View as Webpage

FEATURED

Time for Stories

 Bishop Meggan Manlove

Octopuses have had an excellent few years in pop culture. In 2020 there was the inspiring documentary, My Octopus Teacher. Two years later, Shelby Van Pelt’s novel Remarkably Bright Creatures became a best seller (I have not read it yet). My favorite story staring an octopus is a children’s picture book I adored as a kid, Herman the Helper by Robert Kraus. I thought of this book during our Synod Council meeting when our guest Karen Kretschmann, ELCA Coordinator for Storytelling Engagement, invited us to think of a story from our lives or a children’s story. The illustrations and characters came flooding back so clearly with her prompting. As the title implies, a youth green octopus named Herman spends his entire day helping sea creatures. I have been trying hard to figure out why I absolutely loved that book—so much so that eventually I was given my own copy, instead of going back to the library. Like many children’s books about young people or animals, the author simply invited young readers to relate to Herman. The surprising creatures Herman ended up helping also opened my own imagination.

Stories and storytelling can be tools for so many facets of ministry. Stories can help people heal from wounds, even trauma. Stories can help with financial stewardship. Stories can help us teach lessons or learn. Stories can be incorporated into the proclamation of the gospel. Stories can help us build new relationships and strengthen old relationships. Stories can give us hope and help us in imparting hope. Stories invite us to be part of something bigger than ourselves.

Storytelling can be professional, polished, poetic, and witty. On the one hand, telling stories is like other skills, meaning that we can practice and get better. I can absolutely identify several of the more gifted storytellers in my life. On the other hand, every single person has a story to tell and, often with simple questions, that story can be released to the listener. After all, stories go nowhere without a listener.

One of my favorite questions that I ask around fellowship hall tables or in a narthex before worship begins is, “how did you end up worshiping with this community?” Sometimes the person I ask moved to a town or neighborhood and found the ELCA congregation. Then I ask a follow up about why they stayed or why they would invite a friend to this congregation. Much more often I get a story about their family’s needs, or a friend who invited them, or a unique ministry they noticed, or separation from another community of faith and landing here. These are holy stories, and I thank you if you have shared yours with me. Do you know how everyone in your congregation ended up there? How could knowing more of those stories deepen relationships with one another and with the God we worship?

We are about to encounter again a story central to our faith and discipleship—the story of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. I always find it humbling to ponder how much of this story to explain, how much to let it speak for itself, how much to correct misinterpretations, and what exactly to proclaim. During Holy Week, I was and am grateful that stories are not just in our heads. We embody the stories during Holy Week: processing, washing, feasting, baptizing, singing, reading aloud, praying together, and more. Blessings as you together encounter this amazing story anew this spring.

Peace,

Bishop Meggan

Looking at “May”

The Rev. Tim Brown

Director of Congregational Stewardship Support

Are you familiar with the term “may rubric”?

In pastor circles, we talk about “may rubrics” when we’re talking about elements of worship that fit within the liturgical order of worship. You may do them, you may not. It just depends on the season.

Stay with me now … don’t tune out. There’s a point here, I promise.

Some “may rubrics” you might be familiar with are confession and forgiveness, or remembrance of baptism. These may happen, or they may not. Or the recitation of the creed. It can happen in worship — it may happen — or it can be omitted.

But did you know that the offering is not a “may rubric?”

It’s not optional. It should not be omitted.

The offering is the opportunity for the community to respond to the good news of Christ heard in the songs, encountered in the Scriptures and preached in the sermon. It is a moment of grace when we get to give thanks to God.

Sometimes that looks like a giving of monetary resources. But it can also take on other forms. It can be a testimony from someone whose life has been changed by God. It can be a moment when people go to a station and offer written prayers of thanksgiving, or sign up to volunteer for an outreach opportunity, or give an offering to a special project.

With the postpandemic practice of putting an offering plate at the back of the sanctuary, or even in the narthex, and glossing over this important part of the liturgical ordo, we’re actually short-changing a key piece of worship: the opportunity to give of ourselves as a response to God’s grace.

What if there were stations set up around the sanctuary and, during the offering, people could do any number of the things above, including giving a gift to support the ministry of the church? What if brief testimony preceded the choir anthem at the offering?

Whether or not you pass the plate or have it in a static place (either is fine as long as it’s done with intention), providing the space in the liturgical movement for the people to respond to God’s grace is important as the bridge between the word and the meal.

