‘Singing the Lord’s Song in a Strange Land,’Synod School 2012 runs July 22-27
It happens again this summer. About 600 people will come to Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa, for Synod School.

Synod School 2012, this year built around the theme, “Singing the Lord’s Song in a Strange Land,” offers more than 65 classes for adults and activities for all ages when it runs July 22-27. Class descriptions and other information are available in the catalog.

Carol Howard Merritt, a prolific author and blogger, and Presbyterian minister, will be the adult convocation speaker, and Landon Whitsitt, author, vice moderator of the 219th General Assembly and Presbyterian minister, will be the youth convocation speaker. Worship leaders are Christopher Levan and Tamara EnTin.

Registration materials are available at Synod School. If you would like to speak to someone about Synod School, please call the synod office at 651.357.1140 or 800.328.1880. You can also get your questions answered by sending an e-mail to Diana Barber, associate synod executive for leadership development, at dbarber@lakesandprairies.org.

Collegiate Ministry in the Synod of Lakes and Prairies
The Synod of Lakes and Prairies continues its long-standing commitment to collegiate ministry and its funding guidelines reflect an inclusive understanding of collegiate ministry that embraces not only campus ministry, but also congregational-based and chaplaincy-based ministry. The funding guidelines are intended to help the synod be a better steward of its resources and reach out to more students. To learn more, go to Collegiate Ministry.

Synod administers loan fund for presbyteries, churches
The Synod of Lakes and Prairies administers a $5.5 million loan fund in support of congregation capital and major renovation projects including down-payment assistance to relocating presbytery staff. Congregations are invited to contact the synod when it’s time to borrow for a new capital project. The synod relies on the loan application form of the Presbyterian Investment & Loan Program. The loan application can be found on the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) website.For additional information, contact J. Jay Wilkinson, stated clerk and treasurer of the synod, at jwilkinson@lakesandprairies.org or 651.357.1140 (ext. 205).

What does the synod do? The synod’s narrative budget
To help sessions and presbyteries get a better grasp of the ministry and mission of the synod, the synod’s narrative budget can be found in the form of a letter and as a PowerPoint presentation. There is also a list of services currently provided by synod staff.

Synod’s Facebook group contains frequent updates          
The Synod of Lakes and Prairies is a group on Facebook and membership has reached more than 200. If you have an interest in the synod, you may want to consider joining the group. If you aren’t a member of Facebook, you will have to join first.