Manna and Mercy: How to Be Alive in 2025
A Message from Liv Larson Andrews,
Director for Evangelical Mission
Grace, peace, courage and strength be with you, my siblings in faith. How is it with your soul? How about your pulse, your sleep, your…doom-scrolling?
I know. Me too.
At the conclusion of my December newsletter article, I invited you to join me in a rhythm of studying an “oldie but a goodie,” Dan Erlander’s book, Manna and Mercy. We’re about five weeks in now, and as I repeat the invitation (it’s never too late to join in!), I want to share a few insights that have moved, awakened, and challenged me this time through. These are becoming anchor points for me as so much of the world around us swirls in chaos and fear.
- Illustrations serve to teach just as much as Erlander’s writing in this text, and one image repeats in key ways throughout the first half of the book. It is the “power pyramid.” Pages 4, 22, and 35 feature this triangled tower of humanity, but with different key figures at the top. First it’s Pharaoh, then a king, then Rome. Always at the bottom, in the largest section of the triangle, are slaves. Humanity rejects the manna society ways and seems to revert back to this unjust structure again and again. But God keeps acting…
Optional activity—Draw a picture of Manna Society or Shalom. What shape does it take?
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As the partner people (Erlander’s phrase to describe those seeking to follow God) are eagerly awaiting the Messiah, they become overly concerned with purity. On the top of page 37, Erlander discusses this by calling the partner people "pressured and afraid." That jumped out at me. (Like I said, doom-scrolling much?) Purity cultures abound when anxiety rises, and they appear all across the political spectrum. They allow us to treat some as insiders and many as outsiders. God’s alternative? Compassion. Compassion, or “wombishness” as Erlander says, confronts and unravels purity codes. Righteousness is a gift, born by the hand of mercy.
Optional activity—Journal about a purity culture or code you have come up against. What would it look like for compassion to become active there?
- Perhaps the most dramatic truth bomb dropped on me so far during this read-through came this week as I turned to page 42. The Messiah Success Seminar. Oooh-wee! Erlander’s take on Jesus’s temptation in the wilderness. Fresh up from the waters of the Jordan, Jesus is presented with two ways of being the Messiah, Plan A and Plan B. As the temptation lasted forty days, we could spend all of Lent exploring the resonances and implications of these two plans. With characteristic playfulness, Erlander depicts the stark contrast between the way of Jesus and the ways of the world.
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Optional activity—Meditate on the four steps of Plan B. Pray and give thanks for the embodiment of each one in the person of Christ.
Friends, fear and chaos are often the very circumstances in which God decides to act…again. Like little groundhogs popping up with pithy comments, what playful manifestations of good news will surprise you this month? God is always active and alive. By God’s grace, we’re alive in 2025, too. And we are blessed with the opportunity to follow “Plan B,” to live out the dream of Shalom, and to wait with joy for the promised return of Christ (page 77).
One more optional activity—print out page 77, color it in, and post it in a spot you’ll see every day. Say out loud, “To God and to the Lamb be all praise and honor and glory and power, forever and ever. Amen.”
Amen!
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ELCA Presiding Bishop Responds to Executive Orders on Immigration
CHICAGO (Feb. 14, 2025) — ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton has issued a video message in response to the executive order on immigration that rolled back guidance to immigration authorities in protected areas such as places of worship, schools and hospitals.
Eaton spoke out against the order and urged members and others to add their voices. “You are a superpower. They don’t expect thousands and thousands of ordinary people in our pews and in our communities to join together for this action. So, get motivated and get organized. We are church together, and together we will continue to defend the most vulnerable communities and people among us as Jesus taught us.”
Eaton also addressed the numerous lawsuits challenging this action. “Given the ELCA’s polity and denominational structure, the churchwide organization would not be an appropriate plaintiff in these actions,” she said. “But congregations can demonstrate that they could be harmed by the recission, and they would have standing in this lawsuit. We will continue to speak out against harmful policies and in support of our marginalized neighbors.”
Response to Executive Orders on Immigration | Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton | Feb. 14, 2025 - YouTube
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"BEGA KWA BEGA" With our COMPANION SYNOD
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Northwest Intermountain Synod Helps
Renew Lugala Lutheran Hospital
Our Companion Synod, the Ulanga Kilombero Diocese in Tanzania, operates the Lugala Lutheran Hospital in Malinyi. The hospital provides services to a large remote region, with many patients traveling long distances to access healthcare. The hospital is constantly working on improving services and facilities. There is some urgency to this, because the government opened a hospital a few kilometers away, creating competition as a medical provider.
