FEATURING BISHOP'S COLUMN | |
|
Friends in Christ,
This column will be a little unusual as I am mostly going to point to some other writing I have been doing. But first, October is Clergy Appreciation Month and so, you pastors and deacons who said “yes” to the call of public ministry, thank you! Hear anew the wisdom in Ephesians 3:20-21: “Now to the one who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to God’s power that is at work within us, to God be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever!” I give thanks for the Holy Spirit working through you to love, heal, accompany, advocate, and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I wrote the article Room for Mystery, adapting some of my Doctor of Ministry dissertation, for Currents in Theology and Mission. If you are looking for Lutheran theology, you might enjoy this piece.
Tuesday, Oct. 8 you can read a short post at LivingLutheran.org that I co-wrote with Dr. Jacob Sorenson: Camps as Catalysts for Family Faith Formation.
Mid-September I was in Chicago for the Conference of Bishops. We issued a Statement against hate and in support of truth.
Peace,
| |
Church Council Members Monthly Check-in
One way we hope to live into being Synod together is gathering those who serve on councils or boards of ministries for a monthly check-in with each other. We will meet over Zoom on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 6:30pm PT/7:30pm MT. The hope and plan is that these check-ins will be an opportunity for members of councils/boards to connect, pray together, share best practices, and more. Depending upon the size of the group, breakout rooms may be used so that people can have more time to share and be heard by others.
Council Members Monthly Check-In will take place on the fourth Tuesday. The Zoom information, which will remain the same for each check-in, is below.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89176429941?pwd=OENTWS9HdEVKZ2pBOEI5eHRPbzZpUT09
Meeting ID: 891 7642 9941
Passcode: 881268
One tap mobile
+16694449171,,89176429941#,,,,*881268# US
+16699006833,,89176429941#,,,,*881268# US (San Jose)
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/knWnic4b1
| |
Region 1 is seeking applications for a Financial Service Officer
The Region 1 Financial Services Office serves the six Evangelical Lutheran Church of America Synods of the Pacific Northwest (which includes Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska) who equip and connect their congregations, people, communities and ministries.
In cooperation with management of the six synods, the Financial Services Officer is responsible for all areas of fiscal administration for the six synods and their ministries. The Financial Services Officer will interact with each synod’s executive management as well as their administrative staff, synod personnel, committee members and outside auditors.
Find the complete job listing (and how to apply) here
Completed applications due November 1st.
| |
Give to Lutheran Disaster Response | |
|
Gifts to Lutheran Disaster Response equip us to respond to Hurricane Helene and other disasters, whenever and wherever they strike.
Your gifts in support of Lutheran Disaster Response help our church provide immediate relief, such as water, clothing, gift cards, tarps and other needs. Since many hurricanes also require a long-term response, Lutheran Disaster Response provides support on the long road to recovery with disaster case management, construction management, unmet needs, and emotional and spiritual care.
| |
|
Lutheran Men in Mission would like to help your congregation or faith community develop or energize your men's ministry. Throughout the ELCA men are looking for a place to belong, whether they show it or not. LMM is here to partner with you in providing quality and timely resources for your men. To help us help you please complete the following short survey, even if you do not feel men's ministry is right for your setting. Please contact John Sundquist, LMM Executive Director with any questions at john@lutheranmeninmission.org.
We hold you all in prayer.
Men's Ministry Survey
Direct link to the Ambassador-Gram: https://conta.cc/3WY1Jtn
| |
Stewardship Resources
(From Tim Brown’s ELCA Stewardship e-newsletter)
|  | |
Are you looking for stewardship resources to fuel your ministries and your imagination? This newsletter’s offerings are all about stories. Here are a few places to find guidance and support:
Sometimes all a social media post, a sermon or a bulletin needs is a nicely worded poem to get the message across. A scarcity mentality easily invades our mind when we think that all is lost in both the world and the church. But poet and theologian David Whyte thinks differently. His poem “Loaves and Fishes” is primed for being used in all of these ways and more as we seek to think honestly about what God is calling us toward rather than what we lack.
If you’re curious about how to best utilize not only your space but also your mission as a congregation, RootedGood has some ways to help. Providing a number of generative and inspirational resources, RootedGood is on a mission to help congregations and communities rethink how they’re being called to be stewards of their space. Take a look around their offerings and see if perhaps God is calling you to investigate how you can think imaginatively about your physical space.
In a season of transitions it’s important to remember that some of what we have, where we live and how we move is built on the land, sweat and tears of those who have been displaced against their will — namely our Indigenous neighbors. The ELCA’s Truth and Healing Movement works to educate, illumine and encourage the church to understand our history of bad stewardship of land and relationships so that we might head toward a more just and equitable future. As Indigenous People’s Day (Oct. 14) approaches, check out their offerings and see how they might be opportunities for your faith community to learn more about how God speaks through our shared past to articulate a more hopeful future where land, resources and learning are justly shared.
Have a great stewardship resource to share? Please send articles, books, movies and other media to tim.brown@elca.org.
The best gifts are those that are shared!
| |
Young musicians from your church are invited to Lutheran Summer Music 2025!
Youth musicians are invited to Lutheran Summer Music
Enrollment for LSM 2025 is open now! Lutheran Summer Music (LSM) is a faith-based residential music academy for high school students who come together to immerse themselves in musical excellence and build a supportive and fun community. Musical experiences include large ensembles (band, choir, orchestra), chamber music, private lessons, and electives like handbells, jazz, musical theatre, composition, conducting, church music and more. Priority enrollment deadline: December 1. Standard enrollment deadline: March 1. Learn more at LSMacademy.org.
| | | | |
