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Back to the Basics

A Message from Bishop Meggan

Dear Friends in Christ,

I used the phrase back to basics during the deans’ retreat in March and a few people encouraged me to write about it. That task is harder than it sounds, mostly because I do not want to be misunderstood. I do not want readers to think I do not care about current events, including such things as this federal election year, the housing crisis facing so many of our communities, violence across the globe, and the growing wealth gap. I also do not want you to read basics as a synonym for fundamentals, with a path towards fundamentalism.

So why the phrase? We are called to be the church, the Christian community gathered and sent week after week. We gather around Word and Sacraments and that is unique. When I say that we would do well to get back to basics I mean we need to…

1. Read scripture well
2. Create worship experiences that are faithful to the tradition and our local contexts
3. Love and care for our neighbors

In the Revised Common Lectionary, Easter 4 is commonly known as Good Shepherd Sunday. I think if we spend time on these basics, we will be able to hear Jesus, the Good Shepherd’s voice and follow him.

The ELCA’s Book of Faith Initiative grew out of memorial from the North Carolina Synod Assembly in 2005, becoming a resolution at Churchwide Assembly in 2007. I still remember being a pastor in rural Iowa when the resources started coming out—so simple and accessible but also so connected to all the reasons I stayed a Lutheran and became an ELCA pastor. The initiative encouraged us to read scripture with four particular lenses: devotionally, historically, literarily, and with the Lutheran theological lens. Dwelling in the Word, a practice central to the Faithful Innovation rhythm adapted by congregations in our synod, either grew out of or was amplified by the Book of Faith Initiative. I name these tools because how we read scripture matters and these tools can help. Of course, how we live our lives matters even more than how we interpret scripture and I trust older colleagues who lament that doctrine was emphasized in their formation more than praxis (action or practice). Today I often say that there are people who claim to be Christian but clearly have a different gospel than me; this dissonance is intricately connected to both scriptural interpretation and praxis.

Besides Bible Studies and devotional reading of scripture, the other place we learn the faith is in worship. In fact, even though our hymnals do not have margin or footnotes to noting it, a great deal of our liturgy and hymns are scripture (turn to page 1154 in Evangelical Lutheran Worship for scriptural material that informs our liturgy). Singing is how I absorbed and grew in faith, which would not surprise any early childhood learning expert. I am grateful that some of our congregations use the actual liturgy in new member classes. I appreciate when I see fresh rubrics in bulletins or slides explaining why we do what we do in worship. I love learning new hymns from All Creation Sings when I am visiting congregations. When I say get back to basics regarding worship, I mean teach and explore the wealth of resources we have and, at the same time, do worship well for your community. That might mean speaking everything but the hymns, which you occasionally sing a cappella. It might mean discovering and using Service of the Word or Morning Prayer. It might mean using beautiful bulletin covers instead of hearing choir anthems.

How do we love our neighbors? Honestly, after visiting congregations and reading your updates, I know you are already doing this in so many ways, more than I can name here. I only hope you can draw the connections between the Triune God you encounter in scripture and worship with your love of neighbors. We might partner with secular humanists for justice, but our source of identity is in Jesus Christ. We are, as Bishop Eaton says, “church for the sake of the world.”

I will end with this; as you love your neighbor, please never doubt just showing up and getting to know someone and making sure they feel truly seen. That is not flashy. It is not always as satisfying as fixing something. It is hard to put it on a checklist. And sometimes it is harder to love the neighbor sharing the Lord’s Supper with you than the neighbor experiencing homelessness across town. But the act of seeing someone, really hearing their story, and loving them is more important than ever. It is a skill set that can be improved with practice. It is absolutely what Jesus did again and again through his ministry and it is what we are called to do if we will truly respond to his love and follow him.

Bishop Meggan Manlove

Ezra-Nehemiah Bible Study this Easter Season

Join Bishop Meggan Manlove on Zoom for six sessions of Bible Study

April 9-May 21.

Our theme verses for our three Regional Gatherings are Ezra 3:10-13, but what about the larger context? Join me as we dive into these less familiar, at least to me, books of the bible. The only preparation for each session will be reading scripture itself. We will explore the historical context of the books, their literary form, and what the Lutheran Christian lens brings to the texts. We will read some passages devotionally. 6:30pm Pacific/7:30pm Mountain. Tuesdays, April 9, 16, 30, May 7, 14, and 21.

Fill out this GOOGLE FORM to sign up. Remember to hit Submit.

Northwest Intermountain Synod

REGIONAL GATHERINGS 2024

April 27 | May 4 | May 18

Kennewick First Lutheran Church

Wins Wiseman Award

Amy Marinoni, an LCSNW Advancement Manager, presents Kennewick First Lutheran Church

 with this year’s Wiseman Award.

We are thrilled to celebrate Kennewick First Lutheran Church as this year's Wiseman Award winner! 

This award recognizes Tri-Cities area donors who have gone above and beyond to demonstrate true stewardship and community spirit. The congregation of Kennewick First Lutheran Church has offered supporters, volunteers, donors, and overall partners of LCSNW throughout the years. We look forward to many more years serving alongside them.

We are deeply grateful for the partnership and support of all of our church partners. In the spirit of Lutheran fellowship, we extend our deepest gratitude for your commitment to ensure health, justice, and hope.

