LiVE PROJECT - CLASSES BEGIN SOON!

We are excited to embark on the next year of the LiVE Project of the Northwest Washington Synod! YOU are invited!

There are a host of learning opportunities for lay, life-long learners. The theme for this year is Spirit Stirring. How is the Spirit stirring in your life? How is the Spirit informing your sense of call? 

All mini-courses (5-8 weeks) and the four one-day retreats explore how the Holy Spirit is igniting curiosity and fresh ways to integrate life, faith, and the public witness of the church. 

Individuals and Congregations have a few options to register.

Sign up (and save!) for the unlimited bundle and have access to ALL the 2022-2023 offerings - or register for each one class/retreat individually.

• The various fall mini-courses are listed below in the events section!
• Check out the full 2022-2023 offerings in the catalog.
• Learn more about the LiVE Project HERE.
• Register yourself or your congregation group ASAP - HERE

National Hispanic Heritage Month

September 15 - October 15

We give thanks to God for the gifts, contributions, and rich cultural diversity of our Latinx siblings and neighbors in Christ! We pray for the growth and vitality of the 147 Latino ministries across the ELCA as they share the gospel, equip leaders, promote inclusivity and diversity, and serve their neighbors.

We lift up in prayer our mission start ministry in Burlington, El Camino de Emaus and those congregations who are intentionally walking alongside the Latinx communities on our territory.

September is Suicide Prevention Month

This Suicide Prevention Month, we highlight the Suicide Prevention Ministry, whose mission is “to call on faith communities and equip them to reduce stigma, promote awareness, and provide training and resources to prevent suicide, and to help those who struggle with mental illness, their family, and their friends.” This ministry, based on the ELCA social message on suicide prevention, became a passion project for the late Jerry and Elsie Weyrauch after the suicide of their daughter Terri.

Read more HERE about this vital ministry and what we can do to prevent suicide.

Please also see the awareness training event being offered on Sept. 24, listed below.

FREE!

Font, Altar and Lectern Available

From Vinland Lutheran Church in Poulsbo

Find pictures and contact info here

Sacred Spaces:

Opening the Holy Invitation Even Wider

September 24, 9:30am-2:30pm

at Saint Andrews Lutheran Church (2650 148th Ave SE, Bellevue)

Sponsor: NW Washington Synod

Join Facilitators and Practitioners of unique gatherings and organic forms of church, for a day of stories, experiences, and workshops to explore together how we can open God’s holy invitation even wider.

There are so many ways to gather as faithful communities, whether it's outdoors, creating art, at the pub, or just eating around one big table. Why shouldn’t our gatherings reflect our uniqueness?

Let’s imagine how we can foster organic sacred spaces right in our own backyards. How can we create more inclusive gatherings for people to encounter God? How can we experiment with the gifts we have to meet the needs of those seeking the spirit in our own neighborhoods? What is sprouting up within you that is ready for germination?

Come with ideas, come with questions, come to dream about what sacred spaces can be!

Cost is $20/person; $50/group. Lunch is included!

Please register HERE: https://tithe.ly/event-registration/#/5557479

safeTALK (suicide alert) Training

Saturday, September 24, 9am-12:30pm

at Zion Lutheran Church, Ferndale

Shirley and Rev John Swanson will be leading this event. There is a $15 fee to cover the cost of materials. See this flyer for all pertinent information. Deadline for sign up is September 8! 

Learn more about this training HERE.

Email [email protected] to register

(NOTE: The Swansons are available to provide this training for organizations and churches throughout the Synod, contact John for more info - [email protected])

Steel Drum Concert

Sunday, September 25 at 3pm

At First Lutheran Church in Bothell

All ages are invited to the first concert in FLC’s Concert Series for 2022-23.

If desired, wear tropical attire and shades! 

$10 suggested donation.

Installation Service

The Rev. Leslie Mahraun will be installed as Chaplain at The Hearthstone in Seattle on Tuesday, September 27 at 2pm at Hearthstone in the Gardens at the Cove. (Located in the alley behind the Cove East Apartments, of the Hearthstone Campus: 6850 Woodlawn Ave NE, Seattle. This event will only be open to public if weather permits it to be outdoors!)

