The Synod of Lakes and Prairies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

"You set springs gushing in ravines, running down between the mountains, supplying water for wild animals, attracting the thirsty wild donkeys; near there the birds of the air make their nests and sing among the branches."
................................... ....Psalms 104:10-12 (The Jerusalem Bible)

The Synod of Lakes and Prairies covers a wide area of the upper Midwest that reaches from the eastern border of Wisconsin, south through Iowa and Nebraska, north through Minnesota and west through the Dakotas. Within the synod's boundaries are 16 presbyteries encompassing more than 900 churches with more than 160,000 members engaged in worship and mission. The presbyteries and their churches reflect diversity in ethnicity, size and membership. Additionally, five Presbyterian camps, seven affiliated colleges, and seven Presbyterian Homes support mission across all ages, ethnicities and life stages. For a quick look at the mission of the synod, click here.

Synod provides overview of its ministry and mission
In an effort to help sessions and presbyteries understand the ministry and mission of the synod, the synod has assembled an overview of its work. To read the overview, click here.

Synod School 2008 scheduled July 27-Aug. 1
Synod School 2008, which runs July 27 through Aug. 1 at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa, is about “Coloring Outside the Lines,” a look at how the church might move beyond timidity and try new things. Scott Nesbitt, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Clinton, Iowa, will be this year's convocation speaker. To find out more about Synod School, to see the catalog and brochure, and for Synod School 2008 registration materials, go here.

Synod Quilt Incorporates Logo
Lucy Rupe, executive presbyter in the Presbytery of Winnebago, and Diana Barber, associate executive for leadership development in the Synod of Lakes and Prairies, recently completed work on a quilt that now hangs in the synod offices in Eagan, Minn. Barber said the two of them designed and completed the piecing during a two-day retreat at Mt. Olivet Conference & Retreat Center in Farmington, Minn., "where so many synod events have occurred." She noted, "In selecting colors and patterns, we were imagining the visual changes that happen as you move from the fields and woods of the eastern parts of the synod to the western plains as well as the ‘lakes and prairies’ of our name. But others may well see something else in the changing colors." Discussing the fabric in the quilt, Barber said, "Some of the fabric used was purchased specifically for this quilt to provide some continuity within the design and other pieces were chosen from our personal fabric collections, many of which have appeared in other designs and activities at synod events." Technically, the quilt was machine pieced, hand tied and the border was hand quilted in a design that mirrors the wheat of the logo which is appliquéd onto the surface of the quilt.

Synod ‘MySpace’ page includes blog, builds connections
The Synod of Lakes and Prairies can be found on MySpace, a social networking resource. To find the MySpace page, go to http://www.myspace.com/synodoflakesandprairies. The Synod of Lakes and Prairies controls the content on its page on MySpace, but the synod does not control the content of its “friends” pages.

Copyright © 2008, The Synod of Lakes and Prairies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
2115 Cliff Dr., Eagan, MN 55122-3327
Phone: (651) 357-1140 - Toll Free: 1 (800) 328-1880

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