Special Messages

+Bishop Jon V. Anderson We are sad to share with you that the first bishop of the Southwestern Minnesota Synod, Rev. Dr. Darold Beekmann, died on Wednesday, Jan. 13th, 2021. We invite you to join us in giving thanks to God for his life, ministry, and witness.  When we have his obituary, we will share […]

“And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth” – John 1  [clear-line] Every birth is a stunning miracle. +A Christmas Message from Bishop Jon V. Anderson The birth of a child transforms their parents’ life.

Our hope and expectation, O Jesus, now appear; arise, O Sun so longed for, o’er this benighted sphere. With hearts and hands uplifted, we plead, O Lord, to see the day of earth’s redemption that sets your people free! – ELW 244[clear-line] Dear Friends – If you’re feeling weary right now, well, you’re not alone.

It has been a hard year. +A Thanksgiving Message from Bishop Jon V. Anderson It has been an apocalyptic year where things in me, in each of us as church, and in each of us as a country, have been uncovered. That is what apocalyptic means, “uncovered”. I was asked to write an article about

“For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.” – Romans 12:4-5 Synod – syn-od (si’-nƏd), from Greek synodos, syn + way, journeying, meeting, walking with. Thank you

1After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and

“When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receives their sight, the lame walk,

Dear friends in ministry – I pray God’s grace and peace are with you as you begin this Advent season, preparing your people to welcome the light of Christ and to reflect it in your communities. For the past several years, your synod has been inviting congregations to participate in a special Advent Appeal as

The synod vice president ballot had three nominees:  Blair Schrader, Kristy Henriksen, and Ferman Woodberry. On the first ballot Ferman Woodberry was elected with 65% of the votes. About 400 voting members were present. Before members voted, Bishop Jon Anderson asked the nominees to share a bit about themselves. The video below captures Ferman speaking

A Holy Week message from Bishop Jon V. Anderson As we enter in the weekend of the great Passion, I am hearing the great, old and life-giving passages of Holy Week and the Holy Weekend in a different way. That is one of the gifts of living in relationship with scripture, as you journey through