We hear of God’s goodness. We respond. We internalize God’s grace in communion. We go to live it out. Rinse (baptism!) and repeat.

The offering in worship is not a “may rubric.” We cannot earn God’s grace, but we get to respond to it.

From the ELCA Stewardship e-newsletter Where Your Heart Is

Nicaea 2025 –

Living the Apostolic Faith Together Today

The year 2025 marks the 1700th anniversary of the world’s first Ecumenical Council, the Council of Nicaea of 325, a key moment in the history of Christian faith and for the ecumenical journey today. To mark the anniversary, the World Council of Churches is planning a year of activities with member churches, other churches, Christian World Communions, national and regional organizations, and theological and ecumenical institutions.



At the centre of the WCC’s activities will be the holding of the Sixth World Conference on Faith and Order, gathering church leaders and theologians of different traditions around the theme “Where now for visible unity?” with a focus on the issues of faith, unity, and mission. 

EcoFaith Action Network

We encourage our synod communities to participate in Catching our Breath, a region-wide effort to gather and then read aloud our prayers for creation. Whether someone's prayer is for forgiveness and mercy for how we have harmed God's good creation or verbalizes a hope and dream for creation - all prayers are welcome! This is a multi-faith effort coordinated through St. John's Episcopal Cathedral in Spokane and the 350 Spokane Interfaith Subcommittee.

Download brochure with guidelines

EcoFaith Action Network - New Materials

Spring is here and so are some BRAND-NEW materials from our synod’s EcoFaith Action Network - just in time for Earth Day Sunday on April 27!

Enliven your community’s Easter season with a bulletin insert full of Earth Day Sunday goodness:  Bulletin Insert

If your community uses digital-only materials, here’s the link to your version: Slides

Download your Earth Day Walkabout activity here: Earth Day Walkabout

And don’t forget to shoot a 60-second video to share your Walkabout experience! Send it to us at EcoFaithNWIM@gmail.com

Go Outside & Play!

Spring Adult Retreat at Camp Lutherhaven

Dates: April 22-23, 2025

Lutherhaven Ministries Spring Adult Retreat, Go Outside & Play! is an opportunity to spend time at camp, learn, play, and grow!  

Lutherhaven Ministries is thrilled to welcome Dave Ellingson as our Guest Speaker for Go Outside & Play! This one-night retreat is designed to provide time and space for adults to enjoy all camp has to offer – campfires, s’mores, time in the word, and fellowship! Dave will encourage us to “Go Outside & Play!” During the retreat you will be challenged to look at what the words “Go Outside and Play” means with the life of Jesus in mind.

This retreat explores the meaning of and puts into practice the following:

GO…deepen your experience of the Great Commission of Jesus and follow him into the world.

Outside…together go outdoors and experience God’s good creation at Lutherhaven, on the water, and in the trees.

Play…reconnect with your inner child and stretch your heart and mind through playful activities.

Join Dave on his adventures, hear the stories of new friends, and imagine new adventures as you, “Go Outside & Play!” and what better place than camp to “Go Outside & Play”? 

Immigrant Family Safety and Security

As you watch the news and learn of detained folks in your local area, know that there is information available for our immigrant neighbors that would significantly help them to prepare for the worst case scenario. The WA Immigration Solidarity Network (WAISN www.waisn.org is an excellent resource. 

In addition, and to save you time, the Immigration/Race Justice Group (I/RJG) https://irjgroup.wixsite.com/irjg from Faith Lutheran in Leavenworth, has compiled a packet of the basic essential documents with an extensive resource page for further information, especially for schools. We are hoping to distribute these to selected businesses, agencies, and to our local school Administration. 

In the packet is a comprehensive family safety plan, power of attorney w/explanation in Spanish, Know Your Rights, workplace preparation, what to do after someone is detained, and more. Almost all are bilingual. They are digitized and available for your congregation. Simply contact Alex Schmidt, 509.548.7012 or lxhappns@nwi.net. A power point with this information and more can also be presented at your church.

Earth Day Sermon from

Lutherans Restoring Creation

The Rev. Dr. Barbara Rossing will offer a recorded sermon in recognition of Earth Day according to the readings for Sunday, April 27. Register at bit.ly/ED-sermon to have the file link sent to you no later than April 6 so that you can incorporate the message in your full worship as you see fit. Many accompanying creation care worship ideas can be found at lutheransrestoringcreation.org/worship/.

