Part-time Pastors Meet Up

October 21, 1-3pm on Zoom

There are growing number of ministry sites that are - or are moving to - less than full-time pastoral ministry.

The Synod seeks to best support ministries and ministers in this reality. Join us for this conversation about challenges, joys, best practices, and needs moving forward. 

Register Here for the Zoom Meeting

LiVE Project Fall Course CONTINUES

Faith and Civic Life:

Seeking the Well-being of All

Wednesdays at 7pm - now through Nov. 11

Online via Zoom

We welcome Facilitators and ELCA Social Statement Team Members: Dr. Laurie Jungling Dr. Kyle Pasewark, Dr. Carmelo Santos & Dr. Samantha Bise as we consider the ELCA social statement on Faith and Civic Life and ask what does it mean to bring our whole selves into public and civic space, and not to retreat from a world, nor also to be absorbed by it.

Learn more and register here: https://www.lutheransnw.org/events/live-course-faith-and-civic-life/2026-10-07

Building Resilient Communities – Final round of grant distributions!

The NW Washington Synod has been distributing the Building Resilient Communities (BRC) grant throughout this year. So far 18 different ministries from around our synod have received funds to strengthen direct service ministries, fill critical gaps for vulnerable neighbors, and support our congregations as they respond to rising community needs. 

Out of the original $15,500, we have $6,675 remaining to share. There is one more round of distributions. Please apply by Monday, November 9th. Even if you have already received a Daily Bread Feeding Ministry Grant or a previous BRC grant you may still apply. 

See how to apply HERE

Building Resilient Communities is a partnership between Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR), ELCA World Hunger, and AMMPARO.  

Upcoming Fall Events for Young Adults

We have two GATHER groups in our synod:

Snohomish County & King County

https://www.lutheransnw.org/ministries/young-adults

Check out their upcoming activities:

Upcoming Ordination

We are delighted to announce:

Ministry Candidate David Horton has accepted a call to serve at Trinity Lutheran Church and Schools in Lynnwood. His ordination to word and service ministry will be on Saturday, October 24 at 2pm.

A light reception will follow.



Rostered ministers and candidates are invited to process - please arrive by 1:30pm.

God bless this new ministry partnership!

Lutheran World Relief (LWR)

Seattle 2026 Fall Ingathering



Nov 6th & Nov 7th

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

You can deliver your boxes of quilts or kits during these days/hours:

Fri, Nov 6 from 8am-2pm

Sat, Nov 7 from 8am - 11:30am

We can always use a few more volunteers to direct traffic, or to help load boxes into the containers. If you can help for 1-2 hours, please contact Rich 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!!

A Message from ELCA Presiding Bishop Curry:

Dear church,

My heart was troubled by the recent proposal to livestream an execution in the United States. I am thankful that this plan has now been cancelled. The deliberate taking of a human life should never become a public spectacle. Such actions risk deepening the wounds of victims’ families, loved ones and communities while further desensitizing us to violence. Our society is diminished when violence is conflated with entertainment. Because of our ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:16-21), this church opposes the death penalty and the recent plans for public display of the execution of Nidal Hasan.

As a church, we are not strangers to the mournful effects of violent crime. Our congregations minister to victims, to offenders and to communities that experience the ripple effects of its trauma. We recognize the need to protect people from violence, to call perpetrators to repentance, and to seek restoration for victims. United in our resistance to hate and in our joy over the good news of God’s grace, we minister to an often-vengeful society with words and actions of hope, justice and healing.

The 1991 ELCA Churchwide Assembly adopted the social statement The Death Penalty, demonstrating this church’s early opposition to capital punishment. That opposition is grounded in a long tradition of Christian theology and teaching. The social statement calls the church “to respond to violent crime in the restorative way taught by Jesus (Matthew 5:38-39) and shown by his actions (John 8:3-11).” It states that the death penalty’s continued use perpetuates cycles of violence, undermines the possibility of repentance and restoration, and binds our society more deeply to brutality rather than reconciliation. It fosters suffering rather than ends it, as we saw in the attempted execution of Christa Pike.

The statement affirms that God ordains government to be a source and guarantor of safety and justice. Abundant research shows that the death penalty does not give us safety or justice. It does not provide healing to victims’ families or safety for the broader community. It does not deter future crimes. It does not serve the ends God calls government to serve, nor does it reflect the kind of society we are called to be.

We hold in prayer all who are impacted by violent crime, including victims, families, workers in law enforcement and corrections, and those accused or convicted of violent crimes. We give thanks for prison chaplains and ministries that accompany people through suffering and that witness to the possibility of redemption.

I invite you to talk with people in your community about the death penalty. Let our churches continue to be spaces for respectful, faithful dialogue about moral issues. Study the ELCA’s social statements The Death Penalty and The Church and Criminal Justice: Hearing the Cries together. Be part of the whole church’s witness in society  to urge public officials to work toward abolishing the death penalty, including support for the Federal Death Penalty Prohibition Act. Together let us build a society that keeps us safe from violence, reflects God’s compassion, honors the dignity of every person and demonstrates that God is always working for and toward abundant life.

