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Going to the ELCA Youth Gathering in Detroit this summer? Janelle Thompson and Diane Kaufmann are working on the visuals for the Book of Faith Bible Study. Janelle is drawing 82 panels (2'x3') which summarize the entire gospel of Mark. They will be on display in one of the large booths in the Exhibit Hall, so stop in and tell them you're from the NW Synod of WI!

This week in the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin-ELCA

Week of May 17, 2015

Prayers

We invite you to join the synod staff in prayer this week:

We trust in God's attentiveness and compassion. Whether spoken or silent, alone or with others, we bring in prayer to God our joys, sorrows, questions and concerns. (From ELCA Prayer Ventures

 

We also pray for the following leaders and the congregations they serve:

Pastor Heather Wigdahl, and Sarah Miller, intern, Our Savior's Lutheran, Menomonie

Pastor Janelle Harrison, Our Savior's Lutheran, Campia/Rice Lake

Pastor Victor St. George, Our Savior's Lutheran, Solon Springs

Pastor Ken Schmidt, Our Savior's Lutheran, Stanley

Pastor Sarah Kerkes, Our Savior's Lutheran, Superior

Pastor Jennifer Larson LaRue, chaplain 

 

Join the Celebration!

Karen Ressel is being ordained at Osseo Evangelical Lutheran Church, 50351 Harmony St., Osseo, this Saturday, May 23 at 10:30 a.m. by the the Reverend David B. Zellmer, Bishop from the South Dakota Synod, where she has been called to serve. For clergy who would like to process, the color of the day is red.

Preparing for Assembly?
If you are planning to attend the 2015 Synod Assembly as a voting member, you'll want to be prepared. Visit the assembly webpage to see the agenda, candidates for Synod Council and Churchwide Assembly, resolutions and more. 




Drop Your Drawers Update
The back hallway at First Lutheran in Eau Claire doesn't always look like this! You are looking at the result of our collection of items for Lutheran Social Services of the South and the "muscle men" that carted and carried it all to the back door.

There they loaded it onto pallets that were shrink-wrapped for shipment to Texas as shown in the photo on the right.  

It was amazing to see the amount of toiletries and clothing that appeared at the Spring Days of Renewal sponsored by the Women of the ELCA. These items will be used at the three shelters LSSS operates to assist unaccompanied minors camped at our southern border.

Pastor Brian Campbell Goes Green (and Gold)!

Our Savior's in Greenwood and Emmanuel in Longwood are celebrating their pastor being green.

 

Pastor Brian Campbell challenged the people of Our Savior's and Emmanuel to donate over $1,000 to Walk4Water, a cause being supported by the ELCA's National Youth Gathering, as a special Lenten offering. He said if the challenge was met, he, a devout fan of the Detroit Lions,  would buy and wear a Packers jersey to lead worship during May. He would also wear it when our youth group makes the donation at Ford Field in Detroit as part of the National Youth Gathering.

The congregations raised $1,336.29, and still counting. Pictures with Pastor Brian wearing the jersey are $1 each. In previous noisy offerings and Advent or Lenten special givings, the most that had been raised was just over $400.


In addition to having Pastor Brian wear a Packers jersey, this has served to show both churches what is possible beyond our traditional giving and mindsets. 
Thrifty Theology: Continuing Education Without Crushing Costs
Book Reviews by Pastor Diane Norstad, Faith Lutheran, Balsam Lake

 

Help, Thanks, Wow - The Three Essential Prayers by Anne Lamott. Hmm, I know she's quite a good writer usually but I have to give a negative review on this particular book. It is extremely rudimentary and not very inspiring. It may be useful for someone early in their faith walk, but I couldn't truly think of a situation I would recommend it in my setting. However, others may click with her writing better than I do. It is available through the MORE library consortium and is on Amazon for $11.84 new or starting at $3.54 with shipping for used.

BulletinBoard

Domestic Hunger Grants Available from ELCA

You can learn more about these grants--criteria, process, applications, etc. at  

www.elca.org/domestichungergrants. Applications accepted until July 10, 2015.


Exciting Coaching Opportunity

Clergy Life Coaching, LLC has received a private grant to subsidize rostered leaders of the ELCA in order to make coaching more affordable for them. To learn more about this exciting opportunity, click HERE or contact Barbara Solsaa directly at Barbara@ClergyLifeCoaching.com or by calling 715-505-4879. Openings are limited so contact her today!


