Grace Grants
We are excited to be able to offer one final year of Grace Grants!
The 2023 Focus Areas:
- Ministry Innovation
- Equity and Justice for Marginalized Communities
- Community, Inclusion and Belonging
- Youth and Young Adult
Our online application form will open February 1 and close May 31.
You will find information and the link for the online application form on the synod website HERE
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Synod Gatherings!
Save the Dates!
This year we will not be be holding a Synod Assembly.
Instead, all members of the synod are invited to attend one of two Synod Gatherings that will be held in May. Join us for worship, fellowship, and forums to inspire, educate, and equip members of the NW WA Synod! Cost will be $40/person
We are currently finalizing plans with our forum facilitators. We will share all the details includingforum topics & presenters, schedule, and how to register VERY SOON! For now, save these dates:
Saturday, May 13, 8:30am-3:30pm - Salem Lutheran Church in Mount Vernon
Saturday, May 20, 8:30am-3:30pm - Saint Andrew's Lutheran Churn in Bellevue
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Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church
At the 2022 Churchwide Assembly last August, voting members adopted a memorial concerning restructuring the ELCA’s governance, and in November the Church Council responded to this by authorizing the establishment of a Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church.
More information about the commitment and expectation of serving on the CRLC can be found HERE. Interested individuals who wish to be nominated or to nominate another person should complete and submit the nomination form.
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Synod Events This Week:
Mon, Jan 30, 11am - Coach Northwest Gathering (coaches, see your email, others - learn more about the opportunity to utilize a coach for your ministry here!)
Tues, Jan 31, 10am-1pm - Synod Staff Meeting
Tues, Jan 31, 6:30pm - FREE Synod-wide Online Study of Acts (see below)
Wed, Feb 1, 9am - Transition Facilitator Meeting
Wed, Feb 1, 6:30pm - Interrogating Privilege (see below)
Thurs, Jan 26, 1pm Transition Minister Meeting
NOTE: The Synod Office is undergoing a painting and carpet refresh Jan 26-Feb 9.
Please phone ahead if you woudl like to stop by. Your patience is appreciated as we navigate this physical transformation, in addition to our staff transitions! (A HUGE thank you to our host site, St. John United Lutheran Church for their generosity and gifted leaders!)
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Synod-Wide Bible Study on the book of Acts
A FREE NW WA Synod LiVE Project Offering!
Tuesdays, 6:30pm - 7:30pm | on Zoom
Continues weekly - drop into any session!
The Synod's LiVE Project is offering this free, weekly online Bible Study Series! Various rostered ministers from around our synod will co-facilitate a study of Willie James Jennings' book, Acts: A Theological Commentary on the Bible. Purchase of the book is encouraged, although not necessary to fully participate.
Join any or all Zoom Sessions HERE. (Zoom Meeting ID: 822 0985 0836 Passcode: Acts)
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ELCA Coaching Network - Weekly Sessions
Every Wednesday at 11am (Pacific)
All lay leaders and rostered ministers are invited to join this weekly opportunity to hear from various leaders across the Church - and share in small group conversation - on the theme of COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP.
Learn more about this week's topic and get the registration link here: https://www.elcacoaching.org/
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Interrogating Privilege
A LiVE Project Course
Class continues to meet Wednesdays Feb. 1, 8
then Thursdays during Lent: Feb. 23, Mar. 2, 9, 16
6:30pm - 8pm on Zoom
Presenters:
Rev. Priscilla Paris-Austin & Rev. Dr. Beverly Wallace
This 8-week course is designed specifically for lay leaders to open up transparent, and honest conversations around the ways privilege shapes and impacts our lives and communities of faith. If you’ve read anti-racist books, and are looking for the next, best steps as an individual, family or congregation, this course offers additional ways to move forward. Participants will also have an option to explore their own bias through the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI).
Read about our presenters and get registered HERE!
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We give thanks for our partner collaboration with Trinity Education Foundation who, through a generous grant, is helping us to reach and make accessible these learning opportunities to more and more communities of faith. This gift helps us to further expand on the great offerings that we can make available.
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National Fund for Sacred Places
Join us on February 1st for an introductory session!
Join us for an introductory webinar on Wednesday, February 1, at 9am to learn more about the National Fund for Sacred Places and whether your sacred place may qualify.
Register for the online session here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fUORhQEaQGuslHTP99nO7Q
The National Fund for Sacred Places is a grant-making program that provides capital grants ranging from $50,000 to $250,000+ as well as wrap-around support services to congregations undertaking once-in-a-generation preservation projects. To learn more, please visit us at fundforsacredplaces.org.
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Talks at the Desk Trailer
Season 2 in February
African Descent Ministries of the ELCA celebrates Black History Month with “Talks at the Desk,” a four-part video series that will explore diverse expressions of the church. A new video will premiere each Wednesday in February at 5:30 pm.
Watch live on Facebook, stream on YouTube or download at https://ELCA.org/ADM
For more information: https://ELCA.org/TalksAtTheDesk
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Online Trainings from ReconcilingWorks!
Find these two online trainings and more here:
https://www.reconcilingworks.org/trainings/
The Let’s Talk About SOGIE training and “Lutheran Introduction to Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, & Gender Expression” are complementary resources, to be used side by side in your learning of language, and ways to extend hospitality to our LGBTQIA+ siblings. The training is great for those who are hoping to support their faith community in ongoing education, or for individuals who have an open heart and mind on learning more about God’s diversity of creation. The training is 1.5 hours long and held online through Zoom in real-time; registration is $35 per person.
