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This week in the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin-ELCA
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Week of February 22, 2015
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For some people and families, every day is like a journey in the wilderness. Pray that they may find direction, sustenance, hope and the accompaniment of caring faith communities. (from ELCA Prayer Ventures)
Pastor Eric Bakken, Evangelical Lutheran, Black River Falls
Pastor Mark Hall, Ezekiel Lutheran, River Falls
Pastor John Henning, Ezekiel Lutheran, River Falls
Kimbery Suhr, Diaconal Minister, Ezekiel Lutheran, River Falls
Pastor Diane Norstad, Faith Lutheran, Balsam Lake
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| | A warm welcome for Pastor Bob Dahm as he is installed at Immanuel and Wilson congregations. |
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You could make it happen!
Wouldn't it be cool if the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin was the first synod to reach the 65% completion goal?
Our synod has a tradition of leading the pack in health assessment completion. Let's get it done! |
 Valentine's for the Warm Heart of Africa
Northfield and Our Saviors Lutheran Churches, Hixton, participated in Valentines for the Warm Heart of Africa Day on Sunday, February 15. During each worship service members of the community created, wrote in, and made cards and valentines for the people in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malawi. Both congregations generously supported the flood relief efforts.
People of all ages made cards to send to our brothers and sisters in Malawi! It was a great event, and worship for all involved!
Thank you to Pr. Mara Ahles-Iverson for sharing the photos and story.
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 Amery youth FUEL up for a worthy cause
Amery area congregations, most of which are ELCA, come together once a month for a community-wide youth event called FUEL (Faith Used in Everyday Life). On Sunday, February 22, they met at Spare Time Bowling Alley in Turtle Lake to Bowl for Backpacks in support of the Salvation Army's Backpack program in Polk County. While bowling, teams earned additional points by answering trivia questions about hunger issues in Polk County. Well over $300 dollars was raised for the Backpack Program. 
Thank you to Pr. Kathy Pennington for this story and photos. |
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Clergy and Congregation Tax Information from Portico
Portico Benefit Services has two new online clergy tax guides. They are the: 2015 Clergy Tax Return Preparation Guide and 2015 Federal Reporting Requirements for Churches.
- These tax guides are written by Richard R. Hammar, an attorney, CPA, and author specializing in legal and tax issues for churches and clergy.
- The Clergy Tax Return Preparation Guide is for pastors, and it gives special attention to schedules, forms, and sections of forms that are most relevant to pastors.
- The Federal Reporting Requirements for Churches helps churches understand their federal tax reporting requirements.
- The Clergy Tax Return Preparation Guide is available on myPortico at the Retirement Center > Tax Planning Resources > Tools.
- The Federal Reporting Requirements for Churches is available on EmployerLink at Resources > Additional Tax Information > Tools.
- Both tax guides are available from Portico at no cost to members and sponsors.
View summary.
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ELCA News
From Living Lutheran.com
How can congregations get people between the ages of 18-23 to become active members? - Jennifer Brandt, a young adult member of Bethel Lutheran Church, Rochester, Minn.
Monica: Dear Jennifer, this is the billion-dollar question the whole church is asking! Thanks for raising it here. As a clergy person under 30, perhaps the best wisdom I can offer is my own journey. Eighteen- to 23-year-olds are at a transitional phase in life. Many are contemplating deep life questions (school, work, marriage, life, etc.) and, at the same time, moving into new independence (perhaps a new location). Faith may both be rejected and strengthened as life questions and experiences create new lenses for viewing the world, church and faith. Continue reading . . .
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Office position open at Zion in Stratford
View details.
Tables for Sale
2 school cafeteria style tables for sale. View details and photos.
Is your congregation ready for a community garden?
The Churches' Center for Land and People (CCLP) is pleased to announce a pilot program involving 5-7 congregations in Wisconsin that will assist in assessing congregations' readiness, advising gardeners about planning and tending to the garden through the 2015 growing season, providing opportunities to raise funds to purchase tools, seedlings and seed, deepening the relationship between faith and gardening through the use of an intergenerational curriculum and other teaching resources, and evaluating the garden ministry at the end of the growing season.
Because this is a pilot program, the CCLP is requesting a modest registration fee of $50.00. The registration deadline is February 28, 2015. Please contact CCLP's garden facilitator, Pastor Jeff Wild at [email protected]
or by phone at (608) 770-9453 for more information or to answer any questions.
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Our Mission Statement
Walking together for the sake of mission in God's world
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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 [email protected]. |
February 27-28
February 27
February 28
March 1-3 Seminary Sampler at LSTC is designed to give prospective students a taste of LSTC life. Here they will have the opportunity to discern with other prospective students a call to ministry and how LSTC might be the place for them. March 1-3
March 14
March 16
March 19
March 26
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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.
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Contact Information: Merry Soyck-Doring, Synod Communicator, 715-859-6810
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