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News & Articles

• 2017 Advent Appeal
• Thanksgiving Message From Bishop Jon Anderson
• Mission Support Letter
• 2018 Synod Assembly Notes – Day 1
• Mission Support
• Thanksgiving Message from Bishop Jon A. Anderson
• Advent Appeal 2018
• Lilly Foundation Economic Challenges Initiative Gives Major Grant
• $1 Million Grant to Support Continuing Education for Pastors
• Synod Vice President Transition Coming
• Christmas Message from Bishop Jon V. Anderson
• Gifts of Grace: Toward Financial Wellbeing
• Congregational Mission Grants
• A Different Holy Week
• Synod Assembly App
• 2019 Synod Assembly Notes – Day 1
• 2019 Synod Assembly Notes – Day 2
• Ferman Woodberry Elected Vice President of Southwestern Minnesota Synod
• Mission support dollars make ministry happen!
• Welcome Rev. Keith
• A tax law that makes it easy to give
• Synod Advent Appeal 2019
• Christmas Message from Bishop Jon Anderson
• Help for Church Council and Annual Meetings
• Memorial Services for Herbert Chilstrom, First ELCA Presiding Bishop
• Developing Servant Leaders
• Death & Taxes
• Visitation and Care Strategies for Congregations
• Easter Message from Bishop Jon Anderson
• Synod Assembly Cancellation
• Bishop’s Report for Synod Council
• What Might the “Next” Normal Look Like for Your Church?
• Gifts of Grace Ministerial Excellence Fund Grants
• Endowment Fund Congregational Mission Grants for 2020-2022
• 2020 Fall Theological Conference
• “We are church together – apart!”
• GiveMN & Gifts of Grace
• Resources to help congregations plan for Annual Meetings
• Mission Support 2021
• A Thanksgiving Message from Bp. Anderson
• 2020 Advent Appeal
• Zoom Recording: Ministry Basics
• The Family Christmas Story: Legacy of Faith, Hope & Love
• Synod Awarded $10,000 in ELCA COVID-19 Grants. Applications Open!
• Every birth is a stunning miracle.
• “The Weary World Rejoices” An Online Chapel Service
• Rev. Dr. Darold Beekmann Death Notice, Former Synod Bishop
• Online Congregation Report Forms A & C are now open!
• Former Bishop Reflections
• Former SW MN Synod Bishop Reflections
• SW MN Synod Survey – Bishop Election Feedback
• Mission Grant Applications Now Open
• MEF Grants for 2021 Have Opened!
• SW MN Synod Mission Assessment
• Steering Through the Fog
• Bishop Nominees: Video Interviews
• Rev. Dee Pederson Elected Bishop
• Staffing Update
• Synod Endowment Supports Mission Grants in SW MN Synod
• Transition
• Gifts of Grace Sunday!
• Rev. Dr. Troy Pflibsen, New Director for Evangelical Mission in Southwestern Minnesota.
• Mission Support Letter to Congregations
• Synod Minister Called: Rev. Heather Culuris
• Christmas Sermon
• NEW! COVID Relief Grant for Rostered Ministers
• Holy Week – Easter Message from Bishop Dee Pederson
• Farm Visits
• Now Accepting Applications for Congregational Mission Grants! 
• Important Message about the 2022 Synod Assembly 
• June Synod Council Meeting
• A Heartfelt Thank You to Synod Minister Stephen Cook
• Coaching in Southwestern MN Synod
• Position Opening – Synod Minister/Equip Congregation Leaders
• Appreciate Your Pastor
• SW MN Synod Faithful Innovation New Cohort
• Position Opening – Youth Ministry Coordinator
• Zoom Gatherings with Pr. Heather
• Gifts of Grace Grant Updates
• Fall has arrived!  It’s time to make like a linebacker and tackle your educational debt!
• Have you ever wondered how to inspire generosity in your church?
• The Southwestern Minnesota Synod welcomes a new Synod Minister for Equipping Congregation Leaders: Pr. Naomi Mahler
• Lay Leaders Zoom Gathering Recording
• A Thanksgiving Message from Bishop Dee Pederson
• Advent Gift
• Thank you, Synod Minister Rev. Stephen Cook! 
• “Annual Meetings: a Time to Give Thanks and Look Ahead”
• Welcome to Pr. Nikoli Falenscheck as the Synod Youth Ministry Coordinator!
• Bishop Dee Pederson’s Annual Message
• “In a Far-Off Place, Jesus Comes” 
• Children/Youth BASICS Questionnaire
• Annual Congregation Report – Now Open
• Listen, God Is Calling!
• Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church
• ELCA Hunger Grants Soon Available
• Until We Are All Fed
• What You Do Matters
• “Do not be afraid; go and tell.”
