Notes from your Dean February 2023

Dear Upper Snake River Cluster: The nominations are IN! We had a successful cluster meeting in January but are trying to improve our communications out to all the congregations. We are hoping to have our cluster represented well at the Synod Assembly in Pasco, WA in April. Please keep this on your radar. Lots of information on the synod website or call me with questions.

The cluster will begin planning for an All-Cluster Picnic to be held at the park adjacent to New Day Lutheran in Idaho Falls. This will happen in May. We will try to hold the picnic at the same time our friends from the Ulanga Kilombero Diocese are in our cluster, but that schedule is still fluid. If your congregation has a contact person to help with planning the picnic, please let me know!

Your congregation should have selected two voting members to attend the Synod Assembly, either by council vote or at the congregational meeting. Info and registration opens in February, and it's a long trip to Pasco from here! Make sure the council considers the options and allows for an extra night in a hotel to make the trip safe for the members to arrive fresh and ready for a lot of meetings!

The synod assembly is a place for congregations to offer memorials - there are rules and forms to prepare and submit any memorials on the synod website.

February is when we begin out Lenten Journey with Ash Wednesday... may God grant you a penitent and prayerful Lent and carry us through.

- Wayne Shipman, Pastor and Dean

Cluster Meeting Review

Upper Snake River Cluster Meeting – January 21, 2023

Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Pocatello, ID

Attending from New Day Lutheran were Rev. Ann Bjorklund, Theresa Jones, Tom & Merlene Brockway and April Johnsen. Other congregations represented were Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran, Jackson, WY, Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Pocatello, Our Savior Lutheran, Twin Falls, and St. John’s Lutheran, American Falls. There were 4 Rostered Ministers, 1 Synodically Authorized Minister, and 13 Lay Members eligible to vote.

Rev. Wayne Shipman opened the meeting with a prayer before the potluck lunch was served. Pastor Ann’s Macaroni & Cheese & Bacon casserole was the best dish served according to Tom. (It may have had something to do with the 3 pounds of bacon in it.)

After lunch the meeting was called to order by Pastor Wayne Shipman, Upper Snake River Cluster Dean. We immediately got down to the business of selecting three nominees to recommend to the Synod Nominating Committee. A total of 7 names were suggested, and after two votes the nominees that the cluster will submit to the Synod Nominating Committee are Rev. Meggan Manlove, pastor at Trinity Lutheran, Nampa, ID, Rev. James Aalgaard, pastor at Grace Lutheran, Wenatchee, WA, and Rev. Phil Misner, Assistant to the Bishop, Northwest Intermountain Synod.

Pastor Ann Bjorklund stated that she would accept a nomination for the Rostered Minister position (this is an unpaid position) to the 2025 Churchwide Assembly.

Synod Assembly will be held April 28-30 in Pasco, WA.

Pastor Wayne stated that Rev. Paulson Matimbwi and MS Ang”alifye Mandele from the NWIM Synod’s companion synod, Ulanga-Kilombero Diocese in Tanzania will be visiting our cluster area May 16-20. There is a need for hosts, drivers and churches to step up. A cluster picnic to welcome them was discussed, but the dates for the visit and travel back to Boise were not convenient for a picnic. There will be additional discussion and communication regarding the visit at a later date. Pastor Ann indicated that New Day could host the cluster picnic.

There being no further issues for consideration the meeting was adjourned at 2:38 pm, and closed with Pastor Ann leading us in the Lord’s Prayer.

Submitted by Merlene Brockway & Theresa Jones