Join other youth for a fun time at Porter's Patch in Bonduel.

Corn maze, pumpkins and a ton of activities. $13.00 will get you into the corn maze, give you access to all activities, including building your own scarecrow and making a fall bouquet.

Interested in attending, email Patty Koplitz.

Looking for connection and encouragement? Come to Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Neenah, on October 23, 2025, for an opportunity to talk, share, and support one another in a welcoming environment.

Please RSVP to Patty Koplitz at pkoplitz@our-saviors.org

Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is the largest hunger-relief organization in the state, operating food banks out of Milwaukee and Appleton to serve 35 counties in Wisconsin.

Who can attend: 12 years and older

Project Details: You will be participating in a sorting, packaging, labeling, or cleaning project. This could range from packaging shelf-stable food boxes to be shipped to food pantries, labeling canned goods, sorting meat products to provide meal programs with real protein, boxing fresh produce to send to homeless shelters, or packing bulk product into family friendly sized portions.

Location: The facility address is 2911 W Evergreen Drive, Appleton, WI 54913

Feel free to cut/paste/edit the above info to advertise to your group/church about this event.

Date & Time: October 4, 2025 9am-Noon

To register your group to attend this Synod event, please follow this LINK. More info will be emailed after signing up your group. Register no later than September 30th.

Messy Church is a church, but not as you know it. Messy Church is most often used in intergenerational settings with families with children, but it is not purely children’s ministry. For adults burned out on traditional church, for families craving connection, and for anyone seeking authenticity, Messy Church offers a welcoming, relaxed space to explore faith. Visit https://messychurchusa.org/ to explore Messy Church trainings, Messy Church curriculum, find a local Messy Church in your area, and see videos about Messy Church.

THIRTY-MINUTE FREE WORKSHOP – 10/1 at 3pm (CST), virtual - “What is Messy Church?” An introductory orientation to Messy Church. Ronda Bower, Pastoral Associate for Family and Educational Ministry at Northfield Community Church (along with her team), has led Messy Church at Northfield for several years. Ronda will introduce Messy Church and answer questions from participants who want to reach beyond their traditional church to share the good news of Jesus. Join Zoom Meeting here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88566234323?pwd=fGs7SYEjI9FT3V5fgImBQLS2Sawuzx.1

ALL DAY TRAINING – Full Day Messy Church: Get Started Training - November 1, 2025 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 9401 S. Oakley Ave., Chicago from 9:00am-3:30pm (registration required – registration will be available on messychurchusa.org soon – highly discounted rate for ELCA congregations). You are invited to bring a team of up to 5 members to this Get Started all-day Messy Church training. Each team will learn vital tools and best practices to begin their local Messy Church. They will discover how the five foundational values and four components are used as building blocks to contextualize their own Messy Church. Lunch is included in registration cost. They will participate in a ‘Mini-Messy Church’ that pulls both the theoretical and practical together.

Narrative Budgets 101 with Pastor Tim Brown

Your congregation’s annual budget is a vital document that helps the whole congregation consider the ways generosity and stewardship will support the mission and ministry of the church. For many, presenting the spending plan as a narrative budget connects our ministry and resources to where the rubber hits the road. In a one hour online workshop, Pastor Tim Bown will share 10 essential things to know about Narrative Budgets and engage attendees in questions.

Pastor Tim Brown currently serves in the Office of the Presiding Bishop as Director for Congregational Stewardship Support where he creates and curates relationships and resources to help Synods and Congregations fuel their ministries.

Register for the zoom link to attend

East Central Synod of Wisconsin – Synod Golf Tournament

Tuesday, August 12, 2025 | Glacier Wood Golf Club, Iola, WI

Shotgun Start: 8:30 a.m.

All pastors, deacons, church leaders, and members of the East Central Synod of Wisconsin are invited to join us for a fun and meaningful day on the green! Invite friends and form your own church foursome for a great day of fellowship, fresh air, and friendly competition.

This year’s tournament will support those impacted by natural disasters across the U.S. through Lutheran World Relief. Donations of cash or checks (payable to Lutheran World Relief) are welcome and will be collected at the event. Thank you for your generosity!

Details:

• Cost: $70 (includes 18 holes, cart, lunch, and prizes)

• Format: 18-Hole Team Scramble

• Schedule:

  • 8:00 a.m. – Check-in

  • 8:15 a.m. – Brief instructions

  • 8:30 a.m. – Shotgun start

• Location: Glacier Wood Golf Club, 604 Water Street, Iola (just north of Hwy 161 off Hwy J)

Registration Deadline: August 4

Please register by this date to ensure an accurate headcount.

Make checks payable to Sue Schultz.

Weather Concerns: If inclement weather is forecasted, call the course at 715-445-3831. A make-up date will be communicated as needed.

Questions? Contact Sue Schultz at 920-419-5581 or revcat09@gmail.com.

