Dear Synod,

Oct. 23-Nov. 11, five of us traveled to our companion synod in southern Tanzania, the Ulanga Kilombero Diocese. I am eternally grateful to Deacon Heidi and Dan Cryer (Lord of Life Lutheran, Kennewick) and Pastor Ethan and Carla Bergman (Grace Episcopal, Ellensburg) for being amazing travel companions. I tried to document the trip well in real time on my blog (megganmanlove.com), but I will share a few reflections here as well.

I always thought highly of the ELCA companion synod model. It means we have over 35 years of relationships (sending people back and forth, correspondence, and now social media) that we continue to build on. We in the NWIM Synod recognize we have as much or more to learn and receive than we can give. Accompaniment also means that instead of telling our friends how to run the UKD, we asked where we could help most, and they said support Tumaini (the secondary school for girls and boys). Everywhere the five of us went on our trip, we met Tumaini graduates—head doctor at hospital, accountant at hospital, first woman pastor, and the list goes on. It was powerful! I always loved that we gave scholarships for girls, and one-on-one conversations with Tumaini Director Moses Nwaka and Bishop Renard Mtenji both drove home the importance and long-term value of continuing to provide these scholarships, for the good of the UKD and the entire region. I have deep gratitude to the women pastors of the NW Ohio Synod-ELCA who, after a recent trip to their companion synod in Tanzania, encouraged me to have a time with just the women pastors (along with Heidi and Carla).

Here are some trip highlights for those who would prefer a list:

• Dedication of the new Dining Hall at Tumaini! It really is quite something.
• Visit to Lugala Lutheran Hospital, including the College of Health and Allied Sciences
• Ordination of Frank Mauyo, headmaster at Tumaini
• Visit to Kitete Dispensary (like a clinic, still waiting on government registration)
• Visit to Strobelt Primary School in Ifakara
• Staying at the Martin Lutheran Spiritual and Conference Centre in Ifakara
• Time with women pastors
• Bringing greetings from our synod and Q and A time at maybe 8 parishes
• Receiving amazing HOSPITALITY every single place we went
• Always building relationships—with the UKD staff, Tumaini teachers and management, and so many pastors and lay people

Thank you so much Northwest Intermountain Synod for years of hosting guests from the UKD and being part of this companion synod relationship. And thank you for entrusting the five of us to represent our synod. Asante sana (Thank you VERY much in Swahili) and have a blessed Advent!

Bishop Meggan Manlove

PS “Accompaniment is defined as walking together in a solidarity that practices interdependence and mutuality,” (ELCA website). Read more about the ELCA’s Accompaniment Model HERE. For an entire ELCA Bible Study on Accompaniment, follow this LINK

Deacon Heidi Cryer addresses the assembly during the dedication of the new dining hall at Tumaini.

Group photo with the Kilombero District

Q and A with a parish. Bishop Renard Mtenji and our group from NWIM Synod.

Invite the Bishop to Your Winter Meeting

I will be in The Treasure Valley of Southwest Idaho for most of January and the first half of February, but with video conferencing at most of our fingertips, I could easily join many church council, stewardship, or board meetings across the entire synod. Why am I seeking invitations and what could I offer?

• First and foremost, I want to get to know more individuals and ministries. My chief task would be to listen. I want to hear what you are excited about and/or pondering.

• I could certainly offer an opening devotion and prayer at meetings.

• I often lead by asking questions, not hypothetical questions, but discerning questions.

• I care deeply about stewardship, everything from the fall financial appeal to year-round stewardship, creation care, legacy giving, stewardship of relationships, and more.

So, instead of me driving treacherous mountain passes this winter, I would love to Zoom, Google, or even Call into your meeting to bring greetings, pray, and listen. Call or email me.

-Bishop Meggan Manlove

Book Study via Zoom with DEM Liv Larson Andrews

December 5, 12, & 19, January 9, 16, 23, & 30. 

"For this land, God is red." Fifty years ago, Vine Deloria Jr. concluded his groundbreaking theological text with this claim. Join us for discussion of this powerful book that continues to challenge and educate its readers about native religion and native encounters with Christianity. We will meet for one hour via zoom at 7pm on Tuesday evenings in Advent and Epiphany.

We welcome everyone interested in learning to attend. Please use the link to register. DEM Liv Larson Andrews will facilitate discussion. 

Books can be purchased at:

Indigenous Peoples Resources

or Fulcrum Books

or Amazon.com

Zoom link will be provided with registration.

