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Situated on lush farmland, nestled within and east of the rolling Loess Hills and the storied Missouri River, the Western Iowa Synod is one of 3 ELCA Synods in Iowa and one of 65 ELCA Synods in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
GIVINGTUESDAY
GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of radical generosity. GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Since then, it has grown into a year-round global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.
Join the movement and give – each Tuesday and every day – whether it’s some of your time, a donation, or the power of your voice in your local community.
It’s a simple idea: whether it’s making someone smile, helping a neighbor or stranger out, showing up for an issue or people we care about, or giving some of what we have to those who need our help, every act of generosity counts and everyone has something to contribute toward building the better world we all want to live in.
This year - Celebrate Giving Tuesday with a gift to the Western Iowa Synod on Tuesday, November 29th.
16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence
RACIAL JUSTICE VISION TRIP
FEBRUARY 8 - 15, 2023
“Stories. Stories tell us who we are, and stories tell us whose we are. My story begins here in the waters of baptism-where I was on a Sunday morning, marked with the cross of Christ, sealed with the Holy Spirit, where I was named beloved, child of God.”
Click to hear the rest of Bishop Lorna’s message and her invitation to you.
Link for trip application (scroll to downloads)
DEADLINE EXTENDED: Applications must be received by Dec. 1
As costs continue to increase, more and more people are becoming food insecure and seeking assistance from local food pantries. Food banks supply those same food pantries and distributions sites, at a significantly reduced cost. However with the increased demand, food banks cannot keep up and now have to purchase food. This increases costs to the pantries they supply.
Please help us supply the 3 food banks that feed our neighbors!
Funds will go directly to the 3 food banks serving the Western Iowa Synod: Food Bank of Iowa, Food Bank of Siouxland, and Food Bank for the Heartland.
Give Online: https://www.wisynod.org/give
OR
Send checks payable to: Western Iowa Synod, 1614 W. 5th Suite 2, Storm Lake, IA 50588. Designate 'Pay the Weigh' on the remittance form/check memo.
Together we can make a difference for the hungry in Western Iowa!
Now through Thanksgiving
Speaker: Dr. Anna Carter Florence, Peter Marshall Professor of Preaching at Columbia Theological Seminary and ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church.
During our time together Anna walked us through the use of language in preaching by exploring poetry and the power of the poet's words. We played with a variety of poems, laughed, cried, and pondered. Through a very interactive process those gathered experienced these poems and were empowered by these words, at least one time by embodying an assigned poem. Together the group learned, played, and worshiped, and through it came away renewed and encouraged, with tools to enliven their preaching. - Rev. Dr. Mike Kroona
8/19/2022 8:35:00 AM
Chicago —The 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly met Aug. 8-12 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. Gathering under the theme "Embody the Word," the assembly worshiped together in services of eucharist and lament, experienced a liturgy rooted in Indigenous traditions, and heard a public apology in a nonlegislative session to Iglesia Luterana Santa María Peregrina for harm experienced from actions taken by the Sierra Pacific Synod and this church.
SYNOD ASSEMBLY 2023 DATE CHANGE
The 2023 Synod Assembly has been changed to April 21 & 22
Synod Assembly 2022 Service Projects
See what we accomplished together!!!
2022 Assembly Highlights
2022 Synod Assembly - April 20 - 23, at the Sioux City Convention Center
Wednesday evening pre-assembly event: Bible study by Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton
Thursday evening pre-assembly event: Diversity and stigma training by Rosecrance Jackson Center
Friday evening:
- Opening worship was assisted by first-call pastors, Pr Andy Nelson, and music was led by Deacon John Weit, Assistant to the Bishop, Executive for Worship, ELCA Churchwide
- The Credentials and Elections Committee reported registrations of 191 voters and 31 visitors; total of 222 attendees
- Passed resolutions*:
o #3 WIS Constitution: Nominating Committee
o #4 Cooperation with neighboring synods
Saturday morning:
- Passed resolutions*:
o #2 Adopt the 2022 Revised Budget and 2023 Proposed Budget
o #1 2023 Compensation and Care Guidelines
o #7 WIS Constitution - Congregational Representation at Synod Assembly
o #5 Updating the WIS Constitution and Bylaws - Received greetings from:
o Deacon John Weit, ELCA Churchwide representative, who detailed the many local, national and worldwide projects that are funded by our Mission Support giving
o Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton by video - Recognition of 11 Western Iowa candidates for candidacy and 6 ordinations
- Recognition of 26 ordination anniversaries and 6 congregation anniversaries
- Bishop Lorna Halaas presented the bishop’s report
- Received offerings of $7,979 supporting “Feeding the Hungry in Western Iowa Synod”and “LSI-Refugee and Immigrant Services”. Thank you!
- Elected 19 persons to synod committee positions*. Thanks to those willing to serve!
Saturday afternoon:
- Went out to serve! Dressed in our blue “God’s Work. Our Hands.” tee-shirts (thanks, Harlan Asmus!) we divided into 15 service groups who did a variety of activities for nonprofits in Sioux City.
- Final closing activities:
o Announced the 2023 Synod Assembly to be held April 14-15, 2023 in a location TBD
o Finished with a closing litany and prayers
* Resolutions and other reports are available on the synod website www.wisynod.org.
THE WESTERN IOWA SYNOD OFFICE HAS MOVED TO ST. MARK LUTHERAN CHURCH IN STORM LAKE.
This is a new opportunity to build new relationships with Lutheran Services in Iowa, the Storm Lake community, and to model partnerships between congregations and synod.
It is exciting to look forward to this new chapter of ministry in the synod.
The new mailing address is:
1614 W. 5th Street
Suite 2
Storm Lake, IA 50588
Phone number remains the same: 712-732-4968
Living Our Baptism 2022
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