Synod Assembly 2023
Cultivating Live-Giving Relationships
June 9 - June 11, 2023
Voting Members & Non-voting Members who are ordering lunch must Register by May 25
Schedule for Assembly Weekend
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Friday, June 9, 2023 @ Holmen Lutheran
12:00 pm Resolutions & Memorials Due
1:30 pm Synod Executive Meeting
2:00 pm Synod Council Meeting
4:30 pm Drop-in Service Projects start at Holmen Lutheran
5:00 pm Registration Opens/Choir Rehearsal
6:00 pm Opening of Assembly/ Plenary Session 1
6:45 pm Break
7:00 pm Worship
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Saturday, June 10, 2023 @ The La Crosse Center
7:00 am Registration Opens/Pick Up Binder
8:00 am Plenary Session 2
-Orientation for Voting Members
-Reports
-Elections
-Resolutions
11:45 am Lunch (Boxed Lunches)
12:30 pm Plenary Session 3
-Keynote Speaker
2:15 pm Workshop Session 1
3:30 pm Workshop Session 2
4:45 pm Gathering & Report of Elections
6:00 pm Close Assembly
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Sunday, June 11, 2023 @ Riverside Park
9:00 am Choir Practice
10:00 am Synod-wide Worship
11:15 am Picnic
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Assembly Workshops will take place Saturday, June 10th
Location: La Crosse Center 2:15 pm and 3:30 pm
Workshops are available for the public & assembly voting members.
ASSEMBLY DOCUMENTS & NEWS
Amendments to the Synod Constitution from the ELCA Churchwide Assembly 2022
Resolutions & Memorials Proposed
Please submit resolutions & memorials to the Bishop by Noon on Friday, June 9, 2023
2024 Proposed Minimum Guidelines Compensation for Rostered Leaders
New Synod Officers that need to be elected:
Synod Treasurer
ASSEMBLY OFFERING
The 2023 Tangible Offering will be Socks, Underwear and Bras to restock local Clothing Closets. There is a great need for these items. They will collected during Sunday, June 11th Worship.
Friday evening, June 9 - Synod General Fund
Saturday, June 10 - Envelopes with multiple options for Synod & ELCA ministries to pick from including:
ELCA World Hunger
Companion Synod Relationships
Synod Seminarian Endowment
LuMin (Lutheran Campus Ministry of La Crosse)
LuMin Endowment (Lutheran Campus Ministry of La Crosse)
Synod General Fund
Ministry of Your Choice (ie: Sugar Creek Bible Camp)
Sunday, June 11 - Offering designated by the assembly (voted on Saturday morning)
Service Project Opportunities
Cultivate Life-Giving Relationship right from the start at Synod Assembly by participating in one or more service projects available in the Holmen, WI area Friday afternoon.
Hours
4:30-6:00 pm Drop-In Projects Available
Synod Assembly Milestones to be Recognized
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New Rostered Leaders to the synod since the last synod assembly include:
Rev. Emma Grince to Lewis Valley & Mindoro, Holmen/Mindoro, Wi
Rev. Lucy Hardie to East Lemonweir & Bethany in New Lisbon, Wi
Synodically Authorized Minister Kris Staufacher to Grace, Elroy, Wi
Rev. Joan Wittrock to Bethany, Mauston
Rev. Brad Lindberg to Interim at St. Peter & St. Stephen, Shennington/Camp Douglas, Wi
Rev. Kary Jonas to Interim at Prince of Peace, La Crescent, MN
Rev. Jim Scaife to Interim at Trinity, Sparta, Wi
Rev. Kathy Ingbritsen to Interim at Mt. Calvary & Tamarack, Trempealeau/Arcadia, Wi
Rev. Rich McLeer to Interim at Bethany & Zion & Lower Coon Valley, Westby/Viroqua, Wi
Rev. Paul Sannerud to Interim at North Beaver Creek, Ettrick, Wi
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125th Anniversary
English Lutheran in La Crosse, Wi
Skogdalen in Westby, Wi
Vang Lutheran in Westby, Wi
150th Anniversary
St Stephen Lutheran in Camp Douglas, Wi
St Paul Evangelical Lutheran in Wauzeka, Wi
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10 Years
The Rev. Amanda Schultz Garcia
The Rev. Linda McPeak
The Rev. Nile Sandeen
15 Years
The Rev. Carrie Anderson
20 Years
The Rev. Jason Stanton
The Rev. Len Liptack
The Rev. Margo Peterson
The Rev. Matt Toso
25 Years
The Rev. Kris Bjerke-Ulliman
30 Years
The Rev. Michelle Rem
The Rev. Mike Woods
35 Years
The Rev. Marlene Pankonin
40 Years
The Rev. Chuck Miller
45 Years
Deacon Marlene Wilhelm
The Rev. April Larson
The Rev. Judd Larson
50 Years
The Rev. Dennis Johnson
60 Years
The Rev. Duane Baardseth
65 Years
The Rev. Ronald Nowland
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Congratulations to …
To earn a Certificate of Completion from the La Crosse Area Synod School of Theology students are expected to take: 6 Bible, 6 Theology/Study of God, 3 Church History, 6 Ministry Skills and 2 Spiritual Development courses
At the opening of Synod Assembly on Friday at Holmen Lutheran, we will recognize and celebrate milestones in the ministry lives of Rostered Leaders and Congregations. On Sunday, during worship at Riverside Park we will commission, blessed and send out the Sugar Creek Summer Staff for their 2023 summer ministry.
Synod World Hunger Focus
As we become more aware of the precious resource of water, we invite you into this focus for the next year in our synod.
Watch the Updates for resources, videos, slideshows, and the roll out of our next “hands on” project, which will be a water bucket for each congregation to decorate and then use as they wish in their churches – to receive noisy offerings, to auction off to raise funds, to promote water awareness….the possibilities are many!
More information will be shared at Synod Assembly.
What is Synod Assembly?
Synod Assembly is an annual gathering of voting members, leaders, pastors/staff, and volunteers from all 73 of our ministry sites in the La Crosse Area. It is a time where we intentionally walk together, to cultivate life-giving relationships rooted in God's love through times of worship, prayer, learning, conversation, offering, meals, service and highlighting our interdependent ministry relationship as we support mission partners, carry out synodical and churchwide initiatives, work to end hunger, respond to disaster and emergency needs, and heed the call to be a church engaged in all the world.
Resources for Worship
Sunday, June 11, 2023
Prayers in Preparation for Assembly Prayer
For the power of the Holy Spirit to be breathed among us and into us in our life together in this synod, in order to cultivate life-giving relationships.
Almighty God, shown fully to us in your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, we give you thanks that by your Holy Spirit you sustain the church. By the Spirit’s power you call, gather, enlighten, and sanctify the whole church. We continue to pray for your healing power in our weary world, in so many situations of violence, natural disaster, illness and death. Guide us into the ways that we can be your hands and feet and heart to bring healing, hope, and restoration and to cultivate life-giving relationships wherever possible, in order to find abundant life together.
As the Holy Spirit continues to work among us and in us, we pray for the strengthening of our communities of faith, as we navigate new challenges and possibilities. We pray for vision and creativity as we strive to be together as brothers and sisters in Christ in worship and prayer, conversation and learning, service and generosity. Be with our synod staff and all pastors and leaders in congregations, and all who gather as your church everywhere. Make us one in you. In our risen Lord Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.