Last Friday and Saturday, the synod candidacy committee met for business and interviews. This is the committee of the Northwest Intermountain Synod which walks alongside candidates for Word and Sacrament and Word and Service ministry. During this meeting we had two entrance interviews, both online, and two approval interviews, one online and one in-person. Last fall we had two endorsement interviews (the middle step of candidacy). We also hear updates from committee members who relate to candidates somewhere in the candidacy process. There is so much about this work that is an honor and privilege but being part of these four interviews was incredibly humbling. As grateful as I am for the candidates, I am equally grateful for the dedicated and compassionate committee members.

Once the candidacy meeting was scheduled, I knew to schedule other things in proximity to Spokane. Pastor Duane Fister has been serving First Lutheran in Sandpoint for a while, but we scheduled his installation for this past Sunday afternoon. Knowing I would already be up in Sandpoint, I decided to go further north Sunday morning and preach and bring greetings to Trinity Lutheran in Bonner’s Ferry. As I said in my FB post, Trinity has many wonderful ministries including a garden and childcare, both run by outside groups, deep connection to our companion synod, and just a lovely presence in the community. It was delightful during fellowship time to hear from people who have recently found the congregation. The installation at First, Sandpoint was also fun. Several pastors from the North Idaho Cluster joined us and two Episcopal colleagues and one Presbyterian, two of who did much of the supply preaching during the transition time, also attended. After the reception, a retired pastor who happened to serve on my dad’s board at camp Koinonia in Highland Lake, NY in the 1960s and who now lives at Luther Park, gave me a tour of the facility.