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2005 Synod Assembly

Highlights and Critical Information

Registration
Registrations and changes that need to be made after April 22 must be done on-site at the Synod Assembly. Those who need to register or make changes on-site are advised to come early so those items can be processed.

On-site registration is located in the North Lobby at the Mayo Civic Center and is open on Friday from 7:30-11 a.m. Those arriving after that time or on Saturday may register in the on-site office located in the North Lobby area (look for the signs).

Housing
A block of rooms is available at the Radisson Hotel in Rochester. Call (507) 281-8000 by Apr. 14 and request a room in the block reserved for "Southeastern Minnesota Synod of the ELCA" to receive a special rate of $85/room plus tax. You or your congregation are responsible for paying for your room. For more hotel options in Rochester, visit the Rochester Convention and Visitors Bureau web site.

Parking
See the downtown map of Rochester (pdf format - you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer to read this document. Get it free at www.adobe.com) to locate convenient parking lots and ramps. Downtown parking is free on Saturdays. The Rochester skyway system is also shown on this map.

Meals
Registration fees include the following meals:
Friday, May 6: Continental breakfast, lunch, Friday evening meal
Saturday, May 7: Continental breakfast and lunch
Additional Friday evening meal tickets may be purchased for $25 per person. Friday evening meal tickets are non-refundable, but may be transferred.
Your name badge is your meal ticket. Wear it at all times!

Clothing
The Mayo Civic Center is climate controlled. You may want to dress in layers and wear your walking shoes so you are comfortable as you move from one area of the center to another.

On-Site Phone Number
To leave messages for assembly participants during regular assembly hours, call (507) 287-1509.

Child Care
If child care is needed, you are encouraged to contact your own provider. Options for state-licensed facilities in Rochester include:
Just for Kids: (507) 281-2151
Children's World (south): (507) 287-0747
Children's World (north): (507) 282-5676

Special Needs
Hearing amplifiers are available, but one must be reserved at least one hour prior to when you wish to use it. Reservations can be made in the on-site office in the Board Room off the North Lobby. If you have other special needs, contact the synod office at least two weeks prior to Assembly, (800) 426-6376.

Displays & Augsburg Fortress
Be sure to visit the displays and Augsburg Fortress, the publishing ministry of the ELCA, in the Auditorium. Many resources will be available for immediate purchase and orders may be placed for additional items not available at the display; free shipping on all orders over $100! Augsburg Fortress purchases at the Synod Assembly can be made with an Augsburg Fortress Account, and by credit card or check. Cash will not be accepted for purchases.

Special offers available from Augsburg Fortress at the Assembly include:

  • Purchase 3 or more Friar Tuck clergy shirts and receive 20% off!
  • Preorder our new title, Fire of Grace by Rev. Dr. Richard Rouse, and receive a 30% discount.
  • Buy 10 or more copies of Unit 1 from the new Bible study No Experience Necessary and receive 10% off your Unit 1 purchase.
  • Answer the Bible trivia question correctly from the new Lutheran Handbook for a chance to win a FREE Winking Luther T-shirt!

No Smoking
No smoking is permitted in the Mayo Civic Center.

Prayer Chapel
There will be a prayer chapel in the Exhibit Hall. The chapel can be used anytime during the Synod Assembly.

Board of Pensions Representatives
Representatives from the Board of Pensions are present at the Synod Assembly and are available to answer congregational questions and provide specific information to those who are covered by the plan. Appointments are not necessary.

Environmental Stewardship
Please help recycle by returning all name badges, voting cards, unwanted paper, and completed evaluation forms to the appropriate boxes upon leaving the assembly. Also, please bring your own beverage mug. Disposable cups are provided for drinks, but their use is discouraged. The Pre-Assembly Report is printed on recycled paper.

Offering
The offering at worship Friday will go toward ELCA World Hunger. An envelope is provided in the back of this book for your offering. ELCA World Hunger is the way the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) addresses chronic hunger and poverty around the world and in the U.S.

