In ThIs Issue

A tribute to the ELCA’s first 25 years and a look toward the future are slated for the 2013 Northeast-ern Iowa Synod Assembly June 7-9 at Luther College, Decorah.

early leaders recall start of eLCA Three special guests will help the assembly celebrate the 25th An-niversary of the ELCA: the Rev. Dr. Herbert W. Chilstrom, first ELCA presiding bishop; the Rev. Dr. Lowell G. Almen, first ELCA secre-tary; and the Rev. Lynn Groe, first Northeastern Iowa Synod secretary.

Chilstrom served as ELCA presiding bishop from May 1987 to October 1995. Originally from Litchfield, Minn., Chil-strom served three parishes in Minnesota, was a professor of religion and an aca-demic dean at Luther College, Te-aneck, N.J., and was bishop of the Minnesota Synod of the Lutheran Church in America before becom-ing the ELCA presiding bishop.

At the assembly, Chilstrom will preach at the Sunday morning closing worship with a look at the vision for the church in 1987 and the challenges and opportunities in 2013 and beyond. He will also

present three forum sessions in which participants can engage in dialogue to share memories about the early years of the Northeastern Iowa Synod, ways the church has been effective in mission, and God’s calling for mission in the years to come.

Almen served as ELCA secre-tary from May 1987 through October 2007. Originally from North Dakota, Almen served two parishes in Minnesota and Wisconsin and was associate campus pastor and director of com-munications at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn. He was editor of The Lutheran Standard prior to joining the ELCA as secretary. He currently serves on the Board of Re-gents of Concordia College and on the Board of Trustees of Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia, S.C. He also is a consul-tant for Portico Benefit Services.

Almen will preach at the assembly’s opening worship on Friday and he will lead three forums with histori-cal perspectives of the ELCA’s for-mation, the ELCA journey through a quarter century, and the U.S. Lutheran-Catholic dialogue.

“The formation of the ELCA ful-

filled a long-held dream of greater Lutheran unity in the U.S. and the Caribbean to serve more effectively as part of God’s mission in our time,” Almen says.

Groe served as secretary for the Northeastern Iowa Synod from

MAY 2013 • VoluMe 26, Issue 5NortheasterN Iowa

Evangelical Lutheran Church in AmericaStarstrengthening Ministry networks

Assembly to celebrate eLCA 25-year anniversaryby Marcia hahn

>> Continued on page 2

1 Assembly to celebrate 25-year anniversary

3 A Smile in Every Aisle

4 Teens will be ‘Running from Malaria’ this Summer

5 April showers bring May flowers

6 Wartburg program teaches youth to play the organ

7 Congregations

8 Prayer Calendar

Herbert Chilstrom

Lowell Almen

2 NortheasterN Iowa syNod | www.neiasynod.org

1977 to 1997, and from 2010 to the present. He recalls that the first year in the synod was hectic, making decisions about desks, phones, and office fur-niture to set up the synod office. “Then, when the new building was completed, we had to make decisions about computers and more office furni-ture,” Groe says. “I also remember the year-long Bishop Nominating Committee meetings when Bishop Brown decided not to run for re-election, and planning synod-wide gatherings in preparation for the bishop’s election.”

Groe has served as pastor for St. John’s Waukon, for the past 28 years and prior to that he served St. John’s, Plainfield, for nine years. He will celebrate his 40th anniversary of ordination on Aug. 12, 2013.

At the assembly, Groe will give the message for the Saturday morning prayer service, based on Jeremiah 29: “I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord.” Groe’s message will ask, “What are the plans that God has in mind for the Northeast-ern Iowa Synod?”

Assembly looks to the futureBeth A. Lewis, president and CEO of Augs-burg Fortress, the ministry of publishing of the ELCA, will deliver the key-note address at Saturday’s plenary session. She will speak on “Guten-berg to Google: Effective Use of Technology for Congregations.” Her message will explore how the use of media to proclaim the Gospel has evolved from the time of Martin Luther to the beginning of the 21st Century.

“People will learn something about history and how our reforming tra-ditions are alive and well today,” Lewis says. “They should come away with fresh ideas to use on their congregation’s website, social media, and other new technologies to proclaim the Gospel.”

