Featured NEWS: How COVID-19 is Affecting UKD

Dear Northwest Intermountain Synod,

I send you greetings on behalf of our sisters and brothers in the Ulanga-Kilombero Diocese. Our companions have been watching the news and hear how seriously our area has been affected by COVID-19. Both Pr Moses and Pr Eliud have been in contact regularly and wish to express their concern. Bishop Mtenji also sends his prayers. Our partners in Tanzania have kept us all in daily prayer over the past few weeks. 

Unfortunately, on March 18 this virus hit Tanzania as well. As of 3/23, there were 12 cases in the country, mostly in the large cities and tourist areas. The government acted quickly and closed all schools and universities last week. Thankfully, the virus has not entered the area of the UKD which is far from the large cities and no tourists visit. Our friends are following doctors advice on preventing the spread of the virus. 

With schools closed for 30 days, Tumaini Lutheran School is also shut and all the students have returned to their homes. At this time, however, the Dining/Assembly hall construction may continue. The concrete floor for the assembly hall portion of the building is now curing (a process which involves watering it for 12 days).  Schools in Tanzania are just at the beginning of their school year, so we hope that the students will be able to return soon. There is a huge financial impact for TLS without student tuitions. This could have a long-term impact on the school, and is something we can all pray about.

Those who have planned to travel to Tanzania in July have been keeping a close eye on the situation. We are aware that it is possible/probable that we will not be able to travel, but the decision to postpone the trip will be made at a later date.  Should it not be possible to travel, we will reschedule the trip. 

Thank you for praying for our companion synod and all who are so deeply affected by this pandemic. 

Heidi Cryer
Companion Synod Team Chair

SHARE Grants

The SHARE Fund of the Northwest Intermountain Synod is established to provide additional resources to help congregations and other outreach ministries during times of change and/or development and to provide for the spiritual and emotional support of those on the Roster in our Synod.

Congregations and ministries within our synod may apply for a SHARE grant by call the synod office 509-838-9871 to request an application or email cathy.steiner@nwimsynod.org. Applications must be received by April 6 for consideration.

Beware of 'ZoomBombing' | TechCrunch

As more of us are moving to online platforms, there are things to be mindful of and things we can learn from others. While these platforms offer us creative ways to connect with one another, they also open us up to news ways of trolling and harassment. Here is an article about Zoom and for those hosting Zoom calls, some important considerations to keep in mind. techcrunch.com-zoombombing

Upcoming Events

Information Security Webinar | April 21, 2020

ELCA congregations and synods are invited to a free webinar on Tuesday, April 21, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Central Time.

Chris Hueneke, information security advisor for the ELCA churchwide organization, will host the webinar, covering these topics: how to avoid phishing email attacks, protect sensitive data and prevent malware infections, and what to do if your data has been breached.

Click here for more information.

Rostered Ministers Gathering | July 20-23, 2020

Registration is now open for the 2020 Rostered Ministers Gathering! All ELCA rostered pastors and deacons are invited as we gather under the theme “Rekindle the Gift Within You” (2 Timothy 1:6).

The gathering includes over 100 workshops, an expansive Interaction Center, daily worship and keynote presentations. Early registration is $245 (through May 20). Three conference hotels offer a rate of $139/night plus tax. A limited number of scholarships are available. Visit ELCA.org/RMG for more information.

“God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday | September 13, 2020

This day is an opportunity to celebrate who we are as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor.

Service activities offer an opportunity for us to explore one of our most basic convictions as Lutherans: that all of life in Jesus Christ – every act of service, in every daily calling, in every corner of life – flows freely from a living, daring confidence in God’s grace.

• View resources to guide your congregation’s planning, promotion and more.

• For more information, click here.

Resources

Join a Meeting | Zoom Video

Pastor Phil Misner has scoured the internet for the best resources for us all as we transition to online conferencing. The best resource out there at this time is provided by Zoom Support and can be found here:

https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362193-Joining-a-Meeting

The support article features a video and step-by-step instructions (with visuals) for multiple devices. Click on your device or operating system to expand the instructions.

Worship in the Home

Available now on the ELCA worship blog is a weekly post, “Worship in the Home.” Although various formats of livestreaming worship work well in many contexts, you are encouraged to worship as you are able in homes on Sunday and throughout the week. Consider ways to pray and sing using this resource at home. If you don’t have a hymnal at home, perhaps churches might safely distribute copies for home use. Additional entries for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Vigil of Easter will be available in Holy Week.

Technology Discounts for Synods and Congregations

ELCA congregations and synods are eligible for discounts from companies such as Tithe.ly, Microsoft, Dell and Zoom. Learn more about ELCA technology discounts here.