Northwest Intermountain Synod

Links to your congregational annual reporting, including:
Annual Report Cover from the ELCA,
Mission Intent Form for 2024,
NWIM Synod Together in Ministry,
Bishop Manlove's Letter for Annual Meetings,
Stories of Faith in Action

January 8, 2024 NWIM Annual Reports, Resources, Links Annual Reports, Resources, Links for congregational annual meetings 2023 ANNUAL REPORTS, RESOURCES, LINKS MISSION SUPPORT Thank you for your partnership in ministry! As you finalize your congregationa

Blog post about a full weekend:

Winter in the Upper Snake River Valley Cluster I just returned from a full weekend in the farthest east cluster of our synod, though I did not make it into Wyoming on this trip. Not wanting to risk driving in the snow after dusk, I drove over F…

Beautiful morning in Pocatello and lunch with most of the pastors/ministry candidates in the Upper Snake River Cluster.

Read the January 8 E-news here.
https://conta.cc/3vuh4Xu

January 8, 2024 NWIM Synod E-News A Message from Bishop Meggan, Regional Gatherings update, Youth Gathering update, and opportunities to enrich your life View as Webpage FEATURED...from the Bishop “…. anthems be to thee addressed, God

Snowy morning at St John’s Lutheran in American Falls. Privileged to preach here for Baptism of our Lord Sunday. Great to hear about Thursday evening faith formation and the many ways the larger community uses this building. - Bp Meggan Manlove

Lutherans, Episcopalians, and Methodists leading Epiphany worship together in Pocatello. So glad to be here. - Bp Meggan Manlove

Today is Epiphany! 🌟"Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you" (Isaiah 60:1).

The feast of Epiphany (“manifestation”) concludes the Christmas season with a celebration of God’s glory revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. Like the light of the star that guided the magi to Jesus, the light of Christ reveals who we are: children of God who are claimed and washed in the waters of baptism. We are sent out to be beacons of the light of Christ, sharing the good news of God’s love to all people.

Holy God, today we mourn the gun violence at Perry High School. We pray for students, teachers, and parents in Perry.

We remember death and fears of death rampant in schools, homes, and workplaces from gun violence. Listening at last we rise up to face the horror; we confess ourselves complicit.

Forgive, O God, our wrongful action and our inaction.
Forgive our silence and indifference.
Lead us in love, for Jesus’ sake.

May God who is our hope inscribe our hearts with justice and guide us in the ways of peace. Amen

- Adapted from Gun Violence Litanty, ELCA, by the Rev. Joanne Engquist

Got some free time this week? Consider submitting your application to serve as a Servant Companion at the 2024 Gathering! Servant companions guide congregational groups as they learn, experience or serve alongside the people of New Orleans on their Accompaniment day. This is a wonderful service opportunity for young adults looking to be a part of the Gathering this cycle! ✨🤩

Learn more & apply here: https://bit.ly/3QpGI7V

Today is the second day of Christmas. "Hark! The herald angels sing, 'Glory to the newborn king!'" (ELW 270).

Merry Christmas! 🎄 Christ is born today! "Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her king; let every heart prepare him room and heaven and nature sing" (ELW 267).

Good and gracious God, we pray for all preparing to lead your church in worship this Christmas. Be with pastors, deacons, assisting ministers, musicians, church staff, readers, ushers, greeters, A/V assistants, and all who give their time and talents. Where hearts are anxious, grant peace and reassurance. Fill us with your Spirit as we prepare to joyfully proclaim the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Synod End of Year Appeal “7Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. 8He said to them, ‘Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.’ So they took it. 9When the …

Read this week’s E-news featuring the saints of Advent by Liv Larson Andrews, DEM.

https://myemail.constantcontact.com/December-18--2023-NWIM-Synod-E-News.html?soid=1114009451304&aid=w2frhKzZQ_E

A good reminder for many of us, from one who inspired me. - Bishop Manlove

Called by God … and a Sunday school teacher By Bishop Ann Svennungsen At the end of Sunday school one day, 12-year-old Tom Zarth was stopped by his teacher who said, “I think you would make a good pastor someday. Have you ever thought about it?” Tom hadn’t. But he never forgot the conversation. Last Sunday, Pastor

"It's that time again, Church friends: Are your Christmas Services clearly found on your website front page, the web calendar, and on your social media?
And. Labeling something "Advent 4/Advent IV" might not be as explicitly descriptive for those who are not already connected to the community.
Blessings on your invitations and preparations!" - wise advice from my colleague Bishop Bill Gohl (sadly not related to Pastor Rob)- Bp Meggan Manlove

Such a lovely visit with Shekinah Christian Community and Grace Lutheran in Lewiston for midweek Advent worship. Praying for peace in many ways, giving thanks for adventures in ministry, past and future. - DEM Liv Larson Andrews

Lutheran Community Services NW and Greater Spokane Campus and Young Adult Ministries partner for a fundraiser.

Simply to live and to be is a gift.
How can you be a sneaky giver on this (soggy in Spokane) St. Nicholas day?
May it be blessed. May generosity of spirit and of bread abound.

Two days of staff development/retreat with Rebecca and Lauren from Gonzaga University at Immaculate Heart in Spokane. So much rich conversation, so much preparation and intentionality from our facilitators/leaders, spiritual practices and Ignation Spirituality, and lots of sticky notes. We have better language for our work, clearer goals, and we know one another just that much better. So much gratitude! - Bishop Meggan Manlove

Read the current E-News here. A message from the Bishop, spiritual growth, training, and retreat opportunities, along with Portico resources.
https://conta.cc/46OkVvk

December 4, 2023 NWIM Synod E-News Message from the Bishop, spiritual growth, training, and retreat opportunities, Portico resources FROM THE BISHOP Dear Synod, Oct. 23-Nov. 11, five of us traveled to our companion synod in southern

Snow is white
Advent is blue
God Is Red*
Is a good book for you!

*by Vine Deloria Jr. (this title should be underlined but I guess you can't do that on here...) Anyway:

Register below to join me for a seven week (with a break for Christmas) discussion on this important theological text.

- your Director for Evangelical Mission, Liv Larson Andrews

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdOI-Ca7b4qSUZ4xOThwOvL71SPqBl6o9Tb3LC43mvbTmNbTQ/viewform?pli=1

Another Advent resource for individuals, families, and communities.

The leaders of the ELCA, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, the Anglican Church of Canada and The Episcopal Church have released the Churches Beyond Borders 2023 Advent Cycle of Prayer. The church leaders contributed prayers for the four Sundays of Advent, focusing on the themes truth, justice, peace and hope.

Learn more and download the resource at: https://www.elca.org/News-and-Events/8212