With more than 25 years experience working for Fortune 500 publishing companies and as president of her own computer training business, Lewis joined Augsburg Fortress in August 2002. She has led staff in the creation of a number of notable ministry resources, such as Lutheran Study Bible, Spark Sunday School, Here We Stand, Evangelical Lutheran

Worship resources, Washed and Wel-come baptism resources, and the Book of Faith Initiative, along with other print and digital ministry re-sources.

The Rev. Susan Engh, ELCA director for Syn-odical Partners in Mission and Congregation-based Organiz-ing (CBO), will bring a greeting and report from the churchwide organization. Engh has been direc-tor for CBO since October 2007, with a priority to help ELCA con-gregations become more involved in their broader communities. Her son and son-in-law are both graduates of Luther College.

A variety of forums and seminars will focus on “Strengthening Minis-try Networks,” the year-long synod emphasis. The forums and seminars will be offered three times on Sat-urday, including a forum to discuss two options for reorganizing existing conference boundaries within the synod.

Ministry exhibits will be open throughout the weekend. Assembly offerings have been designated for the 100 Wells Challenge to support water projects through ELCA World Hunger and to provide grants to Northeastern Iowa Synod youth to attend the Wholly Iowa Youth Lead-ership Discipling Event (WIYLDE) at Luther College, Decorah.

A complete schedule for the 2013 assembly can be downloaded at www.neiasynod.org.

Assembly to celebrate ELCA 25-year anniversary << Continued from page 1

Lynn Groe

Beth Lewis

Photos sessions for new DirectoryAll rostered leaders are invited to have a professional portrait taken during the Synod Assem-bly for use in the synod’s 2013 pictorial directory. The photos will be taken by Lifetouch, Inc. There will be no sitting fee.

The previous synod pictorial directory was produced in 2006, so don’t miss this oppor-tunity to be included in the newest directory!

Susan Engh

3MAY 2013

“A smile in every aisle” was the title of the presentation by Dr. William Withers to our rostered leaders at the recent Day of Renewal. Dr. Withers is a professor of Communi-cation Arts at Wartburg College and an active member of Nazareth in Cedar Falls. Weaving his expertise in communications with his deep and healthy piety, Bill invited us into new ways that our congrega-tions can reach out to others with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

He shared many insights, including the power of saying “Hello” and “Goodbye” in the business world, and quickly linked that to our faith. How we say “Hello” in the waters of baptism and “Goodbye” at funerals have powerful impacts on people.

He assured us that some people will not accept change and so we simply care for them and honor them during times of change. However, we cannot allow the 16 percent who will never change to dominate the 16 percent who are innovators and early adapters, the 34 percent who adapt to change fairly early and the 34 percent who adapt to change a bit later. It is true in the business world and in the church.

I was particularly fascinated by Bill’s description of the various eras of marketing that society has gone through. He outlined three eras of marketing: the Product Era, Consumer Era and Relationship Era.

The Product Era was a time when simply having the product made sales. There was one store in town that carried virtually everything that people needed, but with limited choices. If the local store didn’t carry it, you probably didn’t need it. The church was the center of

community activities. During that time it simply needed to be present and people came for baptisms, Sunday School, confirmations, funerals and the like.

The Consumer Era started in the 1950-60s. Marketing meant persuading the consumer that their product was the “best ever” or “new and improved” or that you would be a sexier man or woman if you used a particular product. Repetitious television commercials manipulated people and promised things in order to get the product sold. Consumers had options, and marketing was designed to convince you to buy one of those options. Churches presented themselves as having the finest youth program or choirs in town. People made membership choices based on which congrega-tion had the best programmatic ministry for them or their families, rather than the denominations of their childhood.

The Relationship Era started in approximately 2000. The goal of marketing in our time is to foster sustainable relationships. A clothing store salesperson may not make the sale but he or she can initiate the process that will bring a customer back into the store. Customers make repeat purchases due to the relationship that is formed, more than a product that is purchased.

This should be a natural for the church. People will not come to

church simply because it is there or that they have the best choirs. However, we can go to people with the message that each person is a unique child of God for whom Christ has died and for whom we love and care. In a high tech world, people are seeking relationships that matter to them. A relation-ship with the resurrected Christ through His body, the church, is exactly what the world is aching for. A church that cares enough about God’s children that it goes to them to build that relationship will bring hope and joy. That church will also grow, whether in numbers and/or depth and breadth.

− Steven L. Ullestad Bishop, Northeastern Iowa Synod

BIshoP

A smile in every Aisle A relationship with the

resurrected Christ through His body, the church, is exactly what

the world is aching for.

