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Now hiring: a Financial Services Officer

We are now seeking applications for a Financial Services Officer for Region One of the ELCA. This full-time position is an essential role in the fiscal administration of the six synods or Region One and their ministries. Find the complete job listing (and how to apply) here.

Completed applications due November 1st.

PLEASE SHARE this opportunity in your circles!

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ADDITIONAL new positions have been posted on our synod website.

Check out opportunities around the synod here

https://www.lutheransnw.org/resources/employment-opportunities

Voices of Faith Vote No on WA 2117

In churches and sanctuaries across Washington State, faithful voices are singing about the beauty of creation in these Sundays of autumn: Giving thanks for the harvest, praising God for nature’s glory, and committing ourselves to care for the Earth.

We, the three Lutheran bishops of Washington State, join this anthem as we cast our ballots in this election. We urge voters to vote “No” on Initiative 2117, which attempts to repeal our state’s Climate Commitment Act.

The Bible calls us to love our neighbor and to take action to protect God’s creation for future generations. As the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s 2023 policy message “Earth’s Climate Crisis” states, this is a critical time when “God is leading us into decisive action” to protect the Earth and its climate.

We believe this is a moment for great hope. Our best scientists assure us that it is not too late: there is still time to avert the worst health consequences of global warming pollution, if we act now to reduce fossil fuel burning and transition to a clean energy economy. As Christians and followers of the teachings of Jesus, we must ensure that the poor and those on the margins are not disproportionately affected.

Washington State’s Climate Commitment Act sets a national example for decisive action to respond to dangerous global warming pollution. In its first year, the law has raised $2 billion, with funds directed toward transportation, clean air, renewable energy, conservation, and emissions reductions efforts, in every county across Washington State. It also sets aside money to help the poorest and most vulnerable.

For these reasons, we ask voters of faith and all who support a cleaner environmen to vote “No” on Initiative 2117. Repealing Washington’s landmark Climate Commitment Act would be a mistake. Going backwards on protecting the planet has steep, even deadly, costs for everyone—plants, animals, and people. While the Climate Commitment Act may not be perfect, we believe it should be modified rather than repealed.

Signed,

The Reverend Richard Jaech, Bishop, Southwestern Washington Synod

The Reverend Meggan Manlove, Bishop, Northwest Intermountain Synod

The Reverend Shelley Bryan Wee, Bishop, Northwest Washington Synod

Voting is not just a civic duty—it is a way to serve our neighbors

A message from ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton

Save the Date!

God’s Love Made Real Town Hall w/ Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton

For All Synods of Region One, Hosted by Bp. Shelley Bryan Wee

November 7 at 12noon (Pacific)

Registration: Encouraged here but not required

Join the Zoom session HERE

God’s Love Made Real is a movement within the ELCA that encourages us to create a world experiencing the difference God’s grace and love in Christ make for all people and creation. The purpose of this conversation is for Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton to share with ELCA members in a personal way — through examples, stories and answers to their questions — why God’s Love Made Real is vital to her and this church. 

ELCA members in the Alaska, Northwest Washington, Southwestern Washington, Northwest Intermountain, Oregon, and Montana synods are invited. Whether you are active in a congregation, are a pastor in the ELCA, or haven’t been to church in months, your voice is valuable. This conversation seeks to activate every one of us so that more people might know the way of Jesus and discover community, justice and love.

Be a good steward of the planet —

and your congregation’s bottom line

The recently enacted Inflation Reduction Act provides a unique opportunity for congregations and other ministries to receive reimbursements for clean energy investments through the government’s new Direct Pay Program. Partnering with the Mission Investment Fund and the ELCA Federal Credit Union can provide congregations up-front financing to get projects underway. Find out how you can take steps toward a brighter, cleaner future while taking advantage of valuable rebates and grants that can significantly offset the costs of solar panels and more. Learn more  

Strategy Towards Authentic Diversity Grants

$33,000 has been allocated to support diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives across the ELCA. Faithfulness to the Biblical mandate to proclaim the Gospel requires fostering actions that promote equity, fairness, and justice across all three expressions of the ELCA and society. Mini grants are seed grants designed to launch and support new or existing projects, policies, and events that promote or relate to the Strategy Towards Authentic Diversity themes. Individuals, associations, congregations, synods, and organizations affiliated with the ELCA are eligible to apply. Individuals, associations, congregations, synods, and organizations affiliated with the ELCA are eligible to apply. Registration closes November 1. Register to apply here. Funding decisions will be made through the STAD Advisory Committee. Funding will be announced on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, the National Day of Racial Healing.  

FREE LiVE Project Weekly Online Bible Study

Abide: Going Deeper

Tuesdays via Zoom, 7pm-8pm

We invite you to abide curiously in God's Word together. The LiVE retreats and courses are not meant to be stand alone offerings. Go deeper into the Biblical grounding of the course/retreat themes in this weekly synod-wide FREE Bible Study. No need to pre-register.

