Pastor Phil Misner, 245 E 13th Avenue, Spokane, WA (2026)

03/21/2026

4th Sunday of Lent -- March 15, 2025

This past Sunday I had the opportunity to preach and preside at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Clarkston, WA. I didn't take many pictures, but it was a joy to have Pastor Nick Nicolai as the Assisting Minister. Pastor Nick serves Our Savior's as Intetim Pastor as the congregation navigates a time of transition. Following worship, we had a congregation conversation about the transition process, and how currently they are in the midst of discernment. Discernment is all about leaning into the part of the Lord's Prayer where we ask for God's will to be done on earth as in heaven. It's critical that discernment is grounded in prayer, in honesty, and curiosity (and patience!). Following that conversation, it was time for choir rehearsal while I met with the Discover and Invite Team. They are charged with assembling the Ministry Site Profile.

02/23/2026

Ash Wednesday 2026 – My middle son John has swim practice Wednesday evenings at the North YMCA in Spokane, located only a couple minutes from St Luke Lutheran, Spokane. John hopped out of the pool a bit early & we headed to St Luke. It was good to be gathered with so many to be honest about our brokenness & mortality, sing & hear of God’s mercy nonetheless, and then be fed & nourished at the Lord’s Table. Grateful for the hospitality we received from St Luke and Pastors Taran and Jim.

02/18/2026

February 1 throw back – A couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to join Christ Lutheran Church, Yakima for worship on the 4th Sunday following Epiphany (or February 1, 2026). Christ Lutheran is currently being served by Pastor Chris Peterson and Deacon Kathy Kathy Sebree. Pastor Chris is ordained in the Presbyterian , USA (PCUSA), one of several denominations with whom the ELCA has a full communion partnership. That means that any PCUSA pastor can serve an ELCA congregation & vice versa. Pastor Chris and Deacon Kathy continue to lead Christ Lutheran in faithful ministry. It was great to experience the joyful gathering of this congregation, take part in the laughter they share, and see how this congregation takes time for prayer requests at the beginning of worship & then incorporates those requests into the service. Christ Lutheran is slowly and steadily growing in membership & participation…and they are wrestling with how to ensure sustainability going forward. One theme that kept surfacing was how vibrant the congregation is & continues to be.

01/29/2026

Third Sunday after Epiphany – January 25, 2026

I had the opportunity to visit St. John’s Lutheran, Sprague and Emanuel Lutheran, Ritzville, WA. The morning began at Sprague. It was lovely to sit in front of retired pastor Steve Gutzman, and to worship with the people there. Pastor Nathaneil Christman, a seminary classmate, presiding. I preached on the narrative lectionary. Following worship, there was a lovely meal. Pastor Nathaneil & the folks of St. John’s had their annual meeting. When you gather with the folks of St John’s, Sprague, you can’t help but walk away impressed by the way this community in Christ cares for one another and loves others.

Then, I made my way west on I-90 to Emanuel, Ritzville. Lay member Heidi Hunt led worship and I shared a word for the sermon. Following worship at Emanuel, there was a great fellowship time. And the king cake, appropriate for the season of Epiphany, was delicious! Emanuel is the church many community folks of Ritzville call their home, and it’s clear God’s love flows out from them through all of Ritzville and beyond.

01/29/2026

Baptism of Our Lord Sunday – January 11, 2026

In the waters of Baptism, God’s word to us is the same as it was to Jesus in his baptism: “You are my child, my beloved, with you I am well pleased.” And with that promise we are claimed as one of God’s own. I visited the good folks of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Colville, WA on Sunday, January 11 when we celebrated the baptism of Jesus and remembered our own baptisms…lighting a candle so that our light may shine before others so that they may see our good work and give praise to God. St. Paul’s is faithfully shepherded by Pastor Patty Heath. It was good to meet with their council following worship, and have conversation regarding the ongoing ministry God is working in and through them.

01/29/2026

Epiphany Sunday 2026 - On January 4 I had the opportunity to join the Northwest Grace Coop, which is a partnership between Lutheran Church of the Master (Coeur d’Alene), Calvary Lutheran (Post Falls), and Trinity Lutheran (Coeur d’Alene), for their Epiphany worship, dinner, and burning of the greens. Dozens of us gathering in Schmidt Hall at Lutheran Church of the Master with the delicious smells of chili and cornbread scenting the air. Outside, a fire burned. We ate. We sang. We prayed. We processed outside where the greens from Christmas trees, wreaths, and garland were burned. The fire blazed. Christ, Light of the World, was proclaimed. In these days, we hold fast to the promise that Christ is indeed light to all the world.