Blizzards Game

Who: Ministry run by young adults for all young adults 18-35

What: Meetup in-person around the greater Green Bay region at the Blizzards football game at the Resch Center. 

Let’s catch a game, form some friendly spiritual connections with other adults in the area. 

Please RSVP with our survey monkey to attend: https://surveymars.com/q/3s95k0nZl to reserve a ticket for you and your friends to attend. The tickets are going to be free for you when you rsvp through our link.  On Friday, May 30th @7pm meet Sam Keel the person wearing red (so you can find me) next to the will call area in the front entrance 5-10 mins before 3pm to grab your ticket for the blizzards game

Text 920-716-7978 if you have any questions that day. 

When: Friday, May 30th @7pm.

Where: Resch Center

             820 Armed forces drive

             Green Bay, WI. 54304

Why: Form a deeper connection with other young adults 18-35—without any other exception—to be themselves and provide support no matter where you are along life's journey.

The East Central Synod Racial Equity Team recently sponsored a panel of Native American leaders, our bishop, and others involved in Land Acknowledgment activities, research and publications to learn about the importance and authentic use of Land Acknowledgements. What followed was the creation of a resource based on the video panel that engages learners with the help of a seven part study through an accompanying guide. This study will be available after May 18th through www.ecsw.org. This event allows participants to preview several of the segments. Copies of the guide and a light lunch will be provided.

RSVP to hwkress@gmail.com or fill out this google form.

Learn more

Celebration Sunday | Zion Lutheran Church, Shawano

Gutter balls and strikes. Bring what you have to the Synod youth bowling event on Saturday, April 26th at Revs Bowl Bar & Grill in Oshkosh. Cost is $15 per person and includes two games, shoes and lunch. Voted best bowling alley in Winnebago County, Revs will serve up a pitcher of soda and a 16” pizza for every four people. The fun will start “rolling” at 12:00 pm and wind down at 3:00 pm. This event is open to all youth with adequate adult supervision. Let us know you are coming by signing up here.

Any questions, contact Christine Loppnow at christusyouth@christuschurch.org.

Racial Justice Conference
Saturday, April 5, 2025  8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Ascension Lutheran Church
2911 Libal St., Green Bay 54301

Registration Fee: $20 - includes lunch and morning refreshments
50% Discount for Students (email ecsw@ecsw.org for discount code)

This conference features Rev. Angela !Khabeb and Vance Blackfox, two nationally known speakers plus others to help participants learn more about the history of harm and ongoing effects caused by racism and what we can do to act for racial justice.

Register

Retired Rostered Leaders throughout the synod are invited to join together in conversation, community, and fellowship.

Welcome to Gather by the Bay!

What is it?
It's a ministry run by young adults, for young adults, that tend to meetup in-person around the greater Green Bay region. It's one instance of the nationwide Gather Network, coordinated and funded by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, but operated and led at the local level. (TL;DR: We get to do what we want, hehehe! :)

What DO you do?
We relax and enjoy fellowship (eating food and chatting) with each other, explore complex questions about vocation or difficult life events, maybe help those in communities near or far, and sometimes even play a game or two. (But really, it's more fellowship than anything)

Alright then, what's the catch?
Uhhhh, there really isn't!
Other than the intended age range of 18-35, there are NO long-term commitments, membership dues, restrictions, questionnaires, homework, income requirements, or identity expectations. It's a network of people that welcomes anyone 18-35—without any other exception—to be themselves and provide support no matter where you are along life's whacky journey (and God's often really whacky part in it!).

Cool. How do I join?
Just drop by our next Gather time!

Ready to Join Us?

Come to our next gathering:

Olive's Pizza and Sandwiches
516 Greene Ave, Green Bay, WI 54301

Look for Robbie and the “Gather by the Bay”

Have a question or can't come to the next one but want to stay connected?
Email Robbie!

A clear understanding about the role of church council brings alignment and renewal to leaders and congregations. Save the date for Church Council Academy on February 15, 2025. This one day retreat will provide council members a sense of the function, role, and work of church council leaders and will strengthen your network of support for the leadership role and ministry to which you have been called. The cost is $30/person. Registration Deadline:  February 3rd, 2025

Registration is open!

About Our Keynote Speaker: Nancy Heykes

Our Keynote Speaker for the Church Council Academy is Nancy Heykes, who retired in 2018 as Vice President of Development for Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin. Prior to this, she served as an executive director, capital campaign counsel, and senior executive at the Aid Association for Lutherans.

Now residing in Oneida County, Nancy founded On Point Consulting, where she continues her pro bono law practice and provides consulting, planning, and facilitation services for nonprofits. She also enjoys a teaching role as the coordinator of the Nonprofit Leadership Institute in Appleton. Nancy serves as Secretary of the Northern Great Lakes Synod of the ELCA and frequently works with congregation councils in her role as chair of the synod's Constitution Committee.