To learn more about how to get involved with LCSNW as a church partner,

click here and reach out directly.

St. Luke Lutheran Church

Posting for Kid’s Ministry Coordinator

March 2024

St. Luke Lutheran Church (ELCA), a large growing congregation located in north Spokane, Washington, is seeking a Kid’s Ministry Coordinator who supports our kid’s programs and facilitates involvement and growth in this area of ministry.

This is a half-time position with health benefits, salary $20-$25 per hour or DOE. View the detailed job description at www.sllcspokane.org.

Looking to fill the position by August 1, 2024. Send the following information to St. Luke Lutheran Church, ATTN: Admin, PO Box 28948, Spokane, WA 99228-8948 or to kidsmin24@sllcspokane.org: Letter of Interest, Resume (include 3 references), Faith Statement, & one Letter of Recommendation. 

Anti-Racist Book Study

Preparing yourself and your congregation to follow BIPOC leadership

("black, indigenous, and other people of color")

Please join us via Zoom on April 11 & 25, May 9 & 23

10:30am-11:30 Pacific, 11:30-2:30pm Mountain

$40 - 4 classes

Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church

In a previous e-news edition, we shared the survey from the Commission (deadline to complete was March 15). Maybe that was putting the cart before the horse. So here is a link to the Commission’s Website.

To stay up-to-date on the work of the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church, please follow the CRLC’s official social media accounts below.

To learn more about the CRLC members, click here.

To read about the process for appointment of members to the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church, click here.

To read about the first meeting of the CRLC, click here.



To read about the second meeting of the CRLC, click here.

Dana College Campus Becomes Dana Village

I know we have Dana College, Blair, NE alumni in our synod. All of you might be interested in this news shared by Nebraska Synod Bishop Scott Johnson at the Spring Conference of Bishops. The former Dana campus has been purchased by Lutheran Family Services and is being converted into a transitional housing program for youth aging out of the foster care system in Nebraska. Read more about Dana Village HERE.

-Bishop Manlove

(This story is near to my heart as Blair is just an hour from my first call in Soldier, Iowa)

Do you miss reading the Living Lutheran? This magazine is now available for free on-line! To sign up, go to livinglutheran.org. You can manage what types of stories you wish to receive and the frequency.  

Sign up to receive Living Lutheran in your inbox.

The ELCA’s Draft Social Statement May Help in Discerning How Your Faith and Civic Life Relate

Did you know that the phrase ‘separation of church and state’ does not appear in our U.S. Constitution? It was first attributed to U.S. President Thomas Jefferson in 1802 in a letter to Danbury Baptist Association in Connecticut as he attempted to clarify his understanding of the Constitution’s First Amendment, Freedom of Religion, Speech, and the Press. Specifically, it states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." Jefferson wasn’t saying our religious beliefs and government should be separated, but only that the U.S. Government cannot establish, for the country, a national religion. Similarly, it cannot prevent the free expressions of one’s faith.

This is just one of many helpful pieces of information included in the study materials prepared by the ELCA for its new draft social statement titled, Civic Life and Faith. The complete draft can be found at ELCA.org.

The ELCA is seeking feedback on the draft before it is forwarded for consideration at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in 2025.  Feedback can be shared HERE.  Information for mailing in a paper survey can be found at ELCA.org/civicsandfaith. Your feedback is welcomed through September 30, 2024.  

This opportunity is particularly timely as we approach yet another national election in November.  Studying the statement is helpful to understanding the ELCA’s position in the application of our faith to public life. As stated in Article 32 of the social statement, “The ELCA holds that the constructive relationship of religion and political authority is summarized by the phrase “work with civil authorities in areas of mutual endeavor, maintaining institutional separation of religious organizations and institutions in a relation of functional interaction.” In essence, we are not to separate our faith from our civic responsibilities but instead it is just the opposite. We are to bring them together to work for the common good.

VBS/Day Camp Curriculum

from Lutheran Outdoor Ministries

Many of our congregations have Lutherhaven or Luther Heights come onsite to provide Vacation Bible School/Day Camp/Camp on Location. But what if you are doing your own programming? There are so many choices for the curriculum out there. Did you know that the national Lutheran Outdoor Ministries network creates a new curriculum each year AND has a bank of old curriculum? This year’s curriculum even takes a page from the ELCA Youth Gathering theme!

From the website: If you have a young child going to camp and an older child going on a trip, they might just talk about the same things in Bible study! An annual summer camp curriculum is developed around a specific theme. Outdoor ministries from across the country use the curriculum for the basis of their program throughout the summer. The materials in the entire curriculum include theme-related Bible studies, worship resources, and supplementary activities (challenge course and environmental activities, crafts and games), for preschool (some curricula), elementary, junior and senior high, and adult. Graphics are also included. Other smaller bundles are also available and listed below. Curriculum packages will be delivered electronically via e-mail. Please note: there are no returns on downloadable curriculum.

What are people saying about LOM Curriculum?

• "We are non-denominational and this is the best year of curriculum I can remember in my six years of camp ministry. Great work."

• "(We) Always purchase from LOM. We trust the curriculum to be theologically sound and love the resources that are provided."

• "I find it very comforting to know that there is an ELCA theology based curriculum we can always use."



Need to find when a Bible verse or story was used? Here is an index of LOM/ELCA Curricula back to 1990: Curriculum Index