Martin Lutheran King, Jr. Day of Celebration
Posted: January 27, 2026Last week I was invited to attend the Martin Lutheran King, Jr. Day of Celebration in Lansing. It is the oldest and one of the largest events held to honor Dr. King each year. The program was terrific. The highlight for me was hearing Diane Nash speak. Ms. Nash was one of the lead organizers of the student wing of the Civil Rights Movement and was key in organizing both the Freedom Riders, who desegregated interstate travel, and the effort to integrate lunch counters in Nashville. She was doing that courageous work already in her early 20s.
It was an honor and privilege to hear Ms. Nash speak. She is now 87 and had to come out on stage in a wheelchair, and yet her voice, heart and mind are as strong as ever. At one point, she said that she wanted to speak to those of us who were not yet born during the Civil Rights Movement. She said that when she stood arm and arm with others facing the threat of violence and arrest, we were the ones they had in mind.
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Winter Connection Day
Posted: January 23, 2026If you were anywhere in West Michigan during our Synod Winter Connection Days, you know exactly what we were up against. Bitter cold temperatures and truly difficult road conditions which prompted about half of our participants to cancel.
As the event unfolded, our schedule shifted more than once. Plans to the Muskegon Sports Park were cancelled due to the cold temperature. The Muskegon Museum of Art was also closed due to the weather. It wasn’t the event we originally envisioned, but it still became something meaningful.
Despite the changes in our schedule, we gathered for a lovely time of worship, grounding our days in prayer and gratitude and the reminder that God meets us wherever we are. The spirit carried through the rest of our time together, including a fun and laughter-filled trivia night that brought out both our competitive sides and our joy in simply being together.
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Synod Disaster Relief Fund
Posted: January 5, 2026If there’s one thing Michiganders know, it’s that the weather can turn on a dime – and when it brings disaster, our synod is ready to respond. A response that […]
Read more →Bishop Julie’s Installation Photos ARE HERE
Posted: November 26, 2025We’re excited to share that the photos from Bishop Julie Schneider-Thomas’s Installation are now available! It was such a beautiful and spirit-filled day, and we’re grateful for everyone who joined […]
Read more →Communication Survey
Posted: October 6, 2025Oct. 03: Please consider taking a couple of minutes to complete the survey below. We want to hear how you prefer to be informed or communicated with. Did you know […]
Read more →National Day of Remembrance for Indian Boarding Schools
Posted: September 30, 2025September 30 – National Day of Remembrance for Indian Boarding Schools Every Child Matters Today, we honor and remember the Indigenous children who were taken from their families and placed […]
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Celebrating the Installation of Bishop Julie Schneider-Thomas
Posted: September 16, 2025On Saturday, September 13th our synod gathered in joyful celebration for the installation of Bishop Julie Schneider-Thomas. The service was filled with music, prayer and a spirit of hope as […]
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August 2025 Mission Support Memo from the ELCA
Posted: September 4, 2025From the ELCA: This month’s Mission Support Memo focuses on our 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, celebrating the elections of a new presiding bishop and secretary to lead our church for […]
Read more →Introduction of New NWLM Synod Staff
Posted: September 3, 2025See the attached letter from Bishop Julie Schneider-Thomas that provides information related to the new synod staff, office location, mailing address and additional contact information, along with a reminder about […]
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Building Resiliency Together – Getting to Know Bishop Julie Schneider Thomas
Posted: August 25, 2025Get to know Bishop Julie E. Schneider-Thomas
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