Welcome to Rudy Vazquez!

our new Region 1 Financial Services Officer

Rudy Vazquez has been appointed as the next Financial Services Officer for Region 1. He began working with Alyce Bakker and Karen Dicken on February 5 and will assume Alyce’s full duties mid to late April, upon her retirement. (As you may know Alyce is retiring after 37 faithful years of service to the Region. More on celebrating Alyce and the many gifts she has shared with the six synods of Region 1 in the coming weeks!)

Rudy grew up in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and moved to the mainland in 1995. He has 20 years of experience in accounting and HR, holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Puerto Rico, in Education and Business Administration and a master's degree from the University of Phoenix, in Business and Accounting.

Rudy and his wife Kathryn live in Marysville and will celebrate their 26th Wedding Anniversary in November. They have two children. A son, Rudy Jr., who is sixteen and attends Everett Community College’s Running Start Program. His goal is to complete law school and work as an attorney. Their daughter, Kyrmarie, is a vivacious six year old enjoying kindergarten.

Rudy is excited about beginning his new job with the Region 1 ELCA Financial Services Office, explaining that they are active in their church, LifePoint, so working for a religiously affiliated organization is what drew Rudy to apply for the position. He indicated religion is important to his family and he has a number of relatives who are pastors, including a grandfather, father, father-in-law, brother and brother in law.

In his spare time Rudy enjoys watching a variety of sports and has a passion and love for fishing.

We give thanks to God for this new ministry partner, rich in gifts needed for this important role which partners with the six synods of Region 1 of the ELCA. They ensure that our mission support dollars are received, recorded, and distributed in the ways that each synod directs; providing oversight through detailed, transparent reporting; and complete audits ensures good care of your gifts to further God’s mission.

Immigration Resources Added to our Synod Website

To help communities stay generally informed, prepared, and united in support of immigrant neighbors - we have added a page on our website to offer up resources and events. We will do our best to update this list. If you have an addition to share, please email susan@lutheransnw.org



Find it here: https://www.lutheransnw.org/resources/immigration-resources

World Hunger Resources for YOU!

New resources are now available from ELCA World Hunger to enrich the life of your congregation during Lent. As congregations across the ELCA creatively find new ways to lean into the future, we are eager to equip leaders with ELCA World Hunger resources in the Easter season. During your Lenten journey, ELCA World Hunger invites you to reflect on the work of ELCA World Hunger partners who are dedicated to ending hunger at its roots.

We hope that these stories of ELCA World Hunger’s partner organizations working to strengthen community will help you to celebrate your place in your own community. You can order or download free versions at ELCA.org/hunger/resources.

Your leadership is crucial to our work together. Thank you for partnering with ELCA World Hunger during this important season in the church year. If our team can support you in any way, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at hunger@elca.org.

Consider Partnering with our Synod Hunger Team!

We meet once a month by Zoom on the 4th Tuesday of the Month from 5-6pm.

This team promotes and supports both Hunger projects in the Synod and giving to the ELCA Hunger Appeal. We also provide educational material at Synod Assemblies and other special events. We gather stories of what is being done in these areas in our synod. This information is shared jointly at our meetings, on the Synod web page and on the NW Washington Synod Hunger Team Facebook page. We have sponsored programs for congregations to learn more and designed special programs for the same. We have done some small fundraising projects and then granted funds to local congregational hunger projects.

Our goal is to have a representative from each congregation. Currently we have about 8 active individuals. Realistically we would like participation of at least 10 more people. Gifts we could use include a person to design flyers, someone to coordinate our Facebook page, and someone interested in helping with planning our programs and an individual who will take notes during our meetings and share them with the group.

Hope you can become part of this team. Please reach out to our Co-Chairs, Bob & Carol Wall.

Celebrate Black History Month with Women of the ELCA

Join us as we celebrate Black History Month this February. Access articles and resources to share with your congregation and community this month.

A Legacy of Faith: Celebrating African Descent Women of Faith blog series: Follow the Women of the ELCA blog every Monday throughout February. This blog series written by Valora K Starr, director for discipleship, will introduce you to "women of great faith." Starr writes, "What we know about most African-descent 'sheroes' is not written in American history, but their stories have been passed from generation to generation and new learnings are surfacing every day." Visit the Women of the ELCA blog this month to learn more.

Find prayers and a devotion for Black History Month here.

Smithsonian Institution

The Smithsonian Institution website features a list of events to participate in during the month of February in celebration of Black History Month.

Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) As founders of Black History Month, the ASALH website features information about the theme for the 2025 celebration.

Books Featuring Black Excellence

from Beaming Books (an imprint of Augsburg Fortress)

At Beaming Books not only want to share our books that include Black history—we're spreading the word about our books that celebrate Black excellence from the past and today. After all, Black history is American history. We hope these books help kids celebrate culture and foster pride and understanding throughout the whole year. GO HERE to learn more. (Scroll midway down the main page to find a great list! for your personal - or church - collection!)

Beaming Books publishes high-quality children’s books that help kids thrive in every part of who they are–emotionally, socially, and spiritually. With topics ranging from self-esteem to kindness, ethics, and faith, our books are designed to spark the imagination and equip kids and families to live full and flourishing lives, together. Beaming Books is an imprint of Augsburg Fortress Publishers. Augsburg Fortress Publishers creates multimedia resources and distinctive books for Christian communities, higher-education learning and scholars, and the general reader. Its imprints include: Augsburg Fortress, Beaming Books, Broadleaf Books, Fortress Press, and Sparkhouse.

Region One Online Forum

for our faith communities regarding immigration

Wednesday, February 12, 6:30pm on Zoom

Considering the new Trump Administration directives limiting congregational rights to offer sanctuary for our immigrant neighbors, and our position as a faith community rooted in biblical admonitions to accompany the stranger, we highly encourage you to participate in a Region 1 online forum discussing protections for churches, organizations and individuals and how we might know our rights and/or rise up to be sanctuaries for our most vulnerable.

We are grateful to be joined by immigration experts, including leaders from Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon and Lutheran Community Services NW. Please invite any other key leaders you know, of any denomination.

Registration required. Free. Please share this invitation.

Register here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/azM5gsIyTZm79SjOnaVgbw

Fireside Chat:

Exploring Pathways for Chaplaincy in the ELCA

Thursday, February 13, 5pm-6:15pm

The ELCA seminaries will be hosting a Fireside Chat (a new series) in February. The first will be with the ELCA Chaplain Corps. Join us and chat with the Seminaries of the ELCA and the ELCA Chaplain Corps, as we explore the in’s and out’s of serving as a Chaplain in the ELCA! Learn more and register here

Feb. 20 - Interfaith Advocacy Day

They are at capacity for this event, but learn more here about how to support this work: https://fanwa.org/interfaith-advocacy-day/

While on their website, sign up to receive their e-news and keep up to date on all things advocacy!

Additional resources for showing up in deep solidarity and mutual accountability with our migrant neighbors from Church Council of Greater Seattel can be found here: https://www.thechurchcouncil.org/news/immfaithconv-recap

Substance Use Recovery: How Your Church can be Part of the Solution

A one-hour free webinar presented by the Center of Addiction & Faith.

Wednesday, February 26, 10am

Guest presenter is Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC, from the ATTC Network, a multidisciplinary resource for professionals in the addictions treatment and recovery services fields. He will present church-based initiatives which have been effective in addressing substance use challenges, and share multiple ways churches can support recovery for individuals, families and communities impacted by addiction. Webinar host is the Rev. George A. Wood.

The link to register is https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_L67QnN2LSe-IumxdSlkRlg

From our Friends at Underground Ministries

An opportunity to connect and learn via Zoom office hours!

Have you ever pondered Jesus’ words about visiting and freeing the prisoners? How do we as disciples faithfully follow those calls to action? One Parish One Prisoner offers a two year journey of relationship with one person coming home from prison. As this relationship brings us closer to the world of prisons, we glimpse resurrection.

Join us for our quarterly Zoom Office Hours to ask questions and learn more: Wednesday, February 26 at 5pm! Join here: bit.ly/OPOPoffice 

Call to Allyship Gathering

Saturday, March 1, 10am-2pm at Calvary Lutheran in Federal Way

Cost is $40, lunch included

Do you wish your congregation was more diverse? Have you encountered conflicts because of cultural or racial differences and didn't know how you got there or what to do next? Then this event is for you!

The NWWA and SWWA synods of the ELCA invite all congregations to join us for a special joint event sponsored by our anti-racism teams.

We will spend a day studying "Called to Allyship," a book written by ELCA rostered leaders of color from across the country. One of the authors, Rev. Priscilla Paris-Austin (pastor at Immanuel Lutheran in Seattle's South Lake Union neighborhood), will be helping to lead our discussion. Other discussion leaders are pastors and lay leaders from congregations who have read this book together.

