"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone." (Isaiah 9:2)

As Christmas draws near, we hear once again the story of a child born into humble circumstances—a Savior wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. This child, Jesus, brings hope into a world longing for such hope. Jesus is the Savior who brings this hope, and it is a hope that is not rooted in human achievement or fleeting circumstances but in God’s steadfast promises.

You see, this is the thing about hope, it is always tied to God’s faithfulness. God is always the initiator of hope. God is the one who comes to us in love, grace, and mercy. The incarnation of Jesus Christ—the Word made flesh—is the ultimate sign of this love. God steps into the world’s brokenness to bring redemption and reconciliation. God in Jesus is the hope we await at Christmas.

This hope sustains us, strengthens us, and calls us forward, even when the shadows of despair seem long. This hope sustains us even as our world is in chaos, wars happen, and change is the order of the day.

When we are tempted toward despair, we are strengthened in this hope and assured that Christmas hope does not end at the manger. The manger is a beginning, and it points us forward to the cross and the empty tomb, where God’s love and victory over sin and death are fully revealed.

Siblings in Christ, as we journey these Advent days toward Christmas, I invite you to hold fast to the hope we have in Christ. I invite us to trust that the child born in Bethlehem is the One who will carry us through every joy and sorrow, every season of darkness and light.

Hope in the Lord and have a Blessed Advent and a Merry Christmas!

Bishop Joy Mortensen-Wiebe

You are invited to join the SCSW Office of the Bishop and the synod Racial Equity Team for listening sessions in support of our Latinx ministries and the migrant community in our midst.

The migrant community is experiencing fear and uncertainty due to the on-going threat of family separation and massive deportations. Come and join us to express your support to our migrant siblings and to explore together how to provide accompaniment during this challenging time.

Two listening sessions will be held in December:

December 16, 6:00pm

Beloit - St. Paul Lutheran/Parroquia San Jose

December 18, 6:00pm

Madison - Midvale Community Lutheran Church

Click the links below for a flyer to download and share:

English: Full Color // White Background

Spanish: Full Color // White Background

Click the button below to RSVP for one (or both) of the listening sessions.

After a hiatus and time of re-focusing, the Synod Endowment is open for grant applications. The full application form and directions are available on the synod website.

The grant application for 2025 closes on December 15, 2024 and successful awardees will be notified in early spring 2025.

The goal of the Synod Endowment Fund is to foster innovation that leads to creative, financially sustainable ministries that enhance God’s mission and ministry in the territory of the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin. Awarded grants will range between $5,000 to $10,000 and there are a limited number available each year.

For questions, contact the Rev. Peter Beeson, Associate to the Bishop for Generosity at peterb@scsw-elca.org or 608-352-4593. Peter is available on Wednesdays, or by appointment.

Our social ministry partner Lutheran Social Services of WI and Upper MI (LSS) has some exciting news!

Thanks to one generous donor, through the Loving Lutherans Challenge, every Lutheran congregation's 2024 contribution to our joint ministry with LSS will be 100% matched, up to $1 million.

Join all the ELCA Bishops in Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, and the thousands of other Loving Lutherans who are making a difference with a gift before December 31.

Click here to view a video invitation from Sarah Halstead, Manager of Community and Faith Partnerships with LSS.

Click here for a PDF version of the slide pictured above. Click here for the PowerPoint slide.

We are looking forward to the SCSW pilgrimage to The Dwelling in North Carolina next summer, June 22 - 28, 2025.

The cost of the trip is $400 per person PLUS travel expenses. The $400 registration fee includes food, lodging, and programming while at The Dweilling.

Click here to view the email sent on November 25, which includes more details.

Click the button below to complete the interest form. As a reminder, this is not registration, and filling it out does not commit you to participating. This is simply a way to say, "Hey this sounds interesting and I might want to join in - tell me more!"

The Rev. Carolyn Schneider is currently serving in Guyana. She writes:

In the attached newsletter you will read about a recent visit that I made from Guyana (a bit of the English-speaking Caribbean) to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Suriname (a bit of the Dutch-speaking Caribbean) to add to your celebration of partnership with the Spanish-speaking Caribbean Synod. I hope that reading about it brings you joy.