In Christ,

The Rev. Yehiel Curry,

Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 

An important message and request from OUR Camp Leadership:

Lutherwood Family: We need your support. 2026 was an AMAZING summer, and so many people experienced Grace at camp.

Unfortunately, our water system began to show its age, forcing Lutherwood to spend reserves to ensure clean water flowed. Now, we need your help meeting the gap in our unexpected expenses. Will you make a donation today to support camp and help us meet our goal of an additional $40,000?

Your generosity means Lutherwood continues to be critical faith infrastructure for the Pacific Northwest! Make a gift here: camplutherwood.org/give

Thank You, Lutherans Tour!

The first person to visit all of America's 400+ National Park Service sites in a single journey, National Parks Expert and Lutheran, Mikah Meyer, is bringing his newest travel-adventure short films to the Seattle area this October 21-27 to thank area Lutherans for their contributions that helped create his newest short film: MISS ADVENTURE – about running across Mississippi in a unicorn dress after it was voted "The Most Homophobic State in America"!

Attend one of these 5 events happening around the NW Washington Synod to enjoy this FREE 90-minute show that will feature five short films, humorous anecdotes from America’s national parks, and singing.

More at mikahmeyer.com/film

TOUR SHOW SCHEDULE:

Wed, Oct. 21 - Grace, Des Moines - Doors by 6:30pm for 7pm Show

Fri, Oct. 23 - Our Savior's, Everett - Doors by 6pm for 6:30pm Show

Sat, Oct. 24 University Lutheran - Doors by 6:30pm for 7pm Show

Sun, Oct. 25 - Preaching at Holy Spirit, Kirkland -9am/10:30am

Sun, Oct. 25 Trinity, Freeland - Doors by 2:30pm for 3pm Show

Tues, Oct. 27 - Holy Spirit, Kirkland Doors by 6:30pm for 7pm Show

Center of Addiction & Faith Conference

A New Story of Addiction: Faith, Drugs, & the Search for Healing

Thursday, October 22, 7am-1pm Pacific ONLINE

Rev. Timothy McMahan King, Jennifer Carlier, and Rev. Dr. Ed Treat will explore addiction through the themes of transcendence, belonging, and truth. The conference is designed for faith leaders, people in recovery, families, congregational teams, and addiction and mental-health professionals.

Registration is $50 for individuals and team registration for up to five people is $149.

Learn more here: https://www.addictionandfaith.com/2026-addiction-faith-conference/

Peace with Justice:

A Faith Forum Connecting the Fight Against War, Militarism and Forced Migration in the Philippines to Shared Struggles at Home and Abroad

October 24, 3pm-6pm

This event will include speakers and a discussion on critical issues of peace and justice that communities of faith are engaged with today. We aim to hear from different communities of faith on their justice work and bridge these struggles together through an analysis of root causes.

We will hear from faith leaders from the Philippines movement for a just and lasting peace and rally our collective power to end human rights violations, forced migration, and US-led war in the Philippines.

Through discussions we will see how these issues are also connected to important issues our faith communities are already actively addressing such as ending the genocide in Palestine, migrant justice, homelessness, and land sovereignty. Together, we will uncover how US militarism fuels forced migration and war, and how communities of faith are courageously building a just peace. 

Learn more and RSVP via tinyurl.com/PeaceForum1024

Praying for America

From Braver Angels

A coalition of leading faith-based organizations dedicated to bridging differences will host a second “Praying For America” event on November 1. As prayer services, these events will embody very different values than those driving our divisive, zero-sum politics. These gatherings will focus on celebrating America’s core values as expressed through the right to vote.

Register for one or both Praying for America events here:

https://braverangels.org/faith-in-america/#national-prayer-event

Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS)

Discernment Weekend

Are you wondering if seminary might be right for you? Consider joining PLTS visit and discernment weekend, Signs Along the Way, October 30 — November 1 in Berkeley, California. This weekend is a great opportunity to connect with others in discernment, get to know PLTS faculty, and explore what it’s like to be an online student in the Master of Divinity, MA in Spirituality and Social Change, or Lutheran Year programs. PLTS covers lodging and meals during the event and can offer travel assistance for those who need it.

Details:

• When: 4:00pm on Friday, October 30 through 2:30pm on Sunday, November 1
• Where: PLTS Campus in Berkeley, CA 
• Who: Anyone discerning a call to ordained ministry in the ELCA or another vocational path. People at all stages of discernment are welcome.
• What is included: PLTS covers lodging and meals during the event and can provide some travel assistance for those who need it. 

Visit plts.edu/signs to learn more and sign up.

Burlington Lutheran Church

Speaker Series

Our social media feeds are often flooded with the world's injustices, trapping us in a cycle of “doomscrolling.” However, being inundated and overwhelmed by the trauma of others is not the same as being inspired toward meaningful social change. How can we remain actively engaged rather than detached or fatalistic about the state of our world?

The 2026 Burlington Lutheran Fall Speaker Series explores music—specifically choral singing—as a powerful avenue for communal restoration, reconnection, and reconciliation. By weaving together biblical, historical, scientific, and community organizing insights, these lectures offer practical ways to stay involved, nurture realistic hope, and cultivate healing resources for today and tomorrow. Discover how singing serves as an unexpected, transformative tool for social change.

