Last Wednesday I drove west from Spokane and joined Emanuel, Ritzville and St John, Sprague in Ritzville for Lent soup supper and Evening Prayer. These congregations are served faithfully by Pastors Nathaneil and Tricia Christman. Wednesday we celebrated the birthdays of their daughter and Pr Nathaneil!

Monday-Thursday were great staff time days with some ecumenical conversations worked in too. We enjoyed a delicious lunch together at this Spokane restaurant.

Our Northwest Intermountain Synod Council met this past weekend at Camp Lutherhaven on Lake Coeur d’Alene. The Executive Committee of the Council began with dinner together Thursday evening in the North Garden Lodge. We met all Friday morning. The entire council joined us Friday after lunch through Saturday morning. A summary of our time together will be produced by Vice President Lisa Therrell. ELCA staffer Karen Johnson Kretschmann, Coordinator for Storytelling Engagement, provided the opening devotion and led us in learning to tell our stories. Director for Evangelical Mission Pastor Liv Larson Andrews led us in some conflict competency training. Assistant to the Bishop Phil Misner showed the Google Maps he’s been working with–a great way to see all the ministries in our synod and our vast geography. Executive Committee approved the SHARE Grant recommendations from our excellent task force. We had some small group conversations about stories and synod work. We worshiped together Friday evening and then heard from Lutherhaven staff about their vital ministries. Then many of us enjoyed campfires or cozy conversations in the North Garden Lodge. We gifted our out-going synod council members with artwork by retired Pastor Ladd Bjornby.

Following our meeting, I headed south through the Palouse and eventually caught the always beautiful Clearwater River. Sunday morning, it was wonderful to be with the saints of Faith Lutheran and Community Presbyterian in Kamiah, Idaho. These two congregations are served so well by PCUSA Pastor Luann Howard. Two Sundays each month they worship in the Presbyterian church building and the other two they worship at the Lutheran church building. (I neglected to ask about 5th Sundays). Yesterday morning we were at Community Presbyterian. Sunday afternoon, some members made their way to St. Gertrude’s Monastery to sing in or listen to the Valley Singers concert. Thank you Pastor Luann for a wonderful sermon and congregations for your warm hospitality this morning and the ways you are caring for neighbors in the Valley.

And just because the drive south was so gorgeous, here are a few more photos: