Grunewald Guild near Leavenworth Oct. 17-19
Are you wondering about a call to leading worship in your congregation? Helping with pastoral care? Many congregations are lifting up leaders and some leaders are supporting their congregations in worship, preaching, and pastoral care. With the various programs out there it’s time to untangle the “alphabet soup” of options. The good news in our synod is that DEM Pastor Liv Larson Andrews is planning our second retreat for lay leaders, and we have an excellent group of presenters and a great deal of interest from around our synod.
Free Webinar
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
11:00a-12:00pm MT / 10:00-11:00am PT
A one-hour free webinar titled "Addiction & Youth: Trends & Challenges" hosted by the Center of Addiction & Faith. Guest presenter will be Michael Durchslag, Director of P.E.A.S.E. Academy, the longest running recovery high school in the U.S.A., and Board Chair of the Association of Recovery Schools.
The Shape of Leadership is coming to Camp Lutherhaven!
The Shape of Leadership is for clergy who want to renew their leadership, and step up their ability so they can significantly impact the future of our faith communities.
Tailored specifically for small town and rural contexts, this six-session webinar series will introduce participants to baptismal ecclesiology and its practical application for the life of the church. Sessions will be hosted on zoom at 7 pm Central. Register online.
September 15th, 2025 - Our Baptismal Calling
This two-part series designed specifically for The CaSTLE Project will equip leaders with practical, faith- rooted tools to lead and adapt through change. Each session blends research-based frameworks with a lens of faith and includes actionable resources that can be used immediately across diverse ministry settings.
Ministry That Bends Without Breaking Mental Flexibility & Grit for Today’s Leaders
September 23, 2025 12:30 – 2:00 PM CST
Register here https://forms.o-ice.com/r/LtWaE2PYL5
I am deeply troubled by incidents of racial profiling* that are happening across this country in the name of law enforcement and national security. Such inhumane treatment is being employed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in wanton immigration stops, targeting individuals based on race, ethnicity, language, occupation or location. In particular, I and many in this church lament the Supreme Court action of Sept. 8 in which the court granted a stay of a lower court's restraining order that had limited such enforcement practices in Los Angeles while judicial action is pending.
September 18 and October 2
There will be 2 zooms that are available for anyone who is interested to attend.
The first will be on Spiritual Practices and will be September 18, beginning at 5pm PST / 6pm MST.
The second will be an introduction to worship leadership will be on October 2, also beginning at 5pm PST /6pm MST.
Scott Kinder-Pyle, Interim Pastor at Northwood Presbyterian Church and Certified Chaplain with Gentiva Hospice, has offered some essay-reflections and poems in his newly published book, Hospice Chaplain, Interrupted.
We’re excited to share the latest School Spotlight featuring Advent Lutheran Child Center in Spokane Valley, Washington!
Lutherhaven Ministries is thrilled to welcome Dave Ellingson as our Guest Speaker for Go Outside & Play! This one-night retreat (option to add a second night) is designed to provide time and space for adults to enjoy all camp has to offer – campfires, s’mores, time in the word, and fellowship! Dave will encourage us to “Go Outside & Play!” During the retreat you will be challenged to look at what the words “Go Outside and Play” means with the life of Jesus in mind.
Earlier this summer, the Senate Banking Committee advanced a bipartisan housing reform bill by an overwhelming 24-0 margin. The ROAD to Housing Act (S. 2651), introduced by Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), comprehensively bundled together many bipartisan solutions to addressing the housing crisis affecting millions of Americans.
Mission Possible is the annual servant learning opportunity of this congregation. It started in 2005 under the ministry of our retired Deacon Heidi Cryer. Mission Possible uses an accompaniment model of service, where we seek to learn from those in need, to be part of what is already being done, and to interact with agencies that provide direct services to the poor and vulnerable in our community. We recognize that joining together is the best way to address our community’s challenges.