Patient Wards 1 and 2 are the current priority for renovation. The hospital is in the process of fixing the windows, placing new mosquito screens on the windows, tiling the floors, fixing plumbing and electrical systems, and painting. The entire project is estimated to cost $40,000. Our Global Mission Committee recently authorized sending $6,000, which will help fund the tiling and painting. Other partners have already contributed $18,000. The work is proceeding bit by bit as funds become available. This work will make the wards much nicer, improving the quality of care.
It is because of several congregations’ faithful giving that we are able to send these funds. Medical Director Dr. Steven Kyelula says, “Thank you so much for your support on the hospital renovations.” Our support means a great deal to our companions. We accompany Bega Kwa Bega, “shoulder to shoulder” in Kiswahili.
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EcoFaith Energy Rebates - Save Money … Power Up Mission
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A virtual workshop on energy rebates and offers
Tuesday, February 25
10AM PDT /11AM MDT
Learn how your congregation can save money now on energy-efficient upgrades that will lower monthly utility bills.
Join ELCA energy expert Rev. Dr. Jim Martin-Schramm and local church leaders to hear how Faith Lutheran in Leavenworth is saving money with new heat pumps; how Salem Lutheran in Spokane is saving money on new energy-efficient windows.
This win/win opportunity is especially beneficial for aging buildings on tight budgets. Don’t miss the chance to take advantage of funds available this year!
Please share this invitation with Property Committees, Church Councils, Budget Committees, and anyone else invested in caring for God's creation through building and property decisions.
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For questions or more information, contact EcoFaithNWIM@gmail.com
Brought to you by EcoFaith Action Network,
an ad-hoc ministry of the ELCA Northwest Intermountain Synod
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Fat Tuesday Jazz Mass
March 4 at 7 PM
St. Mark's Lutheran Church
316 E. 24th Avenue
Spokane, Washington 99203
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Reflection on the the ‘State of the Church’ Presentation
Rev. Paul Palumbo
Dean of the North Central Cluster
I was honored to represent Bishop Manlove and our Synod at the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and State of the Church event on Thursday January 23, 2025 hosted by the Center for Ecumenical and Interreligious Engagement at Seattle University. Bishop Vashti McKenzie, president of the National Council of Churches was the guest speaker.
At the ‘State of the Church’ presentations, the rise of Christian Nationalism in America was front and center. Bishop McKenzie and others spoke with power and hope, clearly pointing to the sovereignty of God in all things. But the Word of God came from a different source!
Read More…
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Looking for videos highlighting one of your
ministry wellsprings
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Wellsprings of God’s love are bubbling throughout the Synod! Would you consider highlighting one of your ministry wellsprings in a 3-5 minute video? We are seeking 8-10 ministries to showcase during the 2025 Synod assembly.
For example, you might be developing a ministry for seniors or serving those in the community who lack housing or food. Maybe you are developing creative approaches to Faith Formation and Intergenerational Ministry or are a ministry partner in global missions or outdoor ministry. It could be something that happens within your congregation, something your congregation does to serve the community, or a non-congregational based ministry site within our synod.
The size of your ministry doesn’t reflect the importance of your ministry. No ministry in the church is insignificant. What you do matters deeply. You are making a difference, and we would like to share what you do. What you are doing can also inspire and encourage other congregations in their ministries, too.
Interested in sharing?
Send an email to Ann Murphy (pastor at Central Lutheran, Yakima) at pastorannmurphy@clcyakima.org with your name and information about the ministry you would like to highlight. I will get back to you with additional details. The deadline for video submissions is March 28, 2025
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Congregation and Rostered Leader Resources
Annual Reports due to Synod
Synod’s Resource page found here.
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Church Council Members
Monthly Check-in
One way we hope to live into being Synod together is gathering those who serve on councils or boards of ministries for a monthly check-in with each other. We will meet over Zoom on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 6:30pm PDT/7:30pm MDT. The hope and plan is that these check-ins will be an opportunity for members of councils/boards to connect, pray together, share best practices, and more. Depending upon the size of the group, breakout rooms may be used so that people can have more time to share and be heard by others.
Council Members Monthly Check-In will take place on the fourth Tuesday. The Zoom information, which will remain the same for each check-in, is below.
February Topic: Mutual Ministry Teams
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89176429941?pwd=OENTWS9HdEVKZ2pBOEI5eHRPbzZpUT09
Meeting ID: 891 7642 9941
Passcode: 881268
One tap mobile
+16694449171,,89176429941#,,,,*881268# US
+16699006833,,89176429941#,,,,*881268# US (San Jose)
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/knWnic4b1
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Meet Rudy Vazquez
The new Region 1 Financial Service Officer
Rudy Vazquez has been appointed as the next Financial Services Officer for Region 1. He began working with Alyce Bakker and Karen Dicken on February 5 and will assume Alyce’s full duties mid to late April, upon her retirement. (As you may know Alyce is retiring after 37 faithful years of service to the Region. More on celebrating Alyce and the many gifts she has shared with the six synods of Region 1 in the coming weeks!)
