Dear Friends in Christ,

This year’s Synod Assembly, whose theme is “United with Christ: All Creation Groans, All Creation Sings,” will be held at the Embassy Suites, Olathe, Kansas, from June 9-11. In addition to opportunities to worship together and conduct the business of the synod, there will be presentations and workshops that encourage and equip us to be both grateful and generous stewards all of God’s creation.

As part of our gathering each year, we receive Synod Assembly offerings from congregations and individuals to help fund ministries that are carried out in and through the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and our synod. This year’s Synod Assembly offering will be dedicated to the following three ministries:

Lutherans Restoring Creation (LRC) is a grassroots movement promoting care for creation in the ELCA. We accomplish this by cultivating a community of dedicated stewards of earth and neighbor who proclaim God’s promise of hope and healing for all. LRC is driven by laity, pastors, lay professionals, synod leadership, and others who hold positions in the ELCA and its institutions.

Camp Tomah Shinga builds programs to grow faith in God as a ministry of the Central States Synod and the ELCA. Programing centers around the grace God provides us each day. Camp Tomah Shinga is a member of the Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Association of Kansas, or LOMAK, and strives to provide each camper the tools and opportunities they need to deepen their relationship with God. It has been serving the Central States Synod and beyond for over half a century.

The Hollis Renewal Center is a place for prayer, reflection, learning, and renewal. It provides "a time and place apart" for individuals, small groups, and organizations to pause and reflect on their mission. It embodies hospitality and gives guests the time and space to be trans-formed from a collection of individuals into a community. Hollis takes very seriously the gifts of time, land, buildings, and resources and uses them wisely to care for their sustaina-bility into the future.

In keeping with the Assembly theme of care for creation, Congregations are encouraged to use the link for online giving on the Synod Assembly webpage ( https://www.css-elca.org/assembly ).

Click on the GIVE button and designate Synod Assembly offering in the drop down menu.

Or you may bring your offering to the Assembly to be given during one of the worship services. These offerings, which are above and beyond a congregation’s regular giving, reflect our commitment not only to the ministries of our synod – the work we do together – but also reflect our hope and trust in God’s abundant care.

Thank you for all the ways in which you are faithful and generous stewards. We look forward to seeing everyone at this year’s Synod Assembly in June!

Your partner in Christ,

The Rev. Susan Candea, Bishop