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Synod Events the next TWO weeks
Mon, Aug 17, 1pm - Rostered Synod Staff Meeting
Mon, Aug 17, 4pm - Personnel Committee Meeting
Mon, Aug 17, 4:30pm - Finance Committee Meeting
Tues, Aug 18, 10am - Full Synod Staff Meeting
(no first call meet up this month)
Wed, Aug 19, 2pm - Generosity Team Meeting
(no deans meeting this month)
Mon, Aug 24, 1pm - Rostered Synod Staff Meeting
Tues, Aug 25, 10am - Full Synod Staff Meeting
Wed, Aug 26, 9am - Bishop's Convocation Planning Team Meeting
Wed, Aug 26, 10:30am - Transition Facilitator Meeting
Wed, Aug 26, 5pm - Building Resilient Communities Grant Distribution Team Meeting
Thurs, Aug 27, 10am - Candidacy Committee Meeting
Thurs, Aug 27, 6pm - Hunger Team Meeting
Mon, Aug 31 - NEXT Synod Update distributed
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SUMMER Weekly Update Distribution Schedule:
Given holidays and staff vacations, the Weekly Updates will go out every other week in July/August.
Items for inclusion are due the prior Thursday at noon
Upcoming editions will be emailed on these days:
August 31 - returning to weekly thereafter
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Bishop's Sabbatical Time
Prayers arising for Bishop Shelley Bryan Wee as she takes sabbatical time! The synod staff is well-prepared for her absence, has divided up responsibilities for coverage, and is accompanied by Bishop Emeritus Chris Boerger.
Details on who to contact during her sabbatical can be found here: https://www.lutheransnw.org/news/bishop-wee-sabbatical
NOTE: While the bishop will return from sabbatical on Sept 20, she will be out of office until Oct 1 due to Synod and ELCA meetings.
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Monthly Synod Financial Report
Synod Treasurer, Dan Clements, crafts a narrative to go along with our monthly financial reports. Find the financial report for the month of July, 2026, the first month of the Synod’s fiscal year here.
Find additional reports – as well as Synod Council Minutes here: https://www.lutheransnw.org/pages/minutes-financials
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Wildfires in Eastern Washington
We continue to hold our neighbors in prayer as the wildfires continue to burn in Eastern Washington. You are invited to support our neighbors through Lutheran Disaster Response. Your gifts help provide immediate assistance and long-term recovery for individuals, families, and communities impacted by disasters such as these.
Go here to make a donation.
Using the drop down menu, designate your gift to “Lutheran Disaster Response: US Wildfires."
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One month away! On Sunday, Sept. 13, congregations of the ELCA will gather for our annual day of service, “God’s work. Our hands.” This day offers an opportunity to celebrate who we are as the ELCA — one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor.
Through the years, we have embraced “God’s work. Our hands.” as a way for us to be church together. Being church together means being connected, as we recognize our shared calling and our shared responsibility across congregations, synods and the churchwide organization.
As you explore opportunities to participate in your community, consult these resources from our Churchwide partners to plan and promote your day.
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Save the date for the
Fall Synod Women's Organization Day Retreat
Our theme - Seek Inspiration
Saturday – October 3rd / 9 am ~ 4 pm
(Doors open @ 8:30 am for registration)
at Our Saviors Lutheran Church
(215 W Mukilteo Blvd, Everett, WA 98203)
Please join with women from our Synod as we learn & grow as Women of the ELCA
Our speaker will be Pastor Kacey Hahn of St Matthew’s Lutheran in Renton
Learn more and register here
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Part-time rostered ministers -
Save the date!
There are growing number of ministry sites that are - or are moving to - less than full-time pastoral ministry.
The Synod seeks to best support ministries and ministers in this reality. Join us for this conversation about challenges, joys, best practices, and needs moving forward.
RSVP to susan@lutheransnw.org to receive the Zoom link.
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Come to the Table —
A Gathering for Ministry Sites with Schools!
Join us for a time of connection, conversation, and community as we gather with school and early childhood teachers, leaders, board & council members, church leaders, and rostered ministers from across the Northwest Washington Synod.
This gathering is about coming together — sharing our stories, learning from one another's experiences, and building relationships across our schools and congregations. Along the way, we'll also learn more about the ELEA (Evangelical Lutheran Education Association) and how it can support the work we're already doing together.
When: Thursday, October 15 | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Where: Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 3215 Larch Way, in Lynnwood
Who's invited: School and early childhood teachers, directors, principals, board & council members, church leaders, and rostered ministers - whether your school is Lutheran or other affiliation
Cost: Free - lunch included!
Come ready to connect, develop, and be inspired — and bring your questions about ELEA!
Please register here by October 1 -
https://members.elcaschools.org/events/details/come-to-the-table-an-nwwa-synod-gathering-296
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Are you a Spiritual Director?
Final call for names - we are creating a referral list of trained lay and rostered Spiritual Directors available in our synod. If you are a trained spiritual director, please complete the form linked below. (If you know of someone in your congregation – or conference - please share this link with them!)
Spiritual Director Info Form Link
Your assistance is greatly appreciated!
