February 16, 2021
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2021 SYNOD ASSEMBLY IS VIRTUAL
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Attention ALL Congregations
The Western Iowa Synod Assembly is quickly approaching.
It is less than 60 days until April 10 and we will gather online with the theme "Currents of Grace".
Currents of Grace - a reminder of the Sacrament of Holy Baptism.
That in the baptismal waters we are welcomed into the story of God's love for all people.
God claims us as children and we are welcomed into church and into the kingdom of God.
We are the Western Iowa Synod, 122 communities of faith, partners in ministry, the Body of Christ.
We come together from every corner - Forest City, Essex, Creston, and Inwood.
We all have stories to tell.
Let's begin to tell our stories and get to know one another by sharing photos!
Yes, we want pictures of your church building, inside, outside, and worship, in the sanctuary, in the park or the parking lot.
Photos of Christmas, Easter, on Facebook. Show us who you are!
It is our hope that every congregation in Western Iowa will add their photos for all to see on April 10th.
Following the assembly photos will be added to the Western Iowa Synod new website.
Two or three photos from each congregation would be great!
Please email to julie.cook@wisynod.org by March 15, 2021.
THANK YOU!
Lorna
Rev. Lorna H. Halaas, Bishop
Western Iowa Synod, ELCA
Let us walk with courage and love -
(Thank you to the congregations whose photos we 'borrowed!)
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SYNOD ASSEMBLY DATES FOR YOUR CALENDAR
NOW - Accepting registrations by mail. Find the Registration Form here.
- Online registration & assembly offerings open.
- Nominations Report here. Nominee Biography Form.
FEB. 28 - Deadline for submitting this application 2021 MISSION ENDOWMENT FUND GRANT.
MARCH 15 - Deadline for registering at early bird rate.
- Deadline to submit Anniversary pictures (Rostered Leaders & Congregations)
- ALL Congregation pictures: Show us who you are
MARCH 16-29 - Deadline for registering at regular rate.
MARCH 29 - Last day to register for Synod Assembly. No registrations accepted after Mar. 29.
See Synod Secretary Karen Post's Assembly Letter for details. Forms also available at https://www.wisynod.org/synod-assembly-2021.
Assembly Bulletin/Newsletter insert. Also linked below in 'FOR NEWSLETTERS & WORSHIP FOLDERS'
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Mission Endowment Fund Grants
Applications Due Feb. 28
Applications for the Western Iowa Synod Mission Endowment grants are being accepted now through Feb. 28, 2021.
Past grants have supported congregation community meal programs, food pantry, gardening projects, mission trips, backpacks for kids and other similar ministries. Grants have ranged from $200 to $1,500.
Download the application at 2021 MISSION ENDOWMENT FUND GRANT. Postal mail completed applications to Julie Cook, Western Iowa Synod, 318 E. 5th St., Storm Lake, IA 50588 or email applications to julie.cook@wisynod.org by Feb. 28.
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2021 MISSION SUPPORT LETTER OF INTENT
Stewardship is no longer simply about paying the church’s bills. It is about how congregations can together live out God’s call to love our neighbor. We encourage you to complete/submit your congregation's 2021 MISSION SUPPORT LETTER OF INTENT FORM here.
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ANNUAL REPORTS
DEADLINES APPROACHING
COMPLETE | SUBMIT FORMS A & C | DUE
The Office of the Secretary receives annual congregation reports (Forms A and C), which are used to update the parochial statistics of the ELCA. The data provided is beneficial to the church in many ways. Begin at A & C login, using your Congregation ID and password. If you can't find your ID and password, call Julie at the synod office, 712-732-4968.
CONGREGATIONAL DIRECTORY | DUE
Update your Congregational Leadership Directory (Form B) at Congregation Leader Directory and login with Congregation ID and password. Update your congregation's leadership, including email addresses, which ELCA requests.
ANNUAL REPORT TO THE BISHOP | DUE MARCH 15
ATTENTION! Ministers of Word and Sacrament and Ministers of Word and Service Complete/submit your Rostered Ministers Reports, due March 15. At ANNUAL REPORT FORMS find forms relative to your status.
We have already started receiving these. Thank you!
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Virtual Ministry Fair
The office of the Western Iowa Synod would like to invite you to participate in our first virtual ‘Ministry Fair’. This will be housed on the Western Iowa Synod website with the link provided at Assembly. The Fair will be left up on the website after Assembly, so keep that in mind when submitting content. Example: if you send a greeting, rather than address the assembly, greet the synod.
Guidelines for content:
- Intro blocks will be titled according to your name as requested. This along with the block image will be what the user sees first. Clicking on the intro block will take them to your "content page".
- Images for the intro block should be in a jpg or png format. Image dimension should be 670 x 350. Other dimensions will cause the image to not display correctly on the block. Examples of what the main block will look like with an image can be found at https://www.wisynod.org/synod-assembly-2021
- The "content page" can contain these different elements and with the ability to mix and reorder as needed
- File Downloads - Your files should be in common formats such as PDF, DOC, MP3, etc. - example https://www.wisynod.org/synod-assembly-2021/registration--51
- File download section can not be broken up, all links to download files from the page have to be together.
- Videos - format of Youtube, Vimeo, or Facebook URL (ie. http://vimeo.com/12345678)
- Photo Gallery - file format of jpg, most picture sizes will work. If providing large numbers of pictures please zip them together. - example https://www.wisynod.org/synod-assembly-2019/photo-gallery
- Text - title, subtitle and body. Texts do not need to have a title or subtitle. URLs to external sites will open in a new window.
