UPCOMING INSTALLATIONS in February!

(and there are more to be announced soon!)

Rev. Esau Benitez-Cuevas Installation

Sunday, February 4, 2pm

at Immanuel Lutheran Church - 5782 Lawrence Road in Everson

Pastor Esau has accepted the call to serve as pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Everson. All are welcome to attend. Reception to follow in parish hall. Rostered ministers are asked to vest – meet in parish hall at church at 1:40 pm. They will process into sanctuary together at 2 pm. God bless this new ministry partnership!

Rev. Kevin Beebe Installation

Saturday, February 10 at 3pm

at Lutherwood Camp & Retreat Center at 1185 Roy Road in Bellingham

Pastor Kevin has accepted the position of Executive Director at Lutherwood. All are welcome to attend this installation service and reception to follow. God bless this new ministry partnership! (The Annual Meeting will be held in the morning - see the full day of activities below!)

Rev. Kristin-Luana Bauman & Rev. Olaf Baumann Installation

Saturday, February 24, 11am

at Our Savior Lutheran Church - 745 Front Street South, Issaquah

Pastors Kristin-Luana & Olaf have accepted the call to serve at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Issaquah. All are welcome to attend the service, with light lunch to follow. Rostered Ministers are invited to vest - please arrive by 10:40am. God bless this new ministry partnership!

TWO ANNOUNCEMENTS

Regarding the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering!

NEW PRIORITY PRICING OFFER!

Are you planning to attend the Gathering in New Orleans this summer? Are you trying to decide about registering for the Gathering? I’ve got some good news for you! The first five newly registering congregations to contact Becky Cole, our Synod Gathering Champion (email her at children@hslckirkland.org), will receive the priority pricing rate of $375 for anyone they register from their congregation by February 14!

The fine print: Only new registering congregations are eligible for this incentive. It does not apply to congregations who have already registered and are adding more participants. If you receive this incentive, you must register your congregation by February 14 at 11:59pm CST. Anyone who registers after that date/time will need to pay the current registration rate.

If you have questions or want more information, please reach out to Becky. She attended a 2-day training last week in New Orleans and is happy to answer any and all questions.

SERVANT COMPANIONS NEEDED!

Know anyone who would make a great servant companion this summer?

The Accompaniment team is still recruiting young adults for this role. The application is still live on the website https://www.elca.church/gathering/attend/volunteers), so please apply using these links.

If you have a recommendation or questions, please email Kristen Contos Krueger at accompaniment.elcayg@gmail.com.

Pews and other church items to share

With the closure of Holy Cross Lutheran Church of Bellevue, their Legacy Team is hoping to share some items with other ministries in the synod, including:

Pews (10 feet wide)

Altar cloths / paraments

Other pulpit supplies

Brass crosses

Brass candle holders and candles

Offering plates

Books

Large print pulpit Bible. 

Beautiful wood cross carving at the front of the church

If interested, please reach out to Jan at 425-221-8544.

News to Share from LCSNW

Find a story each month to share with your congregation... The hope that these stories can be made useful when putting together church bulletins so that they can continue to inspire others throughout our territory.

For this month's story, we focused on the incredible work and tenacity of our staff members of LCSNW. When a family of 6 appeared at the steps of our Everett Community Resource Center, our staff immediately jumped into action. Find the story to share HERE.

Free Music Compositions for YOU!

Introducing two FREE compositions from Lutheran Summer Music by Anne Krentz Organ: Holy Manna, for solo instrument with keyboard accompaniment, and Be Thankful, for SATB chorus, descant, keyboard accompaniment, optional: assembly, handbells.

Free sheet music download: https://www.lsmacademy.org/resources 

Survey for those who handle money/finances

A doctoral candidate at William Howard Taft University is conducting research for their dissertation, “Evaluating the Efficacy of Internal Control Policies in Preventing and Reporting Fraud and Embezzlement in Churches.” They are seeking participants from various regions nationwide to address this pressing issue. If you are involved or have direct oversight of church finances, please consider adding your voice to this survey. The QR code on the pic included here will take eligible participants directly to the survey.