ELCA Vital Congregations Training – Fall 2022

Is your congregation ready to take some steps (even small steps) toward renewal or revitalization? Are you ready to try some new things, share some ideas, gain a greater understanding of the broader mission, bring clarity about your own congregation’s mission, acquire knowledge on how to live that out in community, gain confidence to share what you have learned with the world, and find new allies from within a cohort of congregations? Then, you are invited to attend the 2022 Fall Session of the ELCA Vital Congregations Training! 

Rostered Ministers and congregation leaders are encouraged to attend as a team of 3–5 people for a 4-session training series. This will be a time of inspiration, learning, planning, sharing, experimenting, visioning, and implementing. This fast paced co-creative and co-experimental training is facilitated by leaders with experience in redeveloping congregations as well as added guest presenters from a variety of settings with a wealth of knowledge. These principles and more will be explored: focusing on Jesus and justice; being expectant of the Holy Spirit; living as disciples of Jesus; multiplying leaders who are young, diverse and bring fresh insights; and aligning with purpose and core values.

This FREE 4-session training series will be held on these Thursdays: October 6, October 20, November 3, and November 17. You may choose to attend either in the morning or the afternoon – whatever time works best for your team. The morning session is 10:30am-12noon (pacific time); the afternoon session is 4:30-6:00pm (pacific time.) All sessions will be recorded and available to all registered participants. NOTE: This training is for people who did NOT attend the Vital Congregations Re-BOOT Camp in Spring 2022 or 2021.

Get registered for FREE here!

Questions?

Please reach out to Director for Evangelical Mission, Rev. Herb Shao - [email protected]

Spirit Stirring & Story Telling 

A LiVE Project Day-Retreat

Saturday, October 8, 9am-3pm 

at Advent Lutheran Church, Mill Creek

Our personal and collective stories give the context for noticing the Holy Spirit in our lives. Through them, we discover the challenges and opportunities before us to give witness to God, and to be discerning of the responsibilities in the world to which we are called to engage. This first retreat invites us to hear the various ways the Spirit meets us in the stories we find ourselves in. 

Lunch will be provided. Childcare provided upon request.

Learn more and get registered HERE

Online Boundaries Training

for Rostered Ministers

LeaderWise’s online boundaries training workshop is lively and interactive, full of reflection and conversation. Attendees have given us feedback that our boundaries training was a great experience, AND caused them to re-evaluate some of their own practices.

This live online boundaries training is 5 total hours split over 2 consecutive days (2.5 hours each day). Following the first session, participants are asked to engage in a bit of reflection work in preparation for the second session. This online boundaries training will be conducted via secure Zoom video conferencing. Cost is $78.

Two upcoming training sessions are scheduled for:

• October 12 and 13
• January 31 and Feb 1, 2023

Learn more and get registered here: https://www.leaderwise.org/boundaries-training

YES! This counts for the required periodic training (every three years)

Be sure to ask for the certificate of completion and email to [email protected]

SAVE THE DATE!!

Bright Stars of Bethlehem

Fundraising Evening

with Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb & Rick Steves

Wednesday, October 5, 7pm-9pm

at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lynnwood

Bright Stars of Bethlehem is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the health, education, and cultural and spiritual development of the people in the Middle East in order to promote peace and harmony in the region. Bright Stars impacts the lives of over 60,000 men, women, and children in Palestine. Born out of the vision of Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb and his outreach ministry in Bethlehem, Bright Stars is now more than fifteen years old. The staff and volunteer leadership work together to provide support to the Palestinian people to help grow hope in the midst of occupation.

REGISTER NOW for this special evening of updates and stories with founder of Dar a-Kalima University and co-founder of Bright Stars of Bethlehem, Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, and travel expert Rick Steves!

Planning Your Legacy

FREE webinar from ELCA Foundation

Wednesday, October 19, 2pm (Pacific)



Register Here

The current economic landscape may influence your estate planning and charitable giving. This free session will highlight a few key details of the current economic climate, give an overview of what you need for a solid estate plan, learn how you can leave a legacy to support ELCA-related ministries and save on taxes.  Learning Objectives:

• Learn about the current economic climate
• Discover what you need for a solid estate plan
• Explore the most popular ways you can leave a legacy to support ELCA-related ministries
• Learn how to save on taxes and be charitable

Make a Difference Day

At Camp Lutherwood in Bellingham

Saturday, October 22 – beginning at 9:30am

All ages, families, friends, and volunteers join us for National Make a Difference Day at Lutherwood. Join us for a day of fun around camp with work projects and cleaning up camp! Lunch will be provided.

Learn more and register here: https://www.camplutherwood.org/volunteer