Tri-synodical Conference ReminderThe Tri-synodical Conference is set for sept. 22-24, 2013, at the West Des Moines sheraton Hotel with the theme “Gospel ethics Rooted in the lutheran Confessions.” Fea-tured keynote speakers will be Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson, Dr. Per Anderson, and Dr. Cynthia Moe-lobeda. Worship services will take place at Faith lutheran, Clive.

look for upcoming announce-ments about registration on the synod website, www.neiasynod.org.

4 NortheasterN Iowa syNod | www.neiasynod.org

noRTheAsTeRn IowA synoD Bishop Rev. Dr. Steven L. Ullestad – ullestads@neiasynod.org Assistants to the Bishop Rev. Mark A. Anderson – andersonm@neiasynod.org Rev. Darrel W. Gerrietts – gerriettsd@neiasynod.org Linda J. Hudgins – hudginsl@neiasynod.org ELCA Director for Evangelical Mission Rev. Nancy J. Larson – nancy.larson@elca.org Star Editor Marcia Hahn – hahnm@neiasynod.org

The Star is published 11 times a year by the Northeastern Iowa Synod, 201 20th Street SW, PO Box 804, Waverly, IA 50677-0804; www.neiasynod.org, phone 319-352-1414, FAX 319-352-1416.

Send news for the June issue to Marcia Hahn by May 10. We welcome story ideas related to the 2013 theme, “Strengthening Ministry Networks.”

Articles in this newsletter may be duplicated for use in synod congregations and organizations, with credit to the Star newsletter.

Please notify the synod office with name and address changes. To receive an electronic version of the Star, rather than paper, send your request to hahnm@neiasynod.org.

www.neiasynod.org

Three Waverly teens will be “Running from Malaria” across Iowa this summer to support the fight against malaria. Brad Wylam, a member of Redeemer Lutheran, Waverly, and Ethan Wise, a member of Trinity United Methodist, Waverly, will run 350 miles in 21 days beginning June 11 in Hull and ending July 2 in Dubuque. The pair will be supported by their driver, Scott Van Daalen, a Redeemer member, and families and congregations along the way who will host them.

This ecumenical project is co-sponsored by Redeemer and Trinity, with supoport from the Northeastern Iowa Synod. According to Deborah Coble Wise, pastor at Trinity and mother of Ethan, the boys wanted to run across Iowa this summer with some purpose behind it. Since the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is fighting malaria through the ELCA Malaria Campaign and the United Methodist Church has the Imagine No More Malaria campaign, the teens decided to promote both campaigns by focusing their run on malaria.

During the town visits, the Running from Malaria team will have opportunities to speak to youth groups, vacation Bible schools, congregations, and local media about malaria and why three high school boys have chosen to give up a month of summer to go across Iowa as ambassadors for eradicating malaria.

“This is as much about raising awareness about malaria as it is about raising money,” Pastor Wise says. “We hope communities can piggy back onto their message and do their own fund-raising projects.”

All three of the boys are juniors at Waverly-Shell Rock Senior High. Ethan and Brad, who are members of the school’s cross country team, plan to run eight to 35 miles per day by alternating each mile to prevent injuries. Scott and Emily Harkins, director of Youth and Family Ministry at Redeemer, have been writing Bible studies for the boys to use each evening. They have also developed a logo and t-shirts for the team.

“I am really proud of them,” Harkins says. “I don’t

think kids realize how powerful they are when they choose to do something and how big

of an impact they can make.”

People will be able to follow the boys’ progress through the Running from Malaria Facebook page, which features a video about the project,

and from a blog that will include daily updates and cam videos from the road. Host communities in the

Northeastern Iowa Synod are Clear Lake, Mason City,

Charles City, Nashua, Waverly, Readlyn, Oelwein, Strawberry

Point, Edgewood, Holy Cross, and Dubuque. Donations for the project

will be matched through the Wartburg Malaria Initiative.

To learn more about Running from Malaria, visit www.facebook.com/RunningFromMalaria?fref=ts or contact Pastor Wise at 319-352-2590 or Emily Harkins at 319-352-1325.

Teens will be ‘Running from Malaria’ this summer

5MAY 2013

I’m sure you’ve heard this saying many times over the years, and I have found it to be quite true. As I listen to the rain on the roof of my sun porch, it seems that I can watch the grass turn green before my very eyes. Then I think of the pot of dry dirt sitting in my garage with very dead sticks of palm trees shooting from that dirt. This pot sat in my living room for quite a long time and as you may have already surmised, I forgot to water it for a long, long, long time. The palm trees could not survive the human-imposed drought, and they died.

