September 6, 2021
Weekly Update
announcements & events
|
|
|
|
|
Synod Office Closure
The Synod Staff will be on holiday today, Monday, Sept. 6, in observance of Labor Day. We invite you into this prayer from the Evangelical Lutheran Worship book:
God of justice, we remember before you those who suffer want and anxiety from lack of work. Guide the people of this land so to use our wealth and resources that all people may find suitable and fulfilling employment and receive just payment for their labor. Amen.
|
|
|
|
Racial Equity & Reparation Fund Update!
The Northwest WA Synod's Racial Equity and Reparations fund recently distributed $6,000 between eight of our Synod's BIPOC leaders. Distributions since the fund's inception in November 2020 total $11,300.
If you have questions about this project or would like to be involved, please email [email protected]. You can give online to the fund via the Synod website (select "Give Online: and then "Synod Racial Equity and Reparations" in the drop-down menu). |
|
Worship and Office Items Available
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church (Sammamish/Issaquah) has sold its property, and has worship and office items (including paraments, worship furnishings, piano, office furniture, etc.) to share with other churches.
Some items may be picked up immediately, but those with an asterisk (*) will be available to pick up between September 19 and September 21 following their final worship service in the building.
We lift our prayers for the congregation as they discern their way through this transition time.
(See invitation to their final worship in the building before they relocate below.)
|
|
God's Work. Our Hands. T-shirts available
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Sammamish/Issaquah has a box of T-shirts for God's Work. Our Hands. Sunday! If interested, please email [email protected].
|
|
Copier and Poster Printer Available!
Trinity Education Foundation has gone digital. We have two printers that need new homes:
+ High capacity Xerox WorkCentre 7845 - it scans, emails, faxes, copies BW & Color, collates, staples, and is in working order being used currently.
+ Cannon poster printer iPF6400SE - has not been used since 2016, but was in excellent shape when it was turned off.
We are looking to donate these items to a church or nonprofit. They are currently housed at Our Saviors in Mukilteo. Please contact [email protected] for more information. |
|
|
|
Synod Women’s Organization
Read their latest newsletter – The ECHO!
Inside this edition of the ECHO you will find information about the upcoming Biennial Convention on October 2, 2021; the Triennial Convention in September 2023; nominations that are coming up and interesting articles and useful information.
Read the newsletter here:
|
|
The LiVE Project is about to launch!
+ INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS
Thank you to all who were able to join us at one of our 4 informational sessions. It was good to be in conversation with you about this new synod opportunity for lay persons! Not able to attend and/or still have questions? Interested in a scholarship? Please reach out to David Hahn: [email protected].
...and be sure to check out these resources...
+ PROMO VIDEOS
Videos that you can pass along to your leadership!
Check out this video about our Culture Course "Interrogating Privilege"
+ READY TO REGISTER?
You may register to be part of the full year-long cohort experience - either as an individual, or as a group from your congregation. Being part of the cohort gives you access to each of the three course offerings during 2021-2022 (8-week Bible Course in Fall / 8- week Culture Course in Spring / and the Community Course's 4 half-day retreats)
1. Register as an Individual for the COHORT
For those individuals seeking to be part of the year-long cohort ($350/person) - Register HERE
(You may add a second attendee on this form as well.)
2. Register as a Congregational Group for the COHORT
For those congregations seeking to register 3 or more members ($1000 total) to be part of the year-long cohort (you are also able to add additional participants for individual courses / retreats along the way) - Register HERE
3. Unable to sign up for the full cohort experience?
For those individuals who are unable to commit to the full year-long cohort experience and/or wish to register for individual course offerings - Please complete THIS FORM
(You will also be able to sign up throughout the year for individual courses and retreats as their dates approach. Look for more announcements as those event dates approach!)
|
|
God's Work Our Hands Sunday Opportunity!
The NWWA Synod Hunger Team has created a Noisy Offering initiative for “God’s Work, Our Hands” Sunday. YOU are invited to help the NWWA Synod Hunger Team gather funds to sponsor future grants, which will be distributed to local ELCA faith communities in support of their work to creatively address hunger and food insecurity.
They have created THIS PACKET which includes liturgy and hymn suggestions, details about the contest, promotion videos & materials, and more! (The promo video is really fun, too - check it out here!)
Learn more about Hunger Ministries on our website HERE.
Join the NWWA Synod Hunger Facebook group HERE.
|
|
Bring Christmas to a Seafarer!
