“Dust you are and to dust you shall return”

Receiving ashes as a sign of repentance is an ancient practice. Learn more about why and how ELCA congregations use ashes as part of the Ash Wednesday liturgy. [from elca.org]

Updates from Camp–

The 2012 Camp Tomah Shinga season will be here before you know it! And there are several special savings on registration this year — the Early Bird Discount (register by April 1); the Family Discount; and the New Friend Discount. For detailed information and registration form download 2012 Early Bird TS.

SPACER

SPACER

Help get our camp ready!

Our 800-plus acre Camp Tomah Shinga is preparing for another year of ministry. There are many service opportunities to help our Lutheran camp near Junction City, Kan. If you or a group from your church could plan in April or May for helping at the camp we have some great projects:

NEW SHOP
►needs interior electrical wiring; needs interior work benches and two offices

WHITE CHURCH
►needs some exterior repairs/ladder work required; needs exterior painting/ladder work required; finish drywall work in the basement

DINING HALL AND KITCHEN
►replace rubber cove base around floor; clean all utensils and counters in kitchen

CABINS
►repair wood siding under gutter at AAL Cabin; clean all mattresses in the cabins

GROUNDS
►haul cut brush under power lines to brush pile; cut small locust trees and paint stumps; walk pasture fences to cut out brush and fix wire

If you want to sign up to help or get more information about helping with the spring work projects at Camp Tomah Shinga contact Harlan Teske, at 785-256-3188 or email at mrt1023@bluevalley.net.

Young adults today are being led by faith to respond to significant human care needs in their community. They are an untapped source for inspired solutions and leadership.  Their projects often need a little “burst” of support and guidance to get off the ground – that’s what the Burst Project grants are all about.

“This is an exciting new ministry program for Wheat Ridge,” said Brian Becker, Vice President for Ministry Programs at Wheat Ridge.  “We’ve listened to many young adults who’ve told us that they’re looking for opportunities to put their faith into action and build their capacity as leaders.  We believe that the Burst Project grants will be a powerful catalyst for those young Christian leaders, and in the process, some new and innovative ministries will be launched.”

In addition to grants of up to $5,000, participants will also:

• Receive professional consultation and feedback from Wheat Ridge staff to assist in implementing an innovative and feasible project. 
• Be connected with a ministry mentor, when possible, to help guide the project.
• Participate in a gathering of other Burst Project leaders, hosted by Wheat Ridge.
• Be promoted within the Wheat Ridge community.

Young adults between the ages of 20-35 can apply for a Burst Project grant by emailing a completed application packet to grant.apps@wheatridge.org.  Review of proposals is ongoing, with grants awarded quarterly.

Referrals of qualified young adults are also requested and can be submitted by emailing a completed referral form to grants@wheatridge.org.

Wheat Ridge Ministries is a nonprofit organization that helps a variety of health and human care initiatives get off the ground by providing the initial funding and support they need to thrive.  Our efforts are focused on improving the health of the whole person, by addressing wellness of body, mind and spirit.  Currently, more than 70 ministries around the world are receiving assistance through Wheat Ridge.  To learn more, visit our website at  www.wheatridge.org.

The Feb. 17 issue of the Central States Synod E-News is available for download. Click the logo above to download a PDF file. If you would like the E-News sent directly to your inbox, please email Dan Glamann in the synod office.

Proverbs 31:8-9 instructs us to “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all the destitute. Speak up, judge fairly, defend the rights of the poor and needy.” With this passage as the foundation, the event will feature training in biblical and theological grounding for anti-hunger advocacy, the realities of U.S. and global hunger, and strategies for engaging churches in legislative advocacy. For more information, contact Jon Gromek at jgromek@bread.org or (937) 227-9447 or go to http://www.bread.org/event/hunger-justice-leaders-2012/

Number 219. A publication of the Central States Synod. Published monthly by the Central States Synod, ELCA. Deadline for submission of materials is the 15th of the month for the subsequent issue. News may be directed to Dan Glamann at dglamann@css-elca.org. Permission is granted to ELCA congregations and members to reproduce any portion of this newsletter. DOWNLOAD.