An ELCA Survey for Rostered Ministers Regarding Educational Debt:

The burden of educational debt has had a profound impact on many rostered ministers in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. At its spring 2022 meeting, the Executive Committee of the ELCA Church Council approved the formation of a task force to study the issue and shape recommendations for providing relief to as many pastors and deacons as possible. One of the first steps in this work is to gain a more comprehensive understanding of how educational debt is impacting our leaders, their families, their call processes, and their ministry.

We’d like to hear from you. All rostered ministers, active and retired, are invited to participate in this survey. Even if you no longer carry or have never carried educational debt, we want to hear your experiences and perspective.

Take the 10-minute survey HERE by February 9th.

Annual Congregation Report

Each year, every congregation, synod-authorized worshiping community (SAWC) and new start is asked by our partners at ELCA Churchwide to provide information about its people, finances, and resources through the Annual Congregation Report.

This provides the churchwide organization and synods with a record of the congregations and worshiping communities that make up the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO TAKE TIME TO COMPLETE THIS FORM.

Now is a great time to gather the info needed - as many of our congregations are preparing for annual meetings and reports... All ELCA congregations, SAWCs and new starts should now have received the 2023 Annual Congregation Report packet through the mail. If your congregation or worshiping community would like to begin compiling information for the report before receiving the packet, electronic versions of Form A and several supporting documents are available below. A set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) will help you navigate the process. The online system is open now!

Learn more and complete your congregation’s form online here: 

https://www.elca.org/About/Congregations/Annual-Congregation-Report

Cannot locate your password? Contact Tabetha in the synod office!

Cultivate Confidence: Lead Powerfully as A Woman in Ministry

Feel like you've got way too much going on but you're not doing enough? 

Tired of second guessing yourself with every decision?

Join this free five-day series of learning and group coaching to cultivate the confidence to lead meaningfully.

You'll walk away in a better place to discern where you’re going next. And unlock your power as a woman in ministry. Click here to register now.

Abide in the Word Bible Study - continues!

Tuesdays, 7-8pm via Zoom

This is a year-long, Synod-wide weekly Bible Study that takes participants on a deeper dive into the coming Sunday's Lectionary text. Participants will have the chance to experience diverse perspectives and voices from various guest facilitators from across the synod.



This is a FREE LiVE offering! No registration needed!

YES, you may join in any week at this link: HERE.

Addiction & Practical Solutions for Faith Communities

Join us for this free one-hour webinar on Zoom hosted by the Center of Addiction & Faith on Wednesday, Jan. 31, from 10am-11am (Pacific). All attending will be on zoom and questions can be asked through chat during the webinar.  We will have author Keaton Douglas (author and founder of the iTHIRST Initiative), joining host George A. Wood for a discussion of Keaton’s latest book, The Road to Hope: Responding to the Crisis of Addiction. Those struggling with addiction, and their loved ones, should be able to visit any faith community and find someone to offer spiritual consolation and recovery resources. We as a church can’t ignore the crisis of addiction. Solutions for faith communities in addressing the scourge of addiction in their pews and beyond will be shared & discussed. The webinar is for everyone, clergy and lay.

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Rs_162WZSL6TPIGYxsO6_w#/registration

Webinar with ELEA (Evangelical Lutheran Education Association)

You are invited to join this live webinar with Barna experts and ELEA panelists to explore how ELEA schools and congregations impact their communities and parents. You’ll hear the latest research and stories from practitioners on how they’ve seen these findings have an impact in their contexts. You’ll leave this webinar with practical insights for your own ministry contexts and access to a tools for ministry growth. 

Recommended attendance by: School and Congregation leaders of the ELEA; ELCA leaders and stakeholders considering schools and learning centers as a ministry; Congregations with schools and centers, also looking to reach congregations who are considering partnerships with schools (synod offices, larger ELCA network) Register Here.

Author Event: Go and Do Likewise: Following Jesus into our Common Humanity, with Pastor Terry Kyllo

Thursday, February 1, 6:30pm-8pm

at Burlington Lutheran Church, 134 E Victoria Ave, Burlington

Seven in ten Americans feel the nation is dangerously divided. We are living in bubbles, isolated from people of other perspectives, traditions, and cultures. We are also dangerously unequal. Many people do not have equal access to opportunities to care for their family and community. We know we are walking on a dangerous road, but what can we do? In conversation with leaders of many traditions, Pastor Terry Kyllo of Paths to Understanding realized we can all make a difference when we know, work with, and honor people of diverse traditions and cultures.

