Dear people of the Northwest Intermountain Synod,

“‘Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.’”

(Mark 6:31)

Jesus extended this invitation to his disciples once they had reconvened from being sent out into the villages teaching and ministering in Jesus’s name. Rest has been on my mind lately as well…or more the lack of it. With the start of the school year, fall rhythms of Synod life increasing in pace, keeping up with the kids’ activities, and attempting to stay on top of the household chores, rest has seemed in short supply. Even as the busy-ness has increased, I have been fortunate to spend time at two of the three Lutheran Outdoor Ministry sites that are within the NWIM Synod territory. During those short retreats, I was able to live into Jesus’s invitation to go “away to a deserted place…and rest a while.” One was a short, one day family get-away to McPherson Meadows. McPherson Meadows is a quaint house nestled 20 miles off the grid in the middle of the Coeur d’Alene Mountains. We spent time playing games and wading around in the cool waters of Teepee Creek. The second was a 3 day-2 night visit to Holden Village, which is nestled in the North Cascade Mountains where cell phone coverage doesn’t reach and internet access is extremely limited. The days were marked with conversation, singing, learning, hiking/running, resting, and reflecting. These brief times of respite created an opportunity to catch my breath in the midst of all the fullness of life.

All three Lutheran Outdoor Ministry sites — Luther Heights Bible Camp, Lutherhaven Ministries, and Holden Village — offer opportunities for individuals and groups to take up Jesus’s invitation in Mark 6.

Luther Heights Bible Camp is located in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho. Luther Heights’s program year for 2023 is drawing to a close as soon the camp will be buried in snow, but keep watch on their website for 2024 programming, and you can find information about hosting your own group retreat here.

Lutherhaven Ministries has programming and family/group/individual retreat options throughout the year. Programs and retreats can be found here, while information for reserving your own stay can be found at this link.

Holden Village can be visited anytime of the year. All the information you need to plan to go “away…and rest a while” can be found on their website.

I encourage you to look into these options and opportunities. Each of these three ministry sites has been a blessing to so many people who have found rest and renewal at them throughout the years. Even more, each is a place that has fostered relationships – with God, with others, and with creation. Thanks be to God for Holden Village, Lutherhaven, and Luther Heights.

Pastor Phil Misner, Assistant to the Bishop

For All Rostered Leaders

PRAYER FOR UKD - GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Please remember in prayer our companion synod, the Ulanga Kilombero Diocese as they gather Sept 21 and 22 for their General Assembly. We are grateful for our partnership with the UKD and pray Christ’s blessings as Bishop Metenji leads their General Assembly.

Let us pray for the Ulanga Kilombero Diocese and its members who gather this week in General Assembly. Inspire the celebration of God’s varied works throughout the church. Instill your peace in the midst of the work you have called them to and the deliberations that will take place. Shape the work of the church according to your will for the whole world. 

Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Luther Heights Seeking Office Administrator

Luther Heights Bible Camp shares God’s love with all generations as we grow in faith, live by grace, and love one another.



Luther Heights is seeking an Office Administrator who will lead organizational needs of the ministry and work collaboratively with a small team to serve our customers well. The ideal candidate is self-motivated and has a strong work ethic. They must have strong administrative skills, knowledge and skills with various computer software including Word and Excel applications, Gmail Suite, Square, and an openness to learn our registration and donation software. The individual needs to be comfortable working with a small staff team and independently, contribute in a positive, mission focused manner, and have excellent customer service skills. A strong Christian faith commitment is needed in this role. This position reports to the Executive Director and is a part-time (15-20 hours/week), year-round position.

Caring for Caregivers: One Sunday morning at Trinity, I looked out on the congregation and realized that I had a number of caregivers, people taking care of friends, neighbors, spouses, and parents. What did they need? Who was taking care of them? Trinity partnered with a national organization called Powerful Tools for Caregivers which, like so many others, moved some meetings online during the pandemic and kept them there. All they needed from the congregation pre-pandemic was a space to gather. The curriculum was solid and the relationships that formed were life-giving. I suspect that many of our congregations have caregivers among them. Find the organizations who can support the people doing the holy but sometimes exhausting work of caregiving. - Bishop Meggan Manlove

- Bishop Meggan Manlove