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“They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:9-17

As we turn the calendar page from October to November, we pause in church to celebrate All Saints Sunday. Many congregations pause to light candles in remembrance of those who have died in the past year. This is a powerful witness of hope, a reminder that death does not have the last word.

Some congregations also light candles in thanksgiving for those who are newly baptized. This, too, is a bold proclamation of faith: that we are called and claimed children of God, marked with the cross of Christ forever.

This pause for All Saints serves to remind us that we are called to live out God’s blessings in and through our lives and to trust that we are resurrection people, even as we mourn. We live in the space between grief and glory. Sorrow and hope are intertwined. 

In this space, we give thanks for those whose light continues to shine through memory and story. We give thanks for the newly baptized, whose lives proclaim that God’s grace is always creating something new. And we give thanks that we, too, are numbered among the saints not because of our perfection, but because of God’s promise.

Today we pause to remember the saints we have known and who now rest in God. We also pause to remember those saints who are just beginning their journey of faith.

Today I also pause to pray for each of you. We who are still running with perseverance trusting that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. May God bless each of you. May God accompany you and strengthen you to be people of mercy, courage, and hope.

Alongside you,

Bishop Joy Mortensen-Wiebe

The Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin (LOPPW) is entering a new chapter! After a period of transition following the retirement of the Rev. Cindy Crane in December, LOPPW is resuming its work with the arrival of Kacy Kostiuk, who began as LOPPW Director in September.

Kacy brings experience in public policy, advocacy, and communications, having worked with national and international organizations focused on refugee resettlement and asylum protections, education, and disability inclusion. She also served as a City Councilmember in Takoma Park, Maryland, where she led policy efforts related to climate change, housing affordability, and racial equity. Kacy grew up in northcentral Wisconsin and is excited to return to her home state and support the ELCA’s work here.

LOPPW’s mission is to engage people of faith in advocacy for policies that promote peace, justice, and care for all of God’s creation. This work is guided by the LOPPW Policy Council – a group of committed leaders from across Wisconsin who help shape LOPPW’s priorities and outreach. LOPPW is dedicated to amplifying Lutheran voices in the public sphere and building meaningful connections with congregations statewide.

Kacy looks forward to connecting with churches and individuals to learn about the issues that matter most in your community and how LOPPW can support your advocacy. Please reach out and share your advocacy interests and questions. Visit www.loppw.org or contact Kacy at kacy.kostiuk@elca.org or 608-940-1808.

For over 10 years, Pastor Jason Poole-Xiong has served the SCSW in a website and digital media design role. Pastor Jason recently took a full-time call in the East-Central Synod of Wisconsin as pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Appleton, and as such, he has resigned from his position as synod webmaster.

We are so grateful for the time, expertise, and wisdom Pastor Jason has shared with our synod over the years and wish him all the best in his new call.

Madison Area Jail Ministry, which began as an initiative of the Madison Area Lutheran Council, has served the spiritual needs of the residents and staff of the Dane County Jail since 1970. We are a “ministry of presence,” accompanying those who live and work in the jail regardless of their religious affiliation. The work we are doing in the jail is guided by the Holy Spirit and Christ shows up in our interactions with our incarcerated siblings each and every time we are blessed to be in relationship with them. Though the work we are doing is impactful, we, like so many, are in need of continued support from our community to consistently provide the needed materials and to pay our small, but dedicated staff.

This is where ELCA congregations in the South Central Synod of Wisconsin come in! One resource that we distribute is Hear My Voice: A Prison Prayer Book from Augsburg Fortress. This resource is a useful guide to those who are new to prayer and to Christianity. For some, when they are allowed one sacred text to bring from the jail to prison, this is the text that is chosen. Can you partner with us by asking your congregation to purchase copies of this and have them sent to us? The book is available from Augsburg Fortress and other online retailers.

Please send purchased books to:

Madison Area Jail Ministry

Laura Jasiczek

216 S. Tyler St.

Lancaster, WI 53813

If your congregation would like to provide ongoing support to Madison Area Jail Ministry, through monetary donations, please visit our website. Lastly, if you have professionals or retired professionals in your congregation with a heart for this ministry, please contact us at info@madisonjailministry.org to serve on our Executive Committee.

We exist because of your support and it truly makes a difference. We know not everyone is able to visit our incarcerated siblings in Christ, but by supporting the work of MAJM, you enable us to live out Matthew 25:36 on your behalf. Click here for a flyer about the book request that you can download and share.

