Welcome to the synod e-news! Reminder: The last section of the synod newsletter is always the buttons to resources on the synod website. If your email ends before that, it may have been "clipped." If you see that message, just click on the "View entire message" link next to it to view the newsletter in its entirety.

As we step into March and adjust our clocks for daylight savings, we enter a season of renewal - a time when the earth stirs with new life even as the world around us feels overwhelmed by change. In these moments of transition, when the pace of life seems relentless and the noise of endless information leaves us dizzy, we are invited to pause and rediscover the constant presence of God's love.

Spring’s arrival reminds us that change is not only inevitable - it is a promise of hope. Daylight savings is more than a shift in time; it is a call to awaken to the fresh possibilities of each day. Just as the earth tilts toward the sun, our hearts are encouraged to lean into the light of God's grace. Amid our growing fears and uncertainties, this light is guiding us through the chaos and assuring us that every morning holds the potential for renewal.

Last month, Bishop Joy, Pastor Anne, Celyna, Pam and I went to India - visiting our companion synod. It was a powerful reminder that faith transcends borders and cultures. There, in a land rich with diverse traditions and vibrant expressions of devotion, I witnessed how spirituality is woven into every aspect of life. The scents of incense in bustling markets, the colorful celebrations in ancient temples, and the heartfelt prayers of our Indian siblings all affirmed one profound truth: the Church is vast and varied, yet united by the simple, enduring message of God’s love.

Travel has a way of reshaping our perspectives. It strips away the illusion of isolation we sometimes feel in our daily routines and reveals the truth that we are part of a larger, interconnected family of believers. Whether in a quiet chapel or a crowded street on goat market day, faith is not confined to a single expression or locale - it is the breath of life shared by all who believe.

In a world that often feels like it is spinning out of control, returning to the basics of our faith can ground us. Every person we meet carries a unique gift, a spark of divine creativity, and a capacity to reflect God’s love. Our journey teaches us that no matter how different our expressions of faith may appear, each is a vital thread in the vast tapestry of God's kingdom. All are valued, all are needed, and all are worthy of this love.

Alongside you,

Marie Leafblad

Associate to the Bishop for Leadership Support

The next Zoom Gathering with Colleagues will be on Thursday, March 6, at 11:30am. Click here for the Zoom link to access the gathering.

As with the other gatherings, we will start with a brief devotion, and then open up the (virtual) space for sharing of resources, prayer, fellowship, and listening.

Bishop Joy Mortensen-Wiebe will be having knee replacement surgery on Friday, March 7. She will be out of the office from March 7 through March 21. Bishop Joy's availability after that initial 2-week recovery period will depend on how her healing progresses, but she anticipates being available in a limited capacity after that time.

The Rev. Walter Baires, Director of Evangelical Mission and Associate to the Bishop, will handle any situations that would normally require Bishop Joy's attention while she is away.

Please hold Bishop Joy in your prayers during this time!

The 2025 Synod Assembly is May 16 and 17 at the Marriott Madison West (1313 John Q Hammons Drive, Middleton, WI).

On January 27 an email was sent to congregations and rostered leaders detailing how to submit resolutions and memorials for consideration by the assembly. Click here to view that email. You may also view the information on the Resources for Congregations and Leaders page on the synod website.

All resolutions and memorials must be submitted to Jill Sim, the SCSW Administrative Assistant, by March 3, 2025. 

Speaking of Synod Assembly - registration for this year's assembly opens Friday, March 7, at NOON.

This year you will be registering by congregation. We have created a worksheet you can use to collect the information from your congregation's voting members, so that information is ready at your fingertips when you go online to register.

Click here to access the planning worksheet. Note, the worksheet is intended for planning purposes only; all registration will be done online.

Click here for a document summarizing voting member information from the SCSW synod constitution.

The 2025 Synod Assembly is May 16 and 17 at the Marriott Madison West (1313 John Q Hammons Drive, Middleton, WI).

You are invited to join a six-week "train the trainer" small group book study of Grace Duddy Pomroy's book Funding Forward.

The group will meet from 6:45pm to 8:00pm each Thursday, beginning March 6 and running through April 10.

Click here to view an email invitation sent on February 20, which includes additional information about the book.

Click the button below to register for the Zoom. Once you are registered you will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom link. Questions? Contact the Rev. Peter Beeson, Associate to the Bishop for Generosity.