We came into the month of April on the heels of celebrating the Easter Good News, with all the joy and excitement still fresh—He is Risen, He is Risen indeed. Now we come into May and ask what next, what now? Do the April showers of grace and new life now translate into a May filled with generosity and service? Does the incredible victory of Jesus over sin, death and the power of evil mean something real in our life and in our world?

As the “April showers bring May flowers” adage goes, it is a statement of cause and effect. Something happening causes something else to happen. May flowers don’t appear by accident. As we live in the beauty of God’s power over death and evil and sin, we are prompted to live as we believe—reflecting the effect, blooming with mercy and joy and generosity.

He is risen! He is risen indeed! Live in the promises of God!

To download this article or for more stewardship and mission support resources, visit www.neiasynod.org/synod_resources/Stewardship-MissionSupport.asp.

April showers bring May flowersBy Pastor nancy LarsonELCA Director for Evangelical Mission “He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Live in the promises of God!”

Congregations of the Northeastern Iowa synod are asked to remember the May 12, 2008, immigration raid in Postville, Iowa.

A public gathering commemorating the fifth anniversary of the raid will begin at 12 noon Friday, May 10, with a remembrance ritual in front of the u.s. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, 111 7th Ave. se in Cedar Rapids. This location was chosen because of the court’s role in the raid and the significance of the event to the on-going national conversation about immigration. A “Walk for Justice” at 12:30 p.m. to Immaculate Conception Church, 857 3rd Ave. se, will follow. An interfaith prayer for reconciliation and a call for reform of immigration policies will take place at 1:15 p.m.

The gathering is being planned by a wide coalition of those involved in the response to the raid and those affected. It will include immigrants affected by the raid, church representatives who ministered to the immigrants and their families, attorneys, and others concerned about

immigration reform.

The 2009 Northeastern Iowa synod Assembly passed a resolution that designates May 12 as a Day of Prayer for Immigration reform and encourages synod congregations to observe this day, or a sunday close to it, with prayer for those who continue to be affected the by raid.

For more information about the fifth anniversary com-memoration and resources for organizing events to coincide with this commemoration, contact Rockne Cole at rocknecole@gmail.com or (319) 358-1900 or sister Mary McCauley, BVM, at mmccauley@bvmcong.org or (563) 583-8989.

event marks anniversary of immigration raid

6 NortheasterN Iowa syNod | www.neiasynod.org

A new generation is learning to play the church organ thanks to a scholarship program offered at Wartburg College.

Dr. Karen Black, Rudi Inselmann Endowed Professor in Organ at Wartburg College and campus organist, is teaching youth from across North-eastern Iowa how to play the organ with a goal to increase the number of organists available for congregations. “We get so many calls from congregations who need somebody to play,” Black says. “Sometimes they have an organist available, but they don’t want to commit to every Sunday.”

The Organ Lesson Scholarship, made possible through the Rudi Inselmann Organ Endowment, is open to students in grades seven to 12 who have completed at least four years of piano study. The students receive 12 complimentary half-hour organ lessons with Black, a method book, and organ shoes. All of the lessons are offered at Wartburg, except for one that can take place at the student’s church. Part of the scholarship requires the students to play for at least part of one service in their churches.

Natalie Hanson, a Union High School senior and member of American Lutheran, La Porte City, recently played for her brother’s confirmation Sunday. After 10 years of piano lessons, Hanson began taking organ lessons from Black last spring. She describes her ex-perience learning organ as amazing and she says she hopes to continue playing the organ at a church when she attends college at Iowa State University in the fall.

“The organ is fundamentally different from playing the piano, since the sound is made by air instead of a hammer striking a string,” Hanson says. “There are also two keyboards, and the pedals of an organ are a keyboard as well. It really is an entirely different instru-ment with its own techniques and sounds.”

Black is encouraged by the interest she has received

in the program, with 14 students currently waiting to start organ lessons. The lessons are arranged around her schedule and the students’ schedules, so com-pleting the lessons can take several months. Congrega-tions support the program by allowing the students to practice on their church organs.

