E-NEWS for Week of June 7, 2020
|
|
Even though the Synod Office is physically closed right now, the staff are all working from their homes. The best way to reach is by email to
swwsynod@plu.edu
. Be safe, be healthy. We will pick up snail mail once a week.
|
|
Commemoration of the Murder of the Emanuel Nine
Southwestern Washington Synod Service of Prayer
June 17, 2020 – 7:00PM
You are invited to gather online for a Commemoration of the killing of nine African-American Bible Study members who were murdered by a young, white, Lutheran man five years ago on June 17, 2015, at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina.
This Commemoration will be a 30-minute service of prayer and readings, with time for reflection. Particularly in this time of tragic ethnic wounding and violence, it is important to pray for God’s justice and healing for all people.
All members of our Southwestern Washington Synod and our friends and neighbors are invited. This Commemoration will be taking place in all ELCA synods throughout the United States and the Caribbean and is an ELCA approved Day of Commemoration in our Church Calendar.
|
|
Bishop Jaech's Letter Against Racism, May 31, 2020
|
|
PPP Extension and Spending Changes
This week, the Senate approved (House had already approved) an extension to 24 weeks (from 8 weeks) for the spending time frame for PPP. In addition to the lengthening of the time period, there is more flexibility in how the money is spent. The previous 75/25 split is now a 60/40 split
Our Synod Treasurer, Bob Yost, is available to answer any questions that you may have, if needed. Let the Synod Office know if you need his assistance and we can get you together.
|
|
Spiritual Conversations for Racial Justice
Courses from ChurchNext:
|
|
Two New Synod Zoom Conversations
Pastoral Care for Church Members Experiencing Loss and Grief in These Troubled Times
Zoom Session for Pastors and Deacons
June 18, 2020 9:30AM-11:00AM
Southwestern Washington Synod invites all pastors and deacons to a Zoom session about how to best care for people experiencing grief and loss in this time of pandemic, economic turmoil, and racist violence. The discussion will be led by Satya Jaech, a licensed psychotherapist and spiritual director, who in March led this same discussion with the Youth and Young Adult staff workers in our Synod.
The size of the group will be limited to the first 15 pastors and deacons who register, so that the group will be a good size for the discussion, which will follow a brief presentation by Satya. Additional Zoom sessions will be scheduled if there are additional people who want to participate.
The Zoom link to join the conversation will be sent to you with your registration confirmation.
If the event is full when you register, we've got your back- please email Allison at
swwsynod@plu.edu
to be asked to put on the wait list.
Support Zoom Session for Church Musicians
Tuesday, June 23rd at 7pm - 8pm
Music is an essential and much-loved part of Lutheran worship. Yet, with all the changes in worship during this time of pandemic, including online worship, limited group sizes for in-person gatherings, and the warnings about group singing, the previously “normal” role of church musicians has greatly changed. When and how we resume in-person worship still remains to be seen. Therefore, it is understandable that church musicians feel stress in the present and uncertainty about the future.
In order to hear the questions and concerns of church musicians and to provide support, Bishop Jaech invites all of the church musicians only in our Synod to a Zoom session on Tuesday, June 23, at 7PM.
The Zoom link to join the conversation will be sent to you with your registration confirmation.
Rostered leaders
: Please invite your church musicians to join Bishop Jaech for this conversation. No limit on musician enrollment.
|
|
PSALM Applications Being Accepted
The Synod's
Program for Strengthening Active Lay Ministry will begin a new cohort with 10 students in Late August 2020.
Contact Pastor Rebecca Shjerven, Bishop's Associate at shjervrl@plu.edu.
This cross image is used by permission by artist Vonda Drees, member of the Board of Directors of the Grunewald Guild.
|
|
FREE SYNOD WORKSHOP ONLINE
>
Stewardship in Uncertain Times
Watch Video Anytime
https://youtu.be/jdLFX47eBnA
Follow-up discussions with Rev. Mike Ward and Paul Marsh will be available
June 10th at 10am and 6:30pm for live virtual conversation
(links below)
Life has changed dramatically in the last few weeks and that change is still unfolding. In the midst of this change, people are needing the peace and comfort provided by faith in God. At the same time, as our normal patterns are upended and the nation is struggling economically, we worry about financial resources for our ministries. It is critically important now that we focus on how we tell our story of impact, how we invite people to generosity, how we envision a future where our congregations are more important and vital than ever.
In the video you will learn tangible ideas for responding during this crisis and how to put in place the infrastructure to keep generosity flowing to your congregations. Presenters will also point out messaging that you should avoid during this time. Additionally they are sharing resources about responding to this crisis that can be found at
https://gsbfundraising.com/category/news/
This session is suggested for pastors, stewardship leaders, finance committee members, council members and others engaged in congregational leadership.
Presenters:
GSB Partner, Rev. Mike Ward, CFRE, author of Abundance: Creating Cultures of Generosity, and his colleague, Paul Marsh, CFRE
Registration
:
No need to register to watch video. Then, you may register for a Zoom discussion with Pastor Ward on either June 10th, if desired.
Please join Pastor Ward for Follow Up Conversations about his video, "Stewardship in Uncertain Times" via Zoom:
Purple mosaic cross used in the image above was created by the Mosaic Ministry Group at Stella Lutheran Chapel in Longview, WA with Pastor Jill Ross.
|
|
Phone:
253-535-8300
A Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Rev. Richard E. Jaech, Bishop
|
|
STAY CONNECTED
through Links
to the Synod's Social Media
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
