ship of Dakota Road throughout assembly. Kevin St r ickland,
the
Members of the East-Central Synod of Wisconsin Assembly wiggled their “sheep ears” as the executive director and leadership team of Crossways Camping Ministries led them in singing a Bible camp favorite, “I Just Wanna Be a Sheep.”
fast Love, ministering to folks in the Pioneer Square area (downtown Seattle) and others hungry for the word. —Susan Berg
East-Central Synod of Wisconsin, May 15-16, Green Bay, Wis. (http://
ecsw.org/assembly/assembly-2015). Members joined together to support Crossways Camping Ministries by donating an array of items needed by the camps and the campers who will attend programs this sum- mer. Crossways’ leaders compiled an extensive list of items to donate, including arts and crafts supplies, first aid supplies, tools, office sup- plies, kitchen and cleaning products, camping and waterfront equipment. Thanks to the generosity of the syn- od’s 126 congregations, Crossways’ summer expenses will be reduced by thousands of dollars, and the money saved will enable more children and youth to go to camp this year. —Paul Heykes
Northern Great Lakes, May 15-17, Hancock, Mich. (
www.ngls.org).Wor- ship was a highlight of the assem- bly. Liturgies were enhanced by fes- tive organ and brass during opening worship and the musical leader-
churchwide rep- resentative to the “Worship, Witness, Welcome”-themed
assembly, preached an engaging ser- mon during Sunday worship. He serves as ELCA director for wor- ship and liturgical resources. —Sue Shallow
Minneapolis Area, May 15-17, Ramsey, Minn. (
www.mpls-synod. org/synod-assembly). The assem- bly met under the theme “The Word Became Flesh … and Moved Into the Neighborhood.” Keynote speaker Brian McLaren, an author, speaker and activist, emphasized that God is active through people, not a build- ing. That was good news to newly accepted congregation Living Joy Lutheran of Prior Lake, Minn., which was formed from two congregations that were being crushed by the debt of their buildings and now worship as one in a community space. Par- ticipants heard stories from 11 con- gregations that were “Dwelling in the Neighborhood”—listening to neigh- bors and responding to need. —Bob Hulteen
Northwestern Minnesota, May 16-17, Moorhead, Minn. More than 450 voting members and visitors heard keynoter Nancy Nyland, director for evangeli- cal mission of the Indiana-Kentucky Synod, address the assembly theme “Mission: Imaginable” and partici- pated in Bible study and the ELCA churchwide report with Western North Dakota Synod Bishop Mark Narum. Singer, storyteller and active
farmer Chuck Suchy regaled the assembly with memorable music and musings from the prairie. The for- mal conclusion of the ELCA Malaria Campaign in the synod was marked by presentation of a giant check for more than $327,000, surpassing its $225,000 goal (with at least 67 percent of its congregations participating). —Courtney Williams
North/West Lower Michigan, May 17-19, Lansing, Mich. (www.
mittensynod.org). The assembly met under the theme “We Are the Church.” From Walter Taylor’s (a professor at Trinity Lutheran Semi- nary, Columbus, Ohio) keynote address, titled “Paul’s Newly Discov- ered Epistle to the ‘Mitten’ Synodi- ans”; to the creativity and theologi- cal integrity of Lutheran musician Jonathan Rundman; to Bishop Craig Satterlee’s sermon at closing wor- ship, those attending the assembly acknowledged a fresh breath of Pen- tecostal wind and fire. “Yes, some- thing is happening in this synod,” Satterlee said. “There is wind, fire, spirit, life. … The Spirit in this synod is generous, loving, daring and alive. … It is holy.” — Sue Sprang
Southeast Michigan, May 16, Farm- ington Hills, Mich. (
www.semisynod. com). In preparation for this year’s ELCA Youth Gathering in Detroit, 214 five-gallon buckets of paint were collected for the service learn- ing projects. The paint was blessed by Bishop Donald Kreiss during the assembly worship service before being taken to a local storage facil- ity. ELCA Glocal Mission Gathering musicians from around the coun- try provided music throughout the assembly. — Robin J. McCants
July 2015 41
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