“There are some wonderful instruments in the churches, and I think there is a lot of talent in the congregations in the youth who have had piano lessons,” Black says. “Our goal is not necessarily that they make the organ a

career, but that they get some basic skills and spark an interest in the instrument to play now, in college and in the future.”

Rostered leaders and lay leaders are encouraged to refer any qualifying students to the program. To learn more or to apply for the scholarship, contact Black at Karen.black@wartburg.edu or call 319-352-8275.

wartburg program teaches youth to play the organ

Natalie Hanson gets ready to play the organ at American Lutheran, La Porte City.

Register for wIyLDeearly bird registration for the Wholly Iowa Youth leadership Discipling event (WIYlDe) is open until Monday, June 17. set for July 22-27, 2013, at luther College, WIYlDe is a ministry leadership workshop for high school youth of elCA congregations and is supported by the three elCA Iowa synods.

Registration fee is $375 if registered by June 17, and $400 after that date. The Northeastern Iowa synod is offering matching scholarships in partnership with the students’ home congregations: $150 by June 17 regis-tration, and $75 after that date. Visit www.luther.edu/ministries/congregations/wiylde to learn more or to register.

7MAY 2013

CongRegATIonsevenTs

MAy evenTs2 Meeting, Youth Ministry Network, St. John, Charles City, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.3 Meeting, Candidacy Committee, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.4 Event, LWR Pick Up, Olson Explosives, Decorah 7 Meeting, Parish Nurses/Visitors Network, 10 a.m.-noon 9 Meeting, Interim Colleague Group, 9:30-11:30 a.m. 10 Event, Postville Immigration Raid: 5 Years Later, Cedar Rapids, 12 noon 12 Event, High School La Vida, Lutheran Student Center, Cedar Falls, 7-9 p.m.27 Office Closed, Memorial Day Observance 31 Meeting, Deans & Chaplains, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

June evenTs4 Event, Safeguarding God’s Children, Camp Ewalu, Strawberry Point, 9 a.m. 6 Meeting, Youth Ministry Network, St. John, Cedar Falls, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.7-9 Event, Synod Assembly, Luther College, Decorah10-11 Office Closed 13 Meeting, Interim Colleague Group, 9:30-11:30 a.m. 18 Meeting, Ventures, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

JuLy evenTs4 Office Closed, 4th of July Observance11 Meeting, Interim Colleague Group, 9:30-11:30 a.m.11 Meeting, SAFE Team, 1:30-3 p.m.11-17 Event, ELCA World Hunger Leadership Gathering, St. John, Des Moines22-27 Event, WIYLDE, Luther College, Decorah

AugusT evenTs2 Meeting, Candidacy Committee13 Meeting, Interim Colleague Group, 9:30-11:30 a.m.12-18 Event, ELCA Churchwide Assembly, Pittsburg, Pa. 27 Meeting, Tri-Synod Fall Conference Planning Committee, St. Petri, Story City, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.29 Meeting, Deans & Chaplains, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

InsTALLATIonSusan L. Friedrich, St. John, Sumner, June 1-2 Rev. David Lenth, Ossian, Ossian, pending Rev. Jeffrey R. Hansen, Ridgeway Parish, Ridgeway, pending Rev. David Werges, Cross Roads Parish, pending Elayne Werges, Diaconal Minister, Cross Roads Parish, pending

InTeRvIewIngClarksville, St. John, Rev. Irving Sandberg, interim Hawkeye, Trinity, Rev. David R. Nelson, interim Independence, Immanuel (senior) Monona, St. Paul, Rev. Burton Everist, interimOssian, Stavanger, Rev. Gene Hermeier, interim Radcliffe, Our Savior, Rev. Tom Jones, interim Waterloo, Good Shepherd, Rev. Keith Sievers, interim

seLF-sTuDyAlta Vista, Zion and Lawler, Immanuel (Crane Creek), Rev. Vincent Fricke, interimCalmar, Calmar and Decorah, Springfield, Rev. Phillip Olson, interim Castalia, Zion Dubuque, Luther Manor Iowa Falls, BethanyMason City, Our Saviour’sMason City, Trinity, (senior), Rev. Duane Miller, interim Maynard, St. Paul, Rev. Jim Adix, interim Nashua, St. John, Rev. Alan Schulz, interim New Hampton, Trinity (staff) Stanhope, Our Savior Sumner, St. Peter (Richfield) & Waucoma, St. John (Stapleton) Tripoli, Grace & St. John (Crane Creek), Rev. Scott Duffus, interim Washburn, Redeemer, Rev. Gary Johnson, interim Wellsburg, St. Paul

RosTeR ChAngesRev. Ronald Yarnell, transfer to Western Iowa Synod Rev. Dr. Frederick Strickert, transfer to North Carolina Synod Gloria Strickert, transfer to North Carolina Synod

Register for synod Assembly by May 7 for discountThe early bird registration fee for the 2013 synod Assembly is available through Tuesday, May 7. After that, an additional $25 fee will be added per person.