But many Christians are hesitant to relate to people of other traditions as many have been taught:

·      Christianity is the only way to God

·      Christianity is God’s only way to us

On his own journey as a follower of Jesus, Terry slowly realized that Jesus taught no such thing. He writes: “I was born into White Christian Supremacy. But I was not born for it. You weren’t either. The Creator has more beautiful ways for us to live and is restoring what was taken from us. Jesus invites his followers to take the long, painful, joyous, and healing journey of daily baptism to find our identity among all the Creator’s children, all made in God’s image.”

Join us for a conversation with the author at Burlington Lutheran Church.

Available wherever books are sold in print, eBook, and Audio book.

Contact Paths to Understanding at together@pathstounderstanding.org to schedule a conversation or presentation. https://pathstounderstanding.org/go-and-do-likewise/

Hunger Action Day

February 1, 2024 - Registration is live!

Join anti-hunger advocates from across the state by registering (bit.ly/HAD2024) for Hunger Action Day in Olympia! 

Each year more than 150 advocates come together in our Capitol for a morning of discussions about issues facing lawmakers, information about our anti-hunger priorities, and advocacy training so you and your fellow advocates are prepared to meet with legislators in the afternoon.

Once you register, we (Faith Action Network) will do our best to schedule appointments for you with your three legislators. The sooner you register, the easier it is to get an appointment! Once you’ve registered, you will receive information about the Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition's 2024 legislative agenda, info about training opportunities before our lobby day, links to policy papers, advocacy tips to use throughout legislative session, and logistics for Hunger Action Day itself.

Bring your colleagues, clients, board members, volunteers, and neighbors - register for Hunger Action Day and make your voices heard! 

Stewardship Training Opportunities

You are invited to register for these courses to grow stewardship and cultivate large gifts with your local church. Here are the three opportunities:



Cultivating the Craft of Asking, a series of five bi-weekly webinars. You will be equipped to develop a donor base and large donations. Next cohort begins soon on February 13. Register today at:  http://www.myteministries.org/webinars. 

African Descent and African National Financial Empowerment in Our Contexts

Next online session is Feb. 17 at 7am

Webinar:  https://forms.gle/bLofos8MUqa9fZ3z6

One Day Seminar: Deepening Our Relationship with the Spirituality of Fundraising

March 7 (new date) 8am to 1pm

Designed to activate our courage and pastoral leadership for expanding partnerships, cultivating donors and funding your ministry, this day is packed with insightful exercises and engagement activities. Bring a team from your ministry setting! Seats are limited, so register promptly: Link to register

DEM Maristela Freiberg and the New Jersey Synod recently raised $34,000 in one day of this active seminar. In response to interest, this online version is open to all leaders and synods. For more info., contact Bonnie Marden at bonnie@myteministries.org or Tim Brown at Tim.Brown@elca.org

Financial Empowerment for Missional Leaders, a monthly webinar series covering church financial stewardship responsibilities, tailored-to you, and starting again later in 2024. The cost for 9 monthly sessions for one pastoral and one lay leader is only $200 total. Nominate participants today at https://forms.gle/SetAeLvw5sc5yZgx9

The courses are directed by Bonnie Ives Marden, Bonnie@myteministries.org author of “Church Finances for Missional Leaders: Best Practices for Faithful Stewardship” in partnership with the ELCA New Ministry Development and Evangelism Team.

National Fund for Sacred Places

Information session



Join us for an information session webinar on Thursday, February 1st at 9am (Pacific) to learn more about the National Fund for Sacred Places and whether your sacred place (or the sacred places in your community) may qualify.

The National Fund for Sacred Places is a grant-making program that provides capital grants ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 as well as wrap-around support services to congregations undertaking once-in-a-generation preservation projects.

To register for the info session, GO HERE. / To learn more, visit: fundforsacredplaces.org.

