris on Saturday, April 12 at 7:00 p.m. This band of 34 musicians will perform calypso, popular and classical music on several sizes of steel drums. Bring the whole family to this exciting evening of music and movement and enjoy the warm, tropical sounds of the Caribbean. A suggested donation of $5 will be collected at the door, and a reception with food and drink will follow the concert. For more information call Mike Kessler at 815 634 6075.   Everyone is invited to an Open House in honor of Pastor Neville and Sue Kretzmann's Retirement Sunday, March 30, 2008 2 pm - 4 pm First Lutheran Church, 303 S Galena Avenue, Freeport, IL 61032, 815-235-9790   Our Savior's and Gloria Dei Lutheran Churches in Rockford will co-host a special U2charist on Sunday, April 13, 6 p.m., at Our Savior's, 3300 Rural, Rockford. The U2charist combines a traditional liturgy including the Eucharist, or communion, with the biblically rich lyrics of the Irish rock group U2 and its lead singer, Bono. A lively and joyful worship experience for all ages, U2charists are noted for their emphasis on the challenge that Bono has given us to fight global poverty and disease. A freewill offering will go to Bread for the World, a collective Christian voice that urges our nation's decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad. For further information, please call Carol Burmeister, 815-397-5579. Click on the graphic for a larger version to use to advertise this service in your churches.   Find more NISynod News & Events in the Annex Back to top
Pr. David Ufkes (Immanuel, Marseilles) and his family at the death of his mother, Marjorie, a member at St. John’s, Peru on March 13.   Adrian Vidler, wife of Pr. David Vidler (First, Mt. Carroll) who is hospitalized.   Rostered leaders celebrating birthdays in March including: Rev. Brent Dahlseng 3/1 Rev. Norval Wigtil 3/1 Rev. Myron Bartell 3/2 Rev. Susie Hill 3/4 Rev. David Nygard 3/6 Rev. Arthur Stees 3/6 Rev. William Dahlberg 3/8 Rev. S. Kim Lee-Brown 3/9 Rev. Tom W. Otis 3/9 Rev. Amy Nyman 3/10 Rev. Kendall Koenig 3/13 Ms. Karin Graddy 3/15 Rev. Thomas Jacoby 3/16 Rev. Robert L. Hansen 18 Rev. Nichole Johnson 3/20 Rev. Gerald Peterson 3/20 Rev. Sarah Schaffner 3/20 Rev. Terry Dufur 3/23 Rev. Pat Esker 3/23 Rev. Patricia Woods 3/23 Matthew Marohl 3/26 Rev. Ralph Radloff 3/26 Rev. Carol Gates 3/27 Rev. John Leaf 3/27 Rev. Barbara Melaas-Swanson 3/27 Rev. John Swanson 3/28 Ms. Jane Atteberry 3/29 Rev. Paul Johnson 3/30 Rev. Mark Juliot 3/31 (if we missed your birthday, please send it to Karin@nisynod.org)   Vicki Sauter, Gwen Sefrhans, 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
The presiding bishop's 2008 Easter message is available at http://www.ELCA.org/bishop/messages/m_easter2008.html on the ELCA Web site.  An audio recording of the message at http://media.ELCA.org/audionews/2008MSHEaster.mp3 on the Web. A new resource intended to engage people in conversation and self-assessment about their feelings, knowledge, experiences and practices related to money is being introduced this month.  Produced by the ELCA, "Money Leadership for Thriving Congregations" is a biblically based stewardship education resource. Information about "Money Leadership for Thriving Congregations," including ordering information, is at www.ELCA.org/stewardship/teaching Fast Facts: 90 percent of children living with HIV are in Africa. Easter Sunday – The Nonsense of Standstill Christianity Mark 16:1-8 In this special Easter Sunday meditation, program host Peter W. Marty ponders the Easter story from St. Mark's Gospel. He takes a candid look at the Christian life lived in light of the resurrection. If Jesus has been raised from the dead, there is no such thing as a standstill Christian. Believing people must be on the move, open to new possibilities. They cannot park their faith in contentment with the past, or in coziness with the present. Living the Christian life well is all about trying to keep up with the risen Christ, who keeps showing up several steps ahead of us. Waiting for Easter - by LCM @ NIU Pr. Diane Dardón Passion pilgrimage: Journey along the way of the cross. Was Jesus subversive? Considering the 'other' reason Jesus died on the cross. Easter thoughts: Youth share their understanding of resurrection. New country, new child: Pediatrician helps meet needs of international adoptions. Also: Green living. Also: Called to life again. Also: Finances. Kathleen Kastilahn blogs about e-gratitude. Julie Sevig blogs about celebrating March 17 with all things green -- and remembering that St. Patrick was a man of faith. Check out our blog ...     Did you know: An individual subscription to The Lutheran magazine is only $15.95 a year and includes a Web membership at no additional cost. For only $15.95 you'll receive 12 issues of The Lutheran magazine in your mailbox. You'll also receive access to back issues' articles since 1996 and unlimited study guide downloads (regularly $3.50 each) at www.thelutheran.org . (Congregational subscriptions begin at $7.95 and include Web memberships, too. Call Augsburg Fortress, Publishers, for details about congregational plans. 800-328-4648.) The Lutheran now offers "green" group subscriptions for congregations.   Find more Churchwide News & Events in the Annex Back to top
Registration is now open for Summer Session 2008 at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. Take advantage of our one-week intensive courses, and strengthen your ministries with new knowledge and techniques. Classes run from June 16 -20 and June 23 – 27. Learn from LSTC faculty members Ed Krentz, Craig Satterlee, and Michael Shelley, and from distinguished guest professors Kelly Fryer (author, Reclaiming the “L” Word), Phyllis Kersten (pastor, Grace Lutheran Church), and Alicia Vargas (professor, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary). Find complete details on the web at: http://www.lstc.edu/lifelong_learn/08summersession/index.html   Find more Continuing Education Opportunities in the Annex Back to top
The Youth & Family Institute invites men and women of all ages to Connecting with Younger Men: Changing Church Culture. This event is especially for pastors, staff and church leaders, who are reaching out to younger men, ages 18-34 so they may have a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. Informal Gathering & Fellowship Time Friday, April 25, 7:30 pm Devil’s Lake Resort, Baraboo, WI. Saturday, April 26, 2008, 8:30 AM - 3:45PM, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 727 Eighth Street, Baraboo, WI 53913, www.stpaulsbaraboo.org . Registration: Individual - $45.00, Early Bird - $39.00 by 3.31.08, Seminarians/ Students - $19.00, Congregation Registration 1-2 attendees - $45.00 each, 3 or more - $39.00 each. Includes Coming of Age book, Conference materials, Lunch and Refreshments   Unveiling The Heart, Restoring The Soul - A three Day Retreat within a Twenty-seven Day Process for Those in Ministry At Manitoumie Retreat Center (Located 1 hour and 15 minutes north of Madison, Wisconsin) May 5 - May 7,2008 Cost: $250.00 This retreat is open to anyone who is involved in Church ministry whether ordained or non-ordained. More information and registration Form   A three-synod Rotation Workshop will be held in Eau Claire, WI at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on Saturday April 5, 2008. this Educational workshop will help "Tell The Story" using the Rotation Sunday School Model. This workshop is being sponsored by The Resource Center of Clear Lake, WI, Northwest Synod of WI and the East Central Synod of WI Resource Centers. All information is attached in the following website. http://ecsw.org/resourcecenter/specialevents/2008%20Rot.final%20Darlene.pdf   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