May 9, 2022
Weekly Update
announcements & events
|
|
|
Synod Assembly Emails
All Voting Members & Observers SHOULD have received a welcome email last Thursday.
IF you did not, please check your spam folder...
If you do not find one there, please email Susan to be sure you are properly registered AND that we have your correct email.
Thank you!
|
|
Seattle Pride Parade
The Synod is registered to march - and we are looking forward to participating with YOU on Sunday, June 26!
The parade officially begins at 11am. Our actual walking start time is dependent upon where we are in the parade order. It generally takes two-three hours to complete the 1.75-mile parade route once we start moving.
Would your congregation like to march with other Lutherans from our synod?
1) an RSVP that you would like to bring a group AND
2) name of a point person for your congregation/ministry site
(This point person will be the contact for your delegation of walkers… promoting the event & sharing information from the planning team)
Want to help plan?
The planning team will be meeting via Zoom on Wednesday, May 11 at 3pm.
Join the Zoom meeting HERE. |
|
Camp Lutherwood is Hiring MORE Summer Staff!
Camp Lutherwood is looking for a few more super staff people for this summer: Counselors, Head Cook, Lifeguards, Support Staff and Kitchen Staff. Maybe YOU would like to work at camp this summer? OR you can help by sharing this need with people you know! Summer staff make a difference in campers' and families' lives! Join them for an unforgettable summer!! Grow in leadership and communication skills and Christian Community!
Counselors - ages 18+ / Kitchen Staff - ages 16+ / Kitchen Chef/Coordinator - age 20+
|
|
Transportation Help Needed!
A Holy Trinity Lutheran (Mercer Island) sewing group is looking for someone traveling from Seattle to Minneapolis to transport ONE 50-pound roller bag filled with hygiene kits. A tour group in Minnesota with Operation Bootstrap Africa will then take the bag to its final destination at the Maasai Girls Lutheran School in Arusha.
If you are able to help get these items to Minneapolis, please contact Jo Ann Anderson, (206) 931-1223 or sofariders@aol.com
|
|
ELCA adopts Declaration to the Muslim Community
From Kathryn M. Lohre, Executive, ELCA Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations & Theological Discernment:
A week ago, our Muslim neighbors ended the holy month of Ramadan with the joyous celebration of Eid al-Fitr. For much of April, Christians and Muslims journeyed through their respective periods of fasting, prayer, and reflection, as Lent and Ramadan coincided. During this holy time of confluence between Christians and Muslims, The ELCA Church Council unanimously adopted “A Declaration of the ELCA to the Muslim Community” affirming our friendship and solidarity with Muslims, nurtured over time through meaningful cooperation, dialogue, and common action.
This latest declaration stands alongside “A Declaration of the ELCA to the Jewish Community” and as a concrete expression of “A Declaration of Inter-Religious Commitment.” More than a corpus of statements, these declarations remind us of who we are in relationship to our neighbors, and who we strive to be. Grounded in real relationships, they are more than aspirational; grounded in reality, they reflect commitments not yet fully realized. Within the next month, new resources will be published to support these inter-religious efforts, including a preaching guide that affirms our church’s commitments to Jewish relations and a set of pastoral guidelines for ministry in a multi-religious world.
In the northern hemisphere, we are finally experiencing the fullness of spring — a fitting metaphor for our church’s inter-religious relations. What a vibrant time to be a church that embraces the unique joy encountering, knowing, and loving our neighbors of other religions and worldviews.
|
|
Synod Events this week:
Mon, May 9, 4pm - Synod Finance Team
Tues, May 10, 10am - Synod Staff Meeting
Wed, May 11, 3pm - Pride Planning - see above!
Thurs, May 12, 12noon - STAD
Thurs, May 12, 3pm - Executive Committee
Thurs, May 12, 5:30pm - Hunger Team
Fri-Sat, May 13-14 - LWR Ingathering - see below!
|
|
War in Ukraine:
Regional Conflict, Global Hunger
Tuesday, May 10 at 1pm (Pacific)
Millions of people are suffering the consequences of Russia’s war against Ukraine. As devastation sweeps the region and millions are forced to flee their homes, we are beginning to see the long-term consequences the war will have for food security in Ukraine and around the globe. Join us on the ELCA Facebook Page with Dr. Ryan Cumming and the Rev. Daniel Rift of ELCA World Hunger join the Rev. Rachel Eskesen, live from Poland, for a discussion of conflict, hunger and the ELCA’s response.
|
|
2nd Annual Earth Ministry Trivia Night
Tuesday, May 10, from 7pm - ONLINE
Join our partners at Earth Ministry for a time of fellowship in support of their faith-based environmental justice organizing. Dust off those closeted Trivial Pursuit editions, rewatch some Jeopardy, start answering everything in the form of a question, and prepare for a night of laughter and community as we make time for rest in the midst of our sacred work.
|
|
Lutheran World Relief Fall Ingathering
Friday & Saturday, May 13 & 14
at Our Redeemers' Lutheran (2400 NW 85th St, Seattle)
It is time to gather up quilts and kits for Lutheran World Relief in the Seattle area! Please deliver your boxes from 8am-2pm on Friday May 13th and 8am-11:30am on Saturday May 14th. If you would like to pick up fabric samples, please follow any state guidelines that apply.
We still need a few more volunteers to help load the boxes!