All are invited to a Workshop offered by the Synod's Worship Team
9:00am - 4:00pm, Saturday, October 25, 2025
Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, Boise, Idaho
The Blessing of Animals is a fun way to engage people of all ages and to have conversations about our responsibilities to all creatures who share Earth with us. Some people may bring their animals to church to be blessed, while others bring photos to avoid unnecessary stress on their pets. Through photos or stuffed toys, congregations may celebrate and bless all types of creatures beyond pets. An appropriate hymn for the blessing of animals is number 1064 in All Creation Sings, “Earth is Full of Wit and Wisdom,” which sings of roly polies, giraffes, geckos, monkeys, mice, and many other creatures!
We are preparing to open registration for our three one-day United at the Font: Partnering for the Future events this fall. As I wrote in our grant application to Wartburg Seminary, these three locations were chosen in conversation with ecumenical partners. However, I see no reason why the entire synod cannot join in on the learning and growing.
Pastors Wilson Nyakachewa and Ezekiel Mwambungu will soon be here! They arrive On September 8 and will depart our area on October 27. Please hold them in prayer as they prepare to leave, travel, and be with us
ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton has issued a letter to President Donald Trump and members of Congress expressing support of “our Jewish-American and Israeli siblings who have suffered because of the Oct. 7 attacks,” yet voicing “profound horror regarding the catastrophe in Gaza and the wider crisis in the Holy Land.”
Our July 2025 Mission Support Memo enlightens us about our ELCA chaplains in specialized ministry and federal chaplaincy across our church who minister to all in all kinds of places. Our ELCA chaplains in specialized ministry and federal chaplaincy serve to support those defending our country, in places outside church walls, tending to people of all needs and backgrounds and showing the gratitude and love of God to all.
ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton has issued a video message about the recent IRS ruling that suggests the agency may interpret the Johnson Amendment of 1954 in ways that would allow churches and other religious organizations to engage in partisan activity.
…continuation of our Leadership Formation series, this time with even more learning and opportunities to hear from one another with our Enneagram Type Panels programming -- to our launching of our Leadership Formation Transforming Teams series -- we can't wait to get started!
From September 1 to October 4, the ecumenical Christian family unites for a worldwide celebration of prayer and action to protect our common home. This “Season of Creation” is a special time when we celebrate God as Creator and acknowledge Creation as the divine continuing act that summons us as collaborators to love and care for the Earth.
Have your ever wondered where the money we give to the Ulanga Kilombero Diocese (UKD) goes to support? Have you wanted to go see, first hand, why we support the hospital and school a half a world away, in Tanzania? Or where is Tanzania, for that matter? If these questions, or some similar have been ones you have asked yourself, now is the time to act. Our synod will be sending up to 20 travelers with two leaders to Tanzania in June 2026.
In September and October of this year, we will welcome two guests from the UKD. Pastor Wilson Nyakachewa is the Assistant to the Bishop of the UKD. Pastor Ezekiel Mwambungu is on the Diocese Leadership Team and is the Director of the UKD's Strobelt Pre and Primary School.
The Rev. Lucille "CeCee" Mills was elected Aug. 1 to serve a six-year term as secretary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
The Rev. Yehiel Curry was elected July 30 to serve a six-year term as presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
It was an honor to be one of the seven voting members from the NWIM Synod at this Assembly, under the theme For the Life of the World. (continue with summary report)
This retreat is for LAY LEADERS, especially, but not limited to, those going through Montana’s Lay Ministry Associate program OR Luther Seminary’s Lay School Certificate or Graduate Certificate programs.
October 13-15 in Richland, WA
Registration is open now until September 15.
LuMin is the Lutheran Campus Ministry Network. As part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), LuMin celebrates our partnerships with other traditions and welcomes people from a variety of faith backgrounds. There are currently more than 240 faith communities connected with LuMin.
Have your ever wondered where the money we give to the Ulanga Kilombero Diocese (UKD) goes to support? Have you wanted to go see, first hand, why we support the hospital and school a half a world away, in Tanzania? Or where is Tanzania, for that matter? If this questions, or some similar have been ones you have asked yourself, now is the time to act.