Messages from Bishop
Meggan Manlove
My deepest gratitude comes from the well of faith, sometimes my own and sometimes the faith of another human. Memory is powerful--memories of and stories about God who is faithful, who keeps showing up with grace and mercy for the entire world. The psalmist’s words become my own again, “I trust in your unfailing love…I will sing to the Lord, who has dealt with me richly.”
With the number of executive orders coming out of the new administration, state legislatures back in session, and the Season of Lent coming up, you may be scratching your head wondering why I picked this topic for my February 2025 column. Please stick with me.
On February 1, 2025, misinformation spread on X (formerly Twitter), falsely accusing Lutheran organizations of financial misconduct. A post from "General Mike Flynn" implied that Lutheran groups like Global Refuge (formerly Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service) and Lutheran Services in America receive excessive federal funding without transparency. Elon Musk then amplified the claim, suggesting that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a new government office under the Trump Administration, was shutting down "illegal payments."
See Bishop Eaton’s video.
Where might you go for resources on preaching or teaching Luke’s Gospel? About a year ago, I used this space to introduce a commentary on Mark’s Gospel and so I thought I would use this January column to name some of my favorite commentaries on Luke.
Dear Friends in Christ,
Advent brings with it many wonderful characters and stories and gifts. Here are three words I commend to you as we enter into this joyful and hopeful season and look ahead to the new year.
I was reminded that one of the greatest gifts the body of Christ, which we call the church, can give to its members and our larger communities is the opportunity to take a breath, the gift of making space, and not just space but sacred space, space where we can bring our deepest longings to God and then be silent. In our singing and praying we make space.
This column will be a little unusual as I am mostly going to point to some other writing I have been doing. But first, October is Clergy Appreciation Month and so, you pastors and deacons who said “yes” to the call of public ministry, thank you!
I am filled with hope and energy and ideas after spending a day and half this past week at the inaugural National Tribal Housing Ecosystem Summit organized by Enterprise Community Partners.