Visit www.elca.org/hunger/lent and find 12 different meals to choose from, complete with:

• Global recipes
• Table prayers
• Placemats
• Dramas
• Discussion starters
• And more!

Dear Partners in Ministry,

I am pleased to announce the formation of the next Partnership for Missional Church (PMC) cluster in our synod. The first cluster meeting is scheduled for May 4-5, so responses to this  invitation are needed immediately and will be limited. Pastor Len Dale and others are ready to answer questions, and meet with congregational leaders as needed.

Our experience over the past six years with 26 congregations in two PMC Clusters has proved invaluable. PMC is not simply another program or strategic mission planning event. Pastors and lay leaders soon realize the three-year PMC process is complicated and challenging work that guides congregations with the help of various spiritual disciplines to make adaptive missional changes in their ever changing context.

PMC cluster events are structured to provide time for pastors on Friday, congregational sharing on Friday evening, teaching on Saturday morning and planning on Saturday after lunch.

Read Bishop Mansholt’s complete letter.

Still undecided? Watch this short video.

The 2012 Great Central U.S. ShakeOut is less than a month away.  Already, nearly 750,000 people are expected to participate!  The ShakeOut will be held on February 7, 2012 at 10:15 a.m.*  If you have not yet registered for 2012, we hope you will join us again to practice “Drop, Cover, and Hold On”, get prepared for earthquakes, and encourage others to participate.  This year you can also expand your drill to include additional preparedness or response activities.

If you are not yet confirmed to participate, please take a moment to quickly renew your registration.  By doing so, we may reach 1 million registered participants before the end of the year! You’ll also have more time to plan your drill by renewing early.  To help you get ready for the 2012 ShakeOut, flyers, web banner images, drill broadcast recordings, and more are all updated and available on the ShakeOut Resources page.

Recent Earthquakes in Oklahoma

At 10:53 CDT on November 5, 2011 there was a magnitude 5.6 earthquake approximately 40 miles east of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  This earthquake followed a magnitude 4.7 event earlier in the day.  Earthquakes are not unusual in Oklahoma, but they often are too small to be felt.  Since 2008, the rate of earthquakes in Oklahoma has been on the rise.  The M5.6 event is the largest recorded quake to hit the state in modern times. 

The M5.6 earthquake was felt in several states throughout the region, including Arkansas, Texas, Missouri, Kansas, and Illinois.  It caused damage to both structural and non-structural building components in areas near the epicenter.   To date, more than 60,000 people have reported feeling the earthquake on the US Geological Survey’s “Did You Feel It?” website. 

These recent earthquakes remind us that there is no “earthquake season”.  Earthquakes can, and usua lly do, happen when we least expect them.  Now is the time to get prepared, before the next earthquake or other disaster strikes.  Remember, if you feel an earthquake, the appropriate response is “Drop, Cover, and Hold On”

ShakeOut Receives Preparedness Award

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently announced that the 2011 Great Central U.S. ShakeOut is to be honored with a 2011 FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Award for “Outstanding Drill, Exercise, or Event”.  The Individual and Community Preparedness Awards recognize the innovative practices and achievements of organizations and individuals that work to make our communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to manage any emergency situation. This year’s winners were selected from across 36 States, as well as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The applications reflected the full breadth of the Whole Community, with submissions from faith-based, tribal, non-profit, private sector, and community-based organizations, as well as individuals.

The ShakeOut was recognized for its efforts to involve more than 3 million people during April 2011 in the first ever Great Central U.S. ShakeOut.  ShakeOut representatives will join other honored guests an awards ceremony and discussion forum in Washington, D.C.  in January.  For more about the awards, visit the Citizen Corps website.

Share the ShakeOut

Although the 2012 ShakeOut is less than two months away, we’ll be sharing and discussing information until then via social media. To stay up-to-date, follow the ShakeOut on Twitter and Facebook.  Additionally, please share the ShakeOut with your friends, neighbors, and colleagues, and encourage them to participate as well.  With your help, how many people will participate in 2012?

*While the official date of the ShakeOut is February 7, 2012, you may hold your drill at another time if you have scheduling conflicts.