Back to Biloxi

Remember Katrina? The Fuller Center Disaster ReBuilders (FCDR) spent many days
working to provide adequate housing after the 2005 hurricane. This August FCDR is hosting a 10th anniversary "Blitz" build from August 24-29, with the dedication on the 29th, exactly 10 years after the monster storm! Pastor Joanne Sorenson is going and looking for traveling partners! Are you interested? Check out details at  www.fullercenter.org/DisasterReBuilders

and/or call Pastor Joanne at 715-877-3351. Cost for the week is $300 for meals and lodging.

Need Resources? Something different from your Synod Resource Center!

Instead of checking out resources at Walking Together and Synod Assembly, you will be able to take resources and keep them! We are down-sizing and that means going through resources - some that haven't been out since we started in 2000 - and weeding out the popular from the not-so-popular. YOU reap the benefits by taking what you want. There will be older Sunday School materials, some confirmation items, lots of good books and even a few music books. Be sure to visit our display and fill your library!


JOB OPENINGS AROUND THE SYNOD


Director of Youth and Adult Faith Formation, Ezekiel Lutheran, River Falls 

The Director of Youth and Adult Faith Formation will be responsible for leading ministries to middle and senior high youth and their families, as well as college students, young adults and other adults, equipping the congregation in developing an intergenerational, networked faith model, so that together young and old might grow in "Following Jesus, Living Faith Overflowing with Love." The Director will be personally and enthusiastically committed to this purpose. A position description and job application for this full-time, salaried position can be found at www.ezekiellutheran.org/about/careers or e-mail pmoe@ezekiellutheran.org.  Accepting applications through June 14.


 
Office Administrator at Immanuel Lutheran in Pepin

Immanuel Lutheran Church in Pepin is seeking a joyful individual to serve as our Office Administrator. Responsibilities include: reception, coordination of technology, parish communications, records management, and working with volunteers. Must be self-motivated, organized, have personal integrity, and strong communication skills. 22-25 hours per week. Send your resume, job history and references to office@immanuelpepin.org. Position begins immediately.
 
Small Congregation has Big Plans for the Summer

Our Saviors in Rice Lake will be actively making their presence known in their community this summer:

Their 5th Annual Car Show will be in their parking lot Sunday, July 26

They will hand out candy and invitations to worship at the local parade in Mikana later in the summer.

They are supporting a family affected by Huntington's disease by learning more about the disease and how to be supportive of those affected by it. To learn more about Huntington's disease  check out http://hdsa.org/what-is-hd.


Fun Summer Ministry Idea from St. John's 

The folks at St. John's in Spencer shared this idea in their e-news this week. It seemed like one to pass along . . . .


 
Join in the fun this summer and take Flat Jesus wherever you go! As summer sets in we find ourselves in and out of the church building for worship. So to help us stay connected during the summer months and to help remind all of us to share God's love with everyone we meet, we gave out "Flat Jesus" in worship last Sunday. Click here for your very own copy of Flat Jesus.

 

Simply take Flat Jesus with you this summer, then take pictures of Flat Jesus throughout the summer while you're playing, adventuring, on vacation or just hanging out at home! Then email your pictures to the church office, post them on the church Facebook page or bring printed pictures to the church building with you to post on the bulletin board. Let's see where Flat Jesus will all go this summer. If you need more copies you can find Flat Jesus on the church website too!
  Our Mission Statement

 

Walking together for the sake of mission in God's world

 

You can learn more about the events listed in this section by clicking on the underlined event title. Send your information about upcoming events to msoyck-doring@nwswi.org.     

May 21

Spiritual Direction appointments with Colleen Johnson of the Christos Center for Spiritual Formation. held at Luther Park Bible Camp, Chetek.

 

May 30-31

Synod Assembly, UW-Eau Claire. Learn more about it.

 

May 30

Walking Together, UW-Eau Claire. Learn more about it

 

May 31

Larry's Legacy Bike Ride - to raise funds for Weekend Kids Meal at Locust Lane, part of Feed My People Food Bank. Gather at 12:30 p.m.; ride begins at 1 p.m. Sponsored by St. John's, Eau Claire.

June 17
Pie and Ice Cream Social at First Lutheran, 218 Co. Rd. K, New Richmond. This fun event will feature delicious homemade pies a la mode, as well as entertainment by the popular Highview Bluegrass Band.  Everyone is welcome!  Hope to see you there! Questions? Contact Sue at 612-750-2563 or suenybakken@gmail.com.

June 29 
ELCA Day at Valleyfair. Enjoy a day at Valleyfair at a discounted rate! Groups of any size and age are welcome. Sponsored by the St. Paul Area Synod. 
  Quick Links

Looking for something that appeared in a previous issue of Eclipse? You can access the last four issues on our website: www.nwswi.org/news_and_events.
  Visit our website:  www.nwswi.org
 

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Contact Information: Merry Soyck-Doring,  Synod Communicator,  715-859-6810