Registration materials, a resolution form and the assembly schedule can be downloaded at www.neiasynod.org/synod_resources.

young Adults Kayaking AdventureYoung adults, ages 18 to 35, are invited to join a kayak-ing trip at the Apostle Islands in lake superior near Du-luth, Minn. This island-to-island sea kayaking trip will be July 31, to Aug. 4, 2013. leading the trip will be Pastor scott Duffus, an experienced sea kayaker; Adrian Walter, director of Youth and Family Ministries at First, Decorah; Pastor Brian Beckstrom, campus pastor at Wartburg College; and A. J. Houseman, campus minister at the lutheran student Center in Cedar Falls. The trip is being organized through First lutheran, Decorah. To learn more or to sign up, contact Duffus at 507-390-4306.

MaY 2013sUN MoN tUe weD thU FrI sat

Rev. Elwin D. Farwell, Decorah

Rev. Paul J. Fohs, Arlington

1

Rev. Randall V. Baldwin, Scarville

Rev. Robert G. Thacker, Cresco

2Hauge, Decorah

3

St. John’s Evan., Decorah

4Eileen Delk, Welch,

MNRev. Scott Johnson,

Story CityRev. James M.

Magelssen, Mason City

Rev. Phillip E. Olson, Eldorado

5Hesper, Decorah

6

Rev. Daniel C. Kahl, Waverly

Rev. Edwin A. Schick, Dubuque

7

Rev. Dale A. Halverson, FrederikaRev. Donna Ruggles,

Roland

8

Canoe Ridge, Decorah

9

Marianne J. Beck, Waverly

Laura K. Krueger, Walcott

10

Evelyn R. Fitzgerald, Charles City

Rev. Marlyn Hansing, Bloomington, MN

11

Glenwood, Decorah

12

Rev. Kevin G. Frey, New Hampton

13Highland, Decorah

14Big Canoe, Decorah

15Decorah, Decorah

16

Middle East PeaceGood Shepherd,

Decorah

17

Washington Prairie,

Decorah

18

Haldis Kaasa, Decorah

19

Luther College Congregation,

Decorah

20

Marilyn Ingebretson, Thornton

21

Rev. Laura Gentry, Lansing

Rev. Dennis W. Hanson, Cedar Falls

22

St. John (Maxfield), Denver

23

Rev. Ronald J. Bolinger, Pine Island,

MNRev. Gary L. Johnson,

WaterlooLeota Lenning,

Wheaton, ILRev. Timothy C.

Miller, Ryan

24St. Peter, Denver

25Rev. Harold L.

Peterson, Truman, MN

26

Rev. Edgar M. Krentz, Chicago, IL

27First, Dows

28

Lord of Life, Dubuque

29St. John, Dubuque

30

Rev. Dayna M. Winke, Clermont

31

PRAyeR CALenDAR

get the Star onlineTo receive an electronic version of the Star newsletter instead of a paper version, send an email to hahnm@neiasynod.org with the subject: Online Only.

safeguarding god’s ChildrenA session of the “safeguarding God’s Children” workshop will be offered Tuesday, June 4, 9 a.m.-12 noon, at Camp ewalu, strawberry Point. Contact ewalu to register, 563-933-4700.

Congregations can send observers to 2013 Churchwide Assembly each congregation of the evangelical lutheran Church in America may register one congregation observer with the elCA office of the secretary for the 2013 Churchwide Assembly. These observers will have reserved seating in the observers section of the plenary hall and will receive a copy of the report of recommendations for assembly action, as well as materials distributed on the plenary floor. The observers will have neither voice nor vote in assembly plenary sessions.

The registration fee for congregation observers is $150, due before May 31. observers may purchase the same meals as are provided for voting members. Transportation, housing and other costs are the responsibility of the observer or the sending congregation. For more information or to register, contact the assembly registrar at CWARegistrar@elca.org or call 800-638-3522, ext. 2807.