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...Jesus came near & went with them |
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Upcoming Events
- Racial Justice Cohorts by Just Move
- MLK Day Celebration at Glenwood, Toledo
- Region 6 Boundaries Training Registration
- Growing in Faith: Course 4 Registration
- Charles H. Wright Museum Bus Trip
- Peace: Be Still Women's Retreat, COC, Whitehouse
- Pre-Lenten Preaching Retreat
- Lutheran Summer Music Nominations
- ELCA Young Adults Opportunities
Service and Sponsorship:
- Growing Hope: HopeWood Outdoors Campaign
- Ohio Hunger Network Online Shop
Resource Sharing:
- Living Lutheran Digital Subscription
- Ohio Council of Churches Anti-Racism Resources
- The Sermon Supply
Position Postings:
- Full Time Positions - HopeWood Outdoors
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Racial Justice Cohorts (RJC) by Just Move
Weekly from January 13-March 6 2026
Virtual Cohorts for Pastors, Lay Leaders, Youth Leaders and Church Council Members
Racial Justice Cohorts provide a learning community for those of us who are seeking to be courageous leaders during difficult times.
Participants in RJCs will:
- Connect with leaders across the country with a community of support
- Unpack real issues in real time with real people
- Explore topics of Culture, Power, & Race (CPR) with a theological lens
- Identify next steps for themselves and their organizations
Starting the week of January 13th @ Noon CST, these 8 week-long Zoom cohorts are geared toward Pastors/Lay Leaders (Tuesdays), Synod Leaders (Wednesdays), Youth Leaders (Thursdays), and Church Councils (Fridays).
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MLK Day Celebration
January 18, 2026 at 3 PM
Glenwood Lutheran, Toledo
The theme for this year's celebration is "Where Do We Go from Here?” and the keynote speaker will be Michelle Bannister Williams. Organizers from several area parishes have been busy planning this special event and share: "As we discern how to act with love in the form of justice, we will worship together, hear a powerful message, listen to several outstanding choirs, and fellowship over a soul food feast. We see this gathering as an essential moment to proclaim what we stand for as followers of Jesus in the Northwestern Ohio Synod of the ELCA and to gather with the rich, authentic diversity of the Toledo area"
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Region 6 Boundaries Training Opportunity
January 22, 2026 - 1 PM to 4 PM
Are you looking for a boundaries training opportunity? Save the Date: the Southern Ohio Synod ELCA is hosting a boundaries training session on Thursday, January 22, 2026 from 1-4 PM in person at the Hilton - Columbus/Polaris. This event is open to all Rostered Ministers in Region 6! Registration information will be available shortly. As a reminder, all Rostered Ministers must complete Boundaries Training every 3 years.
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Diakonia Classes Registering Now
Thursdays, February 5th - March 5th
6:00-9:00 PM on Zoom
Registration is now open next Growing In Faith: Diakonia courses! Two virtual courses will run simultaneously every Thursday from 6:00-9:00 PM during the five weeks of February 5th to March 5th! For Course 4, the Foundations Course is Intro to New Testament and the Practical Course is Healthy Congregations.
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Charles H. Wright Museum of
African American History
Bus Trip: Friday February 6, 2026
Pick Up in 3 Locations
Join fellow Christians on a journey to Detroit to explore the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History! The bus will pick up at three locations and lunch will be provided! Registration will come in January. For now, please email calla.gilson.burns@nwos-elca.org to express interest.
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Peace Be Still:
A Women's Retreat at Community of Christ
Saturday, February 21, 2026
6517 Finzel Road, Whitehouse
Calling all ladies!! On February 21st, Community of Christ Lutheran will be hosting a women's retreat called "Peace Be Still." Take some time to pause and enjoy a restful time of bible study, worship, spiritual practices, and fellowship. Doors will open at 8 a.m. for check-in. Breakfast and coffee/tea bar will be available before the start of the retreat. The retreat will begin at 9 a.m. and will end at 5 p.m. Lunch will be included in the retreat price. The cost of attendance is $50. Registration max is 50 guests.
A portion of the retreat funds collected will be given to Salem Lutheran Church to support their food ministry. We will also be collecting for The Period Project, a collection drive of feminine hygiene products to support the needs at Salem Lutheran. We ask that each guest consider bringing at least one item to donate to support this ministry.
