The Emmaus Fund endowment supports leadership development, youth and young adult engagement, and congregational outreach by providing micro-grants for new ministry programs and opportunities.

Live Auction Items:

• Grand Marais Getaway: Gift Certificate for a course at the North House Folk School, 2-night stay at Croftville Road Cottages, and dinner at a local eatery (TBD)
• “Jesus Feast” with Pastor Lori Gordon. Enjoy a 1st Century meal with up to 10 of your closest friends!
• 3 days/2 nights Outfitter Package at the Gunflint Lodge for two.
• Synod Staff Swag
• More packages coming soon!

Silent Auction Items:

Full list coming soon

Guests for the Evening:

  Musician Sunday Saari

Sunday Saari is a theatrical-inspired performer and musician based in Brooklyn New York. She demonstrates a lyrical clarity which speaks of passion, pain, and inner love. After graduating from Carnegie Mellon for Musical Theater, she moved on to NYC to perform in live shows, tv productions, and theatrical experiences. Recently, she performed as Siren in “Lizard Boy” at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. She has performed original shows in Cairo Egypt, Pittsburg, PA, Minneapolis MN, Ashland and Portland OR along side a fabulous array of Drag Queens, musicians, and other fearless collaborators. sundaymanistosaari.com

Musician Steve Saari

Steve J. Saari is a Special Education teacher in International Falls. He loves to write words, sing songs, and play some instruments. He also loves his family, hockey, animals, and swimming. He especially loves Timbits!

Speaker Pastor Laura Mills Anderson

Pastor Laura has been formed, sent, and called by the Northeastern Minnesota Synod! Growing up in Esko, MN, she was involved in her home congregation in many ways before heading off to Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. Summers were spent at Voyageurs Lutheran Ministry, where she met her spouse, Bjørn (awwwww – Camp couple!). Following college, Laura spent a year living in Beit Jala, Palestine, serving with the ELCA’s Young Adults in Global Mission. This year affirmed her call to ministry and deepened her love for God’s world and God’s people. She returned to the NEMN synod to serve as the youth director at her home congregation for five years before finally answering the call to seminary (at the nudging of her dear spouse). Laura’s time at Wartburg Theological Seminary was deeply formative in preparing her for pastoral ministry, creating life-long friendships, and nurturing her love of learning and exploration of
God’s world. Following seminary, Laura was assigned to the Northeastern Minnesota Synod and Bjørn began his work at Voyageurs Lutheran Ministry. Laura spent six months providing pastoral coverage in the beautiful communities of Bigfork and Effie, before being called to Messiah Lutheran Church in Mountain Iron, MN. Clearly, the Northwoods continue to call Laura home again and again, and it is a gift to serve God’s people in this synod. Laura enjoys yoga, gardening, reading, spending time with her sweet pups, and skunking Bjørn at cribbage whenever possible.

Speaker Rosie Loeffler-Kemp

Coming soon…

 Auctioneer Rusty Kath, Fladeboe Advancement

As an auctioneer for non-profit organizations, Rusty Kath creates high energy in the room and connects with both the audience and the organization’s cause. He’s helped raise money for a variety of causes, including public schools, homeless shelters, cultural organizations, health services, and inner-city youth sports. For nearly two decades, Rusty has worked as an In-Game Host for several professional sports teams and organizations, including the Tampa Bay Rays, Minnesota Wild, Minnesota Twins, and US Figure Skating. He appears on the in-stadium video board engaging with fans, athletes, and celebrities as he hosts contests and conducts interviews. Rusty’s wife teaches kindergarten and they have two young children. fladeboeadvancement.com

Fundraising Consultant Kate Pearce, Fladeboe Advancement

Kate has a passion for buildingconnections between worthy nonprofit needs and philanthropic support. With a background in communications and marketing, Kate discovered fundraising work as an alumna volunteer for St. Olaf College. After inaugurating and chairing a gala for several years, she was thrilled to jointhe Fladeboe Advancement team in 2015, partnering with organizations to create events that inspire engagement and generosity. Kate lives in St. Paul and stays busy gardening in summer, skiing in winter, and exploring with her young son all year long. fladeboeadvancement.com

purpose of the Emmaus Fund

1. Encouraging the concept of whole life stewardship and receiving and to manage donations, bequests and charitable gifts from individuals, congregations and organizations that are directed through the Northeastern Minnesota Synod Foundation.
2. Strengthening and resourcing the ministry of the Synod following the synod’s purpose of “Empowering congregations and ministries to encounter and share the love of God in Christ Jesus.”
3. Enhancing the ministry of the Synod in addition to, and apart from, its yearly ministry spending plan, with emphasis on, but not limited to the strategic core values of:

• Welcome: Welcoming new people and new ways of being the church.
• Connect: Building networks and systems of deep connection within communities and across the synod.
• Reform: Rekindling faith by ministries of justice and love for all in God’s creation.
• Support: Learning together, training leaders, caring for one another as we try new experiments.

Emmaus Fund guiding principles, gift policy, and application details coming soon…

For more information or to inquire about planned giving, please contact Pastor Taryn Montgomery.