Well, the big game is over. The New England Patriots, in one of the most thrilling Super Bowls ever, came back to beat the Seattle Seahawks despite being down 10 points in the second half, earning the franchise's fourth Lombardi Trophy.

Meanwhile, in the Super Synod Challenge, 10 days of spirited competition saw the Lutherans of the Northwest Washington Synod out-donate us in the New England Synod by more than $7,000.

While we would have loved to match the comeback ability of our beloved Patriots, our synods have combined to raise more than $31,000 for ELCA World Hunger! At a time when folks across the country were spending millions on pizza, wings, and snacks for the big game, we joined forces to help those in need.

To read more, click here.

• 1 Clergy who is a person of color and/or with a primary language other than English
• 2 Clergy who have never served as a Voting member at an ELCA Assembly
• 2 Clergy at Large
• 1 Clergy who is the Bishop
• 1 Layperson who is the Synod vice president
• 1 Layperson who is the Synod vice president-elect
• 1 Male Layperson who has never served as a Voting member at an ELCA Assembly
• 1 Female Layperson who has never served as a Voting member at an ELCA Assembly
• 1 Layperson at Large
• 1 Male Layperson who is person of color and/or with a primary language other than English
• 1 Female Layperson who is person of color and/or with a primary language other than English
• 1 Male Youth/Young Adult
• 1 Female Youth/Young Adult

The task force on compensation guidelines has scheduled two new public meetings to gather input from both lay and rostered leaders. The following dates are open to anyone from any of our congregations. The meetings will include discussion of a document outlining proposed changes to the guidelines. Please contact the Dean from your conference for a copy of the document to be discussed. Those deans are listed here, and you can ask your pastor if you are not sure who the dean is for your congregation.

We want lots of lay leadership participation in these discussions. This proposal is a work in progress throughout the entire synod.

Some points to stress:

1. This proposal is merely a jumping point for discussion.

2. It is important that both rostered and lay leaders participate in these meetings.

3. Please encourage one another and share the schedule and documents broadly.

Wednesday, Feb. 11 - First Lutheran, East Greenwich, R.I. - 7 p.m. (Led by Susan Lindberg-Haley)

• The annual Mayo Clinic Health Assessment, which became available on Jan. 1
• Access to tools where members can track their health activities, and a reward program where ELCA-Primary members can report activities and earn wellness dollars
• Personalized recommendations
• Continued access to A-Z health information backed by the expertise of 2,000+ Mayo Clinic doctors and scientists

April 20 - 28, 2015 Yuscaran, Honduras

Leader: Pastor Dave Rinas

Estimated Costs: $795 plus airfare (approx. $850) from Boston to Tegucigalpa. 

After flying in to the Capital we will take a one-hour bus ride to our living quarters, which are located on the mountains overlooking the town of Yuscaran. Accommodations are more rustic; we sleep in cabins in bunk beds. While pillows, sheets and blankets are provided, we suggest you bring lightweight sleeping bags and your own pillow. Solar showers provide warm showers at the end of each day. Gravity flush toilets are located outside of the sleeping areas. The work in Yuscaran has centered on three projects, and each person finds their own place in one or more of these projects:

1. Construction and dedication of the church building through cement and rebar work. We have nearly completed this project.
2. Spontaneous after school children's VBS - crafts, games & singing in the town square.
3. Women's sewing clinic. We have brought sewing machines and provided an opportunity for women (though a few men come) to sew. We leave the machines and they are used in a nearby church as a resource to the community.

Contact Pr. Dave Rinas for more details or visit www.sdumas.net.