E-News

Thank You for Your Faithfulness

The Northwest Intermountain Synod has come to the end of our fiscal year, and we are writing to thank you for your faithfulness in sharing mission support to enable our work.

It was a rough year for many of our congregations, which translates into a rough year for our synod—a reality that was not unexpected, but causes the Synod Council to take serious consideration to the synod budget, much like congregational councils are forced to take serious consideration to their budgets. In these days, it’s part of our life together.

This reality makes us even more grateful for your support. We know that hard conversations were had in Sunday School classrooms, fellowship halls, fireside rooms & Zoom gatherings as you struggled to make money go further. We know that every dollar of mission support you send on to the synod could have easily gone to many other ministries and still not have been enough to meet the needs that the last few years have brought to our communities.

Wondering How to Create a More Environmentally Wise Ministry?

Attend Faith+Lead's Green Leadership Workshop Series!

Three workshops designed to help you lead on environmental stewardship, climate hope, and water justice

Attend one workshop for $29—or all three for $75!

Chose one, two, or all three.

  • Workshop 1: Monday, March 21, 6 - 8 pm CST: Faith, Hope & Love for Your Watershed

  • Workshop 2: Monday, April 4, 6 - 8 pm CST: Vocation and Pollination with Native Plantings

  • Workshop 3: Monday, April 25, 6 - 8 pm CST: Ecotheology & Energy

COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP SERIES

ELCA Coaching is mixing things up in 2022 as we continue to experiment and learn. You are invited to join us WEEKLY on Wednesdays at 1pm Central to hear from various leaders across the Church. We will continue with our theme of COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP. We have invited various ministries to host these gatherings through this next year, so it will be different each week. There will usually be time for small groups in breakout rooms so that leaders across the church can continue to learn from each other and leave each gathering with at least one action step.

Adult Education/Spirituality Retreat

Join us for this special retreat with Dr. Andrew Root, professor of youth and family ministry at Luther Seminary, will be our presenter. Expect insightful sessions such as “Why are People Leaving the Church? Mis-Diagnosing Our Challenges in a Secular Age,” “Ministry Inside the Immanent Frame: The Task of Speaking of God in a Secular Age,” “Families, the Good Life, the Need for a Story,” and “Why We’re All So Exhausted: The Church in a Time of Crisis.” and time for fun and relaxation at camp, too – quiet time, reading time, worship, hikes, pottery, and great food

Youth Worker's Retreat

Peer Ministry Leadership Training

Peer ministry is about the practical life skill that empowers us to become Good Samaritan leaders who care for every neighbor, every day, everywhere in every relationship. Peer Ministry is about loving, because God first loved us! 1 John 4:19 This retreat is for adults and youth (Jr high and up) Bring a group from your congregation, scout troop, or come on your own!

Message from Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton

What Masks Do We All Wear?

Getting ready to leave the house—for work or errands—takes a couple extra steps during a pandemic. Do I know how crowded my destination will be? Did I remember to take a mask? Of all the annoying things about this pandemic, I find remembering to take and to wear a mask is one of the most irksome. Masks aren’t comfortable, they make it more difficult to understand conversations, and they are a daily reminder that we are not out of the woods yet.

Let me be clear—masks are an effective way to stop the spread of this terrible virus, and I will wear one for as long as it takes. I urge all of us to do the same. This isn’t about personal choice, but it is a physical manifestation that in baptism “we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another” (Romans 12:5). Wearing a mask is as much for our protection as it is for protecting others. I will continue to mask up.

I always thought it was silly that bandits and robbers are depicted wearing only a mask from just below the eyes down. How could that possibly be a disguise? One’s eyes, hair and ears are all visible. You can hear the voice. You can figure out a person’s stature. What’s the point?

I mask people even when they aren’t wearing an actual mask.
— Elizabeth A. Eaton, Living Lutheran, January 2022