Synod Staff Update

In gratefulness for his ministry, we are announcing that Rev. Herb Shao is concluding his time as one of our Directors for Evangelical Mission in the Northwest Washington Synod at the end of this month.

We give thanks for the many gifts Herb has shared with our staff, our synod, and throughout the church. His wisdom, enthusiasm, integrity, compassion, and courage have inspired us - and we give thanks to God for him. We hold him in prayer as he discerns his next faithful steps - and look forward to partnering in ministry in new ways. Read Herb's letter to the synod here.

UPCOMING INSTALLATIONS

(and there are more to be announced soon!)

Sister Jessica Zimmerle Installation

St. John United Lutheran Church (Seattle) is happy to share that they have called Sister Jessica Zimmerle to serve as Director of Community Engagement. Her role as the congregation's deacon is focused on bridging the church with the broader neighborhood to discern how to best steward their property into the future as a community resource. All are welcome to join for a service of installation on Saturday, April 13 at 3pm with a reception to follow. Rostered leaders are invited to vest and the color of the day is green. God bless this new ministry partnership!

Synod Assembly Registration is OPEN

Saturday, May 18, 9am-4pm

at Grace Lutheran Church in Des Moines

Doors open for check in and hospitality time at 8am

Our theme is from Psalm 121:1-2 | I lift up my eyes to the hills - from where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

We will gather to worship, hear reports and synod updates, Spirit Stories from around the synod, vote on the upcoming budget, and to elect members to synod council, committees and the 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.

Online registration is open and will close April 15!

WHO should register?

• Congregations should register their elected voting members registered as a group
• Rostered Ministers who are under synod call for a specialized ministry setting should register themselves as voting members
• Retired Rostered Ministers may register themselves in any of the categories
• Those who wish to attend as visitors
• Volunteers - please see an email from us later this week on how to get registered!

REGISTER HERE

• Volunteers needed for our check-in tables (7:45am-11am) - contact Susan@lutheransnw.org
• Nominations for Synod Council, Committee on Discipline, Consultation Committee and Voting Members for the ELCA Churchwide Assembly are open now through April 15.
• Resolutions to be considered are being received now through April 15.
• More details on our website here: https://www.lutheransnw.org/pages/synod-assembly

Trinity Education Foundation (TEF) is excited to open applications for 2024 scholarships as we continue partnering with students by providing support and guidance to foster academic success and inspire vocational development, reflecting the Gospel’s values of love, justice, and healing for the sake of the world. 

In celebration of the 80th year since the beginning of Lutheran Bible Institute in Seattle (LBIS), which later became Trinity Lutheran College (TLC), TEF offers three distinct scholarships to honor the LBIS/TLC story:

+ LBIS/TLC 80th Year Undergraduate Scholarship

+ Dave Ellingson Scholarship for Environmental Studies

+ Child of LBIS/TLC Alum Scholarship

Please encourage a college student in your midst to apply. Deadline is April 15 for all scholarships! Visit https://www.trinityeducationfoundation.org/ for more information.

Electronic Giving Site Maintenance

Wednesday, March 27, 7pm-11pm

Please note, the synod’s payment platform, Tithely, will be offline on Wednesday evening. Tithely will be updating their infrastructure to ensure everything runs smoothly on Easter weekend… This means that attempts to make one-time gifts or payments – such as pay for assembly - during this period will result in an error and will not be processed. It should be back online following that time period. 

Chrism Mass

Tuesday, March 26, 11am

at Saint Andrew's Lutheran Church, Bellevue

Rostered Ministers are invited to join colleagues from the Southwestern Washington Synod and the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia for this service which includes holy communion, renewal of vows, and receiving oil to be used for blessings.

A light lunch will follow.

Livestream link will be found here: https://salc.church/chrism-mass

Abide in the Word Bible Study -

continues after Holy Week

Tuesdays, 7-8pm via Zoom

NO class during Holy Week (March 26) We will be back in April!

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.

Natalie Mayer and Raphael Lemkin Lecture

at Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma

April 2, 7:00 pm

Presented by Professor Aomar Boum

in the Scandinavian Cultural Center, AUC

While this event is free and open to the public, please register for the lecture HERE.

Professor Aomar Boum, The Maurice Amado Chair in Sephardic Studies in the Departments of Anthropology, Near Eastern Languages and Cultures, and History at the University of California, Los Angeles, will be our Lemkin Lecturer on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at 7:00 pm in the Scandinavian Cultural Center, AUC.

