Synod eNews - April 29, 2026

April 29, 2026

Synod Resources

Administration, Compensation Guidelines, Constitutions, Financial, Personnel Policies, Pulpit Supply, Immigration, Transition

Boundary Training Opportunities for Rostered Ministers

Ordination Anniversaries

(source: ELCA Office of the Secretary Rostered Leader Anniversary Report)

April 2026

Rev. Rachel Eskesen

10 Years - Minister of Word and Sacrament - April 23, 2016

Rev. Sheryl Biegert

40 Years - Minister of Word and Sacrament - April 26, 1986

Thank you for your faithful service to the people of God!

Administration This and That

2026 IRS Mileage Rate is 72.5 cents

Marketplace

Looking for a good home:

Acer X1261P digital projector
Yamaha BT600 portable PA system with Bluetooth connectivity. Includes speakers, stands, wired and wireless mics and all necessary cables.

Perfect for outdoor or offsite sound, or for use in a parish hall. All equipment has been tested and is working. Contact Seth Novak (pastorsethnovak@gmail.com) for more info, pictures and a full list of included items and specifications, or to express interest in one or both items.

Upcoming Events

links to event info embedded if applicable

May 3-6

Bishop's Convocation @ Seabeck

May 9

Sacred Soil Garden Prayer - 10am @ Shepherd's Field, Sumner

May 16

Critical Incident Response Training - 9am @ Trinity, Tacoma

May 16

Critical Incident Response Training - 3pm @ Trinity, Longview

May 19

Admin Support Zoom "With Each Other ... For Each Other" - 1pm

May 30

Synod Ed Gathering - Messiah, Vancouver - 10am-3pm

June 5-7

SAM Retreat @ Dumas Bay, Federal Way

June 13

Sacred Soil Garden Prayer - 10am @ Shepherd's Field, Sumner

June 13

Synod Ed Gathering - Christ, Lakewood - 10am-3pm

June 16

Admin Support Zoom "With Each Other ... For Each Other" - 1pm

Please note that the Synod Office will be closed Monday, May 4th through Wednesday, May 6th as our staff is attending this year's Bishop's Convocation at Seabeck Retreat Center.

This is a great in-person training opportunity for rostered leaders, church staff and congregation volunteers. Please contact Ray Shjerven (rshjerven@comcast.net) or Stefanie DeZarn (stefanie.dezarn@swwasynod.org) if you have any questions.

Tacoma Registration HERE

Longview Registration HERE

Registration for the two Synod Ed Gathering are OPEN!

All Members of the SWWA Synod are welcome!

Messiah Vancouver May 30 - Register HERE

Christ Lakewood June 13 - Register HERE

FROM OUR CONGREGATIONS, COMMITTEES AND MINISTRIES

Applications for ELCA World Hunger’s 2027 Domestic Hunger Grants are open! To learn more about submitting a Letter of Inquiry (LOI), grant partnership eligibility, and our granting priorities, please visit our website and FAQ page.

Application Timeline

Letter of inquiry form open: April 15 – July 1, 2026
Letter of inquiry review: July 13 – September 15, 2026
Response to the letter of inquiry (decline or accept): October 30, 2026
Invited applicants to complete grant application in ELCA GrantMaker: October – December 2026
Review and communication between ELCA World Hunger staff and grant applicants on proposal: October – December 2026
Award notifications shared with applicants: January 2027
2027 Domestic Hunger Grants start date: March 1, 2027

Thank you so much for your ongoing support in connecting our synod's anti-hunger ministries with resources to assist them meet the needs of their communities.

With much gratitude for the ministry and mission we share,

The Synod Hunger Team

The 2026 Western States Youth Gathering (WSYG) is excited to announce a partnership with the ELCA Youth Gathering and California Lutheran University (CLU).

We will be celebrating the strengths of this partnership by coming together June 28th - July 1st, 2026, at California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, CA.

Go to Western States Youth Gathering for more information.