The Retired Rostered Leaders Gathering is on Thursday, November 20, at 10:00am at St. John's Lutheran Church in Oregon (625 E. Netherwood St., Oregon). This meeting will include our annual remembrance of colleagues, spouses, mentors, and teachers. Bishop Joy Mortensen-Wiebe will also join us at this gathering.

If you know of a colleague or spouse who has died in the last year, including seminary professors, please click here to contact the Rev. Anne Andert, dean of the Retired Rostered Leaders Conference.

The fourth annual Madison-area Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service will be held on Monday, November 24th, from 6:30-7:30 pm at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church.

It is exciting to see the broad Christian community come together to celebrate Thanksgiving by praising God for our many blessings, celebrating what we share in common in Christ and supporting those among us in need. So far there are 33 organizations co-sponsoring this effort, including five of our local ELCA churches. Bishop Joy Mortensen-Wiebe will also be part of the worship leadership team.

It is advised to arrive between 6:00-6:10 pm to allow time for parking and getting situated. If you are able, please bring shelf-stable food and/or monetary donations to be distributed among local food pantries. Click here for more details, as well as ways for you to volunteer.

The waiting, as they say, is often the hardest part. This may especially be true as congregations are making their way through the transition process. A common question that synod staff from around the ELCA hear is, "Why is it taking so long to get a pastor?"

There is no easy answer to that question, but this article, written by the Rev. Dan Kuckuck, who serves in the Southeastern Iowa Synod, may provide some insight. Click here to read the article.

ELCA World Hunger’s Daily Bread Grants are one way our church accompanies communities throughout the United States and Caribbean as they respond to hunger and poverty. These grants provide daily bread for neighbors experiencing hunger by supplementing existing food-based ministries.

Congregations may submit a request for a Daily Bread Grant beginning November 1. Feeding Ministry funding requests will be accepted beginning November 1 on a rolling basis for $500 each until all the funds are expended or for two weeks minimum, closing November 15 at midnight central time. Funding is for ELCA Congregations with a feeding ministry. Funding will be prioritized for rural ministries.

Click here for the online application.

The Voices of Color book group continues this month! You are invited to join a synod-wide zoom discussion on Tuesday, November 4, from 7:00pm to 8:00pm. The group will discuss Becoming Kin: An Indigenous Call to Unforgetting the Past and Reimagining Our Future by Patty Krawec.

Click here for a complete description of each book in the 2025 series and to register.

The SCSW Children, Youth, and Family Ministry Team hosts a monthly meeting on the second Thursday of the month. The meeting is held via Zoom. This month's meeting is Thursday, November 13, at 10:30am.

Join with other leaders for a time to connect, offer and receive support, and prayer. All who engage in ministry with children, youth, and families are warmly welcomed and invited!

Click here for the Zoom link for this month's meeting. Contact Heather Greenley if you have questions or wonderings about the monthly meetings.

Wade Crevier

Saturday, November 8, 2025, 3:00pm

Lutherdale Camp (N7891 US-12, Elkhorn, WI)

Wade has been called to serve Jefferson Prairie Lutheran Church in Poplar Grove, IL.

Below are learning opportunities that the Office of the Bishop has been made aware of that may be of interest to our rostered and lay leaders.

The Center for Clergy Renewal at Holy Wisdom Monastery offers Deep Breath Retreats for pastors who are actively serving in a congregation or chaplaincy. These are personal retreats on your schedule subject to availability in the Retreat & Guest House at Holy Wisdom Monastery.

A Deep Breath retreat includes support and resources to create an opportunity to listen to God and your own heart. Deep Breath operates on a “pay what you can” basis. We understand that pastor and church budgets vary widely. Room and meal expenses are covered for your stay for up to six nights within a year. We ask that those who can contribute toward the cost of their stay do so in order to sustain this opportunity. Come and find the rest you need in the rhythm of the monastery and the beauty of the prairie.

Click here for more information and to apply.

Are you curious about the natural sciences' connection with Christian theology? If so, our Living Into a New Story: A Spirited Assessment of the Christian Story in the Light of Earth-based Wisdom and Today’s Sciences Retreat is for you!

The popular retreat experience returns to Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center in Carefree, AZ, January 16 - 19, 2026 — don't miss it! We will explore the deep connections between Nature’s natural sciences, Christian theology, and faithful/sustainable living.

Click here for more information and to register.