Each Wednesday morning the synod staff meets for devotions and prays for the congregations and people of our synod. You are invited to join us.

Editor's Note: In the past we have listed the prayer names using the last name of active & retired rostered leaders. Unfortunately an unintended side effect has been that churches with more than one pastor are included more often, and churches without a rostered pastor or worship leader may have been left off the rotation. A new rotation has begun, and NE MN Synod congregations, Pastors and other rostered leaders will be listed separately, so each church and pastor/rostered leader will be included once during the rotation.

• Bethlehem, Backus
• Elim in Blackhoof, Barnum
• Pastor Christine Anttila
• Pastor P. Joy Armstrong, retired
• Pastor Irving Arnquist, retired
• Pastor Raymond Arveson, retired

 

This Summer I spent time in the New Testament book of Ephesians. It was powerful. Here is a passage that has made a very important impact on my life as a Bishop of this synod:

 

"...Lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

with all humility and gentleness,

with patience, bearing with one another in love,

making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling..."

 

Carry on, good and faithful Servant of Christ,

+Bishop Aitken

In June of this summer I traveled to Russia with Bishop Aitken and others from our synod to visit our companion church body, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia (ELCIR).  Our synod has had a longstanding relationship with the Lutherans in Russia, but this was my first visit.  I never expected to travel to Russia, nor did I think I would be representing our church on an official visit.  It never ceases to amaze me how God is at work in our lives.

 

Lutheranism in Russia dates back some 400 years.  But because of the restrictions of communism, the Lutheran church almost died out; only kept alive secretly by faithful women who hosted true "house churches."  Now that communism is over and Russians are free to worship, the Lutheran church is rebuilding.  In many ways, the ELCIR seems like a brand new church, with only one congregation in many cities around the country.  And those congregations are focused on ministry in their contexts.  During our one-week trip we visited 15 congregations, and each one of them had a specific ministry that they were passionate about.  Sunday School and Youth Groups were active as some.  One congregation worked closely with area orphans.  Another ran a ministry dedicated to Russian adoption.  Another used its building as a venue for concerts and art exhibits.  No congregation was there simply because they had always been there.  Each one was active in ministry by meeting a need in its community.

 

In faithful companionship, we brought things with us to give to the Russian church: money and resources and our understanding of how church functions.  And we also received much from our Russian hosts: housing and hospitality and a new understanding of how church functions.  I learned a few things that I will be putting into place in my ministry.  More than anything, we developed new relationships and strengthened relationships already in place.  God's church is active throughout the world!

 

For more information about our companion synod relationship with the ELCIR, contact me or Pr. David Carlson, Russian Task Force chair, or visit our page on the Synod's website.

 

Peace+ Pastor Peter Kowitz, Bethlehem and Immanuel Lutheran Churches, Proctor MN