Join us any week! More info and Zoom link here.

Faith in Public Life

a LiVE Project 7-week course via Zoom

7pm - 8:30pm on Wednesdays | through October 30

In preparation for our election and the times we find ourselves in, what does it mean for us to be Church in today’s world? Through a variety of voices and disciplines, we’ll explore what it means to be people of faith in today’s public life, growing in our awareness of how we’ve been formed in our culture and how we’re being called into new places.

Learn more and get registered here: https://www.lutheransnw.org/events/faith-in-public-life

Creating Community at Gloria Dei Lutheran

We create community and joy by creating arts and crafts together. On Wednesday, October 23, at 6:00 pm, we will make an autumn craft together with all of the supplies provided. There is a $5 suggested donation but it is not required. Creating Community meets at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 3215 Larch Way, in Lynnwood. All skill levels are welcome!  

Celebrate 45 years of Hope, Dignity & Community!

Attend their luncheon on Thurs, Oct 24 at 12noon

Register here.

For 45 years, Immanuel Community Services (ICS) has been a steadfast beacon of hope, dignity, and community in the heart of Seattle. From its humble beginnings, ICS has grown into a vital lifeline for countless individuals and families facing the harsh realities of homelessness and hunger.



It all began in a small church basement, where a group of dedicated volunteers saw a growing need in their community. With compassion and determination, they started by offering warm meals and a safe space for those with nowhere else to turn. Word spread quickly, and soon, ICS became a cornerstone of support for the most vulnerable in the Belltown and South Lake Union areas.

Over the years, ICS has expanded its programs to meet the evolving needs of the community. From emergency shelters to food distribution, and counseling services, ICS has touched the lives of thousands, offering not just a helping hand but also a path to a brighter future.

As ICS celebrates 45 years of service, the stories of hope and transformation continue to inspire. The community has always been at the heart of everything ICS does, and with your support, it will continue to be a pillar of hope for generations to come.

Lutherwood Fall Work Day

Want to help your local camp while getting your hands dirty? Lutherwood is hosting the second of two fall work Saturdays, October 26, 9am-5pm! Join us as we close out summer needs and prepare camp for winter. All ages and skill levels welcome! Lunch will be provided. A sample list of jobs includes general organizing, demolishing a deck, painting, replacing smoke detectors, deep cleaning facilities, winterizing buildings, and so much more!

Sign up here: https://forms.gle/6SvBYQ7Fif3eKRjC8

Synod-Wide Election Week Online Prayer Vigil

November 1-9, each day at noon & 7pm via zoom

We recognize that anxiety is high going into the 2024 election season. So, we want to cover our country, our communities, and especially our marginalized people groups in prayer leading up to and after the election. People will gather on zoom, from across the synod at noon and 7pm each day (other than Sunday) for a time of guided communal prayer for the days surrounding the 2024 Election.

Participation in this vigil is free and no registration is required.

Find the Zoom links here.

Lutherwood Fall Family Retreat

Fall Family Retreat, November 1-3

Have you wondered what Lutherwood is like in the fall? Now’s your chance! Our beautiful 105 acres on Lake Samish offers opportunities for all ages, year-round, and we invite families, couples, and individuals to join us the first weekend in early November. We’ll enjoy a low-key weekend that will include opportunities for family time, fellowship, campfires, songs, strolls, and more. You can even bring your costume for a Talent Show!

Visit our website at https://www.camplutherwood.org/non-summer-programs to register.

For questions, please reach out to ashleigh.ek@camplutherwood.org. We hope to see you here soon!

Lutheran World Relief InGathering

Seattle 2024 Fall Ingathering of kits and quilts!

November 1 and 2

at Our Redeemers' Lutheran at 2400 NW 85th St, Seattle.  

Deliver your boxes of quilts or kits:

8am-2pm on Friday Nov 1st and 8am - 11:30am on Saturday Nov 2nd

We need a few more volunteers to direct traffic, or to help load boxes into the containers. 

If you can help for one or two hours, please contact Rich Mathes at 206-384-1183 or lwrmathes@aol.com. Boxes are generally 30 pounds or less. Traffic directors do not need to lift boxes - just direct cars and trucks. THANK YOU!

SOGIE Event by ReconcilingWorks

November 3, 11:30am-1pm at Salt House

(11920 NE 80th St, Kirkland)

As we seek to deepen and expand the holy work of welcome, inclusion, and celebration of LGBTQIA+ people in the church and society, we can find ourselves asking, “What does LGBTQIA+ mean?” Together we will co-create a safe space to learn helpful skills and tools to support you and your ministry.

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.