Each year, our partners at the Seattle Seafarers’ Center provides about 1,000 ditty bags stuffed with basic personal necessities to merchant seafarers. These bags are one way we help seafarers celebrate Christmas while they are far from home during the holiday season. Seafarers help make Christmas possible by transporting lots of stuff to the US.
Help make a seafarer's Christmas by providing them with a ditty bag to say thank you! Here is how you can participate: Make drawstring bags or knit hats; purchase basic supplies (e.g., shaving cream, body soap, and toothpaste) & drop those off at the Center; make a financial gift that will be used to purchase more supplies for ditty bags.
|
|
Living Stones Prison Ministry Raffle Sale
A fun way to support this important ministry!
Green packets of materials (tickets, flyer, reporting form, purple return envelope) were mailed to participating congregations last week.
If your church office did not receive one, please let Sandi ([email protected]) know and a packet will be sent to you. Also reach out to Sandi if you have any questions or if your congregation is not participating and you wish to purchase tickets!) See their raffle flyer here.
|
|
Wildfire Disaster Response
Lutheran Disaster Response is working with synods and social ministry organizations in the western states to develop a coordinated response to the wildfires. We anticipate that immediate needs will include food and other necessities. Long-term recovery will likely take years. DONATE HERE: Your gifts will support wildfire survivors. Gifts to “U.S. Wildfires” will be used in full (100%) to assist those affected by wildfires, until the response is complete.
|
|
Afghan Refugee Assistance
Please help support incoming Afghan Allies, Special Immigrant Visa holders, who are being evacuated to the United States. Join with these organizations:
|
|
Haiti Crisis
Lutheran Disaster Response is collaborating with partner organizations in the communities to meet relief needs, including food, nonfood items and temporary shelter. Gifts to “Haiti Crisis” will be used in full (100%) to assist those affected by the earthquake until the response is complete. Together, we can help provide immediate and long-lasting support. Give today to support this response and others like it HERE.
|
|
Hurricane Ida Assistance
Lutheran Disaster Response is working with local ELCA synods and Lutheran social service organizations to coordinate a response to Hurricane Ida. Immediate needs will include food, basic necessities and temporary housing.
Together, we can help provide immediate and long-lasting support. Give here.
|
|
|
|
Synod Events this Week
Mon., Sept. 6 - Synod Office Closed for Labor Day Holiday
Tues., Sept. 7, 10am-12noon - Synod Staff Meeting
Tues., Sept. 7, 1pm - Transition Ministers Monthly Meeting
Wed., Sept. 8, 3pm - Convocation Planning Team Meeting
Thurs., Sept. 9, 12:30pm - Synod Personnel Committee
Thurs., Sept. 9, 2pm - STAD Meeting - book study, part 2
Thurs., Sept. 9, 4pm - Executive Committee Meeting
Sat., Sept. 11, 1pm - Ordination of Kristi Lambing - see below
Sun., Sept. 12 - Noisy Offering Sunday - see above
|
|
Advocacy Summer School - final session this week
Wednesday, September 8, 11am (Pacific)
Presented by ELCA Advocacy staff in collaboration with ELCA Peace Not Walls. Attend this final skill-building and issue-informing session. This week's topic is Immigration - a 30 minute presentation followed by an optional 15-minute Q&A time.
|
|
2022 Gathering Health & Safety Webinar
|
|
Undoing Drugs - Webinar
Thursday, September 9, 5pm (Pacific)
The Center of Addiction & Faith is hosting this free one-hour webinar with a 30-minute Q&A follow-up discussion.
Join NY Times best-selling author Maia Szalavitz to learn more about her new book, Undoing Drugs: The Untold Story of Harm Reduction and the Future of Addiction. Tragically so many of our national policies have only made our addiction and overdose crisis worse. We’ll learn more about the origins of Harm Reduction as a movement and how it has contributed to saving lives and promoting health.
