“We would be stewards true, holding in trust from you all that you give; help us in love to share, teach us like you to care for people everywhere, that all may live.” (All Creation Sings 1063 v. 2)

May 1, 2024 

Dear Friends in Christ,

In the middle of Lent, staff and cluster deans gathered at St. Gertrude’s Monastery in Cottonwood, Idaho for a two-night retreat. We heard from Sister Theresa Jackson about how the Center for Benedictine Life is adapting on the Camas Prairie and we prayed daily with the sisters. We also heard updates on every congregation and ministry in our synod. This time of deeply connecting our clusters and ministries and dreaming for the future is possible because of Mission Support given to the synod.

Thanks to all of you who have registered for one of our Regional Gatherings. By the time this letter goes out, our first event will be over. We are looking forward to praying together, building relationships, and hearing speaker Grace Pomroy lead us in exploring how God might be calling our congregations to use the assets entrusted to their care to create a more sustainable and faithful future, all so more people can experience the love of God in Jesus Christ. Your Mission Support allows the staff to work with Grace and create three wonderful days of gathering across our synod.

In mid-April your synod council met in Spokane in person! We had an agenda full of worship, business items, partnering with an ELCA Churchwide guest, and hearing from several working groups. It is no small thing in our geographically large synod to pull the council together in person twice each year, but the synod is healthier and stronger for this time of connection. The generosity of your congregation makes possible these opportunities to gather and work in partnership for our shared mission.

Anticipating the Festival of Pentecost (May 19) always means simultaneously anticipating summer camp! Thank you also for your support of our Lutheran Outdoor Ministries—helping recruit summer staff, giving camperships through the camps or your local congregation, signing up for work weekends and family and adult programming, praying, and sending words of encouragement. We recognize our LOM sites as vital to the ministries of our congregations and the synod as a whole.

Peace,

Bishop Meggan Manlove