A Minnesota Premiere Event! Love Comes Softly
May 1, 2, 3, 7:30 p.m.; May 4, 2:30 and 7:00 p.m., King of Kings Lutheran, 1583 Radio Dr. Woodbury. A musical by Toby Waldowski based on the novel, Love Comes Softly, by Janette Oke. Adults $10; Children (12 and under) $5. Tickets available by calling 651.528.6110 or at the door.

• Metro Gathering of A Minnesota Without Poverty
May 1, 7:00-8:30 p.m., Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, 285 Dale, St. Paul. For information visit www.mnwithoutpoverty.org. The program will include:

• Gathering and Connecting
• “Close the Gap” documentary—Class Disparities
• Legislative Commission to End Poverty Up-Date
• Celebration of future relationship with Minnesota Council of Churches
• Taking Action to Make a Difference

Special guests are Gregory Gray, director, Legislative Commission to End Poverty; Chris Morton, director, program development, Minnesota Council of Churches; and Lucy Swift, director, partnership development, Twin Cities Public Television.

Ascension Day Breakfast
May 1, 9:00-11:00 a.m., Club 3 Degrees, Minneapolis. An annual networking event for children, youth, and family ministry leaders of the Minneapolis and Saint Paul Area Synods! Featuring: Dr. Winston Persaud from Wartburg Seminary, keynote speaker, and Chelsea Forbrook and Jeni Hill, from The Word worship team, musicians. Register by Monday, April 28 to registrar, Dawn Wickner: Fax, email, call, or mail! d.wickner@mpls-synod.org or 612.870.3610  (phone) or 612.870-0170 (fax).

Rummage Sale
May 1-2, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; May 3, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon, Luther Memorial, 315 15th Ave. No., South St. Paul. For information call 651.451.2990.

Multi-congregation, huge garage sale to benefit the Family Resource Center
May 1-3, . 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thurs. and Fri. 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Furniture, clothes, toys, household, lawn and garden, sports equipment. 3910 Rahn Road, Eagan. For more information, call 651-687-0343 or email info@frcmc.org.

Spring Rummage Sale
May 5, 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m., May 6, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., St. Mark Lutheran, 550 West 7th Street, St. Paul.  Bag sale, May 6: $3 to fill a bag. For information, call 651.224.0228.

ARC Retreat Center Benefit
May 2, 7:30 p.m., First Lutheran Church, 1555 40th Ave NE, Columbia Heights, MN (directions at www.flcch.org). The Sacred Voice, an a cappella choir, will present a benefit concert for ARC Retreat Center, which provides groups and individuals with time apart for rest and renewal. The Sacred Voice presents concerts to raise funds and increase awareness for non-profits in the Twin Cities Metro area (sacredvoice.org). A free-will offering will be taken at the performance.

Global Mission Formation Event for Congregational Teams
May 2-3, Calvary Lutheran Church, Golden Valley. The ELCA Global Mission Formation Event brings together experts and resources on global and domestic ministry under one roof, for one weekend, in one convenient location - so you and your congregational leaders can build skills you need to be an effective part of God's mission no matter where you serve. Your input into this event will also help ELCA Global Mission serve more effectively. For only $35 and in only 1 -1/2 days, you and your team can expect:

• A probing look at the changing contect of the global church, and how that influences global and local ministry
• Biblical foundation of the accompaniment model for mission
• Challening witness from global companions
• In-depth, skill building workshops, led by experts in specific areas of ministry like:
  • Evangelism
  • Preaching
  • Global Travel
  • Worship and Music
  • Mission Interpretation
  • Stewarship
  • Social Ministry
  • Education - Adults and Sunday School teachers

For more information, vist www.elca.org/gme or call Mia Cortez at 800.638.3522 ext.2642.

China Service Ventures Annual Fundraiser Gala
May 3, 5:30-8:30 p.m., St. Anthony Park Lutheran, 2323 Como Ave., St. Paul. Speaker: Rev. Qiu Lin. Silent auction, Chinese music and dancing, Kung Fu demonstrations, and food. Tickets are $20 and are available by calling Paula at 651.645.0371 or chinaserviceventures@hotmail.com.

Aging Splendidly!
May 8, 12:00 noon, Immanuel Lutheran, 104 Snelling Ave. So., St. Paul. Featuring “Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing,” presented by Sgt. Pamela McCreary, crime victim coordinator, St. Paul Police Department. Call 651.699.5560 for information.

Social Statement on Human Sexuality Draft Response Panel
May 8, 7:00 p.m., Zion Lutheran, 8500 Hillside Trail, Cottage Grove. The Rev. Dr. Walter Sundberg, professor of church history at Luther Seminary, and Kari Lipke, pastoral associate at Gustavus Adolphus College, will respond to the ELCA's newest social statement draft. All are welcome to attend.