2023 Trainings: February 2 / March 2 / May 4 / June 1
Building an Inclusive Church (BIC) training helps you design and implement a journey for your faith community to publicly and intentionally welcome people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions, and incorporate a commitment to the work of racial equity. Building an Inclusive Church equips you with ways to create dialogue, deepening relationships throughout your faith community rather than sparking debate and division. The training is 4.5 hours long, and held online through Zoom in real-time; registration is $75 per person.
2023 Trainings: February 4 / March 4 / May 6 / June 3
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Morning Art Retreat - Calligraphy
Saturday, February 4, 9am-1pm
At Emmaus Table at 7400 Woodlawn
Take a morning retreat, learning some basics of calligraphy in the welcoming community space at 7400 Woodlawn.
Laura Sasaki Norton is a skillful calligrapher and teacher, offering an inviting, supportive spirit of exploration in trying something new! The registration fee is $40 - 70, which includes materials and teaching fee.
To register online, click here and find Calligraphy Class in the drop down menu. If you have questions, contact Harriet Platts at info@7400Woodlawn.org.
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Lutherwood Annual Meeting
Saturday, February 4, 10am
at the Lutherwood Chapel
Please check with the camp office to see if your congregation is a contributing member and come and vote. Each member congregation can send 1 clergy member and 2 lay members.
office@camplutherwood.org (360) 734-7652.
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Interfaith Advocacy Day
In Olympia, Thursday, February 9, 9am-3pm.
Registration is now open - please register HERE by Feb 3 to attend IN PERSON. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, there is no cost to attend this year. We will be gathering in person at The United Churches of Olympia in the morning and meeting with legislators in the afternoon. We are unsure at this point which portions of the day we will be able to offer for online participation; we will provide updates about that and registration for any online activities as more is known. Please join us to raise voices of faith and conscience in our State Capitol!
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LiVE Project Winter Retreat
The Spirituality of Disruption
Saturday, February 11. 9am-3pm
at Saint Andrew's Lutheran Church, Bellevue
Collectively disruptions shape the human experience. Most recently we have experienced a global disruption through the Covid pandemic. As people of faith, we are also experiencing a disruption as the people of God within our local churches. Amid these various disruptions, and in light of the journey of Lent before us, how we can think of and practice our way faithfully through disruption as led by the Holy Spirit among us?
This winter retreat invites us into how we think about and engage in the discernment of the spirits, Creator and created, and how God calls us to faithful and focused witness as God's people. Through reflection and practical exercises, we will consider discernment processes that honor disruption as a movement of the Spirit, and our responsibility and call within it all.
Learn how to participate HERE.
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PLTS - Mohrenwieser Lecture
"CRISPR Revolution in Science, Religion, and Ethics"
Wednesday, February 15 at 9am
(online & in person at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary)
In this lecture, Arvin Gouw PhD will present an overview of the CRISPR revolution and the various uses of CRISPR, a powerful gene editing tool. The questions and issues raised by the scientific, ethical, and religious communities amidst this CRISPR revolution are more important than the answers provided. The topics introduced here revolve around the medical uses of CRISPR, but CRISPR can be used to edit the genome of any living organism. The three domains discussed in this lecture (science, religion, and ethics) will need to engage this novel technology. Dr. Ted Peters, Emeritus Professor of Systematic Theology and Ethics, will offer a response.
Learn more about this event, the presenters and how to register here: and Dr. Gouw here: https://www.plts.edu/events/5657/
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Trauma & Its Healing
Sponsored by the Lutheran Faith Community Nurse Association
Non-members and non-nurses are welcome to attend!
February 21, 4-6 pm on ZOOM
Trauma is characterized in three ways: acute, chronic, and complex. This presentation will offer information as to the types of trauma; how they present/how they can be recognized; what damage they can do to those experiencing them; strategies for beginning the healing process; and vicarious trauma (the trauma suffered by those witnessing trauma suffered by others, including caregivers).
Registration fee: $20 for LFCNA members/ $30 for non-members
To register, please go to: https://elpna.org/event-5115478
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Suicide Alertness Training
Satruday, February 25, 9am-1pm
at Freeborn Lutheran Church
2416 300th St. NW, Stanwood
LivingWorks safeTALK is a four-hour face-to-face workshop featuring powerful presentations, audiovisuals, and skills practice. You’ll learn how to prevent suicide by recognizing signs, engaging someone, and connecting them to an intervention resource for further support.
Who should attend safeTALK? safeTALK is for everyone who wants to help prevent suicide: teachers, front line workers, clergy, volunteers, coaches, parents, youth (15 and older), teachers, law enforcement, social workers, anyone who wants to help prevent suicide.
FACILITATORS: John and Shirley Swanson Certified LivingWorks safeTALK and ASIST trainers.
Note: Class size limited to 40. Cost of training materials has been donated.
To pre-register email ASIST.Lifeguard@yahoo.com, or text 360-271-9896
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Want an item included?
All items due by 2pm on the prior Thursday
Northwest Washington Synod / ELCA
5519 Phinney Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98103
206-783-9292
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