LiVE Project Retreat - THIS WEEKEND!

STILL TIME TO REGISTER!

Rest & Renewal Retreat:

Ministering in an Age of Mental Health



Saturday, February 3rd, 9am-3pm

at Our Saviors Lutheran, Everett

We are noticing the burden of mental health overwhelming many of those in our churches and broader communities. How are we being called to respond to these instances where and when we notice them? As lay leaders called to care for the children, youth and adults in our congregations, how are we navigating this important dynamic?

The retreat will provide space for learning, reflection, and embodied practices to accompany all of us who are working toward wellness in ourselves, our communities of faith, and the world. How is the Spirit calling us, and those we we minister alongside of, to wholistic healing for the body, mind and spirit? After all, we know that caring for ourselves holistically, allows us to better care for others.

Hear from various leaders and practitioners in this field, including: 

• Certified Mental Health Therapist, Justus D'Addario - has worked in community mental health for five years and has been in private practice for 13 years (Renton Family Therapy). He specializes in attachment and Lifespan Integration. He has been meditating and practicing tai chi for over two decades and attends St Matthews Lutheran, Renton.
• Certified Mental Health Therapist, Ruth Foster Koth - a Clinical Social Worker in the University of Washington Medical Center system. She counsels patients in coping with chronic illness, emotional eating and managing complex medical systems. In her private practice, she cherishes walking alongside clients as they improve their mental health. She attends Faith Lutheran, Seattle.
• Rev Kacey Hahn - Pastor at St Matthews, Renton, Kacey will present "Spirituality of Body & Breath."
• Rev. Shannyn Fuerst - Pastor of Faith Lutheran, Seattle, Shannyn will address "Spirituality of Health & Wellness." 



Registration: FREE for those whose church purchased the Congregational Bundle; $50 otherwise.

For More Info & to Register

Songs of Light and Songs of Peace with Mark Sedio

Saturday, February 3, 2pm

at Faith Lutheran in Redmond

Nationally known organist Mark Sedio leads a hymn festival on the Martin Pasi Opus 2 organ. This unique program will feature a massed choir of singers, and the congregation, and will celebrate the Epiphany season with Songs of Light and Songs of Peace. Suggested donation of $10 person / $20 for a family of 2 or more.

Would you like to sing with this group on February 3rd?

Great! Just such an opportunity is open to the first 75 singers who sign up to attend a single rehearsal from 11:30am to 12:45pm the day of the Hymn Festival at Faith Lutheran Church, 9041 166th Ave NE in Redmond. Lunch will be provided at the conclusion of the rehearsal. To sing, you must sign up – take a minute to do it now – by responding with your name and voice part via e-mail to our Director of Music Ministries, Dr. William Bryant: bryantw@faithluth.org. Your song is a cherished gift!

Faith Action Network’s Interfaith Advocacy Day

...brings the voices of compassion and justice to our elected leaders. Meeting with your legislators and their staff on this day is putting your faith into action! On Interfaith Advocacy Day, you will be able to:

• Join plenaries and workshops that will explore the issues on FAN’s 2024 Legislative Agenda.
• Meet with advocates from your legislative district to prepare for your legislative visits.
• Meet with your legislator or their legislative assistant! If you register by January 29, FAN will set up an appointment for you and others from your district.
• Lunch will be provided.

Registration deadline is January 29.

This year we are limited to 200 participants due to regulations at The United Churches of Olympia. We encourage you to sign up early so that we can guarantee you a spot.

Due to the generosity of our donors, there is no cost this year to participate in FAN’s Interfaith Advocacy Day. You are welcome to donate anytime to keep our advocacy moving forward in 2024.

After you register, you will receive more information via e-mail as February 8 approaches, including details on the agenda, workshop topics, and times of your legislative appointments.

We’re excited to have you be FAN in the halls of power on this great day!

Learn more and register here: Interfaith Advocacy Day’s Events

Lutherwood Camp & Retreat Center

Annual Meeting - and Executive Director Installation

Saturday, February 10

at Camp 1185 Roy Road, Bellingham

A full day of activities:

10am Coffee & Pasties with the Board & Executive Director,

11am - Annual Meeting

12:30pm - Soup Lunch

3pm - Installation Service for Rev. Kevin Beebe, new Executive Director

Reception follows

Join the next LiVE Project online course!

