Community of Holden, we are abundantly aware of darkness brought on by grief, fear, and frustration from the closure of Holden from road washouts and the unknowing of what lies ahead for the people and infrastructure of the village we hold dear. Landslides of soil and forest debris may continue. Rather than allowing our grief to become landslides of frustration, our way forward is through the One who is the Life and Light so that we may reflect the Life and Light into the heaviness of the larger world and of the particularities of Holden.

Welcome to 2026: The Way of Love! What follows is a 12-session collection of devotions written by leaders from across Northwestern Ohio. These 15 to 20 minute devotions are ideal for when church council gathers, when committees or staff meet, or for use at any regular gathering.

Position opening: Minister for Christian Formation and Discipleship

Part-Time: 15 hours per week.

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Coeur d’Alene, ID

Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center in Carefree, Arizona, invites applications and nominations for the Executive Director position. The Executive Director will amplify Spirit in the Desert’s mission as a Lutheran-rooted ministry that welcomes people of all backgrounds to a place of peace, renewal, healing, and spiritual growth. 

I have thought a great deal about how singing together is something I missed so much during pandemic days, how I love singing with youth and summer staff around a campfire at camp, how during an ELCA Youth Gathering we often sang our way home from the mass gatherings in the dome, how singing Taize chants quietly with others gives me that peace that passes understanding. And sometimes, when I cannot find my voice, I simply listen and let others carry the song. Collective or communal singing is one of the best things we can do for our spiritual, emotional, and communal health, and it is something Christians, including Lutherans, have a lot of experience with.

“From Tenants to Partners: Aligning Mission With Rental Relationships”

Throwback Webinar: Community Purchasing Alliance

Stewardship Resources

A Desert Sojourn Retreat

Back by popular demand! This Spring Training retreat returns to
Spirit in the Desert
March 10-13, 2026

“We Shall Overcome: Building the Beloved Community Today”
Saturday, January 31, 8:30am - 3:00pm

This Christmas, listen closely. The heaven’s are still whispering: “Jesus is here, God loves you.” Share that love with the world.

The ELCA Office of the Secretary has released a recorded webinar and PowerPoint presentation to help congregation leaders better understand and update their constitutions. The hour-long session, “Congregation Constitution 101,” was designed especially for congregation councils and leaders across the ELCA and is now available for on-demand viewing.

Our companion synod, the Ulanga Kilombero Diocese (UKD) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, has a Secondary and Bible school as one of their ministries: Tumaini Lutheran Secondary School. This is a boarding school for boys and girls as they get their first 4 years of secondary education. The school is well regarded and the NWIM Synod has shown great support for the school. As you talk to the leaders throughout the UKD, many have their roots at Tumaini. It is a school that is teaching the leaders for the diocese as pastors, doctors, teachers, evangelists, and business owners. Our support over the years has made a huge difference for the UKD and for the entire country.

The prophet Isaiah sings to us on the 3rd Sunday of Advent, "The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad. Like crocus blossoms it will be abundant with joy...Say to those with fearful hearts, 'be strong, do not be afraid. Here is your God.'" 

Thinking about Isaiah's vision, I want to share a story of another kind of flood. A flood of blessing. An abundance of community and care. It also came to a desert recently, and there are blooms of joy and gladness beginning to flourish. 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

You have been granted many gifts that prepare you for your work. You are clearly physically fit for the job. You have been trained to detect vulnerable people who match the profile of those you are charged with apprehending. Most of us never even notice vulnerable people, but you do. This, along with a federal government mandate, makes you well suited for your job.

Nov. 30 marked not just the beginning of Advent, but the beginning of a new lectionary year—Matthew for those who follow the RCL and John for those who follow the newer Narrative Lectionary. For several lectionary cycles, my go-to commentary on Matthew has been ethicist Stanely Hauerwas’ commentary in the Brazos section. In conversation with Lutheran Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Discipleship, it helped me draw on the best of Matthew’s gospel—a vision for the church on earth and clarity about what it means to follow Jesus.

I am ready for the old, old story. It does not matter that I have heard this story, sung this story, seen this story portrayed by artists from across the globe, or told this story countless times. Jesus, Son of God, will be born in Bethlehem and visited first by shepherds, far from the halls of power. He is coming soon, already here among us, and will come again, bringing the shalom that only God can bring.

Three one-day events were held at Immanuel Lutheran, Moses Lake (Oct. 25), Our Savior Lutheran, Clarkston, WA (Nov. 1), and First United Methodist, Pocatello (Nov. 15). Our CaSTLE Grant from Wartburg Seminary funded our two professional facilitators, Lauren Hackman-Brooks and Rebecca Hoyt, and paid for lunch at each event. But YOU, all of the participants, made these gatherings so hopeful and life-giving!

ELCA Advocacy works for change in public policy on behalf of the biblical values of peacemaking, hospitality to strangers, care for creation, and concern for people struggling with hunger and poverty.

Sign up for action alerts to stay up-to-date on ways to get involved.

You are invited to join - any Wednesday. No advanced registration is required. This is for rostered and non-rostered leaders across the denomination. See our elcacoaching.org events page for the focus of the week.

Creating Beloved Community

Bible Study offered on Thursdays via zoom.

5:00pm PST / 6:00pm MST

I hope you had a chance to meet these remarkable pastors and engage in our relationship with the people of our companion synod. They ask that I pass along their deep appreciation for the time they were with us!

Funds are being raised for future travel expenses due to unexpected circumstances.

Who we are: “We are Lutheran Christians—rostered and lay—gathering in a time of growing injustice against refugees, immigrants, LGBTQIA+ people, those experiencing poverty, and many pushed to the margins and harmed by unjust systems. We are compelled by our faith to proclaim good news and act with courage. Rooted in Amos' call to justice, we gather not only to pray, but to build relational power and pursue sustained change.”

 Start planning for next year!
Here is a current list of our 2026 workshops that are open for applications (more to come)

Executive Skills for Church Leaders brings together expert faculty and church leaders. Throughout the week, the expertise of the faculty combined with the wisdom and experiences of the participants, will create space for valuable tools to emerge in navigating the complexities of congregational life and ministry.

You may submit a request for a Daily Bread Grant beginning November 1st. Feeding Ministry funding requests will be accepted beginning November 1st on a rolling basis for $500 each until all the funds are expended or for two weeks minimum, closing November 15th at midnight central time. Funding is for ELCA Congregations with a feeding ministry. Funding will be prioritized for rural ministries.

The Northwest Intermountain Synod Council recently reviewed and approved the 2026 Compensation Guidelines for Deacon and Pastor and are now available at https://nwimsynod.org/documents-resources.

Pulpit Supply guidelines for 2026 have been revised as well.

Save the dates for 2026 Synod Assembly and Bishop’s Convocation.

I am writing this on All Saints Sunday, one of my favorite festivals of the church year. I love that we take this day to remember the pillars of faith (saints like Francis, Julian, Hildegard, and Augustine) and the ordinary saints of our own lives and the lives of our congregations (I am thinking especially of my half-brother and father today).

I have become just a bit obsessed this year with Ray Makeever’s hymn (found in All Creation Sings): Death be Never Last. He wrote the first verse shortly after his wife died and the other verses came later. Here’s a choral arrangement of the hymn by David Sims:

There were many exciting, new learnings/awakenings for me at the ELCA World Hunger Leadership Gathering. I felt privileged to be with people passionate in service for those in need through sustainability, healing, and justice.

You can now download the Adult Advent Series Four-Week Devotional Guides, an additional “Biblical Botany” resource, and our Children’s Christmas Book resource from the Sumud webpage