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A Study Resource for Groups
The 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly invited the whole church into a reconsideration of a section of the social statement Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust—specifically the section often referred to as “bound conscience.” The task force called to lead this work is happy to share a new study leaders can use to open conversation. We hope that you are able to use it in your setting - soon!
The study, “Conscience and Conversation: A Study during the Reconsideration of the Social Statement Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust” offers activities, discussion questions, and a survey link for participants to submit feedback to the task force by September 30. This feedback will help inform the draft phase of the reconsideration process.
For more information on the Reconsiderations process, go to elca.org/reconsiderations.
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Building Resilient Communities Grant - Apply now!
Ministries hoping to apply are encouraged to do so for our second round of distributions.
Submit your request by August 24. (During the first round, 11 ministry sites were awarded grants!)
With gratitude we are happy to share that the Northwest Washington Synod recently requested and has received a special $15,000 grant from Building Resilient Communities (BRC), a partnership between Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR), ELCA World Hunger, and AMMPARO. We hope that spreading these funds around our synod will help to strengthen direct service ministries, fill critical gaps for vulnerable neighbors, and support our congregations as they respond to rising community needs.
How to Request Funds:
Your congregation or ministry may request funds (up to $500) to serve your community in the following areas: food access, emergency aid, mental health support/training, legal assistance, temporary housing support.
Please send an email to the DEM, Pastor Judy Brennan dem@lutheransnw.org.
In the subject line, please write “BRC Grant Request”. In your email, please include:
- Congregation/Ministry Name
- Contact Person, Phone, and Email
- One paragraph description of the project and how you would use the funds (include a simple budget).
Please Note:
- Funds can only be sent to congregations or ministries, not individuals.
- If you have already sent DEM Judy your request, you do not need to send it again.
- Preference for the BRC Grants will be given to ministries who have not already received the “Daily Bread Feeding Ministry Grants” that were awarded in February 2026.
- If you receive funds from this grant, you will need to be willing to share a paragraph report of how you used these funds and what you learned (pictures are also welcome).
If you would like to make a donation to help these funds go even further in our synod, you can send funds or donate online addressed to the NWWA Synod Disaster Fund. Thank you!
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UPCOMING EVENTS
to share with your communities
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ELCA Evangelism Network - Monthly Meet Ups
Join partners from around the ELCA at this Zoom link, on the 4th Monday of the month at 12noon PT for inspiration, encouragement, time for connecting and prayer!
August 24 - Communication Tools for Evangelizing -
with Rev. Dr. Dave Daubert, Rev. Carla Christopher, Rev. Joe Liles, and Deacon Jess Liles.
BONUS!! Here is a list of great SUMMER EVANGELISM ideas!
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Church Property Resource Hub Webinar:
“Mission Anchors and Outposts — Rural and Small-Town Property”
Thursday, Aug. 27, 4pm - Pacific
Just as ministry looks different in rural and small-town churches than in other settings, so does property stewardship. Join Partners for Sacred Places for a conversation that highlights successful strategies for rural and small-town congregations looking to use and manage their property in new and sustainable ways. Learn more and register HERE
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Organizing for Mission invites YOU to their Western Training!
Full PDF Flyer (with speakers and a Spanish version, too) available here!
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People of the Resistance -
What does it mean to follow Jeusus in times such as this?
A seminar sponsored by Resurrection Lutheran Church & Southwestern WA Synod
What happens when our core values are under attack? Author and speaker, Rev. Dr. Rick Rouse, will address how this “Bonhoeffer moment” calls people of faith to resist an unjust State by exploring the following topics: “The Threat of Christian Nationalism,” “Competing Visions of Christianity in America,” and “Courageous Discipleship in Action.” Refreshments will be served.
Sunday, August 30, 3-5 pm
Resurrection Lutheran Church
4301 Browns Point Blvd. NE.
Registration is encouraged
Contact: churchoffice@resurrectionlutherantacoma.org
Or phone, 253-927-3301
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Equipping the Church to Dismantle White Supremacy
A free, 5-part webinar series
The next session is Sept 8
Thanks to a Strategy for Authentic Diversity grant, the series will highlight existing ELCA resources that encourage, equip, and support congregations and synods in the essential work of dismantling white supremacy. These webinars will elevate voices from across the church who are actively engaging this work and offer both practical and theological grounding.
Learn more about each of these sessions – and register here: https://www.elca.org/event/051226-equipping-the-church-to-dismantle-white-supremacy
Webinar #3: "Dismantle: Using the Devotional in Congregational Life" - September 8 at 7 pm central
Webinar #4: "Now is the Time: Living Into Our Church’s Declarations and Statements" - November 10 at 7 pm central
Webinar #5: "Commemorating the Emmanuel Nine and George Floyd: Sacred Memory as Call to Action" - January 12 at 7 pm central
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Want an item included?
Email Susan Berg, Dir. Communications & Events
All items due the prior Thursday by 12:00 noon
Regular Office Hours - Mon-Thurs, 10am - 4pm
Northwest Washington Synod / ELCA
5519 Phinney Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98103
206-783-9292
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