12/17/2025

Weekend of the 3rd Sunday of Advent (December 14, 2025)

I had the opportunity to join Lutheran Church of the Master, Coeur d’Alene this past Sunday for worship and celebration. It truly was a day to rejoice on that Gaudete Sunday. The congregation welcomed several new members. We were able to bless Sheri Brown, NWIM Synod’s first graduate from the Montana Synod’s Lay Ministry Associate (LMA) program. The LMA program is a two year process and is supplemented with retreats in the NWIM Synod. Sheri Brown is now a Lay Ministry Associate at Lutheran Church of the Master. She and her husband, Interim Pastor Kirk Anderson, partner in ministry together at the congregation as the congregation continues to navigate this time of transition. It was lovely to have Anders join me, and we both enjoyed cake and conversation following worship.

12/04/2025

First Sunday of Advent – November 30

This past Sunday I had the opportunity to visit Kennewick First Lutheran Church (KFLC). This was one of the first congregations I worked with in the call process when I began my call as Assistant to the Bishop over 7 years ago. Both I and them are still so grateful that process ended with the Holy Spirit calling Pastor JJ Dygert to KFLC. This congregation will host the Northwest Intermountain Synod Assembly this spring (save the date: April 24-26, 2026). If the hospitality extended to me this past Sunday is any indication, folks from across the NWIM Synod will be no doubt warmly welcomed in just a few months.

12/04/2025

3 days. 11 judicatory leaders. 5 denominations. Hours of robust conversations as we learned more about each other's polity, worship, and theology. There are already so many ways communities of faith across the Northwest Intermountain Synod are working ecumenically...and it is encouraging to dream about all the ways the Spirit is continuing to blow. All for the sake that more and more people might experience God's love for them in and through Jesus.

11/26/2025

The 23rd Sunday after Pentecost (November 16, 2025)

Rewind to just over a week ago I had the opportunity to visit Prince of Peace Lutheran, Spokane where Rev. Joel Skindlov serves as Pastor. This was my first time visiting Prince of Peace on a Sunday morning, and it was lovely worshipping with the folks there and sharing in fellowship following worship. I preaches and Pastor Joel presided over the service. This congregation also hosts a pre-school and partners with two local schools in November for a Tree of Giving. In the summer they have hosted an outdoor community concert series, and they continue to explore other ways to be good neighbors.

That evening I attended Faith Action Network’s (FAN) Annual Dinner. FAN “is a statewide, multifaith partnership striving for just, compassionate, and sustainable communities through courageous advocacy and public action.” The Annual Dinner takes place in 3 venues simultaneously: in person in Spokane and Seattle, and remotely all across the state of Washington. That evening, FAN raised over $200,000 to support their efforts. It was great seeing many colleagues and folks I knew at both the Spokane and Seattle (via the simulcast). And it was good to hear from Jess Ingman, FAN’s Central WA Coordinator via Zoom.

11/15/2025

Weekend of the 22nd Sunday after Pentecost (Nov 8-9, 2025) – This past weekend was a mix of family and church. It started off by watching our middle and so many others swim their hearts out at the Idaho State High School Swimming Championships. There were so many team and state records broken. It really is inspiring watching how much effort these students put in, and listening to how loud the pool can get with all the cheering from friends, family, and teammates!

On Sunday, I participated in Central Lutheran Church, Spokane’s Service of Leave Taking. This is the worship that a congregation does at the end of its ministry. Just like a funeral, this service is filled with grief even as the congregation’s ministry throughout the years is celebrated. Central had 96 years of faithful ministry. Further, we are a people of resurrection and trust that God’s best work is all about bringing new life from death. As hard as that service was, it was so moving to see the sanctuary filled with folks who have a connection to Central, and with folks whose only connection is that we are all part of God’s one, holy and apostolic church (as we confess in the Creeds). Thanks be to God for Central Lutheran, and thanks be to God for all the ways God will continue to bless others in and through the ministry that was done over Central’s 96 years.

11/04/2025

All Saints Sunday – November 2, 2025

This past Sunday I had the opportunity to visit Advent Lutheran Church, Spokane Valley. In conversations with Pastor Matt Larson leading up to this Sunday, he mentioned it would be “sermon light and ritual heavy.” What he meant was that there were to be 4 baptisms, the commemoration of the saints, and a blessing/celebration of Pastor Holly Gundy’s (chaplain extraordinaire at Sacred Heart, member, and council president!) 25th Ordination Anniversary. What a Sunday! It was an honor to preside over the Lord’s Supper and to take part in the blessing of Pastor Holly. I also enjoyed the cake, coffee, and fellowship following worship.

Advent as a congregation has only been around for about 15 years. Pastor Matt accompanied them through a process where two congregations consolidated into one. It is a joy to experience the energy, and see some of the ways God is at work in and through the folks of Advent. Many ministries across the NWIM Synod have been blessed through their annual endowment grants distributed to ministries near and far.

Pastor Phil Misner

03/21/2026

02/23/2026

02/18/2026

01/29/2026

01/29/2026

01/29/2026

12/17/2025

12/04/2025

12/04/2025

11/26/2025

11/15/2025

11/04/2025

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