About our speaker: Dr Stearns’ academic work has focused on the interaction between theology and music, and she loves to talk about the Christian imagination. As a violinist, she brings with her a background in teaching violin and performing in chamber and orchestral settings. She also has a long history of serving in the Church as a musician, teacher, and worship leader. Having been a full-time professor at the Seattle School for Theology and Psychology, she is now affiliate staff in order to be involved in more ways in both the academy and church. She is an engaging speaker, with a very wide base of knowledge and experience.



ALL ARE WELCOME to this series. All sessions are FREE; donations welcome.

November 1: A Voice in the Wilderness: History of Prophetic Voices in Song

Song has rung out in protest and lament for millennia. This opening lecture traces biblical and cultural histories of those who have courageously raised their voices in prophetic song.

November 5: Why We Sing: Music, the Brain, and How Humanity Heals

Neuroscience provides powerful rationale for why music, especially choral singing, builds community and strengthens our capacity to engage the world. Learn how singing physically enables healing and builds resilience.

November 10: Sing a New Song: Finding Hope in Troubling Times

We sing to find our voices when we feel silenced. Throughout history, protest and resistance movements have started simply with the resources at hand: voices, feet, bodies, and communities united in song. This session will include community singing. 

Church Property Resource Hub Webinar:

Disaster Response and Preparation

Thursday, November 5 at 4pm online

Congregations and their buildings play an important role in disaster response and recovery. As environmental disasters become more frequent and severe, more congregations will be affected or called upon to support their communities.

Join Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) for a conversation about how congregations can prepare for disasters and use their property to support response efforts.

Learn more and register here: https://leadership.elca.org/topics/45412/events/292433

18th Annual Powell-Heller Conference for Holocaust Education:

More Than Dust: Reclaiming LGBTQ+ Voices of the Holocaust

November 4-6

Thanks to the generosity of donors this event is free and open to the public.

Pacific Lutheran University will host this annual conference, a gathering dedicated to challenging traditional archives to recover the intimate histories of queer and marginalized histories of the Holocaust. This year’s conference focuses on LGBTQ+ experiences of the Holocaust. We are honored to welcome historian Anna Hájková as our Raphael Lemkin speaker. Her book, People Without History Are Dust: Queer Desire in the Holocaust, serves as the foundation for this year’s programming. As Dr. Hájková argues, “thinking about the marginalized can help us to develop a less judgmental, more inclusive past” – a project we aim to collectively engage in during our time together.

The conference features a special theater performance and a film screening alongside its academic components. Attendees will hear from leading international scholars in the field, including Laurie Marhoefer and Samuel Clowes Huneke, as well as a workshop from educators at The Pink Triangle Project and pedagogy sessions from educators at Yad Vashem. Through theater, film, keynote lectures, and panel discussions, participants will discover new methodologies for confronting historical erasure, ultimately reshaping how we archive, remember, and honor the Holocaust.

PLU’s mission to support the education of our students and larger community on issues of diversity and justice are intimately connected to the study of the tragedy of the Holocaust. Students can see that marginalization of a minority group, such as the Jews of Nazi Germany, can lead to life-threatening situations culminating in one of the world’s modern genocides. Issues of distortion and denial make the process of reconciliation and healing less likely and serve as an insult to the memory of all those whose lives were destroyed in the Holocaust.

Learn more and register here: https://www.plu.edu/holocaustconference/#:~:text=Dr. Edward Kissi, Associate Professor in

Christmas Bazaar

Peace Lutheran in Silvana

Sat, November 7, 10am – 2pm

No cost for entry

This Bazaar is our one fundraiser to support next year’s budget. In addition to providing supplies, we support a mission project, 8 non-profit benevolences - and we will be supporting a girl for high school attendance at the Maasai Girls School.

Join us for this 53-year tradition!

“Homelessness: A Renewal of Commitment” social message

Your feedback is desired!

All ELCA members are invited to share feedback on draft revisions to the social message “Homelessness: A Renewal of Commitment,” first adopted in 1990. At the request of the 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, the ELCA Church Council authorized a reconsideration for possible substantive revision of a section of the social message.

Reconsideration is a formal process of communal discernment about social issues in the church. This reconsideration allows the ELCA to revisit the social message in light of the church’s growing understanding of homelessness, the current lived realities of people who are unhoused or precariously housed, and changes in civil law and the economy that present new challenges to housing in the United States.

Visit ELCA.org/homelessness to read the draft and to submit your feedback via a survey before Nov. 30. Feedback, questions and concerns can also be sent to DraftSocialMessage@ELCA.org.

January 4 - 8, 2027 - at Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center in in Carefree, Arizona

Learn more and register here:

https://spiritinthedesert.org/events/executive-skills-for-church-leaders-3/

Want an item included?

Email Susan Berg, Dir. Communications & Events

All items due the prior Thursday by 12:00 noon

Regular Office Hours - Mon-Thurs, 10am - 4pm

Northwest Washington Synod / ELCA

5519 Phinney Avenue North

Seattle, WA 98103

206-783-9292