The book can be purchased from major booksellers, preferably directly from Augsburg Fortress: https://www.augsburgfortress.org/store/product/9781506497761/Call-to-Allyship

Says one local congregation member: "This is an important anti-racism book for any congregation to read. Any congregation will benefit from it!"

Register HERE

Learning Love Lenten Series

This year’s installment of LiVE’s Lenten “Gospel & Culture” series. In her book All About Love, bell hooks explores the transformative power of love through a commitment to personal growth, justice, and self-awareness.

Come and deepen our calling to love as we explore her writing together Thursday evenings in Lent, beginning March 6.

Learn more and get registered here: https://www.lutheransnw.org/events/learning-love-lenten-journey-with-bell-hooks/2025-03-06

“Speaking Truth to Power: What Would Bonhoeffer Do?

Led by Rev. Dr. Rick Rouse with Rev. Dr. Mark Brocker

Offered by Our Savior's Lutheran, Everett on March 9, 16, 23, and 30

in person and via ZOOM on Sundays at 11 am

recordings will be available on YouTube

Is this a Bonhoeffer moment in America and what can Dietrich Bonhoeffer teach us about God’s call to be courageous disciples during difficult times? We’ll explore how we are called to be tellers of the truth as well as messengers of healing and hope. Mark Brocker is President of the Oregon Bonhoeffer Society, translator of Bonhoeffer’s works for Augsburg Fortress, and former PLTS professor. Rick Rouse is retired pastor, professor and author of several books including A Journey Called Hope: Today’s Immigrant Stories and the American Dream (Chalice Press, 2024).    

Congregations or individual who wish to participate via ZOOM are welcome. 

Please contact Rick at rwrouse@comcast.net 

World Mission Institute Conference:

The Challenge of our Age: Migration & Mission

Register for the 2025 World Mission Institute (WMI), an annual conference held in the spring since 1970. Each year outstanding international speakers and resource persons deal with a significant aspect of Christian mission. This year’s theme is “The Challenge of Our Age”: Migration and Mission.

This event will be held both in person and virtually on Thursday, March 13 - program at 7:00 p.m. (central time) Visit the event webpage to learn more about the 2025 World Mission Institute. 

Camp Lutherwood Elementary Retreat

We welcome Elementary school-age campers and their guardians for our one-night retreat at Lutherwood! This introduction to camp allows kids and their guardians to stay overnight in a cabin, eat meals in the Dining Hall, make crafts, participate in campfire worship, play games, and more!

Whether you’ve never been to Lutherwood before or you’re a seasoned pro, it’s a great time to meet young people from around our region and dip your toes in our Summer 2025 theme, “The Water of Life”!

• When: Friday, March 14 to Saturday, March 15, 2025 (6:00 pm to 6:00 pm)

• Who: K-6th grade students*, their guardians, and Youth Leaders

• Cost: $65 per youth - $45 per adult

*K-1st grade students must have at least one guardian in attendance; additional guardians are welcome.

Registration opens in February. For questions please contact Ashleigh Ellsworth-Keller, Program Director at ashleigh.ek@camplutherwood.org 

Play Ball and Connect: A Desert Sojourn Retreat

March 16-20 in Arizona!

Join us for an inspiring Spring Training experience in Arizona, where baseball enthusiasts and faith-driven individuals unite to explore the connection between sport and spirituality.

This unique retreat, led by Pastor Dave Ellingson, combines fellowship, worship, and the excitement of baseball with opportunities to attend MLB Cactus League games in the vibrant Arizona desert.

Learn more and register here: https://spiritinthedesert.org/events/play-ball-and-connect/

Considering Seminary?

Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS)

Discernment Weekend April 4-6

Are you wondering if seminary might be right for you? Consider joining Signs Along the Way at PLTS in Berkeley, California to connect with others in discernment, get to know PLTS faculty, and explore what it’s like to be an online student in the MDiv, MA in Spirituality and Social Change, or Lutheran Year programs. PLTS is transitioning to only offer online study with in-person intensives, so this weekend is designed for those interested in online learning.

PLTS covers lodging and meals during the event and can offer some travel assistance for those who need it. Visit plts.edu/signs to learn more.

Want an item included?

Email Susan Berg, Dir. Communications & Events

All items due by 2pm on the prior Thursday

Northwest Washington Synod / ELCA

5519 Phinney Avenue North

Seattle, WA 98103

206-783-9292