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Bishop Harold Usgaard welcomed Rev. David Wold and Ray Makeever from Augsburg College to open this year’s assembly with the theme of “Called into God’s Marvelous Light…To Tell the Story.” Each assembly member has been given a button to wear that says, “Ask me about my faith story” and all are encouraged to do that in conversation throughout the day. Bishop Usgaard encouraged us to Assembly members to “tell our stories that show that God is alive and at work in our lives.” These stories become “sermons that touch the people who hear them.” The Assembly opened with 499 voting members and 43 visitors. First time Assembly manager, Rev. Paul Baker, said he feels great that all the preparation and planning was coming together with only a few minor glitches. It’s exciting, but a little stressful because, being new to managing, he’s not certain how things are supposed to go. Kathy Bolin, of Good Earth Village, says she loves the beginning of each Assembly because of “the buzz, the energy and all the people reconnecting with each other again.” One of the major events at this 20th annual Southeastern Minnesota Synod Assembly is the 100th anniversary of Campus Ministry in Minnesota. The president of Augsburg College, Dr. Paul Priebbenow, gave the opening remarks pointing out the bounty of the traditions of our 28 Lutheran colleges that prepare students for a life of leadership and service. He talked about the “discipline of gratitude” that should inform our lives. We need to know our place, our mission and our stories so we can prepare ourselves for a life of love and thankfulness. Rev. Elaine Siemsen, the new campus pastor for Lutheran Campus Ministry at Mankato State University said she love her work and finds her new position to be energizing, challenging and exhausting. She’s excited to be presenting the Bible Studies at this year’s Assembly. She joked that she knows that she had truly settled in to being a campus pastor when she discovered that she has 4 pairs of jeans, two pairs of flip flops and more t-shirts than she’s ever owned in her life. Rev. John Carrier, campus pastor for Lutheran Campus Ministry at Winona State University, encouraged everyone to attend the 100th “birthday party” of Lutheran Campus Ministry after tonight’s buffet supper. “It’s going to be a ball,” and the centerpiece of the celebration will be a birthday cake made of cupcakes in the shape of the Campus Ministry logo. They will also be leading the Holden Evening Prayer service tonight before the supper. |
