Northern Illinois Synod

06/02/2026

Synod Staff on the Road!

Bishop Stacie Fidlar led worship and presided at First in Pecatonica while Bishop Emeritus Jeff Clements preached. Bishop Stacie was there to check in with the congregation following the death of their pastor, Pastor Nord Swanstrom at the beginning of May. We are grateful for Bishop Emeritus Jeff caring for the congregation during this time. Bishop Emeritus Jeff reflected that he did not remember another time that a retired bishop and the current bishop led a regular worship service together.

Pastor Mack Patrick preached at Zion in Rockford blending Holy Trinity Sunday with the creation story and with the start of Pride Month. Pastor Mike Thomas presided while Deaconess Student Janice Forrest assisted. After worship, Pastor Mack talked with the congregation about the Northern Illinois Synod and about the RIC process.

Pastor Josh Ebener gathered with the Rock Island and Moline congregations for a joint Holy Trinity Worship at Augustana College. Pastor Josh preached a bilingual sermon and Pastor Jennifer Ohman-Rodriguez from St. John's in Rock Island presided. Worship assistant were from all 8 congregations in the Rock Island and Moline area, including a joint choir. The 246 people who gathered collected $1,200 for our Synod Assembly Worship Offering supporting the two SAWCs in the Northern Illinois Synod.

06/01/2026

Happy Pride!

June is recognized as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month. It is a month to celebrate the joy, resilience, strength, courage, and gifts of the LGBTQIA+ community.

We are proud to be a RIC Synod. We embrace the LGBTQIA+ community as beloved children of God. We continue to strive for inclusion and justice of all those marginalized because of who they are and who they love.

06/01/2026

We celebrate with the Western North Dakota Synod as they elected Rev. Lisa Lewton to serve as their bishop. We join our prayers with them as they enter into ministry together.

05/31/2026

A prayer for Holy Trinity Sunday from Sundays and Seasons.

God of heaven and earth, before the foundation of the universe and the beginning of time you are the triune God: Author of creation, eternal Word of salvation, life-giving Spirit of wisdom. Guide us to all truth by your Spirit, that we may proclaim all that Christ has revealed and rejoice in the glory he shares with us. Glory and praise to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

05/30/2026

As we wrap up Mental Health Awarness Month, you are reminded that your story is sacred. Cole Arthur Riley's blessing for Secrets from Black Liturgies is a reminder that we are called to go in compassion not just for others but also for ourselves.

05/29/2026

We are two weeks away from the 2026 Northern Illinois Synod Assembly and there is still time to support this year's offerings.

This year our in-kind offering is supporting the vital work of Lutheran Social Services of Illinois. Through donating $25 gift cards and purchasing items through their newly updated Mindful Giving list. Your generosity is equipping LSSI as they bring healing, justice, and wholeness to people and communities.

Our 2026 Synod Assembly Offering is a collective commitment to nurturing new communities by investing directly in the two Synod Authorized Worshipping Communities (SAWC) in the Northern Illinois Synod: Becoming Oswego and Iglesia San Jose Obrero in Moline.

By supporting this year’s Synod Assembly offering, you are investing in courageous ministries that meet the needs of their communities. Together, we are planting seeds of faith in new soil. Together, we are investing in communities of deep listening, courageous faith, and Spirit-led leadership.

Learn more at www.nisynod.org/assemblyoffering

05/29/2026

We hold these synods in our prayers as they gather for their synod assemblies this weekend, especially Western North Dakota Synod as they elect a new bishop to serve them.

05/28/2026

Our 2026 Synod Assembly Offering is a collective commitment to nurturing new communities by investing directly in the two Synod Authorized Worshipping Communities (SAWC) in the Northern Illinois Synod: Becoming Oswego and Iglesia San Jose Obrero in Moline.

By supporting this year’s Synod Assembly offering, you are investing in courageous ministries that meet the needs of their communities. Together, we are planting seeds of faith in new soil. Together, we are investing in communities of deep listening, courageous faith, and Spirit-led leadership.

Give today at nisynod.org/offering

Our 2026 Synod Assembly Offering is a collective commitment to nurt...

05/27/2026

Synod Staff on the Road!

Bishop Stacie Fidlar preached and participated in the closing worship service for Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Rockford. Good Shepherd has lived out their calling as a church in a new way over the last several years. In 2022, Good Shepherd donated their building to the YMCA of Rock River Valley, who transformed the space to be the Good Shepherd YMCA, leaving a chapel space for Good Shepherd to worship in. Good Shepherd YMCA will continue to serve as a stable and caring institution in that neighborhood. The chapel space will be utilized by Table of Grace, a new United Methodist ministry in the Rockford area. The closing of good Shepherd is an example of continuing to love your neighbors even after the congregation is gone.

We give thanks for the faithful witness of Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Rockford and join our prayers with its members as they find new church homes.

05/26/2026

Tonight is your last chance to attend a CRE+ Webinar.

Join Don Gillingham and representatives from ELCA Education Association to learn more about early childhood centers: So many of our congregations desire to reach young families. Early childhood centers can be the seeds of growth for students, their parents, and the local community. Panelists will talk about the motivation that causes the congregations to make a center a meaningful outreach of this ministry. Panelists will talk about what and how the center strengthens the mission to strengthen parents and congregations.

Missed a previous CRE+? Want to explore a variety of resource? Head to nisynod.org/cre+ for past recordings and other resources.