Welcome to the EWAID Synod Assembly from Bp. Martin Wells

 Eastern Washington Idaho Synod

Rev. Martin Wells, Bishop

Friends of the synod and voting members to the 2013 Synod Assembly,

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

In this first letter in anticipation of the Assembly we want to welcome you to the event, introduce you to the Theme, and ask you to begin your prayer for our work together.

The Synod Assembly is the one time each year when all the congregations of the synod gather in Assembly to do our common work and to consider the questions of life and faith that are before us. This year we welcome Pr. Ruben Duran, Director of New Ministries for our Churchwide partner ELCA in Chicago. Pr. Duran will report to us about the work of our national and international church and share with us the fresh ways the Gospel is being proclaimed throughout our church. Along with workshops, topics shared at breakfast, rich worship, and reports from Synod Officers, resolutions, and consideration of a budget, we will do the work of the regional church in faithfulness and joy! Minutes of the 2012 Synod Assembly are available on the synod website, www.ewaidsynod.org.

The Theme chosen by the Assembly Committee this year is “The Spirit Powers Us,” one of the guiding principles of our ministry together. This theme is based on Acts 1:8: “…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you….” We gather to reflect on the nature of the Spirit’s power and the witness—“in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”—that this Spirit inspires. For me this power begins in the creation and Isaiah’s witness that we were “created for God’s glory” (Is 43:7). I believe God’s glory is best reflected off of us by lives filled with gratitude, what poet Mary Oliver calls “mostly standing still and learning to be astonished.” (“Messenger” in the Volume Thirst). This is gratitude, our first response to our generous God, and it is a powerful engine for mission!

Welcome to the Assembly! Please pray for our Assembly Committee, so ably led by Mary Rickerd, and for all the preparations that go into making this an inspiring and generous time together. It will be good to be in Boise among the daffodils and warmth of spring air!

God’s richest blessings,

Pr. Martin Wells, Bishop