Please send your 'logo' image and content to our Web Designer, Ben Hertenstein, ben.hertenstein@wisynod.org by March 1st.
Thank you for considering taking part in our first virtual Ministry Fair!
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Save the date for virtual Lutheran Day on the Hill!
Please join Lutheran Services in Iowa and the three Iowa synods of the ELCA for the 2021 Lutheran Day on the Hill event. We will gather virtually from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 11.
More information coming soon!
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Pastors with ADHD Support Group
If you are a pastor and could benefit from this group, email adhdpastors.2021@gmail.com to learn more about how to join the group and meeting times.
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Webinar series “Rural Resiliency: Caring for You and Yours”
Rural residents and those who associate with them are encouraged to partake in this webinar series on four consecutive Tuesday evenings begining March 2, 2021.
“This webinar series is a discussion starter and healthy mindset promoter for dealing with rural behavioral and brain health, communication skills and relationship enrichment for self, marriage and families,” according to Larry Tranel, dairy specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and program speaker.
What: Rural Resiliency Webinar
Dates: Tuesday evenings, March 2-23, 2021.
Times: 7:30-8:45 p.m
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COVID Recovery Iowa
COVID Recovery Iowa is a virtual counseling and outreach program that provides counseling, virtual activities, referrals and help finding resources to any Iowan seeking assistance during the pandemic, as well as those that might have been affected by the derecho in August. All assistance is free and confidential.
Visit the website to learn more: www.covidrecoveryiowa.org
Information is also available via phone:
Iowa Concern - 800-447-1985, available 24/7
Iowa Warm Line - 844-775-WARM, available from 12pm - 10pm daily.
There is also a Spanish line: 531-800-3687.
You can speak to whomever answers the phone or you can call ask to have a counselor call, text or email you back!
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ALL Church Leaders - Free Respite Opportunity
Lutheran Lakeside Camp has a program to offer a Free Respite Stay to ALL church leaders-rostered leaders, lay leaders, youth directors. After you have finished all your reports, meetings are done, how about a short time away to relax and recharge? See flyer for more details.
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As the world reels from the effects of a deadly pandemic, the number of hungry people is rising, while food pantries and soup kitchens are expanding. Study, pray, reflect and give with us during ELCA World Hunger’s 40 Days of Giving — for our families, our neighbors and communities around the world. More information here.
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Mana and Mercy Leader Sourcebook
This rich sourcebook and curriculum guide equips you to lead your whole congregation into a deeper understanding and exploration of the Bible with inviting and appealing teaching tools centered on Daniel Erlander’s beloved book, Manna and Mercy. With more than 360 pages, curriculum options include 4 sessions for young children, 16 elementary-age kids, 16 confirmation students, and 16 high school youth and adults plus 16 Mini Bible Studies and glossary.
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Lutheran Bible Camps
Check out our Lutheran Bible Camps for programs, events, and job opportunities.
Lutheran Lakeside Camp, Spirit Lake
Ingham Okoboji Lutheran Bible Camps, Milford & Wallingford
Riverside Bible Camp, Story City
Not just for kids!!
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Claiming Hope
The salvation of the just is from the Lord; he is their refuge in time of distress. And the Lord helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them because they take refuge in Him. Psalm 37:39-40
The world feels askew, out of balance, filled with violence, angst, and short sighted decisions that are clearly inconsistent with Gospel values. I feel like we are at war with our words and our spirits. We don’t need weaponry. We come up with plenty of our own ‘guns’ and ‘swords’ by the way we judge others, proliferate hatred and fail to love, and spew repulsive rhetoric in every direction. We sometimes are so consumed by the battles we fight that in the midst of them, we look inward and try to rely on our own strength, rather than seek God’s truth and might.
Thankfully, we don’t all live in this place of disillusionment and/or despair each day. We know well that there is no guarantee of immunity from suffering. After all, who hasn’t been through heartaches in life? Be assured, my friends, that evil and suffering do not and will not have the final word. Today I remind you that God shelters us under His wings during the most difficult times in life. He walks through the valleys with us. He is our stronghold, our shield, and our comforter. The scriptures are filled with God's promises. Claim them and let their truth inspire you to abundant hope. Without them our spirits will never be transformed to trust and to share love, and the peace of Christ will not settle in our souls.
Carol DeSchepper, Spiritual Director
WIS Soul Companions
Lake Park, IA
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PRAYERS
Together we lift our prayers for...
Pastors and congregations in the synod.
All those dealing with COVID and its effects.
Medical personnel and public health workers confronting the pandemic and administering vaccines.
For anyone grieving and suffering losses. We ask God to comfort them.
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FOR NEWSLETTERS & WORSHIP FOLDERS
Called Forward Together in Christ – equipping people for their baptismal vocations in the world and this church.
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WESTERN IOWA SYNOD STAFF CONTACT INFORMATION
Due to the spike in pandemic cases and hospitalizations, Western Iowa Synod staff primarily will work from home with no in-person meetings. We will reassess and provide updates on this protocol as needed.. For staff roles and responsibilities, visit Western Iowa Synod Staff.
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News Update from the Western Iowa Synod-ELCA
Help get everyone in the Spirit! Forward this e-Spirit to church councils, staff, congregations,
community partners, church members in military service, college or wherever they may be.
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