Crisis Communication Webinar

Thursday - May 1, 2025

1:00 - 2:30pm PST

In a time where churches are navigating both everyday challenges and larger crises that arise in communal spaces and grappling with the urgent need to “speak up” in the face of injustice, the need for a robust Crisis Communications Strategy has never been more critical. As part of the Leadership Formation series within the Thriving Leadership Formation program, this webinar will guide faith leaders through the process of developing a Crisis Communications Strategy tailored to your unique ministry context.

Pre-registration is required: bit.ly/EventsTLF

Draft Social Message on Child Protection

Jesus’ call of welcome in Matthew 19:13-14 points to the church’s responsibilities toward children. Yet too many children today experience not welcome and safety but traumatic abuse and neglect. The ELCA’s draft social message on child protection addresses this crisis and outlines the church’s sacred responsibility to protect and nurture children. To strengthen this draft, we need your feedback. Share your comments and suggestions during the public comment period, from March 21 through June 30. 

Read the draft and complete an online survey.

Annual Congregation Reporting

Each year, every congregation, synod-authorized worshiping community (SAWC) and new start is asked to provide information about its people, finances, and resources through the Annual Congregation Report. This provides the churchwide organization and synods with a record of the congregations and worshiping communities that make up the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

April 11, the system will close. This information is helpful and is used by the Synod and Churchwide. Please click here to submit your report. If you need your ID # or password, please call the synod office 509-838-9871

Rostered Leader Annual Report

If submitting your Rostered Leader report is on you “to do” list, please take a few moments to fill it out and send in to the Synod Office: office@nwimsynod.org

Click here to access the form.

Index of the March 2025 Issue

Issue 98 of Administration Matters

2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly

The 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly will take place July 28–Aug. 2 in Phoenix, Ariz. Under the theme “For the Life of the World,” the assembly will meet around word and water, wine and bread, to carry on its work on behalf of the entire church. Key actions during the assembly will be electing a new presiding bishop and secretary, considering a new social statement on civic life and faith, edits to the social statement Sexuality (2009) and recommendations from the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church. Live video of worship and plenary sessions will be accessible at the Churchwide Assembly page at elca.org.

New 2024 Tax Guides Available for ELCA Ministers and Congregations

Two tax guides are now available for church personnel through Portico Benefit Services, offering support to ministers and congregations in the ELCA benefit program.

• Available on myPortico, Richard R. Hammar’s “Clergy Tax Return Preparation Guide” focuses on tax-related topics most relevant to ministers.
• “Federal Reporting Requirements for Churches” helps congregations understand their federal tax-reporting requirements. It can be found on the Tax Filing Information tab on EmployerLink. Employers and plan members must sign in to their Portico account to access these guides.

Commercial Insurance Trends for 2025

This article summarizes key findings from the white paper “2025 Commercial Insurance Trends and How to Navigate Them.” For comprehensive insights and actionable tips, click here to download the full white paper. The insurance industry has seen a number of changes over the past year, with increased rates, increased deductibles and even decreased insurability. This isn’t because insurance companies are taking more than their fair share — it’s because risk levels have gotten substantially higher. As we begin 2025, it’s important to have a perspective on trends that have caused insurance rates to change so much. Here’s a closer look: 2025 Commercial Insurance Trends.

Frequently Asked Questions About Managing Employee Time

Managing employee time accurately and efficiently is vital to the success of an organization. Though the rules for managing employee time can be nuanced, labor laws must be closely followed to ensure that your organization is complying with them and that employees are appropriately protected. More

Clergy Tax Issues: Status and Exemptions

This resource, available at elca.org, will help you navigate the intricacies of the clergy tax return as you prepare to file for 2024. There is much confusion around clergy taxes due to the dual tax status that is unique to clergy. Though most clergy are considered employees for the purposes of federal income tax reporting, all clergy are considered to be self-employed for the purposes of Social Security and Medicare tax with respect to services they perform in the exercise of their ministry.

Four Ways to Improve Your Church’s Online Presence

To find information about businesses or service providers, more people now go to the internet than to any other source. This is why it’s important to have a social media strategy and a system in place to provide search engines with information about your church. More