To register: https://www.reconcilingworks.org/trainings/talksogie/

United We Stand:

An Interreligious Prayer Vigil on the Eve of Elections

Monday, November 4, 7–8pm

At St. Mark’s Cathedral in Seattle and Live Streamed

In this time of trial and struggle, as we confront challenges to our civil society and our body politic, we are at a crossroads of conscience. And though the voices of vitriol and extremism often resound loudly, it is the judicious wisdom of resilient and courageous peacemakers who will lead us through this crisis. Prayerful reflection stands as a hopeful response to the static of cynicism.

Join local religious leaders and fellow citizens who will gather in Seattle’s Saint Mark’s Cathedral at this important juncture of our nation’s history. All are invited to join in this brief non-partisan interfaith service of hope, either in-person or via livestream. On the cusp of the exercise of our most essential civil right, we ask you to embrace this moment of contemplation and connection, as we affirm the principles that transcend our differences, and the common cause that will bind the wounds of this great nation.

Livestream link and flyer to share may be found here.

16th Annual Powell-Heller Conference for Holocaust Education - “Sephardic Jewish Voices and Experiences in the Holocaust” 

November 6 – 8 at Pacific Lutheran University

This is an opportunity to hear scholars from all over the world broaden our understanding of the terrible impact that the Holocaust had on Jewish communities. Our keynote speaker will be Professor Devin E. Naar, the Isaac Alhadeff Professor of Sephardic Studies and Associate Professor of History, and is faculty at the Stroum Center for Jewish Studies in the Jackson School of International Studies at University of Washington-Seattle. His talk will be “From the Ottoman Empire to the Holocaust.”

The conference is free and open to the public.

Learn more and register here: https://www.plu.edu/holocaustconference/

2024 Fall YOUTH Retreat – Yonder is the Sea!

at Camp Casey

Friday, November 8 at 6pm – Sunday, November 10 at 11am

We invite you to join in our 2024 Fall Youth Retreat at Camp Casey, November 8-10. We hope that your 6-12 grade youth will join us! Over the weekend we will explore the deep and playful relationship between water and faith, the sea and spirituality. Using Psalm 104:24-30 as our guide we will explore themes of playfulness, abundance, loss, and promise, among others as we connect the Psalm to our faith and daily lives.

Cost is $100 per participant. (This lower cost is due to the gracious support of the Northwest Washington (NWWA) Synod Children, Youth, and Family Committee)

Learn more and register your group here.

Wondering whether seminary education is right for you? Attend Signs Along the Way

November 8-10

In-person at the Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary campus in Berkeley

• Engage your sense of call
• Explore what it’s like to be a distributed learning student at PLTS
• Experience a PLTS class and connect with current students, faculty, and staff
• Lodging and most meals are covered; travel assistance available to those who need it

Learn more and register here: plts.edu/admission/visit/discernment-retreat.html

Truth & Healing Movement

The ELCA’s Truth & Healing Movement is an opportunity for this church to increase our understanding of our colonizing impacts on Indigenous people in the past and present. Toward Truth and Healing: How Churches Face Accountability for their Indian Boarding Schools is an online event November 10 in which Christian faith communities will discuss how churches are reexamining the roles their denominations played in operating Indian boarding schools.

The Vine Deloria Jr. Theological Symposium will be held November 18-19. Participants will hear from scholars and leaders, who will reflect on the text and how Deloria might be speaking to us today about the challenges we face and how we should respond. Learn more. (accessible online – at LSTC)

Funding Forward: Finding Hope and Sustainability Together

Hopeful stories of sustainable ministry funding models

November 12, 10am-11am Pacific Time

Church finances can feel daunting, especially as many congregations face declines in worship, attendance, and giving. But there’s another way forward—a more sustainable and joyful way. Join this webinar to be empowered with the resources you need to fund your ministry well into the future. This timely event builds on Grace Pomroy's recent book, Funding Forward, offering real-world stories and practical insights for congregations seeking a new way to approach their church’s finances.

Free workshop - learn more and register here:

https://faithlead.org/workshop/funding-forward-finding-hope-and-sustainability-together

Preparedness for Faith-Based Organizations

Thursday, November 14 6pm-8pm on Zoom

We will welcome Ray Shjerven from Lutheran Disaster Response (and local Washingtonian) to lead this online webinar. Join others from around our synod for this 2-hour course designed to precisely define organizational preparedness, and expand on what it entails, the six attributes of a prepared organization, and common challenges that organizations face in becoming prepared. 

Sign up for the Zoom session here!

Are you discerning a call to ministry?

Are you wondering about your seminary options?

Join us for a Region 1 Zoom Discernment event on Saturday, November 23rd at 9am (PST)

Engage your sense of call with other folks in discernment and learn more about your seminary options with representatives from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, Luther Seminary, and Wartburg Theological Seminary.

Learn more and sign up at https://admissions.callutheran.edu/register/Region1.

Contact admissions@plts.edu or 510-559-2738 with any questions.

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