ROCKY MOUNTAIN SYNOD
Assembly 2013
Loveland, CO – May 2-4, 2013
• OSL
Attendees:
Pastor Bob
McNamara,
Craig
Barankiewicz,
Capri Becker,
and Tina Wulf
RMS Celebrates 25 Years
In addition to celebrating 25 yrs.,
the 2013 Assembly emphasizes
how we are…
• This year’s theme wove itself throughout our
three days - in the keynote address by Dr.
Colleen Windham-Hughes, a Methodist
professor at California Lutheran University to
plenary sessions, worship services, workshops,
and even Friday night’s 25th Anniversary
Celebration, which consisted of everything
from craft booths to live entertainment to
games and an ice cream sundae bar!
Wyoming Well Represented
Familiar Faces (and backs!)
Who is wearing a bright top
standing with her back to us?
Who is the woman looking
directly into the camera? (center)
Were you able to guess correctly?
Pastor Nathan Doerr was also present
although not photographed. Synod
Assembly is all about getting reconnected, literally & thematically!
Kate Schlechter, Pastor of Christ
Lutheran Church, Santa Fe, NM
Pauletta Blott, CLYM Rep.
from Grace Lutheran Church
• The 2013 theme is a
continuation of our
year-long theme:
Deeply Rooted Bearing Fruit.
• As faith communities
rooted (note the tree’s
roots!) in the Good
News, congregations
in the Rocky Mountain
Synod are bearing fruit
here at home and
throughout the world
through the work and
mission of the
Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America.
• The community
“family tree” sculpture
was designed and
created by fine arts
student Tara Smith,
who received 1000+
leaves & 700+ pieces
of “bark” from folks
around the synod.
• Thanks to those from
OSL who took the
time to contribute to
this project; you were
connected!
Connections
The cross to the left is squares painted by
members of a RMS congregation – the
lent it to us for the assembly! The rustic
altar (above) is from Sky Ranch!
Arts & Crafts? It’s all
about “hands on”…
…and hands up!
For the ELCA, the RMS, and prayerfully OSL Church, we are all about:
CONNECTED COMMUNITY - SHARED MINISTRIES - DEEPENED DISCIPLESHIP
- HEALTHY LEADERSHIP - EXPANDING VISION
Like leaves on a tree or squares on a
quilt, all are part of the whole.
One of several highlights at this year’s assembly
was “Skype-ing” with our Malagasy brothers
and sisters! Bishop Gonia interpreted for us as
we greeted the new president of the Malagasy
Synod and heard from the their youth choir. Talk
about connections – it was an amazing feeling to
directly communicate with church family on the
other side of the globe! It is a small world, after
all!