At the end of December we made one final ask for Rooted in Place, our offering recipient for the 2024 Regional Gatherings. Thanks to one major gift and many, many other donations, we can report that we collectively raised $21,293! THANK YOU for your generosity and support.

I am just finishing my first work trip of 2025: ELCA and ELCiCanada Bishops Academy in Puerto Rico. The Academy, held every two years in various locations, provides fellowship and continuing education for those of us called to serve as bishop in the United States and Canada.

In this issue we are sharing the Baptism of our Lord resources from the Celebrate! Worship for Every Festival series that is a part of the Nourishing Vocation with Children Project at St. Olaf College.

Please go to our Mission Support website page to to take a deep dive into learning all about Mission Support and and what is does for our Synod. Here you may also share your intent to participate this year.

Please read for all the upcoming documents to be submitted for the new year.

There’s a classic horror film gimmick that feels apt this season. (Hmm, that’s telling that tropes from horror films are seeming appropriate!) When the final survivor is nearing the film’s end, the phone rings. She picks up the receiver and tries to trace the call, only to realize “the call is coming from inside the house!” Eeek!

The Synod Council encourages each congregation to put into practice a congregational sabbatical policy appropriate to its context. The Synod's policy includes a model congregational sabbatical policy that your congregation may adapt and adopt!