Spring Fest and Flower Sale
May 10, 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., Immanuel Lutheran parking lot, 104 Snelling Ave. So., St. Paul. Call 651.699.5560 for information.

• Training the Trainer: Safeguarding God’s Children
A workshop for rostered and lay children, youth, and family ministers
May 22, 8:45 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Woodlake Lutheran, Richfield. Rostered leaders and those who work in children, youth, and family ministries have the responsibility to ensure that the youngest among us are allowed to learn and grow in an environment free from sexual abuse. This interactive workshop will:

• Train participants to facilitate events for parents and others to raise awareness of child sexual abuse and consider ways to create the safe spaces needed by children and youth.
• Prepare participants to offer training about child sexual abuse prevention to volunteers in their congregations who are working directly with children and youth.
• Provide participants with the opportunity to develop materials and create workshop presentations for their own setttings.

The workshop leader is the Rev. Karen Stevensen, LICSW. Completion of the entire workshop will enable participants to use the Safeguarding God’s children presentation materials (available through the synod office) in their own training sessions. The registration fee is $35. Deadlines are March 1 for the March 8 training session, and May 16 for the May 22 training session. Email Cyndi Berg or call 651.224.4313 for information. Download the registration brochure>

• Iringa Consultation
May 3, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Incarnation Lutheran, 4880 Hodgson Rd., Shoreview. The focus of the day includes a discussion of the successes since the companion partnership was launched in 1987; renewal of our commitment to walk bega kwa bega with our brothers and sisters in the Iringa Diocese; and creation of a shared vision for what we want the next decade to be in the ministry God is calling us to in the Iringa Diocese. Attendance is limited and individuals must be registered through their congregation. Contact Beth Helgen at 651.224.4313 for additional information.

The Benefits of 50 Years of Jewish Christian Dialogue
May 15, 8:30 a.m.(registration); 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon, Mt. Olivet Lutheran, 5025 Knox Ave. so., Minneapolis. Co-sponsored by the ELCA Region 3 Task Force on Lutheran-Jewish Relations in cooperation with Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church. The forum will focus on a newly released book from Fortress Press, Covenantal Conversations: Christians in Dialogue with Jews and Judaism, edited by Darrell Jodock.  Featuring presentations by  Darrell Jodock, Gustavus Adolphus College; Rabbi Barry Cytron, Jay Phillips Center for Jewish-Christian Learning, Marilyn Salmon, United Theological Seminary, and Sarah Henrich, Luther Seminary, who will each review the book, identifying what it offers and assessing its contribution. Karla Suomala, Luther College will discuss the benefits of bringing into conversation the Jewish concept of “mending the world” (tikkun olam) and the Lutheran concept of vocation.  Pre-registration is required by May 5. The registration fee is $20. A copy of the book will be available for purchase at a discounted price. Lunch will be available without cost for those who register in advance. Register by calling Marilyn Beyer, Office of Church Relations, Gustavus Adolphus College at 507.933.7001. For additional information, contact the Rev. John Matthews, Grace Lutheran, Apple Valley, at 952.432.7273.

Conversational Evangelism Conference
May 16-17, Hosanna! Lutheran, 9600 163rd Street West, Lakeville.  Discover a conversational approach to evangelism;  learn how to connect naturally with the people Jesus misses most; and learn how evangelism can become a spiritual practice in the life of every believer. Registration information here.

Forum on Youth Ministry with Andy Root
May 22, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Shepherd of the Valley, 12650 Johnny Cake Ridge Rd., Apple Valley. No cost, but limited to 36 registrants. Join your colleagues and Dr. Andy Root of Luther Seminary in a theological plunge with real-life connections. Visit www.sotv.org or email Randy Brandt for more information.

•Saint Paul Area Synod Assembly
May 30-31, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Burnsville. Tony Campolo is the keynote speaker, and voting members will elect a bishop, voting members to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly in Minneapolis, a synod secretary, nominees for the ELCA Church Council, and other representatives to synodical boards and committees.

Tony Campolo
Tony Campolo is professor emeritus of sociology at Eastern University, St. Davids, Penn. He previously served for ten years on the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania. Founder and president of the Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education (EAPE), Dr. Campolo has worked to create, nurture and support programs for “at-risk” children in cities across North America, and has helped establish schools and universities in several developing countries. Dr. Campolo is a media commentator on religious, social and political matters, having guested on television programs like Nightline, Crossfire, Politically Incorrect, The Charlie Rose Show, and Larry King Live. He co-hosted his own television series, Hashing It Out, on the Odyssey Network, and presently hosts Across The Pond, a weekly program on the Premier Christian Radio Network in England. He is the author of 34 books, including The God of Intimacy and Action, Letters to a Young Evangelical, and  Speaking My Mind. Dr. Campolo is an ordained minister, has served American Baptist Churches in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and is presently recognized as an associate pastor of the Mount Carmel Baptist Church in West Philadelphia.