In the strictest sense, white is the absence of color. You can’t mix any colors together to get white. Conversely, black is the sum of all colors—what you obtain by mixing all colors on the spectrum together. Now many of you know what I look like. Very light complexion. So much so that I’ve laughed through the 40+ years I’ve known my mother-in-law because, as often as not, the first thing she says when she sees me (usually to Wendy) is “Tim’s color wasn’t good!” Or to me directly, “Tim, are you okay? You look so pale!” For 20 years I responded simply, “No, I think I’m okay, really.” But for the past 20 years I usually just say, “Nana. Look at me. These are my people.” The colorless ones.

Read Bishop Tim's full reflection.

I’m concerned that the Lutheran understanding of the word being both law and gospel, and that there is a distinction between law and gospel, is getting blurred. Some define the gospel as social justice—feeding the hungry, standing with the poor and marginalized, racial equity, justice for migrants, respect for the dignity of all people. These are all vitally important ministries in which this church must be engaged. But they aren’t the gospel. Rather, these works of justice and mercy flow from the liberation the gospel brings.

Read Bishop Eaton's column in English or in Spanish.

The synod’s Engage the Bible Ministry Team has news! This year's synod youth group Tell It! contest will use TikTok as the platform and videos must be shorter than two minutes. Youth groups, get creative retell a Bible story in a new way! What hasn't changed about this contest? There will still be prizes for the top three videos and those will be voted on at the 2023 LYO Assembly. Mark your calendars: videos are due Friday, February 10. All the details, forms, and contact information can be found on the synod website.

Congregations and ministries seeking to prioritize accessibility, inclusion, participation and leadership of people with disabilities can now apply for grant funding through ELCA Disability Ministries. Applicants for this grant can be congregations, synods, or other ELCA organizations. The grant application will close on Feb. 15. Additional details including how to apply are available at blogs.elca.org/disabilityministries/.

Are you are a parish administrator, church secretary, pastor, or church archivist who is overwhelmed by the state of your parish register, church files, or archives? We are here to help! In partnership with Pastor Mary Anderson of Columbia, SC and other synods of Region 9, this 4-week online course will be offered on Mondays from 10-11 a.m. beginning January 23. Pastor Anderson will assist participants in developing a plan and a process for cleaning up messy or missing records and will give tips for faithfully maintaining those records moving forward. The cost is $30 per congregation. Those registered will receive a Zoom link to share with others from their congregation who wish to attend.

Please register by January 17.

All are invited to attend the Region 9 Stewardship Symposium on Friday, January 27, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Stavros Lecture Hall on the LTSS Campus, Columbia, SC. The keynote, offered by Bonnie Ives Marden, will be "Financial Accountability and Empowerment for Missional Leaders." The onsite cost of $20 includes a free lunch and a complimentary copy of Bonnie's book, Church Finances for Missional Leaders: Best Practices in Financial Stewardship. Online registration fee is $10.

Learn more and register today.

You are invited! This Lunch & Learn webinar in partnership with Springtide Research Institute, ELCA Youth Ministry Network and ELCA Youth Ministry, will be Thursday, January 12, at noon CST. Springtide Research Institute will share their latest research on “Caring for Gen Z in a Post-Pandemic World.” For many young people, there is no normal to return to after the pandemic. Their entire lives have changed. Springtide’s pandemic research focused on what young people are experiencing, how they view the future, and most importantly, what you can do to support them. Ministry leaders and volunteers: come together for this online event to strengthen your ministries and discover how to best tend to the young people you serve. We will learn together from this research followed by a brief Q&A time with the researchers. Zoom link will be sent upon registration.

Register today.

The Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) program is now accepting applications! YAGM invites young adults ages 21-29 into a life-changing year of global service and fellowship. Community awaits—please share this information with a young adult you know who might be a good fit!

Learn more and apply today.

Due to the cancellation of the 2022 ELCA Youth Gathering, MYLE and the tAble, many young people were not given the opportunity to participate in these life-changing faith formation events. In response to this, ELCA Youth Gathering is thrilled to partner with ELCA Young Adult Ministries on the first-ever Young Adult Gathering, open to individuals who will be 18 to 35 at the time of the event! To learn more about the ELCA Young Adult Gathering—July 16-20, 2024—visit elca.org/YAGathering.