Click the button below to view and download the latest newsletter from Rev. Schneider, which includes information regarding how you can support her work and the work of others involved with ELCA Global Missions.

Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Sunday will be January 26, 2025.

This year's theme is Resilient Community. From the Reconciling Works website: This year’s theme allows us to celebrate how far we all have come in difficult times while also reminding us we need to keep moving toward the goal of true inclusion. It focuses our attention on how community bonds and relationships sustain the individual members of the community, building resilience in institutions and individuals. When we work together for justice, communities are stronger; when we work together, people are stronger.

Click the button below to visit the RIC Resource page on the Reconciling Works website. You will find more about this year's theme as well as a link to request access to worship resources and more!

The SCSW Care for God's Creation Team is offering a Zoom book study in January and February of 2025.

We will discuss the book "Life After Doom" by Brian McLaren.

The group begins Thursday, January 16 and meets every Thursday through February 20 from 6:30pm to 7:45pm. If you are interested in being part of the Care for God's Creation book study, please contact Deacon Meg Nielsen, team chair.

The Lutheran Men in Mission (LMM) have released the Fall Foundations newsletter.

A few highlights:

1. A glimpse of our next 3 year Strategic Plan
2. A brief explanation of the new LMM logo
3. LMM at the NYG (National Youth Gathering)
4. Mark 10:46-52 - an article looking at Bartimaeus with a video link

Click the button below to access the LMM Foundations newsletter.

The Mission Investment Fund of the ELCA reminds congregations and ministries that you are eligible to access federal Direct Pay Rebates as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, making now a good time to consider subsidized approaches to clean energy projects that help care for creation and reduce energy costs.

Read a recent communication from the Mission Investment Fund, which provides more information about the rebate by clicking here.

You may also want to check out the Care for God's Creation page on the synod website, in particular the Sugar Creek Lutheran Church Solar Energy Project Notes for a detailed outline of this congregation's solar project from start to finish.

Supportive Spaces is a cohort-based program designed to enhance the holistic well-being and effectiveness of church leaders. Participants will engage in a transformative journey, meeting for one hour each week for six weeks.

As we process changes and transitions, we are often grappling with complex emotions and concerns for ourselves and our communities. In response, ELCA Coaching is hosting Supportive Spaces conversation opportunities to come together as people of faith, share our experiences, and find healing and strength in community.

There is no financial commitment for the program, but registration is required.

Click the button below to learn more and register. The first session begins on December 5.

Congregations and rostered ministers in Region 5 are invited to a conversation with ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton on:

Tuesday, December 10, 12:00pm

This regional conversation will center on "God's Love Made Real," a movement encouraging the ELCA to create a world experiencing the difference God’s grace and love in Christ make for all people and creation.

During this discussion, the presiding bishop will share why God’s Love Made Real is meaningful to her and the future of the church. Participants will have the opportunity to share experiences and ask questions.

Click here to learn more about the ELCA's God's Love Made Real movement. Click the button below to access the Zoom link on December 10!

The Rev. Gus Barnes

Sunday, December 8, 2024, 9:30am

Peace Lutheran Church, Belmont

Applications are open for the next cohort of Contemplative Renewal Immersions at Holy Wisdom Monastery.

This is an opportunity to journey as part of a cohort of pastors from across the country and multiple Christian traditions for two years of contemplative practice and renewal. The journey begins with two immersions at Holy Wisdom Monastery, an ecumenical Benedictine monastery nestled in 140 acres of restored prairie on the north edge of Madison, Wisconsin. The summer immersion will be held June 23-20, 2025. This will be followed by a winter immersion January 22-28, 2026 and small group online gatherings running through the summer of 2027.

This program offers early and mid-career clergy the opportunity to nourish their spiritual center by developing life-long, covenantal relationships between clergy peers. It also supports clergy by developing their own spiritual practices and resilience. 

Click the button below to learn more and to register.

Living into a New Story: The Natural Sciences and Christian Theology will be offered January 23 - 26, 2025 at the Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center in Carefree, AZ.

Highlights include an accessible and deeper appreciation for what the natural sciences can teach us about Christian theology; time for journaling, worship, prayer, music and experiences; good food, serene surroundings, stimulating discussions and healing relaxation; and time outdoors on the land.

Click the button below to learn more and to register.