The People’s Sermon 

We are currently accepting interested congregations for our upcoming Winter 2024 Cohort for the People’s Sermon.

Sessions will begin mid-January, and the

registration deadline is December 19th.

Email us (thriving@callutheran.edu) to learn how to reserve your spot for your congregation. Know of other congregations that may want to learn more? Send their info our way and we'd be happy to reach out!

Register HERE and you will be sent the Zoom link.

The Presbytery of the Inland Northwest will be providing an online Boundary Training on February 5th, 2024. ELCA rostered leaders are invited to participate.

The Boundary Training will be led by David Olsen, PhD, LCSW, LMFt, Executive Director of the Samaritan Counseling Center

Cost $40

Registration Deadline is January 11^, 2024

Click on the link to complete the Registration information

https://presbyinw.org/boundary-training/

Interest in Two-year Faith Formation/Ed Training

Do you want to receive more theological and skills training to help your local congregation? Have you been encouraged by other members, your pastor/deacon, or a cluster dean to take on more leadership?

A NWIM Synod Council task group believes that the Montana Synod's Lay Pastoral Associates training program is still a great fit for our synod. (Several synod members went through the program years ago). Montana hopes to have the program entirely online in Fall 2024. What exactly is an LPA?

A Lay Pastoral Associate in the Montana Synod is a congregational lay person who has received religious, educational training, through the Montana Synod, in order to provide (in most cases) short term pulpit supply (ie, preaching) when the pastor is away, or if a congregation is without a pastor. Their role is to fill in for the basic pastoral duties such as providing Word and Sacrament, communion, and other roles as approved by the Bishop. Follow this LINK for more information.

Our synod task group is gauging interest as we consider forming a NWIM cohort to go through Montana's very affordable LPA training program together.

About SAMs and LPAs: Synod bishops can authorize a Synod Authorized Minister (SAM) where the need exists for Word and Sacrament ministry, but it is not feasible to provide a rostered minister of Word and Sacrament. Enrolling in LPA courses does not mean someone is committing to being a Synod Authorized Minister. You could enroll simply for self-edification. However, in our synod, Bishop Manlove will want SAMs to complete the LPA training.

Complete this INTEREST FORM.

Pastors, Deacons, and Council Presidents,

Can you identify someone in your congregation or cluster who might benefit from going through additional theological and skills training? (see above)

Complete this NOMINATING FORM.



Words of Wonder:

Using Writing to Nurture our Relationships with the Bible,

our Congregations, and God.

The NRIT theological retreat at Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp. January 29 – 31.

Starts after lunch on Monday, January 29th and ends after breakfast on Wednesday, January 31st.

Retreat schedule includes learning, discussion, small group activities, games, prayer and shorter periods throughout the day for rest and renewal.

Total cost of the retreat is $265.

Scholarships are available! Contact Jenny Kunka at j.kunka@nrit.org to inquire about scholarship funding.

https://www.montanasynod.org/nrit.html

Do you love to write? This retreat is for you!

Are you unsure about writing but you love a good story? This retreat is for you!

Would you appreciate time to nurture and appreciate creativity? Or could you simply just use a quiet retreat in the mountains? This retreat is for you!

Lutheran Summer Music

Musical Advent Calendar

December 3-24

Since the nineteenth century, households and congregations have marked the days before Christmastide with many kinds of Advent calendars. The season of waiting and longing for the “already-but-not-yet” incarnation of Jesus unfolds amidst waning daylight in the Northern Hemisphere, a time of yearning for hope, joy, and peace.

Join Lutheran Summer Music, December 3-24, for our third-annual Musical Advent Calendar–a daily moment of music and reflection on our Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube pages as well as archived on our website: LSMacademy.org/acal

Recreation & Revelation

Recreation & Revelation is an annual winter theological retreat that takes place every February at Winter Park, Colorado, and has a rare approach to continuing education. Learn all about it...



Give Yourself the Gift of Resources

Amidst the joy and celebration – and, yes, stress – of this season, your body can use all the help it can get. Whether it’s treatment for a pesky cough, a listening ear to help process impostor syndrome or budget worries, or ideas for a new healthy holiday tradition, check out Portico’s curated list of resources to support you and your family this season (and Advent blessings to you!)

December FSA Countdown

Still have a balance in your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) – either for health or dependent care expenses? Be sure to spend those dollars by Dec. 31, 2023, so you won’t lose them. Check your balance on myPortico, and submit receipts via the link to Further. Need ideas on what you can use your dollars for? This list can help.