The 2025 South-Central Wisconsin Synodical Women's Organization conference meetings are coming up in March and April. Click the button below for a flyer listing the different conferences and their meeting dates.

You may also visit the WELCA page on the synod website to read the latest edition of the Trumpeter and find out more information.

The 2025 Wartburg Seminary Considering Your Call (CYC) Discernment Weekend is March 28 to March 30.

CYC is open to all people who are wondering if public ministry or seminary could be where they are called to next, as well as those who want to get to know Wartburg! Attendees will connect with Wartburg faculty, staff, and students through community events and fellowship, along with learning more about our degree programs and pathways.

Click the button below to learn more and to register.

Are you wondering if seminary might be right for you?

Consider joining Signs Along the Way, April 4 - April 6 at PLTS in Berkeley, California to connect with others in discernment, get to know PLTS faculty, and explore what it’s like to be an online student in the MDiv, MA in Spirituality and Social Change, or Lutheran Year programs.

Click the button below to learn more.

Our partners in ministry at Global Refuge are continuing to support our refugee and immigrant neighbors.

Click here for a helpful document that debunks common misconceptions about refugees and immigrants in the US. This is a PDF that can easily be downloaded and shared.

Click here for another resource that describes the Global Refuge program Camino a Casa, which helps to reintegrate young people who are returned home after attempting to seek refuge in the US.

Finally, click here to visit the Global Refuge website, where you can learn more about how to get involved with this vital and important ministry.

The Lutheran Men in Mission (LMM) Winter 2025 newsletter is here! This edition highlights stories of faith, Bold Gatherings both past and future, and a statement regarding the passing of Doris Haugen.

Click the button below to view, download, and share the LMM Winter 2025 Newsletter.

The Rev. Laura Jasiczek

Saturday, February 15, 2025

Pastor Jasiczek has been called to serve Christ Lutheran in Lancaster and St. Paul Lutheran in Burton, and also serves as a chaplain with the Madison Area Jail Ministry.

The Rev. Laura Frost

Sunday, February 23, 2025

Pastor Frost has been called to serve in the Greater Milwaukee Synod, at St. Mark in Waukesha.

Harley Windle

Saturday, March 1, 2025, 6:00pm

First English Lutheran Church, Whitewater

Clergy attending are invited to vest. The color of the day is red.

Harley has been called to serve in the Southwestern Texas Synod.

The Interfaith Peace Working Group is hosting a Zoom webinar on Tuesday, April 1 at 7:00pm, titled, "To Whom Does the Land of Palestine/Israel Belong?"

The presenter is Dr. Dennis Olson, the recently retired chair of the Biblical Studies Department at Princeton Theological Seminary. Groups like Christian Nationalists have made this question important in the debates about Israel's policies toward Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. They claim God has given this land to the Jews and they have the right to remove non Jewish inhabitants. Dr. Olson will examine and critique this claim and discuss other texts in the Hebrew scriptures that can be used to support peace efforts in the deeply conflicted land.

Click the button below to view and download a flyer with more information, including how you can register for the Zoom (blue button on the bottom of the second page).

You are invited to the 2025 EcoFaith Summit of the Upper Midwest: Earth's Cries, Earth's Call: Becoming Midwives of Hope for the Healing of Creation:

Saturday, April 5, 2025, 9:30am - 4:00pm

Livestream Online, and in person in Duluth MN.

The day includes impactful speakers, Dr. Cynthia Moe-Lobeda and Dr. Kelly Sherman-Conroy, action-oriented engagement sessions, and vibrant worship to equip disciples in congregations, camps, campuses and communities to respond to God’s call in the cries of Creation. The summit is presented by: The Northeastern Minnesota Synod EcoFaith Network, Northwest Synod of Wisconsin, and Saint Paul Area Synod along with partner organizations, synods, camps, colleges, and seminaries.

Click the button below for more information and to register: 

The mission of The Moses Project is to give rural pastors a vision of ministry that will help them thrive in congregational leadership and in turn, enhance the vitality of the congregations they serve. This program is designed to help them build relationships with and learn from experienced clergy who will guide them through challenges at critical, transitional phases in their early ministerial career.

Cohorts for 2025-2026 are forming now and the program is expected to fill quickly. Click the button below to learn more.