Fee increases on 2/15; register today! 

Faith Community Nurses (FCN), formerly known as Parish Nurses, are focused on bringing and building the Kingdom through integration of faith and health. The newly-renamed Lutheran Faith Community Nurse Association (LFCNA) offers resources for congregations hoping to engage a faith community nurse, for those hoping to connect with other FCNs, and valuable information on their website for nurses and leaders in congregations/communities.

All are invited to the Ordination of Jeffrey S. Topinka on Sunday, January 15, at 2:00 p.m. at Morning Star, Matthews. Bishop Tim Smith will preside; Pastor Matt Simpkins will preach. All rostered ministers are invited to vest and process; the color of the day is red. A reception will follow the service. Jeff will serve as pastor at St. Mark's, China Grove.

Pastor Sue Lynn White has been called to St. Peter, Salisbury, beginning on January 1. She is transferring from the Western North Dakota Synod.

Of mourning

Gussie Ryan, mother-in-law of Diane Ryan, synod staff, died on December 28. We mourn with her family. Read the full obituary.

For the work of Christmas:

When the song of the angels is stilled,

when the star in the sky is gone,

when the kings and the princes are home,

when the shepherds are back with their flocks,

the work of Christmas begins:

To find the lost,

To heal the broken,

To feed the hungry,

To release the prisoner,

To rebuild the nations,

To bring peace among people,

To make music in the heart.

—Howard Thurman

Our baby boy came early.... When we got him home, we alternately slept and cried and stared at him, a child whose heavenly peace we had to disturb every three hours to get him to eat and gain weight. We were exhausted—physically and emotionally and every other kind of -ally we knew.

And then the soups began to arrive.

Read more from Living Lutheran.

Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary (LTSS) will host their second annual Religious Arts Festival on February 2-3. This two-day event is designed for both part-time and full-time church musicians seeking to broaden their knowledge and practical skills. An organ recital and masterclass will be given by James O'Donnell (Yale University and former director of music at Westminster Abbey). Additional workshops in aspects of church music will be led by Michael Burkhardt (Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Livonia, Michigan).

Learn more and register.

With cases of COVID-19 rising, the government has announced that free COVID-19 Home Tests are once again available to order here. Health experts continue to worry because cases of COVID-19, the flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are surging and may cause a tripledemic. Given this possibility, you are encouraged to continue to work to protect the most vulnerable among us. Whenever possible, be fully vaccinated and stay home from school, work, or church if you are showing any symptoms of illness. To check the current COVID-19 levels in your area and see recommendations for how to respond, follow this link.

Learn more—about influenza prevention and treatment—and RSV—to be well informed and safe.

Science for the Church has just released a new science-themed devotional written by biologist Ciara Reyes-Ton and designed by artist Ned Bustard, Look Closely: Christ, Dividing Cells and Resurrecting Corals. The devotional combines Scripture and science in wonderful ways and illuminates seven Bible texts on the life of Christ. Get your copy from their website. Use individually or with a small group. 

Cole Arthur Riley, author of This Here Flesh, offers "A Liturgy for the New Year," in which she shares affirmations for the new year which include a breath prayer for a new year, as well as affirmations of body, healing, and becoming. Take with you what you need.

See the full Liturgy.

Pastor William Mitcham, longtime family and couple’s therapist and well-known Prepare/Enrich instructor, has recently published, Marriage and a Glass of Wine: Plus 180 Marital Enhancers, a book for couples. He says: “After years of conducting marriage and family therapy it has been mostly a matter of providing a safe place for couples to sit and have conversations they should have had already.” Some issues he would discover had be­­­en lingering in silence like an undiagnosed cancer, often leading to conflicts, loneliness, anguish, and feelings of disconnectedness in the relationship. Through the book, Mitcham wants to encourage, facilitate conversations between couples, and offer problem-solving skills for undiscussed issues.

Read the full press release. Buy the book.

A Call for Arts. The Gallery at Morning Star of Morning Sar, Matthews, is issuing a call for submissions for The Welcome Table. Learn more.