Few of you likely preached, and therefore few of you likely heard—even in this, the “Year of Mark”—the Easter narrative from Mark’s Gospel this past Sunday. Preachers remember from seminary that Mark’s original ending was 16:1-8, which means there are no explicit appearances of the risen Jesus. We so easily substitute John. It is, after all, Easter, and Mark doesn’t quite so readily evoke, “He is risen indeed!”

Read Bishop Tim's full reflection.

In his Easter 2024 Sermon, ⁠Bishop Tim reminds us that resurrection work begins with our hospitality and willingness to open our lives and hearts to the strangers among us. When we welcome and show hospitality to the stranger, we welcome Christ himself!⁠ Nearly 60% of the congregations in the NC Synod have helped in big and small ways in resettling refugees in the Carolinas. This Easter, we celebrate the ongoing liberation work among key partners: Global Refuge, Lutheran Services Carolinas' New Americans Program, Border Servant Corps, and others. What better time to remind us that we, the church, are in the death and resurrection business, starting with Jesus himself! ⁠

Watch Bishop Tim's 2024 Easter Sermon.

I think the biggest tragedy of Holy Week might not be the torture and execution after all. Jesus is humiliated, he is paraded through a total farce of a legal process—he sees his own body taken away from him—and yet I doubt that was the worst of it. I imagine the worst part was that he was alone.

Read the full Story of Ministry by Pastor Michael Dickson.

Come celebrate the retirement of long-time supply preacher coordinator and synod office receptionist, Diane Ryan! Join the synod staff any time from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. for a drop-in celebration at Bethany, Hickory, on Thursday, April 11. A special sending with prayers will occur at both 4:00 and 6:00 p.m.— light refreshments will be available. Mark your calendar and make plans now to be with us!

This year's Synod Gathering at Lenoir-Rhyne University promises to be a time to connect, be inspired, learn, and share under the theme, "We Are More" (Romans 8:37) from Thursday, May 30, through Saturday, June 1. Clear your calendar, invite your friends, and make plans to join others from across the synod—old friends and new!—at this exciting event for lay people as well as pastors and deacons. Today's two updates are:

1. The Early Bird registration deadline has been extended to Wednesday, April 24. Take advantage of the lower rate! Register today.
2. Workshops are now listed by day/time on the Synod Gathering webpage.

Congratulations to everyone who applied for Congregational Preparedness Mini-Grants from LDR Carolinas earlier this year! A total of 33 congregations across the Carolinas applied for assistance with a variety of preparedness projects, including the purchase or update of an AED (automatic external defibrillator), first aid kits and volunteer training, and updating security systems or lighting. These grants will help these congregations complete an estimated $47,000 worth of preparedness projects.

Read more from LDR Carolinas.

The ELCA is committed to accompaniment, advocacy and awareness-raising with our partners in the Holy Land and in the U.S. For the past two decades that work was organized through the Peace Not Walls campaign, but in October 2023, the ELCA announced that, following an in-depth review by ELCA staff and leadership from the ELCJH (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land), Peace Not Walls would be reconfigured as a new initiative, Sumud: For Justice in Palestine and Israel. (Sumud is an Arabic word meaning “steadfastness.”)

Learn more about Sumud.

All are invited to the installation of Pastor Daniel Pugh as senior pastor of Christ the King, Cary, on Sunday, April 14, at 3:00 p.m. 

All are invited to the installation of Pastor Daniel Joyner Miller as senior pastor of St. John's, Salisbury on Sunday, April 21, at 7:00 p.m.

All are invited to the installation of Pastor Wolfgang D. Herz-Lane, on Sunday, April 21, at 3:30 p.m. at Lord of Life, Garner. Pastor Marsha Anderson, dean of the Triangle Conference, will preside; Pastor Daniel Pugh will preach. Rostered ministers are asked to process; the color of the day is white.

All are invited to the installation of Pastor Ken Saurman as pastor of St. Andrew, New Bern, on Sunday, April 28, at 10:00 a.m.

Pastor Ann Sundberg (retired) has transferred from the Nebraska Synod.

Pastor David Penman (retired) has transferred from the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod.

Of Mourning

Susan Crotty, daughter of Pastor Ed Crotty (retired, Missouri), died on March 16. We mourn with her family. Read the full obituary.

Linda Hellman, mother of Pastor Amanda Highben (Duke Lutherans, Durham), died on March 20. We mourn with her family. A funeral mass will be held in Pittsburgh on Saturday, April 6. Read the full obituary.

Bill Lewis, father of Pastor Judy Drysdale (Emmanuel, Lincolnton), father-in-law of Pastor David Drysdale (Zion, Hickory), and grandfather of Pastor Joshua Copeland (Grace, Salisbury), died on March 22. We mourn with his family. Read the full obituary.

Of Healing

Pastor Linda McHenry (St. Mark's, Asheville) is home after surgery to remove her thymus gland, hoping that will alleviate her myasthenia gravis crisis. Prayers for her and Pastor Jack McHenry (retired, Asheville) as they go on this difficult journey to healing and recovery.

For Joy

Almighty God, you give us the joy of celebrating our Lord’s resurrection. Give us also the joys of life in your service, and bring us at last to the full joy of life eternal, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Thanks to Bishop Michael Burk for his service to the ELCA Churchwide Organization while Bishop Elizabeth Eaton was on leave. We rejoice that his service has been completed and we are excited to welcome back Presiding Bishop Eaton!

People who invite someone to church can be annoying. They are typically outgoing, overflowing with confidence and dripping with positivity. In the church we often call these people “evangelists,” which means they have a gift for sharing the good news—but I can’t shake my suspicion that others consider such encounters more off-putting than attractive.

Read more from Living Lutheran.

What will happen to the Crumley Archives? Members of the Board of Trustees of the James R. Crumley Jr. Archives have heard that question a lot over the last two weeks as news has spread of the move of Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary from Columbia, SC, to the main campus of Lenoir-Rhyne in Hickory, NC. Since the Crumley Archives are housed in Lineberger Library on the seminary campus, the question is a good one.

Read the full letter.

Also, Save the Date for the annual Crumley Archives banquet on Friday, September 20. Details to come!

An Oasis is "a place between;" a place of rest and growth. It is a place of life in the middle of a desert. Also, as the ELCA Children, Youth, & Family Network's online gathering, it is a place between where we are now and where God is leading us. A place of refreshment, renewal, learning, and connection. Join us at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 18, when Stephanie Caro, will lead the topic, "Post-Pandemic Volunteers: It's a Weird Phase, Right?" Together, we will renew, learn, and connect.

Learn more, register now.

Join the NC Council of Churches' Partners in Health and Wholeness Initiative and the Dementia Alliance of NC on Monday, April 22, at 12:30 p.m. for an informative webinar on ways that faith communities can support caregivers and those with dementia. Featured speakers will provide valuable and practical advice for congregations, as well as information on free trainings and other resources.

Learn more and register.

Amid multiple wars, threats to voting rights, and ongoing discrimination based on race and ethnicity worldwide, Ecumenical Advocacy Days (EAD) will focus on promoting and protecting human rights both domestically and around the world. EAD will take place in Washington, DC, May 17–19, with the theme of “Faith in Action: Advancing Human Rights and Peace for All.” Sessions include worship, workshops, plenaries, and time for state organizing.

Learn more; register today.

There is a lot of March Madness out there! And, while some of it is still going strong (ahem, Go Pack!), this year's Lent Madness winner—the winner of the Golden Halo—has been chosen. Congratulations go to Julian of Norwich who defeated Albert Schweitzer to take this year's crown. Learn more and mark your calendar for Lent Madness 2025!