Maia is also the author of NY Times best seller, Unbroken Brain: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding Addiction, which is widely recognized as an important advance in thinking about the nature of addiction and how to cope with it, personally and politically.
|
|
|
|
Ordination of Kristi Lambing
Saturday, September 11, 1pm
at Pointe of Grace Lutheran Church in Mukilteo
We are delighted to celebrate the ordination of Word and Sacrament Candidate Kristi Lambing. Kristi has been called to serve as pastor at Fir-Conway Lutheran Church in Mount Vernon. (Her Installation service will be at Fir-Conway on October 10 at 2pm.) God bless Kristi and this ministry partnership!
|
|
Region 1 Congregation Disaster Preparedness Network Meeting
September 16, 6pm-7:30pm online
This network has been developed in the Oregon Synod and is now being expanded to include all synods in Region 1. Sept 16 is an orientation session - with monthly meetings on the 2nd Thursday to follow. We work with the LDR Congregation Disaster Guidebook, but also do education about wildfires, heatwaves, earthquakes, climate change and racial-inequity. Sessions have teaching and guest visitors in these fields, but are designed to be participatory and engaging. The goal is to help congregation teams help their congregations prepare and learn.
|
|
Shepherd of the Hills Concluding Worship Service
Sunday, September 19, 12noon
24850 SE Issaquah-Fall City Rd; Sammamish
We the people of God at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, invite you to our concluding worship service in what has been for us a beloved church building.
At 12 noon on Sunday, September 19th, we will gather as God's people in the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things unseen. While we grieve this moment, we also give thanks for shared memories in this place. As a congregation we continue to covet your prayers as this transition from the building unfolds.
Come and join us as we worship together for the last time in this space, and anticipate a future together in the mercy and love of God. The Rev. Bishop Shelley Bryan Wee will bring us the Good News on the day. A luncheon for all will follow the service. In the meantime, we continue to pray as a community for the Spirit's wisdom into the future in faith, by faith. (From Bob Johnson, Council President & Pastor John L. Vaswig, Transition Minister.)
|
|
Beyoncé Mass
Our UCC neighbors have invited us to the Lecture Series at University Congregational UCC. All are welcome all to experience this groundbreaking Christian worship service, created and curated by Rev. Yolanda Norton, Friday, September 24, 7 pm, free and online.
The worship service uses the music and life of Beyoncé as a tool to cultivate an empowering conversation about Black women—their lives, bodies, and voices—and create an experience of story, scripture, and song that calls for the liberation of all people.
|
|
Camp Open House!
Saturday, September 25, 11am-4pm
Lutherwood is hosting an open house! You are invited to the camp to see the space and spend some time exploring Grace in creation. Please RSVP to Kelly 360 734 7652 or [email protected]
|
|
|
|
Installation Service for
Pastor Heidi Fish
Saturday, September 25, 1pm
at Bethesda Lutheran in Mountlake Terrace
We give thanks to God as Rev. Heidi Fish is installed as the pastor at Bethesda Lutheran. All are welcome to the service - with a community lunch to follow. God bless this ministry partnership!
|
|
Ministry Leadership Wellness Webinars
Fourth Tuesday of the Month at 1pm
(Sept. 28, Oct. 26, Nov. 23, Dec. 28, Jan. 25, and Feb. 22.)
These monthly webinars are open to all synod rostered and lay leaders for free - as part of a Synod Grant with Living Well. The interactive webinars will be designed to implement specific holistic wellness strategies within the ministry setting as a way to assist with stress management, maximize engagement, self-care, and self-compassion. Find more info and Zoom link here on our website.
Click HERE for more detailed information about the Living Well partnership.
|
|
Recognizing and Overcoming Resistance to Necessary Change in Church, Work and Life
Wednesday, September 29, 11am – 12:30pm
Hybrid event: via Zoom AND in-person at Pointe of Grace, Mukilteo
Change is hard and how people respond to change can be perplexing. This event, presented by Coach Northwest, examines the nature of resistance to change and how that resistance can be moved from rejection to acceptance and commitment. The 45-minute presentation will be followed by a dialogue.
(Meeting ID: 826 8895 2083 / Passcode: 332984)
|
|
|
|
Read The Koran in Four Weeks
Mondays October 4, 11, 18, 25 (7pm-9pm) via Zoom
Check out this unique class taught by Pastor Marshall, First of West Seattle, four times a year since 2003. The cost is $20 -- which covers sending you in the mail your own copy of an approved English translation of the Koran.
Call / email Pr. Marshall to register or ask questions (206) 935-6530 / [email protected]. For more information on the class (including a half hour video interview) and some student recommendations, see flcws.org, “Reading the Koran with Pr. Marshall.”
|
|
ReconcilingWorks -
FOUR online trainings!
+ Building an Inclusive Church
+ Consent in Community Building
+ Bias and Its Impact on Welcome
+ Let’s Talk About SOIGIE (Sex, Gender Identity, Gender Expression, and Sexual Orientation)
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