If you would be willing to help for two hours, please contact Rich at 206-384-1183.
Save the Date for the Fall LWR Ingathering: Nov. 4/ & 5 at Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church
|
|
ELCA Coaching Network - Weekly Sessions
Wednesdays at 11am (Pacific)
ELCA Coaching will continue with the theme of COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP. We have invited various ministries to host these gatherings each week. There will usually be time for small groups in breakout rooms so that leaders across the church can continue to learn from each other and leave each gathering with at least one action step.
Join Zoom Meetings here:
Meeting ID: 180 439 412 / Passcode: 648160
|
|
Dementia 101 for Congregations
Thursday, May 26 at 9am (Pacific)
Certified Dementia Practitioner Debbie Selsavage will start us off with a brief overview and discussion of characteristics of dementia. Then, she'll share tips and techniques she’s used to train churches on how to support members and families dealing with dementia and how to become Dementia Friendly.
|
|
Gratitude Celebration
for these recently retired pastors:
Pr. Michael Anderson, Pr. Mary-Alyce Burleigh,
Pr. Larry Morris, Pr. Rita Anderson, and Pr. Phil Strain
Saturday, May 14 from 1-4pm
Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, Kirkland
Join Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in saying thank you to these faithful leaders who have all recently retired from ministry at Holy Spirit Lutheran Church.
|
|
Faith Network Regional Spring Summit
Sunday, May 15, 3pm-5pm
at Seattle Friends Meeting (4001 9Th Avenue NE, Seattle) OR Online
We will gather with advocates in the Puget Sound region to celebrate FAN's wins in the past year and consider what steps we might take together in the year ahead. We will meet as a large group for part of our time together, and also break out into smaller groups based on specific issues of concern to participating faith communities. This event is open to all advocates and will be in a hybrid format. You can attend in person or via Zoom. Come network with others from your area and help us find the best ways to advocate for the change we want to see in our state! Register here!
|
|
PRE-Synod Assembly
ONLINE Events:
All Voting Members & Observers are encouraged to attend these online events to help you be well-prepared for our June 4 Assembly!
Monday, May 16, 6pm - Hearing on Resolutions
Monday, May 23, 6pm - Orientation
Wednesday, May 25, 6pm - Budget Hearing
|
|
Reparatory Justice Series
Wednesday, May 18
The ELCA is part of the group hosting this monthly Wednesday webinar series from the interreligious Reparatory Justice Working Group, bringing together denominations and religious advocates as they share common reflections and experiences around the issue.
Join this month's webinar and learn about Black Maternal Health on Wednesday, May 18 in this Reparatory Justice Series webinar. Register at bit.ly/reparjust6
|
|
ELCA Civics and Faith Listening Event
What is important to you when you think about government?
What about how the church and the state relate to each other?
Tues, May 24, 5pm-6:15pm
Wed, May 25, 5pm-6:15pm (Note for our assembly voting members, this session conflicts with our online budget hearing)
A task force is at work on a new social statement about civics and faith, and it wants to hear from you. This social statement was requested by the 2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. A key piece of this process is hearing from ELCA members about their priorities and perspectives. Social statements establish the basis for the ELCA’s public voice and policy decisions. They also serve as a teaching tool to help people discern and discuss their views on an issue.
This month YOU can connect directly with the task force to let them know what’s important to you! Join members of the ELCA social statement task force for an ELCA-wide virtual listening event. The event will introduce what social statements are and how they’re developed. Then, participants will have a chance to share with task force members directly in breakout groups.
The main questions will be:
What themes, ideas or topics do you think the task force needs to talk about or consider for the social statement?
What is important for the task force to consider in creating an effective social statement?
There are two opportunities to participate:
Register HERE:
|
|
Upcoming Installation Services:
Pastor John Schraan Installation
Sunday, June 5, 2pm at Our Saviour's Lutheran in Arlington
We give thanks to God as Pr. Schraan is installed as the new pastor at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church! God bless this new ministry partnership!
Pastor Pr. Rhonda Bostrom Installation
Sunday, June 19 at 2pm at Holy Trinity Lutheran on Mercer Island
We give thanks to God as Pr. Bostrom is installed as the new pastor at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church! God bless this new ministry partnership!
|
|
May Youth Weekend at Holden Village
May 20-22
Registration is now closed. Find the UPDATED details about this gathering for high school aged youth in our region, and the forms needed HERE.
|
|
Upcoming Ordinations!
We are delighted to celebrate these individuals who will be ordained into word and sacrament ministry! Thanks be to God!
Pam Karas Ordination
Saturday, June 18, 10am
at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Everett
Pam has been called to serve as pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in Everett. God bless this new ministry partnership! Pam will be installed at Faith on Sunday, June 19 at 9:30am.
Paul Benz Ordination
Saturday, June 18, 2pm
at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Seattle
Paul (son of Pr. Paul Benz - formerly of Faith Action Network!) has been called to serve as the Street Minister of Operation Nightwatch. God bless this new ministry partnership!
Sara Funkhouser Ordination & Installation
Saturday, June 25, 3pm
at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, Seattle
Sara has been called to serve as pastor at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church in Seattle. God bless this new ministry partnership!
|
|
Want an item included?
All items due by 2pm on the prior Thursday
Northwest Washington Synod / ELCA
5519 Phinney Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98103
206-783-9292
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