Lent with Baldwin & Bonhoeffer

6-week Course via zoom

Thursdays in Lent, 7-8:30pm, starting Feb 15

What might Dietrich Bonhoeffer (a Lutheran German theologian) and James Baldwin (a Black, 20th century author and novelist) together have to prophetically speak to our current time? Through a combination of presentations, and brief selected readings, this co-facilitated course will invite a conversation for how these particular perspectives inform our lives as persons and communities of faith. Come join the conversation!

This 6-week course will meet via zoom Thursday nights during Lent (Feb 15th-March 21st), facilitated by Dr. Edward Donalson III and Dr. Dan Peterson. Registration: FREE for those whose church purchased the Congregational Bundle; $50 otherwise.

More info & to Register

Rest & Renewal Weekend Retreat

Friday evening-Sunday, February 16-18 | North Bend 

This retreat is open to all genders and is led by leaders from St. Matthew’s (Renton), Faith (Seattle) and Our Redeemer's (Seattle) - Join them!

In these times of such stress in our lives and the world in crisis, it’s more important than ever that we learn to take care of ourselves. You’re invited to an adult rest retreat at Rainbow Lodge, a cozy cedar lodge at the base of Mt. Si in North Bend. Explore what Sabbath means, connect with God, participate in new spiritual practices, have fun, and most importantly…REST!

The retreat cost for the weekend and all meals is $290 ($60 more to have a solo room).

Register here: https://rb.gy/tgmb3i. Come all who are weary! 

Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Marysville is thrilled to announce the celebration of its 125th anniversary, marking a significant milestone in the rich history of this beloved community institution. Since 1899, Bethlehem has been a beacon of faith, love, and service, impacting the lives of generations and contributing to the spiritual growth of Marysville and beyond.

To commemorate this historic occasion, Bethlehem has planned a series of special events and activities, inviting both current members and the wider community to join in the celebration. The anniversary festivities including a special anniversary worship service that honors the traditions of the past while embracing the hope of the future on February 11 at 9:30 AM.

An Evening Talk with John Philip Newell

In partnership with Seattle University, Saint Andrew's Lutheran Church in Bellevue is hosting John Philip Newell on Tuesday, February 20. He will give a lecture on his book Sacred Earth Sacred Soul. There will also be a time for Q&A, book signing, and a reception. Read more and register here:

An Evening Talk with John Philip Newell — Earth & Soul (earthandsoul.org)

Lutherans Restoring Creation and ELCA World Hunger are eager to share a resource faith communities can use to start discussions and inspire community-based-solutions to grow climate justice, as part of the One Home, One Future collaborative.



Regenerating Life: How to Cool the Planet, Feed the World, and Live Happily Ever After offers attainable solutions to the climate crisis through an ecological approach that unpacks the social and environmental crises confronting us.



Join us Tuesday Feb 27th at 5pm (Pacific) for film highlights & discussion with the filmmaker, John Feldman. You can view the trailer here.

Register HERE to gain free temporary access to this three-part documentary film, to watch at your convenience before we spend an hour meeting with the filmmaker and considering how best to share this multifaceted resource within our communities. You are also encouraged to start planning a screening for a larger group gathering in your own context to imagine together what your community’s next most faithful step can be. There is a curriculum in development to help us grow into answering the call from this remarkable collection of voices across the globe.

Once you register for this event, look for a follow-up email with your private link to stream the film. Please be sure to join the online discussion, even if you don’t get a chance to watch it in entirety before we meet. We will be watching a few minutes of highlights together for a shared experience before starting the conversation with the filmmaker.

SAVE THE DATE!

Join EDLARJ in Minneapolis for:

• community building
• racial justice education
• shaping the future of EDLARJ

Learn more and get registered HERE.

Want an item included?

Email Susan Berg, Communications Administrator

All items due by 2pm on the prior Thursday

Northwest Washington Synod / ELCA

5519 Phinney Avenue North

Seattle, WA 98103

206-783-9292