Rudy grew up in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and moved to the mainland in 1995. He has 20 years of experience in accounting and HR, holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Puerto Rico, in Education and Business Administration and a master's degree from the University of Phoenix, in Business and Accounting.
Rudy and his wife Kathryn live in Marysville and will celebrate their 26th Wedding Anniversary in November. They have two children. A son, Rudy Jr., who is sixteen and attends Everett Community College’s Running Start Program. His goal is to complete law school and work as an attorney. Their daughter, Kyrmarie, is a vivacious six year old enjoying kindergarten.
Rudy is excited about beginning his new job with the Region 1 ELCA Financial Services Office, explaining that they are active in their church, LifePoint, so working for a religiously affiliated organization is what drew Rudy to apply for the position. He indicated religion is important to his family and he has a number of relatives who are pastors, including a grandfather, father, father-in-law, brother and brother in law. In his spare time Rudy enjoys watching a variety of sports and has a passion and love for fishing.
We give thanks to God for this new ministry partner, rich in gifts needed for this important role which partners with the six synods of Region 1 of the ELCA. They ensure that our mission support dollars are received, recorded, and distributed in the ways that each synod directs; providing oversight through detailed, transparent reporting; and complete audits ensures good care of your gifts to further God’s mission.
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SHARE is an acronym for Synodical Help and Response Endowment.
The SHARE Fund of the Northwest Intermountain Synod provides additional resources to help congregations and other outreach ministries during time of change and/or development and to provide for the spiritual and emotional support of those on the roster in our synod.
For more information about the NWIM Synod SHARE Fund click HERE.
The 2025 SHARE grant application deadline is March 3, 2025 - available HERE.
Please note:
- SHARE grants will not fund ordinary expenses for ministry.
- Congregations must include a copy of their 2024 Congregational report Form A (parochial report).
- Funds are disbursed to the congregation/ministry organization and not to individuals.
- Applicants who are awarded grants will be required to submit a report on how funds were useD.
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Benefit for The Fig Tree
Monthly newspaper and website covering faith in action throughout the Inland Northwest online at www.thefigtree.org
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Hemingsworth Auditorium at Gonzaga University
502 East Boone Avenue
Spokane, WA 99258-0102
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Phase 2 Participating Camps: Rhythms of Faith is honored to introduce 9 camps we’re partnering with in phase 2 of the project!
These camps applied and were chosen from several applicants because of their energy and creativity around connecting camp, church, and home. Over the next 3 years, the leaders of these camps will work closely both together and with the ROF project team to catalyze, strategize, implement, innovate, and evaluate programs and practices that help families form faith in sustainable and impactful ways.
These camps are evenly distributed among our 3 partner camping ministry associations: The Christian Camp & Conference Association, Lutheran Outdoor Ministries, and United Methodist Camp & Retreat Ministries.
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Lutheran Disaster Response's
2025 Winter-Spring Trainings
Hunger often intersects with disaster response. As hunger leaders, we need to know how to prepare for disasters and support our communities when disaster hits. Lutheran Disaster Response offers many training on disaster response.
Over the next five months, there will be more than 20 opportunities to engage in peer-to-peer connections, training and facilitated conversations. All these opportunities will be free and open to the public. To learn more about individual sessions, please review the 2025 Winter-Spring Training & Engagement Catalog.
You can register for sessions through the Lutheran Disaster Response online learning management platform.
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Insurance Board Presents
Safe Conduct 2025
New Research and Best Practices
Join us to learn about the current landscape of safe conduct practices and abuse prevention, including new research, ongoing challenges, and best practices to protect our ministries.
Date: February 25, 2025 via Zoom
Time: 11:00 am PDT / 12:00 pm MDT
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Presenter: Christy Schiller - Vice President of Consulting
Christy Schiller has over 20 years of industry experience applying social science and public health strategies to prevent abuse and its long-term effects. In her role at Praesidium, Christy has developed customized solutions for complex organizations such as religious institutes and denominations, fraternal organizations, K12 schools, and healthcare systems. She has worked with clients in the UK, Canada, Mexico, Switzerland, Spain, and Italy. Christy also led content development for Praesidium’s Creating a Safe Environment (C.A.S.E.) training program and has helped develop many of Praesidium’s consultants. She is a former complex litigation research analyst with a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and a master’s in Medical Anthropology.
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