The lecture will be preceded by a brief presentation of the Lemkin Essay contest winner’s paper.

Learn more about the event and Professor Boum here: https://www.plu.edu/holocaustconference/lemkin-lecture/

Deciding whether seminary education is right for you?



April 5-7, 2024 – Signs Along the Way

In-person at the PLTS campus in Berkeley

+ Engage your sense of call

+ Explore the San Francisco Bay area and what it’s like to live and study 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

Click here to register

Signs Along the Way is a great opportunity for folks to connect with current seminarians and other people in discernment, spend some time exploring their sense of call, and learn more about what seminary at PLTS might be like for them. People at all stages of discernment are welcome. PLTS covers two nights of lodging in a hotel, most meals throughout the weekend, and can provide some travel assistance for those who need it.

Faith & Civic Life

New HYBRID Adult Learning Series coming this Spring for Six Sundays at 11 am - beginning April 7 - from Our Savior's Lutheran, Everett

Our Saviors is piloting a new ELCA course led by Rev. Dr. Rick Rouse designed to explore Christian discipleship in the public arena. Looking toward the 2024 election, we will seek to answer the following questions:



• How do we faithfully live out our baptismal vocation in everyday life?
• What does it mean to follow Jesus in our citizenship?
• Why could voting be considered a faith-filled act of justice?

The course will be offered hybrid for six weeks beginning Sunday, April 7th. 

If interested in joining us online contact Marko Jokinen at aerofinn@aol.com

BINGO FOR LUTHERWOOD

Sunday, April 14

Viking Hall in Silvana, Washington 

Doors open at 5 pm, and let the games begin at 6 pm!

COME HUNGRY - Spaghetti Dinner (COST TBD)

15 games for $10 and 3 blackout games for $1 each.

Plan to join in the fun!

Questions? Call Janice Stepp ~ 425-210-2733 ~ wmpjms@gmail.com

Bishop's Convocation

April 21-24 at Seabeck Conference Center

Mindful that we are in an election cycle fraught with discord and danger, Rostered Ministers, SALMs and Interns will share learning and discussion around the theme of Christian Nationalism - what it is, the real threats it presents to us both as citizens of a democracy and as Christian disciples, and what our role is as faith leaders in the public arena. We are delighted to welcome Dr. Seth Dowland and Rev. Dr. Rick Rouse to lead our sessions.

A few late registration spost available - go here ASAP!

Middle School Retreat

April 26-27 | First Lutheran Richmond Beach

All middle school students are invited to join us for our 2nd annual middle school retreat! Our theme this year is Prayer – What is it? Why do we care? We’ll explore the theme using a variety of mediums and spend time at the beach on Saturday. The cost is $50 per student, adults are free. Registration begins March 1.

Questions? Contact Becky at children@hslckirkland.org.

Give-Share-Eat Meal Packaging!

Gethsemane Lutheran Church (Seattle) is hosting another GiveShareEat meal packaging on May 10-11.

It's pretty simple, really. There are a lot of food-insecure and hungry people in the world. Together we can relieve some of this hunger when we give of our finances and share our time so that people may eat nutritious, easy-to-prep food. Gethsemane and the Hope Center are collaborating to host another EPIC meal packaging events that bring together area businesses, organizations, and individuals to make a difference in our communities. Go to Gethsemane's website to learn how you can help - donate, volunteer, etc:

https://www.urbanfaith.org/give-share-eat

May Youth Weekend at Holden!

May 17-19 (Friday - Sunday)

Theme: All Creation Groans Together: Love, Lament, and Action in a Climate Emergency

How can we live faithful lives when we are overloaded with climate grief and anxiety? How can we find motivation for meaningful action when the future is uncertain? Together we'll dive deep into our love for God's beloved creation, and learn how to find our way through the ruins.

Registration now! Find all the details here!

Work Weekend at Lutherwood!

May 31 - June 2

Come help us get ready for summer camp! Your stay is free of charge, all we ask is your time and abilities. There will be projects for all ability levels, from trail clearing and platform building to cleaning and organizing. There is always a way you can help serve camp! A great opportunity for community service hours. Registration is up on our website and if you can offer specific skill sets, please reach out directly to marty.martinez@camplutherwood.org to discuss opportunities.

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