This year’s Advent Podcast series begins with Bishop Constanze Hagmaier and Michaela Vanbrandwijk, a Funeral Arranger at Miller Funeral Home in Sioux Falls, discussing death and dying, how the reality of death impacts us as individuals and as communities, and how we can be a community that acknowledges the necessity of grief while also proclaiming the promise of resurrection.

The episode is hosted by Pastors Joel and Aimee Pakan of Tangled Blue, and features the hymn “Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah,” performed by Kevin and Mara Stillson.

Introducing, “A Life of Faith,” a new bible study video series available to the members the South Dakota Synod.

We’re excited to announce that after a two-year hiatus, Listen, Learn, and Care events will be taking place in every conference around the Synod this fall. This is your chance to meet with Bishop Constanze and Associates to the Bishop Pr. Renee Splichal Larson and Pr. Jonathan Steiner and share your thoughts about how things are going in your congregation and around the Synod.

The South Dakota Synod is offering a retirement planning seminar for rostered leaders on November 29th, 2022, from 10am to 11:30am CT, with Connie Buskohl, CPA, whose office specializes in church and clergy tax preparation and consulting.

The South Dakota Synod, in partnership with the Helpline Center and Lutheran Social Services, will be hosting a free Virtual Mental Health First Aid Training session on November 10th from 9am to 3:30pm CT. Registration deadline is November 3rd.

The First Call Retreat is a gathering of rostered ministers in their first three years of ordained ministry. Continued theological education, relationship development between colleagues and synod staff, and time to rest are emphasized in this time together.