ELCA World Hunger improves the lives of people in need in the United States and around the world by:

  • Providing immediate relief for people in need
  • Providing the means for long-term, sustainable development for whole communities
  • Advocating for justice
  • Educating members of the ELCA in awareness of issues relating to hunger, poverty and justice

ELCA World Hunger supports "partner organizations" that carry out international relief and development on the ELCA's behalf with grants from money raised by the World Hunger Appeal. Also through grants, the program helps fund more than 200 relief and development projects in the United States.

The ELCA World Hunger Appeal receives no money from the general benevolence funds of the ELCA. All income received comes from specially designated offerings and gifts. Yet only 7 cents of every dollar donated to the World Hunger Appeal is spent on administrative costs. That means 93 cents of every dollar goes to help those in need!

Prayer Shawl Ministries To Be Highlighted
As part of being a "Synod Joined in Prayer" in 2005, the Synod Assembly will feature an emphasis on prayer. During the Assembly, people will be knitting prayer shawls to present to our Churchwide Assembly voting members.

Prayer shawls are a tangible form of comfort and caring for others. As they knit, the knitters pray for the recipients of the shawls. A written prayer for their health and well-being is attached when the shawl is presented.

If you have an active prayer shawl ministry in your congregation, please send a note to the Synod Assembly Planning Committee, care of ; 1001 14th St. NW, Suite 300; Rochester, MN 55901.

Save Money - Bring Youth!
In response to a resolution to encourage congregations to bring young people as voting members to the Assembly, the Synod Council Executive Committee is offering registration rebates for high school age voting members.

A $25 rebate is available if a congregation brings one high school student as a voter. If a congregation sends two high school voters, the congregation will receive a rebate of 50% of the total registration for two people.

The rebates will be paid to congregations after the Assembly when attendance is confirmed by the registrar.

Can't Make It To Assembly? Follow Along Online!
Can't make it to the Assembly, but don't want to miss all the action? No problem! Watch www.semnsynod.org for live updates and photos throughout the Assembly.

Also, a complete Assembly recap will be posted the evening of Saturday, May 7 for those who wish to update their congregations on what happened. This recap can be used in congregation bulletins, newsletters, or can be read to the congregation by those who attended.

An Assembly Joined in Prayer
Participants will worship, study scripture, talk about difficult issues, enjoy fellowship with voters from around the synod, and pray. The 2005 Southeastern Minnesota Synod Assembly will be surrounded by prayer – prayer not just at meal time and worship, but prayer permeating every aspect of the Assembly.

Every congregation is encouraged to remember voting members in prayer on Sunday, May 1. If you have a prayer shawl ministry in your congregation, you may wish to present each voting member and pastor with a prayer shawl and encourage them to take the shawls to the Assembly. During the Assembly, prayer shawls will be knitted and then presented to our Churchwide Assembly voting members.

We also ask everyone to remember the Assembly in prayer May 6 and 7 – prayers for safe travel for participants, the wisdom of the Holy Spirit during deliberations, study, worship and business are just some of the many prayers that could be offered for the Assembly. (For prayer examples, see page 7.)

Are You Ready For... Lemonade?
Find out how a simple glass of refreshing lemonade can support new mission starts – only at Assembly! Check out the Mission Planning & Action Team's lemonade stand in the Auditorium!

Hold the Assembly in Your Prayers
Congregations and individuals are invited to use the prayers below in the weeks leading up to the Synod Assembly:

"O God, it is your desire for the whole world to be called into your marvelous light. Be with the Southeastern Minnesota Synod and all who prepare to gather in assembly May 6 and 7. Bless their worship, open their minds, guide their deliberations, and enrich their fellowship. Be with Bishop Usgaard, the synod staff, the planning committee, the volunteers, the speakers, and the voters. Bring your light to this world: restore unity to your church, bring peace among nations, mend broken relationships, provide care for your creation, and wholeness for mind, body, and spirit."

OR

"O God, pour out your wisdom upon the members of the Southeastern Minnesota Synod, especially the voting members of the Synod Assembly. Bless their deliberations, guide their decisions, inspire their prayers, that in all they do they may bear witness to the truth of the Gospel so that all the members of your Church may be strengthened and encouraged to serve the peoples of the earth. Please also be with Bishop Usgaard, the synod staff, the planning committee, the volunteers, and the speakers. Guide them with your wisdom."

(These prayers were adapted from prayers on the ELCA web site.)