• LYO Appointment Positions Open
• Synod Assembly Registration
• Synod Assembly Important Announcements
• 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans
• A Simple Yet Profound Generosity Invitation
• 2023 Synod Assembly Recap
• Summer Sermons
• Building a Culture of Generosity
• What exactly is Candidacy? 
• Joy, Generosity, Gratefulness 
• A Message from Bp. Dee Pederson & Synod Minister, Pr. Naomi Mahler
• Stewardship Zoom Recordings
• Youth Ministers Zoom Gatherings
• Renewal in Ministry Grant for Rostered Ministers
• 2024 Compensation Guidelines
• Financial resources for Coaching sessions now available!
• Lay Ministry Learning
• Companion Synod Visitor Exchange
• 2023 Junior High Youth Gathering
• LYO Worship Band
• God’s Love Made Real: A Conversation With Bishop Eaton
• Israel-Hamas War
• In Memoriam – Rev. Naomi Mahler
• Registration Open – Equipping Congregations Day
• Thank you and Godspeed, Pr. Nikoli! 
• Bishop Dee Pederson’s Thanksgiving Message
• Advent Giving
• How does your congregation thank people?
• Christmas Message from Bishop Dee Pederson
• Earned Sick and Safe Time 
• 2024 Synod Assembly
• ELCA Congregation Report / Forms A
• Pastors are Vital Resources
• Bishop Dee Pederson’s Message for Annual Meetings
• 2024 Conference Assembly Dates
• Personnel Committees and Job Descriptions: Why?
• Position Opening
• Safety and Security for Churches
• ELCA Foundation Partnership
• E-News – 2/15/24
• Synod Staff: Who to Contact
• Synod Assembly Theme Series – Reflection #1
• E-News – 2/29/24
• Synod Assembly Theme Series – Reflection #2
• E-News 3/14/24
• Room at the Table for Everyone
• Holy Week – Easter Message from Bishop Dee Pederson
• E-News 3/21/2024
• Congregational Generosity: Honest Realities, Exciting Possibilities
• Synod Assembly Theme Series – Reflection #3
• The Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church
• E-News – 4/4/2024
• E-News 4/18/2024
• Welcome Rev. Seyward Ask
• Synod Assembly Theme Series – Reflection #4
• Synod Assembly News
• Now Accepting Applications for Congregational Mission Grants! 
• Synod Assembly Theme Series – Reflection #5
• LYO Board Appointments 2024-2025 Application is Open!
• E-News 5/2/2024
• Companion Synod Visitor Exchange 
• Understanding our Church in a Changing World Survey
• Post-Assembly Recap
• E-News 6/20/2045
• E-News 6/27/2024
• E-News 7/12/2024
• Summer Sermons Available
• ELCA Youth Gathering
• E-News 7/25/2024
• Gifts of Grace: Medical Expense Grant
• Volunteer Opportunity in Flooded Communities
• Cultural Humility Zoom Gathering
• Living Together in this Election Season
• Agapic Anger – Zoom Gathering
• 2024 Equipping Congregations Day
• Listening Session Gatherings
• Bishop’s Message for All Saints Sunday, 2024
• Bishop’s Post-Election Message
• Bishop’s Message for Thanksgiving
• Advent Giving
• Sermon for the Sunday after Christmas
• Bishop Dee Pederson’s Christmas Message
• Bishop’s Message for Annual Meetings
• E-News 1/10/2025
• 2025 Conference Assemblies
• Presiding Bishop Eaton Issues Pastoral Message on Executive Orders
• A Pastoral Message from Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Bishops in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota 
• E-News 2/12/2025
• ELCA Responds to False Accusations on X
• SW MN Synod Youth Band
• We Heard You: Youth and Family Engagement
• E-News 2/19/2025
• We Heard You: Worship/Spiritual Growth
• Global Refuge Information
• We Heard You: Community Outreach and Service
• E-News 3/6/2025
• Synod Coaching
• Wounds.
• We Heard You: Staffing
• Dreaming Again
• Hospitality Zoom Training for Congregations
• E-News 3/20/2025
• You Spoke: We Listened
• What is Coaching? The gift of Clarity.
• E-News 4/3/2025
• Annual Congregation Report
• Sermon for the Sunday after Easter
• Synod Assembly Offering
• Holy Week – Easter Message from Bishop Dee Pederson
• LYO Board Appointments 2025-2026 Application is Open!
• Pray Without Ceasing
• E-News 4/24/2025
• Poverty Simulation – Walk a Mile in Their Shoes. 
• Synod Assembly Service Project
• Support for Global Refuge and Lutheran Services in America 
• Pope Leo XIV
• Accepting Applications for Congregational Mission Grants!