Registration is required. Cash or checks to Community of Christ Lutheran Church are accepted as payment. Please indicate in memo line of check "Women's Retreat"
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River of Dreams: A Pre-Lenten Preaching Retreat
January 18-20, 2026
Camp Lutherwald - Howe, Indiana
Sponsored by the NE Conference of the Indiana-Kentucky Synod, this retreat will help preachers preach on the Gospel texts for the 5 Sundays in Lent. The retreat begins Sunday afternoon and ends with lunch on Tuesday. Contact jardad49@yahoo.com for registration or with questions
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Lutheran Summer Music Opportunities
Nominate a Student for LSM 2026
June 21-July 19, 2026 at St. Olaf College
Now is the time to nominate students for LSM 2026. Enrollment for next summer is filling quickly, and we expect most remaining spots to be filled by the March 1 Standard Enrollment deadline. At LSM, students connect advanced musical study with worship and the joy of Lutheran church music traditions. We welcome musicians on all instruments—brass, woodwinds, strings, percussion, piano, organ, voice, and harp—to study with nationally recognized faculty in a welcoming and supportive community.
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Young Adult Opportunities
Check out the ELCA YA newsletter for information about how to apply for YAGM, get involved with Lutherans Restoring Creation (and consider attending their retreat), consider membership to the Association of White Lutherans for Racial Justice, learn about the Young Adult Climate Justice Alliance, review the Blessed to Be (Exploring Gender, Companionship and Sexuality) webinars or look through open ministry positions.
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Growing Hope:
Campaign for HopeWood Outdoors
HopeWood Outdoors is launching a new capital campaign! This campaign is called Growing Hope and our desire is to expand the impact of Lutheran outdoor ministries here in Ohio. With a goal of $2.5 million, the priorities of Growing Hope include projects at both HopeWood Pines and HopeWood Shores, as well as the expansion of HopeWood Connect.
God is already bringing growth to HopeWood’s ministries, including 190% growth in campers since 2022. What a blessing to know that God is already Growing Hope among us! We want you to join us in Growing Hope, too. We invite you to read attached documents will share more details about how God is expanding ministry through HopeWood Outdoors.
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Ohio Hunger Network Online Store
NOW OPEN!
The Hunger Network in Ohio - A faith-based, ecumenical ministry working to end hunger by addressing the root causes of poverty has recently launched a t-shirt and coffee mug sale to support our efforts. Multiple designs and colors available.
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Digital Living Lutheran Subscriptions
LivingLutheran.org launched on Monday, Dec. 8! Members of congregations are now able to set up a free digital memberships:
- A welcoming, easy-to-access format.
- A personalized dashboard prioritizing the stories that interest them.
- Access to members-only content, ability to save and “like” articles.
- E-news delivery options, both online and in their email inboxes.
Living Lutheran tells the stories of the ELCA, bonding us as a church across congregations, synods, states, regions and countries. Invite your churches to get informed, inspired and equipped with the perspectives they need to deepen their faith and connect with the broader Lutheran community. You’ll also find options for individual and group subscriptions to the print magazine. Please email questions to livinglutheran@elca.org.
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ELCA Church Property Resource Hub
A project of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the Church Property Resource Hub is being developed in response to requests from synod and congregational leaders for support in navigating the opportunities and challenges that buildings and land represent for congregational vitality and the wider mission of the church. Find resources and expand your knowledge of church property management through templates, guides, explainers; and courses.Share advice and get support from colleagues with experience answering property management questions, all on our digital forum (forthcoming). Be inspired by success stories of faith communities using underutilized space in exciting new ways to fulfill their missions.
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Ohio Council of Churches
Anti-Racism Resources
For the fifth year, Ohio Council of Churches has developed a series of resources to guide worship and parish conversations around the work of anti-racism. For 13 weeks after Anti Racism Sunday (Oct 19, 2026), faith communities will walk together through this work, towards MLK Day and the Day of Prayer for Christian Unity.
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Sermon Supply Library
Region 6 Sermon Resource
We’re excited to officially launch The Sermon Supply, a collaborative project from the synods of Region 6!
Beginning today, congregations can access a growing library of sermon videos and manuscripts—designed to support preaching ministry across our synods. Whether you're looking for pulpit supply options, a fresh voice, or support during vacation time, these sermons are free to use and rooted in the Gospel.
Each sermon is filed in a folder by lectionary number, making it easy to find what you need.
Thank you for being part of this shared ministry. We hope these sermons equip and encourage you and your communities in the weeks to come.
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Full Time Property, Kitchen + Program Positions
HopeWood Outdoors
HopeWood Outdoors is hiring! For full time positions, we are looking for a Dining Services Director, a Property and Facilities Manager, and an Associate Program Director. We are also hiring for a part time Assistant Program Director. Please click the link below to explore more about each position and to apply.
| | If you have an announcement or an event that you would like to share throughout the synod, click below to access our submission form. Questions: news@nwos-elca.org | | | | |
